1375 replies to this topic

[SophieB]

It is Race Week. Again. And so in this weirdest of years, F1 hits a small patch of familiarity - we leave Spa and head to Monza just like it was almost normal. I think it's fair to say the F1 circus doesn't seem in the best of spirits right now. The tyre that came loss and nearly hit Russell, the continued collapse in Ferrari fortunes whose drivers have now seemingly reached the stage of gloomily/ irritably arguing with the team over the radio or simply swearing to themselves about how bad they are. Verstappen and even Hamilton saying the race was boring and that the sport needed to change. Of course there are always exceptions. You can generally count on Daniel Ricciardo whose grin grows ever larger as he is inches ever closer to possibly scoring a podium and thus winning bet with his boss to get an unspecified tattoo. I think Lazenby's suggestion of Honey Badger on butt cheek sounded just right but I would also accept a giant tattoo of Ricciardo's face on Cyril's face. Monza is probably his best chance...

 

The track:

 

 

 

 

 

I will not lie, it is going to be another of the few tracks where the lack of fans is going to be felt. We will just have to remember that those thousands of crazed fans are still out there... still cheering... still passionate....still booing all the non-Ferrari winners. We hold them all in our hearts until they can return.

 

 

https://twitter.com/...6862099456?s=20

 

Standings, via the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya twitter feed:

 

 

 

Boring tyre stuff!

 

Care of the Pirelli twitter account:

 

 

 

When is it on?

 

The now usual European start time, but check your timezone here: https://www.formula1...2020/Italy.html

 

 

Stefan Bellof

 

And finally, as we leave Spa, a word for the 35th anniversary of the death of Stefan Bellof. I therefore encourage you, if you've not already read it, to read Mark Hughes' truly excellent piece from 2000 on this extraordinary person and talent who died way too young, yet not forgotten.

[Risil]

That tower of faces in the 2020 Driver Standings graphic looks a bit freaky

[SophieB]

That tower of faces in the 2020 Driver Standings graphic looks a bit freaky

 

It looks like they're all caught in a doner kebab house revolving tower of driver meat.

[BRG]

It looks like they're all caught in a doner kebab house revolving tower of driver meat.

Uuurrrgghh, that is a horrible thought.

 

Weather looks hot and dry, but then the weather forecast for last Sunday was rain-rain rain and we got a nice fine Belgian summer's day instead.  

[TomNokoe]

Thx Sophie. Can't wait to read the Bellof piece.

Mark Hughes made the point post-Spa that Mercedes are slightly worried about Red Bull's low downforce package. Another false dawn? A Mercedes mirage?

Tyre pressures up again this weekend. 26psi fronts, 21.5psi rear. That's a difference of +2.5 (!!) and +0.5 compared to last year. Similar to Silverstone 2, albeit a different track layout.

A few days ago the weather forecast was bone dry, but there's some Sunday night/Monday morning rain that's creeping closer towards Sunday afternoon, so worth keeping an eye on.

All eyes on the quali-mode ban. Will it make a difference? I don't think this is allowed as per the technical directive, but I was hoping one of the teams would decide to set their "default" engine mode into something really powerful, trading off reliability/longevity in search of a headline result. And no better place to do this than Monza, where the effect would be the most pronounced. But as per the bolded text, I don't think individual teams get to decide their engine modes, it has to be agreed across all teams with engines in common. So McLaren can't choose to run a higher standard mode than Renault, for example. I hope I'm wrong though, because the example I gave would be really interesting!

Also interesting to see if we'll break the fastest lap-speed again. I'm pretty confident we will, but the engine mode ban and higher tyre pressures might be a stumbling block. With the aero cut for 2021, this will probably be the last opportunity for a while.

And finally, with everything wrapped into one, I'm desperately hoping Renault can pull a rabbit out of a hat this weekend. I don't think it's crazy to suggest they will be right at the front this weekend. Very exciting.

Edited by TomNokoe, 01 September 2020 - 19:55.

[SophieB]

Kimi is asked to name three Monza corners:
 

Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN

 

@alfaromeoracing

·

3h

 

Nailed it

https://twitter.com/...4404754433?s=20

[MortenF1]

Very intrigued to see how Renault stack up now that everyone’s bringing their low downforce package.
As for the PU modes... I do not think they will make much difference. I think Williams for instance, will continue to qualify 14th but also 20th.

