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F1 2022 Discussion Thread

677 replies

GrandSlamFinale · 22/05/2022 10:52

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.

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vegang · 22/05/2022 14:48

Such a shame for Leclerc!

Come on Russel.

Hamilton making his way up the leaderboard now

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GrandSlamFinale · 22/05/2022 14:50

Heartbreaking. It was already sad to see Lewis’s race start like that, then the DRS issue was unfair… this is just gutting 😞

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MadameMinimes · 22/05/2022 15:14

George has done a great job. Barring some sort of incident or PU trouble it looks like the Red Bull have the 1-2 in the bag, though.

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GrandSlamFinale · 22/05/2022 15:54

Happy to see George on the podium and Lewis's amazing recovery drive. Very unfair for Checo to not even be allowed to fight for the fin, but that wasn't a surprise.

Carlos is doing a pretty poor job on Sundays for Ferrari and it's concerning. On a day like this he should have been up there collecting as many points for the team.

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Original poster
GrandSlamFinale · 22/05/2022 15:55

Monaco next week! That's a guaranteed Leclerc DNF so I guess we're looking at a 30+ point lead for Max in just a few days? Grin🙈

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mydogisthebest · 22/05/2022 16:07

Yes shame Checo could not be allowed the win. I can see why they asked him to let Verstappen past but so early in the season it would have been nice to see them actually race each other

chipsandpeas · 22/05/2022 16:10

so lewis ended 5th and to think he wanted to retire that car after 1st lap collision with kmag

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GrandSlamFinale · 22/05/2022 16:23

mydogisthebest · 22/05/2022 16:07

Yes shame Checo could not be allowed the win. I can see why they asked him to let Verstappen past but so early in the season it would have been nice to see them actually race each other

Max would have still passed him but I do understand Checo being pissed off about how they managed and communicated that decision.

I feel like they let him have the fastest lap as a consolation prize. RB must be really confident about this championship if they’re not pushing for Max to increase his gap over Leclerc as much as possible.

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StarCourt · 22/05/2022 16:48

I can't see how they'd be that confident so early on. Look at the problems RB have had this season there's no reason to think they won't have more DNF's

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GrandSlamFinale · 22/05/2022 17:22

Oh for sure, DNFs are still on the table for anyone right now. It’s always so interesting and cardiac attack-inducing to see how the cars behave after a regulation change.

Lewis was brilliant today. Max fast as always and Charles showed tremendous pace and tyre management before that issue. Curious to see who Monaco will favour now. It’s traditionally been the best team in S3 in Barcelona - that was Ferrari this weekend with RB close behind. Hope it’s another nail-biting weekend.

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LemonRedwood · 22/05/2022 17:51

Hi everyone, looking forward to joining in the chat here but haven't read through the thread yet as am watching the race on catch-up (we were out at a rugby match earlier so couldn't watch live)

Sulusu · 22/05/2022 17:55

Amazing recovery drive from Lewis today. Very impressed with George too. Shame Checo had to move over for Max, I don't think team orders like that should be happening so early in the season.

Also very impressed with Occon again, great race from him today.

LemonRedwood · 22/05/2022 20:37

The team orders were given weirdly as well - "We're in a different race" when, no, all 3 were in the same race for 2nd with Leclerc so far ahead and Bottas so far behind. Then at the end, "We're on a different strategy" made absolutely no sense with no pit stops left to take, the team still with a 1-2, and Checo matching if not exceeding Max for speed. Checo ended up taking the point for fastest lap.

It came across as RB not wanting to have to let Max race for first so they made sure he was given it by his teammate. Felt for Perez there, think he was hard done by.

Also felt massively sorry for Leclerc, he had a fantastic start, built a really healthy lead, didn't put a foot wrong, and then was just let down by the car.

Heartened by the Mercedes improvements, but the cooling issue could be worrying in the next couple of races.

This is definitely an interesting season!

