Motosport General discussion tread --- Formula1, MotoGP, WTCC, ETCC, DTM.....

[Distraction]

Verstappen is highly favoured to win the Australian Grand Prix just as he is for every race of course.

As long as there is no problem on Red Bull side I don't see any driver who can stop Verstappen from finishing this Grand Prix as the first. There is a huge gap between Red Bull and the other teams' cars. Indeed even Perez can't compete hard with Verstappen. I mean I know Perez won the latest race but that was because of Verstappen's having a problem with his car. Otherwise Verstappen was catching up with Perez really fast and he could have overtaken Perez easily soon. I just wish to see Leclerc being on podium this time. Ferrari couldn't make a good start.

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[Koal-84]

Verstappen is highly favoured to win the Australian Grand Prix just as he is for every race of course.

With the current form of Red Bull and Verstappen, as well as Perez, they are the favourites at every Grand Prix, although Verstappen is still ahead of Perez.

But I'm not really giving my tip for Sunday yet, I'm still a bit undecided, Ferrari were very strong at this circuit last year, Alsonso could also be good for a surprise, my tip will be spontaneous on Friday Central European Time 🤔.

[alegotardo]

Verstappen is highly favoured to win the Australian Grand Prix just as he is for every race of course.

With the current form of Red Bull and Verstappen, as well as Perez, they are the favourites at every Grand Prix, although Verstappen is still ahead of Perez.

I just remembered....
Last year reliability issues, accidents, a grid penalty and disastrous timing performance by the entire team meant Aston Martin had a dismal weekend.

However, I believe that this year things could be very different... after taking two podiums in a row in the first two races of the season, Aston Martin is in a good mood to win the Australian GP, Fernando Alonso just needs a wobble from Red Bull to win the first race after his return to F1, or maybe even that is not necessary and he manages to take the top spot on the podium with the merit of his skills.

[FanEagle]

Having some sort of break during these travels does give teams to recover all the drama and calm everyone down. Perez might become the second coming of Bottas, and he is just helping his teammate to win titles back to back, and that is not the type of legacy most people want to leave in the sport when they retire.

However, he is not good enough to win titles himself, he can't be given a car like that when there are better drivers all around, so that's all he could get, and he should be happy that at least he is in a car that is doing as well as he could drive and wins some races and constantly on the podium, so he has a good chance to end with a good record.

[retreat]

Small rumor with F1.

The Britan team Hitech GP aims to enter in F1 too in 2026, they are already talking with Mclaren.

It's quite interesting to see teams like Ford, Porsche, Honda, Hyundai, and several other teams interested in being able to enter F1 as an official team and compete with other teams. Their interest in getting into F1 and competing with other teams makes F1 in the coming season even more exciting. Let's just see how in the future these teams will enter the F1 circuit and compete, I'm really looking forward to what surprises they will present.

[swogerino]

Small rumor with F1.

The Britan team Hitech GP aims to enter in F1 too in 2026, they are already talking with Mclaren.

It's quite interesting to see teams like Ford, Porsche, Honda, Hyundai, and several other teams interested in being able to enter F1 as an official team and compete with other teams. Their interest in getting into F1 and competing with other teams makes F1 in the coming season even more exciting. Let's just see how in the future these teams will enter the F1 circuit and compete, I'm really looking forward to what surprises they will present.

I think that Ford is entering only to increase sales which have seen drastic downsize to their sales and they are not that interested in F1 as a sport but that is just my opinion based on all the years that I have followed F1 which are a lot,I never saw any real interest from Ford.When it comes to Porsche it is only natural for them as they mostly make sport cars while Honda is already champions with Redbull but may be they want to win all by themselves as they have the capacity to do so if they want.For Hyundai it must be about technology as their sales are up to the roof from their electric cars,they are dominating European markets.

[coinlocket$]

I think that Ford is entering only to increase sales.

All of them have the same purpose.

F1 for the big giant is only a big NOT so expensive marketing tool now, with a salary cap of around 150m USD $ they can pay a fair amount of money for incredibly cheap marketing. (140m for them are nothing with the return they have)

F1 is ATM one of the biggest if not the biggest increase in the TV watched hour in the world...

[SquallLeonhart]

I think that Ford is entering only to increase sales which have seen drastic downsize to their sales and they are not that interested in F1 as a sport but that is just my opinion based on all the years that I have followed F1 which are a lot,I never saw any real interest from Ford.When it comes to Porsche it is only natural for them as they mostly make sport cars while Honda is already champions with Redbull but may be they want to win all by themselves as they have the capacity to do so if they want.For Hyundai it must be about technology as their sales are up to the roof from their electric cars,they are dominating European markets.

There are a lot of teams who want to join during 2026 for sure, many teams are working on it and on early years they may have a bad team as well which won't really matter, and financially starting one will always be terrible until they get some money back from the league ,and slowly they could get better maybe.

Look at Haas, they literally have a smaller pit place for the TP steiner just to save 250k more, think about how much money matters in this league, so all these new teams will have to be checked carefully. We do not need a team who can barely afford to put a car on the field, what if they fail and can't afford to run anymore, F1 won't want that at all.

