2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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mzso
mzso
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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Is there any footage of how and why Hamilton got suddenly in attacking distance of Leclerc? The broadcast went out of their way to hide it for some reason.

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FrukostScones
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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mzso wrote:
16 Mar 2026, 00:21
Is there any footage of how and why Hamilton got suddenly in attacking distance of Leclerc? The broadcast went out of their way to hide it for some reason.
big lock-up into turn 14.

it was shown in split screen on F1TV. no conspiracy. this time. ; P
"I ain't with the FIFA, I'm in Tokyo." LH

rijtuig
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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Loved the battles between Lecler and Hamilton.

I remember some teams in the past didn't allow none of that :)

LeQuick
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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Leclerc had Hamilton beat before the lockup I have no doubt, he just couldn't get that close whereas when it was the other way around, Leclerc was getting as close as 3 tenths at points in the lap, it was clear who had more pace.

Wynters
Wynters
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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LeQuick wrote:
16 Mar 2026, 13:25
Leclerc had Hamilton beat before the lockup I have no doubt, he just couldn't get that close whereas when it was the other way around, Leclerc was getting as close as 3 tenths at points in the lap, it was clear who had more pace.
The data disagrees with you. Once the second Mercedes passes both of them, Leclerc never extends his gap over the start/finish line to as much as a second. Leclerc's mistake indicates he is clearly pushing but, despite that, he can't pull away. Once Hamilton passes him they battle for a couple of laps...then Hamilton slowly but consistently gaps him. If Leclerc was faster than he'd have pulled away once Russell passed them. Or he'd have overtaken Hamilton and pulled away after his mistake. Or he'd have stayed with a second (as Hamilton did) until the end of the race. He did none of those things ergo, he didn't have more pace.

LeQuick
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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Wynters wrote:
16 Mar 2026, 14:15
LeQuick wrote:
16 Mar 2026, 13:25
Leclerc had Hamilton beat before the lockup I have no doubt, he just couldn't get that close whereas when it was the other way around, Leclerc was getting as close as 3 tenths at points in the lap, it was clear who had more pace.
The data disagrees with you. Once the second Mercedes passes both of them, Leclerc never extends his gap over the start/finish line to as much as a second. Leclerc's mistake indicates he is clearly pushing but, despite that, he can't pull away. Once Hamilton passes him they battle for a couple of laps...then Hamilton slowly but consistently gaps him. If Leclerc was faster than he'd have pulled away once Russell passed them. Or he'd have overtaken Hamilton and pulled away after his mistake. Or he'd have stayed with a second (as Hamilton did) until the end of the race. He did none of those things ergo, he didn't have more pace.
You are forgetting a major point, he had a massive lockup, twice, you don't think that perhaps this could have cost him any pace?

Wynters
Wynters
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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LeQuick wrote:
16 Mar 2026, 14:20
You are forgetting a major point, he had a massive lockup, twice, you don't think that perhaps this could have cost him any pace?
Let's assume that was the case (although how did he battle with Hamilton for a few laps if his tyres were destroyed?). If, to maintain a pace, you have to drive so much on the limit that you can't consistently control your car, then you don't have a pace advantage, let alone a clear one.

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venkyhere
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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langedweil wrote:
15 Mar 2026, 17:19
venkyhere wrote:
15 Mar 2026, 17:10
Do we really need a 'which driver is better' this early in the season ? This thread could do with some less 'my favourite driver is better than yours' for atleast the first half of the season. What say ?
To me this isn't about any driver tbh ..
will you say the same, after reading the last two pages ?

Wynters
Wynters
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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It's the race thread, it is what it is. People make civil but wild claims, other people civilly disagree. Traffic=revenue.
At least it has mostly been kept out of the Team topics, although they will become unreadable in a few races when the usual suspects start 'raiding' the topics of other teams.

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Artur Craft
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Joined: 05 Feb 2010, 15:50

Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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Raleigh wrote:
13 Mar 2026, 19:28
SB15 wrote:
13 Mar 2026, 13:28
AR3-GP wrote:
11 Mar 2026, 22:04
I predict that Ferrari will win the sprint race.
how do we tell him… :?
Let's revisit this after turn 1...

Ferrari has much better race pace relative to the qualifying gap and in a sprint there is no Ferrari strategy to go wrong.
Andrea opened 30s in around 40 laps (after SC) over the Ferraris. Mercedes´s race pace is just as big as on QLF. Ferrari is easily the second best but nowhere near Mercedes.I wonder how long it will take for everybody to accept that

mzso
mzso
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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FrukostScones wrote:
16 Mar 2026, 00:29
mzso wrote:
16 Mar 2026, 00:21
Is there any footage of how and why Hamilton got suddenly in attacking distance of Leclerc? The broadcast went out of their way to hide it for some reason.
big lock-up into turn 14.

it was shown in split screen on F1TV. no conspiracy. this time. ; P
Ah the video insert. I didn't notice that. But apparently neither did the commentators, because they kept waiting for a replay, and were annoyed not knowing what happened. F1 broadcasts didn't get any better.
Someone should make a "what they didn't show you" video for each race...

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venkyhere
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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Wynters wrote:
16 Mar 2026, 14:39
It's the race thread, it is what it is. People make civil but wild claims, other people civilly disagree. Traffic=revenue.
At least it has mostly been kept out of the Team topics, although they will become unreadable in a few races when the usual suspects start 'raiding' the topics of other teams.
what is this 'my team' v/s 'other team' ?
I also see people in team threads typing 'we' instead of 'they/them/the-team'.
I thought atleast this forum will be spared from football-club 'ultras' type fans, but I am mistaken.

vorticism
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Re: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

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The commentators were having trouble keeping up with the deployment-lottery-based track positions. Mr. Shouty, can’t remember his name, went in and out of moments of self-awareness. Coulthard and Palmer doing their best optimism attempts through clenched teeth and forced grins.

rijtuig wrote:
16 Mar 2026, 12:35
Loved the battles between Lecler and Hamilton.

I remember some teams in the past didn't allow none of that :)
"battles"

It was deployment lottery. Same reason why Russel and Antonelli swap spots back and forth.

We'll see how the season progresses but it illustrates how driver & aero have become less relevant in this formula. If McLaren can keep their cars on track I expect we'll see the same between Norris and Piastri.
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