Sulusu · 22/05/2022 20:43

I don't have a problem with team orders later in the season when the driver's championship is at stake, but that was what... race 6?

They should have let them race each other properly and if Max got past then it's fair.

Checo's in contract negotiations currently I think, so probably felt he had to move over.

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GrandSlamFinale · 22/05/2022 22:14

I agree the way they did it and communicated it between drivers wasn’t ideal. But looking at lap times Max was several tenths faster than Checo and they were on a slightly different strategy - Max did his 2nd and 3rd pit stops 9/10 laps earlier than Checo, who was mirroring George’s.

If they let them fight, Max will stay behind Checo for a fair few laps - with a malfunctioning DRS - not getting through but also costing both of them lap time, which would have allowed George to catch up/drive off. It was the right decision on RB’s side but badly executed I think.

It’s a fine line between deciding when and how to start prioritising the #1 driver, isn’t it? I’d love to see them race indefinitely but it looks like it’ll be such a tight year, and Max and Charles are - on a normal day - miles ahead of their teammates. Max is already getting upgrades first (weight reduction this week) and we know RB will always prioritise him. I feel like Ferrari might go the same way with Charles soon, which would make sense tbh.

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Sharrowgirl · 22/05/2022 22:22

I’ve never liked team orders in any situation and any driver who gains points through them should be taking a long, hard look at themselves.

Sulusu · 23/05/2022 12:01

@GrandSlamFinale
But wasn't Checo faster than Max when Max was stuck behind George (due to DRS issues)? Did the team ask Max to move over for Checo to get past George? I don't think they did, at that point Max and Checo were on similar strategies.

I didn't watch 100% of every lap so might have missed it if they did.

In race 6 they really should be prioritsing the faster driver, for most of the race that was Checo due to the DRS issue, Max was slower stuck behind everyone else.

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GrandSlamFinale · 27/05/2022 14:59

@Sulusu I agree that they should have let him have a go at George in the early stages. Checo moved over for Max to try first, even though he only caught up due to George and Max getting slower as they battled it out.

I don't think Red Bull have ever given mixed signals though, about who they will prioritise in any circumstance as the no. 1 driver. It's sad it's already happening so early in the season, but that's literally what Checo signed up for. It must be frustrating though.

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GrandSlamFinale · 27/05/2022 15:02

The Monaco Grand Prix is here, and I'm very excited for this weekend! Quali is always nail-biting, even though the race pales in comparison as it's usually quite the procession.

I've missed FP1 as I was at work and will also miss FP3, but will try to catch FP2 later and half of quail tomorrow if we're done on time (unlikely). The Mercedes looks very unstable again, RB and Ferrari haven't done much competitive running so not clear what the order is yet.

We may be in for some rain on Sunday - that should spice things up. So, fellow F1 fans on Mumsnet, are you watching this weekend? What are you looking forward to?

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Sulusu · 27/05/2022 18:04

I will be watching on Sunday, but qualifying is usually the most entertaining part of the Monaco weekend for me. I tend to find the race itself a bit boring as it's so hard to pass round there. Rain might spice it up though!

MadameMinimes · 28/05/2022 15:28

I always enjoy Monaco qualifying. It’s been pretty eventful so far.

RibNSaucyArseCrack · 28/05/2022 15:38

McLaren wanker checking in 🧡

so glad to have a thread going

Twilightstarbright · 28/05/2022 15:46

Parking myself in from the Lewis Hamilton thread. Looking forward to watching this weekend.

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GrandSlamFinale · 28/05/2022 15:52

It's so tight at the top! Max seems off but you can never count him out. Couldn't put my money on either one of Charles, Carlos or Checo... I want Charles to put it on pole but I also want to see Horner's face if Checo grabs it 😂

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MadameMinimes · 28/05/2022 16:10

Fingers crossed that Checo’s car is OK. It will be a shame if he has to take a grid drop.

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