[DB118D]

New season underway today with day 1 of testing in Bahrain

Let the bickering commence!

[Watsey]

And Stroll is out of action before pre-season practice has even started.

Spanner.

[Danj94]

Going to Silverstone in July for the weekend and can't wait... I just hope Lewis, George of Lando are in the hunt for a world championship and Max hasn't already run away with it by then.

[Tengocity]

Interesting few days. Top 3 seeks to be the same, with Aston Martin looking to have made a significant step up, and McLaren a step backwards.

I read some interesting analysis yesterday that suggested both Ferrari and Mercedes will use completely different wings for the race this weekend, and for both those teams the last few days were about getting data to understand aspects of thr car and set up for other tracks. In particular, Ferrari struggled with low drag set ups hence using a really skinny wing for most of testing.

RBR undoubtedly look to have a great all round car however, with lots of balance and stability. I can imagine they had a few more powerful engine modes to go too.

[DB118D]

Think we saw the same last year to an extent.

The cars used in testing were very different from those that turned up on the grid on race weekend

RBR do look good - quick, unflappable and probably sandbagging a little

Ferrari - will Vasseur sort out the strategy nonsense that killed them last year?

Merc - who knows. Closer on outright laptime than last year, biggest contenders for sandbagging

AMR look to be good from the rest, McLaren have definitely dropped off

[JustChris]

Well that’s the end of the season.
Title to MV and Redbull. Mercedes 1sec a lap of the pace. Long long dull season ahead and Mercedes stubbornness to replace the No pods is not going well.

I didn’t watch the race or practice but assume it was pretty dominant by RB and fair play to them, embraced the rule changes the best.

[DaveA]

Have to say that without Alonso’s drive the F1 today would have been an almighty snooze-fest… As it was, it was enlivened slightly by Alonso’s chases and passes of Sainz and Hamilton… But until there is a proper and sustained challenge to RBR then I cannot see too much prospect of genuine entertainment… To be fair, RBR are just doing their job, but, even so, considering how much money is being spent, you have to ask “why” sometimes…

By comparison, the IndyCar from St Pete’s was edge of the seat stuff for most of the race…

[agentorange]

Originally Posted by DaveA

Have to say that without Alonso’s drive the F1 today would have been an almighty snooze-fest… As it was, it was enlivened slightly by Alonso’s chases and passes of Sainz and Hamilton… But until there is a proper and sustained challenge to RBR then I cannot see too much prospect of genuine entertainment… To be fair, RBR are just doing their job, but, even so, considering how much money is being spent, you have to ask “why” sometimes…

By comparison, the IndyCar from St Pete’s was edge of the seat stuff for most of the race…

Didn't see the F1 as I fell out with the local cable company some years ago and satellite is a goat rope here. Read the race reports and it looks ominous already.

That IndyCar race was very entertaining. However, after looking at the clag off the racing line, I hope that this year's tyres don't make all the tracks "one line" affairs through the corners.

[Watsey]

No complaints here in terms of the result, but it wasn't a particularly captivating race. Great to see Alonso on form and in a competitive car, but Ocon had an absolute shocker.

Looks like Mercedes is going to have to go back to the drawing board regarding fundamental aspects of its car, but that would presumably write-off its 2023 season. Changing the side pods and associated aero would have a huge knock-on in terms of the redesign, development, manufacture and installation of other components.

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by agentorange

That IndyCar race was very entertaining. However, after looking at the clag off the racing line, I hope that this year's tyres don't make all the tracks "one line" affairs through the corners.

The Long Beach event is definitely worth a visit if you get the opportunity…

Agreed regards the marbles off line. It was crazy.

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by Watsey

No complaints here in terms of the result, but it wasn't a particularly captivating race. Great to see Alonso on form and in a competitive car, but Ocon had an absolute shocker.
Looks like Mercedes is going to have to go back to the drawing board regarding fundamental aspects of its car, but that would presumably write-off its 2023 season. Changing the side pods and associated aero would have a huge knock-on in terms of the redesign, development, manufacture and installation of other components.

RBR clearly have a car that works especially well on the tyres in race conditions.. Looks to me very much like they can run harder/longer on any given set of tyres than others can… Less “deg”, as they say… and I think that was the case last year… and they possibly balance outright qualifying pace in the set up to maximise this.. basically, a well executed package…

I think this is more or less why Mercedes are thinking along the lines that they are… they understand they cannot cut the gap by organic development (as RBR are developing also) and if they cut losses, they do so right away to maximise budget spend on the new solution…

[JNW1]

Always dangerous to draw conclusions from only one race but if RBR hold a similar advantage at other circuits to what they showed at Bahrain it's difficult to see anyone closing the gap quickly enough to stop them taking both the driver and constructor titles.

