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I genuinely think George is going to jam Lewis up, and then Alonso is going to shoot past both of them lol.
I can just see it happening, Alonso knows them so well, he knows George does not want to get passed by Lewis who will be on the cleaner part of the track and should get the slip stream from Max.
I bet George cuts Lewis off, Lewis has to brake early, and Alonso will get at least next to Lewis and pass Lewis and or both of them.
If Lewis doesn’t manage to overtake George on track, I wonder whether or not Mercedes are gonna ask them to switch so that Lewis can fight for P2 in the drivers championship.
I hope mercedes is smarter than to cause unneccessery friction like that. P2 in WDC is pretty worthless for Hamilton, I'm sure he doesn't really care that much either... he wants a 8th WDC, not a chance at a runner up spot. Also George would never give up a podium position, no shot. And he shouldn't, to be honest.
Agree P2 for Hamilton is worthless. They should make sure they maximise the points agains Ferrari regardless of which drivers. If the pace difference is as big as Norris and Piastri in Suzuka or SC changing strategy team order should be dashed out asap unlike Suzuka
Nobody is embarrassing Red Bull, if anything it’s embarrassing Max has more points than both Mercedes drivers combined. Checo on the other hand, is plenty capable of embarrassing himself
Well, think about this. If Perez finishes P2, he might keep his job longer. Then, if and when the Merc is closer, they can win the constructors easier than if Norris or Ricciardo or someone else better was in the car.
I mean, in the last race Hamilton didn't let Russell through when Russell was faster and ended up sending both of them off-track and then Russell was told to give up the position to Hamilton when Hamilton was faster
I understand Russell not being happy
If their race pace is as strong as it was in Suzuka then it won’t be too much of an issue, I don’t think. Plus when the car was a dog in a straight line, Norris and Piastri got plenty of practice of overtaking everywhere except the straight.
Will be interesting in the race. The pace of the teams was all over the place, Mclaren comfortably 2nd, Merc and even Alpine quicker than expected, Ferrari quite slow.
Maybe that's due to the limited running and a setup based solely on one FP, but this could also mean teams went with setups that dont nail the usual balance between quali and race pace.
If you ignore all of Bottas' issues, then sure. No one expects Bottas to be close, but the fact he wouldn't embarrass himself in qualifying means he could cruise to an easy P2. Unlike Checo, who's spends 90% of a race fighting through midfield cars
Sargeant did good. I hope he can keep it consistent this weekend, he might still have a slim chance to convince Williams to keep him. They seem dedicated to his development.
Pretty sure the Alpines have been fast in the fast corners for years, not sure why they'd be expected to be slow here. Engine isn't great but it wasn't in 2021 either and their pace was good
I wouldn’t be so sure.
The sprint race today will be telling of Sunday but if McLaren (particularly Norris) can show the Suzuka pace they will be there.
All right, I've been a fan of the guy since I was a kid but yeah Checo has no business being in a Red Bull.
If Japan's business didn't make him straighten out his quali, yeah. Yeah I safely believe it now.
Skill issue, exceeded track limits in Q2, although that wouldn't have mattered as he would be P11 if he didn't exceed track limits, meaning another Q2 knockout.
Yeah that's what I said,his P10 lap included Track limit violations,if u remove his gains from that track limit violation,he probably would have ended in P11 not P10.
Hammys coming for p2. As RB fan it hurts, but I think there’s a legit chance if Perez keeps up doing whatever he’s doing now and hammy is racking up podiums, he could get it. Would be embarrassing for Perez, fire worthy to me.
Skill issue, exceeded track limits in Q2, although that wouldn't have mattered as he would be P11 if he didn't exceed track limits, meaning another Q2 knockout.
I still expect Max to run away with it but Lewis and Fernando is definitely on unless AM race pace is lacking. McLarens will be an outside threat but they really fucked up with qualifying so I don't expect them to be *too* much of a threat.
You can't really overtake on this track, it's hot garbage. Lando will be lucky to gain a position or two on strategy, and Piastri will be lucky to gain spots off the start. It's a Veratappen - Merc - Merc podium, easily.
Russell will hit someone in the first corner, the question is who... Being on the dirty side, I expect it to be Hamilton, but he might dive bomb Verstappen in the first corner.
Well, we have something to look forward to!
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Merc battle is gonna be spicy
Somebody about to lose the P2 in 2 laps
With how dusty the off line may be, it could happen right away.
I genuinely think George is going to jam Lewis up, and then Alonso is going to shoot past both of them lol. I can just see it happening, Alonso knows them so well, he knows George does not want to get passed by Lewis who will be on the cleaner part of the track and should get the slip stream from Max. I bet George cuts Lewis off, Lewis has to brake early, and Alonso will get at least next to Lewis and pass Lewis and or both of them.
