[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

I’m ok with Ferrari, Michael was one of the best to wear red. I’m hoping Lew bring some of that glory back to it.

Well, we will finally find out if Charlie is the real deal or not...Hope HAM doesn't break him!

[NickyC]

Wonderful race, 3 in a row I haven't had to fast forward through. The imposing skies gave us wonderful scenery all day.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by NickyC

Wonderful race, 3 in a row I haven't had to fast forward through. The imposing skies gave us wonderful scenery all day.

I'm going to the race next year...packing my poncho just incase.

[Sparky68]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

I'm going to the race next year...packing my poncho just incase.

Always an interesting race I'm sure you will enjoy that regardless of weather.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by E92inNC

I think Red Bull is going to regret giving Checo the 2 year extension. It’s likely they did it to appease Max but it’ll hurt their constructor’s dominance. I believe the right move would have been to get Sainz, he’s much more consistent than Checo and has done better while clearly being in the inferior car these past few years at Ferrari. Sainz wouldn’t have been a threat to Max’s title run but would help the team keep their run in the constructors.

As for the race, we were owed an exciting one after Monaco, thankful for the rain. Excellent fights all through the field. Baffled as to how Ferrari’s pace fell off a cliff, hopefully it’s a blip and they get back on the right track-pun intended.

Overall, this has been the best season since 2021 with Ferrari and McClaren now in it.

Under the circumstances it was the right move for Milton Keynes based RBR and Checo's pace should start improving from Barcelona.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by E92inNC

I think Red Bull is going to regret giving Checo the 2 year extension. It’s likely they did it to appease Max but it’ll hurt their constructor’s dominance. I believe the right move would have been to get Sainz, he’s much more consistent than Checo and has done better while clearly being in the inferior car these past few years at Ferrari. Sainz wouldn’t have been a threat to Max’s title run but would help the team keep their run in the constructors.

As for the race, we were owed an exciting one after Monaco, thankful for the rain. Excellent fights all through the field. Baffled as to how Ferrari’s pace fell off a cliff, hopefully it’s a blip and they get back on the right track-pun intended.

Overall, this has been the best season since 2021 with Ferrari and McClaren now in it.

Marko says they offered Sainz first dibs at the contract but the pay is much lower than Audi's offer. After a few weeks Sainz didn't take it up and they gave it to Checo. I do tend to believe Marko coz he's an open book.

[Davil]

Best race of the year.

Max is quite something. No longer the best car. Now it comes down to the driver. I love this. He delivered. Big respect.

George is stepping up. He’s a new man. He has a spring in his step. He should not be disappointed with a podium.

My team (Aston) got decent points. No man’s land points but solid. Both drivers. Everyone hates Lance but he’s a very decent driver. Fight me.

Nice to see Daniel do well.

Overtake of the day was Albon with that double. Sucks that Carlos ended Albon’s race. Just bad luck though.

Overall. Loved it.

[ptack]

Originally Posted by E92inNC

100% agree, it does seem he has been slowly declining since midway last year and I think it has some to do with the constant rumors of the team moving on from him but mostly due to the mental beat down of being Max’s teammate. At his peak he is an excellent #2 driver on a constructors winning team or a #1 on a top midfield team, but now he’s turning into a liability for their constructors hopes. You would think now that the contract is secured, he can settle and regain form.

You have to hope that Red Bull believes it still has enough upgrades left in the car to compensate for Perez. If they don't this could look like one of the dumbest driver decisions of all time if Max wins the world championship, but Red Bull loses the constructor's title because Perez can't win enough points.

[M5Rick]

At the mo it's a win for RB with Ferrari not scoring and agree Checo has to start scoring from Barcelona.
Constructors
RBR + 25 now to 301 points
Ferrari no score at 252 points
Mclaren +28 points at 212
Mercedes a poor 124

[M5Rick]

Yer tis! Short race re-run of the important bits.

For a moment I though the woman would commentate which would have be a pleasant surprise but that was dashed as schizo Crafty takes over.

[HeelToeShift]

What a race! Changing weather, SCs, and some risk taking even. Alas, another weekend where RB did not have the strongest or fastest car and had to modify its lines because of this yet Max was still the fastest and most consistent on track with basically pole and win number 60 (second least number of wins to this point only done quicker by Sch). A couple of slopply mistakes by Rus and Nor too which seem to be what happens to these guys when under the pressure to perform when it truly matters. Ferrari's weekend was tantamount to a straight kick in the balls and it couldnt have happened at a better time for RB. On top of that, I have a feeling MB will come roaring back and will only further help RB start to pull away in both the WDC and WCC. I think Ham is going to quite regret going to Ferrari instead of staying. Can't wait to see RB bring upgrades and get back to some traditional circuits too!

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

I think Ham is going to quite regret going to Ferrari instead of staying.

