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If Max is passing Lando (I don't want to think also Oscar) with this strategy, then Hannah should have a statue and our Singh guy needs to be fired instantly.
You still want to build Hannah a statue?
Q: (Stefano Mancini – La Stampa) Kimi, will you help Vettel to win his championship this year?
Kimi Raikkonen: I can only drive one car, obviously.
@2018 Singapore Grand Prix drivers press conference.
The drivers are so evenly matched, and the car is so good, it will come to qualifying. Oscar currently has the edge, but it could swing over different races.
If Max is passing Lando (I don't want to think also Oscar) with this strategy, then Hannah should have a statue and our Singh guy needs to be fired instantly.
You still want to build Hannah a statue?
Props to RedBull, they actually delivered a genius strategy there. Max made it work of course with critically timed overtakes and great pace, but they stood no chance against McLaren on a 2 stop strategy.
The only reason Max was anywhere near getting P2 back from Lando was their differing strategy.
It was unfortunate for them at the end with the safety car, but absolutely, the RedBull pit wall was outstanding today.
Excellent weekend overall, though in the end it seemed a little tighter with Verstappen than I'd like. How it's not a race ban to crash into someone on purpose I don't understand.
Somewhat bad start by Lando, but he did manage to keep Verstappen and Russell off Oscar, so at least it's something.
This race should put even more question marks in Lando’s head. I never expected Piastri to outpace him in this heat. Massive race from Oscar and his best one yet without doubt.
Good to see the pace also. Was a bit tense when Max pushed on with his mediums, but in the final laps before the stop he was slower than the McLarens again, despite much fresher tyres. Bodes well for the summer!
Last edited by Tvetovnato on 01 Jun 2025, 17:03, edited 1 time in total.
Lando looked like he had managed his first set of tyres beautifully after getting by Max. At times he looked like that was going to be the case but Oscar really played it beautifully. Masterful, and it was also an excellent drive by Lando. The strategy team held their nerve with their two stop plan and double stack worked great. This was arguably McLaren's most perfect weekend since Prost and Senna. 10/10
Dirty air is really bad again at the end of this formula, they've got back to not being able to follow without a big delta, so unless you manage your tyres much better, you will struggle to get by.
Props to Oscar, he managed that like a pro, including the tyres.
What a race, awesome 1-2.
Not happy seeing Lando losing a position at the start again, but he recovered it nicely.
Oscar's pace was really good. I was expecting Lando to close the gap on mediums, but he just was not fast enough. Although I agree with mwillems and I think McL were probably considering leaving Lando out for 1 stop to cover Max and stopping Oscar for softs. That's exactly where the gap went from 3s to 6s. Obviously Max pitted right after and both cars covered him.
Very good job with the double stack, nicely done.
I was expecting Max to stay out on used softs and be p1 with Mcls on p2 and p3. Very weird they stopped for hards I think.
Max's red mist moment, oh well, that's a big points gain for our drivers.
Dirty air is really bad again at the end of this formula, they've got back to not being able to follow without a big delta, so unless you manage your tyres much better, you will struggle to get by.
Props to Oscar, he managed that like a pro, including the tyres.
Definitely well done, probably this was his best race so far. It never looked like he was struggling, Norris could net get close. Mighty impressive and a bit unexpected imo.
Lando needs to stop making mistakes when it matters in qualifying and its going to be way closer again. Clear air is really important when the drivers are this close to each-other.
I am not getting into his other weakness (which is starts), but assuming you ignore that one, more often than not, the driver starting ahead will finish ahead. It's clear that Oscar has taken a big step forward this year in every critical area he needed to take a big step. Overtakes on track like last year will be rare. Lando doesn't have 0.5-0.6s pace per lap on Oscar due to time management anymore, and likewise, Oscar doesn't have that sort of pace in the race over Lando either.
Very tough conditions today though and McLaren again was the only team which had both drivers right at the edge of the field really closely matched together. In the constructor's title, that's a huge advantage and they're starting to form a really big gap there.
As for the driver's, I am in support of meritocracy. The driver who ends up P1 after the last race at the end of the season, will be the driver most deserving of the tittle, no matter which driver that is and from whatever team they're from.
Fair play to Oscar though, and of course, I admit that I undermined him severely last season. He has proven me and many others wrong with his performance so far this season.
A great confident race for McLaren!!! Both drivers are great! Thanks to the team for a decent chassis! Bravo!!!
What about penalty points for Verstappen?
10 seconds time penalty, classified 10th
Q: (Stefano Mancini – La Stampa) Kimi, will you help Vettel to win his championship this year?
Kimi Raikkonen: I can only drive one car, obviously.
@2018 Singapore Grand Prix drivers press conference.
