Poll: Official 2025 Qatar Grand Prix Race Thread - Lusail International Circuit - Race 23/24

[UTmaniac]

Mr Saturday splits the Mcs, with Oscar finding his mojo!

 

[cuke2u]

Mr Saturday splits the Mcs, with Oscar finding his mojo!

Unfortunately Norris had his lap rather compromised by a Williams but no need to panic just yet at starting third..

 

[Emlyn_Dewar]

A Norris dnf with a Piastri win could be nice for the final.

 

[imtoooldforthis]

Good to see Piastri back on form, puts to bed any idea that he was sabotaged, he's very good here.

Bigger story is Tsunoda outqualifying Max, he was only 1 tenth off him in Q2 as well

 

[cainer]

puts to bed any idea that he was sabotaged

lol No, Now, I don't think he was ever sabotaged, but if he was it was done earlier in past races, It's okay to let him fly now as it's too late for him

 

[Mesai]

Norris qualifying 3rd is probably better, since he drops the ball from 1st almost every time.

With Oscar seemingly back in the mix, it might make things more interesting. Yuki also up in the mix means that car has potential so still a lot of variability. Pretty typical given they've only had 1 practice session.

 

[reef]

Third will be better than second at this track, as it'll be incredibly dusty off line. Unless either of the McLarens bottle it, they'll be 1st and 2nd after the start.

 

[imtoooldforthis]

lol No, Now, I don't think he was ever sabotaged, but if he was it was done earlier in past races, It's okay to let him fly now as it's too late for him

He simply struggles on slick tracks, the exact same run of tracks he struggled on last season. Now he's back on more traditional high grip circuits he's back on pace.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Red bull off the pace of those at the front. Wonder if they’ll have more race pace.

 

[Quartz]

if it means they can race them hard to that limit, could be fun, if that's still ambitious for the tyres...less fun

With the fuel limit it will be lift and coast so they won't be racing them hard.

 

[SDK^]

Can’t wait to hear Hamilton’s media comments, if this is another stinker of a weekend.

Media question to Lewis - are there any positives so far?
Lewis - The weather is nice

Feeling like he should retire from racing. The passion, drive and sheer speed & determination has gone.

 

[Mesai]

Media question to Lewis - are there any positives so far?
Lewis - The weather is nice

Feeling like he should retire from racing. The passion, drive and sheer speed & determination has gone.

It’s funny how different it was with Merc. They had a garbage car but the team was always supportive of their drivers and took ownership of the problems with the car. Ferrari is just a horrible team.

 

[Johnz0r]

That win in Silverstone last year should have sorted him mentally

Have to disagree with this - 1 win doesn’t equate to a record breaking 8th world title being effectively stolen from you.

 

[cuke2u]

It’s funny how different it was with Merc. They had a garbage car but the team was always supportive of their drivers and took ownership of the problems with the car. Ferrari is just a horrible team.

I look back and see many a drivers career reputation ruined by the circumstances of struggling with either a difficult car or a poor team. Not sure if Ferrari are horrible, just had higher expectations from someone such as Lewis.

 

[Mesai]

I look back and see many a drivers career reputation ruined by the circumstances of struggling with either a difficult car or a poor team. Not sure if Ferrari are horrible, just had higher expectations from someone such as Lewis.

I agree that he should be doing better. Yea, Charles has been there longer but he also isn’t a multi-WDC. Carlos did better; Max would definitely do better.

I think Charles handles the Ferrari culture better because he essentially started with them, whereas Alonso, Vettel and Lewis have preconceived ideas of what the team should be doing.

 

[Jono8]

Probably too little too late from Piastri.

Norris just needs to take it easy and come at least third in everything and it doesn't matter what Piastri does.

If this is indicative of RB pace, then Max is likely out of the running after this weekend (assuming Norris doesn't get more bad luck).

 

[Jono8]

A Norris dnf with a Piastri win could be nice for the final.

True, but I only if it's a DNF caused by his own mistake or something. Another DNF through no fault of his own would make 3 for the season and would be the reason he lost. Sure, that's how F1 goes sometimes, but it's a shame when someone clearly loses it through bad luck when they actually deserved it.

I want to see if Norris can clinch this /bring it home on merit now.

 

[bayo000]

True, but I only if it's a DNF caused by his own mistake or something. Another DNF through no fault of his own would make 3 for the season and would be the reason he lost. Sure, that's how F1 goes sometimes, but it's a shame when someone clearly loses it through bad luck when they actually deserved it.

I want to see if Norris can clinch this /bring it home on merit now.

He was at fault for one of his DNF when he thought he could squeeze in between Oscar and the pit wall like he was a double decker from Harry Potter Oscar also had a DNF and bad luck in Australia when he got beached on the wet grass.

Personally I don't mind which one of the top 3 wins the WDC.

Imagine if Yuki does Bottas Hungary 21 crashing into George and taking out both McLarens

 

[cuke2u]

Probably too little too late from Piastri.

Norris just needs to take it easy and come at least third in everything and it doesn't matter what Piastri does.

If this is indicative of RB pace, then Max is likely out of the running after this weekend (assuming Norris doesn't get more bad luck).

Not sure if it's wise to ever count red bull out of it, they could turn the car around for the race as proven in the past.

 

[edGfaCTor]

Not sure if it's wise to ever count red bull out of it, they could turn the car around for the race as proven in the past.

I agree and they have shown when it comes to sprint weekends they start off not looking great but correct it.