2022 Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps - Aug 26 - 28

[chrisc90]

This season has been close so far. This track was going to be a redbull track. Especially in the cold. Monaco was for Ferrari in similar fashion. Only in Austria they were rolling up the field.

I wish I had this level of optimism. 80 points after 13 races are not what many would consider close, especially when it's Verstappen in the lead, the best driver in the field - can't see it getting any less dominant.

No, i don’t think so either, especially as Max is already 80 points up despite not having a dominant car yet. Today he did. But points are tomorrow, dangerous first corner, what will the weather do, SC or not?

Realistically, max could afford to play super safe at the first corner, even if he ends up at the back. The car has the pace to clear a lot of the competition very quickly.

[politburo]

This season has been close so far. This track was going to be a redbull track. Especially in the cold. Monaco was for Ferrari in similar fashion. Only in Austria they were rolling up the field.

I wish I had this level of optimism. 80 points after 13 races are not what many would consider close, especially when it's Verstappen in the lead, the best driver in the field - can't see it getting any less dominant.

No, i don’t think so either, especially as Max is already 80 points up despite not having a dominant car yet. Today he did. But points are tomorrow, dangerous first corner, what will the weather do, SC or not?

That's not the point, the domination is not in the car it's with the drivers. They don't need a dominant car to be dominant, you just need to have the mentality and supreme skill, confidence to win and a car capable of winning races. Lewis won this way 2017-2019, and now two years in a row we see Verstappen outperforming everyone in a car that is simply capable of winning races. Doesn't even have to be 3 or 4 tenths faster in an objective sense.

[chrisc90]

Realistically, all max has to do is keep it close to the barrier on the inside and he’s safe from the gravel. Due to starting on the inner side of the track

[politburo]

I wish I had this level of optimism. 80 points after 13 races are not what many would consider close, especially when it's Verstappen in the lead, the best driver in the field - can't see it getting any less dominant.

No, i don’t think so either, especially as Max is already 80 points up despite not having a dominant car yet. Today he did. But points are tomorrow, dangerous first corner, what will the weather do, SC or not?

Realistically, max could afford to play super safe at the first corner, even if he ends up at the back. The car has the pace to clear a lot of the competition very quickly.

That car can be in the top 5 by the end of lap 1 already, a good start could see him overtake 2/3 cars and then on the Kemmel straight whilst others are also fighting ahead another 2/3. Then the run to the bus stop another 3/4. It's so fast.

[LM10]

No, i don’t think so either, especially as Max is already 80 points up despite not having a dominant car yet. Today he did. But points are tomorrow, dangerous first corner, what will the weather do, SC or not?

Realistically, max could afford to play super safe at the first corner, even if he ends up at the back. The car has the pace to clear a lot of the competition very quickly.

That car can be in the top 5 by the end of lap 1 already, a good start could see him overtake 2/3 cars and then on the Kemmel straight whilst others are also fighting ahead another 2/3. Then the run to the bus stop another 3/4. It's so fast.

Are you kidding?

[organic]

No, i don’t think so either, especially as Max is already 80 points up despite not having a dominant car yet. Today he did. But points are tomorrow, dangerous first corner, what will the weather do, SC or not?

Realistically, max could afford to play super safe at the first corner, even if he ends up at the back. The car has the pace to clear a lot of the competition very quickly.

That car can be in the top 5 by the end of lap 1 already, a good start could see him overtake 2/3 cars and then on the Kemmel straight whilst others are also fighting ahead another 2/3. Then the run to the bus stop another 3/4. It's so fast.

Instant field spread and concertina from Turn 1 says hello

[PlatinumZealot]

This year is a deinifetely a boring one. I have lost interest in lots of things. The title fight is basically done.

It's just the way it is in this sport. The 2014-2020 years had an all-time great destroying everyone including some esteemed teammates. Now the past 2 years we have another all-time great in Verstappen destroying the whole field. 2010-2013 it was Vettel. 2000-2004 it was Schumacher. 2005-2006 Alonso...

Others are just better than others I think it is what we must internalise as we watch these races. Seldom do we actually see realistic and close title fights - at least in this century.

Not quite.

2014 - title fight to the last race. Seb Vs Daniel. Alonso Vs Ferrari. Caterhams and Renaults blowing up every odd race.

2015 - Merc dominance (a bit boring yes). Honda McLaren woes. verstappen enters F1.

2016 - Title fight to the last race. (the silver war).

