1054 replies to this topic

[TomNokoe]

RACE START 1310 UK / 1410 EUROPE / see graphic

 

--

 

We're still hours from lights out, but already we've seen: Faulty drain covers, collisions with bridges, abandoned sessions, marshalls run over, umpteen yellow flags, Leclerc into the Tecpro, Ferrari's pace disappearing, Perez qualifying P5 (!), and a surprise polesitter.

 

We could only be in one place...

 

Never mind BONKERS BAKU, maybe we're all living in BOTTAS BAKU?

 

 

Welcome to RACE DAY for ROUND 4 of the 2019 FIA FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

 

 

 

*Kubica pit lane start confirmed

**Kimi pit lane start confirmed

 

--

 

Mercedes locked out of the front row as they aim for a fourth consecutive 1-2 finish. Their Friday race pace (cooler temps) and quali speed (cooler temps) was frightening, but the race should be a different story.

 

At any other Grand Prix, this would already be damage limitation for Ferrari. Vettel starts directly behind the Mercedes and Leclerc will be on the alternate strategy from P9.

 

Red Bull and Verstappen will again play a supporting role, but had very encouraging pace yesterday. A reminder of Honda's engine upgrade - higher modes for longer during the race. What can Gasly do from the pitlane?

 

Racing Point and Perez will have one eye on another Baku podium if the top guys run into each other again. But I'm sure they would take P5 here and now. Stroll has been off the pace all weekend.

 

Toro Rosso have been the surprise of the weekend. F2 2018 polesitter Alex Albon showed his form but it was Kvyat who starred in Q3. A day for both to look forwards.

 

McLaren flattered to deceive continue their upward trajectory. Sainz was unlucky not to make Q3 but Young Lando was there to pick up the pieces. A double points finish to make up for early season woes?

 

Alfa Romeo remain bonafide midfielders but will be pleased Giovinazzi regained his speed. Kimi was caught out in the Battle of the Slipstreamers™ but will no doubt navigate his way around the predicted carnage.

 

Renault have been struggling all weekend. It will be a race for both to keep it on the black stuff and see where they land at the flag.

 

Haas cannot make head-nor-tail of the Pirelli rubber at the moment. They continue to languish in the very depths of the midfield.

 

And finally, Williams will simply be hoping for no more bad news. An outside shot of a point? It would be just rewards after a nightmare weekend.

 

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(Needs no further explanation)

 

 

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Pls see race thread poll and post assorted predictions, GIFs, program covers, track temperature updates below ...

Edited by TomNokoe, 28 April 2019 - 10:26.

[FirstnameLastname]

Lights out and wer-hey we go!!

[Ivanhoe]

I expect nothing else than another 1-2 for Mercedes

[TomNokoe]

F2 Sprint Race KLAXON

F2 thread

[NoForumForOldPole]

Leclerc 5th by lap 2?

[TomNokoe]

Kubica pitlane start

[cheekybru]

My money's on LeClerc*

*not actually made a bet or anything, what are his odds like?

[JonnyJ]

My money's on LeClerc*

*not actually made a bet or anything, what are his odds like?

I stuck a fiver on him at 8/1. Also put some on on him to get FL at 7/2.

[karl100589]

#anyonebutmercedes

[SophieB]

@tgruener
An Alfa Romeo team representative has been summoned to the stewards. Kimi Raikkonens car didn't pass the front wing deflection test. That could mean trouble.

#AMuS #F1 #AzerbaijanGP

[TomNokoe]

Pitlane for Kimi? Leclerc P8 if so

Edited by TomNokoe, 28 April 2019 - 09:36.

[CL16]

Ferarri B team helping their man up the grid

[MonkeySpin]

I don't understand this 1hr early talk.

 

It was always 13:10 UK time???

[TomNokoe]

I don't understand this 1hr early talk.

It was always 13:10 UK time???

Most "European" races start 1410 UK. Just a heads up for those who are on autopilot.

Edited by TomNokoe, 28 April 2019 - 09:40.

[rodlamas]

I wonder on which tires Leclerc will start. What does the rules say?

[TomNokoe]

I wonder on which tires Leclerc will start. What does the rules say?

He is starting on Mediums. Pirelli/FIA will select a comparable set. He lightly used Mediums in FP1 before red flag. They were handed back to Pirelli. These would be my guess.

[Pits]

Verstappen will fly this race and goes 2nd in the first corner, after that he uses the undercut to take the win...

[rodlamas]

He is starting on Mediums. Pirelli/FIA will select a comparable set. He lightly used Mediums in FP1 before red flag. They were handed back to Pirelli. These would be my guess.

That is actually the sole possibility (other than brand new mediums)

[Thursday]

I want a nice quick race with no safety cars or red flags. The man City match starts at 2 and I want to watch the second half at least so no delays in the GP.

 

I'm hoping for Hulkenberg to make it to the finish for once and a miracle point for Williams but the big question is what will the national anthem be like.

First year we had the fantastically creepy children singing. In 2017 a woman in a massive flag dress but last year was a just pretty woman in a nice frock. If this downward trend to normality continues it will be a woman in a cocktail dress this year and a bloke in a suit next.

[TomNokoe]

That is actually the sole possibility (other than brand new mediums)

Marklar says that Pirelli can select any compound from any team.

[Ivanhoe]

I wonder on which tires Leclerc will start. What does the rules say?

Article 24.4 j of the Sporting Regulations

Any such tyres damaged during Q2 will be inspected by the FIA technical delegate who will decide, at his absolute discretion, whether any may be replaced and, if so, which tyres they should be replaced with.

So first it has to be established if there’s a safety issue and then the replacement is at FIA’s discretion.

Edited by Ivanhoe, 28 April 2019 - 09:52.

[Kalmake]

He barely locked up so right front could be the only replacement.

