6019 replies to this topic

[as65p]

Mick stood out to me as the most consistent driver, best starter, and also at least among the best in terms of racecraft. He leads the championship, secured an F1 seat, and I don't think that's undeserved, at all.

The starts are a great strength at this point in time, no doubt. Consistency, sure if you look at the results, but watching the races I tend to believe it was often more luck than anything. He could have ended up like Illot today in a number of races without really doing anything different. And racecraft... nah, I don't really see it.

 

But whatever, if he wins it, it won't be undeserved. It's always about being the best in the field around you, and I can't see any of the others this season deserving it any more than Mick, over the whole season.

[messy]

Awful enough to race from not qualifying well and lead the championship with 2 races to go, he has been the best racer this season.

I’m clearly referring to Ilott, aren’t I!?

Mick has had a really strong season. Not a Leclerc or Russell-style blitz but a very solid, consistent and impressive show of strength against a bunch of very decent rivals. And recently he’s started winning feature races too. I think he’ll be a very deserving champion.

[midgrid]

Schumacher has put together a highly competent and capable season, but does seem to lack the sparkle that would make me consider him a top-drawer F1 prospect.

 

Ilott has been the class of the field in terms of raw speed, but has made far too many mistakes.

 

Mazepin has looked very impressive at times, but he's still a clear step behind these two over the course of the season (all of them being in their second seasons in F2).  I find him hard to read overall - the fact that he has so many resources behind him, like a Russian Lance Stroll - partnered with Schumacher next season at Haas, I couldn't say who will come out on top, or even if it will be a close battle.

 

Tsunoda, Shwartzman and Lundgaard have all been more impressive to me this season, given their rookie status, but perhaps things will be different once they have the pressure of being title favourites in their sophomore seasons (in Tsunoda's case, if he doesn't get the Alpha Tauri seat)?  I think Drugovich could be a real dark horse next season in a better team as well.

 

Overall, I can't help but feel that Hubert would have won the championship this season if he was still with us: I suspect he would have been faster in qualifying than Schumacher, and made fewer errors than Ilott.

[jcbc3]

So basically you agree with the Danish tv commentator.... 

[messy]

Schumacher has put together a highly competent and capable season, but does seem to lack the sparkle that would make me consider him a top-drawer F1 prospect.

 

Ilott has been the class of the field in terms of raw speed, but has made far too many mistakes.

 

Mazepin has looked very impressive at times, but he's still a clear step behind these two over the course of the season (all of them being in their second seasons in F2).  I find him hard to read overall - the fact that he has so many resources behind him, like a Russian Lance Stroll - partnered with Schumacher next season at Haas, I couldn't say who will come out on top, or even if it will be a close battle.

 

Tsunoda, Shwartzman and Lundgaard have all been more impressive to me this season, given their rookie status, but perhaps things will be different once they have the pressure of being title favourites in their sophomore seasons (in Tsunoda's case, if he doesn't get the Alpha Tauri seat)?  I think Drugovich could be a real dark horse next season in a better team as well.

 

Overall, I can't help but feel that Hubert would have won the championship this season if he was still with us: I suspect he would have been faster in qualifying than Schumacher, and made fewer errors than Ilott.

 

I think this season has been great. If you'd told me before the season started that Tsunoda, Lundgaard, Drugovich and even Shwartzman would all make such a good impression I'd have been quite surprised. But each of them now looks a legit title contender for 2021 having won races on merit this season. All the while, 2019 flops Schumacher and Mazepin have been ten times more convincing second time round, and Ilott has been the benchmark on pure speed. A lot of different drivers come out of 2020 with a real claim to have done well. It's night and day from 2019 where the strength of depth was just non-existent. 

 

On Hubert, he'd surely have been at DAMS this season wouldn't he? And yeah, I think he'd have been right up with Schumacher and Ilott. You can never tell, though. Going into 2020 I really thought the title was Zhou's to lose and thought maybe Markelov, Aitken and Ghiotto would have been up with him. Ha-ha ha. 

[balage06]

The point being that Mick is the best and a deserving champion. But so was Fabio Leimer, Valsecchi and Palmer. 

 

Exactly. I've been watching the series since 2005 and Mick is one of the least convincing championship leaders.