[ArchieTech]

Do we think they can manage to avoid a repeat of last year's qualifying stand-off?
 

[TomNokoe]

Do we think they can manage to avoid a repeat of last year's qualifying stand-off?

Last year's thread is a fun read

[Fastcake]

I fear if we had the tifosi in this weekend and Ferrari were struggling to even make it out of Q1 again, we might have a riot in the stands.

 

It's going to be bad for Ferrari right? Presumably nothing can stop Mercedes, so how bad they are this week is my main focus.

[Fastcake]

Do we think they can manage to avoid a repeat of last year's qualifying stand-off?
 

That was absolutely hilarious. Everyone was so utterly obsessed about the data and playing chicken with the rest of the grid they all forget to watch the blooming clock.

 

Sainz should have got pole, just for having the only engineer who could count.

[Anja]

As a long-time Renault fan I know better than to get my hopes up too much... but I'm still getting rather excited about their prospects here. Now watch them fight for like 9th place in the race 

Edited by Anja, 01 September 2020 - 20:41.

[f1paul]

Qualifying will be fun.

 

Fastest lap in F1 history is on or we can get the bumper trains again. Or maybe both?

[Atreiu]

Might be the most interesting race at Monza in a while. 😃👍🏻

[jonpollak]

Screw 'em

I'm leaving my party mode ON....

 

 

Jp

[ARTGP]

Very intrigued to see how Renault stack up now that everyone’s bringing their low downforce package.
As for the PU modes... I do not think they will make much difference. I think Williams for instance, will continue to qualify 14th but also 20th.

 

Renault was quick here last year also when everybody had low downforce. They finished P4-P5. Unless they crash, I'd suspect they would equal that result. Their straightline speed is convincing.

Edited by ARTGP, 01 September 2020 - 20:59.

[FLB]

As a tifoso, I can't remember ever approaching Monza with such absolute dread. It's usually my favourite Grand-Prix of the year because this is a place that just oozes with history, as much as Le Mans or Indianapolis.

[smitten]

Kimi is asked to name three Monza corners:








Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN


@alfaromeoracing
·3h







Nailed it
https://twitter.com/...4404754433?s=20

For a magical second, I thought he was being asked to *give* them names....

Ice Cream, Vodka, Taking a ****?

[Sam1]

I think Ferrari fortunes have got worse since the new party mode came into effect shame they were and are a good team

[ARTGP]

Race should be worse for Ferrari since the others will run higher power race modes.

[ANF]

[pitlanepalpatine]

Well I'm pretty sure that if everyone tries to use Leclerc for a slipstream this year there's gonna be a multi car pile up 

[FLB]

Well I'm pretty sure that if everyone tries to use Leclerc for a slipstream this year there's gonna be a multi car pile up 

Q3 last year was F1 as its absolute best (as in the most ridiculous)...

 

https://www.formula1...Grand_Prix.html

[w1Y]

Have they addressed it for this year yet or are they assuming teams will police it themselves based on not wanting the **** up of last year

[stairpotato]

That tower of faces in the 2020 Driver Standings graphic looks a bit freaky

 

The Driver Centipede.

[PedroDiCasttro]

That tower of faces in the 2020 Driver Standings graphic looks a bit freaky

It does remind me of something. 

 

[Atreiu]

Have they addressed it for this year yet or are they assuming teams will police it themselves based on not wanting the **** up of last year

I think they’ll take the ‘track limits’ approach and only act in the event of a disaster.

[ExFlagMan]

That tower of faces in the 2020 Driver Standings graphic looks a bit freaky

 

 

That tower of faces in the 2020 Driver Standings graphic looks a bit freaky

 

 

It looks like they're all caught in a doner kebab house revolving tower of driver meat.

 

That is so it easier for them to throw their brains in the bucket before leaving the pit lane.

[thegamer23]

Well I'm pretty sure that if everyone tries to use Leclerc for a slipstream this year there's gonna be a multi car pile up 

 

[Goron3]

Fascinated to see the impact that the higher tyre pressures might have this weekend. It looks like it will be just as hot as Silverstone, with temperatures hovering close to 30.

 

Fully expecting Renault to be the closest midfield car to the usual top 3.

[PlayboyRacer]

Hotter temperatures will help Ferrari. And they need all the help they can get.

[cjm321190]

I liked the qualifying fiasco, F1 is about out foxing your rivals. Any one of them could have just gone but they were more scared about giving each other an advantage.

