[F87source]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

The Newey floor (I like to call it that) and new chassis for Max appears to make a big difference, it shows what a brilliant brain can conceive then let the RBR team construct and shoehorn the creation into the car.

Did Newey make/think of it directly? I mean other parts of the engineering team could have been responsible. Doesn't matter it is working which is the good part.

Interesting. It seems to be working which is the important part. I wonder how the race pace is though, COTA seems to be super abrassive so it is hard on tires.

I guess we will see tomorrow - err actually today I just didn't go to sleep yet lol.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Bubbles

Great drives by Max, Checo, Danny R and Hammy.

Merc has significant pace advantage on the straights and are hitting terminal velocity much quicker than the RBRs With a slipstream the Mercs could hit 350 kph during the race. Mercs struggle with cooling in the Texas Heat.

Post qualifying, Hammy said it will be a good race into Turn 1. Foreshadowing for a collision? Toto keeps referring to DNFs this week and the last time he repeated the DNF mantra was Silverstone.

I just put down flyer bet for a Bottas WDC.

Wolff says a lot of things as you well know and a lot of it has us reaching for a gag for him as he hardly tells the true story e.g. with updates and if he is referring to any dirty tricks on the track to sideline RBR which would well be in their way of thinking having expunged all other means then it will open up a more the darker side to a desperate team.
What makes sense to me is that Merc would want to open up a gap to Checo all being well at the start but it may not be the case with his improved pace and hopefully Bot will be held starting from 9th.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by F87source

The real story is that ferrari is actually coming back and beating mclaren.

Of course . The Ferrari PU update seems to work .The update was + 40 ponies .
But ...

As we know , the Ferrari can be really fast ....Over one (1) lap .
Sadly ,as usual during the race it's a mess !

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by F87source

Did Newey make/think of it directly? I mean other parts of the engineering team could have been responsible. Doesn't matter it is working which is the good part.

Interesting. It seems to be working which is the important part. I wonder how the race pace is though, COTA seems to be super abrassive so it is hard on tires.

I guess we will see tomorrow - err actually today I just didn't go to sleep yet lol.

This !

From the startgrid top 4 :
The one who has the best tire management and the best pitstop strategy is in normal circumstances the winner of the race !

The COTA track will chew very quickly through the rubber !

[Blindside_137]

HAM will be inside on front row correct? Pole position is outside heading into turn 1?

Hopefully it's a clean dash toward turn 1 and no one pushes out wide or closes the inside off. I want some good battles these next few races and no DNF's.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Wolff says a lot of things as you well know and a lot of it has us reaching for a gag for him as he hardly tells the true story e.g. with updates and if he is referring to any dirty tricks on the track to sideline RBR which would well be in their way of thinking having expunged all other means then it will open up a more the darker side to a desperate team.
What makes sense to me is that Merc would want to open up a gap to Checo all being well at the start but it may not be the case with his improved pace and hopefully Bot will be held starting from 9th.

Even with BOT's (6th) new Mercedes PU ,I don't see him finish on the podium.

Let's keep in mind : BOT has the 2 McLaren's and the 2 Ferrari's in front of him .

Today Red Bull has (finally) a race strategy with Checo .
Today Mercedes hasn't a race strategy .

HAM ?
Watch out for his dirty (Silverstone) tricks !

*Deliberately going too wide is HAM's trademark !

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

HAM will be inside on front row correct? Pole position is outside heading into turn 1?

Hopefully it's a clean dash toward turn 1 and no one pushes out wide or closes the inside off. I want some good battles these next few races and no DNF's.

Post # 228

[Wakka]

If ham gets a better start hes going to push max as wide as he can… why wouldn't he. Any racer would. Nothing dirty about that IMO. Max would do the same if he started p2

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Wakka

If ham gets a better start hes going to push max as wide as he can… why wouldn't he. Any racer would. Nothing dirty about that IMO. Max would do the same if he started p2

Of course HAM is well know for his dirty tricks ! But .....
Currently HAM has more to lose ..Remember who's the leader in the WDC !

MAX has enough with 2 victories and 4 podiums in the last 6 races !

[Killed by Death]

RIC is a very fortunate individual. Gets to drive Senna's McLaren and wins bet for Earnhardt's too...Plus he's given out I few tattoos...I'd never bet against him for sure.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by Wakka

If ham gets a better start hes going to push max as wide as he can… why wouldn't he. Any racer would. Nothing dirty about that IMO. Max would do the same if he started p2

What turn will you be watching from?

[Wakka]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

What turn will you be watching from?

We're at 18 which gives great line of sight to t1.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

The Newey floor (I like to call it that) and new chassis for Max appears to make a big difference, it shows what a brilliant brain can conceive then let the RBR team construct and shoehorn the creation into the car.

The disadvanage from the Mercedes new rear squat suspension !

After the FP sessions both Merc cars got significant floor damage by the COTA bumpy track !
The floor from both Merc's scraped too much over the track , so the floor had to be repaired and reinforced before the QF began ...

[Killed by Death]

Awe man, one of my favorite Instagram follows is a AR guest. Had I known maybe she could have got Kimi to sign my mini helmet

BTW fellows, in addition to being a driver she is also a bikini model

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Awe man, one of my favorite Instagram follows is a AR guest. Had I known maybe she could have got Kimi to sign my mini helmet

BTW fellows, in addition to being a driver she is also a bikini model

Good Lord ! => https://www.instagram.com/lindsaymariebrewer/?hl=nl

[Autobacs]

Going to be an interesting race with abrasion being high. Checo is well known to be good at tire management.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Good Lord ! => https://www.instagram.com/lindsaymariebrewer/?hl=nl

I know right? Almost the perfect woman (Bikini model + Driver)...Hotter than Danika in her prime IMHO

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

I know right? Almost the perfect woman (Bikini model + Driver)...Hotter than Danika in her prime IMHO

Yeah . That's the perfect combination ...

[Killed by Death]

HAM and VER take each other out turn 1.

PER suffers late engine failure.

LEC Wins

Hoping for a miracle

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

HAM and VER take each other out turn 1.

PER suffers late engine failure.

LEC Wins

Hoping for a miracle

Let's hope so !

[Bubbles]

In post-qualification, the drivers are asked how intense they experienced their last run.

Max: “I knew I had to find a bit more in the last run, so then naturally it’s a bit more exciting and this track as well, once you then put the lap together as good as possible, it’s of course a nice relief."

Hammy: "I didn't feel it was intense at all, when you’re in the car, you’re just doing what you love doing. So, it’s pretty chill."

From a casual observation, Hammy’s labored breathing on the radio contradicts his comment of “pretty chill”, if this is “chilled” I fear for what excited entails.

Although I understand what he is attempting to do, it comes across a bit poor and contrived.

Need Hammy fans to help me understand.

[Killed by Death]

Yep, Danika hasn't been skipping any meals

Just arm day

Maybe Eddie Jordan made the trip for post race interviews.

Sure is nice to have F1 back in the US! Enjoy the race everyone