F1 2023 - Round 1: Bahrain

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311303#Comment_120311303

Ya, he had gone as high as possible in Mercedes (without Toto leaving), and it's a good chance to get experience at a low level team before (possibly) coming back to Mercedes when Toto does step aside.

Royale with Cheese

I haven't really been keeping up to date with any of the preseason chat so this may have been discussed already, but is Alpine running a pink car plastered in BWT looking just like Racing Point from a few years back not very odd?

quokula

Stroll was within half a second of Alonso and faster than three quarters of the field in practice. The team are professionals, he wouldn't be in the car without being cleared by a doctor. He also had to prove he could get out of the car in a timely manner as part of scrutineering before being allowed to take part, as mentioned in the FIA's documentation here. He did have to hold the steering wheel differently but Kubica raced for years doing the same thing and nobody called him dangerous.

Stroll always gets stronger criticism than other drivers because of his dad. Norris raced at Barcelona with tonsillitis last year and could barely get out of the car and most people praised him for his resilience rather than calling him dangerous for doing so.

Frank Bullitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311751#Comment_120311751

The parallels between Alonso/Schumacher are really there. I think the glory days might be close to over for Lewis, if he doesn’t stick it out with Merc (and they may well get back on form) where would he go? No way RB would take him, Ferrari possibly? Aston Martin now have pace and on the up with they now have Alonso.

Rock and a hard place.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311828#Comment_120311828

They'll be all pink for first 3 races. They did same last year (might have been first 2 last year). I'm not a fan...

MadYaker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311830#Comment_120311830

I'm surprised he passed that test tbh, he looked like he was really struggling.

Vicxas

Stroll should not be in that car, he cannot turn the car effectively. He will either be a liability or he wont last the race and have to retire.

Gremlinertia

After seeing him using his opposite hand to push the steering wheel and needing assistance to exit the car i'm in agreement, i know these lads want to be out racing, but this brings others safety into it..

On another note, due to all the sports televised this weekend i won't get to see anything live, better unfollow this thread for a while later!

flazio

Wouldn't it be so ironic if Aston-Martin's reserve was Robert Kubica?

"Oh, your wrist hurts but it's healing? That's nice."

PsychoPete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312021#Comment_120312021

Stroll is a liability at the best of times anyway

El_Duderino 09

I trust the team is making an informed decision on Stroll. It could be that he has enough influence to override the medical advice or the medical team know that they're expected to pass him for to race. But that's the team's decision and their problem if he can't race well.

I heard he was being treated by a famous moto GP doctor who straps moto GP drivers up to race with all kinds of injuries. It's an unusual situation so if he can do it, let him do it.

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311689#Comment_120311689

That’s a good point that given how he’s saying he can’t steer properly, if he can’t exit the car in the time required if there’s an accident then he shouldn’t race.

Jazz Hands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312320#Comment_120312320

But he clearly can’t do it and confirmed this verbally and visually.

Unless he qualifies 20th he will be a danger to others at the very first corner come the race.

Hijpo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311830#Comment_120311830

But that means he did the test before he tried to steer the car around a track for 26 laps or whatever. That doesn't seem like a test that's fit for purpose in this instance.

Ghost Train

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312374#Comment_120312374

I think he would have had to show he could do this as it's part of the regulations.

Before the halo, they had 5 seconds to exit the car and 10 to replace the wheel

12.5.1 Entry and Exit

The driver must be able to enter and get out of the cockpit without it being necessary to open

a door or remove any part of the car other than the steering wheel or side parts of the

headrest as defined in Article 12.6.1.

From his normal seating position, with all seat belts fastened and whilst wearing his usual

driving equipment, the driver must be able to remove the steering wheel and get out of the

car within 7 seconds and then replace the steering wheel in a total of 12 seconds.

For this test, the position of the steered wheels will be determined by the FIA technical

delegate and after the steering wheel has been replaced steering control must be

maintained.

El_Duderino 09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312463#Comment_120312463

Which bit can't he do? He did a decent job in practice which suggests he can drive the car. And he must gave passed the test to get out of the car (assuming they did the test since the accident). So if he wants to race, I don't feel qualified to contradict them.

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312562#Comment_120312562

They just showed footage of him taking both hands off the steering wheel going down the main straight because the vibrations through the wheel were obviously causing him grief. You’d wonder will he cause himself more problems racing when not fully healed.

He doesn’t look like he has a race distance in him at 100% but hopefully he gets on fine.

Rosberg back in the pits this year I see, those covid vaccination rules must be relaxed now I guess. Good to have him back.

BikeRacer

Stroll currently fastest in FP3. He's using the normal hand positions on the wheel today so he must be loaded up on painkillers

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312761#Comment_120312761

Yeah much better from him today.

Times are very tight at the top between Alonso, the Red Bulls and Lewis. Qualifying is going to be great.

Itssoeasy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312761#Comment_120312761

Yeah he’s looking much better so he’ll be fine.

Burkie1203

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312320#Comment_120312320

Hamilton couldnt get out of the car in Baku last year and nobody made Mercedes do anything either

quokula

Not sure I’ve been this hyped for a qualifying session since some time around 2012. Hope it turns out to be as competitive as practice has made it look.

MadYaker

I still fancy Max to take poll, there must be more in that car and it's so tight at the top.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312627#Comment_120312627

Don't understand the love for Rosberg as a pundit...

Vicxas

Rosberg looks like he might sell me a dodgy Rolex.

Joeface

Now all Aston have to avoid is the same fate last year where it looked good in one or two races and then they did something to the tires leaving them nothing .

I mean this does Look like a great start list

Hijpo

Merc with their absolute horse sh** nonsense about an underperforming car as usual.

Relax brah

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120312844#Comment_120312844

not many would argue that alonso is top 3 drivers on the grid in terms of ability. If the Aston Martin is 80-90% the car vs ref bull (in terms of performance) than we can expect a very interesting race this weekend

flazio

Deleted comment

ctrl-alt-delete

Rosberg chanelling his inner Johnny Logan.