2521 replies to this topic

[Gareth]

Brought to you from the track - so no pics, links or other high quality stuff that you have surely come to expect from the superb TomNokoe OP’s - but bags of enthusiasm.

And what can I tell you? It’s hot. Bloody hell it’s hot.

Currently sat in the shade, no movement apart from my thumbs on my phone keyboard and the occasional lifting of a pint of lager to my mouth, and I am sweating. Think it’s the hottest point of a hot weekend.

Which could play into Red Bull’s hands, and could throw some curveballs into the strategy.

So what do we have to look forward to? F1’s first ever post-sprint race/qualifying race. Max starts on pole, having finished first yesterday. Both Mercs are behind him, led by Hamilton. LeClerc starts 4th and will likely be looking behind him rather than ahead. Firm fan favourite Lando Norris starts 5th, with Ricciardo having his best weekend in a McLaren alongside him. Alonso’s phenomenal first lap earns him 7th on the grid. Vettel, Ocon and Sainz round out the top 10, in part thanks to Russell’s demotion 3 spots for a first lap collision with Sainz.

What can we expect to see? Even with yesterday’s sneak preview, seems tough to say.

Tyre life in practice and yesterday looks like a one stop could be doable, but boy is it hot today (have I mentioned this?). So maybe a 2 or even a 3 could be the way to go.

Red Bull looks like the quickest car, at least in Max’s hands, but it’s close and can Merc take advantage of 2 vs 1 in the strategy battle?

Ferrari vs McLaren could also provide some interest during the race. And how long can Alonso hold on to his spot?

Lots to play for. I’m excited. The atmosphere at the circuit is incredible, the fans are loving being back in numbers. Here’s hoping for a great race to match that atmosphere!

[w1Y]

Thanks for doing the thread. I was there yesterday and absolutely gutted to not be there today. Shade is definately a premium.

Enjoy.

P.s max will win fairly comfortably

[cheekybru]

Also at the track, also sweating several times my bodyweight, been here since Friday morning as my red bits will tell you

Stay hydrated if you are at the track! Here's hoping Lewis can give us a race 🙏

[Misk]

Also at the track, also sweating several times my bodyweight, been here since Friday morning as my red bits will tell you

Stay hydrated if you are at the track! Here's hoping Lewis can give us a race

Have a great day. I'm a little envious but I'm in Greece so I can't really complain.

 

I last went to Silverstone in 2016 and depite the weather being pretty poor that year I still managed to get sunburnt!

Edited by Misk, 18 July 2021 - 12:04.

[krapmeister]

Do we think with the heat and teams trying to potentially eek out a one stop, we will see some Pirelli 'things' happening towards the end of the race?

[FLB]

Do we think with the heat and teams trying to potentially eek out a one stop, we will see some Pirelli 'things' happening towards the end of the race?

Silverstone has been the theatre for quite a few of them (EX: the Mercs in 2013).

Edited by FLB, 18 July 2021 - 12:14.

[Gareth]

Hat tip to Theracer for the link in the build up thread - handy info on strategy, including a chart showing tyres available to each driver: https://www.formula1...IfjqXGmFGd.html

[JimmyClark]

I think it will be pushed into a two stop, and I would be we have at least one traditional tyre failure, despite the beefed up tyres. 

 

It's going to be tight between the front two - and I think tyres will decide it. I can see Merc going for a two stopper from behind and winning that way. With Bottas there that also gives them options. 

 

All in all I think it will be a decent race - Silverstone tends to give good ones in F1. Anything will be better than the F2 earlier. 

[lewislorenzo]

Definite 2 stopper

[jjcale]

Do we think with the heat and teams trying to potentially eek out a one stop, we will see some Pirelli 'things' happening towards the end of the race?

 

No way are they even going to try one stopping ...

[Hellenic tifosi]

Mercedes might have the advantage of 2 cars vs 1, but I don't think Red Bull will care about Bottas at all.

They would happily lose the race to him provided that Max ends in front of Hamilton.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Scorchio!

[w1Y]

Sorry but there is no excuse for tyre failures. We had the floor cur off and tyres beefed up plus tyre pressure changes to avoid that. And it was based on previous tyre failures at this very track.

So if tyres are run to pirelli guidance and we still get failures I will call more bs and incompetence.

Let's hope for safety sake we don't get tyre failures.

Edited by w1Y, 18 July 2021 - 12:51.

[w1Y]

Mercedes might have the advantage of 2 cars vs 1, but I don't think Red Bull will care about Bottas at all.

They would happily lose the race to him provided that Max ends in front of Hamilton.

I think its more that they don't have to worry about the pace of bottas

[Hellenic tifosi]

I think its more that they don't have to worry about the pace of bottas

That's also true, but I was thinking like "what happens if Bottas stops early to undercut Max". In my opinion, RB will simply not care - their strategy will be 100% focused on Hamiltom.

[ExFlagMan]

Have the little black pollen beetles turned up this year - main memory of Silverstone GPs in this type of weathar is the marshals orange proban overalls being somewhat of an attaction to them.  I guess it depends on wether the local farmers have planted rape seeds crops this year.

[w1Y]

That's also true, but I was thinking like "what happens if Bottas stops early to undercut Max". In my opinion, RB will simply not care - their strategy will be 100% focused on Hamiltom.

That's because they don't believe they will put Hamilton on the worst strategy. But I can't help but feel Lewis will end up trying to hard today and will find himself in a compromised position where he tries a 1 stop or something.

Edited by w1Y, 18 July 2021 - 12:58.

[Pete_f1]

I've forgotten the anxiety of a live race!

