F1 2023 - Round 17 - Japan - Suzuka

Andrew76

Stunning lap from Max - “there you go, 28”. Did he only do 4 laps all qualifying? Another level. 😁😁

Great job from Piastri, Norris and team too.

2011

Perez must be gutted.

Itssoeasy

right. That was an enjoyable Saturday morning. Now back to sleep for a bit.

i believe Pato O'Ward is now eligible for a Super Licence and with McLarens roster full in F1 I wonder if McLaren would be willing to let Williams speak to him. He’s 24 now so time is ticking for him. McLaren need him in F1 soon if Norris gets itchy feet for Redbull in the future.

mr_edge_to_you

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121145863#Comment_121145863

Do you think Lando would play second fiddle to Max?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121145913#Comment_121145913

No.

That's coming to an end in F1I believe.

Used to be common but only Perez plays that role now.

recyclebin

Norris could go to Red Bull to try prove himself against Verstappen but it would be a massive risk as the team is built around Verstappen. If he got well beaten then his value would take a hit. McLaren look to be on the up so I think he will stay there for another year or two and see how it goes.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146029#Comment_121146029

Norris is contracted until 2025 so has enough time as imo he wouldn’t break his contract.

ctrl-alt-delete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146029#Comment_121146029

They are having a good period now which will put his value up, but then again Piastri is not a mile behind.

I was thinking today what would happen if Lando was in the other redbull. I don't believe it is set up that much towards Max to justify the gaps we are continually seeing to Perez.

It is a pity you can't simulate drivers. We won't know, but I believe many of the other drivers Today would be much closer to Max if they were driving the other Redbull.

dulpit

I missed Q1 - was Stroll just crap again?

Wanderer78

normal service, thats a pity!

McFly85

Pretty much. They just showed the end of his Q1 lap which he put 15th at the time which was never going to be good enough.

The car isn’t as good as the start of the season obviously but he’s always around 5 places down from where he should be.

Aston Martin will struggle in the constructors against other mid table teams while he’s there. McLaren are 78 points behind and you really wouldn’t bet against them catching AM before the end of the season. But I really don’t see Lawrence getting rid any time soon!

thefa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146106#Comment_121146106

Early days but Norris and Piastri is reminding me a little of Sainz and Norris. Piastri looking raw with some race decisions but seems to have some of the best potential of a rookie after a few lacklustre years.

Half of Perez’s issue is his poor qualifying which is an area Norris excels. Guesswork but the podium rate could easily go from ~50% to ~90% and the race wins from 2 to 4 so far. Norris probably converts a few of the rare opportunities where Verstappen started down the grid or hadn’t the most favorable circumstances.

Think Norris still has a fair bit of developing to do before he’d be a title challenger to Verstappen. Probably in a good spot to do it if McClaren stay competitive and he’s regularly racing the quality of drivers at Ferrari and Mercedes.

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146106#Comment_121146106

I think on a track like Suzuka Max would be 2 or 3 tenths ahead of anyone else in the same car, a chunk less than the gap to Perez.

Norris said recently he would like to go up against Max in the same team, compare himself to the best or similar he said. Obviously unlikely to happen until his McLaren contract is up or a year later again and by that time Max might be a 4 or 5 time champion - I’d say he would welcome the challenge at that of his career. I’d love to see them in the same team.

Hijpo

Would love to know what the craic was with RB last weekend. What changed this weekend? Rolled back an upgrade?

They went from understeer in corners last week to being able to pull 5g in corners this week. The car looked absolutely planted.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146877#Comment_121146877

strange stuff alright, its a shame it was fixed though, last weekend was actually exciting!

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146877#Comment_121146877

From what I saw online it was a combination of factors - Singapore was always going to be one of their weakest tracks as it suits their car less than other tracks - no long fast corners. They supposedly raised the height of the car because of the bumpy nature of the track, which made it harder than normal for them to warm up the tires (the Red Bull isn't as hard on the tires as other cars which can sometimes hinder them in qualifying vs it being a benefit in the race). They did have a new floor on the car but they still have it on this week so that wouldn't have been a factor. I think it was a case of getting the ride height wrong on a track that doesn't suit the cars' strengths, the same thing happened to Merc a few years back when they were dominating iirc - had a mare of a race at Singapore.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146983#Comment_121146983

I think Verstappen had the old floor on during the Singapore qualifying.

