Topic: Motosport General discussion tread --- Formula1, MotoGP, WTCC, ETCC, DTM..... - page 16. (Read 141369 times)

We have left the qualifying session behind. Leclerc took the pole position, congrats to him!    It is a well-deserved pole truthfully. He was giving the signal from the Free Practice already. You must be knowing how successful he has been in Azerbaijan in the recent years when it comes to capturing pole also. Now the thing I'm hoping not to see is that Ferrari messes up with strategies. But I must admit they were really good in Monza.

It was a nightmare session for Norris... He couldn't even see further than Q1. What do you think about his climb? Will he reach podium anyway you think? Truthfully I doubt it for now considering it is a street race. 

^  I think Sergio Perez will have another decent performance in this circuit again...  Not only because of the upgrade but Perez is pretty good in this track.  I think most of his podium finishes are in Baku.    He's at 4.00 to finish in the podium.  Prolly there's some value there as he could be above the expectations compared to the implied odds.  Dunno tho...  FP3 where everybody starts pushing it is really not giving signs that Red Bull could be ahead here.

Here are the results for FP3...

2024 F1 Azerbaijan GP FP3 Results

1   George Russell   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m42.514s
2   Charles Leclerc   MON   Scuderia Ferrari   1m42.527s
3   Lando Norris   GBR   McLaren F1 Team   1m42.737s
4   Oscar Piastri   AUS   McLaren F1 Team   1m42.749s
5   Max Verstappen   NED   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m42.862s
6   Carlos Sainz   ESP   Scuderia Ferrari   1m42.968s
7   Sergio Perez   MEX   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m43.024s
8   Alex Albon   THA   Williams Racing   1m43.194s
9   Franco Colapinto   ARG   Williams Racing   1m43.238s
10   Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m43.301s
11   Fernando Alonso   ESP   Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team   1m43.474s
12   Yuki Tsunoda   JPN   Visa Cash App RB F1 Team   1m43.503s
13   Lance Stroll   CAN   Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team   1m43.571s
14   Daniel Ricciardo   AUS   Visa Cash App RB F1 Team   1m43.870s
15   Pierre Gasly   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m43.876s
16   Nico Hulkenberg   GER   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   1m44.164s
17   Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber   1m44.187s
18   Zhou Guanyu   CHN   Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber   1m44.869s
19   Esteban Ocon   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   No Time Set
20   Oliver Bearman   GBR   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   No Time Set

Keep in mind that Redull got a big upgrade this weekend.
If the go back near the top of the grid it will be thanks to the new floor of the car they had.

This is the 1st attempt the team did to fix the issues of the car after the GP of China.

For sure RBR looks more competitive in Baku but as said timer will decrease by a lot for the dirty track.

We need to see tomorrow if upgrades actually works

I am not sure, if Norris wins the drivers title, that would be more money for Mclaren, from sponsors, and that would be great for Piastri as well. Look at how terrible Perez has been for the past two years, but because he helped Max won three in a row, they kept him and I think Piastri could do even better than Perez as well. So if Norris wins the drivers title, that would be something that benefits Piastri too.

We are not talking about Piastri or Norris winning it, we are talking about either Max or Norris, Piastri has no choice anyway. This is why I think it's clear that we are going to see Piastri giving up positions if he can, to benefit himself too, more money, more sponsorships, more future in f1, they are all important for him. Sure not getting as many points as he normally could would be something that he doesn't see as happy situation, but the end result benefits him so he shouldn't really be upset about giving his position at all, he should be happy about it.

Yes seems like this is one of Perez favorite circuits and also he really needs to improve not only for him personally but also to help the team with points they really needed right now with McClaren very close to them and with a better car in this stage of the season, plus Ferrari also coming to chase them, so Red Bull cant have only one car for the fight like it was until now with only Max Verstappen being the only who takes good points for the team.

Leclerc crashed during the weekend but still nice to see him stepping forward in FP2.    He is going to be ambitious for pole position here without doubt. Just as he was here in the last 3 years and he got what he wanted also.

Perez attracts my attention the most though. First a 3rd position in FP1 and a 2nd position in the following session. I must admit the fact that he is also very successful on this track in these years. He is the winner of 2021 and 2023 Grand Prix here. I expect him to surprise people this time after getting poor results for a long while. At least a better result even if he doesn't finish on podium. I still believe the winner of pole position will be Norris or Leclerc. 

So Leclerc got the best time in the second session of the free practice number 2 with 1.43.4
We are still very far away from the pole-position of the past year so these timers should not be significant

I have no watched the free practices day so Idk if they are going slower of if the track is slower in comparison of the past years.

It seems that RBR is quite confident that they can give their best performance in this circuit with quite positive results in the practice session. And for Charles, he again struggled to control his car in this circuit and hit the wall - this is nothing new for him - and for sure his crash was not as bad as Colapinto lol it seems like Logan is back on the circuit seeing how he crashed into the wall and destroyed the front left side of his car quite badly.

Haven't seen the session but I've just seen the 2023 timers.
Pole position of 2023 was done by Charles Leclerc in 1:40.203 according to wikepia.
Consider these cars are faster than 2023, then the pole position will be probably in 1.39/1.39.5
TLDR, we should be around 5 second slower in comparison of the probable timer of the pole position if wee see the past year pole position timer.

I think team orders apply only if Norris has pole in quali or if he has the pace over his teammate during the race.  That would only fair.  But if it was reversed and if Piastri has the pace over Norris even tho Norris is head, then it's obv that Piastri should be given the go ahead to pass Norris.  Fair for both drivers imo.

Here are the results for FP1.  Norris and Piastri are clearly sand bagging...  And prolly Leclerc too..?

