F1 2021 Round 14: Monza

Facefucker · 09-09-2021 12:00PM #1

Does Mercedes still have an edge on this power circuit?

New this week: Sprint Qualifying on Saturday.

Schedule:

FP1: Fri, 10 Sept 13:30

Quali: Fri, 10 Sept 17:00

FP2: Sat, 11 Sept 11:00

Sprint: Sat, 11 Sept 15:30

Race: Sun, 12 Sep 14:00

Weather Forecast: Fine and dandy.

chicorytip · 09-09-2021 01:37PM

I hate this new sprint format and hope they abandon the idea eventually.

Charlie-Bravo · 09-09-2021 03:13PM

I think the sprint race is just an extended version of a normal race, but like a red flag had happened. It just adds extra laps of racing over a weekend. If there is any benefit of having a sprint race, it will be to fix a damaged car after a Sprint and get it back into the race on the Sunday.

flazio · 09-09-2021 03:48PM

Mercedes-Benz haven't had an edge here since 2018. 2019 went to LeClerc in a Ferrari and 2020 went to Gasly in an Alpha Tauri Honda, their second win here.

Burkie1203 · 09-09-2021 04:26PM

Red Bull seem to be able to skim their rear wing down a lot which should give them some advantage

Expect Bottas to have a snow plough rear wing to give Hamilton a massive tow in Quali.

AMKC · 09-09-2021 05:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117867784#Comment_117867784

Me too and that seems to be the consensus on Facebook posts as well. It's time the FIA or Liberty whoever's idea it was abandoned this stupid format and had it just like every other normal weekend.

Frank Bullitt · 09-09-2021 05:21PM

Forgot about the sprint format...arse anyway.

flazio · 09-09-2021 09:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117869050#Comment_117869050

Sorry, John Delaney can't be blamed for this one.

El_Duderino 09 · 09-09-2021 11:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117868698#Comment_117868698

Whatever about 2019 when Ferrari had a trick engine, wasn't Hamilton winning last years race relatively handy until all the pit lane shenanigans and the penalty?

Nobody is seriously suggesting Gasley had the fastest car in Monza last year. He was just extremely lucky to find himself at the front of the field with a few laps to hold on for the win.

Harika · 10-09-2021 08:22AM

Indeed, Red Bull at least were stating the next two races to be Mercedes territory. Although you know, it's mind games. The Honda engine doesn't strike anybody as gp2 engine anymore.

Alpine engine looks weakest

Dont be at yourself · 10-09-2021 10:48AM

I expect McLaren to go well with the Mercedes power and their especially efficient DRS.

recyclebin · 10-09-2021 12:17PM

Must be about time Mclaren got a bit of luck and won a race.

AMKC · 10-09-2021 12:55PM

The way the weekend is set up is all wrong. If they want to do this then the Sprint race should be on Friday and that would decide who goes out when qualifying on Saturday. Its stupid that qualifying decides where they start in the sprint race but not the main race.

El_Duderino 09 · 10-09-2021 01:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117872051#Comment_117872051

What would the sprint race decide?

ctrl-alt-delete · 10-09-2021 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117872051#Comment_117872051

I think they are having it like that next year?

El_Duderino 09 · 10-09-2021 02:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117872254#Comment_117872254

How would they decide the starting order of the sprint race if it comes before quali?

ctrl-alt-delete · 10-09-2021 02:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117872396#Comment_117872396

Sorry, not the same order. The Sprint race would be on the Saturday - but doesn't count for qualification for the main race Sunday, it is standalone. I've not read into it too much, just trying to remember what I heard.

Either ways they want it on a Saturday for TV reasons.

AMKC · 10-09-2021 04:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117872145#Comment_117872145

The sprint race would decide where everyone starts for doing there laps in qualifying.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117872396#Comment_117872396

It would be decided from the last sprint race be it 3 weeks before or in the case of a new season it would be decided on were everyone finished in the last sprint race in the last season.

El_Duderino 09 · 10-09-2021 04:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117872825#Comment_117872825

Ah i think i get you. So they Qualify and start both the sprint race and the full race in Quali order?

I heard (this year) they wanted 3 distinct competitive events spread across 3 days to get more people watching on 3 days. With the logic being that more people will watch Friday Quali than Friday practice. Maybe they're thinking of a different format for next year.

El_Duderino 09 · 10-09-2021 04:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117873161#Comment_117873161

Why would we want them to have pre-set order for qualifying? They tried having each driver running one at a time before and they decided not to stick with it. There can be such variation in conditions over the course of a quali. Ir can get sunny or cloudy or even rain during quali. I'm fine with them picking their own time to go out in quali.