F1 2022 Season

Gone all in on towing the Toto line by saying there was no doubt that RB and Ferrari were "pushing the regulations" with their alleged too flexible floors and how Merc have been such good boys by interpreting the regulations as intended. Horner already said the RB was perfectly legal and that the regulation change wouldn't have an impact but that didn't stop him from doubling down. It's why Max made a sarcastic comment about how hard the regulation change hit Red Bull after he got pole.
Looks pretty stupid. Do you have a link to the interview or quotes? I missed this.
 
Horner moaning yet again. He seems to have forgotten he got quite a few Honda and MB personnel in who know how to work on and develop powertrains. Even though RB will be getting extra money for the PU above what ferrari, renault and mercedes are getting he is still money. RB qualify for the extra money because of porsche.

"..New power unit manufacturers entering in 2026 are permitted an extra allowance baseline of $5m in ’25 and $10m in each of ’23 and ’24 given the need to catch up with the pre-existing knowledge and technology of incumbent engine companies..."

Horner still moaning....

“The biggest disadvantages for a newcomer are two aspects. One is that we have to catch up, we have to try and cover the ground of pretty much 10 years of these regulations, of know-how and knowledge that we don’t have."

https://the-race.com/formula-1/horner-f1-needs-plan-to-avoid-another-massive-engine-disparity/
 
This is the one I read but it's in Dutch

https://racingnews365.nl/sarcastisc...euwe-regels-hebben-red-bull-echt-hard-geraakt

Headline translates to:

Sarcastic Verstappen laughs at Mercedes: 'New rules have hit Red Bull really hard'

I'm sure the quotes are in a UK article somewhere too

Verstappen sees the humor in it
In practice, it seems to be not so bad, because Red Bull and Ferrari were still by far better than Mercedes during qualifying in Belgium. Verstappen was so dominant that he took a lead of 1.8 seconds over the Mercedes duo.

Asked about Russell's earlier comments, Verstappen laughs. "Yes, that technical guideline has really, really badly worked out for us," he chuckles. The Dutchman also did not really expect opposition from Hamilton and Russell. "Mercedes is also generally short of top speed, so I didn't think they would join us here."

The fact that Red Bull does not seem to have been affected by the new rule clarifications did not come as a surprise to Max either. "I didn't expect it to matter very much for our car," said the reigning champion. "I have no idea if Ferrari is bothered by it, I don't know their car."
 
After all the penalties


Belgian GP starting grid

1) Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
2) Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
3) Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
4) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
5) George Russell (Mercedes
6) Alex Albon (Williams)
7) Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren)
8) Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri)
9) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
10) Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)
11) Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
12) Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
13) Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri)
14) Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
15) Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
16) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
17) Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
18) Lando Norris (McLaren)
19) Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
20) Mick Schumacher (Haas)
 
"Wait, what are these tyres?" from Leclerc. :lol: The genuine confusion in his tone.
 
Max starting from 15th and somehow I still feel confident he's going to win.
Everyone who has an interest in F1 thinks he will win easily. The RB is in a different league to the rest of the grid. Nothing to be confident about. Short of a dnf its a nailed on certainty.
 
Everyone who has an interest in F1 thinks he will win easily. The RB is in a different league to the rest of the grid. Nothing to be confident about. Short of a dnf its a nailed on certainty.
I saw his speed in FP and decided that even with a grid drop he was going to win this, then qualifying, just cemented that.
It is possible the Ferrari might be able to hold him off for a while, but not for long.
 
I saw his speed in FP and decided that even with a grid drop he was going to win this, then qualifying, just cemented that.
It is possible the Ferrari might be able to hold him off for a while, but not for long.
with their top speed advantage I doubt it.

Only chance is he uses his tyres up or something goes wrong like a wheel stuck in a pitstop or a badly timed safety car
 
Is it possible that people are giving 15th placed Max more chanve of winning than Perez in 2nd?
 
You could tell after the Imola crash with Bottas that he was a little bit of an unpleasant character. Petty minded and easily influenced.

