Yes, Mclaren is really coming on strong. It is a lot of fun to watch.

Tomorrows race looks fun, four different teams on the first two rows. This should be fun.

I like the new gravel areas that reduce all those track limits issues, or most of them anyway.

Max sure turned up the wick in qualifying and Perez must be happy that he already signed that new contract extension. More than anyone else, he got spanked, being in the same car.

Let's just hope that in race conditions, the gap closes up again. He is about out of his powertrain components and will have to start taking penalties in future races. Maybe that will force them to turn down the power a bit.

Really beautiful place for a race. Tracks like that and Spa sure make those artificial street circuits look bad.

By George, that was interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
By George, that was interesting.

Yup, and Max isn't accepting responsibility for running Lando off the track...twice

The only thing missing from going "Full Schumacher" was Verstappen driving Lando into a wall.

Haas in the top ten.

That was a lot of fun.

Why is it Sainz doesn't have a ride yet?

The assumption since 2022 was that Max was maturing and had raised his game so much that he was beyond some of his earlier issues.
The truth appears to be that he has had enough of an advantage he didn't feel any real threat before today.
He was somewhat more reflective in the post race interview and said he didn't want to comment without seeing the videos and letting things cool down a bit.
Lets see what he says tomorrow.
In any case, that sure was an exciting event, especially the last part. Lots of good racing throughout the field.
There was no mention if he and Lando would be sharing the plane ride home.

quote:

Originally posted by redstone:
Why is it Sainz doesn't have a ride yet?

No good reason, but he should be at Red Bull instead of the pay driver Sergio Perez.

Sainz hasn’t signed with anyone yet because he’s holding out for the best option.
He’s not in a situation like some others that are just trying to stay on the grid anywhere they can.

quote:

Originally posted by redstone:
Why is it Sainz doesn't have a ride yet?

When his two top choices weren't really welcoming...interestingly both related to Max...he was then left to base his choice on potential and when that potential might mature.

He is 30, and might not want to
1. wait for the power of Audi to bring the car up to speed
2. go back to Apine
3. work with Haas and their reliance on Ferrari PU

Williams seem the obvious choice...if he believes what James is saying about the improvement coming on line

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
The assumption since 2022 was that Max was maturing and had raised his game so much that he was beyond some of his earlier issues.
The truth appears to be that he has had enough of an advantage he didn't feel any real threat before today.

Lando mention a couple of times that Max was back to his double moves under braking and that he wasn't being penalized for it...Stroll does the same thing all the time

Steve Matchette mentioned that the Red Bull rear end was sliding as Lando was catching Max

It's not absolutely clear who's to blame, calling it a racing incident is not egregious. Past inconsistency in rulings clouds the issue. I'd be happiest if race results don't come down to rulings and racing is encouraged. Lando and Max looked destined to come together today and it was great fun watching them get to that point.

George Russell is justifiably pleased but he can be only so proud. Still, a win is a win and results like today are not that uncommon.

Eh...it was Max's fault.

It's hard to justify that 'broad shoulders' drift to the left especially when he's aware that Norris is going to be right there on the attack. After all that's what the mirrors are for and Verstappen is simply too good and too experienced to have lost track of a guy doing the attacking. He knew by then that he had an inferior set of tires to Lando's and he was doing what he could to try to keep Norris behind him.

In the end with all of that wide open space on the tarmac to his right, it's pretty obvious to any observer reviewing the footage that Max's drift to the left was a bit too inexplicable to justify. That move didn't work like Max hoped it would (cause his good buddy Lando to defer and back off as he has in past races), and yet by the wave of the checkered flag it actually DID work in a very real sense, at least as far as the driver's championship goes.

Max may not have won the race but since he knocked Lando out while he himself still scored points by finishing 5th, he widened his lead over 2nd place Norris. May not be the result he truly wanted after leading most of the race, but the end game still turned out to be a positive for him and RB. However the other fallout of this incident is that Norris might be rethinking his level of friendship with his chief rival going forward.

The rest of the season could be quite interesting...

Hopefully they're sharing a plan ride later....
That was spicy!

it was a ho-hum race until the end and then it was no longer a photocopy of other races

Congrats to George on the win

It's been announced that Oliver Bearman will drive for Haas in 2025 and beyond. He signed a multi-year contract with Haas, which I'm going to guess will have an out clause so whenever Hamilton finally calls it (or Ferrari calls it for him), Bearman will be able to join the primary team. Congrats to both Bearman AND Haas for this union.

It would be a shame to have LewLew join the Ferrari team.

Idunno.

Seems Hamilton would be a better fit for Haas and put Bearman in the Ferrari?

How many times did they have to call Russel to the pits during his first race in a Benz? He still finished in the points.

Lando Norris shot his race prospects dead in pit lane. That's all it took to drop him to 3rd.

Maclaren had a Ferrari kind of day, talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The two quickest cars finish 3rd and forth and they can only blames themselves.