[Official] French Grand Prix 2018: Grand Prix Weekend Thread

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...ulous-1047272/

From the article....

Force India COO Otmar Szafnauer said...

"It took us two hours to go 10 miles," he said. "It was ridiculous."

Sounds like Atlanta GA.

Also, looks like espn roku app won't show this one live....

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by S griffin

So another Merc 1-2, but what a job for Leclerc. A future champion if ever I saw one. Mind you Ericsson also got his best grid slot, albeit back in 15th. Shows Sauber are improving

No, Ericsson also got into Q3. Didn’t you see Grosjean’s crash?

[bjohnsonsmith]

That was a messy start but Vettel lost a lot of places but the SC is out, as Ocon and Gasly are stranded on the track.

Looks like Vettel went into the back of Bottas and broke his nose and Bottas got his left rear punctured. It's all happening at Paul Ricard.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Vettel gets a 5 second penalty for running into Bottas.

[broadrun96]

Good God, they want to do everything to make this a TERRIBLE event don't they? You can't watch at the track cause you can't get there and you can't watch on TV cause the producer is drunk and obsessed with showing only one car at max zoom and twitchy cameras. Great, the tiny sponsors get coverage but nothing makes the cars seem slow like not showing any background. Add in Brundle not being able to describe what's actually on the screen.

And now the FIA making up penalties for racing incidents. That's bs to penalize Vettel, they both moved and Vettel did NOT lock up Brundle sorry but watch the actual video.

And I'm done, no point in trying to watch this tripe when I have yard work to do.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Good God, they want to do everything to make this a TERRIBLE event don't they? You can't watch at the track cause you can't get there and you can't watch on TV cause the producer is drunk and obsessed with showing only one car at max zoom and twitchy cameras. Great, the tiny sponsors get coverage but nothing makes the cars seem slow like not showing any background. Add in Brundle not being able to describe what's actually on the screen.

And now the FIA making up penalties for racing incidents. That's bs to penalize Vettel, they both moved and Vettel did NOT lock up Brundle sorry but watch the actual video.

And I'm done, no point in trying to watch this tripe when I have yard work to do.

There is Road America later on today. Meanwhile, Vettel is 5th.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Looks like the race may end under the VSC, which will be a first, after Stroll's front left tyre blew.

[steve nielsen]

so Vettel can hit 3 cars in the first few laps and only get a 5 second penalty?

he should have gotten more for the Bottas incident alone.

[Akrapovic]

Max fan asking for penalties for collisions. I'm not sure the world can contain such levels of irony.

Anyway - Bottas turned over on a car in turn 1 lap 1. On any other lap, Vettel should've backed out, but lap 1 is a different box of frogs. You don't turn over cars in turn 1 on lap 1, because..well that happens. You can't expect cars to move out of the way on lap 1 because you don't know what's going on.

I'd say that one was racing incident.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Max fan asking for penalties for collisions. I'm not sure the world can contain such levels of irony.

Anyway - Bottas turned over on a car in turn 1 lap 1. On any other lap, Vettel should've backed out, but lap 1 is a different box of frogs. You don't turn over cars in turn 1 on lap 1, because..well that happens. You can't expect cars to move out of the way on lap 1 because you don't know what's going on.

I'd say that one was racing incident.

but he also hit Grosjean and Alonso after that

and Max got a 10 second penalty for the incident in China when he only hit 1 car

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

but he also hit Grosjean and Alonso after that

and Max got a 10 second penalty for the incident in China when he only hit 1 car

Nope, Grosjean made the contact and was cautioned, and was penalized for additional contact with Ocon. Or at least that's how the FIA reported it. And Alonso spun because the McLaren is utter tripe, there was no contact at all. Bottas moved to fill a space with a car in it and Vettel didn't make an effort to avoid. Any other series that's a racing incident but the stewards decided Vettel should not have been in that position. They clearly stated in the penalty release that Vettel was in a non-racing position which is bs. Basically they wanted a penalty given and made something up. Same as later penalties for avoiding increasing the damage by leaving the track. No positions were gained but something close to half the field was cautioned apparently. Sorry but a car spinning means every driver is leaving the track to avoid, they need to pack it up as stewards of they don't understand that.

