Fantastic drive by Lando and Lewis, but both teams tried for the one stop, Red Bull nailed the strategy as they always planned a two stop. Great battle though. RB had to fight for this one.
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2023 Formula 1 Season thread
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So Lewis and LeClerc have both been disqualified for excessive plank wear.
Norris promoted to 2nd and Sainz to 3rd. Albon and Sargent both get into the points (9th and 10th).
Norris promoted to 2nd and Sainz to 3rd. Albon and Sargent both get into the points (9th and 10th).
The cost of performance vs downforce.
Hamilton and Leclerc disqualified from United States GP
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have both been disqualified from the United States Grand Prix. Following the race in Austin, their cars were inspected post-race and irregularities were spotted by the FIA Technical team after a plank wear inspection was carried out.
Tyregate GP was more interesting, had so much more action, than this snooze.. Really just when will FIA/F1/Liberty realize this is just not all that acceptable, track limits are becoming a problem, a driver complains, they then paint wide white lines, that really even the blind could not miss.. Lewis in the points, then out, Le Clerc, honestly a DQ, is the last thing he needs.. Stroll on the grid, oops, sorry, and no regs broken..??? How?? Thankfully we are at the end of the silly season.. been that since the summer break..
Well, well, well, now that is interesting. Lewis Hamilton finding the speed, Toto praising the upgrades, but actually, they were running the car too low. Could one call that cheating? Perhaps, if so, they should focus like McLaren and Red Bull on getting the performance within the boundaries of the regulations.
Shame, but good to see the processes work. Well done FIA.
Shame, but good to see the processes work. Well done FIA.
Rules are rules and someone in Mercedes didn’t do their calculations as the car does reduce in ride height under load. Contrast that with the COTA being a very bumpy track and you are going to get a problem as that plank has always been there to measure wear. I’m not particularly sad though, Lewis drove pretty well and was lucky Red Bull had an issue on Max’s car for him to be so close at the finish. I’m sure Lewis and Charles are annoyed as all that effort was for nothing, but hey, there’s nothing to really play for now and this is test mileage right now anyway.
So I stayed up to watch the highlights. Finished at 1:48 am so pretty tired today.
I did enjoy watching Lewis reel in Max at the end. If they had pitted Lewis earlier when it was clear the one stop wasn’t going to work, who knows what would have happened?
Max really loosing his cool on the radio. He will implode the year his RB is no longer competitive.
Mind you just as well Lewis didn’t get the win. He’d have imploded at the disqualification!
But as others have said rules is rules. It looked like Mercedes have taken a step forward with the latest upgrades. Hope it wasn’t just because they were running too low!
I did enjoy watching Lewis reel in Max at the end. If they had pitted Lewis earlier when it was clear the one stop wasn’t going to work, who knows what would have happened?
Max really loosing his cool on the radio. He will implode the year his RB is no longer competitive.
Mind you just as well Lewis didn’t get the win. He’d have imploded at the disqualification!
But as others have said rules is rules. It looked like Mercedes have taken a step forward with the latest upgrades. Hope it wasn’t just because they were running too low!
All of the big teams are constantly on the edge of what is allowed by the regulations. CoTA is a bumpy track, so the plank wear will probably be more irregular and hard to predict than usual. I suspect that both Lewis's and Charles's disqualifications were due to relatively small excesses in wear considering that their teammates both cleared inspection.
It's unlikely that there was any real performance gained from those two cars. The ride height tends to be the same on each team car, and the others made it. They were just too marginal. Mercedes botched pit stop call earlier in the race had much more of an effect. But rules are rules!
The second seat at RBR is about to get interesting. Perez isn't really cutting it, but despite his best efforts, has extended his championship second place again. If he gets second then he does what no other RBR driver has ever done and managed a runner up spot - giving RBR it's best ever championship result. But its likely he'll be sacked.
Meanwhile, the hot tip to replace him is Danny Riccardo. Who currently sits 22nd in a championship that only has 20 cars. He has done 4 races, and not once beaten his team mate. In 2 of Dannys 4 races, his team mate even got points. His temporary replacement performed significantly better, and Danny is now the only current driver to have no points.
Why are RBR determined to hire from within their own stable when the choices are not that good?
The second seat at RBR is about to get interesting. Perez isn't really cutting it, but despite his best efforts, has extended his championship second place again. If he gets second then he does what no other RBR driver has ever done and managed a runner up spot - giving RBR it's best ever championship result. But its likely he'll be sacked.
Meanwhile, the hot tip to replace him is Danny Riccardo. Who currently sits 22nd in a championship that only has 20 cars. He has done 4 races, and not once beaten his team mate. In 2 of Dannys 4 races, his team mate even got points. His temporary replacement performed significantly better, and Danny is now the only current driver to have no points.
Why are RBR determined to hire from within their own stable when the choices are not that good?
I agree, Perez is the big winner here due to Lewis's disqualification. He is one of the luckiest guys on the grid, despite his own efforts. If only he could recognize that and celebrate it. But if there was a race where they could have done with support from him, it was today. What Max did with his defective car was pretty impressive.
