Formula 1 2025 Season Discussion

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#3363518 13-Apr-2025 10:02

Should be a nice race tonight.

Oscar continues to grow, as I mentioned earlier

Mercedes looking excellent.

Ferrari a bit better

Red Bull nowhere, see what happens as fuel burns off, although Yuki says his long run pace wasnt great.

Antonelli also continues to grow.

Yuki, not great

Hadjar looking very very good. If he has a good race tonight, he may not be far off replacing Yuki. Yuki is a known quantity, Hadjar has a lot of potential (admittedly so did Liam, but it seems Liams potential is now known. He may grow into a Gasly class driver (very good but not great)

Liam stiff in Q1, DRS opened then it closed, so that dropped a few tenths at least.

Lando, wow. Disappointing Quali. But he is so downbeat, hard to watch. Between the ears will haunt him this season. Oscar has pretty much reached his leveller is very very close. Oscar however is rock solid, and emotionally neutral, thats huge in a title fight.

Oscar

George

Kimi

Max may get 4th or 5th if car runs better with lower fuel and good tyre manegment. Lando should climb up, depends how his emotions go, that could cause errors if he trues too hard.

Charles could well be up there behind the top 3, race pace after DQ's not proven yet

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thermonuclear

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#3363777 13-Apr-2025 17:56

tdgeek:

Should be a nice race tonight.

Hadjar looking very very good. If he has a good race tonight, he may not be far off replacing Yuki. Yuki is a known quantity, Hadjar has a lot of potential (admittedly so did Liam, but it seems Liams potential is now known. He may grow into a Gasly class driver (very good but not great)

Liam stiff in Q1, DRS opened then it closed, so that dropped a few tenths at least.

Lawson may not get the opportunity to develop into anything in F1, Hadjar is continuing to show the potential in the Racing Bulls and Liam is just not getting it done. He was 0.574 off Hadjar in Q1 and, even allowing for the unfortunate situation with the DRS costing him time, he wasn't going to make up that differential. May have squeezed into Q2 without the issue. Really want to see Lawson do well and achieve but he's going to need a huge effort tonight to change the narrative that's developing. I doubt Red Bull is going to continue to accept the lack of performance for very long when their true rookie is demolishing him.

Meanwhile, Lindblad scored points overnight in the F2 Sprint Race.

Pretty decent performance from Doohan again, showing plenty of fight in what seems to be a decent Alpine package. Looking forward to the race, hopefully some overtaking for a change.

tdgeek

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#3363788 13-Apr-2025 18:38

thermonuclear:

tdgeek:

Should be a nice race tonight.

Hadjar looking very very good. If he has a good race tonight, he may not be far off replacing Yuki. Yuki is a known quantity, Hadjar has a lot of potential (admittedly so did Liam, but it seems Liams potential is now known. He may grow into a Gasly class driver (very good but not great)

Liam stiff in Q1, DRS opened then it closed, so that dropped a few tenths at least.

Lawson may not get the opportunity to develop into anything in F1, Hadjar is continuing to show the potential in the Racing Bulls and Liam is just not getting it done. He was 0.574 off Hadjar in Q1 and, even allowing for the unfortunate situation with the DRS costing him time, he wasn't going to make up that differential. May have squeezed into Q2 without the issue. Really want to see Lawson do well and achieve but he's going to need a huge effort tonight to change the narrative that's developing. I doubt Red Bull is going to continue to accept the lack of performance for very long when their true rookie is demolishing him.

Meanwhile, Lindblad scored points overnight in the F2 Sprint Race.

Pretty decent performance from Doohan again, showing plenty of fight in what seems to be a decent Alpine package. Looking forward to the race, hopefully some overtaking for a change.

Agree with all that. Liam is a way off his first stint in F1. No notice, thrown in, and delivered, hence he was picked for the untapped potential. Perhaps he is trying too hard? IMO right now, his goal needs to be a driver that deserves to be in F1. Gasly-like. He should be given a half season, not withstanding if he underperforms. Red Bull who are out of drivers, need to buy The Hulk for the main team. Yuki got to Q3 but he is miles off

Doohan looks great. He is driving with a pink slip in his pocket, give him time.

Go Oscar, and go Liam to make some action as he did with Perez and Alonso in days gone by.

Jaxson

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#3363811 13-Apr-2025 22:04

I've seen some reviews that show he (Liam) did well in some of the lower classes where you could throw the car around more, but in F1 it's about being perfect. Perfect line, management of tyres to keep them in their operating window etc. It's just really consistent perfection levels to succeed.

That may well be the case but it doesn't explain his exceptional start 2023 and 2024. Something about this years car/s is just way off where he wants to be driving. He's had little practise in either car, with issues during pre season testing in the Red Bull and then the swap dropping him into a whole new car at Racing Balls.

Lando, far out we may well be witnessing the year Oscar wins a drivers championship.
I like Lando, especially for sticking with the team during it's formative years towards this current period of form, but far out Oscar is just a cold machine. Had Kimi Vibes about him to some degree, just here to race attitude that has no space for the doubt that haunts Lando and LeClerc too.

