2021 motor racing thread

[NickNick]

 

[Graves The Elder]

So post race Hammy complains about covid symptoms, dizzyness, out of focus vision etc.
He's driving a high horsepower, extremely fast car on a track with other drivers but put their lives at risk,
as well as his own by even starting the race. I can only imagine the precision and timing necessary to drive
these cars safely, but typically, he put himself above all others and their safety.
His arrogance is astounding and dangerous.
(waits for ralph to play the race card)
and fuck Bottas.

On another note, bravo Ocon! Maiden win for the young man.

 

[mb23100]

Seb disqualified for post race fuel violation.

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/...alified-hungarian-gp-insufficient-fuel-sample

 

[Graves The Elder]

hm, sounds like retribution because of T shirt violation to me.
hope they win the appeal.
the restart was so surreal, fuel strategies went out the window, etc.
crazy race.

 

[ralphc1]

They changed Max's engine between qualifying and the race. They found a crack and had to put engine #3 in. There was no penalty because it was a same spec engine.

Today was a huge win for Mercedes in both the constructors and drivers title race.

I hadn't heard that they changed Max's engine. I didn't watch the pre race show. How did they not find the crack in the last two weeks? They certainly must have torn it down to it's component pieces and magnafluxed it to check for cracks after the crash.

I just saw that they couldn't supply the required one liter of fuel from Vettel's car so he loses his second place finish and everybody moves up. Hamilton gains 3 points and Max one. Aston Martin will appeal but the rule isn't open for interpretation. If they were that close on fuel they might not have finished without the safety car.

Bottas was kind of caught there when Lando went by on the inside and pulled in in front of him so there wasn't any room to stop even though Bottas locked up his brakes. Another poor start from a Mercedes put him in a bad position. Everybody was pushing too hard on a wet track. Bottas probably should have backed out and dropped to the back but he might have been hit from behind as they were passing him on both sides.

 

[ralphc1]

Definitely agree that Lewis had far more luck this year. Not only he, but the team also made some pretty big mistakes. It's pretty ridiculous that he's ahead right now going into the break.

Think of how far ahead Lewis could have been if he didn't hit that switch and run off the track. He should easily have 25 more points.

 

[ralphc1]

For once someone challenges Mercedes and just keeps getting completely fucked though no fault of his own. It's pretty depressing to watch.

Sometimes drivers are just too bold. You don't want to be on the outside of a turn on a wet track, especially the first turn.

 

[legatoblues]

hm, sounds like retribution because of T shirt violation to me.

F1 isn't NASCAR, rules are rules.
Was also pretty obvious that this would happen given Seb didn't make it back around.

They deliberately run the cars light on fuel but then manage it through the race, I'm thinking that went out the window when they were that close to the win. They would have been hoping Seb could make the move, build a gap and then save fuel in the lead. They're not the first to be bitten by this and won't be the last either.

 

[ralphc1]

I don’t like the idea of seb losing his place due to the fuel issue. I understand the rules, but they were able to get a sample. Just not a large enough sample. I think he gets off here.

I dunno, it's a pretty clear cut rule. I'd be surprised if he gets off here. Their team principle did say they can prove they have 1.7 litres in the car though, so I guess we'll see how that plays out.

They explained the rule pretty clearly. They have to be able to extract a liter of fuel for testing at any time. They even gave them extra time to try to get more out.

 

[rearnakedchoke]

They explained the rule pretty clearly. They have to be able to extract a liter of fuel for testing at any time. They even gave them extra time to try to get more out.

Yeah. I agree the rule is pretty clear. Everyone would put in less fuel if they could get away with breaking the rule.

 

[Graves The Elder]

F1 isn't NASCAR, rules are rules.
Was also pretty obvious that this would happen given Seb didn't make it back around.

They deliberately run the cars light on fuel but then manage it through the race, I'm thinking that went out the window when they were that close to the win. They would have been hoping Seb could make the move, build a gap and then save fuel in the lead. They're not the first to be bitten by this and won't be the last either.

Exactly my point. The suspension and restart of the race was so unusual and unorthodox that fuel protocols would have been irrelevant to the point of allowed minuscule variance.
He'll get reinstated IMO.

 

[Graves The Elder]

But it is FIA, they fine people for T shirts.

well, SOME people anyway.

 

[NickNick]

I hadn't heard that they changed Max's engine. I didn't watch the pre race show. How did they not find the crack in the last two weeks? They certainly must have torn it down to it's component pieces and magnafluxed it to check for cracks after the crash.