Plus the track is TERRIBLE for racing, the support races were ridiculous

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Nope, Grosjean made the contact and was cautioned, and was penalized for additional contact with Ocon. Or at least that's how the FIA reported it. And Alonso spun because the McLaren is utter tripe, there was no contact at all. Bottas moved to fill a space with a car in it and Vettel didn't make an effort to avoid. Any other series that's a racing incident but the stewards decided Vettel should not have been in that position. They clearly stated in the penalty release that Vettel was in a non-racing position which is bs. Basically they wanted a penalty given and made something up. Same as later penalties for avoiding increasing the damage by leaving the track. No positions were gained but something close to half the field was cautioned apparently. Sorry but a car spinning means every driver is leaving the track to avoid, they need to pack it up as stewards of they don't understand that.

Plus the track is TERRIBLE for racing, the support races were ridiculous

Agreed - there's no such thing as a non-racing position on lap 1, turn 1. That's where impossible moves are all legit and can be done. It's not like he did a Grosjean and barreled into the back of another car.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Nope, Grosjean made the contact and was cautioned, and was penalized for additional contact with Ocon. Or at least that's how the FIA reported it. And Alonso spun because the McLaren is utter tripe, there was no contact at all. Bottas moved to fill a space with a car in it and Vettel didn't make an effort to avoid. Any other series that's a racing incident but the stewards decided Vettel should not have been in that position. They clearly stated in the penalty release that Vettel was in a non-racing position which is bs. Basically they wanted a penalty given and made something up. Same as later penalties for avoiding increasing the damage by leaving the track. No positions were gained but something close to half the field was cautioned apparently. Sorry but a car spinning means every driver is leaving the track to avoid, they need to pack it up as stewards of they don't understand that.

Plus the track is TERRIBLE for racing, the support races were ridiculous

I thought it was a racing incident and at the time, I was surprised he was given a penalty. He drove well to make up for it.

I didn't think it was that bad for racing, especially after the Canadian GP but I agree with the drivers, get rid of the chicane on the Mistral.

[djinvicta]

In other news, traffic is at gridlock outside the circuit, 5 and a half hours before lights out. Some may not even make it in time!

F1 Guy...

Hey! It's French! Sounds just like Magny Cours and Nevers..Chill out, relax, buy a bottle and join the queue! Why do you think we live here?

Good Lord..the Air Traffic is on strike, the petrol tanker drivers...whoooo..it's Sunday..






[/QUOTE]

[littleman]

What a dire excuse for a Grand Prix that was!

As for the track........well, can only assume the design and layout is a joint venture between Willy Wonka and The Wizard of Oz.

[S griffin]

Vettel's incident at the first corner made it too easy for Hamilton. Vettel needs to be careful, as too many incidents ended his title fight last season. Kimi looked more impressive than recently

Shame all three French drivers had a mare, at least the Monegasque Leclerc got a point, he will go a long way if he carries on like this. Also great race from Sainz too, shame his car had a problem in the end

Race had more overtaking than expected, but some of it, thanks to DRS was too easy

[F1Guy]

In the past 11 cases where someone has won the first two rounds of the season, that driver has gone on to win the drivers championship. Vettel is on his way to break that record for sure. I really hope so.

Vettel once again proved how overrated he really is. Blaming his clash with Bottas on his "too good of a start"??? Really?? Having a car that is well and truly capable of securing both F1 championships, Vettel, Raikkonen and Ferrari will again fluff this up just like last year, and Vettel will go down as the most overrated F1 driver in history, if not already.


Here's to Ferrari fluffing it up once again! Cheers!

[Greem]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Vettel will go down as the most overrated F1 driver in history

You know, I'd love to see your reaction when someone you *really* don't like does something that's actually wrong. But I'd do it from a safe distance, behind a welding mask.