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#3363812 13-Apr-2025 22:04

And a moment for Gasly in a freaking Alpine?!

Jaxson

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#3363856 14-Apr-2025 09:41

Bahrain, what a difference the track makes, with overtakes all over the place.

Looking back it varies per season because Japan/Suzuka last year had a lot of overtakes but not this year.
Different cars, different weather conditions, maybe different track layout of DRS zones, different tyre behaviours at different temps, different track sealing etc.

Interesting to hear McLaren refer to this on the radio as their second home race given their sponsors and overall ownership...

Lando consistently making little mistakes. Almost like the gentleman driver out there.

Lawson is like another person compared to his bold entrance opportunities last 2 seasons.

Cool to see Alpine and Williams and hASS all giving it a go. At some point several are going to bail on this years development in favour of major change in 2026, especially with Audi entering the mix.
2026 will also see that new Cadillac entry too giving an extra team.

thermonuclear

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#3363890 14-Apr-2025 12:20

Jaxson:

I've seen some reviews that show he (Liam) did well in some of the lower classes where you could throw the car around more, but in F1 it's about being perfect. Perfect line, management of tyres to keep them in their operating window etc. It's just really consistent perfection levels to succeed.

All things considered, a better race last night. Piastri does look the business for the WDC this year, as many have commented he has ice water running through the veins, just a focused and relatively emotionless machine. Especially when you compare him to the driver across the garage.

As for Lawson, thought he had a much better race this time out. Finished 13th on the track before the penalties were applied. Very much agree with the comment above, watched his onboard for the entire race and he just seemed incapable of stringing two identical laps together. Different lines in and out of corners on a regular basis. Earlier in the race you could see Alonso slowly pulling away as the Spaniard drove slicker lines. It does seem like he spends too much time on the ripple strips costing him valuable tenths each lap, to my eyes anyway.

He did appear to get it going on the last stint though as one of the few drivers on softs. His overtakes were clumsy and probably warranted the penalties but at least he managed to work up a few places and seemed like he had a bit of fire in the belly finally this season. He finished ahead of Hadjar on the track which is hopefully also good for rebuilding his confidence.

As for his prospects, the field is just so tight at the moment. The midfield cars are all showing decent performance and the rookies have all come in and looked capable of scoring points. There are no easy-beats on the grid now except maybe Stroll, and even he had a good start to the season. Lawson just has to improve his qualifying if he wants to stay in F1.

Again it was nice to see the old coot Marko come down the grid and shake Lawson's hand before the race, Horner did walk past but no contact with the Kiwi. Liam has always been a Marko driver through his career, it's good to see he is standing by him for now at least.

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#3363892 14-Apr-2025 12:36

thermonuclear:

I've seen some reviews that show he (Liam) did well in some of the lower classes where you could throw the car around more, but in F1 it's about being perfect. Perfect line, management of tyres to keep them in their operating window etc. It's just really consistent perfection levels to succeed.

All things considered, a better race last night. Piastri does look the business for the WDC this year, as many have commented he has ice water running through the veins, just a focused and relatively emotionless machine. Especially when you compare him to the driver across the garage.

As for Lawson, thought he had a much better race this time out. Finished 13th on the track before the penalties were applied. Very much agree with the comment above, watched his onboard for the entire race and he just seemed incapable of stringing two identical laps together. Different lines in and out of corners on a regular basis. Earlier in the race you could see Alonso slowly pulling away as the Spaniard drove slicker lines. It does seem like he spends too much time on the ripple strips costing him valuable tenths each lap, to my eyes anyway.

He did appear to get it going on the last stint though as one of the few drivers on softs. His overtakes were clumsy and probably warranted the penalties but at least he managed to work up a few places and seemed like he had a bit of fire in the belly finally this season. He finished ahead of Hadjar on the track which is hopefully also good for rebuilding his confidence.

As for his prospects, the field is just so tight at the moment. The midfield cars are all showing decent performance and the rookies have all come in and looked capable of scoring points. There are no easy-beats on the grid now except maybe Stroll, and even he had a good start to the season. Lawson just has to improve his qualifying if he wants to stay in F1.

Again it was nice to see the old coot Marko come down the grid and shake Lawson's hand before the race, Horner did walk past but no contact with the Kiwi. Liam has always been a Marko driver through his career, it's good to see he is standing by him for now at least.

Lawson drove 25 laps on those soft tyres which was an amazing thing to do , only Russell managed as many , all other drivers were around 10 laps on them. The irony was he got the time penalty's for running into Hulkenberg who later got disqualified ,so he could have just sat back and it would have turned out the same.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

tdgeek

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#3364013 14-Apr-2025 18:36

Agree with you guys. Liam is between a rock and a hard place. Perhaps he feels he cannot go hard in case he messes up, or if he is solid and reliable, thats not great either. Just hope he gets half a season so the ripples of each race average out.

