Tarmac has only just gone down. From the initial lap, looks like very limited overtaking opportunities.
F1 2021 Season
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Tarmac has only just gone down. From the initial lap, looks like very limited overtaking opportunities.
What happened to corners when they designed this? It's like Becketts at Silverstone but constantly. Merc will fly around this track.
That Saudi lap just looks stupid 
Based on that video I'd say Hamilton might just lap everyone twice. What a shite track
WOW that track looks very short on overtaking places.
This race could be won in qualifying, who ever gets pole and gets a decent start will win the race.
It’ll also be impossible to follow in dirty air on this type of track I think. Undercut could be huge though.
Imagine so
Imagine, if anything, it would be a 5s penalty. Would be harsh after the race as could he have stayed 5s ahead of Bottas if he knew. But surely preferable to any kind of grid drop after qualifying
If it's just gone down it's going to seep oils no ? Turkey/Portimao 2020 on the cards perhaps.
Possibly, too early to call on that front.
If the track is as greasy as Turkey, after it got resurfaced, won't all the sand that blows on to the track from now till FP1 soak it up?
The last corner looks the best spot, a nice heavy braking zone with DRS.
Could potentially do the middle straight too but you'd have to have balls of steel to be doing 200mph and over take between those walls. They'll have to make sure there is ZERO weaving with a faster car coming from behind.
Looks a fun track to drive though.
Could potentially do the middle straight too but you'd have to have balls of steel to be doing 200mph and over take between those walls. They'll have to make sure there is ZERO weaving with a faster car coming from behind.
Looks a fun track to drive though.
I hadn't seen the footage of max going off track like that. Somehow missed it in real time. Beyond me how that's not a penalty when previous penalities have come from fractions of a car width nevermind a track width plus!
This weekends Qatar GP track doesnt look the most exciting (no undulation, off camber corners, dips / crests etc, just flat and rather dull looking). Though I could be completely wrong and it could fast like Silverstone. I dont know why we couldnt have Bahrain short layout again as another race as it was a brilliant race and a great layout for overtaking and sprint format.
Best I could find on YouTube of qatar track. Not sure what game it's taken from.
Best I could find on YouTube of qatar track. Not sure what game it's taken from.
Giovinazzi leaving confirmed.
Presumably Zhou in then?
The one bonus is it's a wide track. Wide enough to fit 2 cars around most corners.
That means they'll be able to attack a lot harder under braking and put themselves alongside another car without fear of being ran out of road onto the exit.
I suspect they'll still find it more tricky to overtake in some areas, but it won't be as as bad as other tracks hopefully. At least it's got a decent sized straight to make up for it too.
Yeah it's a complete and utter joke. Max would be killing people if he were driving in any other era.
Guanyu Zhou is replacing Antonio Giovinazzi for 2022 and will partner Valtteri Bottas at Alfa Romeo, completing the grid for Formula 1's new era.
Zhou, a highly-rated prospect in Formula 2, will become the first full-time Chinese F1 driver and also ensures Alfa, currently ninth in the championship, have an all-new driver line-up next year.
Bottas is the team's big signing for 2022 from Mercedes.
Just before confirming Zhou, the Italian outfit thanked Giovinazzi for his "extraordinary contribution" over three years, but he did not do enough to prevent the team opting for the 22-year-old "trailblazer", who has tested for Alpine as a reserve driver and will be the only rookie on next year's grid.
"To be the first ever Chinese driver in Formula 1 is a breakthrough for Chinese motorsport history," said Zhou, who is second in this year's F2 championship.
"I dreamt from a young age of climbing as high as I can in a sport that I am passionate about and now the dream has come true."
Team boss Frederic Vasseur added: "He is a very talented driver, as his results in F2 have shown, and we are looking forward to helping his talent flourish even more in Formula 1."
Zhou, a highly-rated prospect in Formula 2, will become the first full-time Chinese F1 driver and also ensures Alfa, currently ninth in the championship, have an all-new driver line-up next year.
Bottas is the team's big signing for 2022 from Mercedes.
Just before confirming Zhou, the Italian outfit thanked Giovinazzi for his "extraordinary contribution" over three years, but he did not do enough to prevent the team opting for the 22-year-old "trailblazer", who has tested for Alpine as a reserve driver and will be the only rookie on next year's grid.
"To be the first ever Chinese driver in Formula 1 is a breakthrough for Chinese motorsport history," said Zhou, who is second in this year's F2 championship.
"I dreamt from a young age of climbing as high as I can in a sport that I am passionate about and now the dream has come true."
Team boss Frederic Vasseur added: "He is a very talented driver, as his results in F2 have shown, and we are looking forward to helping his talent flourish even more in Formula 1."
Ker-ching... marketing department must be happy
Is he any good ?
This stats are I suppose are OK ish
This stats are I suppose are OK ish
| Starts | 61 (63 entries) |
|---|---|
| Wins | 4 |
| Podiums | 18 |
| Poles | 3 |
| Fastest laps | 7 |
| Best finish | 6th in 2020 |
Make no mistake, he's not the best in Formula 2 currently. He's coming with $25m of sponsorship and that should tell you everything you need to know.
I see now, so he comes with a bucket full of money, thats all you need to know really.
Who you'd take before him though from current F2? Only Oscar Piastri seems more talented than him. Scwartzmann just about same as him. Not a great line up F2 this season though. But i think he is more talented than Mazepin though.
Dan Ticktum for the comedy moments ala Mazepin.
With his £30mil of sponsorship money.
Edit: helps if you refresh the page before posting to find out it's already been mentioned.
I would have gone with Piastri, feels like he's ready to step up from F2. Personally, given the reg changes I would have stuck with Giovanazzi, but money talks.
Max is one resourceful chap though.
Yeah, the sad state of affairs these days.
You've Bottas there as the experienced driver, Giovanazzi does nothing each race really. Don't mind seeing him gone to get some new blood in.
Anything is possible with Max, but even he will have to try hard at this one.
. Personally, Ticktum is just straight more dangerous than Mazepin. Dont know how he still got chances after chances.You need some experience still within the team, Giovanazzi has done a decent job in that car & with the complete change in regulations next year they''ll need a reference point. Bottas, whilst good for Alfa, will need to get up to speed quickly. You only have to look at McLaren this year to see the impact of a new driver coming in and taking time to adapt to the team and car.
It's precisely because it's new regulations that it's a clean slate and they don't need Giovanazzi at all. His experience in the Alfa won't be relevant anymore.
Absolutely massive performance by Hamilton last weekend. This is exactly what we wanted towards the end of the Championship. This will be one decided by such small margins in the very last race.
As a Dutchy I obviously hope Max pulls it off, but either way this Championship brings back the excitement which has been gone for so long..
As a Dutchy I obviously hope Max pulls it off, but either way this Championship brings back the excitement which has been gone for so long..
Watching the start of the race form Sunday I misses, Lewis was driving like a man possessed.
Up to 3rd after 7 laps
The SC helped out also.
Up to 3rd after 7 laps
The SC helped out also.
i rewatch all the races in reverse, for me, hamilton had a very poor start and tumbled down the grid. it was interesting to see mick get his first win and to see mazepin to finally lose a race. maybe he’ll get a bit less hate now he’s not absolutely dominating races.