2131 replies to this topic

[ANF]

Race day in Baku, and would you believe it, Charleo Leclerc is on pole position again! And once again the qualifying session was cut short by a red flag! Would anyone have beaten Leclerc's 1:41.218 had the session not been interrupted? Who knows? And who cares? I'm sure Red Bull do; their cars looked the strongest in practice but will start the race from P3 and P7.

Lewis Hamilton was the only driver not to use the word **** in the top-three qualifiers' interview in parc fermé (the others used a word that rhymes with tit). Mercedes had been struggling to find single-lap pace, but the tow from Bottas dragged Hamilton onto the front row. Bottas didn't get a tow, and he botched the exit of Turn 16, and he was the slowest car in Q3.

Lando Norris got a three-place grid penalty* for not entering the pits during a red flag. Antonio Giovinazzi and Lance Stroll will start from the back of the grid after having crashed in Turn 15 before they had even set a time in Q1.

* From the stewards' decision: "The Stewards assume that if a red flag is not respected during qualifying, a drop of 5 grid positions is appropriate. However, if you consider that the driver only had a very short time to react due to his position on the track, a drop of 3 grid positions is sufficient as an exception."

Race start time,
local time (UTC +4)
16:00
Local time info/conversion: https://www.timeandd...azerbaijan/baku
World map with race start times: https://twitter.com/...6188298/photo/1

Weather forecast
Looks like a partly cloudy day with a high of 25–28°C.
National weather service: https://meteo.az/az/hava/baki-abseron
AccuWeather: https://www.accuweat...-forecast/27103
WolframAlpha: https://www.wolframa...eather forecast

Provisional grid


Race start tyre among Q3 drivers
Soft for everybody (Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Gasly, Sainz, Pérez, Tsunoda, Alonso, Norris, Bottas).

Tyres remaining


Strategies according to Pirelli


Practice highlights


FP1


FP2


FP3


Qualifying


The pole lap

Championship standings
Verstappen 105 ¹¹ ²²²
Hamilton 101 ¹¹¹ ²
Norris 56 ³³
Bottas 47 ³³³
Pérez 44
Leclerc 40
Sainz 38 ²
Ricciardo 24
Gasly 16
Ocon 12
Vettel 10
Stroll 9
Alonso 5
Tsunoda 2
Giovinazzi 1

Red Bull 149
Mercedes 148
McLaren 80
Ferrari 78
Aston Martin 19
AlphaTauri 18
Alpine 17
Alfa Romeo 1

Previous circuit results


Circuit map

FIA circuit map: https://www.fia.com/...Circuit Map.pdf

FIA documents
Event & timing information: https://www.fia.com/...ing-information
Official documents: https://www.fia.com/...eason-2021-1108

Pit stop time loss
It seemed to be 19.5–22.5 seconds in 2019.

Edited by ANF, 06 June 2021 - 08:39.

[ANF]

The day begins with the F2 race, starting in 5 minutes.

[Ivanhoe]

Tuned in 

[JeePee]

P2, P4 and P6 all had a better start than P1, P3 and P6 in F2

[Joefane]

Colder conditions today, dont mess this up RB.

[shure]

I reckon Hamilton will go for the one-stopper for sure.  Will Max be forced into a 2 stop through tyre wear?

[f1paul]

I reckon Hamilton will go for the one-stopper for sure.  Will Max be forced into a 2 stop through tyre wear?

One stop for everyone unless there's a vsc/sc at two-thirds distance, then drivers might pit for a second time

[ANF]

Track temp at the end of the F2 race: 38.2°C. Air temp: 24.3°C.

[ANF]

Build-up with driver interviews

Edited by ANF, 06 June 2021 - 10:27.

[Kleli]

I think it will be a fairly easy win for Ham. He is quick enough in sector 3  to be able to hold off any DRS attack and his pace during long runs on friday were verey strong. Tires won't be an issue either.

[Goron3]

Track temp at the end of the F2 race: 38.2°C. Air temp: 24.3°C.

That's much colder than it was on Friday.

