The Motorsport Thread

[Rick]

Piastri is always giving that spot up because he's the number 2 driver in the number 2 car. Some teams like Ferrari "let em race" on occasion.
McLaren don't. All their top tier work goes into giving Lando Norris the best chance this season.
One of the most extreme driver 1 vs driver 2 examples happened this weekend when Alex Albon crashed his Williams and they gave him Sergeant's car, meaning Sergeant couldn't even take part in the race.

There were some stats published this week which showed the difference between teammates in qualifying (displayed in time) and race results (displayed in positions) so far this year.

There was next to nothing in qualifying between Norris and Piastri. From memory it was 0.09 average with Norris having a slight advantage.

In races it was something like Norris has finished 1.2 positions higher than Piastri this year.

Norris has 107 starts in F1 and this is his 6th year.

Piastri has 25 starts in F1 and this is his second year following a year without racing in 2022.

So far this year Piastri has 28 championship points to Norris’ 27 points.

It’s very quickly becoming an even playing field with 2 competitive drivers which is not how any of the other top teams are operating. I think this year will be a very interesting one for McLaren who have continued to put all their eggs in the Norris basket.

Both are contracted to 2026, however I imagine they would have get out clauses.


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[zim]

I was discussing that with my partner when we were walking home from race day. I think all Piastri is lacking is a bit of maturity.
She was telling me I need to be more patient with F1 driver development than NRL player development .
He either ends up number 1 at McLaren during the next few years or someone with a faster car is going to sign him.

[zim]

Zim, I reckon the 'let 'em race' practice is best. No question then of 'rigging' results, simply best driver and car wins.

I agree as a spectator I'd rather just see them go at it.

I'm not entirely across all the rules for rigged results but as far as teams picking a number 1 driver and car they're putting so much money into this to work towards a result at the end of a season that I understand why it's done. Though it's a lot of money and a lot of staff they have finite resources as well.
Then there's also the human side of the driver signings. If you're Hamilton, here to win championships, you're not going to a team that isn't going to treat you like the best driver.
Rarely we've also seen the 2 drivers take each other out when they were given the green light to just race. A decision like that in terms of lost points and money is just catastrophic for some teams.

An awkward analogy would be signing Payne Haas and then telling him he'll get the same treatment as an Emre Guler, when in reality you're rolling out the private jet and promising a captaincy.
If Haas has an off game he's an automatic selection next week.

[-TW-]

They'll never do anything about team orders

Would only be an issue if someone was to profit from it, which I'm pretty sure you can't bet live on F1 races anyway.

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[RedRaider]

That's the issue for me TW, there is a betting market for F1 drivers. I'm not a gambler so it doesn't affect me, but the teams manipulated the podium result on the weekend. Piastri got the 'go slow' order and the pits crew obliged to allow Norris the 3rd place in the race. Piastri 4th.

Norris is 24 and Piastri 22 years of age. There is no doubt both are quality F1 drivers. From the time Piastri won the F2 championship by more than 50 points, I reckon all he needs is a competitive car and we have a genuine chance of seeing regular podium finishes and maybe a genuine chance at the drivers championship, McLaren management on side of course.

Zim, my NRL anology: I see Norris as the Moses of half backs and Piastri as the Cleary. Moses very good, but Cleary exceptional.

https://www.si.com/fannation/betting/ho ... portsbooks.

[Rick]

I see Norris more as a Luke Brooks…..highly rated but never won anything!


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[RedRaider]

Oscar Piastri, hot off the heals of his Formula 1, first place in Hungary last week, has now got a second place in the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix. It was unusual as he was third across the finish line but the first place Mercedes driver George Russell was disqualified for having an underweight car. Mercedes also had the second place via Lewis Hamilton, who was then promoted to first, but the second place for Oscar Piastri has him sitting 4th in the F1 drivers championship. It seems that McLaren finally have vehicles to match their drivers ability. Piastri went past his McLaren team mate Lando Norris by jumping him at the start of the race.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/piastri-b ... ce-at-spa/

The current drivers championship position below.

https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2024/drivers

[zim]

Fantastic drive by Russell. Real shame to have it taken away because his team screwed up by 1.5kg.
Norris continues to be a really poor starter.

[-PJ-]

An underweight car ?

I understand there’s 1000s of technical rules in F1.

What was the 1.5kg ?

[RedRaider]

An underweight car ?

I understand there’s 1000s of technical rules in F1.

What was the 1.5kg ?

Once all the fuel was drained from the car it was found to be underweight. Mercedes did not drain all of the fuel from the car for the initial post race weigh in, so they knew they had an underweight vehicle and tried to fudge the weigh in. They got caught. Mercedes also had the car which ran second, but I am not aware if that one was also given a second check weigh in, given what happened with Russell's car.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/belgi ... e%20checks.

[FuiFui BradBrad]

He needed to run over more marbles to add weight to the tyres.

I’ve been reading it was due to his decision to change his strategy to a 1 stopper… but I can’t make sense of that.

[RedRaider]

He needed to run over more marbles to add weight to the tyres.

