F1 2023: Qatar GP - Lusail (Oct 8)

[dfox]

Rumors that Perez could be retiring after Mexico...

https://twitter.com/fastpitstop/stat...oLhNFA3Lw&s=19

Seems plausible, but just rumors. I wonder if he could end up at Williams - I think he'd do a decent job in that car, he was always a mid-field driver who occasionally had great races.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by five_timer

Different points system, can't compare. It would be interesting to do the conversion.

Of course. But regardless the exact number, it's significant - a commanding lead. Consistent performance on all sorts of race tracks and under all sorts of race conditions.

"Our writers on Verstappen's mighty season, where he ranks amongst the greats – and who will challenge him in 2024" (Oct 12, 2023):
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...34AihhpsW.html

Mexico 2022: like a metronome:

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by dfox

Rumors that Perez could be retiring after Mexico...

https://twitter.com/fastpitstop/stat...oLhNFA3Lw&s=19

Seems plausible, but just rumors. I wonder if he could end up at Williams - I think he'd do a decent job in that car, he was always a mid-field driver who occasionally had great races.

Rumors. Let's wait and see.

On the other hand, not unfathomable that *if* he'd no longer enjoy the F1 circus and all that's involved and required, that he calls it a day. No signs that Red Bull is escorting him to the exit. Perez could simply have made up his mind that he wants to spend more time with his family and told his team to release him from his contract expiring at the end of 2024. Final mission: secure #2 in the WDC.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

I don’t find Verstappen overrated. He is truly an exceptional driver. These stats are impressive and there’s more to come. But … he has no competition either from within or from outside. None. Even Schumacher, Vettel and Hamilton had competition in some years. And his first WDC, well, we all watched how ‘he’ won.

Yeah, Piastri is the new hot thing. Hopefully McLaren already ditched the 2023 car and are working on 2024.

Well , MAX had to fight in '21 in a slower car against the strongest competition of the last decade ..
And that competition was the unbeatable Mercedes dominance .

First he split the Merc's . Then he took a 7-time World Champion (completely)! down , 3 years in a row .
In the end ,MAX will beat 'ALL the F1 records ...

[dfox]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Rumors. Let's wait and see.

On the other hand, not unfathomable that *if* he'd no longer enjoy the F1 circus and all that's involved and required, that he calls it a day. No signs that Red Bull is escorting him to the exit. Perez could simply have made up his mind that he wants to spend more time with his family and told his team to release him from his contract expiring at the end of 2024. Final mission: secure #2 in the WDC.

I think the rumor is crap, honestly, but RB is ruthless when it comes to underperforming drivers so it's plausible... I find it highly unlikely that Perez would willingly drop his contract and way more likely that RB would drop him... although swapping him and Ric would probably be a better financial move, rather than breaking his contract.

[Marcoose]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Well , MAX had to fight in '21 in a slower car against the strongest competition of the last decade ..
And that competition was the unbeatable Mercedes dominance .

2021 ? Right. Thanks, Massi.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

2021 ? Right. Thanks, Massi.

Sure . '2021 , But already at Baku lost LEW the Championship by a ....'BUTTON (!)
By his own stupid "brake magic button" mistake , the button was a Mercedes trick to overheat the front brakes and so to warm up the front tires to get more grip at the start and re-starts .

As you can see LEW's brake magic button was still enabled and things ran too hot !
LEW's and Wolff's situation became a funny F1 'meme ..
=> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ob_8u4HGFnY

Bye ...Bye '21 Championship !

[Marcoose]

Nice try. The 2021 championship was decided on the last lap of the last race, courtesy of Massi.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

Nice try. The 2021 championship was decided on the last lap of the last race, courtesy of Massi.

Negative !

By Mercedes and (Bono's)! "last words" to LEW in the last laps at 2021 Abu Dhabi .

STAYING OUT ! STAYING OUT !
LEW : 5H1T BONO ! (The Mercedes race strategy really s@cked)!

At the same moment MAX was already 'IN the pitlane for new softs ...

MAX had the slower car , but he ran at that moment with new softs and you wouldn't like to race against MAX with new softs !
Mercedes and LEW lost it right there at that moment by the failing Mercedes race and pitstop strategy !

[Marcoose]

Wait. You’re saying Max isn’t the better driver. Now it's the strategy that won. I rest my case. Thank you.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by dfox

Rumors that Perez could be retiring after Mexico...

https://twitter.com/fastpitstop/stat...oLhNFA3Lw&s=19

Seems plausible, but just rumors. I wonder if he could end up at Williams - I think he'd do a decent job in that car, he was always a mid-field driver who occasionally had great races.

I can't imagine Checo retiring before the season is over. Then he probably won't finish 2nd in the WDC.

That RB don't want him for 2024 is totally plausible.
Most gossip sources say Checo isn't performing since miami this year or so, but the reality is that he's not been performing since mid season last year. He only had some succesful races in the beginning of this year, largely based on luck with safetycars or Max having mechanical problems at some point.

So basically there has been no real improvement over the period of 1,5 years.
And with Mclaren becoming more competative and with 2 talented drivers, Checo is a huge risk for next years WCC.

If I was Williams, I would beg for Lawson and not even consider Perez....

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Negative !

By Mercedes and (Bono's)! "last words" to LEW in the last laps at 2021 Abu Dhabi .

