5252 replies to this topic

[Clrnc]

The Mclaren is horrible here. Just no pace at all. Their race pace is even worse.

People keep talking about them like they have RedBull 2023 car but fact is there are too many races this year where Ferrari and like today Mercedes is way faster than them

[sterlingfan2000]

Russell is probably the most underrated driver on the grid at the moment.

I'd rate him only behind Verstappen and Leclerc.

Leclerc is one lap merchant in my book. Russell and Verstappen are the best drivers on the grid

Edited by sterlingfan2000, 23 November 2024 - 07:27.

[Muppetmad]

Nicely done by Russell, Sainz and Gasly. Leclerc lost too much in S1, but he remains in the mix for tomorrow. Hamilton needs a change of scenery.

[RPM40]

The Mclaren is horrible here. Just no pace at all. Their race pace is even worse.

People keep talking about them like they have RedBull 2023 car but fact is there are too many races this year where Ferrari and like today Mercedes is way faster than them

 

They've had the quickest car on average this year for sure, but its certainly no rocketship.

[Diablobb81]

McLaren drivers should be careful not to throw the WCC, too.

[jacdaniel]

The Mclaren is horrible here. Just no pace at all. Their race pace is even worse.

People keep talking about them like they have RedBull 2023 car but fact is there are too many races this year where Ferrari and like today Mercedes is way faster than them

Not at all.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Russell is probably the most underrated driver on the grid at the moment.

I'd rate him only behind Verstappen and Leclerc.

George is rapid, it’s a shame he hasn’t had a car consistently fast enough to battle for wins.

[Clrnc]

They've had the quickest car on average this year for sure, but its certainly no rocketship.

Yup. That's about right.

Basically a RB 2009, fastest overall but cant grind down Brawn's early rocketship advantage

[Archaean]

You really have to laugh a little about Hamilton, Leclerc and Norris . Great job Sainz and Russel and even Verstappen with a difficult car.

Why put Norris in there, McLaren didn't have the pace all day. Unlike Hamilton and Leclerc who bottled it.

[Gary Davies]

The bloke being spat out of Ferrari on the front row. The bloke taking his seat… 10th. 
Ri-ight…

[Clrnc]

Hamilton was unlucky tbh. He had the pace to beat Russell today

[registered]

Making a mistake is not unlucky

[OO7]

Hamilton was unlucky tbh. He had the pace to beat Russell today

It wasn't down to bad luck, he fumbled it.

[Ncedi]

Making a mistake is not unlucky

2 mistakes...

[RPM40]

Yup. That's about right.

Basically a RB 2009, fastest overall but cant grind down Brawn's early rocketship advantage

 

Its more just the car advantage McLaren has hasn't been enough to overcome the driver advantage RBR has. McLaren still should have won twice as many races and the title.

[This and that]

The Mclaren is horrible here. Just no pace at all. Their race pace is even worse.

People keep talking about them like they have RedBull 2023 car but fact is there are too many races this year where Ferrari and like today Mercedes is way faster than them

Race pace even worse? You'll correct that info tomorrow, when most people in front start losing it within the first 7-8 laps. It's all going to be about the race pace, and McLaren have clearly sacrificed the one lap pace, even though their statements are probably going to say otherwise. We've seen it so many times in the past.

Edited by This and that, 23 November 2024 - 07:33.

[Gary Davies]

Gasly in the pink.   

[RPM40]

Hamilton was unlucky tbh. He had the pace to beat Russell today

 

Sadly for Lewis whenever he shows early weekend pace it either evaporates or he makes errors.

Toto shouldn't have said what he said as its disrespectful, but I do agree that he is now past his prime.

 

But still the goat.

[Ncedi]

Gasly! What a lap, man is rapid with the right car...

Also, Yuki out-qualifying a mercedes and a Mclaren, his teammate (by a landslide). What more does he have to do for that seat??

[TomNokoe]

Hamilton was unlucky tbh. He had the pace to beat Russell today

He had three attempts and flunked them all

[Gary Davies]

Yuki out-qualifying a mercedes and a Mclaren, his teammate (by a landslide). What more does he have to do for that seat??

Well… Marko to the retirement home and Horner to another team/organisation/rôle.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

He had three attempts and flunked them all

Exactly, people cut Hamilton way too much slack, just call it how it is, when the opportunity has been there to get pole position this season, he has not delivered the goods. I wasn’t surprised that Russell got pole when Mercedes clearly looked to be in contention, Hamilton flatters to deceive in practice sessions when the car is quick.