I didn't find the race terribly interesting yesterday with for me the only highlight being Alonso's efforts in the Aston Martin; pity neither he nor Hamilton is in a Red Bull as that way at least Verstappen would have some competition. As it is, if the Red Bull is indeed the dominant car, I think Max will just cruise to a 3rd consecutive title - just don't see Perez matching his pace often enough to give him a problem over the course of a full season.

[DB118D]

Originally Posted by JNW1

just don't see Perez matching his pace often enough to give him a problem over the course of a full season.

Or being allowed to.

The team is set up around Max. Checo is Bottas with a better grasp of Spanish. Good for the occasional win if the number 1 has an off day, but there to score as many points from 2nd down as possible

[SimonBMW1]

will be a boring year, not even ferrari are giving RBR competition.
Max has had all 3 WDC so easy.

1st one handed down via FIA powers.
2nd no competition and a cheating car.
3rd one is probably the result of cheating by RBR in 2022.

Only saving grace may be that their is a stat. that the one who wins the opening race, has never been champ. Hoping this come true.


Year First race winner Drivers’ champion First race-winning constructor Constructors’ champion
2020 Bottas Hamilton Mercedes Mercedes
2021 Hamilton Verstappen Mercedes Mercedes
2022 Leclerc Verstappen Ferrari Red Bull

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...v=79cba1185463

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by SimonBMW1

Only saving grace may be that their is a stat. that the one who wins the opening race, has never been champ. Hoping this come true.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...v=79cba1185463

That's not true and isn't even what the article you've linked actually says...

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by DB118D

Or being allowed to.

The team is set up around Max. Checo is Bottas with a better grasp of Spanish. Good for the occasional win if the number 1 has an off day, but there to score as many points from 2nd down as possible

You're right but I doubt Perez will be capable of matching Verstappen's pace often enough for team orders to be required....

[Danny Fireblade]

What are the odds of Mercedes totally ditching their zero side pod direction and blatantly copying a teams side pods that actually work?
Would they have the budget or tokens available to do this? Surely they could have seen that if it didn’t work last year then it won’t this year too?
Hopefully future races are closer up the front as it will be a bit boring for winners otherwise, I can see 2nd place being the new 1st place😂😂

[Wills2]

Its going to be interesting to see what happens with Mercedes and their concept after all there is a cost cap so they can't just throw money at it.

RB the class of the field and Alonso loving his weekend, I guess it's just one race and things might be different at other tracks but Mercedes will be in a 3 way fight for best of the rest as it stands today.

[SimonBMW1]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Its going to be interesting to see what happens with Mercedes and their concept after all there is a cost cap so they can't just throw money at it.

RB the class of the field and Alonso loving his weekend, I guess it's just one race and things might be different at other tracks but Mercedes will be in a 3 way fight for best of the rest as it stands today.

Break the cost cap, Red bull done it last year and just got a reduction in wind tunnel time. Time for Merc and Ferrari to test the FIA who love whiny spice.

Would love to see whiny spice moan some more.

[SimonBMW1]

Originally Posted by JNW1

That's not true and isn't even what the article you've linked actually says...

Its a social media hype tbh. But look at the last years. Got to hold of on any hope really to believe MAX the C U N T wont win.

2022 Lec Wins first, Ves Champ
2021 Ham Wins 1. Ves only champ on paper tbh. True champ is HAM.
2020 Botas Wins, Ham Champ
2019 Botas Wim, Ham Champ
2018 Vet wins, Ham Champ
2017 Vet wins Ham Champ

I think 2023 is Alonso Champ. Just a feeling lol. Put a bet on too.

[winther1]

Pretty evident from the opening race that RBR/Max is untouchable. I have no reason to think that will change.
So I will not be watching the F1 this year for the excitement about who will be the winner.
Guess I will be scrolling through the highlights looking for drivers creating a bit of drama as they are making mistakes.
The downfall of Merc/ham has really deflated the sport

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by SimonBMW1

Its a social media hype tbh. But look at the last years. Got to hold of on any hope really to believe MAX the C U N T wont win.

2022 Lec Wins first, Ves Champ
2021 Ham Wins 1. Ves only champ on paper tbh. True champ is HAM.
2020 Botas Wins, Ham Champ
2019 Botas Wim, Ham Champ
2018 Vet wins, Ham Champ
2017 Vet wins Ham Champ

It might be the case recently but the comment you made was the driver who won the first race has never gone on to become world champion and that's not even close to being true. For example, if you take the years 1989 to 1998 inclusive the driver who won the first race finished as world champion in nine of those ten seasons - there are a number of other examples outside that time period as well....