[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by AtheK

Hamilton on pole for sprint followed by Max with a difference of 0.018 seconds. This is a very interesting result which I was not expecting. Norris on P6.

What's key is Hamilton was ~0.2 seconds faster than Leclarc on the same/similar car; so that's a fantastic achievement. And Hamilton was also P1 in Q1 so it's not a flash in the pan instance. Fastest lap done at that track till date.

Also very surprised to see Max getting to P2; that's quite impressive compared to Lawson who is last.

As for the Mclaren duo, the initial view is that the track improved over the Q3 session; so Mclaren's strategy to give two fast laps to their drivers failed as compared to the rest of the teams' strategy to let their drivers do one single fast lap.

Tsunoda continues to impress with RB20 and Lawson continues to disappoint two races in a row. Should be a good Sprint tomorrow and even better Qualifying.

Yes - if both of them continue like this, Tsunoda should soon get the promotion for sure.

[suhaas307]

I am not at all surprised by Hamilton’s performance this weekend. He was more or less quicker than Lec, and it even prompted the pit wall to suggest swapping the cars midway through sprint quali.

Lewis has done well last weekend, managing to register faster individual sector times than Lec, but simply couldn’t stitch together a lap for quali. He appears to be up to speed now.

Max in SP2 is a phenomenal achievement, aided by McLaren’s poor showing. Lots of mistakes on the track and on the pit wall as well.

This weekend is going to be extremely exciting! Cannot wait!

[ex-innova-guy]

What a flawless drive by Lewis in the sprint race. Didn’t give an inch to Max during the start and managed the tyres quite well. Hope he bags pole today and clinches victory tomorrow.

Lando’s poor first lap starts continue. Championship-winning drivers fight for each point; meanwhile, Lando keeps losing easy points. Hope he is able to pick up the pieces.

Leclerc was again caught sleeping (like Baku last year) as Russell made up one place during the first lap.

Dirty air played a significant role on tyres today. Will be an interesting race tomorrow.

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

What's key is Hamilton was ~0.2 seconds faster than Leclarc on the same/similar car

Leclerc struggled on this track last year too but credit to Lewis for delivering Sprint Pole and getting the best out of the car today as well. Seems to be setting well and the joy on his face was quite evident.

that's quite impressive compared to Lawson who is last.

RB pressure is getting to him. Tsunoda should have been ideally given this seat.

As for the Mclaren duo, the initial view is that the track improved over the Q3 session; so Mclaren's strategy to give two fast laps to their drivers failed as compared to the rest of the teams' strategy to let their drivers do one single fast lap.

While this is true, both their drivers shouldn’t be making mistakes which are proving to be costly and dropping decent points.

[StarrySky]

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

Yes - if both of them continue like this, Tsunoda should soon get the promotion for sure.

Tsunoda should get a deal done at another team for next season before RB has a chance to promote him and flush his career down the drain

But promoting Tsunoda now means RB (Horner/Marko) will have to admit they made the wrong choice over the winter. I am not sure that's happening.

[rx100]

It’s McLaren 1-2 with Oscar Piastri on the top step. Ferrari’s sprint pace is not reflected in main race and it was a tough race for them. Charles and Lewis had a coming together and Charles lost his front end plate, but still he was faster than Lewis. Basically a boring race overall with a single stop strategy by most teams.

[volkman10]

Double blow for Ferrari, as they are disqualified from Chinese GP.

- Hamilton disqualified from Chinese GP after skid block breach

- Leclerc and Gasly disqualified from over car weight breaches.

In a report from FIA F1 Technical Delegate Jo Bauer, it was revealed that Leclerc’s car weighed exactly 800kg after he returned to the pits – the minimum weight required under the aforementioned regulations.

Given that his front wing was damaged in early contact with teammate Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc’s car was re-weighed with the retrieved endplate and then an official spare front wing, increasing the overall weight to 800.5kg.

When fuel was drained from the car, though, with two litres being removed as per the draining procedure submitted by Ferrari, it dropped to a weight of 799kg – just below the minimum requirement.

