Yuki has some work to do tomorrow. He did a bit better than Lawson had in the Red Bull but he has lots of experience on the track.
Hadjar’s issues are hard to understand. Fixing (adjusting) the crotch straps during a qualifying session is a challenge but they had plenty of time since yesterday, if that’s the problem.
Should be interesting to see how Max plans to hold the McLarens back.
Rain could factor into it too.
The grass fires are hard to understand. Rip those sections out and spray down some green paint if you really can’t handle it any other way.

This was a vintage Schumacher style race where it was won and lost in the pit lane. Yuki did get past Lawson in the Racing Bull, but that was as far as he got and finished in 12th while Hadjar in the other RB finished 8th.

The experienced drivers that moved are still getting smoked by their new teammates. Bearman got another point for Haas while Hamilton, Ocon, and Sainz got left behind.

The Drivers points are tightening up with Norris only 1 point ahead of Verstappen while McLaren is putting a beatdown on the Constructors with 111 to Mercedes with 75 and Red Bull at 61.

Hopefully, next year will be better with the smaller cars, because right now, these fatboy F1 cars are too big for Suzuka.

Was that Suzuka or Monaco? Pretty uneventful race, as a whole.
No grass fires, luckily.

I don't mind watching a strategic race with excellent driving and well judged pit activity as long as it results in something actually happening to make the end exciting.
At least the grass didn't catch on fire today, although that would have made things more exciting.

Suzuka is my favorite track, with Spa being 2nd.
Gaps seemed to hold pretty cool distention & no ne really got any good moves on during g the race.

The Max/Lando pit exit was pretty much the highlight

Sadly, for these cars, Mt. Fuji would be the better track to race on. I doubt the 2026 cars are going to be small enough to get any racing at Suzuka, Imola, or Monaco next year.

I wonder what Lewie was thinking crossing the finish line following his car from last year.

Hamilton was looking good at times, but as soon as the tires started to drop off his gap to the car ahead progressively increased. He got really close to Kimi a couple times, then got dropped pretty handle.

A little surprised McLaren didn't give Oscar a shot at reeling in Max.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
Sadly, for these cars, Mt. Fuji would be the better track to race on. I doubt the 2026 cars are going to be small enough to get any racing at Suzuka, Imola, or Monaco next year.

Would be very nice if they shrank.
I fell asleep 3x during the race.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Was that Suzuka or Monaco? Pretty uneventful race, as a whole.
No grass fires, luckily.

I was hoping that a) Yuki would have a better race and b) that Sainz would do better for Williams. I am glad that Albon is doing well.

Just a guess, but I think it won't be after Monaco that drivers like Hamilton and Sainz are past habits like driving their new car like it was their old Ferrari or Mercedes.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
Just a guess, but I think it won't be after Monaco that drivers like Hamilton and Sainz are past habits like driving their new car like it was their old Ferrari or Mercedes.

Lewis especially, I'd think.
2013-2024 with the same crew, habits get ingrained.
Sainz has bounced around more [STR, Renault, McLaren, Ferrari, Willaims] & should adapt a bit quicker I'd think.

So you're saying that the two of them are going to struggle to make a pass at Monaco.

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
So you're saying that the two of them are going to struggle to make a pass at Monaco.

Well, everyone struggles to pass at Monaco

Lewis was looking comfortable in Bahrain today, and the Williams were showing some good pace.
Then the quali runs started, and the times plummeted

Yuki is showing better than Lawson right now, but he's still almost a second slower than Max. Issac Hadjar, on the other hand, is doing better than Tsunoda ever did in the RB. Here's hoping Lewis pulled an Alonso and headed to Ferrari during a slump.

I'm also trying out F1 TV this weekend and is Davide Valsecchi a regular part of the broadcast? He's worse than Paul di Resta.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:
I'm also trying out F1 TV this weekend and is Davide Valsecchi a regular part of the broadcast? He's worse than Paul di Resta.

I do the int'l feed [SkyF1] so I couldn't say who the regulars are on the F1TV broadcast.
I got used to the SkyF1 group when watching via ESPN & stuck with it when I made the switch.

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:

I'm also trying out F1 TV this weekend and is Davide Valsecchi a regular part of the broadcast? He's worse than Paul di Resta.

Valsecci hasn't been a regular so hopefully not.
Yuki hasn't looked so good so far this weekend. Remember, Max didn't run at all in P1 and Yuki did.
So far the Ferrari's new floor doesn't seen to be any improvement.
The McLarens look hard to beat at this stage, unless they start beating on each other.
Mercedes looks like best of the rest now. Russell didn't run in P1 and Kimi missed a lot of the P1 session with some other issue.
Not sure what happened with Alonso's steering wheel to cause it to come loose but Aston looks too far off the pace do do much better than mid pack at best.

Season so far, just a few races in, looks to be shaking out at the front as:
McLaren
Mercedes
Max
Ferrari

Williams looks a bit like 'best of the rest' right now. With Haas & RB not far off.

Oldie but goldie and highlights some bizarre pricing differences in F1: