2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

[ali623]

The Mercedes finally stretched their legs today.

Not really...the interesting part was that they share the power modes between the cars, both cars always have the same mode. After the SC nothing happened, Russel seemed to be struggling. Once Hamilton passed the Haas? and was behind Ant, they shortly released the dragon, which meant Ant was 1sec faster and posted a fastest lap while Rus had no issue to overtake the Ferraris. Then they turned it down again and were doing basically the same times, I think Rus just lost a bit more time in traffic, which is normal for P2 at this gap.

Pretty certain you can't change engine modes in the race? Isn't it still locked from qualifying onwards?

[Hammerfist]

The Mercedes finally stretched their legs today.

Not really...the interesting part was that they share the power modes between the cars, both cars always have the same mode. After the SC nothing happened, Russel seemed to be struggling. Once Hamilton passed the Haas? and was behind Ant, they shortly released the dragon, which meant Ant was 1sec faster and posted a fastest lap while Rus had no issue to overtake the Ferraris. Then they turned it down again and were doing basically the same times, I think Rus just lost a bit more time in traffic, which is normal for P2 at this gap.

Pretty certain you can't change engine modes in the race? Isn't it still locked from qualifying onwards?

I think you can switch modes but not higher than the one you used in qualifying.

[Ben1980]

As a race, it wasnt a bad one. Not saying it was great, but not really any worse than most races last season and before.

People saying its boring, well, F1 is inherently pretty boring, its what happens what you put the fastest cars at the front.

But, sometimes you get excitement. And the Ferrari duel was pretty exciting, its not something seen much recently.

[bananapeel23]

As a race, it wasnt a bad one. Not saying it was great, but not really any worse than most races last season and before.

People saying its boring, well, F1 is inherently pretty boring, its what happens what you put the fastest cars at the front.

But, sometimes you get excitement. And the Ferrari duel was pretty exciting, its not something seen much recently.

Honestly I’d say that the racing was really great given the massive 5 second field spread we are dealing with. They do genuinely seem to be able to race and follow amazingly well, while slower cars are clearly capable of holding up faster ones. Being able to lean a bit on the additional 0.5 MJ to keep up or to use alternate racing lines does seem to encourage good racing.

The overtake mode is legitimately great despite how negative I am about these regulations overall.

[Jambier]

As a race, it wasnt a bad one. Not saying it was great, but not really any worse than most races last season and before.

People saying its boring, well, F1 is inherently pretty boring, its what happens what you put the fastest cars at the front.

But, sometimes you get excitement. And the Ferrari duel was pretty exciting, its not something seen much recently.

Agreed.
For no it is not bad, if they can fix the clipping and split of power it will be nice

[LeQuick]

The Mercedes finally stretched their legs today.

Not really...the interesting part was that they share the power modes between the cars, both cars always have the same mode. After the SC nothing happened, Russel seemed to be struggling. Once Hamilton passed the Haas? and was behind Ant, they shortly released the dragon, which meant Ant was 1sec faster and posted a fastest lap while Rus had no issue to overtake the Ferraris. Then they turned it down again and were doing basically the same times, I think Rus just lost a bit more time in traffic, which is normal for P2 at this gap.

The race would have been horrendous without the Ferrari battle.

Yes, this was geat. I do not know if it would be better if they concentrate on Rus...maybe they know themselves that this is nonsense and just keep racing.

Leclerc must be kicking himself giving away a podium with an unforced error.

I am rooting for Lec in this battle....but one needs to say...Ham does not do these errors. Same issue for Ant on Rus.

So really then? Hamilton finished 25 secs behind, their pace was scary.

Yeah, big mistake from Leclerc but he will be relatively happy, he looked to have a clear pace advantage over Hamilton.

[Waz]

Seeing the mighty RefBull failing in strategy, validates when Ferrari was in dire conditions that resulted in strategy blunders

There's a common factor here... Mekies

[DGP123]

Yeah, big mistake from Leclerc but he will be relatively happy, he looked to have a clear pace advantage over Hamilton.

There was no pace advantage whatsoever. They will be nip and tuck in this regulation. Lazy assumption to think Leclerc is simply quicker, because of a previous regulation. The landscape has changed.

