Max Verstappen took victory after leading virtually the entire race in Qatar. Oscar Piastri enjoyed another solid race to finished second while his team mate Lando Norris ensured another great result for McLaren.
Christian Horner has to take a lot of credit. As team principal he now has as many WDCs as Toto. Christian built this team in both their periods of success.
Christian Horner has to take a lot of credit. As team principal he now has as many WDCs as Toto. Christian built this team in both their periods of success.
Wonder how Lewis overtook Sainz on the last lap ? The TV didn't show it
Hamilton gave him the shakes into T7, then Sainz was very compromised with late braking into T7 so Sainz went to the outside of the racing line, and Hamilton went inside and overtook, T7
Without the SC, I think Max wins that. Russell & the Ferrari’s would have dropped like a stone without the SC’s.
Maybe but it didn't seem like Max had any pace advantage to Piastri and had 3 laps younger tyres.. Sunday could yet be McLaren winning from low down the order if they get fortunate
I think a few things clouded the true picture. Max had to work those tires alot harder than Piastri with having to overtake all those soft runners. He was in dirty air alot more. Tire management wasnt needed today, and that where Piastri still has alot to learn. Also i dont think Max pushed those last laps anymore, once he realized it wasnt going to happen. Good drive by Piastri and a win on merrit.
Without the SC, I think Max wins that. Russell & the Ferrari’s would have dropped like a stone without the SC’s.
Maybe but it didn't seem like Max had any pace advantage to Piastri and had 3 laps younger tyres.. Sunday could yet be McLaren winning from low down the order if they get fortunate
The maximum stint length will be 20 laps, most likely. This will make it much harder for Mclaren to benefit from SCs. Those grid positions have likely killed off any opportunity they had to win here.
This track is SO bad when you are coming from behind. You spend the entire lap in in dirty air damaging the tires just to overtake 1 car.
Seems like he's assuming people will go for 3 lap old softs instead of 5-7 lap old mediums. I'd much rather take the old mediums and squeeze 15 laps out of them than the softs which will be dead after 10 laps.
Seems like he's assuming people will go for 3 lap old softs instead of 5-7 lap old mediums. I'd much rather take the old mediums and squeeze 15 laps out of them than the softs which will be dead after 10 laps.
That is still a massive compromise since you are forced into 4 stopping.
RB look to be sitting pretty to be honest:
The Mclarens are starting 6th and 10th with poor tire allocation. RB have pole and enviable tire selection.
Seems like he's assuming people will go for 3 lap old softs instead of 5-7 lap old mediums. I'd much rather take the old mediums and squeeze 15 laps out of them than the softs which will be dead after 10 laps.
That is still a massive compromise since you are forced into 4 stopping.
The Mclarens are starting 6th and 10th with poor tire allocation. RB have pole and enviable tire selection.
But you won't be since all of the relevant contenders have at least two new sets, one medium and one hard. That's 40 laps right there. Then add a couple of used mediums and you can easily get to 57 laps in 3 stops.
Now if there's a 20 lap limit on the tyres but without a mandated 3 stops we can start discussing some different permutations. Because then you have many that are right on the edge whether they actually have enough to go medium-hard-medium to the end without exceeding the 20 lap max. But everyone should be capable of the 3 stop.
Last edited by Cs98 on Sat Oct 07, 2023 8:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.