Edited by Pete_f1, 18 July 2021 - 12:58.

[Fastcake]

And what can I tell you? It’s hot. Bloody hell it’s hot.

Currently sat in the shade, no movement apart from my thumbs on my phone keyboard and the occasional lifting of a pint of lager to my mouth, and I am sweating. Think it’s the hottest point of a hot weekend.

I refuse to believe it is possible for someone to feel warm at Silverstone!

[Heyli]

Mercedes might have the advantage of 2 cars vs 1, but I don't think Red Bull will care about Bottas at all.

They would happily lose the race to him provided that Max ends in front of Hamilton.

Funnily enough, for Max it'd even be better to finish 3rd with Bottas winning (and Hamilton 2nd), than to finish 2nd behind Hamilton. So for the championship, they dont have to bother with Bottas at all.

[TomNokoe]

Thx Gareth, fair play from composing on location.

Mercedes need to somehow maneuver Bottas into a position where he can hold up Max, but I can't see it happening.

Hamilton will likely have a small advantage on lap 1 and at the end of stints. Expecting a normal M-H one stop without any SCs.

[Hellenic tifosi]

Funnily enough, for Max it'd even be better to finish 3rd with Bottas winning (and Hamilton 2nd), than to finish 2nd behind Hamilton. So for the championship, they dont have to bother with Bottas at all.

Exactly, I don't expect RB to be baited by whatever Mercedes will try with Bottas - they will.simply focus on covering Lewis.

[Ali_G]

Tuned in an hour earlier than usual thinking the race began at 3PM.

Sky’s pre race show is one of the most boring things I’ve ever watched. Tedious. Is there a reason why Lando Norris features in just about everything Sky does?

[JimmyClark]

Tuned in an hour earlier than usual thinking the race began at 3PM.

Sky’s pre race show is one of the most boring things I’ve ever watched. Tedious. Is there a reason why Lando Norris features in just about everything Sky does?

Yes I always start watching half an hour late so I can fast forward the tedious bits; usually that takes me nicely to the start of the race, but today I'm already caught up with 45 minutes to go.

Edited by JimmyClark, 18 July 2021 - 13:16.

[jpm2019]

Max and hamilton will definitely go medium-hard. They will strecht the medium stint as long as possible. When degredation is higher than expected they will decide 2 stop on the go. If the number 2 in the race is close halfway but cannot overtake they will also go 2 stop and undercut (if number one follows) or chase (hungary, barcelona, france style).

 

should be interesting 

[AvranaKern]

I predict a boring procession with Perez finishing in the Top 5.

[w1Y]

Alonso nearly ruining his sunday

[Heyli]

I dont think it will happen, but theoretically Max could get a grand chelem without winning the actual qualifying session?

[renzmann]

If nothing weird happens, Hamilton should win this. He could easily keep within 2 s of Verstappen yesterday, so Mercedes has a good chance of beating Verstappen strategically (even 2 good chances, considering a 2 stop race).

[Clatter]

No way are they even going to try one stopping ...

 

Everytime that's said they end up one stopping.

[TomNokoe]

Air 29
Track 52

First stint will be tough

[Disgrace]

The temperatures could make this a track position race. Are cars going to follow each other without melting components?

[kosmos]

Mechanics working on Alonso's car, let's hope he didn't ruin his Sunday.

 

Looks like the car has some small damages.

[Clatter]

Why does Tom Cruise get granted so much access to events? All the top people in charge scientologists?

[barzini]

Mechanics working on Alonso's car, let's hope he didn't ruin his Sunday.

Looks like the car has some small damages.

What happened?

[FLB]

The temperatures could make this a track position race. Are cars going to follow each other without melting components?

Driving a black car might not be the nicest feeling...

 

 

[Clatter]

What happened?

 

Spun on the laps to the grid.

[Goron3]

What happened?

He spun on the way to the grid.

It's unbelievably hot. Track temperature is the hottest it's been all weekend for a session.

I simply can't see anyone making a one stopper work.

[Pingu Pi]

Why does Tom Cruise get granted so much access to events? All the top people in charge scientologists?

It's Tom Cruise. He's the biggest film star in the world by some margin.

Edit: Probably the biggest name in the world now that I think about it.

Edited by Pingu Pi, 18 July 2021 - 13:39.

[Fastcake]

At least Tom Cruise actually likes Formula One!

If we’re gonna have celebrities milling about, and we are, I’d rather we talk to the handful who are interested and ignore those there for the free champagne.

[Ali_G]

Driving a black car might not be the nicest feeling...

This. Have to wonder will it affect the Mercs.

[jcbc3]

Blew the fly over 

[Bleu]

I hope the band also plays the national anthem(s) during the podium ceremony.

[kumo7]

Why would ALO spin? Accident or his way of changing his start tyre to the soft?

 

 

Which makes me think, whay should Pirelli bring harder tyres?

C1-C3-C5 for all races, should it create different strategies?

Edited by kumo7, 18 July 2021 - 13:48.

[Astandahl]

Track 52 degrees

[krapmeister]

What the HELL is Ted on?!???

[w1Y]

What the HELL is Ted on?!???

I love Ted.

[Clatter]

Why would ALO spin? Accident or his way of changing his start tyre to the soft?

 

 

Which makes me think, whay should Pirelli bring harder tyres?

C1-C3-C5 for all races, should it create different strategies?

 

Well I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose. Just a bit heavy on the throttle while checking the grip level.

[MJB5990]

Give Ted a break, he's not been able to do any of this for the past 18 months.

[krapmeister]

I love Ted.

He seems extremely animated today