2017 FORMULA 1, US COTA GP: QUALIFYING *** SPOILERS ***

Funny how that I've never met Big Tex and yet I recognized him when he came on the screen

 

Good lap by Seb,so it is game on still.Ocon looking fast too.

Them thar grid gals looking racy tooo

 

THAT was what I was referring to on my post. BIG TEX is the man!

 

Alonso did an exceptional job today.

 

It'd be nice to see him with a better engine next year

 

Not even 2 full pages of posts on the USGP qualifying where Ferrari is 2nd on the grid.

Is interest waning?

Duh!

 

Agree bit weird, stayed up forFP3, then Qualy happened round 4am where i am ...so just caught the replay.

All it takes is dnf for Lewis (taken out by Kimi?) and a Vettel win for things to liven up a bit.

 

Now got 4 hours of Moto GP ...proper racing from Oz!

 

It's been over by a few races. Why watch preseason when you already saw the superbowl.

Robb

 

Too funny Big Tex was in the row in front of me!

 

How about Carlos and the Renault. Maybe Nick as number two will be moving on sooner than anyone expected. The could reopen the door to Kubica. I don't have a positive feeling about Williams as a team or for Kubica, but Nick could do better there than Massa. I have to ask myself, what do all these mid and back of the pack teams get out this...spending millions for a dream that will never come true. And it can't be a very effective way to advertise products for the sponsors..

 

The smaller teams live on in the hope that costs really will be reduced...and money equally shared...new engine regs ..level playing field etc etc ..its been going on for decades of course.

Lets hope Liberty/FIA can sort out the mess that we have now..before it is too late.

 

No they don't, they know they have no chance of wins, it they look for the scraps, and the sponsors they have get more value for money. On a ferrari, they can buy an end plate, on a force india, they can have the title sponsorship and look the dogs danglies. No one in formula one really believes cost cutting to any great extent will ever come in, it would completely finish formula one as we knew it, even the piecemeal bits they've done so far (testing limits, parts restrictions etc) have already had a markedly negative effect on the sport, with less racing and greater periods of processions, and the winning team/driver for the championship is obvious in race one practice.

Anyone that advocates cost cutting is basically destroying f1s chance to redeem itself, and the bigger teams will never agree . If you can't afford to play, don't play, you don't make everyone else stop spending their money.

 

Well. Merc are already talking about engine costs from 2021 being the lowest ever,in modern times.Every bit will help the smaller teams.Total budget caps would be great ,the problem is how could the FIA monitor and control them?

 

But the start will be fun!!

 

Grid today ---

Provisional US GP starting grid
1) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2) Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
3) Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
4) Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
5) Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
6) Esteban Ocon, Force India
7) Carlos Sainz, Renault
8) Fernando Alonso, McLaren
9) Sergio Perez, Force India
10) Felipe Massa, Williams
11) Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso
12) Romain Grosjean, Haas
13) Marcus Ericsson, Sauber
14) Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren
15) Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber
16) Lance Stroll, Williams
17) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
18) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
19) Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
20) Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso

 

Yes indeed ....what could possibly go wrong

 

There is alot of room there at turn 1 to make good things or bad things result!

 

Yes Seb and the rest will know Lewis is vulnerable, in the sense he will really not want to be taken out, so if he hooks it up well, I figure he may get the jump on Lewis with ease...
I'am sure they all will be breathing down his neck trying to spoil his party it's what makes us watch.

 

+1 I am watching and happy the race is on this evening!

 

Thunderstorm at the moment....

 

I think that Kubica is out of the F1 picture. I am watching the Renault pairing of Sainz and The Hulk with great interest. Nico certainly wasn't challenged by Palmer, he will be forced to raise his game. Hopefully it will be more harmonious than Perez and Ocon.

 

Yes, Lewis masterfully ran teammate Rosberg off the road in Turn 1. Where's Max when we need him?

 

Prediction for the start: Lewis will move over to cover his line as all the pole sitters do...And all those who called Seb stupid for doing so in Singapore will praise him for being the racer he is