[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Yeah I know .Sure , It's as you said It's inevitably in this sport

On the other hand :
You describe the spin & save situation as an easy reponse and like a straight forward action-reaction from MAX .
But actually it really Isn't it , when the drivers push it in QF beyond the limits it always comes in a highly unexpected moment and out of nowhere ..
Once you're gone ...It's like driving on ice !
I'm pretty sure , 90 % of the drivers would kiss the wall in such a situation .
But , as we know, for most F1 drivers the wall is always too close...

#KeepItOutOfTheWall !

This is what I was taught at my performance driving course at Merc World not necessarily getting into a spin on the limit like Max and LEW did haha but envisaging a coming dangerous situation coming out of nowhere and manoeuvring to avoid i.e. some of the most common are light jumpers and others pulling out of side roads not looking with dopy ones just not using mirrors..

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by dfox

Boring sprint race. Top racers just settled into their positions and that was it.
....
I hope tomorrow is more entertaining.
dirty.

I thought sprintraces were fun when it was about qualifying and just a few points were to be made.
But now it's like the pic says.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by dfox

Boring sprint race. Top racers just settled into their positions and that was it.
....
I hope tomorrow is more entertaining.
dirty.

Originally Posted by GuidoK

I thought sprintraces were fun when it was about qualifying and just a few points were to be made.
But now it's like the pic says.

Back in 2019, further to Mercedes with their "rocket" cars turning F1 into a dominance snoozefest for years on end, the following idea was pitched to F1 teams:
https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/2...idea-explained

• Saturday: Sprint replacing the conventional Q1-Q2-Q3 qualifying format, with a starting grid set in reverse order of the WDC standings; by doing so, the Sprint would have become a qualification race with points up for grabs;
• Sunday: race with the starting grid based on the results of the Sprint (Sprint P1 gets race P1, Sprint P2 gets race P2, Sprint P3 gets race P3 and so on).

Applied today, that would mean Verstappen starting the Sprint at P20, Perez at P19, Hamilton at P18 and so on. The only way for a driver to get pole position for the Sunday race: win the Sprint. Dominant drivers get a "handicap" requiring them to work/fight harder to preserve their top positions in the WDC. If you want to get the WDC title, first show us that you're truly the best of the field starting from the back of the field. More entertainment.

A variant could be:

• Friday: free practice + qualification (maybe throw in 3, 2 and 1 points for #1, #2 and #3 qualifiers);
• Saturday: Sprint with start positions in inverted order of the qualies (qualifier #1 starting at P20 and qualifier #20 starting at P1 and so on); points for the first 8 (or even 10); consequence: lots of overtaking action + best qualifiers are required to storm through the pack, with stiff competition right ahead of them, if they hope to pick up Sprint points;
• Sunday: race with start positions in Friday qualification order (qualifier #1 starting at P1 and qualifier #20 starting at P20 and so on); usual points up for grabs.

The chances of a snoozefest race weekend would be reduced. But the problem is that a Sprint is more demanding for teams and drivers than Q1-Q2-Q3 qualies only, more risks of damage and wear & tear of materials (brief: more work + it costs them more money + increased risks).

The 'inverted grid' idea ain't new in motor sports. In the past, the idea has even been explored to add weight as "handicap".

Quite understandably those who dominate races dislike "handicap" ideas, as it feels like their stronger wings get clipped of their better car development (their innovation advantage to have developed a better car compared to the rest of the field, doesn't get fully rewarded) and simply because they got to work more and harder to get the WDC and WCC titles.

But IMHO if you want to be called "the best driver of the world of year ABCD" instead of "driver of the best car of the world of year ABCD", you need to be prepared to show us that it's predominantly because of your excellent driving skills, excellent race strategy and excellent car setup skills, rather than predominantly because of the excellent car you drive and team orders allowing you to win races and grab more points at the expense of a team mate (cf. race results manipulations in some races for Schumacher-Barrichello / Alonso-Massa / Hamilton-Bottas - Wikipedia stats don't specify whether some race victories and WDC points were truly deserved or got achieved because the team mate got ordered, during the internal race briefing or during the race with coded or blunt language, to back off).

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by dfox

Boring sprint race. Top racers just settled into their positions and that was it. Some minor fun with Checo passing and Sainz/Russel battle. I hope tomorrow is more entertaining.

Didn't like the max move on turn 1, that was clean racing I guess, but looked dirty.

Mate ?
Did we watch the same sprint race ?
There were fights enough all over the place ..
Even in the front ! It was MAX vs LEW for 10 from the 19 laps !
Isn't that from 3 years ago ?

MAX dirty ?
Indeed it was MAX *IN the dirt , because he started on the dirty side of the track.
Charlie had more traction on the clean side and for a moment they were going evenly alongside each other to T1.
Then the first driver who can close the door, or elbows wide is P1 in T1 .
It's actually a close fight to get the best track line to nail it into T1 .And that was MAX..
It actually was a fantastic move of the triple World Champion !
Mate . That is called motorracing . And we heard that before ...

Do you have a top 3 (the podium) for the race ?

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

^ The gap to Max is not important anymore, the most telling one is that LEW is 3 points closer to Checo from that one at 27. Can Checo hold on to limit the points damage from LEW (even with him finishing ahead of him) until the end of the season knowing the eyes of Carlos Slim and Mexico are on him.

In one word : 'NO.

P2 in the WDC is for LEW ..
Checo always fails under pressure just like in the last 2 seasons . And later today he's P9 at the startgrid and LEW is P3.
The Russell boy is P5 , RUS will close the door for Checo !
And I see that like very bad news for Checo .
Let's keep in mind , LEW is running now with a new 2024 Merc test-floor and his Merc is a lot faster now ..
We witnessed that yesterday in the sprintrace , LEW was suddenly able to follow MAX closely for 10 laps !
So that's even more bad news for the Mexican . Too bad !

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

In one word : 'NO.

P2 in the WDC is for LEW ..
Checo always fails under pressure just like in the last 2 seasons . And later today he's P9 at the startgrid and LEW is P3.
The Russell boy is P5 , RUS will close the door for Checo !
And I see that like very bad news for Checo .
Let's keep in mind , LEW is running now with a new 2024 Merc test-floor and his Merc is a lot faster now ..
We witnessed that yesterday in the sprintrace , LEW was suddenly able to follow MAX closely for 10 laps !
So that's even more bad news for the Mexican . Too bad !

Sure he will, but the pressure is getting to the Russel boy too and if Checo gets his mojo back then he should get past...knowing that Slim is watching $$$

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

I thought sprintraces were fun when it was about qualifying and just a few points were to be made.
But now it's like the pic says.

It's as if the Sprint was a 'plaything' for Max, well...roll on the main race. I wouldn't want to be anyone with a Lion just behind.

[Artemis]

Remember "Multi 21" as Red Bull team order for Vettel and Webber a decade ago ? The driver in car #2 (Webber) must remain ahead of the other driver in car #1 (Vettel).

Wouldn't be a surprise if the Ferrari "plan" letters A, B, C, D and E stand for the first letter of a dedicated Italian word. Easier to remember for team and drivers and no other team has a clue (except if they start to pay closer attention, notice a pattern and crack the code). Easier than to remember all sorts of changing strategies per race which may confuse drivers during the race.

Imagine for example (just random guessing):

• "A" for "Alternativa" ("alternative" = invert track position with team mate) or Anteriore" ("before" = short stint with early pit stop)
• "B" for "Breve" (brief = only 1 pit stop) or "Bi" ("double" = double pit stop)
• "C" for "Cambio" ("change" = invert track position with team mate / pit stop soon)
• "D" for "Doppio" ("double" = double pitstop) or "Difesa" ("defense" = hold position or back up the cars behind)
• "E" for "Eccesso" ("excess" = long stint with late pitstop)

Keep an eye on what happens after hearing "plan" instructions to Ferrari drivers.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Remember "Multi 21" as Red Bull team order for Vettel and Webber a decade ago ? The driver in car #2 (Webber) must remain ahead of the other driver in car #1 (Vettel).