Gasly’s car also came in at 800kg during its initial weight check, only for a fuel mass check to be carried out and 1.1 kg of fuel to be removed, again as per the draining procedure submitted by Alpine, meaning it subsequently registered at 799kg.

However, there was a further twist to come for Leclerc's Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton, who was also disqualified after the rear skid block on his car was found to be under the minimum thickness required.

Race results of the Chinese GP:



Source: F1

[aim120]

Originally Posted by rx100

It’s McLaren 1-2 with Oscar Piastri on the top step. Ferrari’s sprint pace is not reflected in main race and it was a tough race for them. Charles and Lewis had a coming together and Charles lost his front end plate, but still he was faster than Lewis. Basically a boring race overall with a single stop strategy by most teams.

Lando Norris and George Russell both said the damaged wing helped Leclerc, while it may have lost some downforce on slow to medium corners. On the straights it flexed significantly.

It's not the first time cars with damaged end plates where faster on the straights.

[avdhesh15]

What a blunder! Ferrari can only blame ... Ferrari!!!
It's ridiculous how such basic mistakes are made by a legacy team.

Come Japan, Max is expected to get some updates which will enable his fight for the top step. Also half expecting the home boy Tsunoda to replace Lawson who I believe was pushed into the main team too quickly.

[Dry Ice]

I was excited to see HAM - VER first row start for the sprint! When did we see this last, in 2023 I guess? Sadly, HAM couldn’t replicate his sprint pace in quali, or the race.

What’s up with the Ferrari camp though? Double disqualification is so embarrassing for a Championship rivalling team.

PIA didn’t have the best start, but did just enough to keep RUS behind till the crucial Turn 1. Drove beautifully thereafter to keep his P1 position till the chequered flag. Before his brake troubles started, NOR looked like he was fancying his P1 chances. This year’s Driver’s championship is going to be fun.

BEA also had a great race, finishing P10 for Haas after starting at P17 - overtaking a RedBull (LAW) in the process. It must be a great confidence booster for him.

[ValarMorghulis]

This year the Constructor's Championship is for McLaren for the taking.

Behind them, I think it should be Ferrari (their strategy fiascos notwithstanding).

Both RedBull and Mercedes are running with only one proper driver, so unless McL and Ferrari botch it up, it should be a two way race.

[suhaas307]

Red Bull has revealed a special livery for the Japanese GP, inspired by the iconic Honda RA272.

Photographs by Kan Namekawa.

Source: motorsport.com

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by suhaas307

Red Bull has revealed a special livery for the Japanese GP, inspired by the iconic Honda RA272.

Probably to take away the huge amount of negative attention around their knee-jerk reaction of swapping Lawson and Tsunoda; while not addressing the bigger issue that is being increasingly prominent - the car is the problem; not the driver (irrespective of Max's performance). If Tsunoda doesn't do better than Checko and Lawson in Japan; Red Bull are going to be caught with the short end of the stick.

[volkman10]

Sergio Perez in discussions with teams about '26 return.

Among the teams rumored to be speaking with Perez is American manufacturer Cadillac, which will enter F1 competition next season.


Link:

[ads11]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Sergio Perez in discussions with teams about '26 return.

Among the teams rumored to be speaking with Perez is American manufacturer Cadillac, which will enter F1 competition next season.


Link:

Doesn't surprise me. Sergio comes with hefty backing - always useful when bringing a new team up to speed. Thing is, given the wider adversarial climate, would a flagship US brand with a new F1 entry get off lightly with a Mexican driver? Can already see the big Don himself in one of his many tangents taking a pop at GM for it. One of those Cadillac seats will for sure go to a US driver. Seems like there are one or two names being touted from Indycar and IMSA.

[Thalla]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Sergio Perez in discussions with teams about '26 return.

Among the teams rumored to be speaking with Perez is American manufacturer Cadillac, which will enter F1 competition next season.


Link:

Getting back into F1 as a driver with an existing team would be hard for him so at the moment Cadillac looks like the most likely team for him to join and make his F1 return.