1593 replies to this topic

[LolaB0860]

I'm not gonna babble. So there's a Grand Prix tonight. In 6 hours time. The weather will be dry and warm. There might be a safety car or not. Pirelli suggests some strategy that might or might not be optimal.

 

STARTING GRID

1. Lando Norris

2. Max Verstappen

3. Carlos Sainz

4. Charles Leclerc

5. Oscar Piastri

6. George Russell

7. Pierre Gasly

8. Fernando Alonso

9. Kevin Magnussen

10. Sergio Perez

11. Yuki Tsunoda

12. Nico Hulkenberg

13. Esteban Ocon

14. Lance Stroll

15. Alex Albon

16. Franco Colapinto

17. Valtteri Bottas

18. Lewis Hamilton

19. Zhou Guanyu

20. Liam Lawson***
 

There are couple of Historic supports races but they are not televised. The Porsche race is:

 

[midgrid]

Ferrari should be able to win this with the correct (split) strategy.

[LolaB0860]

Ferrari should be able to win this with the correct (split) strategy.

 

I don't know about that, but they should be really close or at least close-ish to RBR in the constructors standings after this race. Sprint ™ already narrowed the gap a bit.

 

Also, Haas already passed Toro Rosso RB in the standings yesterday but they should be able to increase the gap further today. 

[STRFerrari4Ever]

F1 just posted on Instagram that P2 has won as many races(5) as pole position at COTA so that’s something to look out for at the start of the race.

We’re in for a cracker though as I think the Ferrari’s will be in the mix for the win so a top 4 fight for victory sounds like a perfect way to spend a Sunday evening.

[MortenF1]

Yeah, i believe in a «normal-run» race, this will be between Verstappen and Sainz/Ferrari. Third between Norris and Leclerc then. I don’t think McLaren will have the pace, but maybe I’m taking the sprint as a too strong pointer.
Hopefully Hamilton starts from the pitlane, on the hards, but runs an attacking race and not “be patient, the race will come to us.” Eight is probably his best case scenario though, unless lady luck strikes at the right time with a SC.

[balmybaldwin]

We are rather overdue an incident (as the safety car stat shows)  especially amoung front runners and turn 1 here is often not clean.

 

you have to go as low as 8th in championship (Perez) before you find a driver with more than one Retirement

[RacingFan10]

This could be a very interesting and exciting one. Ferraris look very strong, could be a 4 way fight between Max, Lando, and the two red cars

[STRFerrari4Ever]

We are rather overdue an incident (as the safety car stat shows) especially amoung front runners and turn 1 here is often not clean.

you have to go as low as 8th in championship (Perez) before you find a driver with more than one Retirement

We might potentially get one as quite a few cars look fast enough to get that final point, so I’m expecting Ocon to be feisty, Lawson to want to prove himself after getting his feet under the table again yesterday and we can always rely on a late defensive move by Stroll to usher someone to their barriers(2022 edition if you remember).

[TauriJ]

Thank god that parc ferme rules are lifted. 

 

Might have a different result than in sprint

[Hellenic tifosi]

Given that Max and Sainz did their fastest laps at the end of the sprint, is a one stopper feasible?

[JeanAlesi27]

This could be a very interesting and exciting one. Ferraris look very strong, could be a 4 way fight between Max, Lando, and the two red cars

 

We'll have to see if Carlos and Charles waste time fighting each other today...  

[jonpollak]

Going to the pub to watch this.

Noticed that the faux McRenaults have SA Spurs sponsorship as well. Only10 years late.



Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 20 October 2024 - 14:24.

[RacingFan10]

We'll have to see if Carlos and Charles waste time fighting each other today...  

 

It depends on Charles ego I'd say, I mean, he is pretty much out of contention for the title... And Sainz looked a bit faster in the sprint and if it's the same in the full race, then Charles should not fight Sainz too hard and keep behind on his slipstream.

Edited by RacingFan10, 20 October 2024 - 14:27.