Wouldn't be a surprise if the Ferrari "plan" letters A, B, C, D and E stand for the first letter of a dedicated Italian word. Easier to remember for team and drivers and no other team has a clue (except if they start to pay closer attention, notice a pattern and crack the code). Easier than to remember all sorts of changing strategies per race which may confuse drivers during the race.

Imagine for example (just random guessing):

• "A" for "Alternativa" ("alternative" = invert track position with team mate) or Anteriore" ("before" = short stint with early pit stop)
• "B" for "Breve" (brief = only 1 pit stop) or "Bi" ("double" = double pit stop)
• "C" for "Cambio" ("change" = invert track position with team mate / pit stop soon)
• "D" for "Doppio" ("double" = double pitstop) or "Difesa" ("defense" = hold position or back up the cars behind)
• "E" for "Eccesso" ("excess" = long stint with late pitstop)

Keep an eye on what happens after hearing "plan" instructions to Ferrari drivers.

Attachment 3305052

Vettel drove like a madman and he showed with his finger to his head that it was so.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Sure he will, but the pressure is getting to the Russel boy too and if Checo gets his mojo back then he should get past...knowing that Slim is watching $$$

Russell will have received firm instructions to assist Hamilton in getting P2 in the WDC and to secure P2 for Mercedes in the WCC: *no* contact/impact with Hamilton, let Hamilton finish ahead of him, finish ahead of Ferrari (back up Ferrari behind). Otherwise said: Russel will have been Bottas'd for the remaining races of the season.

The points gap between P2 WDC (Perez) and P3 WDC (Hamilton) is exactly the same points gap as the one between P2 WCC (Mercedes) and P3 WCC (Ferrari): 27 points.

Toto Wolff desperately wants P2 for WDC and WCC. WCC results determine the millions that a team gets. The Qatar race was a disaster, with Hamilton squandering a golden chance for the team and himself to grab precious WDC and WCC points (Sainz did not start + weak Perez qualies + P2 and P3 start for Russell and Hamilton). So Russell must help.

As regards Perez: he is aware that his maecenas Carlos $lim will be watching too. Can he handle the pressure ? Personally I hope he will. He is capable to pull it off with the best car of the field, but he will require to remain super focused.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Vettel drove like a madman and he showed with his finger to his head that it was so.

The good old SEB

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Russell will have received firm instructions to assist Hamilton in getting P2 in the WDC and to secure P2 for Mercedes in the WCC: *no* contact/impact with Hamilton, let Hamilton finish ahead of him, finish ahead of Ferrari (back up Ferrari behind). Otherwise said: Russel will have been Bottas'd for the remaining races of the season.

The points gap between P2 WDC (Perez) and P3 WDC (Hamilton) is exactly the same points gap as the one between P2 WCC (Mercedes) and P3 WCC (Ferrari): 27 points.

Toto Wolff desperately wants P2 for WDC and WCC. WCC results determine the millions that a team gets. The Qatar race was a disaster, with Hamilton squandering a golden chance for the team and himself to grab precious WDC and WCC points (Sainz did not start + weak Perez qualies + P2 and P3 start for Russell and Hamilton). So Russell must help.

As regards Perez: he is aware that his maecenas Carlos $lim will be watching too. Can he handle the pressure ? Personally I hope he will. He is capable to pull it off with the best car of the field, but he will require to remain super focused.

Wolff's #BlitzKrieg !

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Russell will have received firm instructions to assist Hamilton in getting P2 in the WDC and to secure P2 for Mercedes in the WCC: *no* contact/impact with Hamilton, let Hamilton finish ahead of him, finish ahead of Ferrari (back up Ferrari behind). Otherwise said: Russel will have been Bottas'd for the remaining races of the season.

The points gap between P2 WDC (Perez) and P3 WDC (Hamilton) is exactly the same points gap as the one between P2 WCC (Mercedes) and P3 WCC (Ferrari): 27 points.

