133 replies to this topic

[keshav]

Amazing by Hulk.

[Spillage]

I think I'm right in saying that's Sauber's best result since 2022. Delivered in Hulkenberg's first race! He's going to prove a really good signing for the team.

[Mohican]

Yes, he will. Always a good qualifier - and above all good on opening lap. Which Bottas was not.

China will be interesting; presumably both Antonelli and Lawson will be higher up in qualifying this time; and presumably Hadjar, Doohan, Sainz and Alonso will not crash out.

[speedx]

Some interesting informations from the race Podcast.

The car in Bahrain was kind of a test car, the aerodynamics was not complete. Frontwing and sidepds were updated in Melbourne. The car that was ready in Melbourne should have been available already at the Bahrain test.

Also they had some problems with suspension at the test. It was too stiff. They updated that also in Melbourne.

It is now complete different car from the drivebility point as it was in Bahrain.

New updates already planned for Japan.

[Junky]

Hulk is so underrated. I would really like to see him in a winning car.

[BRG]

Hulk is so underrated. I would really like to see him in a winning car.

We've seen him in a winning car.  But he didn't win in it, his team-mate did.

 

Hulkenberg is somewhat over-rated for a basic mid-fielder.

[speedx]

We've seen him in a winning car. But he didn't win in it, his team-mate did.

Hulkenberg is somewhat over-rated for a basic mid-fielder.

Hulk never had even a podium car. Every podium what Checo got was pure luck.

Hulk is one of the fastest out there.

Zehnder from Sauber said last year Hulk is the fastest quali driver they ever had. Should I tell you who drove for Sauber in past years?

Alonso once said Hulk is in the top 5 drivers.

[ATM]

I like Hulk, but I beg to differ, he did have a solid podium car at least în 2012 with Sauber. But then again he was still young, the season was hectic and for some reason or other his chances never materialized.

[Laster]

He wasn't in a Sauber in 2012, he was at Force India. He was there in 2013 where the car got good in the second half of the year.

[Benchulo]

Hulk never had even a podium car. Every podium what Checo got was pure luck.

Hulk is one of the fastest out there.

Zehnder from Sauber said last year Hulk is the fastest quali driver they ever had. Should I tell you who drove for Sauber in past years?

Alonso once said Hulk is in the top 5 drivers.

 

 This may not be the right place to discuss Hulkenberg and Checo, but what you said is not true at all. During their time together at Force India, Checo stood on the podium 4 times. His first podium in the Bahrain GP 2014 was completely won on merit. Perez qualified 5th, and Hulkenberg 12th. Force India, Willams and Red Bull were closely matched on pace during the weekend and Perez won a hard fought podium that day, with Hulk also in contention, who also had a strong race.

https://www.motorspo...rain-gp-report/

 

Hulk had multiple chances during his career, Brazil 2012, Bahrain 2014, Baku 2016 and 2017, comes to my mind, where his car had real pace to get a podium, but was not at his best during those crucial races. 

I think Hulk is much more talented than Perez and would have been more successful, had he raced during the refueling era.


 

[kumo7]

This may not be the right place to discuss Hulkenberg and Checo, but what you said is not true at all. During their time together at Force India, Checo stood on the podium 4 times. His first podium in the Bahrain GP 2014 was completely won on merit. Perez qualified 5th, and Hulkenberg 12th. Force India, Willams and Red Bull were closely matched on pace during the weekend and Perez won a hard fought podium that day, with Hulk also in contention, who also had a strong race.

https://www.motorspo...rain-gp-report/

Hulk had multiple chances during his career, Brazil 2012, Bahrain 2014, Baku 2016 and 2017, comes to my mind, where his car had real pace to get a podium, but was not at his best during those crucial races.

I think Hulk is much more talented than Perez and would have been more successful, had he raced during the refueling era.

checo and hulk are totally different drivers. Checo has to large up and downs, while Hulk is a strong driver whi always takes more than what the car can do.

i say Saucer will finish the season on sixth.

