F1-2022 Round 5: Miami

Sainz needs to get his act together

It doesn’t only affect him. Gasly is at least one other driver I know who’s affected and there are probably others. For his part, Pierre also said he was very unhappy with it and hopes they won’t implement it, but he also said he respected it and would comply if necessary.

Very different to Lewis’ reaction which was to turn up to the press conference looking like a child who was let loose in their parent’s jewellery box wearing 3 watches and covered in chains, insisting he won’t comply and never will and challenging the FIA to ban him.

It’s a power play, he believes he’s bigger than the sport and wants to force the FIA to back down and let him ignore the rules that everyone else has to follow.

It’s pretty typical of the behaviour of him and his team who believe the rules should be set up to serve them, and have generally got their way when they demand the FIA change things. A small but typical example of that is getting the rules for floor stays changed at the start of the season which really helped them out with their flexing floor and particularly cost teams like Alpine who had more rigid floors because they designed a car that worked to the regulations as written rather than getting the regulations changed to suit their car. I’ve no doubt that little rule change is a key part in them being able to regain form more quickly than they otherwise would have.

Keeping the pressure on the FIA to bend to their will on matters like jewellery is just another way to confirm who’s really in charge in that relationship.

Russell looked good in practice think he’ll get a podium tomorrow he might even get a win for himself.

The gloves/suits are fire retardent. A metal object heating up will burn the skin regardless of fire retardent clothing.

This isn't difficult. Sky are painting the out to get Lewis narrative but the rule is 17 or 18 years old.

And as Toto says rules are rules

Maybe you should read what I wrote. I’m not saying it was racially motivated, I was saying how stupid that suggestion that it was racially motivated is.

No Michael, No, No

It seems like a bizarre protest and might be an attempt to stay relevant given his poor car. But I wondered if he's contacted to wear some of the jewellery. Maybe he's getting publicity for the jewelry now before it's banned at track time.

Bizarre protest anyway. If there are no other reasons for it, it's silly.

Ah, it read in a way that you had an issue with it because it targeted him it was racially motivated and ridiculous.

Apologies.

Let’s not conflate two entirely separate issues. Vettel wasn’t protesting about jewellery, he was protesting about proposed underwear inspections. Both are for safety, but you can very quickly and easily check for jewellery without violating someone’s privacy - indeed every driver will have undergone such checks in the airport on their way to every race, unlike having their underwear checked.

Vettel made a statement in his usual humorous way and never suggested at all that he’d refuse to wear fire proof underwear or that they’d have to ban him, he’s just concerned about the privacy aspect of physical inspections.

So with the consensus being that the track is like ice offline, that’s got to be bad news for drivers starting on the even side of the grid. Makes pole position extra important today.

True enough for the track in general but the starting positions are surely well rubbered in after all the races that take place all weekend. They always go on about the sides of the track at the start but it rarely makes much difference by the f1 race which is the last race of the weekend. It's usually just a hype point to sell the race.

Lots of drivers all over the shop in both FP sessions, this race could be a mess of red flags. Quali will be interesting for sure.

Williams should really just let the reserve driver have a go instead of Latifi.

Jamie's busy with W Series this weekend.