2024 Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail, Nov 29 - Dec 01

[organic]

Lewis' form regularly tanks when his motivation is low (eg after wrapping up titles). Considering he didn't even want to drive for Merc for the final 3 rounds I think it's highly likely that this is exaggerating Russell's good performance. Merc said they'd be quick here and they are.

[Bracken]

are Russell and Lewis driving the same car? jeez, 7 tenths difference

This is embarrassing for Lewis, how on earth can't he figure out how to qualify?!?

I think it's a bit of both - GR driving as well as he has ever done, and LH in the waning phase of 'outright limits' driving.
It's convincing me more and more, with every passing race, that GR might be a better qualifier than 'quali king' LeClerc, just that he never consistently had the car to show for it (williams, ground effect mercedes).

Very possible, now we know why they call him Mr Saturday, but what has surprised me is how he has been able to live with Lewis on race day, he never looked anything special when partnered with Latifi, I can recall Qatar 21, Latifi was on his tail in the race.

[f1onions]

We saw Verstappen flatout in T14 at ~270 kmh and T15 at 260 kmh. Impressive. In general cars are and look a lot faster than last year.

edit. I think Rus and Lec were also flat at 270+. Russel tricked the car by doing that and it cut the battery as it wasn't expecting it. Similar to alonso's 2017 puohon.

These ground effect cars are truly insane in high speed corners and the lap time delta between 2023 and this year is actually surprisingly big. I actually thought that we would see a new track record today after Lando's .21.3 on mediums in q1, but I guess SQ3s in general are never really quick.
I expect a low 1:20 tomorrow though

[r85]

are Russell and Lewis driving the same car? jeez, 7 tenths difference

This is embarrassing for Lewis, how on earth can't he figure out how to qualify?!?

George P2 Lewis P7 and four tenths adrift, he was flying on his first lap and messed up the final sector asking too much from the car again, he's done his all season and even James Allison said you cant hustle these cars like times before yet here we are.

Agreed. I watched the Singapore Q3 laps of Lewis and George because their laptimes were similar but the driving styles are so different.

Lewis yanks the steering wheel through the corners, brakes as late as possible and slams the throttle out of corners while George is smooth and gentle with the throttle and steering input.

I doubt Lewis will change his style after such a long career, so he can only hope whatever cars he drives next can withstand his harsh driving style. Younger drivers can adapt easily so they can get up to speed with anything you give them.

[PlatinumZealot]

Lewis continues to get destroyed by Russell in qualifying. Half a second down on a teammate is unacceptable. I think Toto is right. Every driver has a shelf life.