2021 F1 Thread

[docjames]

The unlap rule is garbage and needs to be got rid of.

It seemed like a lot of cars were able to escape the sand traps this weekend - i think the rain compacted it a little and meant the cars didn't sink in as much.

 

[JessicaTam]

The unlap rule is garbage and needs to be got rid of.

...

I agree. It effectively gave HAM a 50 second bonus.

What if the lights go out on the safety car with half a lap to go, and all the lapped cars then can overtake it and get out of the way of the restart?

 

[Must...Fly!]

IIRC it was removed for a couple of seasons in the early 2010s, but lead to some unintended consequences?

The original solution from the FIA was to electronically put all cars on the lead lap, but obviously that has problems all of its own. And couldn't be done because of timing system limitations, again, IIRC

 

[docjames]

I agree. It effectively gave HAM a 50 second bonus.

What if the lights go out on the safety car with half a lap to go, and all the lapped cars then can overtake it and get out of the way of the restart?

I don’t see what was wrong with the old method - the safety car is a disadvantage for the leader as it is (hard earned lead gets reduced) so having lapped cars between gives some protection to that advantage, plus in theory with blue flags the lapped cars should be being passed very very quickly anyway (within a lap). It also would mean more passing which in F1 isn’t exactly plentiful.

It’s just garbage that the cars further back get back a free lap.

would be much simpler way than the contrived rule changes they keep coming up with.

 

[Flashback]

A day behind the pace...... just watched qualy, pretty boring really. Let's see how the race goes today, although I probably won't get around to watching that till tomorrow either!

 

[Flashback]

Pretty boring race, too. Safety car early on allowed VER to jump HAM..... but wasn't able to hold onto it, poor old BOT dropped down from the lead again due to sensor issues on his car dropping a bit of pace for a lap or two.

 

[JessicaTam]

Damn, I missed a race! Grr.

 

[Flashback]

Damn, I missed a race! Grr.

There's always next week! You didn't miss much.

 

[eastwest101]

Damn, I missed a race! Grr.

You missed the most spectacularly boring race this season so far, 10 Bold were struggling to put a highlights package together.

The post race podium and interviews and lack of crowd gave it all the excitement and energy of an old folks home at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon.

 

[serfty]

Interesting Qualifying - Big (relative) gap between 3rd and 4th.

Shame RIC got held up on his final outlap and missed out on a last hard lap -0.2 of a second could have seem him fourth.

 

[Flashback]

And to think it was only 2 years ago I saw an AFFer buying a RIC Renault Racing shirt at the track .....

 

[JessicaTam]

And to think it was only 2 years ago I saw an AFFer buying a RIC Renault Racing shirt at the track .....

Indeed. My last 'in person' GP.

 

[Flashback]

Good start from VER, was good to see him break HAM leading laps since the 2018 GP; however.......... Mercedes strategy from Hungary 2019 paid dividends for them again with another win for HAM.

Decent race for RIC.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Just asking: why Verstappen didn’t pit next lap? Would have had a chance to hold position or at least be right behind Hamilton and then try to overtake for a win.

 

[moa999]

Yep. Ric had the 7th fastest car and finished 6th.
But more importantly despite being under pressure most of the race, finished 30 secs up on Lando.

That said unless the Top3 teams have issues like they did in the early races, it's going to be a tough road to close the points gap to Lando.

 

[docjames]

Just asking: why Verstappen didn’t pit next lap? Would have had a chance to hold position or at least be right behind Hamilton and then try to overtake for a win.

Agree - was screaming this at the TV - although would have given Bottas track position, but I’d have backed Ves to get past Bot and anyway he’s fighting Hamilton not Bot for the championship so even a 2nd to Ham’s 3rd would have been better result overall.

 

[Carrots]

The McLaren Gulf livery.....

 

[snabbu]

Always look forward to Monaco, even if the races themselves can be mundane. Good chance to see the RB on pole this weekend. Bring it on.

 

[snabbu]

Best part of the weekend is done with Charles on pole, crashing with 10secs to go in Q3 and therefore denying anyone else the opportunity to beat him. Great to see the prancing horse back in the mix, they were strong during all three practice sessions.

Shame Daniel wasn't on the ball this weekend, he couldn't make Q3

Lewis no where all weekend and starts P7.

Max starting in P2 - if he can get past Charles on the first lap he'll be hard to beat.

 

[moa999]

Woops about Charles though.
Bad start for Dan, down 2 places (1 effective) on opening lap.