I’ve been reading it was due to his decision to change his strategy to a 1 stopper… but I can’t make sense of that.

It would be interesting to weigh each component. The V6 engines should be similar as should the body shells. Maybe something in the braking or suspension.

[RedRaider]

Aussie Oscar Piastri has won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix overnight, his second first placing this year. There is no doubt the McLaren Mercedes are a competitive car with his team mate Lando Norris currently second in the Drivers Championship and Oscar fourth.

1. Max Verstappen -313 points - Red Bull racing Honda
2. Lando Norris - 254 points
3. Charles Leclerc (who Oscar overtook to win in Azerbaijan) - 235 points - Ferrari
4. Oscar Piastri - 222 points

https://www.formula1.com/en/results/2024/drivers

There are seven races to go this year in F1. The locations are Singapore, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

[RedRaider]

Singapore Grand Prix has been won by McLaren, this time Lando Norris takes the checkered flag and the 25 driver points for winning.
Aussie Oscar Piastri has picked up the drivers 15 points for 3rd also in a McLaren.
2nd place went to Max Verstappen in the Honda powered Red Bull.

[zim]

Norris finally sorted out his starts. Got a lot friendlier with the wall than he probably wanted to but that's a great effort to drive that out in horrible physical conditions.
Ricky with a cheeky fastest lap at the end to steal a point back for RB.
Leclerc drove a great race too after poor a qualifying. Thought he was going to get Russell at the end.

[RedRaider]

Next up is the United States Grand Prix on 21 October. McLaren have competitive cars and skilled drivers in Norris and Piastri. Verstappen has a healthy lead in the drivers comp in the Red Bull Honda. I expect the McLaren's to push him all the way in the USA.

[RedRaider]

Matt Payne will lead into the Top 10 shootout later today at Bathurst after posting a 2 minute 5.6 second lap. Most of the top drivers are all within a second of each other so the shootout to determine start positions will be a close run thing. The track should be dry so I am expecting sub 2 minute 5.5 second laps in the shootout.

[RedRaider]

Kostecki wins Top 10 shootout with 2 minutes 5.511 seconds. As he said in his post lap interview, he has gone faster at Bathurst but he had some tire vibration which saw him seeing double.

[RedRaider]

Kostecki, from first place on the grid to first place on the podium. A wonderful drive from both he and Hazelwood in the Chev Camaro to win in the fastest time ever recorded. Amazing that more than 100 laps passed before a safety car came out. It will be interesting to see what the Toyota's can provide next year. All those HiLux ute drivers will have a brand to follow.

[-PJ-]

Hey, I thought Craig Lowndes retired.

[RedRaider]

Hey, I thought Craig Lowndes retired.

Lowndes is up for co-driving but at age 50 he no longer wants to be the main man. His team came 14th in a Camaro.

[-TW-]

Would've finished 6th if Cooper Murray didn't get a PLP for speeding during the FCY

Erebus have signed a good one for next year with him

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[RedRaider]

Aussie Oscar Piastri has taken pole position in the Brazilian F1. McLaren proving yet again they have very competitive cars this season.

[RedRaider]

Max Verstappen has won this years Drivers Championship. Well done to him. Something for Aussie Oscar Piastri to aim for next year.

[RedRaider]

F1 rule changes for 2025. The mandatory cooling system will be an interesting technical challenge, but with the cars able to add 2Kg minimum weight to a total of 800Kg it will be interesting to see what trade offs are made.

The F1 season kicks off in Australia in March.

https://www.givemesport.com/rule-change ... season-f1/

[raiderskater]

Looking forward to the GP. This week's the last full week of work then I fly down on the Wednesday.

For a bit of fun to pass the time, have fun with this sporcle quiz: name all the champions

https://www.sporcle.com/games/g/f1winners

I'm down to 57 seconds for my best time at the moment.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to kept swatting these bloody Argentinians away from Jack's seat.

[RedRaider]

Aussie Oscar Piastri has signed with McLaren until the end of 2028. Let’s hope it is a good omen heading into this weekends Australian F1 Grand Prix.

[RedRaider]

McLaren will start 1 and 2 in tomorrow's Australian F1 Grand Prix, with Lando Norris edging out Oscar Piastri by less than one tenth of a second for pole position. Norris time was 1 minute 15.096 seconds with Piastri 0.084 of a second behind. All the very best for tomorrow's race Oscar.

[Rick]

Looks like we are in for a good year of F1. Nice and close throughout the field.


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[RedRaider]

Norris wins the Australian F1 Grand Prix for McLaren. Piastri spun out in the wet conditions to finish 9th. Verstappen came 2nd and Russell 3rd.

[Rick]

Norris wins the Australian F1 Grand Prix for McLaren. Piastri spun out in the wet conditions to finish 9th. Verstappen came 2nd and Russell 3rd.

Tough watch as an Aussie fan however Piastri’s pass on Hamilton on the last lap was beautiful.


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[-TW-]

Watching Ferrari **** up another strategy call around the rain shower was glorious

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