STAYING OUT ! STAYING OUT !
LEW : 5H1T BONO ! (The Mercedes race strategy really s@cked)!

At the same moment MAX was already 'IN the pitlane for new softs ...

MAX had the slower car , but he ran at that moment with new softs and you wouldn't like to race against MAX with new softs !
Mercedes and LEW lost it right there at that moment by the failing Mercedes race and pitstop strategy !

''He's on new tyres''? Game over and Merc blew it big time, they lost the championship for hammy, any fool can see that

[M5Rick]

Rumours flying around faster than Hammy's escaping tyre at the first turn.

Lord said ''it was the worst possible start for our Mercs''. No kidding mate

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

Wait. You’re saying Max isn’t the better driver. Now it's the strategy that won. I rest my case. Thank you.

Mate . Let me help you . MAX is the talent of the century !

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by five_timer

Different points system, can't compare. It would be interesting to do the conversion.

Conversion 2023-2013 is pretty simple.
2013: 19 races no sprint: 475 max points
2023: 22 races 6 sprint races: 598 max points.

598/475=1.259 conversion factor.
155 * 1,259 = 195.1
So Vettel's 155 lead back in 2013 would be equivalent to 195 points now.
Max is ahead that now too, and there are still 5 races to go and 2 sprint races.
Max' lead is massive.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

I don’t find Verstappen overrated. He is truly an exceptional driver. These stats are impressive and there’s more to come. But … he has no competition either from within or from outside. None. Even Schumacher, Vettel and Hamilton had competition in some years.

But they also had years with virtually no competition. Just as Max had years with and without meaningful competition...

And his first WDC, well, we all watched how ‘he’ won.

If you want to play that game.....not much different how Hammy won his first WDC from Massa.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

I don’t find Verstappen overrated. He is truly an exceptional driver. These stats are impressive and there’s more to come. But … he has no competition either from within or from outside. None. Even Schumacher, Vettel and Hamilton had competition in some years. And his first WDC, well, we all watched how ‘he’ won.

Yeah, Piastri is the new hot thing. Hopefully McLaren already ditched the 2023 car and are working on 2024.

Sch had a lot of stiff competition. Vettel had some and Ham has had very little especially when you consider the car was in quali and race 1 and 2 seconds ahead of the nearest next car.
Max's cohort is probably the most talented one to come around since Sch was racing plus the fact that you had Vet, Ham, Alo all in there.

I think Pia is quite good. He may be better than Nor too...especially with more time in the car. You can see how frustrated Nor is with it - similar in terms of how Max's talent pushed Ric to leave. Maybe the same here...

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

years with virtually no competition

Hamilton got stiff competition from his own team mate Rosberg. Mercedes: "Let them race". They crashed at Barcelona 2016. Mercedes: "Let them race - but without crashing into each other". Rosberg got the WDC in 2016 in his final race ever, but was required to drive flawlessly till the chequered flag (Abu Dhabi 2016: Hamilton in P1 disregarded the repeated Mercedes team order to "pick up the pace": Hamilton deliberately kept backing up his team mate Rosberg into Vettel in P3 and Verstappen in P4 - one single mistake by Rosberg could have cost him the 2016 WDC). Exit Rosberg, much to the surprise of Mercedes.

What Rosberg said about Verstappen and Hamilton after getting his 2016 WDC title:

Enter Bottas. Mercedes: "Help Hamilton win the WDC and get the WCC together".

Hamilton is a more skilled driver than Bottas, but imagine for a moment the number of WDC points and race victories Bottas could have had in his F1 career if Mercedes had allowed him to challenge Hamilton without restrictions.

See the videos below: do you recall the Red Bull team compromising Perez's potential race victory with instructions to the benefit of Verstappen ?

Russian GP 2018 "So you need to let Lewis by into Turn 13 this lap." + "Valtteri, it's James [Vowles]" + 'Valtteri, this is Toto"

Austrian GP 2021: "So, Lewis has damage. Do not race him for now. We will review. OK Valtteri, we will invert the cars into Turn 1, correction Turn 3."

Silverstone GP 2021: "And team order: do not fight with Lewis. OK Valtteri, we invert the cars into Turn 15 in this lap."

Zandvoort GP 2021: "Valteri, it's James [Vowles]. Please abort the fastest lap attempt before the end of the lap."

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by artemis

enter bottas. Mercedes: "help hamilton win the wdc and get the wcc together".

hamilton is a more skilled driver than bottas, but imagine for a moment the number of wdc points and race victories bottas could have had in his f1 career if mercedes had allowed him to challenge hamilton without restrictions.

see the videos below: do you recall the red bull team compromising perez's potential race victory with instructions to the benefit of verstappen ?

.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by dfox

Rumors that Perez could be retiring after Mexico...

https://twitter.com/fastpitstop/stat...oLhNFA3Lw&s=19

Seems plausible, but just rumors. I wonder if he could end up at Williams - I think he'd do a decent job in that car, he was always a mid-field driver who occasionally had great races.

Apparently the rumor has been denied:

"Update: Sources close to Sergio Perez have denied these rumours."
https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/...rand-prix-lm22

[M5Rick]

Various 'media' stirring up rumours of Checo's impending retirement has been proved to be false as his base has said he's staying put with Horner doing his best to help put him back on track.
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...d-prix-denied/

[Fillip]

It was a pretty good to race to watch but drivers' safety and health should also be the number one priority.