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

[AakZaki]

This week the MotoGP will take place in Spain. To be precise, in Gran Premium Monster Energy de Catalunya. Last year's history Marc Marquez became champion and Fabio Quartararo in second place. What about this time, Marquez is absent, will Quartararo or Vinales win? It's hard to guess because, many different winner in this MotoGP series.

[1714640267]

1714640267

[aesma]

Ferrari can definitely not make a new engine for next year. They can modify a few things here and there.

Ah yes the smoke, I remember that, with the commentators adding some innuendo. Mercedes is saying it doesn't know the cause. I'm reading this reddit with all kinds of theories, quite interesting : https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/hti59s/mercedes_engine_smoking/ . Some are saying it could just be crankcase oil venting. Others talking about coolant leaking (I can't believe that one).

I'm pretty sure Toto said something like "we are using a similar thing to what Ferrari was doing in 2019 but with different materials"

I've read the reddit further, leading to another reddit I think, and apparently after the oil trick was banned, Mercedes could have continued doing it for some races because they had just upgraded their engine before the ban, while Ferrari didn't manage to do the same. However Mercedes promised to not use the trick anymore. After that, FIA measurements taken after each race confirmed that the Mercedes engine was actually burning less oil than the Ferrari engine.

[swogerino]

This week the MotoGP will take place in Spain. To be precise, in Gran Premium Monster Energy de Catalunya. Last year's history Marc Marquez became champion and Fabio Quartararo in second place. What about this time, Marquez is absent, will Quartararo or Vinales win? It's hard to guess because, many different winner in this MotoGP series.

It is one of the most beautiful tracks in MotoGP where I have seen in one of the biggest straight of the series crazy speed set by Ducati.I haven’t watched many races this year in MotoGP but if Ducati is doing good and their engine is still the most powerful in the straights they may be strong contenders here in Catalunya.

[Koal-84]

This week the MotoGP will take place in Spain. To be precise, in Gran Premium Monster Energy de Catalunya. Last year's history Marc Marquez became champion and Fabio Quartararo in second place. What about this time, Marquez is absent, will Quartararo or Vinales win? It's hard to guess because, many different winner in this MotoGP series.

It is one of the most beautiful tracks in MotoGP where I have seen in one of the biggest straight of the series crazy speed set by Ducati.I haven’t watched many races this year in MotoGP but if Ducati is doing good and their engine is still the most powerful in the straights they may be strong contenders here in Catalunya.

The results from last year are very difficult to interpret, Lorenzo crash and thus cleared some podium candidates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piIWf7NI-_Y

The layout from the track is good for Ducati and KTM the als have many power but don't forget Yamaha and Suzuki in the infield, this year all so open and we have an interesting weekend for us.

[dre1982]

I expect good afternoon sleep on Sunday. Sochi is one of the most boring tracks in current calendar. Even when Mercedes dominance weren't so big, races weren't interesting here. I don't have big expectations about upcoming race, but maybe it's possible that Verstappen will give fight to Bottas for 2nd place. He need to recover after he didn't finnished in 2 last races.

What you guys never mention in your posts is the midfield. I know that the front is the most important to everyone, but midfield this season is the source of fun and entertainment for me. It is so tightly packed and they provide very interesting races.

So I think this Sochi will be very different then what was the case so far. This season is atypical and races always have some drama to offer, thanks to that midfield.

I actually wanted to post about it, but forgot about it later. If you ignore what's going in front and don't pay much attention to Mercedes, races indeed is interesting. We already had 9 different podium finishers and probably 4 teams fighting for 3rd places in constructors cup - Mclaren, Renault, Racing Point and maybe Ferrari. Middle of peloton is very competetive this year.
It's only a bit sad that we have 3 teams which can't even fight for points - Alfa Romeo, Haas and Williams. While last year only Williams were racing in their own league.

The  midfield is nice to watch. You also see it during the race. The most coverage is about battles in the midfield. You don't see the top that often if they are just cruising the whole race.

[coinlocket$]

Domenicali (lol) will probably be the new Formula 1 CEO from next year.
He is actually the CEO of Lamborghini after he has been sacked from Ferrari.
He will be under Liberty media and he will have the job to rebuild the financial of F1 after the COVID.

I don't trust him, he made Alonso lose a Title back in Ferrari, happy to be wrong but I don't look at him in a good way.

[bobyhodob]

I expect good afternoon sleep on Sunday. Sochi is one of the most boring tracks in current calendar. Even when Mercedes dominance weren't so big, races weren't interesting here. I don't have big expectations about upcoming race, but maybe it's possible that Verstappen will give fight to Bottas for 2nd place. He need to recover after he didn't finnished in 2 last races.

What you guys never mention in your posts is the midfield. I know that the front is the most important to everyone, but midfield this season is the source of fun and entertainment for me. It is so tightly packed and they provide very interesting races.

So I think this Sochi will be very different then what was the case so far. This season is atypical and races always have some drama to offer, thanks to that midfield.

I actually wanted to post about it, but forgot about it later. If you ignore what's going in front and don't pay much attention to Mercedes, races indeed is interesting. We already had 9 different podium finishers and probably 4 teams fighting for 3rd places in constructors cup - Mclaren, Renault, Racing Point and maybe Ferrari. Middle of peloton is very competetive this year.
It's only a bit sad that we have 3 teams which can't even fight for points - Alfa Romeo, Haas and Williams. While last year only Williams were racing in their own league.

The  midfield is nice to watch. You also see it during the race. The most coverage is about battles in the midfield. You don't see the top that often if they are just cruising the whole race.

I think it really happened because there were many straight tracks which in my opinion were very good for testing the speed and performance of the car so that there would be a lot of participants going through it at high speed.

[Cnut237]

will never outpace Merc.  That has always been the case since the change to the V6.  

