NPR

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:21 am After something like 4 hours of meetings and a lot of tension from team bosses, the race is to go ahead...


sounds like the drivers didn't want it and were told to do it. Interesting sub plot is the suggestion the Saudi's would make it difficult to leave if the race didn't go ahead.

Yes, the BBC phrased it, "...the possible consequences of not racing, such as how easily teams and drivers would be able to leave the country if the race did not happen."

That sounds like a Hail Mary strategy - 'make them an offer they can't refuse' level negotiation.

Makes you wonder if taking the Saudi money through Aramco is really worth the price.

Kawazaki wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:33 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:21 am After something like 4 hours of meetings and a lot of tension from team bosses, the race is to go ahead...


sounds like the drivers didn't want it and were told to do it. Interesting sub plot is the suggestion the Saudi's would make it difficult to leave if the race didn't go ahead.

Yes, the BBC phrased it, "...the possible consequences of not racing, such as how easily teams and drivers would be able to leave the country if the race did not happen."

That sounds like a Hail Mary strategy - 'make them an offer they can't refuse' level negotiation.

Makes you wonder if taking the Saudi money through Aramco is really worth the price.

With the talk of new street circuits for Miami and Vegas, I don't think Liberty are too worried about where the money's coming from and there's plenty of it in Saudi hands.

Hamilton out in Q1, 9/10ths of a second slower than Russell

How has Merc R&D messed this up so spectacularly?

Thats a bad crash by Mick Schumacher, hope he's okay

Thor Sedan wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 5:37 pm How has Merc R&D messed this up so spectacularly?

I like the theory that with the top teams getting less wind tunnel time, they are now suffering more, than say Ferrari; but RB were similarly handicapped, but have a car that can ride low, & is stable & fast, while the Mercs porpoise like mad with a regular setup.

But that still doesn't explain why Russell was so much faster than Hamilton in the same car, at the same time. There were six tenths between them !

fishfoodie wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 5:46 pm Thats a bad crash by Mick Schumacher, hope he's okay

Mick Schumacher has a heavy hit at Turn 12.

#SaudiArabianGP #F1 https://t.co/12lBHlXRex

Marylandolorian wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 6:12 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 5:46 pm Thats a bad crash by Mick Schumacher, hope he's okay

Mick Schumacher has a heavy hit at Turn 12.

#SaudiArabianGP #F1 https://t.co/12lBHlXRex

Sounds like he's okay, & just going to hospital for precautionary scan.

That was a seriously big nudge on the wall for Mick. The car is a mess.

This track is a shocker. Street circuits are stupidly dangerous, this one is a terrible combination of high speed curves with the walls on terrible angles in spots... and Saudi politics is fucked.

In short, Liberty are going to ruin F1.

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:46 pm That was a seriously big nudge on the wall for Mick. The car is a mess.

This track is a shocker. Street circuits are stupidly dangerous, this one is a terrible combination of high speed curves with the walls on terrible angles in spots... and Saudi politics is fucked.

In short, Liberty are going to ruin F1.

F1 is the Lindsay Lohan of Sports; they'll fuck anyone if they pay them enough.

Couple of questions for the aficionados

What are the new mudguard looking things on the front wheels?

Why are the driver cams so shite this year?

fishfoodie wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 9:12 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:46 pm That was a seriously big nudge on the wall for Mick. The car is a mess.

This track is a shocker. Street circuits are stupidly dangerous, this one is a terrible combination of high speed curves with the walls on terrible angles in spots... and Saudi politics is fucked.

In short, Liberty are going to ruin F1.

F1 is the Lindsay Lohan of Sports; they'll fuck anyone if they pay them enough.

I'm amazed they cancelled the Russian Grand Prix!

Slick wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 9:53 pm Couple of questions for the aficionados

What are the new mudguard looking things on the front wheels?

One of the big sources of turbulance off the back of the car, was air hitting the wheels, & they dramatically reduce this, same with the faux hubcaps, so are all part of the plan to make it easier to follow, & overtake the car in front.

Why are the driver cams so shite this year?

Because they're inside the drivers helmets, & so are more realistic to what the driver is experiencing.

Slick wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 9:53 pm Couple of questions for the aficionados

What are the new mudguard looking things on the front wheels?

Why are the driver cams so shite this year?

They are to reduce turbulent air for the car behind, they were originally supposed to cover the entire width of the front tyres. I think the reason they were shortened was because they affected the driver's visibility too much.


They're using "helmet cam" this year, I don't really like it but everyone else seems to think it's great

Beat me to it

sturginho wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:05 pm Beat me to it

Too slow ..... like the Mercs

fishfoodie wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:06 pm

sturginho wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:05 pm Beat me to it

Too slow ..... like the Mercs

So, how many engine failures for red bull do we think?

sturginho wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:09 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:06 pm

sturginho wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:05 pm Beat me to it

Too slow ..... like the Mercs

So, how many engine failures for red bull do we think?

