Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Funny, now that DAS is banned Mercedes isn't necessarily the king, any longer........
Not necessarily, but I wouldn't count them out. And props to Alonso for making Q3. Looks like Vettel's bad luck is following him into '21.
So lemme make sure I've got this down correctly...
We've only had a three-day test... three practice sessions... and one qualifying session (in which Mercedes qualified 2-3 probably after they were sandbagging)...
... and yet there are racing journalists and others [cough, cough] who are writing the wheels are coming off the team who handily rattled off the past seven World Championships.
Really???
We've only had a three-day test... three practice sessions... and one qualifying session (in which Mercedes qualified 2-3 probably after they were sandbagging)...
... and yet there are racing journalists and others [cough, cough] who are writing the wheels are coming off the team who handily rattled off the past seven World Championships.
Really???
A good one, for sure. Other cool moments from this season were Lando's first podium and Grosjean telling his story about the fire... great stuff.
Just watched the Drive to survive episode featuring Pierre Gasly and his epic win at Monza 2020
What a great episode!
Observations from the weekend...
1. Mercedes is still performing strong... just a usual day in the office for those guys.
2. Red Bull appears to have a solid car this season. Awesome job by Max. Too bad the gremlins showed up in Checo's ride... but wow, way to hang in there and finish.
3. AlphaTauri also has a great entry this year. Yuki is quick and Gasly will be a force (too bad he never recovered from losing his spoiler today).
4. McLaren's upward trajectory continues. Lando had a fantastic (yet quiet) fourth-place finish today.
5. Things are looking up for Ferrari. Nice execution by both drivers this weekend.
6. While Aston Martin had one driver in the points (barely), the weekend was not kind to them. Vettel experienced a poop couple of days. Overall, I expected these guys to turn in a late-2020 performance. It'll be interesting to watch Gang Green progress.
7. The jury's out on Alpine as well. Alonso made it to Q3 and was holding his own versus the competition in the early stages on Sunday before sinking. Ocon wasn't much of a factor. I want to see this team do well.
8. Decent run for Alpha Romeo today. The results page might not show it, but both cars looked pretty good by their standards.
9. Russell appeared to be running a little higher than he usually does in the Williams.
10. Haas... oooph. "Mazespin" (a nickname probably concocted by Guenther himself) has to be gutted... but he should've just taken it easy and run around today. In 20 years, it will be fun to look back on this day in Mick's career.
On to Imola!
1. Mercedes is still performing strong... just a usual day in the office for those guys.
2. Red Bull appears to have a solid car this season. Awesome job by Max. Too bad the gremlins showed up in Checo's ride... but wow, way to hang in there and finish.
3. AlphaTauri also has a great entry this year. Yuki is quick and Gasly will be a force (too bad he never recovered from losing his spoiler today).
4. McLaren's upward trajectory continues. Lando had a fantastic (yet quiet) fourth-place finish today.
5. Things are looking up for Ferrari. Nice execution by both drivers this weekend.
6. While Aston Martin had one driver in the points (barely), the weekend was not kind to them. Vettel experienced a poop couple of days. Overall, I expected these guys to turn in a late-2020 performance. It'll be interesting to watch Gang Green progress.
7. The jury's out on Alpine as well. Alonso made it to Q3 and was holding his own versus the competition in the early stages on Sunday before sinking. Ocon wasn't much of a factor. I want to see this team do well.
8. Decent run for Alpha Romeo today. The results page might not show it, but both cars looked pretty good by their standards.
9. Russell appeared to be running a little higher than he usually does in the Williams.
10. Haas... oooph. "Mazespin" (a nickname probably concocted by Guenther himself) has to be gutted... but he should've just taken it easy and run around today. In 20 years, it will be fun to look back on this day in Mick's career.
On to Imola!
My thoughts on your thoughts. No malice intended, just my $.02 follow up to your $.02...
1. Amazing job by Hamilton (who is not my favorite personality in F1, and usually doesn’t get many props from me) in driving what was not the fastest car on the track to victory. Valteri’s 13-ish sec deficit (prior to final pit-stop) shows that Merc is not the team from 2020 (yet).
2. Max lost this race by, once again, not being quite patient enough. The Red Bull (and Honda’s remarkably improved engine) had Hamilton on the ropes. One more lap and I believe Max would have had a clean pass and been away in a cloud of dust. He’s only 23, has the best car in the field (an Adrien Newey aero package and a good, if not best engine, is a guaranteed winner), so I expect we’ll see Max on the top step very soon.
3. Alpha Tauri... see comments above re: Honda power. Gasly will podium again this year, Yuki looked great in 1st race.
4. Lando’s a stud. Merc power is an upgrade over Renault. Surprised to see Danny Ric so far behind his teammate (reference, “Lando is a stud” comment).
5. Ferrari? Meh. We’ll see how it goes. Fighting with McLaren and Alpha Tauri is not where they need to be, but it’s better than fighting with Williams and Alpha Romeo. I expect they are looking forward to 2022 in Maranello.
6. Aston Martin - Vettel is terrible. Time to hang up the cleats. How many unforced errors will we be forced to watch (driving into the back of Ocon) until he no longer gets paid? Sad to watch, a switch flipped in the wet in Germany and has never switched back off.
7. Alpine - As you’ve stated, the best livery in the field this year and I’d love to see Alonso march to the front, but I’m afraid Renault doesn’t have the technical ability to give him the car to do so. It will be another frustrating year for Fernando.
8. Alpha, also meh. They continue to struggle at the same pace as their engine supplier.
9. Russell, like Lando, also a stud. I expect he’ll be winning in a Silver Arrow in 2022.
10. Haas - how much longer does Gene spend his money on this team? Needs a total re-boot, Gunther needs to go, they need a seasoned driver to show Mick the ropes but can’t get by without Russian money.
