Poll: United States Grand Prix 2022, Austin - Race 19

[Jono8]

For most of the hybrid era, you knew from race 1 that Merc would win the season. Was an incredibly boring era aside from some Ferrari shenanigans and Rosberg. Having 2 teams in contention for a win is a breathe of fresh air.

First half of this season had a lot of good racing but RB survived the mid-season TD better than others, which is funny given who asked for it.

There was a lot of good racing in this race, and the safety car helped because otherwise MV would likely have won by a significant margin and there would be even more complaints.

There arent two teams in contention and there has not been since after the first few races. Max now has the joint record for the most wins in a season.

Max in the RB has been pretty much an inevitable winner, apart from any penalties, bad luck/technical issues.

Im sorry, but title fight wise, this has been one of the dullest seasons ever.

 

[MooMoo444]

Really has been dull. If Perez was competent then maybe it would have been better.

 

[Feek]

I’m not, you’ve asked before I believe.

No I haven't, you must be confusing me with one of the other mod team members who also thinks the same. It's OK. we'll get there.

Im sorry, but title fight wise, this has been one of the dullest seasons ever.

Yup, it really has. I don't begrudge Max this championship, he's totally outclassed everyone else in a car that was designed during a year when the constructor broke the cost cap. Oops.

 

[Stumble Bum]

There arent two teams in contention and there has not been since after the first few races. Max now has the joint record for the most wins in a season.

Max in the RB has been pretty much an inevitable winner, apart from any penalties, bad luck/technical issues.

Im sorry, but title fight wise, this has been one of the dullest seasons ever.

Has that not largely been due to Ferrari's race day incompetence and Leclerc's mistakes rather than the Ferrari car not having the pace to be competitive?

These new rules have been brilliant, especially compared to the hybrid Merc era. Some races need to tone down the DRS but other than that I think Brawn and co have nailed it.

 

[Feek]

Has that not largely been due to Ferrari's race day incompetence and Leclerc's mistakes rather than the Ferrari car not having the pace to be competitive?

You are right there, if Ferrari had imploded when they normally do (mid to late season rather than at the start), it may have made the championship more interesting. We can't blame RB for that

 

[Mesai]

There arent two teams in contention and there has not been since after the first few races. Max now has the joint record for the most wins in a season.

Max in the RB has been pretty much an inevitable winner, apart from any penalties, bad luck/technical issues.

Im sorry, but title fight wise, this has been one of the dullest seasons ever.

There have always been 2 teams in the fight in terms of car and driver, just Ferrari putting their foot in it every time. During Merc dominance, every other team could be perfect on strat and driver, and they still wouldn't have won (except maybe the one year with Ferrari).

I get your perspective though, you're a Merc fan (I assume from the comments), so not seeing them win is boring (to you). I think Merc are the most boring team on the grid and made racing incredibly dull during their dominance, so I'm enjoying seeing other teams race.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Has that not largely been due to Ferrari's race day incompetence and Leclerc's mistakes rather than the Ferrari car not having the pace to be competitive?

These new rules have been brilliant, especially compared to the hybrid Merc era. Some races need to tone down the DRS but other than that I think Brawn and co have nailed it.

Exactly. When the garage gets the setup right, Charles don’t crash it and the strategy isn’t comically bad; the Ferrari cars are perfectly competitive.

 

[MikeTheNative]

scored a 6 as I turned it off at lap 14 as I was tired, apparently I missed a great race

To be fair I was debating whether to stop watching about halfway in as well, There was a bit of a lull in action but safety car 1 livened the race up quite a bit.

 

[Black Noir]

Ferrari definitely seem tone deaf to the criticism. At the start of the season when they converted a grand total of 0 poles in to wins they were adamant nothing was wrong, only to then realise that actually something may be going wrong somewhere. Maybe.

I still chuckle every time they go to "Plan E" and wonder how many scenarios and plans they've gone through

This season hasn't only been dull because Ferrari have been woeful strategically but also the RB has to be up there with the most dominant Merc ever made. It seems like the complete package with great straight line speed and some fantastic cornering downforce and they've shown that once you get the regulations right you win. If they'd kept the old regulations for another year I'm convinced we would have seen closer racing than ever before... remember Lewis was behind in the WDC for most of the season and it took Merc using extra engines and a literally faultless set of wins in the last 4 races (5 if you include sprint) for him to have a chance to fight for the title. Likewise, some of the midfield battles were great.

One thing has remained the same though; Latifi spinning off the circuit unprovoked. What a donut.

 

[englishpremier]

Didn't Hamilton say his rears were gone? If the hards were gone, then the mediums would have been gone sooner.

As for Alonso, it's harsh but fair. That mirror could have clunked someone in the head doing 200mph. It was very obviously hanging on by a thread.

