2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku, April 27-29

[Vasconia]

right on their coat tales in qualifying.

Ricciardo was a second slower than Vettel's pole lap in Bahrain. Calm it with the sensationalism

I can only see RB beating or being a real danger in qualy in Monaco and perhaps Hungary or Singapur. Apart from those races they should be, at least, 3-4 tenths behind unless Renault brings a qualy mode on upcoming updates.

[F1NAC]

What do you guys think about new restriction that FIA imposed starting this weekend (banning engine modes that help feed rear wing via exhaust) ?

For me it is just stupid to impose ban during season

[Vasconia]

What do you guys think about new restriction that FIA imposed starting this weekend (banning engine modes that help feed rear wing via exhaust) ?

For me it is just stupid to impose ban during season

I am with you, its utterly stupid. But now I ask myself which teams will be affected more...

[gargour87]

right on their coat tales in qualifying.

Ricciardo was a second slower than Vettel's pole lap in Bahrain. Calm it with the sensationalism

I can only see RB beating or being a real danger in qualy in Monaco and perhaps Hungary or Singapur. Apart from those races they should be, at least, 3-4 tenths behind unless Renault brings a qualy mode on upcoming updates.

But Ferrari and Mercedes wont be watchdogs. they will bring update bits here and there also

[godlameroso]

So minimum pressures are 21 and 20psi front and rear?

[Vasconia]

Ricciardo was a second slower than Vettel's pole lap in Bahrain. Calm it with the sensationalism

I can only see RB beating or being a real danger in qualy in Monaco and perhaps Hungary or Singapur. Apart from those races they should be, at least, 3-4 tenths behind unless Renault brings a qualy mode on upcoming updates.

But Ferrari and Mercedes wont be watchdogs. they will bring update bits here and there also

I know but taking into account that RB has a great chasis those tracks, where PU is not so important, should be the places where they can shine.

[digitalrurouni]

Ferrari have the 'sweeter' car and Mercedes has the 'diva'. I think Ferrari will walk this one.

If Mercedes goes from locking out the front row with a gap of over 1 second from P1 to P3 in qualifying to getting "walked" by Ferrari in 1 year, then I would also expect Mercedes to pull out of the sport permanently on Saturday night, because that would the epitome of embarrassment.

Isn't that kind of what happened in China? Sure it wasn't a 1-2 last year Vettel was 2 during qualifying. But this year Ferrari 1-2.

[Vettel165]

Imagine Ferrari taking another 1-2 in qualy and than also win it again on sunday. For now just a big dream, but I would be the happiest man alive if it would happen. Will see, the weekend looks dry. We Ferrari fans still need to keep our feets on the ground, the competitors arent sleeping. Mercedes might strike back.

[Restomaniac]

Imagine Ferrari taking another 1-2 in qualy and than also win it again on sunday. For now just a big dream, but I would be the happiest man alive if it would happen. Will see, the weekend looks dry. We Ferrari fans still need to keep our feets on the ground, the competitors arent sleeping. Mercedes might strike back.

No thanks. I don't want Mercedes to dominate and neither do I want Ferrari to do so.

[George-Jung]

This will be Verstappen’s race- to silence all the critics.

[dans79]

This will be Verstappen’s race- to silence all the critics.

[f1316]

I think last year’s quali gap was largely about tyres - during the race Vettel was much closer to Hamilton’s pace but not able to keep the tyres working in all the shady areas of the track for a single lap. Perhaps there was also some oil burning impact, given the timing.

If they’ve got on top of the tyres here, it’s not necessarily a disaster on Mercedes’ side if that gap disappears, because it was a real outlier last season - more just a sign of Ferrari finally managing to get on top of what’s been a ‘bogey’ circuit the last two years.

It’s also why I think the ultra soft is the right tyre - despite high ambient temperatures, teams were massively struggling to heat the tyres last year, so the lower working range the better.

[NL_Fer]

[JonoNic]

So they all clip the wall...?

[zibby43]

Ferrari have the 'sweeter' car and Mercedes has the 'diva'. I think Ferrari will walk this one.

If Mercedes goes from locking out the front row with a gap of over 1 second from P1 to P3 in qualifying to getting "walked" by Ferrari in 1 year, then I would also expect Mercedes to pull out of the sport permanently on Saturday night, because that would the epitome of embarrassment.

Isn't that kind of what happened in China? Sure it wasn't a 1-2 last year Vettel was 2 during qualifying. But this year Ferrari 1-2.

Not at all. You have to also consider the gap. In '17, I think Hamilton beat Vettel to pole in China by around 1 tenth.

In '17, Hamilton beat the closest Ferrari to pole in Baku by around 1.1 seconds.