[IrvTheSwerve]

I saw a stat the other day that said that every F1 race at COTA has had a 5 sec or less gap between P1 and 2 at the end, except for last year where it was 9.4...

[Mc_Silver]

Damage limitation race for Lando and McLaren. Ferrari and Red Bull will probably fight for the win today. Ferrari have the strategic advantage over others with two cars fighting for the win. It'll be an interesting and exciting race that's for sure.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Going to the pub to watch this.

Noticed that the faux McRenaults have SA Spurs sponsorship as well. Only10 years late.



Jp

 

*drum riff*

 

Go Alpine go

 

*drum riff*

 

Go Alpine go

 

Doesn't have the same ring to it I must admit.

[Thursday]

I think we all agree that COTA is one of the better tracks on the calendar. This is the only one of the three American races I would like to attend and the sprint suggests that we could be in for some good racing even though I don't think it will be for the lead,

 

 

My favourite Texan

[Autodromo]

Since I am not in-person at this race, I greatly prefer the timing of the European races.  I can get up Sunday morning and watch a race while eating a tasty breakfast and then go on about my day.  Now I have to WAIT until afternoon!!  Looking forward to this race.  Suspect Max will drive away with it, but hoping for something unexpected.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Question for the mods, are the servers capable of handling the discourse if Max and Norris have a crash again like in Austria? Just kidding of course but it shouldn’t be ruled out that we could see that if there’s some aggressive racing between the two.

[PayasYouRace]

Question for the mods, are the servers capable of handling the discourse if Max and Norris have a crash again like in Austria? Just kidding of course but it shouldn’t be ruled out that we could see that if there’s some aggressive racing between the two.

We’re warming up the banhammer.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

We’re warming up the banhammer.

Will it be the size of F2’s Verschoor Anvil?

[FLB]

Will it be the size of F2’s Verschoor Anvil?

Verschoor?

 

 

How about Alexander Rossi's in IndyCar?   

[Jellyfishcake]

Verschoor?

 

 

How about Alexander Rossi's in IndyCar?   

 

What happens if Verschoor joins IndyCar! 

[renzmann]

Can't remember the last time CATO was dull. Can't wait for the race!

[SophieB]

[FLB]

When it rains, it just pours, doesn't it (for Merc)...

 

 

I'm hesitating between    and  .

 

Edit: Done hesitating. Definite  . We just lost a potential five-way battle for the win (Verstappen, Norris, both Ferraris and Russell).

Edited by FLB, 20 October 2024 - 16:04.

[DW46]

Double pit lane start?

[SophieB]

I have no idea how much deep poo Merc are in but I did like how the wording of that report which, though correct, also kind of makes it sound like George should have been covered with a tarp too.

[Mc_Silver]

What is the consequence of this?

[SophieB]

What is the consequence of this?

I presume pitlane start? I don’t really know.

[FLB]

I presume pitlane start? I don’t really know.

Very likely I think, unless they can invoke force majeure because of Russell's incident.

[MortenF1]

Isn’t it just a case of breaking the curfew?

[Jellyfishcake]

So Hamilton on the backrow and Russell starting from the pits

What a weekend it's turning into for Mercedes 

 

 

https://x.com/wearet...026025814634945

Edited by Jellyfishcake, 20 October 2024 - 15:42.

[SparkPlug86]

Very likely I think, unless they can invoke force majeure because of Russell's incident.

 

I think they have to cover the car. They can start working on it again the next day.

[JeanAlesi27]

Wow,  poor George..  The car must have really been in bad shape for them to risk this...

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Smells like a back of the grid start for both Mercs. The more the years go by it makes you wonder whether or not Mercedes will ever reach the dizzying heights they did when they were utterly dominant, it could’ve just been a golden period that they’ll never recapture once again.

Edited by STRFerrari4Ever, 20 October 2024 - 15:48.

[SophieB]

Tyre action, via Albert Fabrega on twitter

 

 

[SophieB]

Pitlane start confirmed.