We soon complain when F1 is boring and to calculated.

[BRG]

Have they addressed it for this year yet or are they assuming teams will police it themselves based on not wanting the **** up of last year

Not a matter for the authorities to address.  The rules for qualifying are crystal clear and haven't changed for years, if the teams want to make a total f**kfest of it, that is their funeral.

[PayasYouRace]

It looks like they're all caught in a doner kebab house revolving tower of driver meat.

Add that to phrases I never want to read, hear or think about again.

[Kalmake]

Have they addressed it for this year yet or are they assuming teams will police it themselves based on not wanting the **** up of last year

We'll see Thursday if Masi has had any ideas. Do you have a solution?

 

Expecting teams to police it themselves is foolish. The team with provisional front row or other good result will happily ruin the finale for everyone.

[Augurk]

For Monza they should just allow the P11 car to get one shot at driving himself back into the top 10 on fresh softs. But only by driving in front of the pack at the second run in Q3. 

 

(Of course they shouldn't, it's the teams' mess, they either solve it themselves or keep making a mockery of F1, but I thought it was a cool idea). 

[Risil]

The highlights video on F1.com only shows the start and the end of the final Q3 lap, so I'm not entirely sure, but while Hulkenberg and Sainz were unhelpfully going side-by-side through some of the corners I'm not sure anyone was terminally impeded. The drivers all just misjudged how much time they had to start their flying laps.

 

Very funny anyway. I don't think we'll see a repeat this time as it was clearly a tactical error from every driver in Q3.

[TomNokoe]

Slipstreaming hasn't really been a "thing" this year, apart from last weekend. Even at the medium-downforce circuits they often caused a fuss last year. I do suspect it will change this weekend, however.

[MJB5990]

Based off Lewis' comments following Spa qualifying, it's Valtteri's turn to choice his running order in Q3. I'm assuming he'll go second which means Lewis will be sent out first. It might end up working in his favour if Spa is anything to go by because Merc should be quick enough to get their laps in without the tow. 

 

That's assuming the party mode stuff doesn't affect them that much or that their low-DF package is strong.

[JimmyClark]

Monza races have been more interesting than usual in the last few years, so let's hope that trend continues. 

[MasterOfCoin]

Monza races have been more interesting than usual in the last few years, so let's hope that trend continues.

Is it wrong to like Monza more than Spa......

[SilverArrow31]

Is it wrong to like Monza more than Spa......

I adore Monza, like it alot more than Spa haha

I have a thing for fast tracks though, Monza and Canada are probably my top two.

[ANF]

The highlights video on F1.com only shows the start and the end of the final Q3 lap, so I'm not entirely sure, but while Hulkenberg and Sainz were unhelpfully going side-by-side through some of the corners I'm not sure anyone was terminally impeded. The drivers all just misjudged how much time they had to start their flying laps.
 
Very funny anyway. I don't think we'll see a repeat this time as it was clearly a tactical error from every driver in Q3.

There's also the final lap video below. Hülkenberg, Stroll and Sainz were given a reprimand for driving unnecessarily slowly.



And some team radio highlights:

Edited by ANF, 02 September 2020 - 13:08.

[Fatgadget]

What can one say about Monza eh! Maximum power.Minimum downforce  And drivers  take  a deep breath ,hang your balls outside the cockpit and go for it!

[Red5ive]

At least its a really quick race -hami can have this done in what - an hour and 20 ?

[ARTGP]

At least its a really quick race -hami can have this done in what - an hour and 20 ?

 

He doesn't even need to race here if he didn't want to....such is his lead in the championship  . 

Edited by ARTGP, 02 September 2020 - 15:34.

[BRG]

Is it wrong to like Monza more than Spa......

Yes, definitely.  Next thing, you'll be liking Yas Marina.  It's a slippery slope.

 

What can one say about Monza eh! Maximum power.Minimum downforce  And drivers  take  a deep breath ,hang your balls outside the cockpit and go for it!

And then encounter a stupid chicane where someone clatters into you and spoils your race.  No thanks.

[TauriJ]

 

You can't make this **** up   . Rain again after the race lol.

[Marklar]

at least they are considering Waltrip's vortext theory in the forecasts now

[Marklar]

there will be a audience of 250 people, all are doctors and nurses.

incoming "you would think that Covid was punishment enough for them" jokes