Topic: Motosport General discussion tread --- Formula1, MotoGP, WTCC, ETCC, DTM..... - page 293. (Read 144122 times)

Yep, I think by the time F1 goes to Europe, prolly as early as Spain, we could see Ferrari start getting consistent 1 - 2's more and more.  Watch out for that.  It's gonna be a hard fought battle but I think Leclerc could be F1 driver's champion this year and Ferrari  constructor's champion.  Remember, Red Bull had absolutely no points for the first race.  That's huge if both teams come neck and neck for the rest of the season.

2022 F1 Australian GP Qualifying Results

1   Charles Leclerc   MON   Scuderia Ferrari   1m18.881s   1m18.606s   1m17.868s
2   Max Verstappen   NED   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m18.580s   1m18.611s   1m18.164s
3   Sergio Perez   MEX   Oracle Bull Racing   1m18.834s   1m18.340s   1m18.240s
4   Lando Norris   GBR   McLaren F1 Team   1m19.280s   1m19.066s   1m18.703s
5   Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team   1m19.401s   1m19.106s   1m18.825s
6   George Russell   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team   1m19.405s   1m19.076s   1m18.933s
7   Daniel Ricciardo   AUS   McLaren F1 Team   1m19.665s   1m19.130s   1m19.032s
8   Esteban Ocon   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m19.605s   1m19.136s   1m19.061s
9   Carlos Sainz   ESP   Scuderia Ferrari   1m18.983s   1m18.469s   1m19.408s
10   Fernando Alonso   ESP   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m19.192s   1m18.815s   No Time Set
11   Pierre Gasly   FRA   Scuderia AlphaTauri   1m19.580s   1m19.226s   
12   Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen   1m19.251s   1m19.410s   
13   Yuki Tsunoda   JPN   Scuderia AlphaTauri   1m19.742s   1m19.424s   
14   Guanyu Zhou   CHN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen   1m19.910s   1m20.155s   
15   Mick Schumacher   GER   Haas F1 Team   1m20.104s   1m20.465s   
16   Alexander Albon   THA   Williams Racing   1m20.135s       
17   Kevin Magnussen   DEN   Haas F1 Team   1m20.254s       
18   Sebastian Vettel   GER   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   1m21.149s       
19   Nicholas Latifi   CAN   Williams Racing   1m21.372s       
20   Lance Stroll   CAN   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   No Time Set   

Pole position LECLERC!!!

Sainz got unlucky on his 1st attempt, red flag when he was on the start line, probably under half-second before he could end his lap.

On his second attempt, he did a mistake otherwise he could fight Charles.

Will the record that has been more than five years be broken today? because after finishing FP1 and FP2 yesterday, I saw that the lap times of all the riders were still worse than the time that Marquez had in 2015 at the Of The Americas circuit.
And today there will be FP3 and FP4 and qualifying for all drivers, so let's see who can break the record that has been in the past today.

1   Lando Norris   GBR   McLaren F1 Team   1m19.117s
2   Charles Leclerc   MON   Scuderia Ferrari   1m19.249s
3   Sergio Perez   MEX   Oracle Bull Racing   1m19.265s
4   Fernando Alonso   ESP   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m19.275s
5   Carlos Sainz   ESP   Scuderia Ferrari   1m19.419s
6   Daniel Ricciardo   AUS   McLaren F1 Team   1m19.693s
7   Max Verstappen   NED   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m19.809s
8   Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team   1m19.896s
9   Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen   1m20.008s
10   Yuki Tsunoda   JPN   Scuderia AlphaTauri   1m20.071s
11   George Russell   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team   1m20.096s
12   Pierre Gasly   FRA   Scuderia AlphaTauri   1m20.133s
13   Esteban Ocon   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m20.205s
14   Mick Schumacher   GER   Haas F1 Team   1m20.692s
15   Guanyu Zhou   CHN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen   1m20.836s
16   Alexander Albon   THA   Williams Racing   1m20.958s
17   Kevin Magnussen   DEN   Haas F1 Team   1m21.025s
18   Nicholas Latifi   CAN   Williams Racing   1m21.050s
19   Lance Stroll   CAN   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   1m21.636s
20   Sebastian Vettel   GER   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   No Time Set