2017 - Ferrari Vs Merc part 1

2018 - Ferrari Vs Merc part 2

2019 - Vestappen coming of age. Rise of Leclerc and fall of Vettel.

2020 - Covid year... New tracks galore. Redbumm fastest at the end of the year.

2021 - no need to explain.

There were two boring years at most during the Mercedes dominance.

We have our first year of new RedBull era and it might just be to the end of 2025.

[Just_a_fan]

No, i don’t think so either, especially as Max is already 80 points up despite not having a dominant car yet. Today he did. But points are tomorrow, dangerous first corner, what will the weather do, SC or not?

Realistically, max could afford to play super safe at the first corner, even if he ends up at the back. The car has the pace to clear a lot of the competition very quickly.

That car can be in the top 5 by the end of lap 1 already, a good start could see him overtake 2/3 cars and then on the Kemmel straight whilst others are also fighting ahead another 2/3. Then the run to the bus stop another 3/4. It's so fast.

You might do that if you weren't in need of points. Once you're in the title fight, circumspection is required because you have a lot more to lose than the guys you're trying to pass. Sail one up the inside at Les Combes, for example, whilst someone else is fighting and you could end up DNF if the door is closed accidentally.

[politburo]

This year is a deinifetely a boring one. I have lost interest in lots of things. The title fight is basically done.

It's just the way it is in this sport. The 2014-2020 years had an all-time great destroying everyone including some esteemed teammates. Now the past 2 years we have another all-time great in Verstappen destroying the whole field. 2010-2013 it was Vettel. 2000-2004 it was Schumacher. 2005-2006 Alonso...

Others are just better than others I think it is what we must internalise as we watch these races. Seldom do we actually see realistic and close title fights - at least in this century.

Not quite.

2014 - title fight to the last race. Seb Vs Daniel. Alonso Vs Ferrari. Caterhams and Renaults blowing up every odd race.

2015 - Merc dominance (a bit boring yes). Honda McLaren woes. verstappen enters F1.

2016 - Title fight to the last race. (the silver war).

2017 - Ferrari Vs Merc part 1

2018 - Ferrari Vs Merc part 2

2019 - Vestappen coming of age. Rise of Leclerc and fall of Vettel.

2020 - Covid year... New tracks galore. Redbumm fastest at the end of the year.

2021 - no need to explain.

There were two boring years at most during the Mercedes dominance.

We have our first year of new RedBull era and it might just be to the end of 2025.

I don’t think any of it was boring either, as there was always drama. The race is just more than what is going on with the championship leaders. But it is what it is to have the same driver winning repetitively. And I don’t find this years races boring either, apart from Baku that was a subpar race sadly.

[politburo]

Realistically, max could afford to play super safe at the first corner, even if he ends up at the back. The car has the pace to clear a lot of the competition very quickly.

That car can be in the top 5 by the end of lap 1 already, a good start could see him overtake 2/3 cars and then on the Kemmel straight whilst others are also fighting ahead another 2/3. Then the run to the bus stop another 3/4. It's so fast.

Instant field spread and concertina from Turn 1 says hello

What has field spread go to do with Verstappen overtaking other drivers?. His car is a second and a half faster than those midfielders. All the cars in the range 5-10 will basically just be food. But it does hang on a good start.

[Alexf1]

This year is a deinifetely a boring one. I have lost interest in lots of things. The title fight is basically done.

It's just the way it is in this sport. The 2014-2020 years had an all-time great destroying everyone including some esteemed teammates. Now the past 2 years we have another all-time great in Verstappen destroying the whole field. 2010-2013 it was Vettel. 2000-2004 it was Schumacher. 2005-2006 Alonso...

Others are just better than others I think it is what we must internalise as we watch these races. Seldom do we actually see realistic and close title fights - at least in this century.

Not quite.

2014 - title fight to the last race. Seb Vs Daniel. Alonso Vs Ferrari. Caterhams and Renaults blowing up every odd race.

2015 - Merc dominance (a bit boring yes). Honda McLaren woes. verstappen enters F1.

2016 - Title fight to the last race. (the silver war).

2017 - Ferrari Vs Merc part 1

2018 - Ferrari Vs Merc part 2

2019 - Vestappen coming of age. Rise of Leclerc and fall of Vettel.

2020 - Covid year... New tracks galore. Redbumm fastest at the end of the year.

2021 - no need to explain.

There were two boring years at most during the Mercedes dominance.

We have our first year of new RedBull era and it might just be to the end of 2025.

