The F1 thread

boogieman

I’m really looking forward to the first race to see how things really shake out. I just hope the commentators come up with a different description for LeClerc apart from “The Monegasque Driver”, they trot it out so many bloody times. 

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

P1 done. Obvs can't read too much into the times, but can't help getting a bit excited at seeing Alonso up at the top of the timesheets. He's one of my all time faves, so would love to see him genuinely fighting for podiums again! 

Biggest surprise is probably Lando in 4th given how crap they looked in testing...

chillidoggy

Anyone know what lap times they were setting at Bahrain last year? Just thinking about a comparison. I know it’s probably meaningless, but I’m getting all excited now!

Brio

I used to be a member of ABA (Anyone But Alonso). In the Ferrari years he did change for the better and I do like him now. Imagine if he finally got that third championship that Petrov stopped him taking. :-)

stickyfiddle

Agreed. The AM is clearly looking like a well-sorted car but it's clear half the field weren't trying for times as they obviously already know how to set their cars up from last week. 

Cols

Heroics from Alonso!  

Neither of the Mercs ran the soft tyres, so the 10/11 placing isn’t as bad as it looks.  And I’ll eat my hat if Verstappen stays 6/10ths off Perez.

RiftAmps

chillidoggy said:

Anyone know what lap times they were setting at Bahrain last year? Just thinking about a comparison. I know it’s probably meaningless, but I’m getting all excited now!

2022 FP1 times

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Crikey! 



Fernando was about a second faster than the best FP2 time last year, and top 13 drivers were all faster than the fastest time from last year. 

Cols

Yeoooow!  Go Alonso!

Stroll looks like he’s suffering.

stickyfiddle

Jeez! Maybe Max will get a fight after all?!?

Stroll at +0.5s is where I’d expect him tbh… 

fretmeister

Woohoo - Anyone but Max!  

Although after Piquet Jnr and Spygate I really don't want Alonso to win either.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

Cols said:

Yeoooow!  Go Alonso!

Stroll looks like he’s suffering.

Surprised he's actually in the car tbh, given how bandaged up his hand is. 

sinbaadi

stickyfiddle said:

Jeez! Maybe Max will get a fight after all?!?

Stroll at +0.5s is where I’d expect him tbh… 

That's F1 isn't it??  A new team mate, a new benchmark.  Stroll isn't in that seat on merit, which doesn't mean he couldn't also be brilliant, but Alonso has repeatedly looked like a stand out driver.  Hopefully he still has enough killer instinct to duke it out with Max, but Stroll is not likely to figure.  

I'd rate Alonso higher than Vettel for what it's worth and, like you, I'll be surprised if there isn't a significant time gap between the two.

I do expect to see someone, somewhere, saying that he's outqualifying the car, though.  Or getting 110% from the package?  Or maybe he's figured out how to turn the ERS up to 11?

Cols

Dontgiveupyourdayjob said:

Cols said:

Yeoooow!  Go Alonso!

Stroll looks like he’s suffering.

Surprised he's actually in the car tbh, given how bandaged up his hand is. 

He was having to push the steering wheel around one-handed at times.  Wouldn’t be surprised if he withdraws today.

TimmyO

I sense another grim time as a McLaren fan. 

Brio

Well quali was great! Looking forward to the season.

stickyfiddle

I didn’t watch it as was at soundcheck but judging from the times alone:

-Max is going to get title #3 easily at this rate. 

- Alonso is on for podiums at a minimum this year, and stroll has a shot too once his hand is sorted. 
- HULK!!!!!
- McLaren FFS  

RiftAmps

RiftAmps said:

Ted (and some teams) think Aston Martin is the third fastest team. I hope that's the case because I REALLY want to see Alonso fighting for podiums.

Ted nailed it

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

stickyfiddle said:

I didn’t watch it as was at soundcheck but judging from the times alone:

-Max is going to get title #3 easily at this rate. 

- Alonso is on for podiums at a minimum this year, and stroll has a shot too once his hand is sorted. 
- HULK!!!!!
- McLaren FFS  

Yeah I really wanted to believe that Alonso was going to be properly in the mix, but always had the sneaking suspicion that Max and the Red Bulls were never really pushing too hard in practice. Pleasantly surprised that the Ferraris found some decent pace though.

Cols

On the other hand, imagine if someone told you two weeks ago that you’d finish watching qualifying disappointed that Alonso had only qualified 5th.

On another note, what the hell happened to Gasly?  Mechanical issues?