 

@MercedesAMGF1

Unfortunately George will start today’s race from the pit lane

 

After yesterday’s accident, the team had to work through the night to revert on specification thus contravening Article 40.6 that says cars must be covered two hours after the end of qualifying

[Risil]

Can't remember the last time CATO was dull. Can't wait for the race!

 

Carthago delenda est was a banger, that's for sure

[Nemo1965]

Pitlane start confirmed.

@MercedesAMGF1
Unfortunately George will start today’s race from the pit lane

After yesterday’s accident, the team had to work through the night to revert on specification thus contravening Article 40.6 that says cars must be covered two hours after the end of qualifying

Geez. What a difference two days make. On Friday Lewis and the pundits (great name for a band) believed Merc was going for the win.

[DJH63]

Assuming Norris survives the start, I’d be pleasantly surprised if it’s not a routine lights to flag for him with Verstappen just trying to limit the damage.

[ArchieTech]

I don't understand what Merc have done. Lewis offered the upgraded parts he's running for them to rebuild George's car with the same spec parts. That would have kept the grid position, and Lewis was starting at the back anyway. I can only think they wanted to make more drastic changes so it wasn't worth it.

[Thursday]

My prediction is Max gets the inside line into Turn one, shows Lando the outside of the track and disappears. The sprint showed that Red Bull don't have tyre deg issues so once Max is in the lead he will stay there.

[JimmyClark]

I'm excited about the race tonight. It's been a difficult weekend to get into, due to being a sprint (the build up is very stunted) and after such a long break, and I've had a crazy busy weekend so have watched all sessions delayed, but I have beer cooling in the fridge for what should be a great evening.

I just walked along the back stretch of the old Brooklands circuit in Byfleet too, which was really cool.

[TomNokoe]

Remember last year when Max ran away with the sprint, but the main race was much closer? I suspect we could see something similar tonight.

I'm also conscious that Piastri set the 3rd fastest lap of the sprint, showing that in the right circumstances the McLaren has good deg. I think Norris pushed too hard too early yesterday. Having clean air from the start might help fix that, plus there's every chance Sainz sends it on Verstappen at T1.

[Goron3]

Remember last year when Max ran away with the sprint, but the main race was much closer? I suspect we could see something similar tonight.

I'm also conscious that Piastri set the 3rd fastest lap of the sprint, showing that in the right circumstances the McLaren has good deg. I think Norris pushed too hard too early yesterday. Having clean air from the start might help fix that, plus there's every chance Sainz sends it on Verstappen at T1.

Two stops expected plus a massively powerful undercut...sign me up.

[milestone 11]

Anyone else watch the Porsche Carrera Cup race? It was that amateur, I'm not convinced that it wasn't some sort of comedic parody. Was it just a dream?

[SophieB]

[TauriJ]

I don't understand what Merc have done. Lewis offered the upgraded parts he's running for them to rebuild George's car with the same spec parts. That would have kept the grid position, and Lewis was starting at the back anyway. I can only think they wanted to make more drastic changes so it wasn't worth it.

Although Lewis Hamilton, who had qualified 19th after a miserable Q1, offered his upgrades to allow Russell to take up his sixth spot on the grid, this was deemed not practical by the team as that would have been too much work across both its cars.

[DJH63]

Remember last year when Max ran away with the sprint, but the main race was much closer? I suspect we could see something similar tonight.

I'm also conscious that Piastri set the 3rd fastest lap of the sprint, showing that in the right circumstances the McLaren has good deg. I think Norris pushed too hard too early yesterday. Having clean air from the start might help fix that, plus there's every chance Sainz sends it on Verstappen at T1.

I think Norris just took too much life out of the tyres yesterday in that 3 lap window where he brought the gap down on Verstappen c.1 sec and then fell away. As said above if he survives lap 1 he should be able to return the favour and take it easy in the 2-3 sec gap.