Merc, merc, merc, merc.... and some breadcrums for the rest

[Big Tea]

That car can be in the top 5 by the end of lap 1 already, a good start could see him overtake 2/3 cars and then on the Kemmel straight whilst others are also fighting ahead another 2/3. Then the run to the bus stop another 3/4. It's so fast.

Instant field spread and concertina from Turn 1 says hello

What has field spread go to do with Verstappen overtaking other drivers?. His car is a second and a half faster than those midfielders. All the cars in the range 5-10 will basically just be food. But it does hang on a good start.

Most of the 'also ran's' will just wave him by and not interferer with their own race, but he has to be in a position to get by in one piece so it could take several laps to just get up to the top 10, and then remember he will have been fighting and ragging his tyres more than those he is catching, and (depending on temp) been running in heat.

It is most probable he will just wade through the field, but it is not going to be several cars per corner unless something unexpected happens, and there will also be the other cars starting out of place trying to do the same thing

[ringo]

I wish I had this level of optimism. 80 points after 13 races are not what many would consider close, especially when it's Verstappen in the lead, the best driver in the field - can't see it getting any less dominant.

No, i don’t think so either, especially as Max is already 80 points up despite not having a dominant car yet. Today he did. But points are tomorrow, dangerous first corner, what will the weather do, SC or not?

That's not the point, the domination is not in the car it's with the drivers. They don't need a dominant car to be dominant, you just need to have the mentality and supreme skill, confidence to win and a car capable of winning races. Lewis won this way 2017-2019, and now two years in a row we see Verstappen outperforming everyone in a car that is simply capable of winning races. Doesn't even have to be 3 or 4 tenths faster in an objective sense.

It's more like Ferrari imploding and Redbull team having good strategy.
The only time I can really say the drivers made much of a difference for redbull.. I cannot even tell this year.
Max simply had no competition and did not even have to push.
The first few races with him and leclerc were Okay and that's about it.
I cannot say I have seen anything magical from the front runners this year. Max drover harder last year. This year, the pitwall and the top speed of the car is doing the work, oh and yes a very compliant #2 in Perez.

[Cs98]

This year is a deinifetely a boring one. I have lost interest in lots of things. The title fight is basically done.

It's just the way it is in this sport. The 2014-2020 years had an all-time great destroying everyone including some esteemed teammates. Now the past 2 years we have another all-time great in Verstappen destroying the whole field. 2010-2013 it was Vettel. 2000-2004 it was Schumacher. 2005-2006 Alonso...

Others are just better than others I think it is what we must internalise as we watch these races. Seldom do we actually see realistic and close title fights - at least in this century.

Not quite.

2014 - title fight to the last race. Seb Vs Daniel. Alonso Vs Ferrari. Caterhams and Renaults blowing up every odd race.

2015 - Merc dominance (a bit boring yes). Honda McLaren woes. verstappen enters F1.

2016 - Title fight to the last race. (the silver war).

2017 - Ferrari Vs Merc part 1

2018 - Ferrari Vs Merc part 2

2019 - Vestappen coming of age. Rise of Leclerc and fall of Vettel.

2020 - Covid year... New tracks galore. Redbumm fastest at the end of the year.

2021 - no need to explain.

There were two boring years at most during the Mercedes dominance.

We have our first year of new RedBull era and it might just be to the end of 2025.

Lol @ 2020. You really tried to polish a turd there.

[chrisc90]

No, i don’t think so either, especially as Max is already 80 points up despite not having a dominant car yet. Today he did. But points are tomorrow, dangerous first corner, what will the weather do, SC or not?

That's not the point, the domination is not in the car it's with the drivers. They don't need a dominant car to be dominant, you just need to have the mentality and supreme skill, confidence to win and a car capable of winning races. Lewis won this way 2017-2019, and now two years in a row we see Verstappen outperforming everyone in a car that is simply capable of winning races. Doesn't even have to be 3 or 4 tenths faster in an objective sense.

It's more like Ferrari imploding and Redbull team having good strategy.
The only time I can really say the drivers made much of a difference for redbull.. I cannot even tell this year.
Max simply had no competition and did not even have to push.
The first few races with him and leclerc were Okay and that's about it.
I cannot say I have seen anything magical from the front runners this year. Max drover harder last year. This year, the pitwall and the top speed of the car is doing the work, oh and yes a very compliant #2 in Perez.

Lol. So much further from the truth.

Perez on Hungary was on a different strategy…