[BuddyHolly]

Really looking forward to this one, tbh if the race is half as entertaining as FP and qually was, then it'll be 500% better than China.

(my works are running a 'What lap will Vettel spin on' lottery, I got laps 12-15.  haha)

 

I'd love to see Leclerc do well but can he get around lap 1-2 with his FW intact?  hopefully and hopefully a non Merc winner or the title is done.

Edited by BuddyHolly, 28 April 2019 - 10:14.

[FirstnameLastname]

My picks for the ‘In the wall’ sweepstake;

Kvyat
Kubica
Stroll
Grosjean

[TomNokoe]

FP3 (1400 local)
Air 17
Track 44

Start of quali (1700 local)
Air 16
Track 37

End of quali (1830 local)
Air 15
Track 26

--

CURRENTLY (1420 local)
Air 18
Track 45

Race start 1600 local

Edited by TomNokoe, 28 April 2019 - 10:20.

[sportyskells]

Erm, I think there is a very late change of grid

[1Devil1]

I don't have a good feeling for Vettel or Leclerc. This races is going to be chaos and Ferrari always choked in the last years while Mercedes played it cool and picked up the maximum points (with occasional Red Bull in the mix).

Edited by 1Devil1, 28 April 2019 - 10:26.

[jimjimjeroo]

Tata Raikonnen see you in the pits

[ConsiderAndGo]

Leclerc starts 8th. Kimi demoted to pit lane start. Ouch.

[TomNokoe]

Ferrari have broken the seal on Kimi's front wing.

Leclerc P8.

[robefc]

I want a nice quick race with no safety cars or red flags. The man City match starts at 2 and I want to watch the second half at least so no delays in the GP.

 

I'm hoping for Hulkenberg to make it to the finish for once and a miracle point for Williams but the big question is what will the national anthem be like.

First year we had the fantastically creepy children singing. In 2017 a woman in a massive flag dress but last year was a just pretty woman in a nice frock. If this downward trend to normality continues it will be a woman in a cocktail dress this year and a bloke in a suit next.

 

Fingers crossed for that match!

[1Devil1]

Ferrari have broken the seal on Kimi's front wing.

Leclerc P8.

 

Team order against Kimi

[robefc]

Most "European" races start 1410 UK. Just a heads up for those who are on autopilot.

 

grrrrr, I didn't realise that.

 

And I hate the ten minutes too!

[SCUDmissile]

@Tom there should be a poll option on, 'how will Ferrari ruin their race?'

Strategy blunder
Vettel spin
Crash
Pitstop blunder
Team orders
Mechanical issue
Horrible pace

as the poll options.

Maybe for future races

Edited by SCUDmissile, 28 April 2019 - 10:29.

[sportyskells]

so its now 17 cars on grid and 3 in pit lane. Might be a cleaer turn one then

[Jovanotti]

What's the order of those starting from the pitlane?

[PayasYouRace]

Most "European" races start 1410 UK. Just a heads up for those who are on autopilot.

They always used to start at 1400 CET. I don’t think my autopilot has got used to the “new” way yet.

[1Devil1]

They always used to start at 1400 CET. I don’t think my autopilot has got used to the “new” way yet.

 

 

What's up with those 10 Minutes? Rather unusual for sports. Commercial break before the race?

[BCM]

The world really has changed since I started following F1. I’ll be watching this race 30 odd thousand feet in the air streaming it on my phone via in flight wifi.

[CL16]

What's up with those 10 Minutes? Rather unusual for sports. Commercial break before the race?

Yeah so the Americans can get a few ads in, like in most American starts.

[FirstnameLastname]

What's up with those 10 Minutes? Rather unusual for sports. Commercial break before the race?

Precisely. American TV

[CrashPad]

My money is on Charles to storm to victory defeating Valtteri.

Verstappen loses P3 for technical issues, handing it out to Perez again in Baku.

Hamilton and Vettel crash together. 

Kimi to finish P6 from the pit-lane and Giovi will also score in P10.

Three SC periods in total.

 

Trust me.

[Marklar]

I work till 20 minutes after the start. This better have the juicy Safety Car stuff in the 2nd part of the race

[SamH123]

I thought it was so broadcasters can start their race program on the hour and still have 10 minutes of build up before the race

American F1 market isn't big enough to change it just for them I'd have thought

[w1Y]

today is gonna be about tyres and how they effect performance. With temps up i see le clerc easily getting back up to the competitive end. especially of we get a safety start which resets the run away top the front two rows getat the start of a race.

As always getting off the grid is key and we havent had a start yet where its changed at the front so i am expecting bottas seb lewis after lap 1 and then some real pressure from seb duri g the race

[BuddyHolly]

My money is on Charles to storm to victory defeating Valtteri.

Verstappen loses P3 for technical issues, handing it out to Perez again in Baku.

Hamilton and Vettel crash together. 

Kimi to finish P6 from the pit-lane and Giovi will also score in P10.

Three SC periods in total.

 

Trust me.

That would be a superb race, I'd take that!

[TomNokoe]

If weekend form is anything to go by:

Ferrari/Vettel will be faster for the first half of the race (higher temps and softer tyres) and Mercedes will come back at them in the second half (lower temps/harder tyres).

Leclerc obviously is an unknown. Maybe he has the perfect strategy.

[milestone 11]

As always getting off the grid is key and we havent had a start yet where its changed at the front...

Last race?

[noikeee]

This is gonna be a good race, well Baku always is, but we have Leclerc super quick starting from 8th, Gasly starting from the back (and he was freakishly fast yesterday for some weird reason), as well as the two Alfas who looked solid and have that rocket engine too. This could be fun.

[PayasYouRace]

I have a bad feeling that Leclerc is going to end up in a wall on lap 1 and rob is of potential excitement.