When was it...  Since 2014?  Ugh.

Yes, 2014, the start of the era of Mercedes total dominance. And before that we had the years of Red Bull total dominance.
Since 2014 we've actually had a year where Ferrari had the better car (prior to the engine being declared illegal), but they didn't have the drivers to threaten Hamilton.

I am a big fan of Ross Brawn, I think he knows exactly what he's doing, and I have faith that the changes in line for 2022 will have the desired effect of bringing the teams closer together and allowing closer racing and more overtaking. The last thing we want is for 2022 to be the start of a new era of one team being dominant.

[dre1982]

What do we expect from the next F1 race in Russia? Just another HAM and BOT on the podium again with maybe VER? Just hope RBR fixed the problems with the engine otherwise it will be easy for Mercedes again.

I expect good afternoon sleep on Sunday. Sochi is one of the most boring tracks in current calendar. Even when Mercedes dominance weren't so big, races weren't interesting here. I don't have big expectations about upcoming race, but maybe it's possible that Verstappen will give fight to Bottas for 2nd place. He need to recover after he didn't finnished in 2 last races.

Honda claims that they found and fixed the problems: https://www.en24news.com/2020/09/verstappen-aims-for-podium-in-sochi-honda-says-problems-have-been-solved-now.html

But they said this before so lets see if he gets to the finish this weekend.

First check the free practice which starts within a few minutes.

[aesma]

Domenicali (lol) will probably be the new Formula 1 CEO from next year.
He is actually the CEO of Lamborghini after he has been sacked from Ferrari.
He will be under Liberty media and he will have the job to rebuild the financial of F1 after the COVID.

I don't trust him, he made Alonso lose a Title back in Ferrari, happy to be wrong but I don't look at him in a good way.

Does the CEO of F1 really matter though ? I would be more worried if he took the FIA. I was worried when Todt took it, but he didn't continue the tradition of Ferrari International Assistance.

As for MotoGP, I see that a young French guy has won GPs and is a title contender, Fabio Quartararo, maybe I should start watching ? I'll acquire this week-end GP and we'll see.

[dre1982]

I don't know what Hamilton was doing during the first practice but finishing as 19th is way too low for him. Let's see what he does this afternoon in the second practice.

[Koal-84]

After FP1 at Barcelona, Quartararo are the fastest, at the first places Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki.

https://us.motorsport.com/motogp/news/barcelona-quartararo-petronas-practice-dovizioso

At MotoGP also the Free practice are important then the times are added up for the qualifying start.

For everyone who doesn't know the format:

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2013/01/25/new-qualifying-format-for-2013-motogp-season-explained/160447

[coinlocket$]

Free Practice 1 in Russia



source: https://f1ingenerale.com/f1-gp-russia-2020-risultati-prove-libere-1-a-sochi-cronaca-live-fp1-primo-bottas-dopo-bandiera-rossa-latifi-sainz-penultimo-hamilton-ferrari-vettel-nono-leclerc/

They are half-second slower than the last year for now.

[Cnut237]

I don't know what Hamilton was doing during the first practice but finishing as 19th is way too low for him. Let's see what he does this afternoon in the second practice.

The times weren't representative of actual pace. Hamilton didn't set a time on the softs, then when he switched to hards he locked up massively and damaged the tyres.. and then had to continue on them instead of wasting a new set. I would fully expect Hamilton to move right up to the top of the leaderboard alongside Bottas in later practice and qualifying.

[dre1982]

I don't know what Hamilton was doing during the first practice but finishing as 19th is way too low for him. Let's see what he does this afternoon in the second practice.

The times weren't representative of actual pace. Hamilton didn't set a time on the softs, then when he switched to hards he locked up massively and damaged the tyres.. and then had to continue on them instead of wasting a new set. I would fully expect Hamilton to move right up to the top of the leaderboard alongside Bottas in later practice and qualifying.

He is now at #1 during the second practice. Would be great to see him beat the record of Schumacher this weekend.

[coinlocket$]

The free pratice 2 results are:


Source: https://f1ingenerale.com/f1-gp-russia-2020-risultati-prove-libere-2-a-sochi-cronaca-diretta-live-fp2-bottas-ancora-davanti-poi-hamilton-e-ricciardo-ferrari-in-top-ten/

Ferrari seems a slightly better car with the small improvement done to the car, the improvement is to prepare the next car for 2022.

[dre1982]

The free pratice 2 results are:


Source: https://f1ingenerale.com/f1-gp-russia-2020-risultati-prove-libere-2-a-sochi-cronaca-diretta-live-fp2-bottas-ancora-davanti-poi-hamilton-e-ricciardo-ferrari-in-top-ten/

Ferrari seems a slightly better car with the small improvement done to the car, the improvement is to prepare the next car for 2022.

Bottas is every Friday the fastest but he don't get that much poles on Saturday. Don't know how that comes but its weird.

Daniel is doing well the last weeks. Let's see if he can do a good qualifier again.

[coinlocket$]

Domenicali is now the CEO of Formula 1, officially.

Binotto also released an interview today saying that also Toto Wolff was in the list to be the CEO but his name was banned by Ferrari.

Ferrari since is in F1 from the start has a big political weight but Domenicali has been chosen by the entire circus, no one has voted negatively to this decision.

[aesma]

That's why there was a rumor that Toto Wolff would leave Mercedes (and maybe Mercedes will leave Formula One).

I don't know if Ferrari realizes this, or care about it, but "vetoing" Mercedes man while pushing former Ferrari man isn't a great look !

[Koal-84]

So after many speculations it's already fix, next year Rossi drive at Petronas Yamaha.

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/09/26/valentino-rossi-signs-with-petronas-yamaha-srt-for-2021/347071

I think a good deal for all but the best option for Yamaha.