F1 2022 Discussion Thread

[GrandSlamFinale]

After many weeks and months of waiting, we finally have an F1 discussion thread on MN!

Anyone who wants to join is welcome - regardless of how long you've been watching the sport or who you support. My only request is that we keep it respectful even when criticising our favourite driver's rivals.

We're in Barcelona this weekend for round 6 of what has been a thriller of a championship so far. I'm really excited to see how the race unfolds today, if overtaking will prove as difficult as it historically has here, if the Mercs have done a step forward in race pace, how RB and Ferrari will play around with strategy and tyres.

Yay found my people!

Short intro about my F1 background - I am a life-long tifosa (with Latin blood so I'll be shunned if I ever dare swap loyalties) and race weekends were sacred growing up, been watching since I was in nappies. It's amazing to see Ferrari fighting for wins again after many years of hope and heartbreak. I really hope we stay in the fight with Red Bull until the end of the season and that Mercedes can join in the fight too.

My absolute favourite driver for many years now has been Leclerc. I followed his junior career and I love seeing him do well in F1. He's brilliant, very fast, mentally untouchable and also a lovely person off track. I hope the championship remains close all year and him and Max can put on a show every chance they get because it's great to see these young drivers drive so passionately.

I am a huge admirer of Lewis, and Max has always excited me with just how fast he is. I'm not British and don't get emotionally involved in their rivalry but I suspect this thread will provide plenty of that

Charles' pole lap yesterday was monstrous, I hope he can hold on today for a good result. Max and RB should suffer from less degradation if their Imola/Miami trend continues, so a Ferrari win might prove difficult, but 'everything can happen in F1, and it usually does'. Really hoping George and Lewis can mix it up as well. A 3-team battle from now on would be the absolute dream.

What are you looking forward to today? Who do you support and how long have you been watching F1?

Welcome @StarCourt!

Watching F3 this morning and overtaking wasn't easy. F2 race a bit chaotic now, although both P3 and P5 on the grid got good starts thanks to the slipstream. I wonder how it will be for F1. Sainz needs a good start if he's to help Leclerc defend from the rest.

I do not usually ramble on like this but it's a race Sunday and all my family whom I normally chat to all day long are at my sister's graduation, so they're unreachable. Talk about priorities So MN it is for me!

Thanks for this @GrandSlamFinale
It was great to see an improvement with the Mercedes in qualifying yesterday. I hope it translates to the race today.
I’m loving seeing the resurgence of Ferrari. Charles is a great driver. I’m a big Lewis fan. I used to like Max - there’s no denying his talent. But I can’t help but think a lot of Horner’s whingey / whiney personality has rubbed off onto Max, which is a shame!

I’ll definitely join in here. Very excited to have an F1 discussion thread. I think it could be an interesting race. I know this track isn’t renowned for exciting races, but it feels as if race pace and quali pace could be a bit different and that always has the potential to make things a bit interesting. There’s also a question mark over what is wrong with Max’s car.

@LadyJGrey I can't stand Horner either...

@MadameMinimes latest 'official' statement said that it was an issue with his DRS flap, but it's concerning, isn't it. RB's reliability has been awful so far. 3 DNF's, engine cuts for Perez last time out, and Alpha Tauri have also reported problems.

Morning both I got into F1 in 1994 via my then boyfriend and turned out to be a much bigger fan than he ever was!
I've never supported a specific team, for me it's the whole of F1 I love. The strategy, the decisions, the outside influences, the drama, the tech. All of it.
I have however had favourite drivers. Damon Hill was my first and then Jenson and Kimi, now it's Max. I have a lifesize cardboard cut out of him that usually watches races with me! He's currently somewhere in a cupboard though as I've just moved house.
F1 is sacrosanct in my house, everybody knows never to call me when it's on.
I have a DD13 who I've tried to turn into a fan but she just rolls her eyes and says ' more racing cars mum' she's a lost cause.
In my younger years pre DD I used to go to a couple of races a year but can't afford it now , been to Catalunya 3 times so I'm looking forward to it today.

Yay, hello!

Hoping Merc do as well today as they did yesterday in qualifying

Welcome @vegang , it would be exciting if they did. Race pace didn't look too bad on Friday.

Don't lose hope @StarCourt - I had an eye-rolling younger sister who refused to watch until she hit 17, then she discovered DtS on Netflix. Now she's a convert. Perhaps DD is scared of the Max cut out?😂My sister would only accept a Lewis or Seb one!

@GrandSlamFinale Hamilton all the way here but I must say it is lovely to see Ferrari back on top after a few years in the wilderness.

For my part, I can’t warm to Verstappen even though I know logically that Abu Dhabi wasn’t his fault.

I'll join the thread too. Can't wait for today's race. Another Leclerc fan here but I also really like Lewis so hoping Merc keeps improving and challenges the top 2 soon.

Hi @BHX3000 . It's great to see so many F1 fans on Mumsnet.

Pre-race show is on here (Spanish DAZN, the Youtube one should start in 20 mins). I cannot stand Lobato's nationalistic pro-Sainz commentary, although lately they've started admitting just how strong Charles and Max are and that Sainz isn't on their level, just yet. They even praise Lewis from time to time. Unrecognisable!

Marc Gené (Ferrari engineer) is saying that Charles might be starting on softs so that could be a 2, or even 3-stop race. A bit concerned because the RB was very quick on race simulations and they will probably have a better strategy.

RB has changed some of the DRS elements on Max's rear wing, the FIA has reported. Alonso also changed his engine so should push through the field.

Lando looks very ill, the poor thing. He's apparently suffering from both hay fever and a throat infection? I hope he doesn't feel too sick during the race.

Nooooo Maaaxxx

Excited to have a F1 thread. I have been a fan for about 45 years. DH is also a fan (and thankfully doesn't like football or rugby).

I have never followed a particular team. Me and DH were big Nigel Mansell fans and went to Brands Hatch a couple of times to see him race.

We are both now big big Lewis fans. We have watched him since his karting days and spoke to him once when he was kart racing and he was lovely.

I always want Lewis to win but I do like other drivers. Leclerc is lovely and a good driver and if Lewis doesn't win the championship I would be quite happy to see Leclerc win it.

I also like Russell, Vettel and Ricciardo. I can't stand Verstappen. I used to like him but he just seems to have got more and more arrogant and whingy. As another poster said, I don't think Horner is a good influence. I never really like Vettel when he drove for RB but I do now.

Oooh Max is getting riled.
George is doing marvellously. Let’s hope he can keep this up.

OMG heart in my mouth and shouting at the tv

OMG!

Leclerc is out!!!!

I have been shouting too.

I reckon my neighbours must know for sure I am an F1 fan as I can't watch a race without shouting, cheering, even screaming at times!

Leclerc out!!!

So sad. Now I guess it's Verstappen for the win which I won't be happy about

Noooo, gutted about Leclerc - what is going on!

I absolutely love Max but would like to see George win