I can't see him being replaced by Daniel Riccardo, he's even worse. He's is not taking the opportunities thrown his way. I think he has had it in F1.
I can't see him being replaced by Daniel Riccardo, he's even worse. He's is not taking the opportunities thrown his way. I think he has had it in F1.
You may not see it in the highlights, but actual former racers all agreed with Max, as they expressed in their commentary. Under normal circumstances one shoudn't talk in the braking zone, let alone when one is having to compensate for a car failure as well.
I think you're correct.
Hamilton and Leclerc disqualified from United States GP
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have both been disqualified from the United States Grand Prix. Following the race in Austin, their cars were inspected post-race and irregularities were spotted by the FIA Technical team after a plank wear inspection was carried out.
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT | 56 | 1:35:21.362 | 25 |
| DQ | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | MERCEDES | 56 | +2.225s | 0 |
| 2 | 4 | Lando Norris | MCLAREN MERCEDES | 56 | +10.730s | 18 |
| 3 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | FERRARI | 56 | +15.134s | 15 |
| 4 | 11 | Sergio Perez | RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT | 56 | +18.460s | 12 |
| DQ | 16 | Charles Leclerc | FERRARI | 56 | +24.662s | 0 |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | MERCEDES | 56 | +24.999s | 10 |
| 6 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | ALPINE RENAULT | 56 | +47.996s | 8 |
| 7 | 18 | Lance Stroll | ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES | 56 | +48.696s | 6 |
| 8 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | ALPHATAURI HONDA RBPT | 56 | +74.385s | 5 |
| 9 | 23 | Alexander Albon | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 56 | +86.714s | 2 |
| 10 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 56 | +87.998s | 1 |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | HAAS FERRARI | 56 | +89.904s | 0 |
| 12 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | ALFA ROMEO FERRARI | 56 | +98.601s | 0 |
| 13 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | ALFA ROMEO FERRARI | 55 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 14 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | HAAS FERRARI | 55 | +1 lap | 0 |
| 15 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | ALPHATAURI HONDA RBPT | 55 | +1 lap | 0 |
| NC | 14 | Fernando Alonso | ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES | 49 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 81 | Oscar Piastri | MCLAREN MERCEDES | 10 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 31 | Esteban Ocon | ALPINE RENAULT | 6 | DNF | 0 |
Sure, of course they are on the edge, but naturally, their job is to not go over it. The RBR car did look like an offroader in comparison to theirs.
But hey ho, they did it, they lost their places and points. I'm sure they won't do it again. The system worked.
YAY Lando!!!I think you're correct.
Hamilton and Leclerc disqualified from United States GP
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have both been disqualified from the United States Grand Prix. Following the race in Austin, their cars were inspected post-race and irregularities were spotted by the FIA Technical team after a plank wear inspection was carried out.www.formula1.com
1 1 Max Verstappen RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT 56 1:35:21.362 25 DQ 44 Lewis Hamilton MERCEDES 56 +2.225s 0 2 4 Lando Norris MCLAREN MERCEDES 56 +10.730s 18 3 55 Carlos Sainz FERRARI 56 +15.134s 15 4 11 Sergio Perez RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT 56 +18.460s 12 DQ 16 Charles Leclerc FERRARI 56 +24.662s 0 5 63 George Russell MERCEDES 56 +24.999s 10 6 10 Pierre Gasly ALPINE RENAULT 56 +47.996s 8 7 18 Lance Stroll ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES 56 +48.696s 6 8 22 Yuki Tsunoda ALPHATAURI HONDA RBPT 56 +74.385s 5 9 23 Alexander Albon WILLIAMS MERCEDES 56 +86.714s 2 10 2 Logan Sargeant WILLIAMS MERCEDES 56 +87.998s 1 11 27 Nico Hulkenberg HAAS FERRARI 56 +89.904s 0 12 77 Valtteri Bottas ALFA ROMEO FERRARI 56 +98.601s 0 13 24 Zhou Guanyu ALFA ROMEO FERRARI 55 +1 lap 0 14 20 Kevin Magnussen HAAS FERRARI 55 +1 lap 0 15 3 Daniel Ricciardo ALPHATAURI HONDA RBPT 55 +1 lap 0 NC 14 Fernando Alonso ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES 49 DNF 0 NC 81 Oscar Piastri MCLAREN MERCEDES 10 DNF 0 NC 31 Esteban Ocon ALPINE RENAULT 6 DNF 0
You can pretty much guarantee, that had it been Red Bull penalised for such infringement, that the internet would be awash with haterz screaming about just this...
