F1 German GP Thread - Contains Qualifying & Race Spoilers as usual

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

Ain't doing it no one reads it anyway

[GSC]

If you sign Riccardo he's nothing more than a second driver. The hype is so unwarranted

You've got a short memory. This is the same guy who schooled Vettel in his last season at Red Bull.

He's also one of the best overtakers on the grid. Given he's had the 3rd best car for the last few seasons, I would say he's done pretty well.

Ricciardo lost to Kvyat the following season...

Remind me...where is Kvyat now...?

Kinda demonstrated his point for him.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Being reported by various sources that two time world champion Fernando Alonso will quit McLaren at the end of the season. McLaren set to promote Lando Norris, a guy that carries a big reputation but as we've seen with Charles LeClerc reputations don't mean success

[Guest]

Pretty much sums up the demise of McLaren. Norris & Vandoorne at McLaren, resembles the same fate that Williams are now experiencing with Stroll and Sirotkin. Two teams is the relative abyss of F1, and fast becoming the place for young drivers to stake a claim. Alonso should of gone permanently, when Toto rejected him to replace Rosberg.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Considering the driver merry go round for 2019 and Alonso's history of joining the wrong team at the wrong time, I wouldn't surprised to see Alonso at Mercedes if Hamilton ends up at Red Bull. Alonso is pretty desperate and could once again go down the wrong path

[GSC]

Think if Lewis went Ricciardo would be in the Merc before they considered Alonso. Though the only place I could also see Lewis going is back to McLaren.

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Free practice one is Azerbaijan and another accident for Max Verstappen. As talented as he is he's simply not learning

[GSC]

Red Bulls look quick, though a higher engine mix available to Merc and Ferrari will probably cripple them on Saturday around here.

Ferrari look to be sandbagging somewhat, with Vettel slow all day, Kimi climbing to P2.

Looking ominous for Mercedes. This has been a Mercedes playground the last 2 years. If they aren't quick here, they probably aren't quick.

[GSC]

Ferrari have turned it up in FP3, Vettel over half a second clear of the field, Kimi currently 2nd just ahead of both Mercs. Red Bull not on it so far.

High winds should make nailing a hot lap without losing bodywork interesting.

[GSC]

Someone wake Hartley up, he might have just put both cars out of Q1.

[CaledonianCraig]

Someone wake Hartley up, he might have just put both cars out of Q1.

That was scary. Gasly could have been sent into orbit.

[GSC]

Vettel bares his teeth on the first Q3 runs, 3 tenth to Lewis in P2, Kimi made a mistake on the last (real) corner.

[Guest]

Vettel pole, Hamilton 2nd & Bottas in third. Kimi blew pole and starts sixth

[GSC]

Kimi bins it again at the final corner and tosses away pole, up by 2 tenths heading into the final (real) corner.

Vettel pole, Hamilton and Bottas following.

[GSC]

Decent chance of a SC at some stage, though it should be a 1 stop race with everyone bar Kimi starting on the supers. Short run to the first corner, middle sector should be tough to follow

[GSC]

Ominously, both Vettel and Kimi (obv) left some time on the table in Q3.

[Guest]

The Ferrari package has a nice cushion atm. Barcelona upgrades will be pivotal for Merc & RB. Merc should mix strategies tomorrow to put pressure on Vettel, and inevitably a SC will arrive, so pit-walls need to be on their A-game.

[GSC]

Merc tend to close up on Sundays but losing their one lap advantage to Ferrari is the story of the winter. Baku should be a Merc playground.

[GSC]

The really scary thing is Force India and Williams have both overachieved so the engine advantage is still apparent

[GSC]

Grosjean takes 5 places for a gearbox change and moves from last on the grid to last on the grid.

[GSC]

Hulk bins it from a strong position for the 2nd year in a row.

Both RBs struggling with a battery issue, ironically both Renaults sailed past them.

[GSC]

Kimi up to 6th but closing in on the wounded RBs

[GSC]

Hamilton needs to close up to Vettel to get within undercut range or Ferrari can comfortably cover him off the next lap.

[Guest]

Closest Vettel has probably ever been to his RB days right now. Best package, and consistent pole positions. Hard to look past him now for the title.

[GSC]

That lock up should just about do it.

Barring SC luck for Bottas, Vettel should just cover off Hamilton

[GSC]

Hamilton flat spotted that set on his quali warm up lap yesterday, not unlikely that's hurt him there.

