[shibujp]

Look who topped the charts on FP2. Lance Stroll from Racing Point. If he manages pole tommorrow Hope the Hulk can push the pace as well. Looked pretty impressive today. Toto Wolff might rethink his magnanimous gesture!! New engineer seems to have done a world of good for Albon as well who ended up P2 before crashing out at Stowe. Pretty considerable damage on the car. Should be ready for qualifying tommorrow though.



However people like Max Verstappen etc are lower down the order so need to see howw far of a real reflection of pace FP2 is.

Ferrari seems to have done some aero changes what Leclerc refers to as "radical". The are pretty fast in the first couple of sectors but slower in the final one.

Originally Posted by ds.raikkonen

True, though having watched so many races of different eras (at least past two decades), had gotten used to that starting position and lead up to the start-finish straight. The different compounds should add some uncertainty in the next race. Though Silverstone turns everything like lateral load, tyre stress etc to 11, which will see most of the people trying a 2-stopper with C2-C2-C3. C1s simply will not last even 5-6 laps..

Next weekend is going to be rewarding those drivers who manage their tyres better. However unless the ultra-softs give a massive boost in lap time, we may see teams stick with the harder two options as well. Track temperatures would also be a factor.

Originally Posted by ds.raikkonen

This is similar to the change which was brought to the iconic high speed Hockenheimring in 2001, basically making it 'tamer' than the original high speed layout.

Yup, we saw Nordschleife dropped off entirely. Safety and the need to be more spectator friendly has driven most of the changes. I think one good thing that came out for the pandemic is that we are going to see a set of old-new circuits back on the season - Imola, Portimao and Nurburgring make a return. Looking forward to th

Drive on,
Shibu

[LOL_FWD]

Sad to see Checo out of action. He was brilliant in the past few races. Hope he's able to return soon.

Also, great to see Hulk back on the track and he seems to be doing well till now.



Also, found Hulkenberg's schedule right before he reached the track. Looks like he made it just by the skin of his teeth

[turbo]

Another 1-2 by Mercedes.
P3 for Verstappen.

Both Vettel and Albon disappoint, yet again.

Such a predictable season.

[neo_narender]

Predictable Qualifying.

1. Mercedes 1, 2. Again.
2. Twice the lap record broken by Hamilton in Q3.
3. Bottas can't catch a break, as he was the pole sitter last year at Silverstone.
4. Exciting to watch the race start with P3 & P4 being Verstappen & Leclerc respectively, hard racing expected by the young lads.
5. Norris consistently outperforming his teammate.
6. Both Renaults in Q3.
7. Vettel barely in top 10. Struggled with the car all weekend.
8. Disappointed for Albon with his crash in P2, that surely affected his confidence level as he couldn't get to Q3.
9. Hulkenberg out in Q2 as well.
10. Russell in Q2 for 3rd consecutive race.

• 5 place grid penalt for Daniil for new gearbox.
• Russell being investigated for not slowing down for yellow flags.
• Leclerc, Stroll, Ricciardo under investigation for Leclerc's unsafe release by Ferrari.

Neo

[arun_josie]

Looks like LH will be driving his own race tomorrow and Max has a chance to fight with Bottas if he is able to overtake Bottas in the first lap.

Mid field maybe interesting.

[ds.raikkonen]

Originally Posted by shibujp

Next weekend is going to be rewarding those drivers who manage their tyres better. However unless the ultra-softs give a massive boost in lap time, we may see teams stick with the harder two options as well. Track temperatures would also be a factor.

Yup, we saw Nordschleife dropped off entirely. Safety and the need to be more spectator friendly has driven most of the changes. I think one good thing that came out for the pandemic is that we are going to see a set of old-new circuits back on the season - Imola, Portimao and Nurburgring make a return.

Given its Silverstone and there are plenty of passing opportunities, I am hoping people behind the Mercedes duo can spring a surprise by going for the under cut and throwing them off guard a bit. Just hoping Verstappen and LeClerc can do something about it during the race. Although I do not feel ill for any driver or team, I just hope the Mercedes cars retire due to some technical issues so that other drivers get a chance at the top step. Else it will again be a fierce fight for 3rd place this evening. Even Sainz looked handy in the McLaren, who showed good race pace during FP2 (consistently hitting 1:33:2s).

I am thrilled with Imola's return, still remember Montoya in the BMW giving Schumacher a run for his money in 2004 and Alonso-Schumacher battling in 2005 and 2006. Sadly that was the last race at Imola, until now! Also have not seen any older Portugese GPs online so haven't got much idea about the track. It was used in MotoGP right?

Originally Posted by turbo

Another 1-2 by Mercedes.

Such a predictable season.

Add all the seasons, barring 2018 to the list. And 2010-2013 with Red Bull before that

[shibujp]

Originally Posted by neo_narender

Predictable Qualifying.

1. Mercedes 1, 2. Again.
2. Twice the lap record broken by Hamilton in Q3.
3. Bottas can't catch a break, as he was the pole sitter last year at Silverstone.
4. Exciting to watch the race start with P3 & P4 being Verstappen & Leclerc respectively, hard racing expected by the young lads.
5. Norris consistently outperforming his teammate.
6. Both Renaults in Q3.
7. Vettel barely in top 10. Struggled with the car all weekend.
8. Disappointed for Albon with his crash in P2, that surely affected his confidence level as he couldn't get to Q3.
9. Hulkenberg out in Q2 as well.
10. Russell in Q2 for 3rd consecutive race.

