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A1X

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Sep 1, 2017
22,835
Deepest, darkest Sussex
Jeez come on Piastri

Max Verstappen and Crystal Palace both winning this weekend is some axis of evil level shit
 










Flounce

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Nov 15, 2006
6,864
Did they let the lapped cars get up to the back of the field in the Abu Dhabi fiasco before they called the safety car in? I don’t think so!!
 




















Pavilionaire

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
31,646
I don't understand why McLaren didn't switch positions immediately at the safety car restart, as that was the only way the team could put Max under pressure. Decent race, but the finale a damp squib.
 


A1X

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Sep 1, 2017
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Deepest, darkest Sussex
I don't understand why McLaren didn't switch positions immediately at the safety car restart, as that was the only way the team could put Max under pressure. Decent race, but the finale a damp squib.
Because they're still terrified of their own shadow is my best guess
 


JJ McClure

Go Jags
Jul 7, 2003
11,295
Hassocks
Woeful defence from Piastri at the first corner. Roles reversed, there's no way Max is letting someone round the outside like that.
The 9 or 10 laps behind the safety car to remove the parked up Merc was waaaaay too long.
At least the alternate tyre strategies made for an interesting race.
 




Flounce

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Nov 15, 2006
6,864
Woeful defence from Piastri at the first corner. Roles reversed, there's no way Max is letting someone round the outside like that.
The 9 or 10 laps behind the safety car to remove the parked up Merc was waaaaay too long.
At least the alternate tyre strategies made for an interesting race.
I think Russell may have taken the lead if Piastri had blocked Max. Russell got the best start and was compromised by Piastri
 


Steve in Japan

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May 9, 2013
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East of Eastbourne
Both McLaren drivers are very talented, but they werent giving Max any problems yesterday. The last 10 laps (and in fact the preceding 53) were a procession with Max moving away into the distance.

Love the Sky drama but that race was decided in the first 10 seconds.
 


Audax

Boing boing boing...
Aug 3, 2015
3,451
Uckfield
McLaren ended any chance Piastri had of beating Max when they called him in early for that first stop. They're still a bit tactically naive. Not as bad as Ferrari, mind, but also not on the same level as Red Bull typically are.

As far as the first corner is concerned ... Piastri covered Russell, and heading into the T1 braking zone probably (reasonably) thought he had Verstappen covered as well. It was just a mega effort from Max to steal the lead. In hindsight, Russell's race pace was so bad I think Piastri would have been better off making sure Max didn't have the clear run around the outside and if Russell had made the pass stick, know that he would have the car advantage to re-pass during the first stint. Hopefully he'll bank that little piece of learning.

I thought the pre-race interview with Piastri on the C4 highlights show was very enlightening. Piastri's clearly done his homework on racing Verstappen. Didn't work out this race, but suspect next time he's in a similar position Piastri will position his car slightly differently.
 


Flounce

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Nov 15, 2006
6,864
McLaren ended any chance Piastri had of beating Max when they called him in early for that first stop. They're still a bit tactically naive. Not as bad as Ferrari, mind, but also not on the same level as Red Bull typically are.

As far as the first corner is concerned ... Piastri covered Russell, and heading into the T1 braking zone probably (reasonably) thought he had Verstappen covered as well. It was just a mega effort from Max to steal the lead. In hindsight, Russell's race pace was so bad I think Piastri would have been better off making sure Max didn't have the clear run around the outside and if Russell had made the pass stick, know that he would have the car advantage to re-pass during the first stint. Hopefully he'll bank that little piece of learning.

I thought the pre-race interview with Piastri on the C4 highlights show was very enlightening. Piastri's clearly done his homework on racing Verstappen. Didn't work out this race, but suspect next time he's in a similar position Piastri will position his car slightly differently.
I get the impression that Max and Red Bull had the quickest car on that high speed track with so many tight corners. Lewis, Charles, Lando or Oscar could have won that race in a Red Bull set up to their preferred driving style imo. Anyway I look forward to Monaco with an obligatory two stop requirement next weekend. Tactics could make a difference on what may be the most glamorous but also dullest track, Singapore aside, on the calender.

