Topic: Push Square Formula 1 thread - F1

Random thing, what the hell is the Sky Sports cameraman doing in these post race chats? They're shoving the camera right into the face of whoever is talking. It's really weird and off-putting.

@themightyant I got that from Sky Sports website.

I felt sorry for George - he deserved better from this race!

I hope this proves to be worth getting up at a silly hour for. Decided to sleep through most of the buildup though.

Back to reality. Incredibly boring at the front as usual. Was hilarious seeing Perez six laps down for one lap though.

Double McLaren podium. Great result.

@KAIRU same as the season. Very boring at the front, Max in a race with himself, Perez getting himself into trouble and failing, exciting racing behind.

@BearsEatBeets Also got up at stupid o clock but thought it was an Ok race behind P1. I thought George’s one stop might have worked at one point, but he faded, and Merc were stuck between decisions and left him exposed. If they genuinely thought Lewis could have caught Charles they needed to do the switch immediately, but waited a few laps and then made the wrong call. Impressed that George instinctively knew the right strategy from the cockpit in the last laps. Big brain thinking.

@KAIRU @themightyant yeah not a particularly exciting race, especially after the last one.
It's strange I felt like it seemed quite quickly George's one stop wasn't going to workout and maybe they could switched back to a 2 and really push hard with fresher tyres. I think he would have easily got the same finish he had but possibly a place or two higher and maybe the fastest lap. Maybe he didn't have any other good tyres to put on?
One thing I thought was odd but not touched on during the race, I'm pretty sure Lando was about 4 seconds behind Max when the VSC came out but when it ended the gap had jumped just under 10? I know they vary their speeds more under the VSC and just have to keep to certain deltas, and maybe he just got lucky with it going green as he was accelerating whilst Lando was possibly braking. Or maybe I was still sleepy and got the times wrong.
Happy for the McLaren double podium though.

EDIT: Just seen Lando's post race interview, a damaged, plodding Perez held up Lando under the VSC as he was unsure with the regs if he had a problem and was allowed to pass him. Clearly lost him a lot of time, I think they should give the whole RB team a time penalty. Lets say 20 seconds and give the win to Lando 😁

So, Verstappen winning the championship during the Sprint in Qatar next weekend then? 😅

I really hope there's more of a fight at the front next season. If you take Red Bull out of the equation it's actually really great and quite close, but the dominance out front is just incredibly boring.

Another season like 2010 where you have four drivers all in contention in the last race of the season would be absolutely epic.

@KAIRU it’s true the Red Bull car is phenomenal, but I think we also have to hand it to Max who is driving on another level. The shame is we don’t really get to see much of him other than qualifying and the first few laps, because he’s off in a race of his own.

I’ve said at length how much I think Perez is failing, in large part because he can’t handle the pressure of being Max’s teammate, but regardless look at the gap between Max and Sergio, who’s no mug.

I think Max is so in tune with his car, which seems built for his strengths, that even if the other teams were closer he would still win the championship right now, just not so easily.

@themightyant Hopefully there's more competition at the front next season. I fear it'll be more of the same though.

@KAIRU I'm not very confident. I think they will close the gap a little, but not enough.

Then we will have another rule change the following year and it will disrupt the field again, someone will get it 'right' and be way out in front again and then other teams will close the gap a little, but not enough.

Then we will have another rule change...

@themightyant Yeah, wishful thinking on my part there, for sure. I guess time will tell!

Andretti have had their F1 bid approved! Will we be seeing an 11th team on the grid again soon?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/66988391

Really got to feel for Checo. Poor guy’s just had no luck this season. I detest that Red Bull team with a passion but it’s been an absolutely horrid season for him individually.

@KAIRU Kinda agree but you also make your own luck. He did not need to push so hard into turn 1, especially in that car, needed to play the long game. But he’s at that point where the disasters keep coming and it’s likely on his mind to do something BIG especially at his home race. He needed a more calm, rational mind.

On the flip side I look at Max who has become a better driver since he became world champion. Yes he’s in by far the best car, and one that suits his driving style, but he’s willing to be patient. Something that car allows. But it means he almost never drops points.

I get it that is much easier when you are on top, are world champion and have little to prove, but Checo has to do better and in pushing too hard he’s doing the opposite. Not for the first time

Was amused by Lewis’ comment to Max in the cool down room. “****! He did a me in Qatar” lol