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FP3 has just finished and this is what we have so far at the Marina Bay Street Circuit this weekend.
- Charles Leclerc finished FP1 on top
- Lando Norris finished FP2 and FP3 on top
I am expecting a good qualifying session later today and with a bit of rain expected tomorrow during the race, we can expect an exciting race tomorrow.
Everyone complaining about the tires. That Sainz crash shows the tires are very questionable. I really wonder if FOM and the FIA gave Bridgestone enough time to put together a competitive case for the supply of tires to F1.
Not a very exciting race, but I guess the drivers title is a little closer.
Verstappen really pulled out a great showing to limit his point losses to the bare minimum. Ricciardo's fastest lap helped as well. The gap is now at 52 points, but by no means a done deal for Verstappen and neither a guaranteed possibility that Norris would close the gap.
Redbull seems to begin to understand how to get around their issue which should be worrying for Norris. For Redbull to do so well on their most difficult track of the season, means they may be close to the pace of the McLaren at COTA. Austin is going to be a very interesting race. The championship may take a different dimension at this race.
Imagine if Verstappen takes out Norris at Cota and Piastri wins that race, the championship would become a three-way race with four races to thereafter.
I am loving Zack Brown and Andrea Stella's handling of the team. Best management pairing on the grid.
With six races to go, as long as Max stays close to where ever Lando finishes, or finishes ahead of him, he will win the title.
I think Max is going to win the title.
It is interesting though, that Redbull's performance dropped just after the regulations were updated. The amendment of Article 11.1.2 concerning asymmetric torque braking which helps to produce fast cornering was banned. And since then, Redbull has been struggling through the corners.Quote:
Originally Posted by N. Jones
Verstappen just has to avoid any DNFs and be as close to Norris where possible to have a chance to hang on to the championship this season, It is going to come down to a few points difference between who wins it and the loser.
Not much better than the yawn fest that is often Singapore. Passes are still really tough, but can be made.
In what many thought would be the worst track for Red Bull, Max managed to claw back enough performance in his car to both qualify and finish right behind Lando. Sergio on the other hand, was Sergio.
As we run more years with this current formula and wind tunnel/CFD restrictions, the top cars are getting really close in performance. But it does seem that as teams innovate and make them quicker, we are seeing smaller setup windows and it's easier to get it wrong as well. It also seems to me that the advantage of clear air is becoming stronger, and this can be seen though much of the field. I would be interested to know how much more "dirty air" exists as compared to even a couple years back.
Right now McLaren are on a roll that will be hard to stop. Lando almost managed a pit stop gap at a track that has long pits. That's going to be hard to cope with when they have it right. And with both Lando and Oscar driving well, even a bad weekend for one won't always mean a bad weekend for the team. Oscar should be a monster by next season, he has come to grips with the car quickly and doesn't seem to get rattled easily. I hope the car stays good for next year, as I have a feeling that they are the two most evenly matched drivers on a team right now, and I think Lando is going to get a run for his money.
As for Merc and Lewis..... what the hell were they thinking starting on softs? Even if they got off the line better, it was obvious that they would have to pit early and either do a long second stint or go for a two stop race.
I have been wondering that, too. Why start on the softs? Hamilton would of have to have known that he would be stopping early.
He did and said "I told you this was not going to work" nor something to that effect. He was not happy at all. I have to say, Mercedes is operating like a midfield team at the moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by N. Jones
They seem to be desperate to stay at the front and almost seem like they are just trying anything and hoping it works.
That is an interesting insight. Had that been an area of protest or highlighting by teams for the FIA to look at?Quote:
Originally Posted by Nitrodaze
These teams are always pointing out something for the FIA to look at. I think this was a backroom hush-hush affair to stop the matter getting out of hand. They probably told Redbull to remove it and wrote an update to the regulations to stop anyone else from doing it.Quote:
Originally Posted by F1nKS
Even as a conspiracy theory the brake bias regs changes are weak. RB was losing races well before it was introduced, and it was obvious the pack had tightened up. Not to mention that FIA statements clarify it was closing grey area and never suspected of taking place with any teams.
But then again, Mercedes haven't won any races since it was implemented either. Maybe they were the ones in the back room talks? :laugh: