2024 Spanish Grand Prix - Barcelona-Catalunya, June 21 - 23

[AR3-GP]

If the mclaren is the faster car then why Norris couldnt pass russell in the first stint when Max only needed one lap with drs to do it?

Perez can't pass an Alpine but Verstappen probably could. Does that mean Perez's car isn't faster than the Alpine?

Norris had used soft tires for his final stint that had 3 laps on them already. Verstappen had new softs. Norris pitted 3 laps after Verstappen, so tire corrected (Norris on used tires) there was virtually no tire age difference between them in the final stint. Norris closed the gap from 8.1 seconds to 2 seconds. Norris's fastest lap of the race is 6 tenths clear of Verstappen's, both set in that final stint. Why are people confused about what car was faster today?

Over the distance of the race, Max was the faster car. Race isnt won on who pushes the most on the last stint.

That wasn't the purpose of pointing out the final stint. The final stint is just the obvious reference point for the inevevitable "it wasn't clear" arguments.

Already from the first stint, once Russell pitted out of the way, Norris put in a lap 6 tenths faster than Verstappen and was doing 20.9s on his 22nd lap on the soft. All the deg charts show Mclaren superior. All the clean air pace charts show Mclaren superior. Norris said he had the best car. All of the post-race news reporting and data analysis from AMUS, formula-uno, the-race, etc is going to say the same thing.

I don't know what to tell you guys. It's not worth arguing anymore.

“Not could have won it,” said Lando Norris after finishing the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix a couple of seconds behind Max Verstappen.

“Should have won it. The car was incredible today, for sure the quickest. It was decided by a poor start.”

[Seanspeed]

Stewards have again confirmed that pushing others off-track is allowed. It's obviously illegal, but they are simply not going to enforce it at all.

Honestly at this point, you'd have to be a total mug to ever let anybody pass you on the outside. Simply move over and push them off.

[haza]

A few things I want to address as much as people want to disagree the McLaren has had a car on par if not quicker than redbull over the last few races an as we all know having the fastest car doesn’t always mean your going to win. Max executed a flawless race he did everything right when it mattered yes lando arguably had the pace to challenge him but down to his own errors plus a couple lost seconds in slow pit stops wasn’t able to when it came down to it redbull did everything right when it mattered an it shows the experience needed to fight at the front I think this race is a good thing for McLaren and lando frustrating as it was it’s shown them that having the fastest car doesn’t mean a lot if your not maximising everything including pit stops and race starts I’m confident as they spend more time fighting at the front that will change but today was a tough lesson on how on the ball a team and driver need to be to compete competitively at the front

[Just_a_fan]

It's almost confirmed in my mind, that the MCL38 has matched (possibly even surpassed) the RB20 in terms of ability. The Mclaren is, I believe, a much wider-window car than the RB20 as of today. The way they are going about the weekend, is with clockwork efficiency and precision like what RB19 used to do in 2023 - no setup drama, no driver complaints, right on the money from FP1 itself. The only remaining doubt is how the tyre deg of MCL38 (in normal summer temp conditions) is going to be, w.r.t the RB20. If that too proves better tomorrow, we can safely say the Mclaren is THE CAR of 2024, usurping the crown from RB20.

Unable to reply individually to all who thought I was being crazy in this post.

That "only remaining doubt" has been confirmed. MCL38 is superior to RB20 even before the half-season mark. There isn't a better representative track than Barcelona.

Stupendous job by Stella and team. Norris driving out of his skin. Just lacks the final 1% killer instinct. Which will eventually come, for sure. No driver stays at the same 'level', they improve. Atleast the clever ones do.

If anyone in this thread still thinks RB20 is the best car this season, they are in denial.

Thanks to RUS going P1 after T1, thanks to VER overtaking RUS (beautifully setup by the T13 and T14 exits) in the first available attempt, allowing NOR to be held behind, thanks to lack of 'match sharpness for P1 fight' from Mclaren strategy team, the race was won by VER. It was NOR's race to lose, and he did. Psychological blow, 3rd time this season. Imola, Canada, Barcelona.

Max, the stratagy team, the pitcrew, all doing 'whatever's needed to be done to win even when 2nd best, and somehow pull victory from the jaws of defeat'. Reminds me of how Real Madrid have always performed in the champions league - winning against better opponents.

Is this going to be a season-long narrative?

Just asking because no driver - not even the God-given talent that is Max - can drive faster than the car can go. That's physics.

Max won because his car was quicker and he was able to use it. Kudos to Max, but he didn't drive a "slow car" to the victory today against Lando in a "quicker car".

But, hey, narrative.

[CHT]

A few things I want to address as much as people want to disagree the McLaren has had a car on par if not quicker than redbull over the last few races an as we all know having the fastest car doesn’t always mean your going to win. Max executed a flawless race he did everything right when it mattered yes lando arguably had the pace to challenge him but down to his own errors plus a couple lost seconds in slow pit stops wasn’t able to when it came down to it redbull did everything right when it mattered an it shows the experience needed to fight at the front I think this race is a good thing for McLaren and lando frustrating as it was it’s shown them that having the fastest car doesn’t mean a lot if your not maximising everything including pit stops and race starts I’m confident as they spend more time fighting at the front that will change but today was a tough lesson on how on the ball a team and driver need to be to compete competitively at the front

Having seen how Mclaren always spring to life during the last stint of the race I reckon the Mclarens are quicker on light fuel load. As for today's race, I think Max is managing Lando well as there is really no need for him to risk the race by pushing too hard.

[TeamKoolGreen]

If Lando Norris can just find that last little bit I think we could have a real battle on our hands.

Norris has that little bit. As proven by where he is qualifying and finishing compared to Piastri.

[TeamKoolGreen]

I was ridiculed when I said Norris is quicker than Max in my eyes.

McLaren has been the faster car since Miami on paper. Norris himself said they were faster than RB at Imola and Canada. Miami, Monaco obvious. This is just another confirmation right?

They will never believe it, you might as well quit.

The mclaren had around 0.4/0.5 second advantage this race (just look at last stint, on his used softs vs Max new softs), as acknowledged by pretty much everyone.

I will say this again, Max would probably be winning in either a mclaren, merc (probably not as many, but he would have some wins already), or redbull.

Id agree if Piastri was right on Norris's tail for the last 3 races. But he isn't.

[TeamKoolGreen]

George just doesn't seem to have "it" when it matters during a race.

He went from P1 to P4 because of his pace.

Yes Merc put him on the tyres with less speed it seems, but they literally only pit had to him at that time and had to consider whether he could get to the end on softs because he was going backwards and was a few corners from being overtaken by Lewis.

Also, that Mexican money must be laced with cocaine or something because Perez is just O_o

Umm the pass from 4th to 1st was in the race.

It is as clear as day to anyone who isn't trying to cut Russell down , that his race was lost because of 2 slow pit stop ans strategy. And had nothing to do with his freaking race pace.

He started 4th and finished 4th. Wth ate you even talking about ?

[TeamKoolGreen]

George just doesn't seem to have "it" when it matters during a race.

He went from P1 to P4 because of his pace.

Yes Merc put him on the tyres with less speed it seems, but they literally only pit had to him at that time and had to consider whether he could get to the end on softs because he was going backwards and was a few corners from being overtaken by Lewis.

Also, that Mexican money must be laced with cocaine or something because Perez is just O_o

Usual disappointing race pace from Russell

More sophistry.

Russell started 4th and finished 4th. And had a 3 second pit stop and a 5 second pit stop in the race. And had a bad tire strategy going against him.

[ringo]

Russel killed his race by fighting Norris too hard.
That brought Lewis into play to pressure him.

I kinda like how Norris can have the fastest car and not make any erros after lap 1 but still finishing second.
Max must have a secret worm hole on the track to be the slower car yet fastest.
Not saying Mclaren isnt faster, but to how some fans are talking, you do wonder if Norris put his car in reverse for 1 whole lap just go 0.5 second a lap faster than Max to finish second to him.