So, the RB looking less than stellar, brake issues, yet Max still wins from 6th on the grid. Incredible. I've been following F1 for nigh on 40 years, and I'm thinking he is quite possibly the best driver I've ever seen. And that's some going, considering there's been the likes of Piquet, Prost, Senna, Schumacher, Alonso and Vettel in that time. He's equalled his own wins in a season record, and with 4 races left, very likely indeed to surpass even that. He was brilliant in 2021 and 2022, but this year he's reached another level, which seems impossible. And he's only just turned 26. 🤯
Got to feel for Alonso; great start to the season, but the AM has fallen well behind the others, and even he is really struggling to do anything with that car. Still managed to climb up to 9th from 17th on the grid, which would have been 7th following the DQ of Hamilton and LeClerc. Even Stroll managed 7th at the end, which is pretty good for a Daddy's Boy™. Alonso would have clawed a few points back in the DWC to Hamilton, too. Let's hope Aston can sort out a competitive car for the remaining races.
Yeah; DR fnished last. Yuki got 8th. Fairs, DR is recovering from injury, but still. Somewhat overrated, imo. Quite telling that Marko thinks that the only driver on the grid who might possibly keep up with Max, is Alonso. Perez has to now concentrate on getting some solid points in to consolidate 2nd in the DWC. If he can get some good results in the last few races, then he might stand a slim chance of keeping his seat for next year. But I fear anything less than 4 consecutive 2nd places, even perhaps a win, and hell be out. He may already be out, who knows. It's not looking good.
It's a weird one, Perez drove actually ok yesterday. I just find him very hard to 'love' as what he does, doesn't appear great at all. The gap between him and Max is just so big that it makes him look like he is already out in his mind. He is very lucky that Lewis didn't get those points from yesterday...
I'd be willing to go on a limb and say without the Sprint Gate their boards would have passed. Lewis also pushed very hard in the opening laps on full tanks. You could see the sparks flying. Seems people in the Paddock say Mercedes has the most downforce on the grid currently. Even with the bumpy nature of COTA it's up to the suspension (primarily the rear) to limit the plate wear.
Can't comment on the Ferrari but IMO the Rear suspension continues to be the W14's largest issue. That won't be changed until the W15.
Must be unnerving to others though that RB has effetely ended development on the RB19 and Max wins from 6th with a serious issue with the energy recovery system in his brakes the entire race.
I can’t imagine the extra mileage helped the situation as the plank can’t be replaced during the race weekend. It does seem a silly way to get disqualified and one where you’d expect teams to be on top of it.
I would think all teams would have switched focus by the half way point this season, especially seeing the size of the advantage Red Bull had/have. Teams have brought upgrades since but these are often bolt-on solutions to overcoming issues. Let’s hope they understand to reason Red Bull are fast as the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin and McLaren are fairly close in performance, with Red Bull being the anomaly. It does seem to be a worry that Red Bull could be dominating for another two seasons under these regulations, but they’ve done the best job for the past 2 years. I’d love to see Alonso replace Perez and stir things up, however that’s unlikely to happen.
Mercedes also introduced a new floor for this weekend which surely must have contributed to Lewis's DQ. As for Charles, Ferrari is just being Ferrari, I guess.
Reading the Official DQ from the FIA Mercedes did push that due to the lack of ability to make changes Parc Ferme with the Sprint they were unable to avoid the situation. FIA pushed back that it was their responsibility to ensure calculations were correct prior to the Sprint.
Another valid reason to change that in Sprints in 24. I understand others were able to finish within the regulations but Mercedes has a very valid argument on this one, IMO. Sprints are a waste of resources in the current form.
The 1 set up session was the discussion of the weekend, and it showed, 1st with Max being demoted due to track limits, then the painting of the line to make it wider, which was a fair point, then Merc and Ferrari coping a DQ each... One of the AM's no brakes, how I see it, there seems to be a disconnect between what FP1 should be used for..in a Sprint race weekend, the FP1 should be for Sprint Set UP, Sprint Shoot out Saturday AM this is not a qualifying session, but the best time you set in the FP1 hour.., then Saturday PM-FP2 for Race set up...Sunday Race... The problem is trying to fit 2 sessions of qualifying and 2 races.. And not allowing for a 2nd set up session for the race props... A mistake in how the weekend is scheduled..
Current-spec F1 cars generate the majority of their downforce by running as close to the track as they can because the side skirts on the sidepods act like the underside skirts F1 cars had in the early 1980s to prevent air from escaping from the sides.
The RB19 is able to run flat to the track across its entire chassis length so it benefits the most from this "ground effect". The other cars tend to ride at an angle (front closer and rear higher) so they bleed more air out the sides. The Mercedes is particularly bad at this (it rides fairly high in the back, in part because it has a longer wheelbase) and when they run the car too low to try and compensate, it causes the chassis to porpoise badly (which wears down the plank more).
The RB19 is able to run flat to the track across its entire chassis length so it benefits the most from this "ground effect". The other cars tend to ride at an angle (front closer and rear higher) so they bleed more air out the sides. The Mercedes is particularly bad at this (it rides fairly high in the back, in part because it has a longer wheelbase) and when they run the car too low to try and compensate, it causes the chassis to porpoise badly (which wears down the plank more).