Formula 1-2022 Season

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

No, the head of the FIA is more concerned about rainbows on bikes and drivers pushing their "beliefs" on others, you know like basic human rights and such.

Wait Lance is 7th after practice 1! They must be allowing him to cheat somehow. 

Something's wrong with Alonslo's car too! and Vettels! 

Should be a really interesting qually tomorrow.....

Interesting indeed with it sopping wet right now at the start.

Hard conditions- Perez is now out since he caused a red flag.

With all of the chaos of problems, a rather interesting Q3 list of participants.  One Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren didn't get to finish the session....  Haas looks pretty strong. 

But the other Red Bull is in a different category.  That's got some very efficient downforce.

Am I hearing things? Or can you hear the bottom of Hamilton's car hitting the track on the longer straights.. The RB is definitely in a class of 1.

Fernando!

06HHR (Forum Supporter) said:

Am I hearing things? Or can you hear the bottom of Hamilton's car hitting the track on the longer straights.. The RB is definitely in a class of 1.

Sounds like it to me, even at those relatively slow speeds.

Gutsy try for George.  And lucky he didn't go down the order.

I don't think anyone would have predicted that quali result. 

It was great that Merc/George tried the gamble on slicks. Bummer it didn't work out. 

In reply to alfadriver :

The noise sounds like gear lash loading and unloading, but it has to be the car grounding. No wonder that hurts. 

What a gloriously berkeleyed up starting order.  Rain always makes for fun.  How snotty is Fernando going to be into turn one?

Vettel and Stroll have to be a major disappointment, both are good drivers in wet conditions, they musta really muffed the setup!

The Hamster's best qually of the year, I think?

LeClerc will have a fun race charging from the back, it will be interesting to see how far up the grid he can get by the end.

Sainz needs to get past Fred quickly if he's going to have any chance, then let Fernando keep the Haminator behind him. I wonder if should George get right up behind Hammy if they'll make Lewis move over for him, since he's so far ahead in the points now? That was always the excuse they used with Boughtass......

I'm used to being able to get up in the AM and watch the race, I'm not used to having to wait all day! 

It's supposed to be dry and cool tomorrow, being able to get and keep the tires up to temps will determine the winner I think.

MiniDave said:

LeClerc will have a fun race charging from the back, it will be interesting to see how far up the grid he can get by the end.

With Perez being so far back in the grid, i expect some fun racing back there. I would think pit strategy is going to be the determining factor to see if Leclerc gets by him. 

I figure Alonso has already told Max that "If there is any chance at the start.....expect me not to yield at all." 

Max would be wise to wait for drs a few laps later. 

For once, Max is not the one with nothing to lose in turn 1 :) But yielding is not a strong suit, so this will be interesting.

Looks like the forecast is for a nice sunny day on race day, alas.

HAAS 5th and 6th!!!

Unusual reason for a SC at this track.  But it sure sets up for a fun ending- Hamilton was keeping with Verstappen, who was trying to close ASAP on Sainz.  Not sure that 6 lap tire difference is going to make much of a difference- it will be about who's car is best in traffic.

So.. A 15 lap sprint to the end.. Should be a good show 

Lewis sitting with fastest lap at lap 50.  That's pretty good for Merc, I'd say.

Finish could be epic.

I swear, the hairpin has had the same idiot cameraman for 30 years.  Every time there is something interesting happening on corner entry, he follows the cars to mid corner, then gives us an arty shot of the crowd, instead of showing the berking RACECARS!  I remember this from when CBC would broadcast the race with Jackie Stewart as analyst.

It's like watching Fox Sports baseball.

Was hoping that the Ferrari could have save a little there at the end- but Sainz had less grip coming out of the hairpin as the race came to a close.  Oh, well.

Merc looks a lot better, especially when they were supposed to be pretty bad here given what happened last weekend.  Lewis gets his first podium of the season out of that.  And he was faster than George for the race, other than when the tires were wearing out.

It was funny that Brundle complained a little about the DRS being too powerful, when the "easy" passes were actually pretty few.  More where the following car had a tough time passing-which was pretty good.

One interesting thing- Red Bull was WAY faster than the field until today.  Today they were the fastest car, for sure- but not nearly the margin before.  

That was a pretty good race overall. Max just doesn't feel pressure. Although his incomprehensible sputtering radio call after coming out of the pits on Lewis' gearbox was hilarious. 

They kept saying how the Ferrari was trimmed for less downforce for speed, but of course that translates to less drive off the corners.