The Official F1 Thread

[Guy Smiley]

Yeah, it’s phenomenal. Again with the graphic, that’s showing upwards of 3.5G through some of the bends. You can see the damage to the track surface in Eau Rouge / Radillon just from the tyre loading. I can’t imagine what it might feel like coming up and over that crest... they’re tapped flat all the way through there.

I had time to watch a bit more than usual yesterday... the little slips tell their own stories. Max and Vettel both had oversteer moments that they caught quickly but the movement itself was weird to watch... usually once it steps out you see them come round really quickly but both just stepped out and caught again very quickly. The grip levels are surreal.

[Kawazaki]

Yeah, it’s phenomenal. Again with the graphic, that’s showing upwards of 3.5G through some of the bends. You can see the damage to the track surface in Eau Rouge / Radillon just from the tyre loading. I can’t imagine what it might feel like coming up and over that crest... they’re tapped flat all the way through there.

I had time to watch a bit more than usual yesterday... the little slips tell their own stories. Max and Vettel both had oversteer moments that they caught quickly but the movement itself was weird to watch... usually once it steps out you see them come round really quickly but both just stepped out and caught again very quickly. The grip levels are surreal.

These drivers are so in touch with each corner of the car, they can detect a loss of traction and react to it virtually instantaneously. They feel it through their seat, vibrations through the peddles and of course the steering wheel. I thought Hamilton was particularly impressive in Q1 and Q2 through the final chicane before the start/finish straight. He actually looked quite ragged through there sliding the car around, inconsistent over the curbs etc until you saw him through that technical corner in Q3 where the car rotated perfectly and looked perfectly level throughout and very very quick. Hamilton was finding the limits in Q1/Q2 so he could nail it in Q3.

[Mr Bungle]

We need rain. These 2020 cars going round corners at 220kph flat is just insane.

Wait till we get the Venturi tunnels on the 2022 cars. Fast corners might as well be straights then

The on board footage was amazing... that graphic imposed on the halo is fantastic. Coming down out of turn 9, the ‘corner with no name’ and through the series of lefts running down hill, Hamilton was tapped, showing 295km/h.

Pretty sure at the end of Q3 Norris was pulling 315km/h through the same section. Madness.

[Sandstorm]

Wait till we get the Venturi tunnels on the 2022 cars. Fast corners might as well be straights then

The on board footage was amazing... that graphic imposed on the halo is fantastic. Coming down out of turn 9, the ‘corner with no name’ and through the series of lefts running down hill, Hamilton was tapped, showing 295km/h.

Pretty sure at the end of Q3 Norris was pulling 315km/h through the same section. Madness.

20kph faster than Hamilton? He qualified 10th, no chance!!!

[Saint]

The on board footage was amazing... that graphic imposed on the halo is fantastic. Coming down out of turn 9, the ‘corner with no name’ and through the series of lefts running down hill, Hamilton was tapped, showing 295km/h.

Pretty sure at the end of Q3 Norris was pulling 315km/h through the same section. Madness.

20kph faster than Hamilton? He qualified 10th, no chance!!!

Certainly not in sector 2. The Mercedes is running high downforce - they get away with it in sectors 1 & 3 because they have the power to more or less keep up, but in sector 2 they're blowing everyone away. Hamilton's pole is built on being faster than anybody in sector 2 by a country mile, and turn 9 is slap bang in the middle of it.

But in the first or third sectors, he's running something like 6th or 7th fastest - most other cars are running a Monza wing so they're seriously quick there, especially if they get a slipstream

[Mr Bungle]

Pretty sure at the end of Q3 Norris was pulling 315km/h through the same section. Madness.

20kph faster than Hamilton? He qualified 10th, no chance!!!

Certainly not in sector 2. The Mercedes is running high downforce - they get away with it in sectors 1 & 3 because they have the power to more or less keep up, but in sector 2 they're blowing everyone away. Hamilton's pole is built on being faster than anybody in sector 2 by a country mile, and turn 9 is slap bang in the middle of it.