I think you are spot on though, Oscar should have covered Max rather than Russell yesterday but I think the end result would have been the same.

Ferrari’s tactics were good, if fortunate, yesterday for a change. I wonder if Lewis‘ experience will drag Ferrari tactics up this season. They seem to be listening to him now. His acceptance of not stopping due to coming out in traffic was accepted without argument too. Encouraging signs for this Lewis and Ferrari fan. Get quali speed sorted and they will be in the race winning mix possibly. Charles is normally up there with the best in Quali.
 
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Audax

Boing boing boing...
Aug 3, 2015
3,451
Uckfield
Anyway I look forward to Monaco with an obligatory two stop requirement next weekend. Tactics could make a difference on what may be the most glamorous but also dullest track, Singapore aside,
The mandatory 2 stops will be interesting. Watch for some midfield or backmarker teams to try to game it. The obvious move for me is to start on softs, then pit at the end of lap 1 for mediums. Use those to close back up to the back of the pack, then conserve them until the first round of stops for everyone else. Then take whatever life is left in those mediums, and as soon as they begin to fade stop for either meds or hards depending on how far you've got. Hope you have some clear air to run in, and that the way the race is run out front keeps the pack relatively bunched. The final round of stops should then give track position, hopefully within the top 10, which you can then defend until the end.

Depending on where they qualify, the obvious candidates are Sauber, Alpine, Haas, and maybe Aston Martin (if their Imola upgrades continue to work, then scratch them from the list as they could be starting in or near the top 10).

Speaking of the AM upgrades that arrived for Imola: officially, Newey has *not* worked on those. But unofficially, there's been whispers that he's had plenty of conversations with the 2025 upgrades team over lunch breaks. No doubt in my mind that he's had input.
 


Guinness Boy

Tofu eating wokerati
Helpful Moderator
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Jul 23, 2003
39,298
Up and Coming Sunny Portslade
McLaren ended any chance Piastri had of beating Max when they called him in early for that first stop. They're still a bit tactically naive. Not as bad as Ferrari, mind, but also not on the same level as Red Bull typically are.

As far as the first corner is concerned ... Piastri covered Russell, and heading into the T1 braking zone probably (reasonably) thought he had Verstappen covered as well. It was just a mega effort from Max to steal the lead. In hindsight, Russell's race pace was so bad I think Piastri would have been better off making sure Max didn't have the clear run around the outside and if Russell had made the pass stick, know that he would have the car advantage to re-pass during the first stint. Hopefully he'll bank that little piece of learning.

I thought the pre-race interview with Piastri on the C4 highlights show was very enlightening. Piastri's clearly done his homework on racing Verstappen. Didn't work out this race, but suspect next time he's in a similar position Piastri will position his car slightly differently.
He said as much post race too. "I would have braked 10 meters later, I've learned for next time."

The mandatory 2 stops will be interesting. Watch for some midfield or backmarker teams to try to game it. The obvious move for me is to start on softs, then pit at the end of lap 1 for mediums. Use those to close back up to the back of the pack, then conserve them until the first round of stops for everyone else. Then take whatever life is left in those mediums, and as soon as they begin to fade stop for either meds or hards depending on how far you've got. Hope you have some clear air to run in, and that the way the race is run out front keeps the pack relatively bunched. The final round of stops should then give track position, hopefully within the top 10, which you can then defend until the end.

Depending on where they qualify, the obvious candidates are Sauber, Alpine, Haas, and maybe Aston Martin (if their Imola upgrades continue to work, then scratch them from the list as they could be starting in or near the top 10).

Speaking of the AM upgrades that arrived for Imola: officially, Newey has *not* worked on those. But unofficially, there's been whispers that he's had plenty of conversations with the 2025 upgrades team over lunch breaks. No doubt in my mind that he's had input.
I presume with a VSC or full Safety Car though teams can use one of their mandatory stops? If anyone bins it at Monaco it normally takes quite some clearing up.
 


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