Certainly after this weekend seeing Ferrari's performance

But in the grand scope all eyes are on 2026 of course. Hammy's eyes too
Most F1 analysts think that the fastest 2026 car will be determined by the engine. And most bets are on either Mercedes or Ferrari.
Most analysts think that RBPT/Ford won't have an engine that can compete and thus RB's dominant reign will be over in 2026.
RBPT has snatched a lot of MERC engineers, but I also feel that Ford won't/can't really add a lot too this, having no recent F1 experience, wheras both Mercedes and Ferrari are huge conglomerates with lots of recent F1 experience.
Most analyst also think Honda and maybe Alpine might have a stronger engine than RBPT

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Davil

Overtake of the day was Albon with that double.

Was indeed the overtake of the race.

But so was Hulkenberg's ninja move in taking evasive action to the left to avoid T-boning Tsunoda (final laps). This could have ended with a tragedy.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

While he was on hards (after requesting softs) and his teamate was on mediums.

Like I said, the best driver on the grid and it isn't even close.

Was the best when his car had 80-100 more hp over everyone else - Helen Keller would have been the best too given that car. Once he lost the biggest hp advantage ever seen in motorsport he looks plumb average. Now that racing is close and you need skill and ability, Max is dominating in a way never seen before. He hit 50 and 60 wins in fewer races than you guy and has won 50 of the last 75 which is astounding to say the least. Ham had the fastest car in 2021 and lost, 2nd fastest car in 2022, 2023 and couldnt win a race let alone barely able to get podiums. He has had almost as many crashes as Sar because he is sloppy when the racing is close whereas Max has had tones of wheel to wheel clean battles and clean racing even when he started down the order in several races. Now his car isnt the fastest and he still wins. Ham has someone he can look up to now who has the most natural talent and ability ever seen in F1.

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by E92inNC

I think Red Bull is going to regret giving Checo the 2 year extension. It’s likely they did it to appease Max but it’ll hurt their constructor’s dominance. I believe the right move would have been to get Sainz, he’s much more consistent than Checo and has done better while clearly being in the inferior car these past few years at Ferrari. Sainz wouldn’t have been a threat to Max’s title run but would help the team keep their run in the constructors.

As for the race, we were owed an exciting one after Monaco, thankful for the rain. Excellent fights all through the field. Baffled as to how Ferrari’s pace fell off a cliff, hopefully it’s a blip and they get back on the right track-pun intended.

Overall, this has been the best season since 2021 with Ferrari and McClaren now in it.

I don't think they had the option. Between Max being reckless when he actually has to race (especially his teammate) to his salary, to the financial backers of the team (I heard that Carlos Slim was a fan)
They didn't have a choice.

That's the only way this decision makes any sense.

[Killed by Death]

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

Was the best when his car had 80-100 more hp over everyone else - Helen Keller would have been the best too given that car. Once he lost the biggest hp advantage ever seen in motorsport he looks plumb average. Now that racing is close and you need skill and ability, Max is dominating in a way never seen before. He hit 50 and 60 wins in fewer races than you guy and has won 50 of the last 75 which is astounding to say the least. Ham had the fastest car in 2021 and lost, 2nd fastest car in 2022, 2023 and couldnt win a race let alone barely able to get podiums. He has had almost as many crashes as Sar because he is sloppy when the racing is close whereas Max has had tones of wheel to wheel clean battles and clean racing even when he started down the order in several races. Now his car isnt the fastest and he still wins. Ham has someone he can look up to now who has the most natural talent and ability ever seen in F1.

No one believes this because Max has been irrelevant until he literally had the faster car on the grid. There were years in the Hybrid Era where Ferrarri or RB could compete - 2022-23 no one was touching RB and everyone knows it.

Max was mediocre before the car advantage and will be after.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

I almost forgot

60 wins for MAX

This stat is incredible! 60 wins in 193 races! And if you took out Max's first season with that awful AT, he has 60 wins out of his last 174 races which really tells you a lot.

Just for comparison it took Ham 202 races to win 60.

The only one faster was Sch which it took him 172 races to do.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

No one believes this because Max has been irrelevant until he literally had the faster car on the grid. There were years in the Hybrid Era where Ferrarri or RB could compete - 2022-23 no one was touching RB and everyone knows it.

Max was mediocre before the car advantage and will be after.

Everyone knows that. Max's car was atrocious before, yet he was able to win and get on the podium when the car had no business being there. Now he has a competitive car and is winning and setting records the most dominant car ever seen with the MB never could and all of it is simply down to the pilot and nothing more.