McLaren, top as always, but yes, Oscar Raikonnen!! Ice man, IMHO more so than Kimi 1.0.

Mercedes, they do look really good. As per my next comment on Red Bull, they are delivering every race so far. No need for a triple header in Iceland to garner points.

Red Bull.While last nights race is not Suzuka, it has plenty of medium and fast corners like Suzuka, but the temp window seems so narrow. Suzuka Max was not far behind McLaren. Yes he got pole and the win but McLaren was better. Last night, never in the hunt.

While the field has compressed with a few years of same regs, it seems to have got so tight, that a tad hot or a tad cold, seems to make a huge difference.

Oscar has risen, no doubt. The more pressure, he will feel it, but at 2/10 pressure. Lando while we all like him a lot, he will feel it 10/10, which is a pity. If anyone felt that Lando was a tad above Oscar, the emotional effect is quite a bit more, that may tell. IMHO

Ragnor

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#3364160 15-Apr-2025 09:51

Very impressed by Oscar yet again, Lando still making loads of mistakes. Interesting to her Rosberg say he needs a sports psychologist again for about the 4th time.

Russell and Leclerc very solid.

Red Bull was dire with: malfunctioning pit release lights, slow stop, overheating types, wrong strategy (M H S instead of S M M)

Full safety car for debris screwed over everyone who pitted earlier and those who were going long for type advantage.

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#3364162 15-Apr-2025 10:01

thermonuclear:

Jaxson:

I've seen some reviews that show he (Liam) did well in some of the lower classes where you could throw the car around more, but in F1 it's about being perfect. Perfect line, management of tyres to keep them in their operating window etc. It's just really consistent perfection levels to succeed.

All things considered, a better race last night. Piastri does look the business for the WDC this year, as many have commented he has ice water running through the veins, just a focused and relatively emotionless machine. Especially when you compare him to the driver across the garage.

As for Lawson, thought he had a much better race this time out. Finished 13th on the track before the penalties were applied. Very much agree with the comment above, watched his onboard for the entire race and he just seemed incapable of stringing two identical laps together. Different lines in and out of corners on a regular basis. Earlier in the race you could see Alonso slowly pulling away as the Spaniard drove slicker lines. It does seem like he spends too much time on the ripple strips costing him valuable tenths each lap, to my eyes anyway.

He did appear to get it going on the last stint though as one of the few drivers on softs. His overtakes were clumsy and probably warranted the penalties but at least he managed to work up a few places and seemed like he had a bit of fire in the belly finally this season. He finished ahead of Hadjar on the track which is hopefully also good for rebuilding his confidence.

As for his prospects, the field is just so tight at the moment. The midfield cars are all showing decent performance and the rookies have all come in and looked capable of scoring points. There are no easy-beats on the grid now except maybe Stroll, and even he had a good start to the season. Lawson just has to improve his qualifying if he wants to stay in F1.

Again it was nice to see the old coot Marko come down the grid and shake Lawson's hand before the race, Horner did walk past but no contact with the Kiwi. Liam has always been a Marko driver through his career, it's good to see he is standing by him for now at least.

I actually wonder if Lawson would better suited to the US Indycars circuit - could he be the next Scott Dixon?
Similar speeds, but very different types of driving...I wonder if that's even a possibility for him, before his career gets tanked?

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Ragnor

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#3364227 15-Apr-2025 10:56

You can always go to indy later, look at grosjean

It's only been a few races, let him cook. Remember Russell was at Williams for 3 years, Yuki was 4 years at the sister/junior team. Even Max was over 1 year at the junior team.

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#3364240 15-Apr-2025 11:28

Handsomedan:
I actually wonder if Lawson would better suited to the US Indycars circuit - could he be the next Scott Dixon?
Similar speeds, but very different types of driving...I wonder if that's even a possibility for him, before his career gets tanked?

Scott McLaughlin is already filling that role.

tdgeek

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#3364268 15-Apr-2025 12:17

Liam

“I was pretty much just on a gearbox of a car the entire race. We had really good speed, just couldn’t use it. To be honest, the only way I could overtake was lunging quite late, I wasn’t intentionally touching with others, but it is what it is. Last stint was okay, obviously just a shame,” he added.

“It’s a shame we don’t have a result to show it, the car was really fast in Quali, didn’t get to show it and then the car was really fast in the race, but you don’t get to show it from the back.”

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#3364529 16-Apr-2025 03:52

Ragnor:

You can always go to indy later, look at grosjean

It's only been a few races, let him cook. Remember Russell was at Williams for 3 years, Yuki was 4 years at the sister/junior team. Even Max was over 1 year at the junior team.

i think right now he seriously need to have a mentor. he seems to be portrayed as picking fights with other people inc veterans, and every time he's interviewed there is always something else to blame.

other rookies keep their head down and drive. be it Doohan or Antonelli, Bearman or Hadjar, you don't hear anything about bad mouthing others or things like that.

maybe a small change in mindset, just figure out how to drive the Vcarb around the black stuff and let the driving do the talking.

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