Source: https://www.crash.net/f1/results/1000448/1/f1-2022-australian-grand-prix-free-practice-results-3

FP3, Ferrari did not pushed but Incedible time for Norris

Fabio Quartararo's manager, Eric Mahe, confirmed he was in talks with other manufacturers outside of Yamaha. The admission reinforces speculation about the future of the MotoGP champion.

The French rider's contract with Yamaha Factory Racing expires at the end of this season. So far, there has been no sign of negotiations.
Quartararo has often disappointed the YZR-M1's performance this season. Speed and lack of power are the issues it highlights.
To motogp.com, Mahe only leaked the photos and had spoken to other manufacturers but their identities were still hidden.

"We checked all the parameters. We just have to know where Fabio can achieve the best possible result at this stage."
"We are in talks. This is not a question of bidding. We try to do our best for Fabio.
"Obviously, we have a lot of respect for Yamaha. But, for some reason, I can't say we have to bring him in."

^{Source: Motorsport.com / gpzone.id}

Vettel didn't stay just for the money, he hoped for a better team to eventually get him back. Dude deserves to be in a better car but the alternative to a bad car is no car at all. Would you rather do what you love as a business, or would you rather do nothing at all?

I mean if you didn't earn much that would change of course, so yes the money plays a big role, it is 15 million for what you love to do versus basically nothing, and that means money is a big part of it but not all of it, he does deserve to be paid that much, he could have gotten 5-10 from has as well for example, and that is poorest team. So, it is also about the fact that he is not bad enough to retire yet, no need for that, his car is the worst this season, but it wasn't like that so far.

Mercedes did a lot of new things for this race and apparently, they have not solved their problem yet (or they are hiding).
Ferrari also did some improvements to the car.

Let's see who will do the pole but I think SO FAR in tracks with high traction there is no competition and Ferrari is way better than the others.

We will see in 8 hours.

Apparently after the race, Mercedes will be displaced from second place in the constructors' championship and will not return there. The plot of the championship is approximately clear and it remains to be hoped that the dominance of Ferrari will not be total. Sainz said that falling behind Leclerc is a matter of self-confidence and he will achieve it. I hope Red Bull don't let this happen 

I think Max Verstappen will be the winner in the Australian GP. Having more straights on the track will be an advantage for the Red-Bull team. Because this team is good on the straights man. Ferrari shines in training but I feel like things will turn in Red-Bull's favor in race.

It's always about the money...  As the case for almost everybody in all fields of profession and all walks of life.  But he did take a pay cut to be in Aston Martin tho.  So it's either he thinks the team could improve and help him get back on track to be at tthe top or he took the pay cut cos nobody else would take him.  

Anyway, looks like Mercedes hasn't figured out a way to fix their porpoising issue yet...  Ferrari is looking good and Red Bull prolly could use some luck again to win the race.  Let's see after quali.  My money is on Leclerc tho.

This question has an easy answer. Money.

Vettel earns 15m € / year at Aston Martin.

It seems that Lady Fortune really doesn't like Vettel anymore or neither does his team it seems. Now , I wonder , why did Vettel remain in F1 ? this dude is still a legend and he could've retired and hope for a comeback in greater car.

Anyway , you're right , Ferrari is clearly in front of everyone at this time and as far as I know and read , both Mercedes and RedBull are having a way to heavy car to compete with Ferrari.

