2021 British Grand Prix - Silverstone, July 16 - 18

[grubschumi13]

Verstappen is really delivering. How is he managing to win like this in the 2nd fastest car. It's not about the straight line speed Lewis kept on talking about in the last 2 races. this time he had the straight line speed but Max still did the better job.

I did not like this sprint race format. F1 cars are too fast for it. Once past Alonso the Mclarens were nailed into those positions. There is no recovery time.

[Artur Craft]

It was Sepang 2010 when Hamilton did that on Petrov and weaving on the straights got banned afterwards because of that! So how is it allowed in 2021??

he did not get banned and it was not only against Petrov. I remember many drivers complaining about it

btw, Alonso´s first lap was the only memorable thing about this whole thing. What a brilliant driver he still is

[i70q7m7ghw]

Yeah this was failure, I don't think F1 should keep this format. I'm not sure why they were expecting the cars to all run around constantly overtaking each other. They were always going to stretch out after the first lap. It's added nothing to the weekend, and if anything it just shown us the result for tomorrow. Clearly Max is going to drive off in to the distance tomorrow now and win.

This is literally how every race goes. If the cars were invisible or the tracks didn't have corners or if they all were oval tracks then maybe 4 or 5 teams would be contesting the race win all the time. In reality, F1 races are usually contested between 1 or 2 teams at the front, then the rest just slipstream the next car whilst those are back get lapped most years in recent F1 including the 2000s and 1990s have been like this - there are of course a few seasons this decade were there were are 3 or more legitimate race-winning and pole-sitting teams like 2019, 2017, 2018, 2010 and 2012.

Even series where the cars are of the same spec like F2 or F3 are like this, even GT and TC racing is like this. In any competition no matter how equal the playing, there will be the emergence of superiority among competitors.

Exactly, so what did this format achieve?

[astracrazy]

It was Sepang 2010 when Hamilton did that on Petrov and weaving on the straights got banned afterwards because of that! So how is it allowed in 2021??

he did not get banned and it was not only against Petrov. I remember many drivers complaining about it

btw, Alonso´s first lap was the only memorable thing about this whole thing. What a brilliant driver he still is

I think how boring it was is more memorable to be honest but you are not wrong ref Alonso

[grubschumi13]

Also these sprint races inform the strategy for tomorrow. Now the teams know about blisters so tomorrow will likely be a 2 stopper. Less surprises for tomorrow. I don't like it.

[Artur Craft]

Kudos for Norris admiting on SKy that Alonso´s weaving was not dangerous because he was far away

[AMG.Tzan]

It was Sepang 2010 when Hamilton did that on Petrov and weaving on the straights got banned afterwards because of that! So how is it allowed in 2021??

he did not get banned and it was not only against Petrov. I remember many drivers complaining about it

btw, Alonso´s first lap was the only memorable thing about this whole thing. What a brilliant driver he still is

I didn't say he got banned! I said the move got banned!

Alonso still is a warrior...I think slower more raceable 2022 cars might suit him!

[bauc]

I loved the sprint race, good dose of exactment before tomorrows main race.

[Artur Craft]

On Sky, everybody is praising Alonso. Button, Norris, Ricciardo...... the guy is a true motorsport legend!

I didn't say he got banned! I said the move got banned!

As I said before, weaving was already forbidden back then....

[matt_b]

Mercedes will definitely split the strategy tomorrow which will be interesting as Max is all alone like Spain where Lewis give him a beating in the second fastest car.

Max's tyres were also dropping fast at the end despite all that clear air and almost let Lewis get DRS down the hanger straight.

[politburo]

Yeah this was failure, I don't think F1 should keep this format. I'm not sure why they were expecting the cars to all run around constantly overtaking each other. They were always going to stretch out after the first lap. It's added nothing to the weekend, and if anything it just shown us the result for tomorrow. Clearly Max is going to drive off in to the distance tomorrow now and win.

This is literally how every race goes. If the cars were invisible or the tracks didn't have corners or if they all were oval tracks then maybe 4 or 5 teams would be contesting the race win all the time. In reality, F1 races are usually contested between 1 or 2 teams at the front, then the rest just slipstream the next car whilst those are back get lapped most years in recent F1 including the 2000s and 1990s have been like this - there are of course a few seasons this decade were there were are 3 or more legitimate race-winning and pole-sitting teams like 2019, 2017, 2018, 2010 and 2012.

Even series where the cars are of the same spec like F2 or F3 are like this, even GT and TC racing is like this. In any competition no matter how equal the playing, there will be the emergence of superiority among competitors.

Exactly, so what did this format achieve?

It achieved the same thing Qualifying does - set the grid for the main featured race of the weekend. That featured race is essentially going to be the same thing only with pitstops, one driver will be lapping out on the front 3 or 4 seconds ahead whilst the rest from about 4th follow in a slipstream train. Perhaps only that Perez and Sainz will be more aggressive tpo gain places but that's it. Same thing every weekend. Ask yourself why you watch when most of it is the same thing every year.

[Unf]

Max's tyres were also dropping fast at the end despite all that clear air and almost let Lewis get DRS down the hanger straight.

He slowed down on purpose for sure, just to not risk anything, it's obvious.
Max's and Lewis's front right tyre were looking excatly the same.

[nevill3]

Mercedes will definitely split the strategy tomorrow which will be interesting as Max is all alone like Spain where Lewis give him a beating in the second fastest car.

Max's tyres were also dropping fast at the end despite all that clear air and almost let Lewis get DRS down the hanger straight.

Max slowed down at the end because the team asked him to stay off the exit kerbs

[ispano6]

Maybe the wreaths should only be for first place. Whoever made them were probably thinking "those damn Mercedes drivers didn't even wear them" . Yeah, probably don't need the wreaths or that pole position tire that Hamilton signed but didn't actually get pole. We'll take the points though. Crazy to think you can get 29 points if you pole, win and fastest lap in one race weekend.

[JordanMugen]

It achieved the same thing Qualifying does - set the grid for the main featured race of the weekend. That featured race is essentially going to be the same thing only with pitstops, one driver will be lapping out on the front 3 or 4 seconds ahead whilst the rest from about 4th follow in a slipstream train. Perhaps only that Perez and Sainz will be more aggressive tpo gain places but that's it. Same thing every weekend. Ask yourself why you watch when most of it is the same thing every year.

Point is that a sprint race without a reverse grid, for only 100km and for only 3 points is a waste of time IMHO. Adding reverse top 10, 150-200km distance and 10-6-4-3-2-1 points would have spiced the sprint race up nicely!

Qualifying would still set the grid for the Grand Prix, but the reverse grid would potentially be far more action packed (as Alonso furiously defends the lead )!

The Sprint Race should also take place immediately after qualifying IMO.