Just watched a reply of Sargents crash in Q1 and the faces of his engineers really says it all.

When James Vowles got interviewed I got the impression that he's had enough of Sargent also.

Frank Bullitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121146877#Comment_121146877

Their car just didn’t do well there because of how low it runs its car. Suzuka is basically tailor made for RB.

dulpit

Max apparently even said before Singapore that they did their sim work for both tracks before Singapore and they were expecting to be poor at Singapore but strong at japan. Which looks to be the case.

Andrew76

So, eh, apparently this is a thing - a kiss activated trophy. Give tomorrow’s trophy a big ole smooch and it will display the colours of your national flag. 😂

https://youtu.be/vj8fNR9ZWVc?si=rcFXkjYa7CP_xS40

markw7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121148401#Comment_121148401

That is some next-level-bullshittery....kiss activated micro switch technology....f#ck off.

Itssoeasy

So the race starts in five hours time and I’m genuinely considering just staying up all night.

Jordan 199

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121149337#Comment_121149337

I will be staying up all night. Xbox, Playstation and TV to keep me busy.

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121149349#Comment_121149349

Yeah I mean I’m off Monday next week and I’ll be staying up late to watch American football on Sunday anyway so I could sleep for a few hours tomorrow.

I’ll be watching stuff on YouTube, specifically body cams of drunk drivers in the US.its equal parts funny and alarming that people that **** faced get behind the wheel.

Captain_Crash

If I’m in bed by 3 I’ll be happy! Then back to bed for a while and all will be good!

dulpit

My son has had me up since midnight. He's now threatening to go to sleep. Typical.

Might hold off until the reply in sky at 09:30. Or highlights at 12:30 on channel 4.

dulpit

Not like it matters, but Sargent starting from pits:

https://twitter.com/ChrisMedlandF1/status/1705746193752695115?t=yW-sRPmNHzu20N5P0Q3mbQ&s=19%20

ctrl-alt-delete

Looks a great day for a race.

Jordan 199

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121149465#Comment_121149465

It sure does. Good morning everyone.

ctrl-alt-delete

An honest man is Max.

Jordan 199

Jean Alesi. Good to see him.

Andrew76

Morning folks. No idea how some of you can stay up all night, just like Sergeant Murtaugh - I’m too old for that ****. 😂

Looking forward to this race. That is a lovely national anthem, singer shed a tear too? Class.

PsychoPete

Got up at 5, couldn't be staying up all night

ctrl-alt-delete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121149472#Comment_121149472

Same here, but didn't sleep too much due to still being on a rugby high.

Jordan 199

I just love the Suzuka circuit.

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121149474#Comment_121149474

Just checked how we did, not a rugby fan but delighted to see we won again. Fingers crossed we go all the way.

Andrew76

Two stop race this at least?

PsychoPete

Lawson should be handy enough around Suzuka, be nice to see a double points finish for AT! They badly need it

Jordan 199

Did I see some smoke coming from the back of Verstappens car. Engine trouble maybe? 😉

ctrl-alt-delete

Perez has been given a motivational speech. Sounded like a telling off if it was verbatim.

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121149480#Comment_121149480

I hope not!

ctrl-alt-delete

Tasty start incoming.

Cars pointing in all directions.

Jordan 199

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121149481#Comment_121149481

Sergio, this is Helmut. Don't screw up today.

ctrl-alt-delete

Safety car for debris on the track.

Alpha Tauri have come racing, each other.

PsychoPete

Excellent hard racing from the two AT lads

ctrl-alt-delete

Albon lucky he didn't take off there.

ctrl-alt-delete

Perez in for a new wing and down 13 places.

On the hard tyre now so we will get some data on how that is.

ctrl-alt-delete

Perez under investigation now for a safety car infringement.