 

I guess that could lead to one of two things:

 

- The soft won't degrade as much and a one stopper might be possible

- The hard might become a less favourable tyre as it will struggle to warm up as much

[MJB5990]

Key for Lewis is to not lose out to Max on the opening few laps. Once everything gets up to temperature, he should get a decent run on Charles.

[MJB5990]

Seen a tweet saying that Max has replaced all four tyres in parc ferme.

Just remind me, they have to be the same compound and same age right?

[shure]

Seen a tweet saying that Max has replaced all four tyres in parc ferme.

Just remind me, they have to be the same compound and same age right?

Pretty sure you can't just replace one tyre and has to be a set, but otherwise not sure of age restrictions

[Ivanhoe]

Seen a tweet saying that Max has replaced all four tyres in parc ferme.

Just remind me, they have to be the same compound and same age right?

I don’t think he has any softs left with 5 laps on them, only 3 or less.

[ANF]

Final starting grid = provisional starting grid

[GlenWatkins]

I just finished watching qually, thought that I tuned in to IndyCar!

 

Looking forward to the race, F1 IndyCar style!

 

screen grab of a unique view, turn 15 I think, courtesy of the Pit Lane Channel:

[ANF]

Seen a tweet saying that Max has replaced all four tyres in parc ferme.

Just remind me, they have to be the same compound and same age right?

Not sure what you mean, but he has to start on the exact same set that was on the car on his fastest Q2 lap.
Edit: "LHS and RHS front and rear Q2 tyre" have been changed in parc fermé according to the Technical Delegate's Report.

Edited by ANF, 06 June 2021 - 11:26.

[ARTGP]

Not sure what you mean, but he has to start on the exact same set that was on the car on his fastest Q2 lap.

 

According to the broadcast they've done it. Bizarre.

 

Edit: Apparently the paint on the ground inside the weigh bridge area damaged Verstappens tires. So they got permission to change to another set. 

Edited by ARTGP, 06 June 2021 - 11:27.

[Ivanhoe]

Not sure what you mean, but he has to start on the exact same set that was on the car on his fastest Q2 lap.

Ubless there’s an safety issue because of a flat spot. We’ve seen that before.

Edited by Ivanhoe, 06 June 2021 - 11:27.

[PedroDiCasttro]

Red Bull can't be so amateur. Changing the tires and therefore receiving a penalty won't help anyone but Mercedes.

[ANF]

According to the broadcast they've done it. Bizarre.
 
Edit: Apparently the paint on the ground inside the weigh bridge area damaged Verstappens tires. So they got permission to change to another set.

Oh!

[Ev0d3vil]

Seen a tweet saying that Max has replaced all four tyres in parc ferme.

Just remind me, they have to be the same compound and same age right?

All because of some paint I heard.

[SophieB]

Seems completely fair enough, but how weird that this can happen!

[Clatter]

Ubless there’s an safety issue because of a flat spot. We’ve seen that before.

 

Or in this case paint on the tyres.

[Ivanhoe]

Or in this case paint on the tyres.

Yeah the flat spot is the obvious example. This is a pretty rare issue.

[stevesingo]

According to the broadcast they've done it. Bizarre.

 

Edit: Apparently the paint on the ground inside the weigh bridge area damaged Verstappens tires. So they got permission to change to another set. 

 

I'd like to think Pirelli made the assessment of damage.

[TomNokoe]

I am really surprised that Red Bull have limited their strategy options again. The C3 will be the best race tyre by a country mile, so if it turns into a two stopper, they are toast.

Thankfully the temperatures have come towards them, so a one-stop may still be possible.

 

Expecting Ferrari to drop like a stone. Really interested to see Gasly's and Vettel's pace in particular.

[SophieB]

I'd like to think Pirelli made the assessment of damage.

I would think it’s Jo Bauer who did that but don’t really know.

[ARTGP]

Russell got away with one there...

[robefc]

I am really surprised that Red Bull have limited their strategy options again. The C3 will be the best race tyre by a country mile, so if it turns into a two stopper, they are toast.

Thankfully the temperatures have come towards them, so a one-stop may still be possible.
 
Expecting Ferrari to drop like a stone. Really interested to see Gasly's and Vettel's pace in particular.

C3 is hard?