The provisional standings for the Rookie Of The Year are very fierce even though the number of points looks very small, but for now the drivers from Mooney Vr46 Racing Team have led the standings with a distance of just one point from Darryn Binder.
Let's take a look at some of the surprises that might happen in this Race held at the Circuit Of The Americas, and hopefully the weather can be very good

Apart from Marc Marquez who has been dubbed the King of the Cota because he has won 7 times there in the primary class, a Suzuki factory rider named Alex Rins has also won three times there, in different classes.
Alex Rins has won at COTA in all 3 Grand Prix classes

• 2013 - Moto3
• 2016 - Moto2
• 2019 - MotoGP

So, will Marc Marquez be able to add to his winning collection to 8 times or will Alex Rins try to add another victory in the primary class at the circuit of the Americas?

Right at the MotoGP event which will be held at the circuit of the americas which is located in Austin Cota, all racers or everyone will celebrate the 500th Grand Prix and from the data and statistics that already exist in the past, Marc Marquez has the opportunity to win the Race again in Circuit of the Americas is therefore claimed to be Marc Marquez's favorite circuit.
Do you all think that Marc Marquez will be able to win the race at the 500th Grand Prix?

Yes it was a long time ago and in the past driving an F1 car was also very very dangerous compared to today, just think the car had about 400 hp at 750 kg weight, so only half the power at the same weight and a completely different technique for the grip, so almost none and also with a top speed of nearly 300 km/h.

Incredible to drive with something like that.

Back to the present.


I also think Mercedes should not be written off, they have a different design than Ferrari and RedBull, if they get their proposing problems under control (and I assume they will) they will be more competitive than in the first races.

1   Charles Leclerc   MON   Scuderia Ferrari   1m18.978s
2   Max Verstappen   NED   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m19.223s
3   Carlos Sainz   ESP   Scuderia Ferrari   1m19.376s
4   Fernando Alonso   ESP   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m19.537s
5   Sergio Perez   MEX   Oracle Bull Racing   1m19.658s
6   Esteban Ocon   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m19.842s
7   Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen   1m20.055s
8   Lando Norris   GBR   McLaren F1 Team   1m20.0100s
9   Pierre Gasly   FRA   Scuderia AlphaTauri   1m20.142s
10   Daniel Ricciardo   AUS   McLaren F1 Team   1m20.203s
11   George Russell   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team   1m20.212s
12   Yuki Tsunoda   JPN   Scuderia AlphaTauri   1m20.424s
13   Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team   1m20.521s
14   Lance Stroll   CAN   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   1m20.611s
15   Guanyu Zhou   CHN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen   1m21.063s
16   Kevin Magnussen   DEN   Haas F1 Team   1m21.191s
17   Alexander Albon   THA   Williams Racing   1m21.912s
18   Mick Schumacher   GER   Haas F1 Team   1m21.974s
19   Nicholas Latifi   CAN   Williams Racing   1m22.307s
20   Sebastian Vettel   GER   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   No Time Set

Source: https://www.crash.net/f1/results/1000302/1/f1-2022-australian-grand-prix-free-practice-results-2


Ferrari is very very competitive in this track

Yes, I do expect them to fix the issue and deliver a much faster car... but the key point for me is that the other cars are under development as well. If in a month's time Mercedes have got a car that could challenge the RBs and Ferraris that started the season, then that may not be enough, as both Red Bull and Ferrari will also be bringing upgrades. It's certainly not impossible for Merc to be at the front later this year, but they really have a difficult task.

@tokeweed I never knew that Porsche was keen to try their hands in F1 and it would have been fun to see them compete, furthermore you’re right about Ferrari and let’s hope that this season they reclaim their lost glory.


@Cnut237 I agree with you it’s nearly impossible for them to fix it by this weekend, but I’m personally expecting them to fix it in coming weeks rather than delay fixing it for months.

I don't know, but it won't be this week. I'd be astonished if they've somehow fixed everything and have made up that 1 minute+ deficit to the best cars.

I'm not saying they won't fix it at some point, but it looks like quite a serious issue with no quick-fix.