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Come on Nico - get that podium!!!!!!

A clearer line has been drawn over track limits in the first instruction from the new race director to drivers. Last year’s three paragraphs of guidance on track limits have been replaced with a single instruction from Wittich which states: “In accordance with the provisions of Article 33.3, the white lines define the track edges.”

Article 33.3 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations compels drivers to “make every reasonable effort to use the track at all times and may not leave the track without a justifiable reason.”

 

The article further adds drivers “will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with it and, for the avoidance of doubt, any white lines defining the track edges are considered to be part of the track but the kerbs are not.”

 

 

At last,

 

Source: Racefans.net

I say have whoever is in charge of the coding for the Gran Turismo license tests should enforce track limits. There is no game or race series in the real world with such vigilant policing as GT

Oh dear.

 

Esteban Ocon's Alpine literally just fell apart on the straight, 8 minutes in to first practice. Immediate red flag.

 

 

So much for them solving their problems in testing.

A superb qualifying session, fully here for the mix up of the grid order and Ferrari being in the running. Superb performance by Magnussen getting 7th.

 

LEC, VER, SAI, PER, HAM, BOT, MAG, ALO, RUS, GAS

We could be looking at a lot of retirements tomorrow, Haas, Alfa, Alpha, Mercedes, Alpine and especially McLaren have all had mechanical problems in the last 2 days. I wouldn't surprised to see half the grid not make the flag even without accidents.

 

(Obviously everyone will finish the race now)

The Schadenfreude is REAL. Still cackling. Can’t wait tomorrow for the race to see his lordship have to race without a 1.5+ second advantage on the cars ahead

 

Oh dear.

 

Esteban Ocon's Alpine literally just fell apart on the straight, 8 minutes in to first practice. Immediate red flag.

So much for them solving their problems in testing.

That was awkward as arse 😅 seems to be in the mix tho. 8th an ok result given a lot of people wrote off Alpine and they haven’t done barely any running with the new engine turned up

Yeah, of all the teams, Alpine's potential is the hardest to call. One moment it looks like a complete nightmare to drive and likely to break, the next, Alonso looks like he might put it in the top four.

 

It just seems wildly inconsistent

Haas will be hoping to get two cars past turn 3 after the last two years, Grosjean firey crash in 2020 and Mazepin crash on the other side of the track last year.

This Leclerc vs Verstappen duel is quite brilliant

This Leclerc vs Verstappen duel is quite brilliant

Isn’t it just!! A few laps before I was complaining that the news regs hadn’t changed much but then this battle and nando’s offscreen carving up of the field maybe shows were in for a good year

Ok, after 20, now 21 laps, this is my ranking of the cars now the sandbags are out and we can see them actually in anger:

 

 

Front of the pack: Ferrari & Red Bull. Clearly the best two cars, very little between them. Both with strong driver line ups. Will be a Good Battle for supremacy between them these first couple of races I think.

 

Unknown territory: Merc. Clearly not used to being also rans, they are struggling to adapt to not having a car 1.5 seconds clear of anyone else and it’s badly showing. On standby for some FIA directives to cut Ferarri and Red Bull down to behind Merc. Tho can we talk about how SHITE their stops have been? Hamilton’s second stop a 3,9 which is tragic.

 

The chasing pack: Haas, Alpha Tauri, Alpine, Alfa Romeo. Consistency key as AT found out last year. I think the Haas is currently 4th, AT 5th, Alpine 6th and the Alfa is 7th BUT BUT BUT only one of the Haas and one AT is capable of beating the Alpines. So on balance it’s a very tight tie with Alpine having the benefit of two experienced drivers

 

Cut adrift: Williams, Aston Martin, McLaren. Biggest surprise I think is that in race trim the McLaren appears to be the worst car on the entire grid. Given people were talking after Barca of a Norris WC possibility it’s a huge huge bump back to reality. The Williams seems to have taken a step forward from the back and are quite clearly in a much healthier place than they have been but Haas made a much larger leap forward which overshadows their progress. The Aston just seems to be slow but that wasn’t unexpected.

I can’t help but think that the sanctions and being able to offload Mazepin was a gift from the gods for Haas because in KMags hands that is the 4th fastest car quite comfortably. No way Mazepin has even 1% of the talent required to get the most out of this car

I wouldn't be surprised to see McLaren bounce back stronger in the next few races. Their recent problems with Covid and brake issues hampered their pre-season heavily. If they can overcome that (and I don't doubt they will), then that car looks decent, although Merc's engine this year looks weak

 

 

I wouldn't go as far to say the Haas is that strong either. Magnussen's doing well but I thnk his experience with other disciplines has told over other drivers who have little to draw from. I'd certainly put the Alpha Tauri above it right now

Edited March 20, 20223 yr by Severin

I wouldn't go as far to say the Haas is that strong either. Magnussen's doing well but I thnk his experience with other disciplines has told over other drivers who have little to draw from. I'd certainly put the Alpha Tauri above it right now

When it's not on fire...

Hoping Leclerc wins this and the safety car doesn't mess it up for him, he's the only driver that deserves to win today

I think the Ferrari engine is maybe the best this year and the engine power right now gives it a nose over AT right now. I wouldn’t bet on Haas staying there as I think AT and Alpine will vastly out dev them over the next three months but as of right now and very much at the hands of KMag that car is 4th best (you can see it clearly not under threat from Gasly or Alonso and always pulls away)

When it's not on fire...

Hahahaha yeah I’m not sure melting the bodywork is the best aerodynamic strategy :lol:

 

Hoping Leclerc wins this and the safety car doesn't mess it up for him, he's the only driver that deserves to win today

Agree. Leclerc has driven excellently and Ferrari have made the strong calls on strategy (staying out and then gaining a free stop from Gaslys bbq)

Great race! *.*