F1 2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Race Weekend thread

[happy_eagle]

Liam's interview post qualifying is just about as deflated as I've heard a driver (up there with Daniel towards the end of his McLaren stint). Seems to have zero answer as to how to improve it as well.

In terms of breaks this season
After this week its 2 weeks off, followed by a triple header. I doubt they will dump him this week.
Then its a 1 week break to Miami
Then 1 week break before another triple header.
The next 2 week break is between Silverstone and Spa, so that might be when they do it.

 

[FreoRicci]

Liam's interview post qualifying is just about as deflated as I've heard a driver (up there with Daniel towards the end of his McLaren stint). Seems to have zero answer as to how to improve it as well.

In terms of breaks this season
After this week its 2 weeks off, followed by a triple header. I doubt they will dump him this week.
Then its a 1 week break to Miami
Then 1 week break before another triple header.
The next 2 week break is between Silverstone and Spa, so that might be when they do it.

As much as people don’t like his attitude, pretty nuts how he thinks he doesn’t have time. It’s his rookie season.
Red Bull need to face the facts that it’ll take time for a second driver to cover Max.

 

[gaskin]

As much as people don’t like his attitude, pretty nuts how he thinks he doesn’t have time. It’s his rookie season.
Red Bull need to face the facts that it’ll take time for a second driver to cover Max.

He ain't a rookie anymore. He has had enough drives over the last 2 years to not be classified as a rookie, IMO.

 

[Festerz]

I can’t stand the overhyping of the Brit drivers as much as anyone else, but people complaining when we are watching British coverage is kind of funny. As if it wouldn’t be 99% Oscar if we had Aussie coverage.

This is just nonsense.

For starters, Sky F1 know full well that they aren't just broadcasting to a UK audience but to Australian viewers as well - that make mention of it at every race and milked it for all its worth in their coverage of the Australian GP last weekend.

So knowing that commercial reality, there is a responsibility of any journalist commentator and broadcaster, including in sports broadcasting, to be impartial and unbiased in what you are presenting to your audience- in this case a global audience. Sky F1 has that responsibility.

And your comparison to Australian F1 broadcasters is a false one. Because of course no Australian F1 broadcasts are transmitted outside of Australia.

Australians pay a not insubstantial subscription to access the Sky F1 broadcast via the Australian Fox/Sky Australian subsidiary Foxtel.

My point being Alex from Adelaide, Australia has just as much right to complain about the quality and inherent bias of that broadcast as does Basil from Balsall Heath, in Birmingham England.

 

[largebus]

I can’t stand the overhyping of the Brit drivers as much as anyone else, but people complaining when we are watching British coverage is kind of funny. As if it wouldn’t be 99% Oscar if we had Aussie coverage.

There was Aussie coverage last week on channel 10. I watched it and there were two Poms in the comm box, Damon Hill and Tom Clarkson with Richard Craill.
Nowhere near the carry on about the Aussies, or the Brits for that matter from the two in there, that the Sky fanboys had for their mob.
Other than a dumb ad break with about 7 laps to go it was the better broadcast

 

[Cromulant]

There was Aussie coverage last week on channel 10. I watched it and there were two Poms in the comm box, Damon Hill and Tom Clarkson with Richard Craill.
Nowhere near the carry on about the Aussies, or the Brits for that matter from the two in there, that the Sky fanboys had for their mob.
Other than a dumb ad break with about 7 laps to go it was the better broadcast

Clarkson is really good, and Craillsy could commentate grass growing and make it exciting.

As for today, I reckon its D Day for Doohan. Has to get through the race without any incidents and move forward. It might already be too late but if he can be close to Gasly at race's end it'll be something to hang his hat on.

 

[dazbroncos]

Lawsons quote was “I’m not here to make friends. “

More like he ain’t gonna be there long enough to make friends - barely acquaintances at this point..

at least he’s getting a good view of the field.

And Doohan was ok.. he only a few 10ths behind Gasly - So in the respect he’s doing better than Lawson.
Still JD needs to finish and good result .

 

[Cromulant]

Lawsons quote was “I’m not here to make friends. “

More like he ain’t gonna be there long enough to make friends - barely acquaintances at this point..

at least he’s getting a good view of the field.

And Doohan was ok.. he only a few 10ths behind Gasly - So in the respect he’s doing better than Lawson.
Still JD needs to finish and good result .

Lawson will find himself in the same strife that Jack is, for a different reason.

He's there because they couldn't get an established star to join, and didnt trust Yuki..... but the latter has put his head down.

 

[dazbroncos]

Lead into turn 1 and then manage the race from there hopefully.

As long as Zac doesn’t engage the Lando undercut from hell with the “ free to race from the formation lap” speech ..

After last weeks “ hold positions “ then OP drops back 3 secs and then gets the free to race call… just be consistent..

Of course… this is F1 so whom am I kidding.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Liam's interview post qualifying is just about as deflated as I've heard a driver (up there with Daniel towards the end of his McLaren stint). Seems to have zero answer as to how to improve it as well.

In terms of breaks this season
After this week its 2 weeks off, followed by a triple header. I doubt they will dump him this week.
Then its a 1 week break to Miami
Then 1 week break before another triple header.
The next 2 week break is between Silverstone and Spa, so that might be when they do it.

Who are they going to dump him for? Horner and Helmut hate Yuki (they shouldn't but they do) and don't even make me laugh by suggesting Lindblad. And no top driver who is available is likely to choose them given all their internal issues. They are stuck with him.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Lawsons quote was “I’m not here to make friends. “

More like he ain’t gonna be there long enough to make friends - barely acquaintances at this point..

at least he’s getting a good view of the field.

And Doohan was ok.. he only a few 10ths behind Gasly - So in the respect he’s doing better than Lawson.
Still JD needs to finish and good result .

Doohan was OK but briatore who should be nowhere near F1 will dump him. It's a different situation to red bull with no alternative to Lawson as alpine have cola cash waiting there.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

100%, Sainz is a fantastic driver and I think would be brilliant in the RB, it’s just such a dumb move. Politics at its finest.

Sainz is not going to go anywhere near red bull if jos is there and nor should he. And that geriatric idiot that is marko (remembering it was he that wanted Lawson in the car to begin with) is too tied to jos to tell him to get stuffed like he should do.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Someone explain to me how Lawson was the best option out there, I do not understand

Yuki
DR
Perez

All currently better

I’d take Scott Speed at this point

Helmut wanted 'youf' hence no DR and there's this giant reason called JV that no decent driver wants their politics.
As for yuki they and he have already decided he's leaving at the end of the year it's too far gone to go back on it.

 

[Cromulant]

Helmut wanted 'youf' hence no DR and there's this giant reason called JV that no decent driver wants their politics.
As for yuki they and he have already decided he's leaving at the end of the year it's too far gone to go back on it.

No DR was because hes not upto it either, he knew it.

 

[Vader]

Clarkson is really good, and Craillsy could commentate grass growing and make it exciting.

As for today, I reckon its D Day for Doohan. Has to get through the race without any incidents and move forward. It might already be too late but if he can be close to Gasly at race's end it'll be something to hang his hat on.

Doohan's speed is fine - he's consistently been as fast as, if not quicker, than Gasly. It's all his crashes which are holding him back. If he can keep it on the island then he should be fine. If not, his F1 career could (and likely will be) very short.

 

[Vader]

Who are they going to dump him for? Horner and Helmut hate Yuki (they shouldn't but they do) and don't even make me laugh by suggesting Lindblad. And no top driver who is available is likely to choose them given all their internal issues. They are stuck with him.

More to the point, their only options are internal if they wish to make the change mid-season (unless they plan on buying out the contract for another team's reserve driver).

I would laugh if they sacked Lawson, and decided to buy out Bottas' contract at Mercedes. It's never going to happen, but it would be hilarious if it did.

 

[Skull Face]

Doohans qually pace has been fine right on point for matching gasly which is all he needs to do, its the race pace that will see him lose his seat he cant be falling 5 spots and 15sec behind gasly again after starting ahead of him he needs a good stint where he moves forward in a race.

Having watched his junior career I don't think he has it in him, decent qually pace and a great frontrunner but no so good at the wheel to wheel stuff which is what he needs to get good at in an alpine to save his seat.

I am loving what Oscar is doing and signs of weakness coming from lando due to the pressure are a welcome sight, needs to start well and use that clean air to look after the tires and drive clear start to put some points pressure on norris.

 

[Aussie pie]

Call me cynical but I’m sure McLaren will screw Oscar either deliberately or by stupid decisions and Sky F1 won’t acknowledge it because it will be to the benefit of a Brit, most likely Blando.

 

[Cromulant]

Call me cynical but I’m sure McLaren will screw Oscar either deliberately or by stupid decisions and Sky F1 won’t acknowledge it because it will be to the benefit of a Brit, most likely Blando.

That is extremely cynical.

If Oscar leads into the first corner its his race to lose.

 

[Aussie pie]

That is extremely cynical.

If Oscar leads into the first corner its his race to lose.

I know, I’ve watched aussies get screwed over too many times in F1 over the years I’m convinced there’s a conspiracy against us by the Brits in particular for constantly beating them in cricket. Their revenge is F1 and to bring the Europeans in to help.

 

[Cromulant]

I know, I’ve watched aussies get screwed over too many times in F1 over the years I’m convinced there’s a conspiracy against us by the Brits in particular for constantly beating them in cricket. Their revenge is F1 and to bring the Europeans in to help.

It just doesn't happen

 

[Forward Press]

I know, I’ve watched aussies get screwed over too many times in F1 over the years I’m convinced there’s a conspiracy against us by the Brits in particular for constantly beating them in cricket. Their revenge is F1 and to bring the Europeans in to help.

...are you serious?

 

[Festerz]

Call me cynical but I’m sure McLaren will screw Oscar either deliberately or by stupid decisions and Sky F1 won’t acknowledge it because it will be to the benefit of a Brit, most likely Blando.

You're cynical.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

More to the point, their only options are internal if they wish to make the change mid-season (unless they plan on buying out the contract for another team's reserve driver).

I would laugh if they sacked Lawson, and decided to buy out Bottas' contract at Mercedes. It's never going to happen, but it would be hilarious if it did.

I agree there's no real other options (someone like bottas would be a safe pair of hands but won't happen for a variety of reasons) to make the change which is why Lawson won't get dumped until the end of the year.

 

[Cromulant]

I agree there's no real other options (someone like bottas would be a safe pair of hands but won't happen for a variety of reasons) to make the change which is why Lawson won't get dumped until the end of the year.

Unless they bite the bullet and payout Alpines contract on Colapinto.

They don't appear to have much time if they want to do that though.