[GingerPixel]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

And now the FIA making up penalties for racing incidents. That's bs to penalize Vettel, they both moved and Vettel did NOT lock up Brundle sorry but watch the actual video.

And I'm done, no point in trying to watch this tripe when I have yard work to do.

Vettel's inside wheel is locked well before the apex, on the actual video.

The problem Seb has is that he seems like a bit of an unpleasant dude, and when you start running into people forgiveness becomes hard to come by. Bottas was in clear line of sight, and I'm really not sure where Vettel expected him to go, possibly round the outside of Lewis instead of slotting in behind him?

I didn't think the race was bad, however Ricard looks like a car park designer's migraine hallucination. I agree with the drivers in that they should straighten the straight, but only because I find very long straights cool for no good reason.

I don't really see how the Hamilton critics have much of a leg to stand on at the moment, as his general mastery of consecutive GP weekends seems unrivaled.

[Peter Mallett]

Considering Bottas was turning into the corner before Vettel hit his left rear wheel and spun him around, I'd suggest it was avoidable thus a warranted penalty for Vettel.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Considering Bottas was turning into the corner before Vettel hit his left rear wheel and spun him around, I'd suggest it was avoidable thus a warranted penalty for Vettel.

Totally agree. I've been mystified by the comments I've read saying it was a racing incident and shouldn't have been subject to a penalty. My beef is that the penalty issued was pathetic. I suspect that Ferrari will have been quietly content with the trade-off that Bottas' race was crippled at that point.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Totally agree. I've been mystified by the comments I've read saying it was a racing incident and shouldn't have been subject to a penalty. My beef is that the penalty issued was pathetic. I suspect that Ferrari will have been quietly content with the trade-off that Bottas' race was crippled at that point.

I watched the race live and at the time from the initial camera angle it looked like a racing accident.

https://youtu.be/CTyqqjMyxlk

It was very chaotic at Turn 1. It wasn't until later, with a different camera angle does it show Vettel locking up and running into the back of Bottas. I don't think it was deliberate, he just completely misjudged his speed into the Turn 1.

[Aysedasi]

I wouldn't suggest it was deliberate at all, Vettel wouldn't be that stupid, but it was a clear error to my mind as soon as I saw it.

[Purist]

I don't think he necessarily expected Bottas to slot in as he did. No it wasn't a misjudge of speed as such, as Bottas himself showed you could successfully brake significantly later for that corner.

As it was Vettel backed out somewhat early to make sure he didn't run over Hamilton. At some point, you have to admist that no racing driver worth his salt is going to voluntarily give up more than a certain amount in the opening corners onLap 1 of a race.

The racing was better than I feared it might be, but still, get rid of the chicane. A number of factors contributed to this. It's a "new" race and circuit, so data isn't quite as easy to come by, so setups and such weren't as optimized/refined, and this played into qualifying order as well I'm sure, which meant some cars were "out of place" at the start. Also, the first lap jumbled things up some. And the earlier rain would have washed at least a bit of rubber off the track. I'm glad the tires held up, so guys could actually push. Furthermore, the engine regs played a role, as a number of cars were on fresh, new PUs. (I'm thinking that that side of things in general needs a second look, especially after the differences we saw between here and Canada.) I suspect overtaking won't be as easy next year if the track configuration remains the same.

Yeah, some sections of the painted run-off were starting to bug my eyes as the race was getting on.

I'm glad to see a "new" circuit to the calendar where most all the corners have smoother profiles (the apex curbing isn't as acute and angular), and I would definitely say that the better flow this provides helps cars stay closer heading out onto the straights. Still, the tightened Pont makes it such that I think DRS is needed to have a real shot into Verrerie.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I wouldn't suggest it was deliberate at all, Vettel wouldn't be that stupid, but it was a clear error to my mind as soon as I saw it.

It was an error but looking at that footage, it's very hard to tell what's going on because it happens so quickly and there is so much going on.