They'll probably be okay this weekend, because we're going to see a lot of safety car laps, so they won't be so marginal on fuel at the end.

As they say, I'd rather a fast unreliable car, than a slow reliable one; & this year Merc are the ones trying to fix a slow car, with a very limited budget for improvements.

Thanks chaps

fishfoodie wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:13 pm

sturginho wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:09 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:06 pm

Too slow ..... like the Mercs

So, how many engine failures for red bull do we think?

They'll probably be okay this weekend, because we're going to see a lot of safety car laps, so they won't be so marginal on fuel at the end.

As they say, I'd rather a fast unreliable car, than a slow reliable one; & this year Merc are the ones trying to fix a slow car, with a very limited budget for improvements.

RB have shifted the location of either the fuel pump or the pick up within the fuel cell so you'd think they should have solved their fuelling issue.

Mercedes seem to have gone the wrong way with their concept... so they would have had a solid basic theory that has potential once they find the right way to use it. Hamilton apparently had too much rear wing. He's talking about changing everything on the car and starting from pitlane. Not a bad bet... if they can find a decent set up. There's bound to be safety cars so he'll make up time.

The really worrying thing for Mercedes, more than their team performance in my view, is that all of their customer cars are also down on speed. Their powerplant is behind the pack.

Ferrari are the team to beat. That thing is a scalpel and LeClerc is a surgeon with it. Sainz is a touch off being fully confident but I think he's got the speed in him. I think RB are mentally weak. Fragile.

Congrats to Ross Brawn & the team that developed the 2022 regs !

As we've seen the last two weekends, it's possible for the cars to follow closely for several laps, & swap position multiple times, because the following cars aero isn't totally compromised by the car in front.

I think Hamilton will regret not just calling it a day last year. He's not the kind of driver who'll cope well with trailing around scrapping for 6th, or 7th, & it's hard to imagine him getting more than a couple of podiums this year.

Surely worth a post of it's own...

I noticed the Ferrari cars also bounce around horribly like the Mercedes, but it does not seem to affect their pace. In the post qualifying interviews Hamilton referred to his car acting "spitefully" at times. Looks like there's a lot going on which needs ironing out.

Lots of drivers concerned with the setting sun which will probably be a factor near the end of the GP today.

Entertaining race, but I hate street circuits, they're a fucking stupid idea.

Stroll is clearly intent on taking Mazepin's title and is well on the way. He's a menace. Bottas with the quip of the day... Lance squeezes him off the track when Valterri clearly had position and Bottas tells his team 'I got Strolled..."

Another DNF for Max who also had a bit of a verbal meltdown. Russell got a touch lucky to get 3rd but drove well, Hamilton angsty about his car overheating when following house.

Dominant stuff by LeClerc. Perez made me laugh when he asked his team if they were still awake with a few laps to go as he was cruising around in second with nothing happening.

'European beaver...'

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 12:29 am



'European beaver...'

We need more of this...

Latifi is such a muppet

Lewis only just managed to sneak into Q2!

Sainz celebrates his new contract by wrecking his car

sturginho wrote: Fri Apr 22, 2022 3:33 pm Lewis only just managed to sneak into Q2!

Still ‘sandbagging’ then!

shaggy wrote: Fri Apr 22, 2022 4:16 pm

sturginho wrote: Fri Apr 22, 2022 3:33 pm Lewis only just managed to sneak into Q2!

Still ‘sandbagging’ then!

George Russell fastest in FP2

Raining!

It is painful watching Hamilton limp around the track in that snail of a Merc.

Although at least it gives Rosberg the chance to wank himself stupid that Hamilton just got lapped by the easily dislikable Verstappen.

And there we go - 1 2 finish for Red Bull with Leclerc driving into a barrier.

I find my deep dislike of redbull very strange.

Thor Sedan wrote: Sun Apr 24, 2022 2:24 pm And there we go - 1 2 finish for Red Bull with Leclerc driving into a barrier.

I find my deep dislike of redbull very strange.

You and me both, then. In my case, it includes Rosberg.

My stream dropped out just as Russell tried to pass Magnussen and ran wide over the kerbs. Processional sort of event... no DRS due to wet patches leading to a pretty dull sort of affair after the drama of the opening laps.

I think the sprint format is a load of wank. Robbing teams of set up time to induce a pot luck sort of quali just doesn't sit right for me.

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Apr 13, 2022 12:29 am



'European beaver...'

Bit weird that they bleep out the word penis.