[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by G30M

nah, easier. drink a litre of coke. pour a litre of water into the suit, etc.

The scrutineers even retrieved the broken end plate from the track adding it to the final weight of Charlies car and this possibly tipped the DSQ scale to red.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Flashbacks to Hamilton-Rosberg in Barcelona 2016 (crash) + Verstappen-Perez in Austria 2023 (almost a crash).

± 330 km/h:

Video unavailable here but I see the point you are making.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

I didn't know that. that indeed changes the narrative.
However, in that light I still think that swap took pretty long, which was not good for Charles tyres. The longer he stayed in the dirty air, the more he cooked and wore down his tyres.
So that leaves the question: if the swap had been done 5 laps earlier (or thereabout), would that have saved enough of LEC's tyres to fight off Max succesfully? LEC was stuck behind HAM for a pretty long time after all.

Or in hindsight: would that have reduced the wear on the tyres enough to not get disqualified?

Interested that played the messages in a deceiving way. The true story actually just isnt very exciting but shame on them for making it seem like something it wasnt.
In the end, Max played the long game and nursed those tires knowing everyone was cooking them. To pull off a 1 stopper like he did was great. Had he not gotten pushed wide at the start and then had that big oversteer he'd probably have finished P2 or P3 but overall really strong on lower fuel and the hard tire so it should give them some good/positive info to move forward with. I think mclaren are going to find some difficulties while RB have made the car more drivable but need to add performance.

[wizardofOz]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

Interested that played the messages in a deceiving way. The true story actually just isnt very exciting but shame on them for making it seem like something it wasnt.
In the end, Max played the long game and nursed those tires knowing everyone was cooking them. To pull off a 1 stopper like he did was great. Had he not gotten pushed wide at the start and then had that big oversteer he'd probably have finished P2 or P3 but overall really strong on lower fuel and the hard tire so it should give them some good/positive info to move forward with. I think mclaren are going to find some difficulties while RB have made the car more drivable but need to add performance.

Suzuka will be a test for McLaren for sure with less straights

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by wizardofOz

Suzuka will be a test for McLaren for sure with less straights

Yes, it will be. It was clear that the technical directive did have a bit of a hit to Mclaren. RB is smart though. The more they can get the FIA to clamp down on Mclaren, they not only reduce their advantage, but also narrow down where it is coming from. Very smart IMO to play both angles with the same attack. The Mclaren car might not be the easiest for Nor or Pia since they dont have Max level skill to extract the performance. I'm sure in Max's hands it would be 2 tenths quicker than they can get out of it.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

The scrutineers even retrieved the broken end plate from the track adding it to the final weight of Charlies car and this possibly tipped the DSQ scale to red.

Here you go.

[Artemis]

Sobering 2025 statistics - Lawson (yellow) versus Verstappen (blue).

Conclusion:

"At this stage in 2024, Red Bull had the most dominant car and were leading with 87 points, 36 of which came from Pérez. Right now, they are ironically third with the same amount of points scored by the Mexican: 36 points, a 41.38% drop compared to last season.
Obviously, Lawson is not solely to blame for that figure. McLaren is now the leading force on the grid. But even if the RB21 is not the most competitive car, his bosses won’t find it acceptable that his score remains at zero and that both Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar with the VCARB 02 from Racing Bulls are outperforming him with ease.
All of this confirms that Pérez was not the problem for Red Bull in 2024. Nor is Lawson, although the New Zealander is clearly not meeting the minimum level. The Milton Keynes team has created two single-seaters in the last two seasons that only Verstappen is able to tame, sometimes with more ease than others.
Christian Horner and Helmut Marko now have an important decision to make: keep trusting Lawson and help his adaptation or find a driver who can adapt to the complex handling characteristics of the RB21. Otherwise, this could become an endless story… and only two races of the 24-race calendar have passed."
("The Liam Lawson data Red Bull won’t want to see" - 24 March 2025
https://www.planetf1.com/features/th...nt-want-to-see)

[3798j]

^^Leads one to belive that RBR, like their fans, has little interest in winning the WCC.

[M5Rick]

Already decided?

[3798j]

For me, I like backing a team that strives for success...by building the fastest cars and hiring the best drivers....

[M5Rick]

From the above vid #449 concerning the Ferrari team, Fred's head should now roll and another 'Komatsu' like manager drafted in from somewhere. It's just not good enough for az licking Fred to say ''it's nothing to do with me''.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by 3798j

For me, I like backing a team that strives for success...by building the fastest cars and hiring the best drivers....

Not saying the WCC isnt pertinent, but the WDC takes all the glory. No offense to the other teams, but RB did in 20 year what none of them ever could in terms of entering a sport that is not even in line with their core business and winning all the titles they have - and they didnt do it by using influence, and money to get the FIA to sign off on an engine they'd been working on for years knowing they'd have a long term advantage, but quite the complete opposite.
RB does also have the single best driver in F1, bar none.

[3798j]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

Not saying the WCC isnt pertinent, but the WDC takes all the glory. No offense to the other teams, but RB did in 20 year what none of them ever could in terms of entering a sport that is not even in line with their core business and winning all the titles they have - and they didnt do it by using influence, and money to get the FIA to sign off on an engine they'd been working on for years knowing they'd have a long term advantage, but quite the complete opposite.
RB does also have the single best driver in F1, bar none.

