Significantly better than Monaco as predicted
Even as a Merc/Hamilton fan it was a bit meh. That RB is still miles ahead...
I thought it was significantly worse than Monaco!
I rated Monaco a 9.this a 5
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Poll: Official 2023 Spanish Grand Prix Thread - Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona - Round 8
- Thread starter chrismscotland
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I thought it was significantly worse than Monaco!
I rated Monaco a 9.this a 5
I think we watched a different Monaco
Or was that just cause Ocon got the podium?
Ocon getting the podium was worth a point or 2. I liked Monaco because the top 3 drove so well, and made no mistakes in challenging conditions. There were overtakes. And obviously not DRS. There were mistakes that were punished in strategy and driving. (Russell was on front of Ocon but made a mistake and Ocon reclaimed 3rd for example).
Spain was just mainly drs overtakes.
I think they were both pretty average.
Monaco had potential, but the top three remained the same which was a big disappointment
Spain had its moments from 2nd place and back. It was interesting to see how the tyre strategies and upgrades on the cars below Red Bull were going. It was fairly dull though.
Just makes me less likely to ever pay for watching it. When most of the races are pretty boring anyway, and we know already that Max will defintely win the title this year, an hour of highlights is fine.
I think they were both pretty average.
Monaco had potential, but the top three remained the same which was a big disappointment
Spain had its moments from 2nd place and back. It was interesting to see how the tyre strategies and upgrades on the cars below Red Bull were going. It was fairly dull though.
Just makes me less likely to ever pay for watching it. When most of the races are pretty boring anyway, and we know already that Max will defintely win the title this year, an hour of highlights is fine.
Yeah the races seemed more interesting when I didn't have f1tv. Kind of hope they stop the VPN exploit! Then I will have to give it up.
Its like a drug. Look forward to it. Can't give it up. But when get it.. Its a let down!
This is why I'm quietly hoping that they sub in RIC. He was a good driver at RB and would be a decent redemption (if he did well) from McLaren.
Soldato
Spain was the first race using F1 TV since binning off Sky. More than happy with the F1TV service.
Service is great. The races are just a bit too boring. C4 is free. It cuts the race to an hour. I mean it's not much. About 70 pounds a year
I'll Probably keep using it until prices rise. I don't want to pay anymore.
Horner seems to have a bee in his bonnet about Russell getting away with track limits on lap one and therefore that was why Perez didn't get third place. Makes me wonder if he's actually worried about the Mercedes now. Although to be honest P2 and P3 was good, but doesn't hide the fact they were 30secs away from Verstappen.
Not sure how he can be worried really. As you say, the Mercs were still miles off Max's pace and it seemed like Max had pace in hand also.
Soldato
Was there ever a replay of Russell's opening lap excursion? C4 highlights only showed the aftermath of it, not why he ended up running around the escape road. I figure it can't have been too damning, as we saw later in the race the stewards were more than happy to give a penalty to Tsunoda for his defence.
Caporegime
Not the greatest video:
But it's clear why he didn't get a penalty, he leaves next to Hülkenberg and rejoins behind him.
Soldato
It's clear that he might have some advantage from the video because it straightens out a corner more, it is less tight, but the stewards have the telemetry. There is 'talk' that Russell might have planned it in advance..
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Caporegime
Didn't they brief the drivers that if they leave the track on the first lap and rejoin in the same place they won't get a penalty? I guess the thinking is that it's better to be lenient on leaving the track than incentivise them to stay on track even if that potentially causes an incident.
Yeh, he definitely got a bit of advantage, but as it was the crowded first corner of the first lap I think they probably showed a bit of leniency (especially as he didn't really gain any places). I think it enabled him to stay ahead of everyone and get a good run into the next corner. Possibly a bit cheeky of him, but hardly the most egregious thing i have seen a driver do.
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They usually let drivers off with more on lap 1, similar to something Alonso did at Sochi a couple of years ago isn't it? He knew he was going in and around the bollards on lap 1
I voted a 6. On deeper reflection perhaps I should have gone 5. The overtakes - whilst there were much more than usual - were nearly all just DRS main straight ones. Meh.
I agree about Max. Although he's coming home with wins 30 seconds ahead. He could be over a minute if he truly unleashed everything. They hold back so as to not waste energy, engines, tyres and to protect from possible safety cars. I think with his package, the car being designed more around his style, and his raw pace, he is absolutely not beatable this season by anyone other than Perez. The problem is, Perez is inconsistent. Reminds me of Bottas. Fantastic driver on his day, just not consistently quick and makes more mistakes. Max will walk this season and probably only have to start truly fighting mid way through next.
I notice a different feel with F1 lately. Less drama than normal. More friendliness and teamwork. I think it's a clear result of Redbull so far at the top and not having to truly do battle.
In this day and age where a lot of people have whatever entertainment they want truly on tap and with less and less time on their hands, enduring hours of your weekend watching Max keep winning is certainly going to lose F1 fans. But then true fans will probably stick around? I know I've been skipping through not just the quali, but races too this season. I think it will come back again midway through next season where Redbull may be caught up a bit.
I agree about Max. Although he's coming home with wins 30 seconds ahead. He could be over a minute if he truly unleashed everything. They hold back so as to not waste energy, engines, tyres and to protect from possible safety cars. I think with his package, the car being designed more around his style, and his raw pace, he is absolutely not beatable this season by anyone other than Perez. The problem is, Perez is inconsistent. Reminds me of Bottas. Fantastic driver on his day, just not consistently quick and makes more mistakes. Max will walk this season and probably only have to start truly fighting mid way through next.
I notice a different feel with F1 lately. Less drama than normal. More friendliness and teamwork. I think it's a clear result of Redbull so far at the top and not having to truly do battle.
In this day and age where a lot of people have whatever entertainment they want truly on tap and with less and less time on their hands, enduring hours of your weekend watching Max keep winning is certainly going to lose F1 fans. But then true fans will probably stick around? I know I've been skipping through not just the quali, but races too this season. I think it will come back again midway through next season where Redbull may be caught up a bit.
What I don't get this season, is the ability for some of the much slower cars to really compete in qualifying.
In race pace analysis, the Mclaren was the second to last slowest car, yet Norris qualified 3rd. The Haas was the third to last slowest car in race pace but Hulkenberg got it in p8 for qualy. Kevin in the Haas qualified 4th in Miami, Albon 8th in Aus etc
It is just odd to see Norris out qualify Lewis and then to have Lewis a ridiculous amount faster in the race.
The Ferrari is (maybe was(!)) mega close to RB in qualy, but then rubbish in the race. Arguably now the 4th fastest car on the grid.
It is a phenomenon i have noticed with these new regulations more so than previous ones and it seems even more dramatic this season.
Is it mainly to do with tyre wear (seems that could be the case with Ferrari), or something else?
In race pace analysis, the Mclaren was the second to last slowest car, yet Norris qualified 3rd. The Haas was the third to last slowest car in race pace but Hulkenberg got it in p8 for qualy. Kevin in the Haas qualified 4th in Miami, Albon 8th in Aus etc
It is just odd to see Norris out qualify Lewis and then to have Lewis a ridiculous amount faster in the race.
The Ferrari is (maybe was(!)) mega close to RB in qualy, but then rubbish in the race. Arguably now the 4th fastest car on the grid.
It is a phenomenon i have noticed with these new regulations more so than previous ones and it seems even more dramatic this season.
Is it mainly to do with tyre wear (seems that could be the case with Ferrari), or something else?
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Soldato
Simply that some teams, under certain conditions, can have better one lap cars than race cars. It's all to do with tyre degradation, tyre heat, track and ambient conditions.
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