2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

[FittingMechanics]

We'll see how they restart. This could be another difference.

[FrukostScones]

I like.

: D

[FittingMechanics]

I just watched Antonelli-Piastri safety car incident. Piastri did overtake him before the flag, clear as day. Antonelli was sliding in T16, almost went off track. Not sure about the rules but it was definitely a big mistake and lost a lot of momentum. Not worth risking a penalty.

But you don't have to be off track to be overtaken. For Verstappen was still on track when he was overtaken by the most of the field in Silverstone 2025.

[Sevach]

Fun opening laps, Mercedes dont have their qualifying pace on race day for whatever reason, but now the tyres are past their best and Ferrari's are fighting each other its easy for George will open a gap and for Kimi to catch them.

Mercedes still have a pace advantage, but there's 2 things:
Drivers are rarely pushing, often saving battery, even the Mercs, so you can have a slower car and go as fast momentarily while the other guy is saving.
And these rules favor immediate repassing, you need to pass and stretch right away, without making yourself vulnerable in terms of battery.

Couple this with super starts and Ferrari can make the early parts of a race interesting.

[TeamKoolGreen]

to whoever said lewis was washed... im not a huge fan of his but you couldn't be more wrong.

He is not at the level of the elite prime age drivers in Verstappen, Russell and Leclerc. The new group of rookies who have spent hours on high quality simulators as kids, are on another level too.

[TeamKoolGreen]

Peter Windsor made a good point about the Mercedes customer cars. They probably don't have gear ratios that match the PU as good as Mercedes does. And that is something locked in for the year.

[MB_Racer]

any chance to outsource all the whining to a separate thread?

That is a brilliant idea ! +3

[Partymood]

Peter Windsor made a good point about the Mercedes customer cars. They probably don't have gear ratios that match the PU as good as Mercedes does. And that is something locked in for the year.

Lewis made a better point, Merc has a party mode 2.0...looks like customer teams don't have it

[erudite450]

That's a brilliant performance by Bottas, outqualifying the Aston Martin of Stroll.

[Jurgen von Diaz]

Did Perez got something with his car?

[Jambier]

Thanks to Ferrari for their Renault 2004 like start we have good start of races.

But Mercedes is just ultra dominating.

[Sevach]

Ferrari losing .9 on the straights.

[erudite450]

Did Perez got something with his car?

Probably. They need to try and get both cars running reliably and close to each other. In Australia it was Bottas who was behind by almost a second.

[erudite450]

Hadjar is doing a good job.

[search]

Both Red Bull and Gasly have only one new set for Q3, everyone else two.