[coinlocket$]

Pos    Driver    Nat.   Team    Time
1   Fernando Alonso   ESP   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   1m18.887s
2   Charles Leclerc   MON   Scuderia Ferrari   1m19.332s
3   Max Verstappen   NED   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m19.502s
4   George Russell   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m19.672s
5   Carlos Sainz   ESP   Scuderia Ferrari   1m19.695s
6   Esteban Ocon   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m19.725s
7   Sergio Perez   MEX   Oracle Bull Racing   1m20.083s
8   Lando Norris   GBR   McLaren F1 Team   1m20.176s
9   Nico Hulkenberg   GER   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   1m20.194s
10   Pierre Gasly   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m20.206s
11   Yuki Tsunoda   JPN   Scuderia AlphaTauri    1m20.220s
12   Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake   1m203.12s
13   Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m20.323s
14   Oscar Piastri   AUS   McLaren F1 Team   1m20.380s
15   Zhou Guanyu   CHN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake   1m20.470s
16   Lance Stroll   CAN   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   1m20.579s
17   Nyck de Vries   NED   Scuderia AlphaTauri   1m20.600s
18   Alex Albon   THA   Williams Racing   1m21.282s
19   Kevin Magnussen   DEN   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   1m21.266s
20   Logan Sargeant   USA   Williams Racing   No Time Set

Results of the day.

Source: https://www.crash.net/f1/results/1023151/1/f1-2023-australian-grand-prix-friday-practice-results

Ferrari seems to be a bit better but they may have overheating problems on the tires

[Davian144]

Free Practice 1 has just concluded and the factory Aprilia duo took first as well as second place joined by Jorge Martin of the Pramac Racing team. I believe that the Aprilia factory will again make tougher competition in Argentina this time because the circuit has started to suit Aprilia motorbikes and that was proven by Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro who were able to finish first and second in FP1 today. Source: crashmotogp_

[coinlocket$]

F1 and MotoGp are working to have 1 racing weekend on the same track on the same day.

I don't know what to think about it...

[JooBra]

F1 and MotoGp are working to have 1 racing weekend on the same track on the same day.

I don't know what to think about it...

Well if you look from viewer perspective its good, having MotoGP first then F1 race, perfect but that would kill F2, Moto smaller series. Interest of the sport sometimes needs to be ahead of profit and I think this is that situation. We need to preserve smaller series like a real motosport fans.

[judas]

The Australian GP is going to be very early in my timezone unfortunately. But I'm still thinking of getting up early to watch the race at least.    I will be hoping to see a different podium this time. Because for two races only the places of the drivers on podium changed. Seeing Verstappen and Perez there is normal of course considering how fast Red Bull are now.

However Alonso has been making difference for two race weeks really. Aston Martin are much stronger this season and Alonso is ready to all in now. But maybe this time Ferrari can push harder and we can see Leclerc on podium. I just hope to not see simple mistakes by Ferrari side this time.

[Captain Corporate]

It is going to be at morning 8 am or something for us as well in Turkey, wouldn't be able to watch that to be fair, I am going to sleep. I have just few days to rest during weekends, I am not planning on giving up on my sleep just to watch this. I will wake up whenever I do, not check the results, find a torrent on somewhere and download that and watch it like its live without knowing anything about it. Thats at least what I am planning on doing, not sure if I will be able to or not, if I see the results somehow before that, I will just watch the highlights and move on. Not the end of the world.

[swogerino]

F1 and MotoGp are working to have 1 racing weekend on the same track on the same day.

I don't know what to think about it...

For us fans nothing except that it would be great.I am saying great if we have one race before and then the after as there is no logic in using the same track and using both moto and car racing,I know this would be super awesome if it ever happens but it is extremely dangerous for the riders as the drivers I doubt they would have any problems with riders around them but if a car hit a moto then there will be big problems and big injuries.

I would love a weekend which we would have both MotoGP and F1 races one after another,for me the weekend without major leagues of Europe in soccer and without racing has no sense at all.

[Koal-84]

I am a bit surprised, not that Verstappen has pole position, but about the performance of Mercedes, have they found something?

The last few days Mercedes have been downplaying their performance or was it just a bluff like in poker?

[FanEagle]

Drive to Survive and the new owners Liberty Media definitely made some big changes and that is why it's getting this much attention. Plus, during the whole Senna or Lauda or even Schumi years, we didn't had social media, maybe later years of Schumi but it wasn't this global and widely used. Now? Now it's all fame and tik toks and tweets and all that, which makes it even bigger, plus the docuseries definitely made people feel like they are actually part of it, like they are on the inside, and learn more about it.

This is why I honestly believe that more and more teams will want to be part of it, and maybe not anytime soon because it would be too difficult, but we may look at a 30 team 30 week thing in the long future, like in 20-30 years.

