Sorry, but this is simply not true. Max is just the better driver. The car may suit him better, but that's because he has a much greater ability to adapt and drive according to how the car behaves. The true greats have this ability; Senna, Alonso, Vettel. The cars have to conform to regs, so making a car 'fit' a driver as you seem to be suggesting, would probably fail in that regard, as they all have preferences beyond what the regs would allow really. A team cannot just make a car to suit one driver and not the other, as this could compromise the safety of one of them. Over a season, a car can be developed in a way that favours the faster driver slightly more, but that's just common sense if you want to win races and championships. And tbh there's no guarantee that would work as each track is different, and changing the car too much may well ruin it. See Aston Martin. Another important aspect, this that RB aren't developing this car any longer, hence the others catching up I suppose. So the result it gets are entirely down to driver ability now.
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2023 Formula 1 Season thread
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Psychology play a much bigger role than fans give it credit for too. Perez was giving Max a run for his money in the first few races, but once he lost hist grasp of the championship he's been nowhere most of the time. We saw a similar thing with Ricciardo at McLaren. Perez can still drive his RB19, but he's probably not as comfortable as he was at the beginning of the season even, and I doubt it's down to changes in the way the car behaves.
I completely agree Max is currently the most mission capable driver on the grid today. I guess my point is the changes in the setup made after Saudi Arabia were clearly suited to Max's driving style. I have no problem with that. It is well documented however that Checo has pleaded more than once for the pre Saudi setup. Obviously RBR could not have gone back to that.
That was really all I meant with my comments. There is no question Max's ability to adjust to a situation is on another level at this point in his journey.
Yes, and his inability to "Get back in the saddle" mentally hinders any ability to adjust to car movements. I'll agree with that.
Fairs. But there's a lot of 'RB make the car for Max only' spouted on the internet, which is just nonsense. That's like saying that Mercedes made the cars only for Lewis, but Rosberg beat him in the same machinery, so how does that stack up? 🤷♂️ It just doesn't happen; the engineers make the fastest car they can, and the drivers have to drive it. Checco can make as many excuses as he likes, but at the end of the day he knows himself that Max is vastly superior. Tough to deal with, but that's life. Mark Webber accepted this fact when with Vettel. If Checco could accept it the same way, perhaps he'd have a future at RB.I completely agree Max is currently the most mission capable driver on the grid today. I guess my point is the changes in the setup made after Saudi Arabia were clearly suited to Max's driving style. I have no problem with that. It is well documented however that Checo has pleaded more than once for the pre Saudi setup. Obviously RBR could not have gone back to that.
That was really all I meant with my comments. There is no question Max's ability to adjust to a situation is on another level at this point in his journey.
So uh...yeah...
Max to first at the first corner as the Ferrari's bog the start. Perez tries to go around the outside and collides with LeClerc and retires.
Max to first at the first corner as the Ferrari's bog the start. Perez tries to go around the outside and collides with LeClerc and retires.
I kind of can't blame him for taking the shot considering the Ferrari's were so slow off the line, but he should not have tried to pinch the corner and instead taken the wider path even if that slowed him.
Well yes, with the pace of the RB he could have just taken it easy and taken them a couple of laps later. This came across like showing off for the home public, and it backfired big time.
Speaking of Norris, no idea what they hell McLaren were thinking starting him on Softs unless they were hoping for a full Safety Car like three or four laps in. His tires quickly fell-off and he had to pit for Hards so he is in the back again.
And LeClerc is going to be investigated post-race for his front wing. Though if Race Control was not going to show him the Black and Orange flag, it would be cheeky to penalize him.
And LeClerc is going to be investigated post-race for his front wing. Though if Race Control was not going to show him the Black and Orange flag, it would be cheeky to penalize him.
Just started watching the race. Max was brave and had the grip at that start, Sergio was the definition of 'optimistic' and er failed miserably, what was he thinking??...
Oof he did slam that wall! Not surprising with all the marvels he just collected on his tyres. Great to see him get himself out and sit on the wall. Think his cars a gonna though.
Easy win for Max, 15 seconds ahead of Lewis. LeClerc and Sainz settled for 3rd and 4th with Norris doing a masterful job of overcoming multiple dumb tire choices to finish 5th. Russel 6th and Daniel 7th.
Six points moves Ricciardo up to 17th in the championship, just two points behind Yuki in 16th.
Looks like Lando and Lewis drove exceptionally well, nice to see. I was overly optimistic with my pre race prediction by all accounts though.
4 corners earlier than I predicted.
I agree those two did really well. Lando climbed the field superbly.
Same here, Lewis really got back into it. And Lando has overtaken a huge number of cars, he worked so hard.
Furthermore, I think Daniel did a fantastic job.
And Max, of course,
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT | 71 | 2:02:30.814 | 25 |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | MERCEDES | 71 | +13.875s | 19 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | FERRARI | 71 | +23.124s | 15 |
| 4 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | FERRARI | 71 | +27.154s | 12 |
| 5 | 4 | Lando Norris | MCLAREN MERCEDES | 71 | +33.266s | 10 |
| 6 | 63 | George Russell | MERCEDES | 71 | +41.020s | 8 |
| 7 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | ALPHATAURI HONDA RBPT | 71 | +41.570s | 6 |
| 8 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | MCLAREN MERCEDES | 71 | +43.104s | 4 |
| 9 | 23 | Alexander Albon | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 71 | +48.573s | 2 |
| 10 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | ALPINE RENAULT | 71 | +62.879s | 1 |
| 11 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | ALPINE RENAULT | 71 | +66.208s | 0 |
| 12 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | ALPHATAURI HONDA RBPT | 71 | +78.982s | 0 |
| 13 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | HAAS FERRARI | 71 | +80.309s | 0 |
| 14 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | ALFA ROMEO FERRARI | 71 | +81.676s | 0 |
| 15 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | ALFA ROMEO FERRARI | 71 | +85.597s | 0 |
| 16 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | WILLIAMS MERCEDES | 70 | DNF | 0 |
| 17 | 18 | Lance Stroll | ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES | 66 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 14 | Fernando Alonso | ASTON MARTIN ARAMCO MERCEDES | 47 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | HAAS FERRARI | 31 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 11 | Sergio Perez | RED BULL RACING HONDA RBPT | 1 | DNF | 0 |