But in the first or third sectors, he's running something like 6th or 7th fastest - most other cars are running a Monza wing so they're seriously quick there, especially if they get a slipstream

Thanks chaps. Norris must have been in sector 3.

[Guy Smiley]

I’ve just caught a replay of highlights...

I think you may have confused the series of lefts I was talking about with the next section Mr Bungle. Norris was hitting well over 300km/h through that as they all were, it’s the flat sector leading up to the chicane before the start finish straight. I meant the downhill series of lefts leading down to the hard right left combination before that.

I don’t know the name of the corners

[Mr Bungle]

Spa is such a great looking track amongst the trees.

[Saint]

I’ve just caught a replay of highlights...

I think you may have confused the series of lefts I was talking about with the next section Mr Bungle. Norris was hitting well over 300km/h through that as they all were, it’s the flat sector leading up to the chicane before the start finish straight. I meant the downhill series of lefts leading down to the hard right left combination before that.

I don’t know the name of the corners

OK...

The downhill lefts start with turn 9 ("no name") through 10 and 11.

The flat lefts leading to the chicane is 16 (Blanchimont) through to the actual famous Bus Stop chicane

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Pretty sure at the end of Q3 Norris was pulling 315km/h through the same section. Madness.

20kph faster than Hamilton? He qualified 10th, no chance!!!

Certainly not in sector 2. The Mercedes is running high downforce - they get away with it in sectors 1 & 3 because they have the power to more or less keep up, but in sector 2 they're blowing everyone away. Hamilton's pole is built on being faster than anybody in sector 2 by a country mile, and turn 9 is slap bang in the middle of it.

But in the first or third sectors, he's running something like 6th or 7th fastest - most other cars are running a Monza wing so they're seriously quick there, especially if they get a slipstream

Should make for an interesting opening lap if we've a number quicker in a straight line

[Saint]

20kph faster than Hamilton? He qualified 10th, no chance!!!

Certainly not in sector 2. The Mercedes is running high downforce - they get away with it in sectors 1 & 3 because they have the power to more or less keep up, but in sector 2 they're blowing everyone away. Hamilton's pole is built on being faster than anybody in sector 2 by a country mile, and turn 9 is slap bang in the middle of it.

But in the first or third sectors, he's running something like 6th or 7th fastest - most other cars are running a Monza wing so they're seriously quick there, especially if they get a slipstream

Should make for an interesting opening lap if we've a number quicker in a straight line

The first drag up the hill will be the opportunity to make a move. Once the Mercedes hit sector 2 they will be gooooooonnnnnnneeeeee

Unfortunately it looks like the rain may arrive just that bit too late to spice things up

[Kawazaki]

Certainly not in sector 2. The Mercedes is running high downforce - they get away with it in sectors 1 & 3 because they have the power to more or less keep up, but in sector 2 they're blowing everyone away. Hamilton's pole is built on being faster than anybody in sector 2 by a country mile, and turn 9 is slap bang in the middle of it.

But in the first or third sectors, he's running something like 6th or 7th fastest - most other cars are running a Monza wing so they're seriously quick there, especially if they get a slipstream

Should make for an interesting opening lap if we've a number quicker in a straight line

The first drag up the hill will be the opportunity to make a move. Once the Mercedes hit sector 2 they will be gooooooonnnnnnneeeeee

Unfortunately it looks like the rain may arrive just that bit too late to spice things up

Ferrari with and without cheat mode enabled.

[Sandstorm]

Saint out, won’t start. Exhaust failure.

[Guy Smiley]

Sainz out without even making the grid, exhaust failure on the warmup.

[A6D6E6]

Sainz out without even making the grid, exhaust failure on the warmup.

Twice in one day! Poor bastard.

[Guy Smiley]

Sainz out without even making the grid, exhaust failure on the warmup.

Twice in one day! Poor bastard.

Was that old news? I’d just switched over from the SBK race and thought it was live.

[Sandstorm]

Sainz out without even making the grid, exhaust failure on the warmup.

Twice in one day! Poor bastard.

Was that old news? I’d just switched over from the SBK race and thought it was live.

He’s shanking your chain.