[coinlocket$]

1   Max Verstappen   NED   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m17.384s   1m17.056s   1m16.732s
2   George Russell   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m17.654s   1m17.513s   1m16.968s
3   Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m17.689s   1m17.551s   1m17.104s
4   Fernando Alonso   ESP   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   1m17.832s   1m17.263s   1m17.139s
5   Carlos Sainz   ESP   Scuderia Ferrari   1m17.928s   1m17.349s   1m17.270s
6   Lance Stroll   CAN   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   1m17.873s   1m17.616s   1m17.308s
7   Charles Leclerc   MON   Scuderia Ferrari   1m18.218s   1m17.390s   1m17.369s
8   Alex Albon   THA   Williams Racing   1m17.962s   1m17.761s   1m17.609s
9   Pierre Gasly   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m18.312s   1m17.574s   1m17.675s
10   Nico Hulkenberg   GER   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   1m18.029s   1m17.412s   1m17.735s
11   Esteban Ocon   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m17.770s   1m17.768s   
12   Yuki Tsunoda   JPN   Scuderia AlphaTauri    1m18.471s   1m18.099s   
13   Lando Norris   GBR   McLaren F1 Team   1m18.243s   1m18.119s   
14   Kevin Magnussen   DEN   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   1m18.159s   1m18.129s   
15   Nyck de Vries   NED   Scuderia AlphaTauri   1m18.450s   1m18.335s   
16   Oscar Piastri   AUS   McLaren F1 Team   1m18.517s       
17   Zhou Guanyu   CHN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake   1m18.540s       
18   Logan Sargeant   USA   Williams Racing   1m18.557s       
19   Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake   1m18.714s       
20   Sergio Perez   MEX   Oracle Bull Racing   No Time Set

Perez did a big mistake in q1 and he will start last, Ferrari also did mistakes with the management and they will start in the middle.

Source: https://www.crash.net/f1/results/1023391/1/f1-2023-australian-grand-prix-full-qualifying-results

Can Mercedes fight with Max?

[swogerino]

Can Mercedes fight with Max?

That will be extremely difficult for Mercedes as we should not just evaluate one single lap which anyone can do and in the qualifying they give it 101% of their capacity the drivers.It is totally different in the race where you cannot be 101% of your capacity for every lap and it is here that whoever has the better car from the grid will make a difference in this case Max.Unless something bad happens to him,like a crash,a failure or a Safety Car which messes up the race for him I see a sure win for him and the odd of 1.39-1.45 for him to win the race is pretty good for those who are going to bet on him.Unfortunately for us all fans we will see another boring race tomorrow.

[tokeweed]

1   Max Verstappen   NED   Oracle Red Bull Racing   1m17.384s   1m17.056s   1m16.732s
2   George Russell   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m17.654s   1m17.513s   1m16.968s
3   Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   1m17.689s   1m17.551s   1m17.104s
4   Fernando Alonso   ESP   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   1m17.832s   1m17.263s   1m17.139s
5   Carlos Sainz   ESP   Scuderia Ferrari   1m17.928s   1m17.349s   1m17.270s
6   Lance Stroll   CAN   Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team   1m17.873s   1m17.616s   1m17.308s
7   Charles Leclerc   MON   Scuderia Ferrari   1m18.218s   1m17.390s   1m17.369s
8   Alex Albon   THA   Williams Racing   1m17.962s   1m17.761s   1m17.609s
9   Pierre Gasly   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m18.312s   1m17.574s   1m17.675s
10   Nico Hulkenberg   GER   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   1m18.029s   1m17.412s   1m17.735s
11   Esteban Ocon   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   1m17.770s   1m17.768s   
12   Yuki Tsunoda   JPN   Scuderia AlphaTauri    1m18.471s   1m18.099s   
13   Lando Norris   GBR   McLaren F1 Team   1m18.243s   1m18.119s   
14   Kevin Magnussen   DEN   MoneyGram Haas F1 Team   1m18.159s   1m18.129s   
15   Nyck de Vries   NED   Scuderia AlphaTauri   1m18.450s   1m18.335s   
16   Oscar Piastri   AUS   McLaren F1 Team   1m18.517s       
17   Zhou Guanyu   CHN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake   1m18.540s       
18   Logan Sargeant   USA   Williams Racing   1m18.557s       
19   Valtteri Bottas   FIN   Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake   1m18.714s       
20   Sergio Perez   MEX   Oracle Bull Racing   No Time Set

Perez did a big mistake in q1 and he will start last, Ferrari also did mistakes with the management and they will start in the middle.

Source: https://www.crash.net/f1/results/1023391/1/f1-2023-australian-grand-prix-full-qualifying-results

Can Mercedes fight with Max?

^  Can the Merc guys fight vs Verstappen?  Russell can't but Hamilton can but then he has Alonso to worry about.  They could be fighting each other while Russell is just falling behind against Verstappen.

I'm more excited to see what awaits for Hamilton, Alonso and Sainz at the race than to see Verstappen win again.  :/

As for Perez, I think it wasn't driver error that got him out of quali.  The car was having some problems starting at FP3.