[Official] Chinese Grand Prix 2019: Grand Prix Weekend Thread - Round 3 of 21

[Born Racer]

Ferrari achieved nothing against Red Bull with those team orders.

[bjohnsonsmith]

That was close, Vettel just getting the better of Verstappen.

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

That was a very clean start, Lewis taking the lead. Looks like Kvyat clouted both McLarens after Turn 6.

Surprised to see Kvyat get a penalty for that. Looks like he just corrected on the wheel and collided, unless the view is he shouldn't have made such a drastic correction.

[Born Racer]

Good guile by Raikkonen in such a neat move on Magnussen.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Surprised to see Kvyat get a penalty for that. Looks like he just corrected on the wheel and collided, unless the view is he shouldn't have made such a drastic correction.

I was as well. It looked like a typical first lap racing incident, unfortunate as they are.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Congrats to Lewis on winning the F1000 GP. Considering the occasion, it was a bit of a damp squib.

[Born Racer]

I understand Ferrari are trying to maximise a lead driver result, whoever that lead driver in the race may be, but in the end, they waited ages before ordering Leclerc to let Vettel through, thereby defeating most of the point of getting him out front, because he was no longer in reach of the Mercedes, and even then, he didn't have a significant pace advantage over Leclerc.

So, at the moment, it might be best for Ferrari to resist their inclination towards too many team orders and let the drivers sort it out. In the end, the drivers' championship could be lost by going one way or another at a point at which neither driver has a big advantage over the other.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I was as well. It looked like a typical first lap racing incident, unfortunate as they are.

My thoughts as well.

[Peter Mallett]

I'm surprised so many think Kvyat was innocent of any wrongdoing. He hit one car and failed to avoid the second. First lap racing incident or not he could clearly have avoided hitting Norris. Instead he kept his foot in and understeered to the outer edge where Norris was already trying to give him room. You could argue that Norris should have stayed on the grass longer but it was as if Kvyat thought he'd disappear.

[GT6]

It was nice of sky to let me watch it live for free but not a great race

[Akrapovic]

Not a great race but some interesting stuff I guess.

Dirty side of the race was cleaner and provided better starts. Seen that a few times in China. Vettel managed to defend a position without spinning. Ferraris team orders were odd, but Leclercs description of the situation was incorrect. Honda are slowly getting there.

[chavez]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Oops yes sorry. I forgot.

What a great and enthusiastic crowd.

Played well on television.

China might not have a history in motorsport but appears to be building one now.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I understand Ferrari are trying to maximise a lead driver result, whoever that lead driver in the race may be, but in the end, they waited ages before ordering Leclerc to let Vettel through, thereby defeating most of the point of getting him out front, because he was no longer in reach of the Mercedes, and even then, he didn't have a significant pace advantage over Leclerc.

So, at the moment, it might be best for Ferrari to resist their inclination towards too many team orders and let the drivers sort it out. In the end, the drivers' championship could be lost by going one way or another at a point at which neither driver has a big advantage over the other.

But they didn't maximise it for their lead driver (who was Leclerc at that moment). They maximised it for their favoured driver. That allowed Verstappen to undercut Leclerc and eventually relegated him from 3rd to 5th, while Vettel gained 3rd instead of the 4th he would otherwise have (probably) got. "Foot" and "shot" are words that spring to mind. Leclerc is going to have to get used to being in the Irvine/Barichello position. The difference is, he's a young hotshot with immense talent in his second season, and he deserves better. By the end of the season he will have either been ground down or there will have been the most almighty bust-up. You can guess which one I'll be hoping for .

[Born Racer]

The latter.

Ferrari should let them duke it out at this point, in my humble opinion.

[Kempi]

They should. Would at least provide some excitement. They surely are not duking it out with Mercedes for the championship so might as well let the boys race.

[Peter Mallett]

Indeed. I have the greatest respect for Web bit Charles appears to be the real deal. Would be good to see them fight for supremacy.

[Greem]

Yep, theres something about M. Leclerc that's intangibly great. I think he's the real deal, a future multiple champion - if he can get a team onside.

Will Hamilton retire and leave a gap for him to fill?

[S griffin]

Well he’s entertaining. He has bags of potential and is already proving a match for Vettel

I think the chances of him taking Hamilton’s seat though are not likely

[S griffin]

I think he’s done alright so far, despite a few moments and anyone who can challenge Vettel in the same car must be good. Just imagine what would have happened had he been in the Mercedes for this season

[ApexTurtle]

Probably just a coincidence but so far every race the car on pole has been pipped to the first corner by the car in second place.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I think he’s done alright so far, despite a few moments and anyone who can challenge Vettel in the same car must be good. Just imagine what would have happened had he been in the Mercedes for this season

Well methinks Hamilton is a much tougher proposition than Vettel!!

[bella]

Originally Posted by Greem

Yep, theres something about M. Leclerc that's intangibly great. I think he's the real deal, a future multiple champion - if he can get a team onside.

Will Hamilton retire and leave a gap for him to fill?

leclerc's got the humility that so many lack. you imagine in ten years time that he'll still be as harsh on himself but still blowing the doors off the ferrari or whichever car he finds himself in. the way he takes tough occurrences and personal tragedy, processes it and continues unabated is remarkable.

it's that kind of mental fortitude that hamilton respects and fears in an opponent, imo - see rosberg.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by ApexTurtle

Probably just a coincidence but so far every race the car on pole has been pipped to the first corner by the car in second place.

Certainly in China you could see that the 2nd place side of the grid had much more rubber down than the pole side. The commentators remarked on it, as well. The pole man and the cars behind him on the same side all struggled relative to the others. Sometimes being on pole doesn’t give the advantage hoped for!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Greem

Yep, theres something about M. Leclerc that's intangibly great. I think he's the real deal, a future multiple champion - if he can get a team onside.

Will Hamilton retire and leave a gap for him to fill?

Hamilton's not retiring anytime soon, he's on a roll. I'm sure he and Mercedes, would like to beat Schumacher's 7 WDCs. With regards to Mercedes, what is going to happen to Ocon?

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Certainly in China you could see that the 2nd place side of the grid had much more rubber down than the pole side. The commentators remarked on it, as well. The pole man and the cars behind him on the same side all struggled relative to the others. Sometimes being on pole doesn’t give the advantage hoped for!

I can't get my head around the pole man not being allowed to choose which side of the grid he wants to start on.