Formula One ( F1 )

Fantastic race. Very glad it ended when it did.

Yeah, even as someone who was glad to see the Merc dominance end and can't bear how much the Sky team are going to be creaming themselves over this, I'm happy Hamilton got that one. Was probably only 2 or 3 laps from getting passed there. Good to see Max pull up alongside to congratulate him too.

Really enjoyed that, great performance from Lewis, wasn't sure if I'd see that again

That was pretty special to see from vale bank. The move by Norris on Verstappen at Stowe was so good to watch and the crowd went nuts

Just watched Brad Pitt's F1 trailer. He's never been shy of casting himself as the greatest guy on earth but taking on the driver role takes quite some ego. No doubt studio wanted it blah blah blah...

I got super bored of watching Lewis win all the time. Then I got super bored of him not winning all the time. So I was super happy to see him win yesterday and crush another bunch of records. Great stuff, brilliant result.

Well that was awks.

Great result regardless, Max is batshit but i'm kind of liking him atm. Lando just hasn't been the same likeable chap since he broke up with Carlos.

McLaren definitely need to up their strategy game, Hamilton was nowhere near undercutting distance when they brought Norris in (6 seconds behind I think? And not closing particularly quickly), leaving Piastri out there for an extra lap meant they were always going to be in a crap situation. Didn't sound like they'd ran through the plan with Norris either, outlining that he'd get the advantage to prevent the undercut but would have to cede the place after.

Feel bad for Norris as he probably had the speed to fight for the win had the pit strategy unfolded normally (though McLaren probably would've told them to hold position after the final pit stops). He was put in a pretty shit lose-lose situation by the team. Feel shit for Piastri as he probably feels that he didn't really earn that win.

I'm hoping Red Bull & Mercedes catch up a bit to McLaren, as it definitely has the makings of a great season. At this rate the WDC is absolutely up for grabs, and frankly I wouldn't be surprised if Perez gets the boot mid-season to help with the WCC as that looks to be McLaren-bound at this rate.

In demoting Norris it felt like they'd gone to Ferrari F1 tactics school.

Fun race though. I wonder if Norris regrets his decision to push on. I wonder if, had it been Max in his position, he would have let him through immediately but just enough to then DRS attack on the straight.

None of that made sense. Why pit him and give him the first place if you're not going to let him keep it? Why as a team would you not want your driver, who is 2nd in the championship, to get maximum points?

Feel shit for Piastri as he probably feels that he didn't really earn that win.

Not sure Oscar would have held on to the lead if they pitted him first. He made a few mistakes and Norris was flying in the second half. Given he's done such a solid job for the team and Lando so far i'd say it was more the execution rather than the decision to swap them back that should be criticised. Keeping Oscar on side is going to be important if they're going to fight for the constructors title and may benefit Lando later on. If he loses the WDC by 6 points then quote me!

In the long-term, I think asking Norris to return the place was definitely the right call. Norris has been on the receiving end of Piastri being a team player a few times now.

I think if McLaren keep this form going, they'll be asking Piastri to play rear-gunner to allow Norris to make a dent in Verstappen's lead. If Norris had've kept the position yesterday, I don't think Piastri would be as open to playing the team game.

Hoping they have a strong car next season two, it's been a long time since we seen a decent inter-team battle for the championship.

I think if Norris had've let him back and started attacking, McLaren would've pulled the 'hold position' order to prevent them taking each other out.

Norris has been on the receiving end of Piastri being a team player a few times now.

I guess I'm not looking out for these occasions but I can't remember them. Have they been critical to the outcome?

I do remember Piastri attacking Norris at every opportunity off the line though.

I think if McLaren keep this form going, they'll be asking Piastri to play rear-gunner to allow Norris to make a dent in Verstappen's lead

I can't see a reason to have not done this yesterday, in a situation they control, though. If Piastri wants to win the championship, he needs to be faster than Norris, and he isn't. It was entirely defensible for them to prioritize Norris yesterday, in the same way it was indefensible for Ferrari to not prioritize Leclerc to challenge Max early in 2022-23 when it was clear that Leclerc was quicker than Sainz in the 22-23 car.

Despite Norris towing the party line, he's clearly as exasperated as everyone watching I think.

I guess I'm not looking out for these occasions but I can't remember them. Have they been critical to the outcome?

Giving up the podium at his home race springs to mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l66xpU1SUQg

Honestly I can't think of any other specific cases at this point, but it's always felt like a pairing that understood the idea of putting the team first.

I can't see a reason to have not done this yesterday, in a situation they control, though.

Yeah I agree to be fair. I'm guessing the number 1/2 driver for the season chat hasn't happened within the team at this point, but I assume it soon will.

Despite Norris towing the party line, he's clearly as exasperated as everyone watching I think.

Honestly I can't remember the last time he didn't seem exasperated after a race. I'm sure he's well aware of how many races he really should've won this year.

While it's clear he had the pace in the last stint, I don't think it was anywhere near the difference that was actually required to make a pass. Plenty of examples on Sunday of people cruising up to the back of a slower car only to get stuck.

Edit: Just spotted this, feels like afterwards he was able to take a step back and see the situation for what it was: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mzTowGbwM1A

In fairness to Lando, Oscar coming second on Saturdays means he puts himself in a situation where he may have to defend for the front runner. Maybe as you say, naming the 1/2 driver puts an end to this but i don't think it's a stretch to think Oscar could catch Lando in the points.

Honestly I can't remember the last time he didn't seem exasperated after a race.

Ha that is true!

F3 qualifying currently making that 2019 Monza qualifying look like a well-oiled machine

https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1ecoa1n/traffic_in_f3_qualifying/

Sargeant, F1's cheapest/most costly driver is out.

I kind of feel sorry for him. They knew what they had, signed him for another season and were surprised he did what he always does.

He seems like a nice enough guy but he must have been expecting this for a while. His (2025) replacement was given the boot whilst outperforming his team mate to make way for a driver who is arguably in decline.

@mmccarthy Ferrari to take 2nd in constructors and drivers?

Hah! Constructor's sure, but might need the Lando/Max racing to get a bit more spicy before Charles is in with a shout. And I'm sure Ferrari would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by pitting for wets in Abu Dhabi or something if he got the chance

If the people on the tellybox are to believed Ferrari could be strong at the remaining races. Lando the most obvious threat but Charles equal on wins and far fewer points between Charles and Lando than Lando and Max.

Strange season when a Brit in a Mclaren is in with a shot and i find myself supporting Ferrari and thinking Max deserves the title.

If

“If is a very long word in Formula 1. In fact, ‘if’ is F1 spelled backwards.”

;)

Considering how the Red Bull's performance has been compared with the McLaren (and Ferrari to a lesser extent), the fact that Max has still extended his gap throughout Red Bull's downturn makes it seem like it's a certainty that Max will take it. Maybe if he has a pair of DNFs the picture might change, but it'll take a massive points swing before I'd consider it up for grabs.

Think Leclerc needs 10-15 points per race over Max to be in with a shout, that's absolutely not happening. If Max DNFs in the next two, maybe it'll be a bit more feasible.

On a separate note, really hope Colapinto secures a decent seat in the next season or two. I wouldn't bet against him being alongside Sainz in '26 at this rate. Good to see Lawson perform too, and hilarious to see Alonso getting riled up about it. Don't get me wrong, I think Lawson was taking a few pages out of Max's book when it came to defending, but Alonso of all people complaining of these sorts of games is pretty funny (still love the guy though).

Think Leclerc needs 10-15 points per race over Max to be in with a shout

No chance Charles takes Max, i meant he's in with a shot of catching Lando for second which i secretly might enjoy.