Toto Wolff desperately wants P2 for WDC and WCC. WCC results determine the millions that a team gets. The Qatar race was a disaster, with Hamilton squandering a golden chance for the team and himself to grab precious WDC and WCC points (Sainz did not start + weak Perez qualies + P2 and P3 start for Russell and Hamilton). So Russell must help.

As regards Perez: he is aware that his maecenas Carlos $lim will be watching too. Can he handle the pressure ? Personally I hope he will. He is capable to pull it off with the best car of the field, but he will require to remain super focused.

I know Wolff is after that second and Max ''could'' help Checo with that when or if the time comes and of course if he has the luxury of doing that..all depending if Checo can cut through the field.
Max knows Lew better that Lew knows Max.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

The good old SEB

Jekell and Hyde man

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Jekell and Hyde man

The rainbow beekeeper ..

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

The rainbow beekeeper ..

Only thing he can 'sting' with nowadays
Honey anybody?

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

I know Wolff is after that second and Max ''could'' help Checo with that when or if the time comes and of course if he has the luxury of doing that..all depending if Checo can cut through the field.
Max knows Lew better that Lew knows Max.

That's a Mission Impossible for MAX

Checo really s@cks in the qualification sessions , and drops to far back in the field .
That's why most races are just a mess for the Mexican ..
This while MAX is fighting in the front and is pushing hard to the next victory .

Within 2 hours , I fear the worst for Checo at P9 with Gasly and Ocon in front of him !

And MAX at P6 ?
He has also some serious work to do , with Charlie , Norris , LEW , Sainz and RUS in front of him ..
This are no pancakes my friend !
This time it won't be easy for MAX , but as we know with MAX you never know...
I think in normal circumstances and without incidents , he can do it (again)!

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Only thing he can 'sting' with nowadays
Honey anybody?

It's time to release the LION !

[Fillip]

10 minutes to go and I can't wait to get it started. The start should be really interesting to watch.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

It's time to release the LION !

Release the Lion from the cage and only one thing can happen !!
Lets hope the lion cub (Checo) can squeeze through also somehow

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Fillip

10 minutes to go and I can't wait to get it started. The start should be really interesting to watch.

Max is usually pretty good charging up the hill to the very wide left hander.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

I know Wolff is after that second and Max ''could'' help Checo with that when or if the time comes and of course if he has the luxury of doing that..all depending if Checo can cut through the field.
Max knows Lew better that Lew knows Max.

Different view point: Verstappen indirectly helps Perez by regularly impeding Hamilton to win any race since Abu Dhabi 2021, denying Hamilton the 25 race points time and time again and leaving him with a morally straining 'zero race victories' burden (a point of fact that Wolff and Hamilton would have never fathomed after 2021). When will Hamilton, at last, put the blocked 'race win wheel' back in motion ? Maybe today in Austin ? He has a reasonable chance with the start grid.

Furthermore, to protect Perez, if Verstappen has sufficient gap in the closing stages of the final races, he may be expected to pit for Fastest Lap to deny Hamilton also an FL bonus point.

There is nothing devious about that. It's motor racing. You win, ergo, someone else loses. Cause and effect.

Verstappen has the engine power and skills to back up Hamilton to give Perez chances to battle with Hamilton.

Toto Wolff will have nominated Russell as 'Mercedes Minister of Defense', instructed to back up both Verstappen and Perez at Austin to allow Hamilton to build a gap. It will be tough for Russell to keep an unleashed Verstappen behind him (Russell risks to be done and dusted during the first stage of the race), but Perez could face some serious Russell trouble and maybe even contact. Russell must defend. Hopefully no DNF for either Russell, Hamilton, Perez or Verstappen.

From hindsight: during the Sprint, Verstappen may have checked the capabilities of the Mercedes floor upgrade by 'offering' Hamilton a DRS window during the first 5 laps: which were the sections where Hamilton managed to get closer and where couldn't Hamilton keep up ? In Lap 5 Verstappen radioed: "Driveability is sure not there. I lost the rear completely.". His race engineer replied: "Could have been the gust of wind, Max". Right after that message Verstappen 'upped the ante', no DRS window anymore for Hamilton and Verstappen ran off into the distance building almost a 10 second gap at the checkered flag.