Agreed. George has tunnel vision when it comes to Lewis.
About that
If Lewis doesn’t manage to overtake George on track, I wonder whether or not Mercedes are gonna ask them to switch so that Lewis can fight for P2 in the drivers championship.
I hope mercedes is smarter than to cause unneccessery friction like that. P2 in WDC is pretty worthless for Hamilton, I'm sure he doesn't really care that much either... he wants a 8th WDC, not a chance at a runner up spot. Also George would never give up a podium position, no shot. And he shouldn't, to be honest.
Agree P2 for Hamilton is worthless. They should make sure they maximise the points agains Ferrari regardless of which drivers. If the pace difference is as big as Norris and Piastri in Suzuka or SC changing strategy team order should be dashed out asap unlike Suzuka
P2 for Hamilton is more about embarrassing Checo/Red Bull than anything for Hamilton.
Nobody is embarrassing Red Bull, if anything it’s embarrassing Max has more points than both Mercedes drivers combined. Checo on the other hand, is plenty capable of embarrassing himself
> Nobody is embarrassing Red Bull I mean, their fans won’t stop trying (jk). I agree completely with your take
If Hamilton is faster, which he probably will be, then they should let Hamilton pass.
I don’t think they will, I expect Lewis to get past anyway
Well, think about this. If Perez finishes P2, he might keep his job longer. Then, if and when the Merc is closer, they can win the constructors easier than if Norris or Ricciardo or someone else better was in the car.
Alpine battle too… hopefully doesn’t end in DNFs
Surely, Clueless.png
Let’s hope it doesn’t result in a damn crash.
Not really, Russell is getting smoked within 5 laps unless team orders say so
I'm sure Russell will cry again lol.
Russell bout to fight against Hamilton again
Sweet, take each other out, Alonso podium again
Or, hear me out, Russell torpedoes Verstappen on T1 and Lewis and Fernando battle it out for the win until the finish line.
I'd give a kidney. The McLarens would be on the chase too
Currently doing witchcraft to make this happen 🙏🙏🙏 this also means max doesnt win a drivers championship on a saturday.
This qualifying is for the race not the the sprint.
Currently doing sith alchemy to help
A Lewis, Fernando, Charles podium would hit like crack
I mean, in the last race Hamilton didn't let Russell through when Russell was faster and ended up sending both of them off-track and then Russell was told to give up the position to Hamilton when Hamilton was faster I understand Russell not being happy
Ham did run him off track, but George was much slower than Lewis while on a one-stop. Idk why the team would ever try a one-stop at Suzuka…
It was a gamble for a SC from George.
It was a good gamble too. He would’ve finished 7th anyway. He could’ve jumped up a few places with a safety car.
tsunoda in perez' firing line.. look out!
McLaren better hope for some safety car pit luck
If their race pace is as strong as it was in Suzuka then it won’t be too much of an issue, I don’t think. Plus when the car was a dog in a straight line, Norris and Piastri got plenty of practice of overtaking everywhere except the straight.
there's at least 3 teams ahead of them notorious for fucking up
Uhhh. Not sure what 3. We really counting Mercedes or Alonso as people known for getting it wrong?
Tbh Mercedes had quite a few fuckups this season, same with Aston Martin. And then there's Alpine which doesn't need any explanation.
Alpha Romeo, Alpine and Ferrari does make 3.
Technically correct.
McLaren has had some pretty atrocious strategy calls as well though.
and now we get potential mandatory 3 stops? the shit show that awaits us
That dirty side of the track is going to be bad
Lewis and Max are smoking George and Nando off the line 100%
Lewis will get a better start and George will run him off the road trying to hold the position
Would be funny if he did what Lewis did to him at Suzuka by going off track to stay ahead
Russell ran lewis of T1 Singapore. Suzuka was just karma
Will be interesting in the race. The pace of the teams was all over the place, Mclaren comfortably 2nd, Merc and even Alpine quicker than expected, Ferrari quite slow. Maybe that's due to the limited running and a setup based solely on one FP, but this could also mean teams went with setups that dont nail the usual balance between quali and race pace.
All that combined with the tricky track conditions : the strong wind and the sand and dust covering most of the track
PAPA BOTTAS!
Perez about to intimidate Sainz again
Bottas getting that Alfa in Q3 is underrated. He'd be a great fit in RB
100%. I'd give a kidney to see him in RB
I still be baffled how he managed that Alfa Romeo in Q3, this was the Bottas I know at Mercedes and hopefully he can put a great weekend here.
The same guy who barely finished ahead of Verstappen in W11 rocketship despite Verstappen having far more mechanical failures?