Even when Leclerc made the error, Lewis was all over his gearbox. Leclerc even admitted in the post race interview, that Lewis was quicker this weekend. Lewis out qualified him in Q & out managed him & outfought him in the race. No disgrace. Tables may be tipped in Japan. This duel is probably the only exciting thing happening in all honesty.

[HondaPOD]

And the winner today is : KIMI RAIKKONEN
https://x.com/i/status/2033126451076075906

[upsidedowntoast]

The Mercedes finally stretched their legs today.

Not really...the interesting part was that they share the power modes between the cars, both cars always have the same mode. After the SC nothing happened, Russel seemed to be struggling. Once Hamilton passed the Haas? and was behind Ant, they shortly released the dragon, which meant Ant was 1sec faster and posted a fastest lap while Rus had no issue to overtake the Ferraris. Then they turned it down again and were doing basically the same times, I think Rus just lost a bit more time in traffic, which is normal for P2 at this gap.

The race would have been horrendous without the Ferrari battle.

Yes, this was geat. I do not know if it would be better if they concentrate on Rus...maybe they know themselves that this is nonsense and just keep racing.

Leclerc must be kicking himself giving away a podium with an unforced error.

I am rooting for Lec in this battle....but one needs to say...Ham does not do these errors. Same issue for Ant on Rus.

Yeah looks like Russell just spent more tyres and battery overtaking and defending in dirty air against the others as well. And then SC meant he just didn't have enough time to catch up to Antonelli after.

[LeQuick]

Yeah, big mistake from Leclerc but he will be relatively happy, he looked to have a clear pace advantage over Hamilton.

There was no pace advantage whatsoever. They will be nip and tuck in this regulation. Lazy assumption to think Leclerc is simply quicker, because of a previous regulation. The landscape has changed.

Even when Leclerc made the error, Lewis was all over his gearbox. Leclerc even admitted in the post race interview, that Lewis was quicker this weekend. Lewis out qualified him in Q & out managed him & outfought him in the race. No disgrace. Tables may be tipped in Japan. This duel is probably the only exciting thing happening in all honesty.

We must have watched another race, I mean numerous times Leclerc closed up to Hamilton with a comfortable gap. When Charles passed Lewis he was just managing the pace, Lewis couldn't really make any inroads, it was a pure unforced error.

[Mogster]

As a race, it wasnt a bad one. Not saying it was great, but not really any worse than most races last season and before.

People saying its boring, well, F1 is inherently pretty boring, its what happens what you put the fastest cars at the front.

But, sometimes you get excitement. And the Ferrari duel was pretty exciting, its not something seen much recently.

Honestly I’d say that the racing was really great given the massive 5 second field spread we are dealing with. They do genuinely seem to be able to race and follow amazingly well, while slower cars are clearly capable of holding up faster ones. Being able to lean a bit on the additional 0.5 MJ to keep up or to use alternate racing lines does seem to encourage good racing.

The overtake mode is legitimately great despite how negative I am about these regulations overall.

Aye. Overtake mode and <1 sec boost are a great improvement over DRS. The cars look good and visually appear more nimble and racey. The additional torque has the cars squirming around off the corners why is good to see.

Charging in the fast corners remains a problem.

[langedweil]

This formula is dead .. just watched the race-in-30, and even skipped half of that.
Can't be bothered tbh .. it's plainly ridiculous and has nothing to do with racing.
Plus side though is, lot's of more free time during the weekends.

[Hoffman900]

Seeing a fiesty yellow helmeted Lewis brings back those nostalgic feelings.

My takeaway is however those ground effects cars needed to be driven neutered a still very good Hamilton. Danny Ric probably too as they had similiar driving styles, but he didn’t survive long enough.

[vanburin]

This formula is dead .. just watched the race-in-30, and even skipped half of that.
Can't be bothered tbh .. it's plainly ridiculous and has nothing to do with racing.
Plus side though is, lot's of more free time during the weekends.

Is this F1Technical or Twitter?

As someone has mentioned previously, F1 has had some form of "gimmicks" for years now. Heck, many would argue the days of Automatic up shifts and preloaded downshifts wasn't real "racing". And that was 25 years ago, in the heart of those heavily lauded V10 days.