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 1:37pm

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

Charlie-Bravo · 09-09-2021 3:13pm

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 3:48pm

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 4:26pm

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 5:02pm

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 5:21pm

Forgot about the sprint format...arse anyway.

flazio · 09-09-2021 9:09pm

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 8:22am

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 1:15pm

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

What would the sprint race decide?

ctrl-alt-delete · 10-09-2021 1:45pm

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 2:01pm

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 2:58pm

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 4:04pm

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 4:08pm

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 4:10pm

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.

LIGHTNING · 10-09-2021 4:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117869927#Comment_117869927

Can we still blame him for it though? Think he deserves it

MadYaker · 10-09-2021 4:43pm

Yuki all set for his first day at school

Charlie-Bravo · 10-09-2021 4:51pm

Qualy on now at 5pm. Should be interesting with the slipstreaming shenanigans. Who'll be the lucky driver in each of the sessions?!

LIGHTNING · 10-09-2021 4:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117873295#Comment_117873295

Well he has been driving like somebody that needs to be go back to school! His first race was his best

Cool_CM · 10-09-2021 5:06pm

Not sounding good for Charles already...

rameire · 10-09-2021 5:06pm

Track Limits on the parabolica are that current and following lap time will be removed if limits exceeded.

ctrl-alt-delete · 10-09-2021 5:14pm

Loads of slow traffic out there.

skipper_G · 10-09-2021 5:21pm

Tsunoda lap time deleted so Russell squeezes into Q2. Schumacher 4 tenths ahead of his teammate and beats Kubica for good measure

ctrl-alt-delete · 10-09-2021 5:22pm

Russell makes it through after Tsunoda has his lap deleted.

AMKC · 10-09-2021 5:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117873322#Comment_117873322

Stupid having qualifying on a Friday.

This is it · 10-09-2021 5:31pm

Wow, Mercedes are crazy quick

ctrl-alt-delete · 10-09-2021 5:32pm

This doesn't look good for Redbull at the moment.

ctrl-alt-delete · 10-09-2021 5:38pm

This is mental, some of those releases and some of those mechanics taking risks.

skipper_G · 10-09-2021 5:39pm

The silly games in the pitlane almost resulting in a mechanic or two getting run over

Jordan 199 · 10-09-2021 5:42pm

Giovinazzi into Q3 again. Very good performance from him.

10-09-2021 5:43pm

Heard the Alpine and AM might be good this weekend but it's Ferrari and McLaren into Q3. Giovinazzi going great the last 2 weeks.

flazio · 10-09-2021 5:43pm

Giovinazzi looks like he's driving to save his seat.

LIGHTNING · 10-09-2021 5:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117873544#Comment_117873544

I'd go as far as saying I think he has had a decent season overall

rameire · 10-09-2021 5:54pm

Bottas taking a new engine and penalty will apply for the main race.

Jordan 199 · 10-09-2021 8:59pm

I like the addition of some green on the Alfa cars this weekend:

AMKC · 10-09-2021 9:20pm

So Valtarri got pole. Well good for him I hope he wins this race and every other race that Max does not get to win as a big FU finger to Mercedes.

AMKC · 10-09-2021 9:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117874196#Comment_117874196

Ye that's nice. Its a special edition for the weekend for some reason or other.

10-09-2021 9:44pm

Yeah not mad on the format this weekend. Friday night qualifying is nice but it just doesn't feel like it means much. Sprint race will likely be a procession with few points at stake.

quokula · 11-09-2021 12:29am

It's a really bizarre situation that Bottas is lining up in first for the sprint race while already knowing he'll start at the back of the grid on Sunday regardless of where he finishes. Seems like a bit of an oversight in the format.

El_Duderino 09 · 11-09-2021 7:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117875156#Comment_117875156

Not really. The penalty applies to the race. The sprint race is part of the qualifying process.

They were discussing this on BBC before they clarified the rules. They wondered if Max could take a new engine and take the penalty in the sprint which would give him extra laps to make up places. But it makes sense that the penalty is applied to the race and not the sprint.

flazio · 11-09-2021 10:37am

Leaves an interesting situation, if Lewis wins the sprint and Max is outside the top 3, Lewis draws level in the championship. So, if it's a case that towards the end of the sprint and Lewis is P2 and Valterri is P1 and Max is outside the top 3, could we get a " Bono I need that point "-"Valterri It's James..." messages to which Valterri replies "To Lewis it concerns, 🙊you"

Frank Bullitt · 11-09-2021 10:52am

Seems like Mercs race to drop really. This practise session should be interesting.

Cool_CM · 11-09-2021 11:28am

Red flag, looks like Carlos had a big one.

Edit: He's out of the car but seems a bit shook. That's a weird place to crash, glad to see he's OK

namloc1980 · 11-09-2021 11:30am

Way too many of these kinds of mistakes by Sainz.

klose · 11-09-2021 11:35am

Big shunt from sainz there, looks like the ferrari mechanics have a busy few hours a head.

klose · 11-09-2021 11:40am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117875795#Comment_117875795

I'd be amazed if bottas isn't told to let Hamilton past him ASAP and then to hold up max as long as he can.

F1 2021 Round 14: Monza

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