If someone like Max had done what George did that day the media would never leave it go and call it disgraceful etc.

George got off very lightly for that one.
 
Is it possible that people are giving 15th placed Max more chanve of winning than Perez in 2nd?

Max might win and has a very good chance with his pace but realistically Sainz or Checo should win this one if they are any bit decent at all.
 
Yes because perez will move over once max comes up behind him.

If Max catches him then Checo isn't capable of staying ahead as per normal. It's nothing to do with moving aside.

If Checo is in any way decent today Max shouldn't be able to catch him with the advantage he starts with.
 
Hamilton: I won't miss this car
It was another indifferent qualifying session for Mercedes and Hamilton was downbeat after setting only the seventh-fastest time in qualifying,

"We came here very optimistic we could be close, but to be 1.8 seconds behind is a real kick in the teeth.
"It's a car we continue to struggle with and definitely won't miss it at the end of the year. For me, it's just focusing on how we build and design next year's car.
"The teams ahead of us are in another league and our car looked so much different today. We've got a lot of work to do, and we'll do the best we can with what we have for the rest of the season."
Just when you think they're making real progress they take a step back. It must be frustrating as hell for Lewis and George.
 
At least george said something everyone agrees on, that the RB is so far ahead of everyone else that it will be a comfortable win for max.

Russell, who will start fifth, said: "Max is probably going to slice through and win the race pretty comfortably.

"I think he and Red Bull are just miles ahead of everyone."

Quite literally miles ahead. They have done a remarkable job.
 
Yes because perez will move over once max comes up behind him.

I know that, but also this:

If Max catches him then Checo isn't capable of staying ahead as per normal. It's nothing to do with moving aside.

If Checo is in any way decent today Max shouldn't be able to catch him with the advantage he starts with.

If he isn't able to escape before he catches him through the crowd then he is really slow.
 
Just when you think they're making real progress they take a step back. It must be frustrating as hell for Lewis and George.

Certainly frustrating. But the team has come to terms with the fact that this car is not competitive. All they can do this season is to try and maximise any opportunities while focusing on doing a significantly better job on the 2023 car.
 
If Max catches him then Checo isn't capable of staying ahead as per normal. It's nothing to do with moving aside.

If Checo is in any way decent today Max shouldn't be able to catch him with the advantage he starts with.
Also helps when the car is developed for your driving style which causes issues for your teammate. But thats the life of a no2 driver.
 
Quite literally miles ahead. They have done a remarkable job.
Yes they have. What people fail to realise is that Adrian Newey didnt design the aero for this years car. It was too big for one person. Team effort. Newey concentrated on the suspension. Which is the best on the grid.

At the start of the season, there was talk of RB having trick suspension which would be extremely difficult to copy during the season. Didnt realise just how good that suspension was until the RB had minimal porporsing and then how true that statement was. I expect the RB suspension to be copied by the entire grid next season, if they have figured it out.
 
Really want to watch this especially the start but at the future inlaws and he's showing no signs of wanting to leave...

Think the start will be fantastic too especially with the gravel added at la source to hopefully punish any mistakes
 
Really want to watch this especially the start but at the future inlaws and he's showing no signs of wanting to leave...

Think the start will be fantastic too especially with the gravel added at la source to hopefully punish any mistakes
Im at my folks place. Got sky go but wont be able to watch in full till i get home tonight. Will probaby watch first lap or two then avoid this thread till then.
 
The grid has changed.

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I was thinking along the same lines, FP and qualifying were pretty cold so they should get more from their tyres, still dont think it will matter, they are not making up what they are behind.
Sure, they are not at all efficient aerodynamically, just the difference won't be that huge as in the quali.
 
Wish it was raining spa is great in the wet though not including that absolute FARCE last year, I hope the fans received some sort of gesture
 
I was thinking along the same lines, FP and qualifying were pretty cold so they should get more from their tyres, still dont think it will matter, they are not making up what they are behind.
The Williams of albion will get one of them on the straights.