[Guest]

Hahah red bull

[GSC]

Well that was inevitable

[GSC]

Sorry, thats Max's fault for me, moved slightly to the right, then closed the door on the left

[dyrewolfe]

Sorry, thats Max's fault for me, moved slightly to the right, then closed the door on the left

Agreed. You're only supposed to move once to defend. Max went to the outside when he saw Daniel go that way. He should have stayed there when Ricciardo went back inside. 100% Verstappen's fault for me.

[GSC]

Anyway Bottas lost out in China on the SC, hes now probably won that race

[GSC]

Anyway case in point as to why you are better off having a #1 and #2. That crash has been coming all race because neither backed off.

[Guest]

Grosjean

[GSC]

Grosjean

That might be just about it for this race

[dyrewolfe]

Anyway case in point as to why you are better off having a #1 and #2. That crash has been coming all race because neither backed off.

Maybe it'll knock some sense in to them. It took a crash between Rosberg & Hamilton to calm things down between them. Hopefully this will the only time it happens (this season). Still prefer to let team mates race. Having #1 and #2 drivers makes things boring & predictable.


Grosjean rather too vigorous with his tyre warming & bins his car under the SC. Wonder how he'll explain that one to the team.

Anyway, the end result of all this shenanigans is it look like the race has been handed to Bottas & Mercedes. May even finish under the SC.

[GSC]

Red Bull should've let Ricciardo past half a race ago. He was the faster driver, Max was going backwards.

We might get a lap or two.

[GSC]

Vettel and Hamilton know a WDC is won over an entire season, be surprised if anyone tried an optimistic move.

[Guest]

Vettel hahah

[dyrewolfe]

Vettel with a massive lock up after the restart, tries to get past Bottas, but goes off, lets Hamilton past into 2nd!

[Guest]

Cmon hamilton!!!!!

[dyrewolfe]

Jesus - rotten luck for Valtteri. Puncture with 2 laps to go. Did not deserve that.

[GSC]

Sometimes its better to be lucky than good. SC costs Vettel a win, then a tyre blowup costs Bottas

[Guest]

Vettel cost himself to an extent. Woeful attempt to be a hero on that restart

[CaledonianCraig]

Sometimes its better to be lucky than good. SC costs Vettel a win, then a tyre blowup costs Bottas

Hamilton got lucky .....no question. But Vettel sent him a gift with a silly overtake move that was never on. He can only blame himself there. Bottas you have to feel real pain for as he had the race win in his hands and was deprived by a puncture. Cruel. Hamilton's low key celebrationsa showed he knows he was lucky. Great drive by Leclerc and good to see Williams getting points on the board and McLaren with both cars in the points. Lets not forget Perez getting a great podium finish. Great race.

[dyrewolfe]

Fortuitous win for Hamilton, but sometimes its better to be lucky than good. Good for the title race anyway. Horrendous luck for Bottas, who would have got the win, but for the puncture.

Good race for Kimi - had to work hard to get back into the points after a poor first stint. The crashes & retirements worked in his favour, but like Hamilton I'm sure he'll be happy enough with his finish. Vettel cost himself 2nd with his yolo overtake attempt. Still 4th place means this weekend wasn't a total disaster.

Which is more than can be said for Red Bull. Maybe team orders should have been implemented when Ricciardo was stuck behind a slower, struggling Verstappen. That way there might have been some space between them. Double DNF cost the team a lot of points.

3rd place for Sergio Perez - amazing result for Force India!

Good results for Renault & Sauber with Sainz & Leclerc finishing 5th and 6th respectively.

Both McLarens in the points again and Stroll picking up Williams' first points of the season.

[CaledonianCraig]

Red Bull should have implemented team orders but they are in a tricky position. Danny Ricc by all accounts will be on his bike next season so to order Verstappen (who they are desperate to keep) to move over does not help them one iota in the long term. Short term he should have been told to move over and the crash was Max's fault definitely.

[Guest]

Hamilton leads WDC by four points, even though he’s driven like Lance Stroll this season.

Ferrari still got the best package, but again questions on them failing to utilise its advantage, and nailing down the wins. Sets up a mouthwatering season ahead though.

[GSC]

Been a weird season so far. Only really Bahrain where the car thats controlled most of the race has gone on to win it. Be surprised if that continues though

[GSC]

Kimi and Ocon summoned to the stewards over the lap 1 smash.

Perez summoned over illegal DRS use (the automatic system failed midrace)

[GSC]

Verstappen and Ricciardo reprimanded

[Fernando]

Been ordered to the team factory to apologize aswell

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