F1 Championship - Round 19 - Mexican Grand Prix

[happy_eagle]

Back to back races at terrible time slots for Aussies (one more of these in Brazil as well). The Mexican GP has been a great addition to the calendar. A couple of good long straights to overtake, a fairly technical middle sector (well suited to the Aero dominant cars), and a stadium final sector that absolutely goes off

Surely this is the weekend that Hamilton secures his 5th world title. The calculations are as follows
If Hamilton finishes 7th or above, he is the World Champion
If Hamilton finishes 8th or below, Vettel must win the race to continue the Championship fight in Brazil.

This is a high altitude circuit, and as a result engine power doesn't provide as much advantage around here (I don't quite understand the science behind that one but whatever). This means that we could have a real scrap on our hands, and expect the Red Bull guys to be in with a real chance of a race win (car issue conspiracies pending). Also Tyre degradation has proved to be fairly significant around, so expect to see cars try and avoid the hyper soft in qualifying when possible.

Race Details
Qualifying: Sunday 5AM EST (2AM WST)
Race: Monday 6AM EST (3AM WST)


Early FP1 and FP2 pace suggests the Bulls are in for it here. Verstappen had some sort of engine failure in FP2 so its unknown whether or not he will have to take consecutive grid penalties in as many weeks (so much for RBR only going after Ricciardo's car.....)

 

[YippeeYiYeo]

Ricciardo takes the pole!!!!!!!!!!!

You bloody legend

Max spits the dummy after having provisional pole and deliberately rams into the "2" sign lol. Proceeds to complain about car problems what a sook!!

So happy for Dan after all the s**t hes put up with since the Renault announcement. Denys Verstappen getting the youngest ever pole winner title too. Just brilliant

 

[Reign Man]

* yeah! Take that Verstackin!

 

[davis_756]

Watch Max turn back into his true self, expect a lap 1 crash as a result of dan beating him to pole.

 

[happy_eagle]

Watch Max turn back into his true self, expect a lap 1 crash as a result of dan beating him to pole.

Must say I am worried about this. The faster engines behind are going to be all over them into Turn 1.

Btw if Red Bull PR were sabotaging Daniel's car to make Max look good, they really missed a chance today to make Max the youngest poll sitter in history. In fact Max has had more mechanical issues this weekend than Daniel. Wait and see in the race though....

 

[Broken]

I really hope Dan can convert this in to a win and that he has an incident free race. I fear it won't be the case but I hope I'm wrong.

 

[davis_756]

Must say I am worried about this. The faster engines behind are going to be all over them into Turn 1.

Btw if Red Bull PR were sabotaging Daniel's car to make Max look good, they really missed a chance today to make Max the youngest poll sitter in history. In fact Max has had more mechanical issues this weekend than Daniel. Wait and see in the race though....

They don't really need to do anything in qually because dan hasn't been putting in, he probably shocked even the team, had them bluffed right to the final run.

They have already assured max beats dan in the wdc so we can only hope they don't feel the need to turn Dan's car off again

 

[happy_eagle]

They don't really need to do anything in qually because dan hasn't been putting in, he probably shocked even the team, had them bluffed right to the final run.

They have already assured max beats dan in the wdc so we can only hope they don't feel the need to turn Dan's car off again

You don't think they missed a PR opportunity to make Max the youngest pole sitter in F1 history ?
Thats a pretty significant marketing tool. Just like a potential double podium would have been last week in the U.S before they CTRL+F4d Daniels car apparently

 

[happy_eagle]

Max sulking it up in the press conference. I have the feeling he might try something stupid tomorrow

 

[hey shorty]

What an epic sook that kid is. Beaten fair and square for the first time in a while and he does that

 

[happy_eagle]

What an epic sook that kid is. Beaten fair and square for the first time in a while and he does that

He's not the youngest on the grid anymore, so he can't use that as an excuse.
It will be interesting to see how RBR manage him and Gasly next year. Gasly doesn't seem the type to back down from a fight.

 

[Sabbathen]

Max sulking it up in the press conference. I have the feeling he might try something stupid tomorrow

Pretty poor form, hope he watches that back sees how much like a spoilt brat he behaved.
Riccardo for the most part walks around with a constant grin that shows he's still pinching himself after several years realising he's got the best job in the world. Then you have an effort like Max's...

 

[davis_756]

You don't think they missed a PR opportunity to make Max the youngest pole sitter in F1 history ?
Thats a pretty significant marketing tool. Just like a potential double podium would have been last week in the U.S before they CTRL+F4d Daniels car apparently

Im saying they took it for granted max would beat dan, didn't expect dan to raise his game with a pole up for grabs.

 

[Doc_]

You just know that Max will dive bomb Dan at the first corner.
Throw the cars with faster straight line speed into the mix and its gonna be a s**t show.
Just gotta hope Dan gets lucky in turn 1.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

Going to bed.

C'mon Dan!

C'mon Everton!

 

[YippeeYiYeo]

Just woke up. Went to bed at 7pm.

Cmon Dan!!!

 

[Acinath]

I will be very surprised if a Red Bull leads after the first corner

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Dan is horrible off the line, can he turn it around?

 

[YippeeYiYeo]

I will be very surprised if a Red Bull leads after the first corner

Theres going to be a collision for sure. Max and Dan wont care about team orders. Both have a point to prove. Vettel will be breathing down their neck desperate for the win. Hamilton will also be there abouts and if he takes out Vettel he wins the championship. Turn 1 will be hectic.

 

[Acinath]

Oh Dan...

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Oh Dan...

His wheels seemed to start turning the same time as Max's, he just didn't have the same acceleration (obviously)

 

[YippeeYiYeo]

Not over yet.

 

[Acinath]

Max is bloody good at Mexico

 

[YippeeYiYeo]

race needs a safety car

 

[Acinath]

Bring on Renault...