[ensign14]

At least Schumacher has the mitigating factor that it is only his second season in the series and there are loads more drivers with loads more experience.  Leimer and Palmer were going Full Sospiri - wait until anyone with any talent has moved on and then mop up.

 

There really should be some sort of regulation change, it's meant to be a ladder formula, not a final destination.  Markelov seems to have been there since the Dead Sea was just sick.  And if there's a finance issue with that, well, who better to mandate a cheaper formula than the people running the bloody thing?

[balage06]

At least Schumacher has the mitigating factor that it is only his second season in the series and there are loads more drivers with loads more experience.

 

Indeed, but in the context of being a great future prospect, based on what we've seen from him so far, can you imagine him taking the fight to the likes of Max and Leclerc? I certainly don't.

[Jackman]

On Hubert, he'd surely have been at DAMS this season wouldn't he? And yeah, I think he'd have been right up with Schumacher and Ilott. You can never tell, though. Going into 2020 I really thought the title was Zhou's to lose and thought maybe Markelov, Aitken and Ghiotto would have been up with him. Ha-ha ha. 

No, Hubert would have been at ART, instead of Lundgaard. But there's little doubt in my mind that he would have done a much better job, and would most likely have won the title pretty convincingly before moving up to the Renault seat next year.

[Ali623]

https://twitter.com/...355848110923776

 

Expected, but Ilott officially confirms he won't be moving to F1 next year.

[messy]

No, Hubert would have been at ART, instead of Lundgaard. But there's little doubt in my mind that he would have done a much better job, and would most likely have won the title pretty convincingly before moving up to the Renault seat next year.

 

It was between the two of them, and nothing had been decided. https://www.motorspo...s-2020/4514564/

[Jackman]

Nothing had been officially confirmed at that stage, because it never is. But journalists don't generally know about things until it makes sense to tell them.

[Clrnc]

I think this season has been great. If you'd told me before the season started that Tsunoda, Lundgaard, Drugovich and even Shwartzman would all make such a good impression I'd have been quite surprised. But each of them now looks a legit title contender for 2021 having won races on merit this season. All the while, 2019 flops Schumacher and Mazepin have been ten times more convincing second time round, and Ilott has been the benchmark on pure speed. A lot of different drivers come out of 2020 with a real claim to have done well. It's night and day from 2019 where the strength of depth was just non-existent. 

 

On Hubert, he'd surely have been at DAMS this season wouldn't he? And yeah, I think he'd have been right up with Schumacher and Ilott. You can never tell, though. Going into 2020 I really thought the title was Zhou's to lose and thought maybe Markelov, Aitken and Ghiotto would have been up with him. Ha-ha ha. 

Zhou was impressive for 3/4 of the season but went off the boil in the last few races. He and Tsunoda had massive bad luck with DNFs and car problems, otherwise the title fight would be seriously interesting. 

[Jerem]

Am I the only one who thinks if he wants to be evil Schumacher could let Illott win the championship?

Now that it's official that Illott doesn't have a seat in F1 for next year, yes, that would be quite evil.

[ezequiel]

I'm guessing Aitken won't be replaced this weekend? Or is there anyone available?

Edited by ezequiel, 02 December 2020 - 15:17.

[Frood]

Campos have signed Boschung for next year and he's not a stranger to F2 cars. Depends if they can get him to Bahrain.

Otherwise... Who else? Peroni was their strongest F3 driver this year. Flörsch would give them headlines but she'd be no better than Samaia. Deledda lolno

Vips, maybe? If Red Bull were willing to throw a little money their way?

Edited by Frood, 02 December 2020 - 15:21.

[Jackman]

Could be Boschung a bit early, but I guess it depends on his ability to get into Bahrain, and then the paddock. It's quite late to arrange, on Wednesday.

[sportyskells]

It is boschung as it has been confirmed by the f2 website and he at the track due to the post season tests

[balage06]

I haven't been enjoying this season as much as I thought I would.   I wasn't particularly impressed by either of the top 2 finishers, but that's my personal issue. Congrats to Mick anyway and good luck to him in F1. It's been a privilige to root against him. 

[ANF]

For all you race fans from the future who wonder what the hell has happened to this thread, here is the thread for this weekend's season finale at Sakhir: https://forums.autos...le-race-thread/