• 5 place grid penalt for Daniil for new gearbox.
• Russell being investigated for not slowing down for yellow flags.
• Leclerc, Stroll, Ricciardo under investigation for Leclerc's unsafe release by Ferrari.

Neo

I was kind of hopeful after Bottas set the pace in Q3 that he had shrugged off the gremlins of last week and returned back strong. It is definitely an uphill task for him as he is competing against a multiple world champion who has been at this for 6 years now. And it was only last year that Bottas ended up as runner-up in his most successful challenge to Hamilton till date. In 2018 it was Vettel who was the most credible threat to Lewis Hamilton.

Contrast that to Nico Rosberg who was really the most fierce competitor to Hamilton for all the years he was there. Here is an excerpt of the levels he went to in this journey from Wikipedia.

Before the 2016 season Rosberg stopped reading the news and studied sleep with a jet-lag doctor as he focused on his family and winning the next event.[119] He altered his racing gloves to improve his starts,[120] removed paint from his helmet to make it 80 g (2.8 oz) lighter,[121] employed a mental trainer to increase his aggression, and spent his spare time go-karting to maintain his ability.[122] Rosberg eschewed Facebook for five months, studied philosophy, meditated to stay concentrated, and received detailed technical input from Mercedes's mechanics at its headquarters in Brackley, England.[123] He worked with his sports psychologist for up to eight hours per week with two hours of mental discipline every two days.[67] Rosberg said he was confident of driving a competitive car and wanted to maintain his form by beating his teammate Lewis Hamilton more regularly.[124]

Bottas has one advantage. He is driving a car that is over 1 second faster that anything else on the F1 circuit today so precious little competition from others. However the horrible news is that Lewis drives the same car. Bottas as is already evident has to play the game at a level that includes spurning his manager Toto Wolff to triumph over Hamilton. He needs a team around him with solely his interests at heart and no others. I don't think Team principal Toto is the guy for that.

Ironically Mercedes biggest challenger is an innovative team that has the last year's chassis. However the missing link there is someone..driver, management, whatever, that is experienced at winning championships and that is why i think onboarding Vettel is their best bet at this assuming that they will be able to maintain the same level of competitiveness next year.

Verstappen, Norris, Russell and Leclerc etc may be wonderful talents however challenging Mercedes is the need in F1 without which all these drivers would be footnotes in seasons they participate in.

On one side you can help but admire the height to which a cohesive, well managed team (it is definitely not just about the money. They are able to attract people of a certain character) can rise up to but on the other hand you feel a bit sorry for the success which is reducing races and qualifyings to a mere spectacle.

Originally Posted by ds.raikkonen

I am thrilled with Imola's return, still remember Montoya in the BMW giving Schumacher a run for his money in 2004 and Alonso-Schumacher battling in 2005 and 2006. Sadly that was the last race at Imola, until now! Also have not seen any older Portugese GPs online so haven't got much idea about the track. It was used in MotoGP right?

Nothing regular. Last used in the World SBK championship in 2008. Then a smattering of A1 GP, World Touring Car, F1 testing and so on. It is said to be similar to Nurburgring and Spa.

Drive on,
Shibu

[ds.raikkonen]

There is hope for F1 fans who want some action on the track.

In the F2 race yesterday, Nikita Mazepin passed Mick Schumacher on the outside at Stowe corner and ultimately won the race.

I am speaking to you Bottas/Verstappen/LeClerc

[ninjatalli]

While I'm glad we are having these races, increasingly week after week, the realization is hitting home pretty loud and clear - it's no longer turning out to be a race between the drivers. Instead Mercedes have cars that are far far better than the rest; and in Hamilton and Bottas they seem to have two very competent drivers that are not making any mistakes at all.

Initial races this year - I used to plan the full weekend around the races. Now it's just barely checking the status to reconfirm one of the Mercedes drivers are leading the race (or the qualifying sessions).

[sgiitk]

Totally predictable. Merc 1 & 2. Ferrari nowhere. The Honda guys can fight it out. Good to see a new competitive motor (Honda).

Remember a few years the game was to thwart Ferrari. Engine rpm limits etc. At one time it used to be Ferrari vs Ford Cosworth. Then Renault joined the party with the Turbo Engine.

Let me add that I have never liked Silverstone.

[speedmiester]

What a race!!!!!.

Hamilton is so so so lucky to cross the line with a big puncture.
If only max has not pitted, he would have won the race easily.
Leclerc gets another podium for Ferrari from nowhere.

Great unpredictable final few laps to cap off a boring first half.

[AtheK]

Drama, drama, drama, the only way mercedes can be defeated, only if we had one more lap.

Superb race.

[KPR]

Biggest question: Why did Max come in for tyre change ?

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by KPR

Biggest question: Why did Max come in for tyre change ?

Ya he was cursing later. The only way it seems mercedes can lose this year.

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by AtheK

Drama, drama, drama, the only way mercedes can be defeated, only if we had one more lap.

Superb race.

What are you talking about? Another corner would have done it!!
It was so on the edge of my seat, I fell off!!
Wow, have never seen such a finish, but I think that investigations will be flying around left and right.
But go 44!!