Yuki end of Q1, “What? I don’t have the **** pace?”

😂 

chimera:

 

Yuki end of Q1, “What? I don’t have the **** pace?”

 

😂 

 

But he is consistent! :-)

All to play for tomorrow

Lando is cracking a bit, messed up both last Q3 runs. In the Sprint he says he never saw or watched Max when asked. Yeah, nah. In Quali interview when asked about the behind, ignored Max, so playing mind games. 

Oscar has nothing to lose so is under zero pressure, that's showing

Turn 1 is everything now. Max and George will go hard, knowing that Lando will be circumspect, as his priority is getting through turn 1 clean, thats all that matters.

Its exactly like a pro tour golf tournament when there are 3 in contention in the last few holes. The leader protects the lead, so doesnt maximise the score, the chasers just go flag hunting. If it doesnt work out for the chasers, doesnt matter. Pressure vs no pressure.

The other issue for Lando is bad luck or a bad mistake. You live with that through the season as that happens to the others as well over a full season. But this is 2 races, not a season, bad luck matters. Puncture, engine issue, damage due to Lando, or not his mistake, its still damage. 

This track is boring with few places to actually pass. Qualifying is brutally important here. 
I’ve heard it’s designed as a moto GP bike track. 

Liam is usually able to put in a very quick initial lap, but fails often to improve on it or benefit from track evolution. A lot of the time this year that’s been on the team putting him out in dirty air/failing to manage the session time very well. 

I’m not feeling it for Yuki.  With Honda gone from Red Balls I can’t see a link for him anymore. He’s ultimately failed to do any better in that seat than any of the other previous driver attempts.  Still feel a bit for Liam being put in there for a couple of races then moved back to the original team - of which he’d had no practice in their car for this year.  That was really rough. 

Hamilton and Ferrari imploding. Charles Had a massive spin when he finally couldn’t handle to catch that car. 2026 His new Rex and everybody waiting to see what happened there, But can’t see Hamilton there past another year of this. 

Personally waiting to see what Astin Martin can do next year. 
WDC for Alonso?!

chimera:

Yuki end of Q1, “What? I don’t have the **** pace?”

😂 

My tribute build to Sir Lewis, his 2000 CRG Daytona Heron (his was actually a 2000 Heron Plus, this is a 1999 Heron, closest I could get)

So close to finishing!!!

chimera:

 

My tribute build to Sir Lewis, his 2000 CRG Daytona Heron (his was actually a 2000 Heron Plus, this is a 1999 Heron, closest I could get)

 

So close to finishing!!!

 

Nice one chimera, looks good!

Reading online this arvo that Honda are trying to negotiate a deal whereby they give Red Bull a great deal on engines for their TPC program in exchange for Tsunoda getting a race seat in 2026. Interesting development if there is any truth to it. Red Bull will need Honda engines for their older cars, even if there's probably not much to be gained from it due to the reg changes.

It seems that Iwasa is also sponsored by Honda though, so my rough prediction is Red Bull has Verstappen and Hadjar behind the wheel in January while VCARB has Lawson and Iwasa. Tsunoda is out and Lindblad isn't ready yet. The Brit finished P18 in the sprint race while his brand new teammate secured P10 in his very first F2 drive in anger.

Lindblad can be a reserve driver and do a Super Formula campaign in 2026 or something, he's looking very overrated from my uneducated armchair.

Hope Lawson can make some progress forward tonight but it seems fairly impossible to pass, not enough speed differential on such a quick track unless a driver makes a mistake. D-Day tomorrow for his career, I hope Mekies and Marko see benefit in keeping him on another year.

thermonuclear:

 

Reading online this arvo that Honda are trying to negotiate a deal whereby they give Red Bull a great deal on engines for their TPC program in exchange for Tsunoda getting a race seat in 2026. Interesting development if there is any truth to it. Red Bull will need Honda engines for their older cars, even if there's probably not much to be gained from it due to the reg changes.

 

It seems that Iwasa is also sponsored by Honda though, so my rough prediction is Red Bull has Verstappen and Hadjar behind the wheel in January while VCARB has Lawson and Iwasa. Tsunoda is out and Lindblad isn't ready yet. The Brit finished P18 in the sprint race while his brand new teammate secured P10 in his very first F2 drive in anger.

 

Lindblad can be a reserve driver and do a Super Formula campaign in 2026 or something, he's looking very overrated from my uneducated armchair.

 

Hope Lawson can make some progress forward tonight but it seems fairly impossible to pass, not enough speed differential on such a quick track unless a driver makes a mistake. D-Day tomorrow for his career, I hope Mekies and Marko see benefit in keeping him on another year.

 

D-Day? Yes thats frustrating. He was dumped in when Danny Ricc was injured, no notice, hadn't been to most tracks, did very well. Earned his seat. The was dumped after 2 races, yet Yuki has earned those bottom of the grid positions over and over, yet he is still there thanks to Honda

2026 Liam has experience and has been hard done by, yet he has grown into it, with pressure all season. Give him a "you are locked in for all of 2026, use it"

Red Bull has no ladies in waiting, theor cupboard is bare. Had they been aggressive with drivers as they had always been, they could have looked at Bottas, Sainz early doors. Dream team with Max.But they went passive and are now saying the price (although that would have not seen a Liam this year)

2026 I see Lewis as out. As commentators stated, 2026 silly season will be all of that, so about time to nail it for the tier 2 drivers 

Race prediction.

Oscar cruises away

Max from the clean side easy second.

Lando third if he doesnt choke, thats enough for him

As the late great Murray Walker said, "anything can happen in Formula One and it probably will"

thermonuclear:

 

Reading online this arvo that Honda are trying to negotiate a deal whereby they give Red Bull a great deal on engines for their TPC program in exchange for Tsunoda getting a race seat in 2026. Interesting development if there is any truth to it. Red Bull will need Honda engines for their older cars, even if there's probably not much to be gained from it due to the reg changes.

 

It seems that Iwasa is also sponsored by Honda though, so my rough prediction is Red Bull has Verstappen and Hadjar behind the wheel in January while VCARB has Lawson and Iwasa. Tsunoda is out and Lindblad isn't ready yet. The Brit finished P18 in the sprint race while his brand new teammate secured P10 in his very first F2 drive in anger.

 

Lindblad can be a reserve driver and do a Super Formula campaign in 2026 or something, he's looking very overrated from my uneducated armchair.

 

Hope Lawson can make some progress forward tonight but it seems fairly impossible to pass, not enough speed differential on such a quick track unless a driver makes a mistake. D-Day tomorrow for his career, I hope Mekies and Marko see benefit in keeping him on another year.

 

having a Honda guy in Ford RB is like having a mole no?

tdgeek:

 

Lando is cracking a bit, messed up both last Q3 runs. 

 

What? He was on provisional pole after the first Q3 runs. I wouldnt say he's cracking. Quite the opposite over the last few races where he's been driving like a champion - Oscar had been the one cracking.

Boring prediction, track limit penalties are going to play a part in this race. 

How did McLaren get that so so wrong? They've got to get a new strategist as they keep making these mistakes. Often just not bold enough as a team. That said; really glad its going to the last race and any of 3 could win it!

Also good result for Lawson. Admittedly lucked in a touch with Hadjar's puncture but was going to be in the points regardless.