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The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,311
25,461
Wales, United Kingdom
Worse than Mercedes? Not a chance for 2025.

2026 is still a Crap Shoot as far as the FIA goes.

I wouldn’t completely write Mercedes off, not with the resources and technical direction they have. Allison will be in his second year back by then and he’s arguably the second best technical head in the sport right now. They might find their groove next year, just as Lewis leaves in hope of wins in his new Ferrari. If anything, I think Ferrari are more likely to go backwards based on the last 15 years of peaking and plummeting.

But for god sake, someone build a car capable of getting close to Red Bulls performance. So many drivers overdriving their cars right now trying to squeeze that extra pace and Red Bull are cruising with their engines turned down. Not great viewing.
 

Glideslope

macrumors G3
Dec 7, 2007
8,324
5,787
The Adirondacks.
I wouldn’t completely write Mercedes off, not with the resources and technical direction they have. Allison will be in his second year back by then and he’s arguably the second best technical head in the sport right now. They might find their groove next year, just as Lewis leaves in hope of wins in his new Ferrari. If anything, I think Ferrari are more likely to go backwards based on the last 15 years of peaking and plummeting.

But for god sake, someone build a car capable of getting close to Red Bulls performance. So many drivers overdriving their cars right now trying to squeeze that extra pace and Red Bull are cruising with their engines turned down. Not great viewing.

I was not writing Mercedes off. I simply anticipate the AMR25 to be a more balanced platform for Fred and (?.)
Mercedes is not going to fix their balance issues until they figure out the optimal cockpit position. I am by no means an aerodynamicist, however, IMO, I still see the W15 balance issues stemming from less than optimal cockpit geometry. To me, that is start from the ground up in a new chassis. However, that would be 2026. I'd be willing to wager there is not much going into the W16 at this point......

A more racy W16 would be good for the sport. So we will see.......
 

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,311
25,461
Wales, United Kingdom
I was not writing Mercedes off. I simply anticipate the AMR25 to be a more balanced platform for Fred and (?.)
Mercedes is not going to fix their balance issues until they figure out the optimal cockpit position. I am by no means an aerodynamicist, however, IMO, I still see the W15 balance issues stemming from less than optimal cockpit geometry. To me, that is start from the ground up in a new chassis. However, that would be 2026. I'd be willing to wager there is not much going into the W16 at this point......

A more racy W16 would be good for the sport. So we will see.......

The cockpit did move for this season so I’m assuming they have played around with a new chassis. It hasn’t worked. Lewis hated being too far forward if I remember.
 
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CWallace

macrumors G5
Aug 17, 2007
12,525
11,542
Seattle, WA
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Glideslope

macrumors G3
Dec 7, 2007
8,324
5,787
The Adirondacks.
The cockpit did move for this season so I’m assuming they have played around with a new chassis. It hasn’t worked. Lewis hated being too far forward if I remember.

Correct.
Credit to Max for not being a fan of adding a shedload of technical wizardry to aid the drivers. While the Williams FW-14B and 15C were absolute marvels, a trained monkey could get a fast lap out of them thanks to all the "driver aids".

Max is a Driver’s Driver at heart. Always has been. Respect him or despise him he’s the most talented wheel in F1 in 2024. Regardless of car.

My bet is he will tire of the F1 Circus sooner rather than later. I honestly don’t think he cares if he has 3 WDC or 8 WDC. My bet is he leaves for GT3 and the WRC. Then semi retires and spends most of his time running Verstappen Racing with Jos. I find GT3 extremely competitive, as does Max. There is a reason they are vested in GT3. The reward for monies spent is tremendous.

I think these moves will be determined by how artificial F1 becomes and the pace of development.
 
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headlessmike

macrumors 65816
May 16, 2017
1,438
2,838
What are the odds of Ferrari dropping Sainz before the season is over if he continues to out perform LeClerc?
That would be a first, sacking a driver for being too good. Both Ferrari drivers have been good this year, Leclerc has just been a bit more inconsistent in the first races. At the end of the season I expect Carlos and Charles to be pretty close in the standings, just like they have in previous years.
 

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,311
25,461
Wales, United Kingdom
What are the odds of Ferrari dropping Sainz before the season is over if he continues to out perform LeClerc?

That won’t happen, the constructors championship is the most important prize for teams and Ferrari aren’t going to jeopardise that. I think they might be wondering if dropping Carlos was the right decision though. I know Lewis is worth a hell of a lot more to them in marketing revenue and hopefully he’ll get back to form, but Carlos is having a great season so far. Charles needs to convert these good drives into better drives that punch him up the field. His qualifying needs to improve fast.
 

JustinePaula

macrumors 6502a
Mar 14, 2012
834
424
I think DTS filming in a winery, I question him being who/what/where he works, he would be so exposed as to cattle grade airports, not in the private jet class, hidden away from the poor peasants..
 

cyb3rdud3

macrumors 601
Jun 22, 2014
4,078
2,740
UK
I think DTS filming in a winery, I question him being who/what/where he works, he would be so exposed as to cattle grade airports, not in the private jet class, hidden away from the poor peasants..
It is just such a short distance, can often be quicker and more convenient. Private makes sense if you have multiple scheduled stops at akward destinations in succession. Also in a corporate structure the private jet can come out of your own operational expenditures budget, one may not necessarily spend it on that if there are other options. Yup, the company I used to work for had three jets on standby for use in the UK if we wanted to use them.
 
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