As to Zeropod:: I think MB will have to drop this concept as it has too much drag and not enough downforce. I like the AM sidepods that channel air back down the car to the wing and diffuser. This should have lower drag and better DF especially compared to MB.
I would have said McLaren to the bottom instead of Haas, but it's early days as they say! Stroll's driving line into the corner where he touched ALO was just insane. No, I'm not an F1 driver and I didn't replay it 100 times as slow-motion speed, but I have played the video game! Can RB set a record number of wins or record % of wins? Stay tuned!
Also, holy crap, the times in Q1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The ENTIRE field spread by about 1.2 seconds! Isn't that what we want!!!! That was awesome.
Well watching the race here are my thoughts: yes, its a Red Bull year, Verstappen just cruised away from the rest. Perez was mediocre - so it could be a 2nd seat for Leclerc... Ferrari - better in strategy, not great but at least consistent. Sainz was lost... not really in it. Leclerc he was just hanging on... he did well in opening stages but the dire drop-off was too much. they need a second a lap... and likely will not find it. Aston Martin - way better than I thought but he also had a struggling Leclerc ... my take is unless the car continues - Alonso will poison this team as well... its way too early. the egos between him and Lawrence Stroll -... is a lit Match over a box of fireworks Mclaren... embarrasing. Alpine - when are they going to quit? perhaps they can sell to Andretti. Alfa - not bad, better than I expected Mercedes.... Hamiltons last season.... may be Toto's as well.... just a feeling. Haas - practicing for next season of DTS Torro Rosso...tsunoda could be out way sooner than anyone thinks.
Agreed. Only issue for Leclerc is that I doubt Ferrari is in breach of contract, so he'll need to be bought out of his contract at a very high cost. And I just don't see Red Bull paying it purely for the fact that they don't need to, especially when you consider that they can get Norris for a fraction of what Leclerc will cost. But I think if the Mclaren doesn't have a good Baku upgrade, Norris will go to Mercedes for 2024. If RB's advantage is as big as it seems in the next few races, they don't need to sack Perez either. He's got a contract till end of 2024, buying him out isn't necessary either. For the sake of entertainment it would be great to see Lando or Leclerc next to Max. Problem is that the seat is only really available post 2024 and by that time I think Norris will be in the Merc and Leclerc then has to hope for a disastrous Ferrari so he can get out of his contract. I'd rather, and I think he'd rather, have it that Ferrari actually builds a car that can compete with the RB.
I still have faith Ferrari and Chuck will come good and deliver a title. True, this year all seems over, but, i've seen this kind of turarounds...1997 for example. I think the Ferrari is a lot better than it shows, and jedah might be a good place with it's long straights....
I'd think the question Red Bull asks themselves is "do we need someone better than Perez?" and right now the answer is "no" as long as the car is winning, and they qualify/finish 1-2. Maybe they also ask "do we need someone better than Max", who knows!
Checo is a very capable driver, ok, he's slower than Max but i think we can say that about at least 90% of the grid! I would glady trade Sainz for him!
Yuki beat De Vries on merit...I think his performance was one of the pleasant surprises of the race to be honest. Not sure he should be as worried as you suggest
Oh I agree with you completely, on the show he appeared not to take things seriously. However, he's signed up Danny Ric's trainer and everyone has commented on how much more dedicated and focused he seemed. I think he realised that his time with Pierre was over, he no longer had an excuse for being beaten and the comparison to Nyck's performance was going to be a serious sink or swim moment for him. He's a good guy, has his moments of brilliant racing and it's great to have a Japanese driver to represent a nation which has been such an important part of the sport for such a long time. I wish him success.
I always have hope... but I also see things pretty clear. Ferrari so far have not impressed... and unless they totally dominate in SA... I think Leclerc will look elsewhere.... If I was his manager I'd be all over Horner and Wolf / MB for a seat.... Too much disfunction at Ferrari. I will admit the strategy seemed better - less confused, but its not enough. DNS and 4th?.... not great.
I think Perez needs to go to Indy - and be a winner there vs. in F1. He can get way more sponsor money and command a top seat... I think he's getting too old. In my opinion, he's been a solid #2.... not much more sadly. Nice guy, he is fast, but just not enough.
I think he needs to really step up... l like him, but he makes a lot of mistakes.... he had a good start, and did end up much better than DeVries... he just needs to keep that up.
Yes and its something a few folks here forget lol. You cannot win in a bad car now. It has been that way for years. RedBull took 15 races last year and I used the word domination. Some denied it was lol Proof on Race 1 into this year. With the potential for a larger domination. I said POTENTIAL. I have zero issues with a good car and a driver who can win in that car. Thats the game being played since it is very much the car more than the driver. We see who can win consistently CONSISTENTLY and who cannot. Max - yes, LH - yes and FA. The rest are unknown or have shown less capability(Bottas and Checo).............
But of course he would provide this lol! Helmut Marko questions legality of Red Bull-esque Aston Martin AMR23
It is interesting, that in the past, reliability was the hope of all teams - that your rival would have a mechanical issue -and DNF. today that has become pretty rare on mechanics... accidents I get. However when you are like Mercedes in the past, and Redbull now - you are able to avoid accidents when you are way out in front....