1. Amazing job by Hamilton (who is not my favorite personality in F1, and usually doesn’t get many props from me) in driving what was not the fastest car on the track to victory. Valteri’s 13-ish sec deficit (prior to final pit-stop) shows that Merc is not the team from 2020 (yet).
2. Max lost this race by, once again, not being quite patient enough. The Red Bull (and Honda’s remarkably improved engine) had Hamilton on the ropes. One more lap and I believe Max would have had a clean pass and been away in a cloud of dust. He’s only 23, has the best car in the field (an Adrien Newey aero package and a good, if not best engine, is a guaranteed winner), so I expect we’ll see Max on the top step very soon.
3. Alpha Tauri... see comments above re: Honda power. Gasly will podium again this year, Yuki looked great in 1st race.
4. Lando’s a stud. Merc power is an upgrade over Renault. Surprised to see Danny Ric so far behind his teammate (reference, “Lando is a stud” comment).
5. Ferrari? Meh. We’ll see how it goes. Fighting with McLaren and Alpha Tauri is not where they need to be, but it’s better than fighting with Williams and Alpha Romeo. I expect they are looking forward to 2022 in Maranello.
6. Aston Martin - Vettel is terrible. Time to hang up the cleats. How many unforced errors will we be forced to watch (driving into the back of Ocon) until he no longer gets paid? Sad to watch, a switch flipped in the wet in Germany and has never switched back off.
7. Alpine - As you’ve stated, the best livery in the field this year and I’d love to see Alonso march to the front, but I’m afraid Renault doesn’t have the technical ability to give him the car to do so. It will be another frustrating year for Fernando.
8. Alpha, also meh. They continue to struggle at the same pace as their engine supplier.
9. Russell, like Lando, also a stud. I expect he’ll be winning in a Silver Arrow in 2022.
10. Haas - how much longer does Gene spend his money on this team? Needs a total re-boot, Gunther needs to go, they need a seasoned driver to show Mick the ropes but can’t get by without Russian money.
Last edited:
Fans of the Honda-powered teams and drivers better hope the Japanese maker can work out the control electronics and energy store issues with their power unit. Perez and Gasly both experienced similar issues today. For the sake of good competition, it would be nice to think this is an early season glitch that can be worked out... but with Honda having two feet and two elbows out the door, I wouldn't be able to sleep well if I were Christian Horner.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,079
- 46,050
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Since thay are essentially running what would have been next year’s engine this year now, I don’t guess they would expect much different. Better to be fast with glitches than slow and reiable for right now, arguably. As usual, things probably won’t really shake out until the third or fourth race.
Yes to all your comments above....
I am so bored with Hamilton and Mercedes.
Very upset that Max did not win today.
Lando was great.
Vettel needs to retire...He seems completely done!
Great to see Danny pushing and in a better seat than Renault.
I am extremely disappointed with the Great Aston Martin....Not the great results I expected.
Bad luck for Checo...was interested to see him dual with Max.
I am so bored with Hamilton and Mercedes.
Very upset that Max did not win today.
Lando was great.
Vettel needs to retire...He seems completely done!
Great to see Danny pushing and in a better seat than Renault.
I am extremely disappointed with the Great Aston Martin....Not the great results I expected.
Bad luck for Checo...was interested to see him dual with Max.
This was just one weekend. Smile and relax. 
I doubt Hamilton will win them all this season. Max will win this year, probably multiple times.
McLaren's guys stand a great shot at being on the podium as they've got fantastic equipment and smart folks working for them.
The two teams I'm especially curious to watch this season are AlphaTauri and Aston Martin... and I could've written that a month ago. For me, there's some extra-interesting factors at play with them... be them positive or negative.
I doubt Hamilton will win them all this season. Max will win this year, probably multiple times.
McLaren's guys stand a great shot at being on the podium as they've got fantastic equipment and smart folks working for them.
The two teams I'm especially curious to watch this season are AlphaTauri and Aston Martin... and I could've written that a month ago. For me, there's some extra-interesting factors at play with them... be them positive or negative.
So after one race I stand by my predictions.
Vettel managed to crash into someone (Gasly) while trying to blame him for the crash....It's obvious why he lost his red car. He's lost the magic, but not the temper.
Verstappen didn't keep his cool and overtook the Mercedes of Hamilton outside track limits, and had to give the place back. He's quick, and will be the real contender this year.
Sainz didn't make any ripples at all. He's sitting in a faster car than he's used to, but still can't get the performance (refer to William's George Russel riding a Mercedes last year. Only the pit crew stood in his way).
Williams and Alfa Romeo were also rans. Nothing new there. Shame since they are both good marques historically.
McLaren overperformed, and showed they are a contender. Perhaps they just performed as expected. Riccardo did well given the tyre issues he was having. It wasn't his power plant for once.
Haas had one car out by turn three due to a rookie making a rookie error. Then Mick Schumacher failed to perform. They need a shake up.
I was impressed by Alpine, and Alonso was robbed by his brakes. He's going to be a lot of fun to watch this year.
Gasly had a disastrous race, but his stable mate did very well. One to watch out for.
No long odds on the Silver Arrows seems safe for the bookies. Hamilton proved he's the best against overwhelming opposition, and Bottas was right in there (although he complained that the tactics were too passive when he wasn't too aggressive himself).
That said, the first race was a barnstormer! Right down the field there was real racing going on.
Or as Buddy Baker used to say about any piece of trash that was ever stuck to the grill of a stock car... "A HOT DOG WRAPPER!!!" 
It was thoroughly entertaining! Some real nail biting moments.....Lots of Fun!