I agree he should have been flagged, but that should happen in the race. The penalty is basically a result of the Marshalls/RD not doing their job. If they'd received the flag an alpine pit crew member might have just torn it off.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

RB has to be up there with the most dominant Merc ever made.

Pretty short and selective memory you've got there.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

I agree he should have been flagged, but that should happen in the race. The penalty is basically a result of the Marshalls/RD not doing their job. If they'd received the flag an alpine pit crew member might have just torn it off.

I wonder if there's any correlation between certain mandated parts of cars being broken off, and performance. Both Norris and Alonso had pretty good weekends considering.

Loosing a mirror should be a pretty decent reduction in drag too.

 

[Jono8]

There have always been 2 teams in the fight in terms of car and driver, just Ferrari putting their foot in it every time. During Merc dominance, every other team could be perfect on strat and driver, and they still wouldn't have won (except maybe the one year with Ferrari).

I get your perspective though, you're a Merc fan (I assume from the comments), so not seeing them win is boring (to you). I think Merc are the most boring team on the grid and made racing incredibly dull during their dominance, so I'm enjoying seeing other teams race.

Lol?

Its quite obvious the Red Bull has been the faster race car for ages now and that a Max win has been inevitable.

I dont know how anyone can have watched this season beyomd the first 5 or 6 races and not see that.

 

[Jono8]

Has that not largely been due to Ferrari's race day incompetence and Leclerc's mistakes rather than the Ferrari car not having the pace to be competitive?

These new rules have been brilliant, especially compared to the hybrid Merc era. Some races need to tone down the DRS but other than that I think Brawn and co have nailed it.

No, earlier in the season it was.

Since about a 3rd of the way through the Red Bull in race trim has just been unstoppable.


Someone else commented about pole to win conversion for Ferrari, but that is simply becauee the RB is the much faster race car.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

RB biggest in season improvements have been to reduce their tyre degradation - which has really helped them on Sundays. Early in the season they were caning up their tyres.

 

[413x]

I have to say I was surprised during the race they let the damaged winglets and mirror stay out on track.

Look at what happened to Norris, he collected a lot of debris after the Alonso/Stroll incident, and that is pretty much unavoidable due to the fact it happened right Infront of him, but if we can electively avoid damaged extremeties flying around, we should.

If the penalty had have been taken in the race. Fine. I have no problem with that.

To deem it safe.. Then deem it not safe?

That's ridiculous. Its like pointing out to the world another weekend you made a mistake on safety.

Quite annoyed by this one. Especially as it only came to light from a protest.

 

[Mesai]

Lol?

Its quite obvious the Red Bull has been the faster race car for ages now and that a Max win has been inevitable.

I dont know how anyone can have watched this season beyomd the first 5 or 6 races and not see that.

Issues aside, Ferrari had the better car for most of the first part of the season and should have had a healthy lead. I think you’ve missed the Ferrari memes.

Second half RB have been better, 100%. Ferrari could have kept in it because I rate both their drivers above Perez, it’s just that MV is on a different planet at the moment.

 

[Greboth]

Pretty short and selective memory you've got there.

That's not a great example though is it? Merc using a brand new engine with zero regards for longevity vs everyone else using older worn engines.

Given Red Bull have already matched the most wins in a season, and given the last few races will probably beat it, you'd have to say this years Red Bull is up there with some of the most dominant cars ever. Though I would agree that Red Bulls record this season has been helped by Ferrari incompetence.

 

[Black Noir]

Pretty short and selective memory you've got there.

One summer a swallow doesn't make.

Absolutely, that particular race was an example of Merc domination however the championship was closely fought for most of the season and he had a brand new engine installed (after being thrown out of qualifying over the rear wing slot gap irrc). You chose to selectively quote what I wrote but go back and read it again... Lewis needed 4 wins and the sprint race on the bounce to tie the WDC going into Abu Dhabi.

Regardless of how good Mercedes were in 2014 and 2015 by the time we ended last season the performance of the RB was equal, if not better than Mercedes. However, this season has seen RB mostly ahead of Ferrari on outright pace and on the rare occassion where Ferrari have stuck it on pole they've either **** the bed with strategy or RB have just driven around them.

The pole to conversion rate is all you need to know about Ferrari this year. Fast over one lap but awful over a race distance. Where did Leclerc finish yesterday vs Perez?

 

[SKILL]

Race was ok I guess, I got the result spoiled (only just watched it) so the excitement of Verstappen in the last 10-15 laps was a bit lost on me, but some decent overtakes overall.

I can see how Haas/Magnussen could, and frankly should, be annoyed though, especially at the Perez decision... After getting meatball'd 3 times for a front wing to then see Perez not get a meatball in about 5 laps of his front wing flapping about before it finally flew off.

And how does Alonso get a penalty from the protest in that situation but Perez doesn't?

Anyone would think the FIA were showing favourites and not wanting to penalise the team they've decided will win for the next 3-5 years... That's a joke btw before anyone goes and gets offended.