[TomNokoe]

Verstappen is likely using the set of tyres he ran in Q1. They are the only tyres with a similar amount of laps on. Maybe his Q3 set, too, but I'd be surprised if the FIA let him use a demonstrably fresher set.

 

Q1 Soft - out, in, out, hot, in, out, hot, in

 

Q2 Soft - out, hot, cool, hot, in

Q2 Soft - out-in

 

Q3 Soft - out, hot, in

Q3 Soft - out, in

Edited by TomNokoe, 06 June 2021 - 11:41.

[Fastcake]

Would be a bit unfair if Verstappen had to start the race on a set of tyres ruined by a cock-up by the organisers.

[geralt]

So wait, you can change to a fresher set of tyres as long as they are damaged and of the same compound? Surprised this hasn't been exploited more in the past

[Goron3]

I am really surprised that Red Bull have limited their strategy options again. The C3 will be the best race tyre by a country mile, so if it turns into a two stopper, they are toast.
Thankfully the temperatures have come towards them, so a one-stop may still be possible.

Expecting Ferrari to drop like a stone. Really interested to see Gasly's and Vettel's pace in particular.

I'm not convinced. It's much colder today than it was on Friday. The C3 might not be optimal for them.

[Clatter]

I would think it’s Jo Bauer who did that but don’t really know.

 

He would make the decision, but I'd be surprised if Pirelli were not the ones to make the assessment.

[Ivanhoe]

So wait, you can change to a fresher set of tyres as long as they are damaged and of the same compound? Surprised this hasn't been exploited more in the past

You need permission from FIA of course. It has happened before with drivers who flatspotted their tyres in Q2. It normally won’t give you any advantage though as you’d have to fit the same compound with the same amount of laps on the car. Thing is I don’t think Max has any sets left with 5 laps on them, only 3 or less.

[Ev0d3vil]

Lewis just rejected a selfie from a fan, understandable when hes trying to concentrate pre race !

[Ev0d3vil]

1st corner crash predictions?

Edited by Ev0d3vil, 06 June 2021 - 11:44.

[alframsey]

Can't wait for this race tbh! It is going to be amazing

[SophieB]

So wait, you can change to a fresher set of tyres as long as they are damaged and of the same compound? Surprised this hasn't been exploited more in the past

I can’t see how it is an advantage to do that. You really only baby one set, the ones you were intending to start on, right?

[Clatter]

Lewis just rejected a selfie from a fan, understandable when hes trying to concentrate pre race !

 

Why mention it then?

[Ivanhoe]

Verstappen is likely using the set of tyres he ran in Q1. They are the only tyres with a similar amount of laps on. Maybe his Q3 set, too, but I'd be surprised if the FIA let him use a demonstrably fresher set.

 

Q1 Soft - out, in, out, hot, in, out, hot, in

 

Q2 Soft - out, hot, cool, hot, in

Q2 Soft - out-in

 

Q3 Soft - out, hot, in

Q3 Soft - out, in

His Q1 tyres have even more laps on them. Don’t think they can let him start on those, given that the paint issue is not Verstappens fault.

Edited by Ivanhoe, 06 June 2021 - 11:45.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Can't wait for this race tbh! It is going to be amazing

'

I feel the same, but don't want to hype it up too much, that's when it tends to be a damp squib. 

[jcbc3]

LOL - Danish tv saying there would be a minute of silence in honour of Mansour Ojjeh. For the caption to then say it's for Max Mosley. And then they said that the verbal feed they get from the producer was that it was Ojjeh.

[yolo]

His Q1 tyres have even more laps on them. Don’t think they can let him start on those, given that the paint issue is not Verstappens fault.

Well it clearly can’t be sets with less wear/mileage on them?

[jcbc3]

Nice anthem and arrangement.

[Yoshi]

I'm so hyped since a long time again - lets go - should be a good one today 

[Rumblestrip]

Lewis just rejected a selfie from a fan, understandable when hes trying to concentrate pre race !

 

Quite! I'm surprised 1. that they can get that close to him at the moment, and 2. they thought now was a good time to do it.

[ANF]

1st corner crash predictions?

Latifi, Mazepin, Stroll.