F1 2025 Spanish (Circuit de Catalunya) Pre-Race Thread

I agree. Whatever the pecking order is after the Spanish GP will be how it is for the rest of the season. Sure certain cars will be stronger at certain tracks and vise versa, but aside from that the cars are what they are.

I hope I'm wrong though.

 

A story in Planet F1 says that if Ferrari doesn't get the results it wants in Spain, it will wave the white flag, give up on 2025 and move on to the new car. So the final 2/3rds of the season won't even matter. We already know that F1 is broken and most likely unfixable. Add to that, considering the disaster of Ferrari this year, why should we expect the same people and the same process to produce a better car next year? Doesn't that fall into the definition of insanity? The F1 developement restrictions hurt all teams equally. Max fights no matter what car you give him. Same with Russell and Albon and Sainz and Hadjar, and some others. But Hamilton and Leclerc have shown they are ONLY as good as their car...and neither has that something extra to get the car to rise above it. Vasseur is proving to be the Macron of F1. A charming accent but still a frog and not a prince. If Spain proves just to be another week of Ferrari failure, I'll pass on having any interest in the team...and maybe just read the summary threads posted here.

 

Realistically, the only way to side-step all this funky wing flexing is to make the front and rear wings spec parts built by someone else.

Then at least everyone is on equal ground.
The bad part is this moves F1 ever closer to spec racing.

 

I agree with all of that except the part about Sir and LEC and the car. Leclerc put on a master class in that car at Monaco. There was no more to be squeezed out of it. He’s done that in other races this year. Frankly he’s surprised me. I really thought Hammy would get on top of him early and he’d get discouraged. But no, he’s been outstanding almost every weekend. Even the F1 writer for MotorSport compared Leclerc’s performances at Monaco to be worthy of comparison with Senna, Schumacher and Graham Hill…..Hamilton not mentioned. By a British writer.

 

Let's talk about this again, after Spain. I think Leclerc has show lots of talent over the years...but he's never been able to close the deal...he's never been a "tiger" to use a Stirling Moss phrase. I can see him getting podiums and even a win...now and then...but never a WDC. As for Hamilton, if the season continues like this, I think he'll announce his retirement before the end of the season. Any driver who believes in wind tunnel data and sim performance is a fool.

 

Like many champions LH has a hard time letting go. He believes strongly in himself and we do want F1 drivers who do. That comes at a cost to reality in some cases. FA and LH are now due to leave. Its over for both. The series should move them along. Neither will be less for leaving. They made an impression and are in the history of F1.
Not sure about Charles overall. I do think LH showing up to the team forced him to focus more and provide some 'leadership' to the team at large. That was always part of the reason LH was hired. What he does next is not possible to predict.

As you stated earlier, Charles is driving well but not able to get any more out of the car to gain more than a podium. LH is a bit weaker but he has a win lol. Sprint only but its a win. I think after summer break he should announce his departure. I dont expect him to. He will hold onto the dream for the next series of car being built now.

 

I don't see Hamilton retiring before he gets a chance to campaign in the 2026 spec car. If it is a dog as well, I could see him checking out or switching teams. Any manufacturer that doesn't get this transition right is going to have a terrible next few years.

 

+1 if you are not sorted, limited testing etc, you are going to need possibly 2 years to catch up with the budget cap as well affecting development. What a series LOL

 

Norris was only 0.032s slower than Piastri running the regular wing

 

But.....but..........Mclaren are cheating ........... Where is Jos. He was running his mouth about the delay to this helping other teams yesterday.

Red Bull debuts new F1 front wing to comply with FIA clampdown
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/red-bull-debuts-new-f1-front-wing-to-comply-with-fia-clampdown/

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