Red Bull Racing secured the perfect result at the Baku by taking a 1-2 finish for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen was closely matched throughout the race while closest challenger Charles Leclerc finished 19 seconds behind.
langedweil wrote: ↑26 Apr 2023, 07:08F1-top seems really mentally confused ..
How on earth will this ludacrous circus make any sense this weekend !?
Can we please go back in time, strip all nonsense, get rid of the BS tracks like Miami & Vegas, and bring back the likes of Kyalami, Sepang and Magny Cours ?
#dumbfounded
Edax wrote: ↑25 Apr 2023, 21:09Unconfirmed rumor is that they will change the qualifying format for the sprint into driving one lap backwards. Since this will not wear down the forward gears the gearbox allocation can remain the same.
Besides the added spectacle and the better visibility for the sponsor decals on the right side of the car this is also considered to provide a natural deterrent for the teams not to add vision impairing aero to the rearview mirrors.
Edax wrote: ↑25 Apr 2023, 21:09Unconfirmed rumor is that they will change the qualifying format for the sprint into driving one lap backwards. Since this will not wear down the forward gears the gearbox allocation can remain the same.
Besides the added spectacle and the better visibility for the sponsor decals on the right side of the car this is also considered to provide a natural deterrent for the teams not to add vision impairing aero to the rearview mirrors.
An idea reminiscent of both the BMW M1 Procar mini-series and Jaguar XJR15 mini-series. If only one of the manufacturers had a ‘halo’ car available that would such such a competition!
CMSMJ1 wrote: ↑26 Apr 2023, 10:39They are messing with the golden goose.
F1 (and Grand Prix) was a top tier event - the point of it being the longest and fastest and with some variety in engineering to deliver it. I know you know that.
Bastardising it for the show and making it "accessible" for people who can't stop looking at their phones when at a live event, or watching something not on catchup, is not the way.
The entire point of GP is that it is long and hard.
I'm all for other formats to entertain me with racing cars and I would honestly prefer a unique setup for sprint - can have the same teams running it but let them design and build (or tender and spec for everyone) a different car. The current cars are fat and ponderous with their 300km fuel tanks and enormous platforms.
Smaller, lighter and faster cars and for all to just rag it. Sign me up.
They should at least consider going to the pre 2009 points system, 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.organic wrote: ↑25 Apr 2023, 22:45Fortunately there are no real backmarkers this year and all teams may fancy the possibility of getting 8th. But you're right - I don't expect drivers to be pushing that hard on Saturday considering the potential costs of mistakes are no higher and the points available and the differences between positions are minimalchrisc90 wrote: ↑25 Apr 2023, 21:38Realistically, what is the point of those teams that very rarely see the points pushing their cars to the limits, high chance of driver error/injury, huge cost if the car is damaged, in a sprint race? literally zero point now. No point risking a qualifying lap when you know the place the car will finish isnt going to be capable of getting points in the sprint race.
Totally stupid. Massive risk for virtually zero reward. They might aswell just trundle round, put a time on the 108% board or whatever it is, do a few laps of the sprint at the back of the grid and park the car, save the engine and risks of damage.
Then resume normal service for the GP qualifying and race.
I couldn’t agree more, Mark! I’m not really bothered what engines are used, or whether they are hybrid-drive or not. They should look (and be) difficult to drive at the limit.CMSMJ1 wrote: ↑26 Apr 2023, 10:39They are messing with the golden goose.
F1 (and Grand Prix) was a top tier event - the point of it being the longest and fastest and with some variety in engineering to deliver it. I know you know that.
Bastardising it for the show and making it "accessible" for people who can't stop looking at their phones when at a live event, or watching something not on catchup, is not the way.
The entire point of GP is that it is long and hard.
I'm all for other formats to entertain me with racing cars and I would honestly prefer a unique setup for sprint - can have the same teams running it but let them design and build (or tender and spec for everyone) a different car. The current cars are fat and ponderous with their 300km fuel tanks and enormous platforms.
Smaller, lighter and faster cars and for all to just rag it. Sign me up.