[Guy Smiley]

Yeah I saw it after I posted...

I reckon everyone on the soft tyres is going to change them soon and that’s about the only thing that might save another procession.

[Sandstorm]

*does a little rain dance*

[tcc_dc]

Bottas wants to push...team tells him they agreed not to...Bottas...I never heard that

[Guy Smiley]

Bottas wants to push...team tells him they agreed not to...Bottas...I never heard that

Yes, that was good.

Bit of a crash here eh chaps

[tcc_dc]

Giovinazzi and Russell come together...probably red coming out

[Sandstorm]

Giovinazzi and Russell come together...probably red coming out

Russel hits loose wheel. VERY lucky!

[Bimbowomxn]

This is quite sad for Ferrari.

[P in VG]

What a shite race

[ScarfaceClaw]

That was dull. Spectacularly dull.

[Sandstorm]

That was dull. Spectacularly dull.

And this is supposed to be the most exciting track in the world!!! Ferrari so far off the pace and F1 basically sux.

[Saint]

That was dull. Spectacularly dull.

And this is supposed to be the most exciting track in the world!!! Ferrari so far off the pace and F1 basically sux.

One stop racing. Everyone on the same strategy, everyone conserving tyres. The lead drive in the lead car was 6 seconds faster than his teammate, and 12 seconds faster than the 2nd best driver.

[Sandstorm]

That was dull. Spectacularly dull.

And this is supposed to be the most exciting track in the world!!! Ferrari so far off the pace and F1 basically sux.

One stop racing. Everyone on the same strategy, everyone conserving tyres. The lead drive in the lead car was 6 seconds faster than his teammate, and 12 seconds faster than the 2nd best driver.

I’d like to see DRS stay open through a couple of fast corners.

[Saint]

And this is supposed to be the most exciting track in the world!!! Ferrari so far off the pace and F1 basically sux.

One stop racing. Everyone on the same strategy, everyone conserving tyres. The lead drive in the lead car was 6 seconds faster than his teammate, and 12 seconds faster than the 2nd best driver.

I’d like to see DRS stay open through a couple of fast corners.

Will never happen on safety grounds

[Sandstorm]

Will never happen on safety grounds

Boooooooooo

[Un Pilier]

Will never happen on safety grounds

Boooooooooo

You know what would happen without the downforce n’est pas?

[Sandstorm]

Will never happen on safety grounds

Boooooooooo

You know what would happen without the downforce n’est pas?

Safety car

[Guy Smiley]

I remember being excited at the news Mercedes were rejoining the F1 world. Remember those days?

[Saint]

Boooooooooo

You know what would happen without the downforce n’est pas?

Safety car

I think it's the reason why you're going to need the safety car that's critical to this decision

[Saint]

Anyway, what does anyone think the chances are that Binotto will still be team principal after Monza next week? Particularly bearing in mind that the following week will be at Mugello - a track actually owned by Ferrari?

[Guy Smiley]

Anyway, what does anyone think the chances are that Binotto will still be team principal after Monza next week? Particularly bearing in mind that the following week will be at Mugello - a track actually owned by Ferrari?

Not good.

The customer cars have more pace than the factory cars. If they don’t work out where they went wrong with their package and find some speed to at least equal those cars then would the next sacrificial goat please step forward.

[Un Pilier]

Anyway, what does anyone think the chances are that Binotto will still be team principal after Monza next week? Particularly bearing in mind that the following week will be at Mugello - a track actually owned by Ferrari?

Not good.

The customer cars have more pace than the factory cars. If they don’t work out where they went wrong with their package and find some speed to at least equal those cars then would the next sacrificial goat please step forward.

Agree. He certainly needs some help at the very least and seems to be carrying too many roles but I think it’s worse than that - his credibility and authority must be shot to bits. The way Vettel talks to the team speaks volumes.

[Bimbowomxn]

The way Vettel talks to the team speaks volumes.

Very good point.

[Sandstorm]

The way Vettel talks to the team speaks volumes.

Very good point.

Yesterday he asked his engineer what their tyre strategy was mid-race: "We'll get back to you"