Thats exactly what I was talking about. Hamilton as a wise old head was conservative at times. LeClerc however when you add in the history? No chance. If they have cars on the same level they will be ‘at it’ far more than Hamilton Vs Verstappen was.Chuckjr wrote: ↑20 Mar 2022, 10:54One swallow doesn’t make a summer anymore than one race defines an F1 field or one quali session determines a car’s potential. This first race won’t tell us who’s overall fastest, but will give shape and context to who is at the sharp end and who has their work cut out for themselves. It’s all very exciting. Nice to have that back in the sport.
1 - Max
2 - Charles
3 - Fred
I think there will be more car carnage than usual due to the tall wheels and shrouds, unfamiliarity of the drivers with the unique way these cars behave, and simply closer competition at the top. I can easily see some carnage at the sharp end tomorrow. It’s why I’m thinking Fred just may find his way to the podium. Yellow flags will keep the field stacked and out-of-sync pit stops will also help shuffle the field. I think one of the Mercs and one of the Ferrari’s take each other out.
Holy smokes the doom and gloom in the Macca team thread is something to behold! They are setting fire to the team already! My god did I just read someone say McLaren customer cars will go bankrupt, and the team will be sold?!? After one quali session!!?Get a hold of yourselves people. Seriously. It’s simple. Macca needs to call Ron Dennis stat, apologize, and hand him the keys. You’ll be winning within 3 years with your own Porsche engine or something equivalent at the next engine regs change. You know this. I know this.
The irony of Bottas out-qualifying Russell is palpable. Shame as I think Russell may have had it in him to out quali the golden calf. But hey, maybe next week.
Crossing my fingers Fred has good race pace. The Alpine design seems fundamentally good. Is the Renault engine reliable is another question entirely.
The hopium of unlocking the supposed zero pod potential is at addiction levels in the Merc punter’s think tank (team thread). Oddly, it’s the polar opposite of some Macca fans who are ready to walk away from F1 forever as “they can’t take it anymore”. Lol. Anyway, the supposed magical potential of the zero pods is yet to be observed, but I have to be honest and say I’m not convinced there’s magical potential in them. Vanja with his post help me understand the Merc better, and I’m not convinced there’s all kinds of speed just waiting to be unleashed. The ominous words from Günter and also Ferrari stating they looked at zero pods and said no thanks convinces me the wider pod is the way to go for this Formulae. Newey also chose wider pods, so there’s that.
Of course, Ferrari and Red Bull have updates coming by the truckload, and they will only get faster from here and already have balanced their car basic. Merc has not, is on the back foot, still struggling somewhat with porpoising, still struggling to find time, still struggling to understand their car, and may have a pos engine to boot...at least the bottom half of the field agrees with the engine part.
Thank you F1 tech and all moderators.
Good luck to all drivers this year. Hoping for a safe and fair season with lots of different winners and tight on track battles.
PS, I guess Charles and Max have some history still to resolve...
https://youtu.be/L42H4vkbHYc
Get a hold of yourselves people. Seriously. It’s simple. Macca needs to call Ron Dennis stat, apologize, and hand him the keys. You’ll be winning within 3 years with your own Porsche engine or something equivalent at the next engine regs change. You know this. I know this. 
I’ll give you couple of examples.
Monza (the year escapes me) when LeClerc pushed Hamilton onto the grass during an attempted overtake. Somewhat naughty that and it’s about his mindset.
Brazil last year with the now infamous push off track by Verstappen on Hamilton. That was also somewhat naughty and it’s again about mindset.
Now let’s replace Verstappen with Hamilton in Monza and LeClerc with Hamilton in Brazil. Neither one is that passive and it’s gunna create chaos IMHO. The stewards had better be on top of this early.