[Button4life]

Russell has been the best driver after Max this season

[OvDrone]

Welcome to the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix Race Day OP within the Lost Wages thread



Hello and good day night or ??? whatever time of the mundane solar cycle you are tuning in from. Great news, we have a glorious Championship battle on our hands:



Rejoice for the 3rd long break of the 2024 Formula 1 season, the November break, has ended as we have less than 24 hours til the lights go out for the start of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.

And you know what this means...



Good God, it's so hard to find an actual picture of a cat on google now, it's just AI slop - what have we done

...yeah that's right! It means that we are just TWO WEEKS away from the launch of the best thread of the year on these beloved Forums - the Countdown thread!

I know, I know, I can't barely hide my excitement ( I am actually half joking ) and we are in luck that we'll have three more Grand Prix to make that time go faster. Here's all the info you all need in advance to the start of the triple header:

Q3 just ended so here's your starting grid for tomorrow's race:



Your opening time of the casino for all you gambling addicts from across the globe:



Your tyres for this race ( I honestly have no idea what any of this means. I only know that Nascar has better rain tyres than F1 ) :



Your weather forecast:



Your track guide:



Your commentary team:



Your new race director:



Your race stewards:



Your FIA president:



Your F1 Paddock ( through the pov of Danca Patrick ) :



Your new Perez replacement theory:



Your greatest challenge:



Your 2024 World Champion*:



The fans are ready to pack the stands:



Or at least the AI is enjoying this race:

By far my most favorite part of this weekend so far:



Well that's all folks. Thank you to Lost Wages thread committee for reaching out to me to do this OP, to Gareth for the help setting this up and for all of you that make this place so fun. Let's have a great one  
And now with this being another early race, please allow me to turn my brain off and just watch the silly fast cars and partake in the banter. Cheers

[RPM40]

Russell has been the best driver after Max this season

 

People still underrating Leclerc, p3 in that car.

 

He could still finish ahead of both McLaren drivers in the championship and has 60+ points on Sainz.

[Button4life]

People still underrating Leclerc, p3 in that car.

He could still finish ahead of both McLaren drivers in the championship and has 60+ points on Sainz.

Fair I forgot about Leclerc. Best driver after Leclerc and Max then

[RPM40]

Russell has the same amount of wins as Piastri. That is a surprising stat.

[Hellenic tifosi]

I think Mclaren might have been compromised by a suboptimal Q1-Q2, where they used three sets. Hats of to Russell, Mercedes and obviously Gasly!

[gillesfan76]

Sorry but after listening to Lewis’ interview, I think his approach to Q3 was amateurish. Of course the usual caveat, that I don’t know the details but what it looks to me and corresponding with his own comments that everything felt fine, was that he just doesn’t have a good approach to putting in a banker lap. The lock up on the first Q3 run was a small mistake, but it was only made because he was trying to approach the limit on what should have been a banker lap. What that did was put him under pressure on his second and final Q3 lap, where he has a choice of now being safe or still trying to go for it and he went for it, applied a bit too much throttle in again testing the limit to get the best time, and got a snap oversteer and lost the lap.

 

Braking half a tenth earlier on that banker lap would have netted a decent enough time, and he wouldn’t have had to over drive on the final lap.

[TomNokoe]

Sorry but after listening to Lewis’ interview, I think his approach to Q3 was amateurish. Of course the usual caveat, that I don’t know the details but what it looks to me and corresponding with his own comments that everything felt fine, was that he just doesn’t have a good approach to putting in a banker lap. The lock up on the first Q3 run was a small mistake, but it was only made because he was trying to approach the limit on what should have been a banker lap. What that did was put him under pressure on his second and final Q3 lap, where he has a choice of now being safe or still trying to go for it and he went for it, applied a bit too much throttle in again testing the limit to get the best time, and got a snap oversteer and lost the lap.

 

Braking half a tenth earlier on that banker lap would have netted a decent enough time, and he wouldn’t have had to over drive on the final lap.

What did I say Hungary 2017 ........

[BoDarvelle]

Looks like Gasly got a bit of a tow. He was purple the first four mini sectors in the third sector with what is reportedly the PU with the least power.

[Clrnc]

Russell has the same amount of wins as Piastri. That is a surprising stat.

Piastri won twice, Russell won once this year only, should have won 3 but was unlucky

[Clrnc]

Fair I forgot about Leclerc. Best driver after Leclerc and Max then

Ferrari is on average the 2nd fastest car this year IMO. They are by far the best in slow corners, nobody even come close. 

 

In Aus, Monaco, Italy, Baku, US, Mexico they have the fastest car. That's 25% of the races

[sportyskells]

It’s not a Grand Prix without a willaims stamtment so for maybe the 2nd race running we MIGHT be at 19 cars depending in Coalpinto is not clear to race

[Anja]

Piastri won twice, Russell won once this year only, should have won 3 but was unlucky

 

On the other hand he was lucky to get that one win. 

[Deeq]

What is wrong erm "right" with Alpine? Is it lost seems to be at the wrong end of the grid for a dry race 🙃😋

[Nemo1965]

Don’t know if anyone posted this already, but this was brutal. Glove Perez rating Real Perez:

https://imgur.com/a/8KlT5XW

[Button4life]

Don’t know if anyone posted this already, but this was brutal. Glove Perez rating Real Perez:

https://imgur.com/a/8KlT5XW

Is this real? Would be quite funny if it is.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Is this real? Would be quite funny if it is.

Yeah it was after he failed to make Q2, the Sphere delivering high level meme material.

[RedRabbit]

Gasly! What a lap, man is rapid with the right car...

Also, Yuki out-qualifying a mercedes and a Mclaren, his teammate (by a landslide). What more does he have to do for that seat??

You said it in your first sentence. Gasly just put an Alpine into P3 after a podium in the previous race.

Tsunoda just doesn't deliver those results, and got manhandled by Gasly for 2 years. He's basically at his ceiling and never shown anything special. Just bang average or solid, with a temper that writes cheques (checks) his results can't cash.

[Spillage]

Russell's driving in the second half of this season has been very impressive. If Mercedes get their act together he could be a decent punt for the world championship next year.

[Ncedi]

You said it in your first sentence. Gasly just put an Alpine into P3 after a podium in the previous race.

Tsunoda just doesn't deliver those results, and got manhandled by Gasly for 2 years. He's basically at his ceiling and never shown anything special. Just bang average or solid, with a temper that writes cheques (checks) his results can't cash.

Wasn't comparing them, both had great qualifying sessions and have both performed over the last 2 GPs (and this season overall). Don't share your opinion in respect of Yuki but to each their own, you're entitled to it.

[cyclist]

You said it in your first sentence. Gasly just put an Alpine into P3 after a podium in the previous race.

Tsunoda just doesn't deliver those results, and got manhandled by Gasly for 2 years. He's basically at his ceiling and never shown anything special. Just bang average or solid, with a temper that writes cheques (checks) his results can't cash.

Tsunoda is a weird driver to rate. He seems very fast on occasion, more in qualifying than in the race, but often flies totally under the radar. Perception is a weird thing but whereas Gasly always had some highlights in their AT days, like a podium or a win, Tsunoda never had one. Had they not pitted him in Brazil and had he managed a podium there things might be different, but they are not. He just seems to inconsistent and not strong enough mentally.

[JHSingo]

Russell's driving in the second half of this season has been very impressive. If Mercedes get their act together he could be a decent punt for the world championship next year.

 

I could see this. I've felt for a while that Russell is a much stronger driver than Norris, it's just that he's had to drive pretty crap Mercs for the past three seasons that has hidden it. 

[P123]

Russell's driving in the second half of this season has been very impressive. If Mercedes get their act together he could be a decent punt for the world championship next year.

 

Russell has been on it all year.  A properly front running car and he would be challenging.  His F2 season was hugely impressive, as was his first year at Merc, so he knows how to string a full season together.   Next year may be a stretch for Merc as they still seem to be unaware as to what makes them fast and why, but the new regs could bring Merc back to the front.   Antonelli may be sniffing about too- I'd be disappointed if he was 'just '(all relative!) another Piastri. 

[Wuzak]

Russell's driving in the second half of this season has been very impressive. If Mercedes get their act together he could be a decent punt for the world championship next year.

 

Some of the things the drivers have been saying remind me of Ferrari from last year.

 

Such as that the car is unpredictable, that they aren't confident what it will do from one corner to the next (earlier in the year), and that they didn't expect to be fast this weekend, and they don't know why.

[sterlingfan2000]

Whoever starts with the Hard Tyre , will win this race. Mark my words

[JimmyClark]

I'm currently in the Philippines somewhere, spend much of my time on boats away from the internet, and just saw the grid... What the hell, was it drawn out of a hat?

[sportyskells]

We might start with 19 cars as we need to wait for word if colapinto gets the   or  from the doctors 

[DS27]

Ferrari getting a downgrade for a old washed Hamilton replacing a young driver like sainz

 

 

I would say they will clearly regret the decision next year, in fact, I believe they are already regretting it, but obviously cannot say this. Hamilton is clearly a little past his best, and he will only get slower, and make more mistakes as he gets another year or two older. It's just a sad fact of life that this happens.

 

I feel sorry for his fans having to watch it really. I found watching MS come back and perform below his best really difficult at times, though he was perhaps judged a bit to harsh as at that time most didn't realise how good Rosberg actually was.