The 2017 Formula One Thread

[rickschoppers]

Monte Carlo has never been an exciting race and would have been dropped long ago except for its glitz and glamor factor. The history factor has also kept it around longer than it should have as well, and I wonder how long it will stick around before the powers to be scrap the race.

[bobo746]

Daniel Ricciardo wins Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix

YOU might want to sit down, it’s going to take a while for you to wrap your head around this. Daniel Ricciardo has taken his fifth career win in a stunning comeback from 17th place after a horror start to the weekend.
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel were caught in a heated collision mid-race, with the former later experiencing head rest malfunctions which cost him the podium. Teenager Lance Stroll scored his first podium and earned the “driver of the race” accolade, while Valtteri Bottas trumped teammate Hamilton for a Mercedes on the podium.




F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, 2017: results, news, video, updates from Baku

[bsnub]

Looks like I picked the wrong race to miss. Look at these highlights. WOW!

[harrybarracuda]

It was a belter (in more ways than one).

Bits of car flying everywhere

[harrybarracuda]

Shortest overall lap of the season here in Austria.

Hammy's changed his gear box so gets a grid penalty.

I doubt he'll try too hard for pole, be interesting to see what Bottas does.

Vettel fastest in FP3 this morning.

[harrybarracuda]

1. Bottas
2. Vettel
3. Raikonnen
Hamilton starts 8th after a 5-place penalty.

[chassamui]

Ideal for Hamilton, if Bottas gets away and keeps the Ferraris in check.

[harrybarracuda]

Ideal for Hamilton, if Bottas gets away and keeps the Ferraris in check.

I don't think they will take that risk.

Mind you it looked to me that Hammy finished Q2 on Softs while everyone else is on Ultrasofts, so is he going for a two stop?

[chassamui]

I don't think they will take that risk.

Mind you it looked to me that Hammy finished Q2 on Softs while everyone else is on Ultrasofts, so is he going for a two stop?

I've not been watching the practice or qualifying, too tied up with Rugby and Cricket.
I did see a news post on BBC saying that the risk was too great for the team and Hamilton saying Bottas' best way of helping him would be to win.
Hope the tyre choice works for Lewis.

[harrybarracuda]

I don't think they will take that risk.

Mind you it looked to me that Hammy finished Q2 on Softs while everyone else is on Ultrasofts, so is he going for a two stop?

I've not been watching the practice or qualifying, too tied up with Rugby and Cricket.
I did see a news post on BBC saying that the risk was too great for the team and Hamilton saying Bottas' best way of helping him would be to win.
Hope the tyre choice works for Lewis.

I only noticed because they warned him about the tyres being used for the race in Q2.

[harrybarracuda]

Well it looks like they're all going for a two stop, and having pitted once it should finish:

Bottas
Vettel
Ricciardo
Hamilton
Raikkonen

Hammy on Ultrasofts though.

Added - which are blistering.

[chassamui]

...... and they all finished on blistered tyres in the order you suggested.

[harrybarracuda]

Could have done with another two or three laps then it might have got interesting.

[Digby Fantona]

I backed Ricciardo for a place in the champagne squirty thingy. I won.

[harrybarracuda]

Bottas 4th but will be demoted five places for a gearbox change. Two in a week, what are Mercedes doing?

Hammy on pole but the stewards are investigating if he blocked Grosjean.

1. Hamilton
2. Raikonnen
3. Vettel
4. Verstappen
(9. Bottas)

[harrybarracuda]

Blinding finish to the race, which Hammy led from start to finish.

Bottas battled his way from 9th to 4th, then overtook Vettel who was in third after spending much of the race stuck behind Verstappen who overtook him early.

Then in the last three laps first Kimi had a puncture which meant that he had to pit and dropped to fourth, and then Vettel had a blowout on the 50th which let four cars behind him overtake.

Vettel now leads the championship by a point and, with a Hammy-Bottas 1-2, Mercedes have taken a giant step towards the constructors.

[chassamui]

Pleased with the result for Hamilton, and the luck running out for Vettel makes a nice change. Excellent drives from both Red Bull drivers too.

If Bottas can drive so conservatively from 9th on the grid and finish 2nd, why couldn't Hamilton do similar last week?
Great tactics with tyre choices and excellent driving, plus Ferrari driving the tyres off the car just to keep up and try to overtake.
It seems we have 3 potential champions in the chase.

[tj916]

Don't know why, but I've got a strange feeling Hamilton will retire at the end of the season.
And Vettel will win the championship.

[yortyiam]

This result should certainly give racing the shake up it needs to make the second half of the season more interesting. Complete masterclass from Hamilton; he couldn't end the day in a better position, thanks to Ferrari's misfortunes. Bring the rest of the season on!!

[chassamui]

Don't know why, but I've got a strange feeling Hamilton will retire at the end of the season.
And Vettel will win the championship.

"Brand Hamilton" will go on for as long as he has a competitive drive. I would like to see Hamilton and Vettel drive together for Mercedes or Ferrari.

[bobo746]

Carlos Sainz of Scuderia Toro Rosso and Spain during qualifying for the Formula One Grand Prix of Austria

[bobo746]

F1: Halo 2018, controversial car change confirmed for next season despite driver, team concerns

F1 will introduce the controversial Halo cockpit protection device onto cars for the 2018 season, the FIA has announced.

The sport’s governing body revealed the surprise move after a meeting of F1’s Strategy Group on Wednesday, at which all 10 teams were represented for the first time.
However, Autosport has claimed that the majority of teams voted against the Halo at the meeting, with the FIA pushing it through on safety grounds.


F1: Halo 2018, controversial car change confirmed for next season

[harrybarracuda]

If you haven't seen it...

[harrybarracuda]

And it was probably because of this:

[bsnub]

That is just beyond ridiculous.