McLaren Ferrari RedBull Mercedes, messy pack where Racing Bull, Alpine, Sauber, Williams ate all in. So I sm saying is that Sauber will be the second of these teams.

[Benchulo]

checo and hulk are totally different drivers. Checo has to large up and downs, while Hulk is a strong driver whi always takes more than what the car can do.

i say Saucer will finish the season on sixth.

McLaren Ferrari RedBull Mercedes, messy pack where Racing Bull, Alpine, Sauber, Williams ate all in. So I sm saying is that Sauber will be the second of these teams.

I think it'll be Sauber, Racing Bulls, and Haas fighting for 8th. Maybe 7th is possible, with Alpine not having a strong line up, IMO. Jonathan Wheatley will be the TP from Japanese GP.

Seems like to me, that Williams are quite further ahead.

Edited by Benchulo, 19 March 2025 - 06:42.

[BRG]

checo and hulk are totally different drivers. Checo has to large up and downs, while Hulk is a strong driver whi always takes more than what the car can do.

Perez's downs have been abysmal and have lost him his place in F1, but at least he also had those ups, with podiums and even victories to his credit.  

 

So it comes down to whether you prefer a (occasional) winner or a consistently average mid-fielder who never reaches the heights  Judging from this forum, it is the latter, for some unaccountable reason.  A strange choice for the pinnacle of the sport where you might imagine the grid would be composed of hard-charging would-be champions rather than loveable also-rans.

[kumo7]

Perez's downs have been abysmal and have lost him his place in F1, but at least he also had those ups, with podiums and even victories to his credit.

So it comes down to whether you prefer a (occasional) winner or a consistently average mid-fielder who never reaches the heights Judging from this forum, it is the latter, for some unaccountable reason. A strange choice for the pinnacle of the sport where you might imagine the grid would be composed of hard-charging would-be champions rather than loveable also-rans.

When Checo was at the force India, I think his performance was really at the right place. I think he performed extremely well they’re very impressive and I liked him a lot. But when he moved to red bull, what happened was that he was placed to the second fiddle. And thereby he lost a bit of mojo or duty, and ups and downs. I think Checo is someone who has to be the number one driver, Or I think he needs quite large sense of duty.

Edited by kumo7, 19 March 2025 - 16:06.

[Alfisti]

Checo is flattered by his tyre whispering, one trick pony. I'd take Hulkenberg in most cars any day, especially outside of that cheese tyre era when they were together. 

[KWSN - DSM]

Perez and Fisichella are the same driver, really, really good in a midfield car, not as good in a front running car, Hulkenberg is same level, have never been in a front running car, and circumstances have placed him as the eternal bridesmaid.

[kumo7]

Perez and Fisichella are the same driver, really, really good in a midfield car, not as good in a front running car, Hulkenberg is same level, have never been in a front running car, and circumstances have placed him as the eternal bridesmaid.

 

Hulk never was in one of those car, so honestly, we do not know. Perhaps at AUDI-Sauber? 

[MikeTekRacing]

Hulk never was in one of those car, so honestly, we do not know. Perhaps at AUDI-Sauber? 

but he was in the same car with Perez and did not look better. 

[MikeTekRacing]

Checo is flattered by his tyre whispering, one trick pony. I'd take Hulkenberg in most cars any day, especially outside of that cheese tyre era when they were together. 

driving hard and not using the tyres is all that F1 is. Max does it well, Lewis does it well. It's also a trait of the car sometimes (Red Bull was kind to tyres, Mercedes was kind to tyres, now Mclaren is kind)

[motorhead]

Nothing to cheer for, last team just like last year

[F1Frog]

It was never explained why Hulkenberg dropped right to the back at the start and then was dreadfully slow all race compared to Bortoleto, anyone know?

 

Edit: he went off through the gravel and damaged the floor.

