The official Formula 1 and general motorsport thread for 2019

[Return_of_the_STAR]

I missed a bit, what’s wrong with Leclerc’s car?

[Memento Mori]

Harsh on Leclerc.

[Victor Mildew]

Vettel

LOLclerc

[Jam-Master Jay]

I missed a bit, what’s wrong with Leclerc’s car?

ERS has completely gone. Driving without any of the hybrid systems.

[Victor Mildew]

RenuLOL

[Jam-Master Jay]

Renault!

[Memento Mori]

Did someone EMP the Renaults?

[Victor Mildew]

Tim Renault will be fuming

[Captain Kinopio]

How can that happen to the Renaults?

Penny for Alonso's thoughts on Ferrari

Very worrying signs for Vettel. That's multiple times in the last 12 months he's completely bottled it and now his team mate is faster than him to.

[captain red dog]

Wow two races in and two Ferrari disasters!

It seems its back to the bad old days with Ferrari. They just seem too chaotic when the chips are down.

[Robbo-92]

Only just finished watching the race as I had work today, terrible that these things get in the way of watching F1.

That was a vey exciting race from start to finish, just a shame Leclerc had his win stolen from him with his ERS issue, small consolation that he got a podium. After Vettel’s antics today his hero is quite clearly not Schumacher but instead Anakin Skywalker, who also finds spinning is a good trick Think I need a new avatar as since I started with the Ferrari one they’ve done nothing Just like since 2007/08.........

Not sure what the issue was with the Renaults though? Ran out of fuel? Unbelievably unlucky engine/ers failure on both cars within 2 corners? Cracking race from Norris as well, obviously looks a lot better due to the Renaults both dying but still.

Onto China though, race number 1000! Just need to catch up on the WRC from the weekend for now though, although I’ll just record the highlights on tomorrow and give them a watch at some point.

[captain red dog]

Positive progress for McLaren. I wonder if they can hold on to Norris if he continues to go well. I could see him getting poached by Mercedes or Ferrari at some point. I bet Alonso is kicking himself a bit as he could have got some decent results in this car.

Sad to see Renault having a torrid time. It doesn't feel like they have made much progress over the winter and have kind of stayed where they were.

[Robbo-92]

I think they have made progress, just car and driver errors have made it look like they’ve stayed put. In Australia Hulkenberg had an issue in qualy which meant he couldn’t get into Q3 but had a solid race, same yesterday with qualy issues. Ricciardo obviously had a torrid race in Australia but had a decent enough qualy yesterday in what is a very closely grouped midfield. Both had a pretty good race today, Hulkenberg definitely the better of the two today although they were covering themselves with a 2 stop and a 1 stop strategy. But again car issues let them down, massively. I think whatever progress they have made has been overshadowed by McLaren somewhat as they’ve made a huge jump compared to 2018, they do have a very good lineup in Norris and Sainz as well, same with Renault re the drivers though. I think it’ll be very close between Renault, McLaren and Haas as to who finishes 4th, I don’t think Haas are consistent enough though and when they do run well they make issues for themselves sometimes. I think Renault may just hang on to 4th come the end of the year.

I imagine Alonso is waiting in the wings ready to pounce as soon as he can, despite what he may say.

[Victor Mildew]

If McLaren was a condenser for podiums he'd be back in like a shot.

[Robbo-92]

I reckon any of the other teams would need to have a fantastic weekend coupled with a lot of good luck to have a chance at a podium this year, they still seem a fair way off the top 3 when they all finish. With what Alonso did in last years car he could make the difference, or maybe not and maybe Norris is currently getting maximum from it, be good to see what Alonso says once he’s driven the car in the next couple of days.

Not having made real progress on the top 3 does make me wonder if the likes of McLaren, Renault and the lower teams will just (more or less) fully switch focus to the 2021 regs as soon as they’re finalised if none of them have a jump in performance by the end of the year as it’ll likely be Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull leading the way again in 2020. 2021 may be their best chance to jump up the order, even if only briefly while the big 3 get to grips with it.

[Vermilion]

Gutted for Leclerc, he should have won that.

[floydfreak]

New Quali & race feature will be introduced in Monaco

All car's will set their qualifying lap on Lap 2 of the race, grid for the start determined by their last race position.

After 10 laps car's will stop in tunnel to be re gridded for the next phase of the race going by the lap time they set on Lap 2

An extra 10 lap's added to race distance because of the Quali lap and 10 lap's completed before being put into their position based on lap 2 time
1 point will be given to each car in top 10 position on who set their time in quick succession to set grid for the new race.

Car's will face 10 second penalty for being 107% off pace at end of 10 laps

Parc Ferme rules apply to positions 1-5 times and from positions 15-20

If wet race after 10 lap's of Quali race and after reformed grid. Safety Car will stay on track until a dry line is visible and sun is out

If it rains in main race cars are mandated to stop on the grid and all get their tyres changed from slick to dry before race continues under the safety car until Bernie say's it's ok and the DHL Budweiser fastest tyre change result's have been awarded to the team for quickest tyre change. Short presentation on podium with ad's sponsored by Rolex

Mr Blobby will give the drivers & teams their trophy's at each race and provide entertainment for the fan's and guest's during the pre race build up

[BOR]

It is only F1 testing but Mick Schumacher was the second fastest. And it’s good to see Schumacher on the list again.

[darksideby182]

Next race live on Sky One again.

[Vermilion]

New Quali & race feature will be introduced in Monaco

All car's will set their qualifying lap on Lap 2 of the race, grid for the start determined by their last race position.

After 10 laps car's will stop in tunnel to be re gridded for the next phase of the race going by the lap time they set on Lap 2

An extra 10 lap's added to race distance because of the Quali lap and 10 lap's completed before being put into their position based on lap 2 time
1 point will be given to each car in top 10 position on who set their time in quick succession to set grid for the new race.

Car's will face 10 second penalty for being 107% off pace at end of 10 laps

Parc Ferme rules apply to 1-5 times and from positions 15-20

If wet race after 10 lap's of Quali race and after reformed grid. Safety Car will stay on track until a dry line is visible and sun is out

If it rains in main race cars are mandated to stop on the grid and all get their tyres changed from slick to dry before race continues under the safety car until Bernie say's it's ok and the DHL Budweiser fastest tyre change result's have been awarded to the team for quickest tyre change. Short presentation on podium with ad's sponsored by Rolex

Mr Blobby will give the drivers & teams their trophy's at each race and provide entertainment for the fan's and guest's during the pre race build up

The way F1 has been going lately, i wouldn't have been surprised had this actually not been an april fools.