Relieved it's over.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by 3798j

^^Leads one to belive that RBR, like their fans, has little interest in winning the WCC.

No one cares about the WCC.
Sure if you can't win the WDC or already won the WDC it's a nice bonus.

But no sane teamboss would trade in a WDC for a WCC.

I mean....1.000.000 butthurt Hammyfans can't be wrong, constantly bringing up AD2021. I mean...in 2021 Mercedes got the WCC right? What are they then complaining about? If the WCC were that important...

WCC mainly means you get 10 million more in prize money, and more windtunnel time.
But if it's about money, just the main sponsor alone will be charged more than 10 million as a performanceclause when the WDC is won.
All media attention goes to the WDC. Fans follow the driver. Or do you think all the Hammyfans stayed at team MERC?

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Here you go.

Attachment 3694650

Noted, what I should have said was that the end plate was not enough to add the weight to the car over the minimum weight to keep it safe for Ferrari.

[3798j]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

No one cares about the WCC.

The confirmation of my beliefs.

[LH44]

Originally Posted by LH44

Calling it now, if Liam doesn’t score points in the race and Yuki does, Yuki will take his seat for his home race next week.

We’ll see if Red Bull has the balls to make such a move. There is enough egg on their face.

Amendment to this prediction...even though Yuki didn't score, he's still going to take Liam's seat in Japan.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by Artemis

All of this confirms that Pérez was not the problem for Red Bull in 2024. Nor is Lawson, although the New Zealander is clearly not meeting the minimum level. The Milton Keynes team has created two single-seaters in the last two seasons that only Verstappen is able to tame, sometimes with more ease than others.

I caught so much flack stating this towards the end of last year, seeing through the media's desire to drive Checo out of F1. Checo was never the problem and as much as I wanted to see Lawson succeed, I'm happier to see him fail because I think it elevates Checo as a better candidate for one of the Caddy seats.

[LH44]

Originally Posted by dfox

I caught so much flack stating this towards the end of last year, seeing through the media's desire to drive Checo out of F1. Checo was never the problem and as much as I wanted to see Lawson succeed, I'm happier to see him fail because I think it elevates Checo as a better candidate for one of the Caddy seats.

Checo was underrated. He collapsed mentally the second half of last season, but historically he'd always been fast. He dominated in Baku, one of the more difficult races of the year, and helped Max "win" his first title almost as much as Massi.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by LH44

Checo was underrated. He collapsed mentally the second half of last season, but historically he'd always been fast. He dominated in Baku, one of the more difficult races of the year, and helped Max "win" his first title almost as much as Massi.

I don't think he collapsed mentally at all. The team admitted that they took a wrong turn with the car. Max started struggling too and they tweaked the car to Max's preferences, not Checo's, so his performance continued to go downhill. He was still doing better than Liam is now though.

They need a pretty experienced driver in that second seat, no rookie is going to solve their problem. Checo. Bottas. Both could work, but pretty sure neither would ever consider going to RB. I saw a note that some reporter talked to Checo and he really disliked working in RB because of all of the negative talk... Watching DTS, it's pretty clear that it was toxic. Horner stating something like: I don't know what we're going to do with our Mexican. Marko's obvious quotes... they didn't respect him. He deserves better.

[M3WC]

Originally Posted by LH44

Amendment to this prediction...even though Yuki didn't score, he's still going to take Liam's seat in Japan.

I am not so sure he would want it right now. The current RBR could kill his career. The VCARB looks a lot easier to drive. Yuki should wait until the rule changes next year.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Lawson is thrown before the lions. So far, he impressed by underwhelming and questionable behavior - it's still early season, but time is ticking. Likely also Tsunoda would struggle with the 2025 RBR car. Trouble is that Tsunoda has a track record of anger management issues and RBR doesn't want expensive repair bills and hysteric onboard messages.
Required to drive the other 2015 RBR car: a seasoned driver with neither a big ego nor anger management issues.

Originally Posted by dfox

They need a pretty experienced driver in that second seat, no rookie is going to solve their problem. Checo. Bottas. Both could work, but pretty sure neither would ever consider going to RB.

During the Qatar 2024 race weekend (Nov 29 - Dec 1), Bottas was asked whether a move to RBR, partnering Verstappen, would be an unrealistic prospect.

His reply: "You know, I could see myself filling that role. I’m really confident I would do a good job, but for now the answer has been "no". Some time ago, we asked, and it was a pretty clear "no". I don’t know if it’s something to do with the past. But, anyway. I think there’s certain people or a certain person within the organization that is against me for some reason, but that’s their loss." (here and here).

Bottas would be a good option. However, as time is of the essence, a Tsunoda-Lawson swap - Verstappen-Kvyat style - is the easiest and cheapest option. Both Tsunoda and Lawson will be poised to prove themselves. But will it be a change for the better ? Lawson, yes, but what about Tsunoda ? Hm, a quick-tempered rider on a bronco: sounds like a recipe for expensive repair bills.

7 interesting opinions: "Should Red Bull drop Lawson now? Our verdict" - The Race:
Go back in time or suck it up | Don't scapegoat Lawson too | Give the guy a chance | Drop Lawson and start evaluating a new candidate | Give Lawson a last chance at Suzuka | Dropping Lawson now would be absurd | If it drops Lawson, can we take Red Bull seriously anymore?
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/s...w-our-verdict/