Edited by F1Frog, 23 March 2025 - 11:04.

[rocque]

post race radio:

Nico: I think obviously with that kind of damage is pretty serious. Sorry about that lap 1. We need to look into what happened, I very aggresively lost the rear end, that was basically the end.

Steven: Yeah, looks like very tricky balance in the opening lap.

Nico: I just don't know, got very surprised with that snap, didn't see that coming. 

Steven: Copy that. We got to see the highs and the lows of the sport together in our first two races. 

Steven said during the race that Hulk lost about 20 points of downforce in high speed and 40 in low speed. Pitlane start yesterday didn't help to experience severe dirty air in the first meters...

 

Easy points gone today, especially with DSQs. Nor great, nor tragic, something in between after these two, but also too much damage carried on such a short notice.

 

Next one with standard three FPs will be better. And finally, Jonathan arrives.

Edited by rocque, 23 March 2025 - 12:42.

[LolaB0860]

Nothing to cheer for, last team just like last year

 

Maybe, but just like at the beginning of last year, Renault is giving them a helping hand.

 

Also, both Melbourne and Shanghai showed that one-off miracle results can do wonders for Sauber and Haas. Which are the two teams I still assume to fight for the bottom of the barrel positions when the season advances and RB+Alpine get their acts together. Well, AM is probably gonna crumble further down too, so those 3 teams

 

And at least Sauber can qualify this car somewhere, unlike was the case with that slow garbage can last year.

[JRodrigues]

At least Wheatley knows how to make an entrance (from earlier this week in Hinwill):

 

Edited by JRodrigues, 03 April 2025 - 13:21.

[KWSN - DSM]

At least Wheatley knows how to make an entrance (from earlier this week in Hinwill):

 

 

 

Very angular, an 80ies Audi?

Edited by KWSN - DSM, 03 April 2025 - 13:47.

[JRodrigues]

Very angular, an 80ies Audi?

 

THE 80ies Audi.

 

[kumo7]

nice

[BRG]

nice

...and probably quicker than the 2025 Sauber.

[rocque]

Sauber behind Williams and Toro Rosso

In both races, the Sauber drivers started from the bottom half of the grid. However, the engineers believe that there is potential for more in the new C45. However, the green and black racer has not yet shown its best form. In Melbourne, the drivers were annoyed by annoying understeer. In Shanghai, the engineers were surprised by an underfloor problem. The chassis had to be raised in order to prevent the floor panel from rubbing off too much.

 

Although the car shows progress in terms of pace compared to its predecessor, it is not easy to tame. Both drivers complain about the unpredictable handling and poor balance. Williams and Toro Rosso currently seem to have their noses in front in the centre battle. However, it is so close that small driving errors and wrong set-up decisions can make all the difference.

 

Technical upgrade in the Suzuka quiver

‘We have to somehow find two tenths before everyone else finds two tenths,’ said Sauber manager Beat Zehnder, explaining the task facing the engineers. The upgrade race will begin in Japan. Sauber will arrive with new parts that were actually already planned for the start of the season. After the front wing and the underbody, the main focus will be on the sidepod. ‘We are reasonably confident that we have something good in the quiver,’ says Zehnder.

 

There is also potential to improve performance in the setup work.

https://www.auto-mot...suzuka-upgrade/

Edited by rocque, 03 April 2025 - 16:34.

[speedx]

Midfield is so close, that a perfect lap can make a difference between Q1 and Q3.
They need to solve that balance problems and Q3 is possible.

[motorhead]

2024 Bottas 13th, Zhou 20th
2025 Hulkenberg 16th, Bortoleto 17th

[KWSN - DSM]

QED?

[rocque]

P13, nothing left. Great call by pitwall to keep Hulk on track during the Safety Car. 

[FLB]

Plank DSQ for Hülkenberg: https://www.fia.com/...nk_assembly.pdf