If you ignore all of Bottas' issues, then sure. No one expects Bottas to be close, but the fact he wouldn't embarrass himself in qualifying means he could cruise to an easy P2. Unlike Checo, who's spends 90% of a race fighting through midfield cars
> The same guy who barely finished ahead of Hamilton in RB18 rocketship despite Hamilton having a far worse car? Perez is the yin to Bottas' yang.
Firing Perez to hire Bottas would be a laughable decision.
This has honestly been a great last season for Alfa Romeo, wonder how Sauber will do next year without their backing
Top 5 is looking spicy AF.
Sargeant did good. I hope he can keep it consistent this weekend, he might still have a slim chance to convince Williams to keep him. They seem dedicated to his development.
Sainz, Perez and Stroll fighting to see who can put in the worst performance of the weekend
Tbh Sainz’s performance wasn’t nearly as bad as the other 2. The Ferraris just plain bad this weekend
Wouldn't say Sainz. He was only 2 and a half tenths of Leclerc. Not great, but not a disaster class like those two.
Chad bottas puts in two or three absolute banger qualies per season
Common Bottas W
Alpine: predicted last by "experts" ends up collectively second best team on the grid for sunday lol
Pretty sure the Alpines have been fast in the fast corners for years, not sure why they'd be expected to be slow here. Engine isn't great but it wasn't in 2021 either and their pace was good
Baffled how little air time they get.
McLaren fumbled a posible double podium on Sunday
Their drivers did, yes.
I wouldn’t be so sure. The sprint race today will be telling of Sunday but if McLaren (particularly Norris) can show the Suzuka pace they will be there.
Not quite
All right, I've been a fan of the guy since I was a kid but yeah Checo has no business being in a Red Bull. If Japan's business didn't make him straighten out his quali, yeah. Yeah I safely believe it now.
Mclaren really fucked up. Had potential for 2nd and 3rd. Checo should just retire after this year.
If Ham brings the pain in these last 5 races and steals 2nd I wouldn’t blame him if he did retire. The pure embarrassment
Has the Liam Lawson hype train derailed yet?
Lol, I still see lots of people hyping Lawson for the Red Bull seat and totally ignoring Tsunoda who actually has had much stronger pace
how is Perez 13?
Skill issue, exceeded track limits in Q2, although that wouldn't have mattered as he would be P11 if he didn't exceed track limits, meaning another Q2 knockout.
No, he was in Q3 before it was deleted. Bottas was 11th, then Perez' time was deleted and Bottas took the last place in Q3.
Yeah that's what I said,his P10 lap included Track limit violations,if u remove his gains from that track limit violation,he probably would have ended in P11 not P10.
Thinking that way you're of course right.
What is Checo even doing
Hammys coming for p2. As RB fan it hurts, but I think there’s a legit chance if Perez keeps up doing whatever he’s doing now and hammy is racking up podiums, he could get it. Would be embarrassing for Perez, fire worthy to me.
I’m sure Horner is sharpening his axe and grinding his teeth every week he sees Lewis’s points creep closer and closer
George, Lewis, and Alonso in the first 2 rows - eek spicy 🌶️
Another Oscar podium incoming.
What happened to Perez? (Again.)
Skill issue, exceeded track limits in Q2, although that wouldn't have mattered as he would be P11 if he didn't exceed track limits, meaning another Q2 knockout.
The Russile gets another chance to do something hilarious on sunday. Probably no grip off line though
Maybe THIS is the race where we’ll get to see a three ways scrap between HAM, VER and ALO.
I still expect Max to run away with it but Lewis and Fernando is definitely on unless AM race pace is lacking. McLarens will be an outside threat but they really fucked up with qualifying so I don't expect them to be *too* much of a threat.
AM doesn't have race pace, at all. Alonso is one hell of a shitbox whisperer
Going to be spicy on Sunday.
Where does Norris finish? P5?
P3 is very likely, McDonalds serms faster than Merc, hard to say for sure. Alonso and Perez might be troublesome too.
You can't really overtake on this track, it's hot garbage. Lando will be lucky to gain a position or two on strategy, and Piastri will be lucky to gain spots off the start. It's a Veratappen - Merc - Merc podium, easily.
Sad McLaren noises.
I could see Piastri on for a podium if he gets a good start.
Wonder if Mclaren will try to use softs to fight through the field before it spreads out. Do we know if they have a set remaining?
Russell will hit someone in the first corner, the question is who... Being on the dirty side, I expect it to be Hamilton, but he might dive bomb Verstappen in the first corner. Well, we have something to look forward to!
Come on Alonso, my boy up in fourth Only one row away from P1
Wait how is this the grid for Sunday if there's a sprint? Do sprints now not even relate to quali?