Formula 1 2021

[seven]

Hopefully mixed or wet conditions yes. Unfortunately Spa is usually done by the end of the back straight, we'll see if this year is any different.
Thursdays driver conferences might be interesting...

[raptor9]

Best to qualify second here, and then slipstream past after Eau Rouge. We shall soon see!.

[seven]

Exactly. Though Hamilton has managed that disadvantage pretty well the last few years, apart from 2018 was it? That Vettel finally managed to get past, then the exact following second the safety car comes out...

[seven]

Eventful few sessions. Shame about the end result, but a few cars in odd places could give an interesting race tomorrow!

[2e1var]

Great result for George, rain really evens things up, hoping for rain again today or I can only see him dropping back through the field.
Anyone catch the Formula W incident in qualy ?
We lost Antoine Hubert a few years back, Aitkin and Rigon had a big one last month, and of course Norris was pretty lucky yesterday. Formula W saw a horrible looking 6 car crash on Saturday which initially didn't look too bad until the 5th and 6th cars appeared to just have nowhere to go and piled into the initial incidents. Regardless two drivers ended up in hospital, nothing serious fortunately. I wonder if they will do something to slow cars down there in future ? I usually have the same mind set as Brundle, 'best rivers in the world' and 'you don't have to go flat out' but I think it's only a matter of time before we lose one of the best sections of the track on the the calendar.

[2e1var]

Oh and I'm predicting a first corner incident today amongst the front runners unless it's heavy rain and we get an SC start.

[seven]

I'd agree with Brundle on that one. Motor racing is dangerous, no one forces anyone to be there and you are free to leave at anytime. I'd go as far as saying F1 only using that track, but thats not really sustainable for the future..
One big safety feature was available at the time of Lando's incident, but wasn't used, the red flag. And that IMO is itself worthy of investigation.

7

[raptor9]

Agree with the last two posts, and with Martin Brundle. Eau Rouge has ALWAYS been a problem, and as ievar says, the W. series accident was particularly horrendous, and the girls were extremely lucky to escape relatively unscathed. It certainly showed the strength of modern racing car design. The problem is not Eau Rouge itself, but the danger of cars bouncing off barriers into the path of following cars. This can happen [and does] on any circuit. But, if one sanitizes the circuits too much, then racing will lose it's attraction for drivers and spectators alike. Years ago, I introduced a friend to F.1. He loved it, because he was watching somebody [Ronnie Petersen particularly] doing something he himself would find impossible to do. Drivers know some corners can have bigger consequences if things go wrong, that is part of it's attraction. Poor Hubert wasn't killed because of Eau Rouge, but because he was stranded in the middle of the track. Could have been anywhere!. Looking forward to this afternoon!.

[raptor9]

Unlike Evar, I am NOT expecting a first corner incident. I think the start and the first lap will be very cautious, particularly until Les Combes. I think lessons have been learnt from Hungary. You can't win the race on the first lap, but you sure as hell can lose it.

[seven]

I can see no rain, a dry line appearing, and Hamilton (assuming he gets off the line well) spending too long getting past Russell, only to find verstappen has pulled out a 10 minute lead.
Then as the cars pull in post race, the heavens open.

[seven]

Just saw a most amusing meme,

F1 fans every race-Please rain..

F1 fans this race-Please stop raining

[seven]

Well that was worthwhile.. Although the Austrian races were more boring

[slogen51]

I held on, not looking at the web etc so I could watch the recorded high lights which I have just watched. I can't see the point in awarding any points - just call it a wash out.

George Russell looked a bit lost on the podium. I know he is a Brit and indeed a Norfolk boy but he is not my favourite driver, I think the channel 4 team big him up too much but I suppose he is getting a lot out of the Williams.

[raptor9]

I would rather have it as a washout also, but points awarded mean money to the teams, so, complying with the rules, a 'race' was held!. I can see the point, but it leaves a bit of a nasty taste...... Ah well, Zandvoort next Sunday. Shan't be watching... it's my Golden Wedding Anniversary!!!!. 50 years with my lovely Teresa. Recorders are useful. From experience, Zandvoort can be cold and wet too.

[seven]

I held on, not looking at the web etc so I could watch the recorded high lights which I have just watched. I can't see the point in awarding any points - just call it a wash out.

George Russell looked a bit lost on the podium. I know he is a Brit and indeed a Norfolk boy but he is not my favourite driver, I think the channel 4 team big him up too much but I suppose he is getting a lot out of the Williams.

I assume you mean the Christmas 'highlights'? But yea, what a joke the whole thing was. F1/FIA can say what they like, but Hamilton is right with his post race comments. The only reason the 2 laps extra were run was so it can be declared a race. $$$. No one deserved any points for that.

Cant say I agree with you with Russell. I'm struggling to warm to him, but I can see talent there. And give him a year or two in the Mercedes, and I'd say he'd be the better bet against verstappen. ( Assuming of course the order stays the way it is)

[seven]

I would rather have it as a washout also, but points awarded mean money to the teams, so, complying with the rules, a 'race' was held!. I can see the point, but it leaves a bit of a nasty taste...... Ah well, Zandvoort next Sunday. Shan't be watching... it's my Golden Wedding Anniversary!!!!. 50 years with my lovely Teresa. Recorders are useful. From experience, Zandvoort can be cold and wet too.

Agree with that. I feel a little cheated, and I wasn't even there! The excitement that was built up for the restart only for it to be conveniently red flagged after the required 2 laps...
And as for the rules debates through the first red flag period...

And a premature congratulations

[Nighthawke]

... it's my Golden Wedding Anniversary!!!!. 50 years with my lovely Teresa.

Then a very happy anniversary and many congratulations to you both. Only managed 27 so far next month so still a way to go

[raptor9]

Many thanks guys. Hope I have many more, so that I can continue to annoy the hell out of her for much longer......something I excel at. Have a good week-end next week.

[2e1var]

Well that was fun ! To be fair I hoped for rain so George would have a chance of a decent points haul, guess I got what I wished for I don't remember a scenario like that in 30 odd years of watching, I guess the stewards did what they thought was best, I doubt they could have run on the Monday or come back later in the season, got to feel for the fans at the circuit though. We had some non F1 fans over for the weekend, they really enjoyed qualy and were looking forward to the race, that will put them off for life !

[raptor9]

I guess that coming back the next day is out of the question, mainly because all the Marshals and Volunteers have normal week-day jobs, and the event can't be run without them [with our grateful thanks]. Like Evar, I have been a serial watcher, but I seem to remember something along the same lines many years ago. Certainly I remember a large international meeting at Silverstone that was abandoned at 11 am on race day because of continuous heavy rain. [My car got stuck in the mud at Copse]