Norris lost on losing P1 at the start, deciding not to pit to cover Russel, and a longer stop.
Max managed the pace in the end. He was never going to go faster unless Norris came under those 2 seconds gap.
Lap charts would be very interesting to use facts and not the back and forth arguing.

[venkyhere]

Is this going to be a season-long narrative?

Just asking because no driver - not even the God-given talent that is Max - can drive faster than the car can go. That's physics.

Max won because his car was quicker and he was able to use it. Kudos to Max, but he didn't drive a "slow car" to the victory today against Lando in a "quicker car".

But, hey, narrative.

He didn't drive faster than the car can go. No one is claiming so. You are interpreting it that way. Max better utilized his opportunities. Russel did him a big favour. And he took the chance to overtake and get to clear air ("this is the only chance we will get" - GP on the radio) at the first opportunity.

Btw, nice 'spin', well done. No one said RB20 is a "slow car", it's the 2nd fastest car, as of today (been the second fastest car since Miami, in fact).
The data says so.
The two involved drivers say so.
The entire paddock and TV commentators (including former drivers) say so.

But hey, they are all useless idiots trying to put forth a false narrative. Max just allowed a 9s lead to drop to 2s, just to make the TV viewership more entertaining.
Just_a_fan on f1technical knows better.

[Kingshark]

Is this going to be a season-long narrative?

Just asking because no driver - not even the God-given talent that is Max - can drive faster than the car can go. That's physics.

Max won because his car was quicker and he was able to use it. Kudos to Max, but he didn't drive a "slow car" to the victory today against Lando in a "quicker car".

But, hey, narrative.

In Spain, Norris lost 5 seconds behind Russell and only finished only 2 seconds behind at the flag.

In Canada Mercedes was the best car, but the quicker Merc driver over a race distance qualified 7th with the fastest package, because one of his tyres was 0.1 degrees Celsius cooler than he likes it.

In Imola, McLaren was again the best car but Max took pole against the odds, and then held off Lando’s charge at the end.

We are watching the best driver of all time. A driver who is so ruthless and relentless every single weekend without any excuses. A driver with zero weaknesses and who is quick around every single circuit.

You can choose to throw a temper tantrum about it, or you can choose to embrace it.

[Vanja #66]

Good job by Max, he did what he had to do at the start and puts the car where it can be. Norris disappoints again, he really is not capable of standing up for himself in any duel that matters, we've had a good few examples this year alone. Max, Leclerc, Hamilton and Alonso would be winning every race since Miami in that McLaren easily

[NL_Fer]

Still don’t understand Norris’ plan. He went long on the first stint, got more out of his second stint, but lost it overtaking those cars.

[Emag]

Good job by Max, he did what he had to do at the start and puts the car where it can be. Norris disappoints again, he really is not capable of standing up for himself in any duel that matters, we've had a good few examples this year alone. Max, Leclerc, Hamilton and Alonso would be winning every race since Miami in that McLaren easily

What a weird take.

The guy literally pushed Max off the track at the start but apparently he is not capable of standing up for himself in duels that matter. Not to mention the quick overtakes on Lewis and George in the second stint which he had to do if he wanted to have any shot at going after Max.

His only mistake was the bad-ish start which allowed George to shoot round the outside. Unless you wanted him to outbrake himself in T1 and push George off or take them both out, he couldn't do much more after that.

The only race that McLaren could have won since Miami was Monaco, and they would have been able to do it if either driver had hooked the perfect lap in Saturday.

In Imola McLaren had no pace compared to RedBull but even Ferrari in that first stint. He lost too much time to Max and the charge in the second stint was more due to RedBull underperforming that gave him any sniff of a chance.

And Canada is even worse, because even if he had pit in that first safety car, he no longer had the same pace advantage he had in the drying track. After the second safety car where everyone pit for dries, McLaren had the third quickest car on track. They would have gotten overtaken either way.

None of the other drivers you mentioned are capable of magic, and races are not always dictated by pure pace. Why didn't Lewis win on Canada? He had a car which could have taken pole, and Mercedes was the fastest car by a decent margin in dry conditions.