LOL Funny how Ham got the fastest car on the grid right away, still couldnt win without a cheating scandal, and then he dropped to mediocrity and then only got 'good' when he had a car that had so much more hp that a below average driver like Ros actually beat him to a WDC - he could barely put room between him and Bot who is absolutely terrible. He also lost to Max in a much faster car in 2021. Then he loses that advantage and he now can't even win a race in the second fastest car in 2022 and 2023 in which Toto claimed in many races they were the fastest. Ham is a reckless driver who more often makes mistakes and crashed because he doesnt actually know how to race well when you actually have to use race craft to do it. Everyone can see how Ham was all car and not much skill. Max is the total opposite - the car isnt dominant (if it was Per would be right there with him every weekend), he is because of his driving style and natural ability to drive but can adapt to a car and what it requires.
It's funny how many people I know who are Ham fans actually see the facts and will admit he simply wasnt and isnt that good, especially compared to Max who is a bigger talent and still getting better.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Certainly after this weekend seeing Ferrari's performance

But in the grand scope all eyes are on 2026 of course. Hammy's eyes too
Most F1 analysts think that the fastest 2026 car will be determined by the engine. And most bets are on either Mercedes or Ferrari.
Most analysts think that RBPT/Ford won't have an engine that can compete and thus RB's dominant reign will be over in 2026.
RBPT has snatched a lot of MERC engineers, but I also feel that Ford won't/can't really add a lot too this, having no recent F1 experience, wheras both Mercedes and Ferrari are huge conglomerates with lots of recent F1 experience.
Most analyst also think Honda and maybe Alpine might have a stronger engine than RBPT

I think as the season progresses Ferrari will continue to step a bit backward. I think their base car started out well and good, but I think they are likely going to incur some issues (no one simply always gets better and better to no end or never finds that an upgrade doesnt do what they think - ie MB for what 2.5 years now?) and PU is one that they seemingly always have issues with - that's assuming they're not cheating again too. I also believe Mclaren are due for some DNFs and as we can see, Pia is the better driver of the two. As soon as Nor gets put under more pressure by him, more mistakes abound and Pia should make a run to be top dog there since it's pretty clear he has the skill and pace to beat Nor - I'd guess team orders are the only thing protecting Nor at this point.
As for 2026, I have a feeling too many are writing off RBPT, as they do have all of the top engineers from MB and they have something like 150 Honda engineers on their team too so they have what I'd call the best collaboration of engineering talent. Then again, we may see Max in a MB come 2026.

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

Everyone knows that. Max's car was atrocious before, yet he was able to win and get on the podium when the car had no business being there. Now he has a competitive car and is winning and setting records the most dominant car ever seen with the MB never could and all of it is simply down to the pilot and nothing more.

You mean like Lewis in his McLaren years? Max was no one until he literally had the fastest car on the grid.

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

LOL Funny how Ham got the fastest car on the grid right away, still couldnt win without a cheating scandal, and then he dropped to mediocrity and then only got 'good' when he had a car that had so much more hp that a below average driver like Ros actually beat him to a WDC - he could barely put room between him and Bot who is absolutely terrible. He also lost to Max in a much faster car in 2021. Then he loses that advantage and he now can't even win a race in the second fastest car in 2022 and 2023 in which Toto claimed in many races they were the fastest. Ham is a reckless driver who more often makes mistakes and crashed because he doesnt actually know how to race well when you actually have to use race craft to do it. Everyone can see how Ham was all car and not much skill. Max is the total opposite - the car isnt dominant (if it was Per would be right there with him every weekend), he is because of his driving style and natural ability to drive but can adapt to a car and what it requires.
It's funny how many people I know who are Ham fans actually see the facts and will admit he simply wasnt and isnt that good, especially compared to Max who is a bigger talent and still getting better.

I guess average = being the best, what's Max's excuse?

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by AmuroRay

You mean like Lewis in his McLaren years? Max was no one until he literally had the fastest car on the grid.



I guess average = being the best, what's Max's excuse?

LMFAO Max is much better than Ham ever was and is evident when Max could win in a car that should never have won and winning in a way Ham never could with the most dominant car in F1 history along with team orders that were needed quite often to allow him to pass a below average teammate in Bot. Ham cant win unless he has literally the fastest car with a material advantage (80-100 more hp and secret tire tests) or there's a cheating scandal. Ham literally is a tale of two careers - one where he has the fastest car on the grid by a mile in which he has 10 years of it and one where his car was second best on the grid for 7. Now in his 18th year he still has a top 3 car and not a single podium in 9 races and getting handily beaten by another below average driver in Rus - how come? Only 7 WDCs - Max would have 10 WDCs now with the same machinery Ham has had. Why so few WDCs with a car that ANY civilian could drive and win with?

Being the best = Max (what's Ham's excuse for having the best car for 10 years and only winning 7 whereas Max has only had the best car for 2 years and 3 WDCs, and looking good for the
Setting records that no one has ever come close to or will ever be matched while F1 is the most competitive and closest racing = Max

How come despite starting in an AT and not having a car that could win in his first season (19 races), was Max faster to 50 wins and faster to 60 wins than Ham by ~10 races?
Why does Max hold the record for most wins, most podiums, most points, best 50 race win %, when his car has been only solid without any dominant factor besides his ability to drive it?