2024 F1 Azerbaijan FP1 Results

1   Max Verstappen   NED   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m45.546s
2   Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m45.859s
3   Sergio Perez   MEX   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m45.922s
4   Lando Norris   GBR   McLaren F1 Team   1m46.027s
5   Carlos Sainz   ESP   Scuderia Ferrari   1m46.173s
6   Oscar Piastri   AUS   McLaren F1 Team   1m46.282s
7   Fernando Alonso   ESP   Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team   1m46.452s
8   George Russell   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m46.516s
9   Charles Leclerc   MON   Scuderia Ferrari   1m46.608s
10   Daniel Ricciardo   AUS   Visa Cash App RB F1 Team   1m46.687s
11   Oliver Bearman   GBR   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   1m46.973s
12   Nico Hulkenberg   GER   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   1m47.135s
13   Lance Stroll   CAN   Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team   1m47.184s
14   Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber   1m47.640s
15   Yuki Tsunoda   JPN   Visa Cash App RB F1 Team   1m47.708s
16   Franco Colapinto   ARG   Williams Racing   1m47.901s
17   Alex Albon   THA   Williams Racing   1m47.955s
19   Pierre Gasly   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m48.712s
19   Zhou Guanyu   CHN   Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber   1m49.052s
20   Esteban Ocon   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   No Time Set

Not only they didn't let Norris get ahead last race, they even got him to gave up place before as well .I understand they are trying to keep Piastri happy as well but that's not the way a team works. You have team orders for a reason, and Norris needs to learn to eb a star as well and learn to say no when the time comes, he is so close to Max and because of team orders he might lose his first ever title, that feels like that's a disgusting thing a team can do for their racers.

If Mclaren doesn't want racers to hate them, they should let Lando Norris take the first place whenever they can, always switch positions to keep Norris ahead whenever they can, so that he can win the title, if they keep this up, they will lose the title, and have an unhappy Norris. And that means others will see what Mclaren did to Norris, and big names would never join them, even if their car is great, plus how long Mclaren can keep this up, so they need to take advantage of what they have now.

From Piastri it is possible only because they let him win the 1st race few weeks ago.
Otherwise imho was impossible to ask to him to give up the eventual 1st victory in the final part of the season.


No rain expected this weekend, so if we watch Monza and prior GP we should expcet Mclaren>>>Mercedes>Ferrari-RBR

From Piastri perspective, it's understandable that such strategy is painful. Ambitious drivers never like when their teamnate is prioritized
Such decision is right, but probably too late. Not everything is Norris hands now, he need some very poor performances from Max. But  even if they would have used team orders previously, Lando fight for title still would be very complicated.

Not surprised with its being unofficial.    Because McLaren did it before also. They said they were going to start caring about Norris' championship opportunity by giving him priority. But what happened later? They didn't stand behind their words in Monza... Maybe it is another speculation now. McLaren needs to show this to us in action in Azerbaijan. Because it is very likely to see Norris - Piastri duo in the front row again.

Piastri is just very eager to prove his skills while he has a very fast car. It is totally normal. But if McLaren states it clearly no doubt Piastri will obey the rule. I don't think he would act like Verstappen.

By saying Verstappen I mean his Toro Rosso times being teammates with Sainz. 

The lack of communication with the team did result in something quite fatal as Martin lost points with the wrong strategy in a race in unusual conditions. Meanwhile, his annoyance towards Ducati who chose Marquez over Martin to partner Bagnaia next season, I think, also has a clear reason because Marquez is a rider who has won the world championship eight times and six of them were in the premier class. So, I think Ducati's decision to choose Marquez is very wise even though Marquez himself is no longer as young as Martin.

If the McLaren team is serious about winning the title, they have to prioritise Norris, he simply has a better chance of beating Verstappen this year. McLaren will probably win the constructors' title in any case as they are simply better as a team than Red Bull this year.

So Piastri should always pay attention to the fastest lap (if Verstappen keeps it) every point is important now.

^  McLaren should've made it clear at the last race that Lando Norris gets priority.  What Piastri did set them back a couple of races or three races to get the lead for the driver's championship.  Sucks for Piastri but good call from the team imho.

Will be interesting to see how both drivers behave and look on the track this weekend.

Anyway, Norris is favorite to get pole in quali at 2.60 followed by Leclerc at 4.50 then Piastri at 6.00.  As for the race Norris is favorite with Leclerc and Piastri at dead even with the odds.

Unofficial status.

Finally Mclaren chosed to use team orders to give more chances in favor to Lando Norris for the remaining part of the season in the fight again Max Verstappen.
So far they used only the "papaya rules" but now they chosen to gives priority to Lando.

Even Piastri in a recent interview he said that is it will paintful but it is open to give a a victory if it is will necessary

Newey will definitely make sure that Aston Martin is as great as he can make it and I bet that they will have some improvements without a doubt. I am not saying that it will happen quickly, I am just saying that it will be better than what it is right now. This doesn't mean that they will win all the races and dominate, we can see him be at Red Bull right now and do nothing about the fact that they are about to lose, and I am sure that's not loved by Red Bull, but Newey basically let them be already and not really improving.

Aston Martin made the greatest choice they could make, I just wish they didn't really have to go with Stroll as well, I get that he is the son of the owner, but dude just sucks, he is terrible , and they need someone younger and more fierce than Alonso as well. I know he has been great, but dude is 40+ years old, maybe getting someone better would be a good idea, they could definitely make it work with someone younger that gets more consistent results.

so Jeremy Clarkson was correct in the end.

As I reported months ago here he basically spoiled about Adrian Newey and Aston Martin.

He was back in July and during an interview he said that Adrian Newey was house-hunting in Oxfordshire and not in Maranello.

We also got another rumor if you remember.
This time was Autosprint speaking about a secret factory visit for Adrian..