I just saw that they couldn't supply the required one liter of fuel from Vettel's car so he loses his second place finish and everybody moves up. Hamilton gains 3 points and Max one. Aston Martin will appeal but the rule isn't open for interpretation. If they were that close on fuel they might not have finished without the safety car.

Bottas was kind of caught there when Lando went by on the inside and pulled in in front of him so there wasn't any room to stop even though Bottas locked up his brakes. Another poor start from a Mercedes put him in a bad position. Everybody was pushing too hard on a wet track. Bottas probably should have backed out and dropped to the back but he might have been hit from behind as they were passing him on both sides.

Apparently the crack developed around a motor mount that only became apparent after qualifying. Also they can only break down the engine so far. There are parts/seals that if they break they can no longer use it or they are forced to use a new one (so I read.) I also read there is a chance that the crack may just be a mount that can be repaired, hopefully that's true. Knowing the bad luck they are having and the #blessed luck, they will repair it and then it will pop when max has a 15 second lead in a race.

 

[legatoblues]

Exactly my point. The suspension and restart of the race was so unusual and unorthodox that fuel protocols would have been irrelevant to the point of allowed minuscule variance.
He'll get reinstated IMO.

What was unusual or unorthodox about it? Was standard red flag procedures. Fuel has been an issue for teams in scenarios such as this before - if they choose to underfuel the cars to such a fine tolerance, then they're accepting the risk that goes along with it.

As you said there is a change that he'll be reinstated, however this will have nothing to do with the red flag and will only come down to the wording and interpretation of the rule: Is the requirement for the FIA to be able to extract 1L from the car using a set method, or is the requirement to have 1L of fuel in the car at the end of the race?

 

[Graves The Elder]

I remember racing Formula Atlantic here in the states in the 90s.
At the conclusion of the race, the top ten finishers would have to go to 'tech'.
The scrutineers would extract fuel to determine if anyone was running 110 octane, expressly prohibited.

"Wording and interpretation of the rule" can mean many things I guess.
No biggie.
Onward and upward I say.

 

[ralphc1]

What was unusual or unorthodox about it? Was standard red flag procedures. Fuel has been an issue for teams in scenarios such as this before - if they choose to underfuel the cars to such a fine tolerance, then they're accepting the risk that goes along with it.

As you said there is a change that he'll be reinstated, however this will have nothing to do with the red flag and will only come down to the wording and interpretation of the rule: Is the requirement for the FIA to be able to extract 1L from the car using a set method, or is the requirement to have 1L of fuel in the car at the end of the race?

The problem for the team is that the rules state clearly that a litre of fuel has to be physically retrieved from the car, Szafnauer noted: “It is an old rule that goes back to the days before we had all this metering and all the measurements.”

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/...ary/6640827/?__twitter_impression=true&nrt=54

 

[Deffid]

Think of how far ahead Lewis could have been if he didn't hit that switch and run off the track. He should easily have 25 more points.

Yes, that still stings.

 

[NickNick]

This image really shows how fucked Max's car was. Pretty incredible that he was able to put that car into the points. I remember back at Australia 2019 (I think) when Lewis had a tiny bit of his floor missing or some sort of winglet on his bargeboard and the commentators talked about it non stop, how it was incredible he was able to drive to P2 or P3, whatever it was.

 

[supnmunm]

This image really shows how fucked Max's car was. Pretty incredible that he was able to put that car into the points. I remember back at Australia 2019 (I think) when Lewis had a tiny bit of his floor missing or some sort of winglet on his bargeboard and the commentators talked about it non stop, how it was incredible he was able to drive to P2 or P3, whatever it was.

He also managed to get the 4th fastest lap with all that damage. Pretty impressive stuff.

 

[rearnakedchoke]

This image really shows how fucked Max's car was. Pretty incredible that he was able to put that car into the points. I remember back at Australia 2019 (I think) when Lewis had a tiny bit of his floor missing or some sort of winglet on his bargeboard and the commentators talked about it non stop, how it was incredible he was able to drive to P2 or P3, whatever it was.

Lol. The damage on Lewis’s car in that race was literally a two inch bit. He still couldn’t compete with valteri. Looking at that. I’m shocked the fia allowed max to continue. But I guess there was nothing hanging off. Still getting 9th was a good drive considering he could have said fuck it, retire and save the engine.