ringo wrote: ↑07 Apr 2025, 17:11
Watto wrote: ↑07 Apr 2025, 08:28
I still heavily favor Lando or Oscar to win the WDX.
But I think a lot depends if and how well RBR update(s) work i'm very skeptical they are will got on top of their issues. If they had a stable base but needed to add speed I might get i tbut they have thus far still had a somewhat difficult car to drive.
If though the updates work well and its somewhere around the McLaren pace with Oscar and Lando taking points off each other plus perhaps the some wins by Ferrari or Mercedes and I think the Max factor as being very interesting.
If however RBR updates still don't make a big difference than well....
I think all things considered RBR/Max would take being 1 point off the WDC from pre season testing/early form.
You all know I am not in Max's camp, but I do not see Norris or Oscar beating Max over a season. They have the speed, but they falter once in a while. Max has more passion for racing. That guy eats and sleeps racing. I think he is going to be mentally at 100% 100% of the time this year. Just seeing How Norris got desperate and tried to exit the pitlane side by side and ending up in the grass.. It was embarrassing. He's already lost the championship mentally.
Mclaren need to be 3 tenths per lap faster to win. Not because these guys have less talent or speed, but they need that buffer not to be on the same piece of track as Max.
If Red Bull can get on top of their car, I think Max will win the WDC. I think they would be jumping for joy tbh that they are only 1 point behind at this point. I'm just less confident in the team being able to get on top of the issues than I am of Max
And agree on Landos attempt on the pit exit. I tend to wonder if it was he knew he couldn't beat Max and the only reason he did it was he was hoping he could get Max a penalty. I don't recall any time in the race where Lando really put pressure on Max no late braking trying a bold move never really got into the DRS zone. If roles were reversed there isn't a chance Max wouldn't have tried something even if it didn't work. Peter Windsor in his video mentioned Max constantly all race pulled a little gap on Lando on the hairpin ever lap and Lando never changed his line to see if he could stay closer - there isn't a chance Max IMO wouldn't have at least explored a few lines where he saw one of his weaknesses.
I think Oscar is a better race day driver but Lando has Oscar covered on quali most of the time. Max does both.