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

[Distraction]

A really interesting result in Barcelona. Hamilton won the Grand Prix! I was also expecting him to struggle against Mercedes and accept his fate. But he didn't.

There were 7 DNFs as far as I remember. Antonelli and Leclerc were also among them. This was a good chance for Russell and Hamilton to get closer to him. But still in the long term I have serious doubts on that.

[retreat]

After a long wait, Lewis secured his first podium with Ferrari after winning the Barcelona-Catalunya GP. He secured the podium after Ferrari's effective strategy of taking advantage of the safety car and changing to hard tires, as well as Kimi having a problem with his car. This podium puts Lewis in second place in the Driver Standings with 115 points, just behind Kimi with 156 points. There's still a gap between him and Kimi, but if he wants to chase his 8th world title, he needs to be consistent like he's been in the last few races. It will be difficult, but it's not impossible.

2026 F1 Barcelona Grand Prix - Grand Prix results
Pos   Driver   Nat.   Team   Laps
1   Lewis Hamilton   GBR   Scuderia Ferrari HP   66
2   George Russell   GBR   Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team   +19.561s
3   Lando Norris   GBR   McLaren Mastercard F1 Team   +23.719s
4   Max Verstappen   NED   Oracle Red Bull Racing   +40.497s
5   Oscar Piastri   AUS   McLaren Mastercard F1 Team   +58.661s
6   Isack Hadjar   FRA   Oracle Red Bull Racing   +1 Lap
7   Pierre Gasly   FRA   BWT Alpine F1 Team   +1 Lap
8   Liam Lawson   NZD   Racing Bulls   +1 Lap
9   Arvid Lindblad   GBR   Racing Bulls   +1 Lap
10   Franco Colapinto   ARG   BWT Alpine F1 Team   +1 Lap

[Distraction]

This week there is no race in the calendar. The next Grand Prix is going to be Austria which is next week. In the recent years this has been a track on which we have seen many different winners.

For the last 6 years there is no driver who won back-to-back on this track. The last winner was Norris. This year the series is likely to continue. I say Antonelli or maybe another Hamilton win? We will see...

[Volgastallion]

For me this year Austria is not gonna bring anything new sadly i mean Mercedes is gonna win with ease and nobody is gonna be capable of prevent it from happening, only a lucky factor can change the winner of the race of not being Russel or Antonelli, lets see if in their home race we can at least see a much better RedBull car, but i dont have so much hope on it.

[retreat]

For me this year Austria is not gonna bring anything new sadly i mean Mercedes is gonna win with ease and nobody is gonna be capable of prevent it from happening, only a lucky factor can change the winner of the race of not being Russel or Antonelli, lets see if in their home race we can at least see a much better RedBull car, but i dont have so much hope on it.

I'm not very confident that Red Bull will be that competitive in their home race. Just look at the pace of their car, it's still not enough to rival Mercedes and also Ferrari. One thing that might help them in this race is their plan to bring a substantial update package, but that's assuming the updates work. So this will be quite a challenge for Max to be able to create a podium at their home race.

[retreat]

Rumors about Max, who is often linked to Mercedes, and his potential move to that team seem to have caused Red Bull executives to panic a bit. Some time ago, Red Bull executives and Max held an important meeting to discuss the team’s future, and there are rumors that Red Bull executives granted Max control over Racing Bull, the sister team of Red Bull.

This was done as an effort by Red Bull executives to secure Max’s loyalty to the team, while also avoiding the issue of owning two teams--a matter that Zack Brown has recently protested to the FIA. If these rumors are true, we may still see Max in F1 after he retires, though not as a driver but as a team executive. And this also increases Max's influence in the motorsports industry.

[retreat]

After Ferrari, Red Bull now hopes to achieve a different result by making major upgrades to their car for the Austrian GP. One of the main focuses of these upgrades is to reduce the car's weight to meet the regulatory minimum of 768 kg, then to be able to address understeer in fast corners, and a lack of grip and balance. Although they are more realistic that this upgrade alone will not be enough to significantly improve their performance, they hope that this is a good step for the development of their car this season.

[ILuckyGuyI]

What do you feel about Antonelli's chances to win drivers championship this year? Can the rookie really stay focused and make it? But he needs to have a properly working car most of the time unlike the last race. 

After Ferrari, Red Bull now hopes to achieve a different result by making major upgrades to their car for the Austrian GP. One of the main focuses of these upgrades is to reduce the car's weight to meet the regulatory minimum of 768 kg, then to be able to address understeer in fast corners, and a lack of grip and balance. Although they are more realistic that this upgrade alone will not be enough to significantly improve their performance, they hope that this is a good step for the development of their car this season.

They had better do that! Red Bull is just too bad. They are having their worst times in the recent years... Max is trying his best but the car lets him do this much the most.

Austria is home GP for Red Bull so it's extra important to get a satisfying result which equals to a win.

[Koal-84]

What do you feel about Antonelli's chances to win drivers championship this year? Can the rookie really stay focused and make it? But he needs to have a properly working car most of the time unlike the last race. 

I think, yes, he can win it this year. The competition is not exactly at the top level, and Antonelli himself is doing a very good job overall, with only a few exceptions and very few mistakes.

To MotoGP last weekend.

What was Bezzecchi thinking the day before yesterday when he went at the track marshal? He probably twisted the throttle unintentionally while trying to get going, but that slip up and the suspension in yesterday’s race ended up costing both Bezzecchi and Ducati a lot of valuable points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9m13-1n3OM

[tokeweed]

After Ferrari, Red Bull now hopes to achieve a different result by making major upgrades to their car for the Austrian GP. One of the main focuses of these upgrades is to reduce the car's weight to meet the regulatory minimum of 768 kg, then to be able to address understeer in fast corners, and a lack of grip and balance. Although they are more realistic that this upgrade alone will not be enough to significantly improve their performance, they hope that this is a good step for the development of their car this season.

Well Austria is Red Bull's turf so they really need to try to win this one.  The track is named after them btw..  Lol.  They would def want to see Verstappen win it one last time before he activates the performance clause in his contract and leaves for Merc. 

Here's the schedule for the race weekend.

2026 F1 Austrian GP Schedule
Track:  Red Bull Ring



June 26, Friday:  Practice 1  13:30 - 14:30
June 26, Friday:  Practice 2  17:00 - 18:00
June 27, Saturday:  Practice 3  12:30 - 13:30
June 27, Saturday:  Qualifying  16:00 - 17:00
June 28, Sunday:  Race  15:00

[retreat]

They had better do that! Red Bull is just too bad. They are having their worst times in the recent years... Max is trying his best but the car lets him do this much the most.

Austria is home GP for Red Bull so it's extra important to get a satisfying result which equals to a win.

Even if you look at their results in the last few races, it's actually quite miraculous that they can at least stay in the top 5, because what can we expect from their engine—from the start I was pessimistic that they could get good performance with their partnership with Ford. So if Max can win the Austrian GP later, that would be quite an extraordinary achievement for them, because they were able to get a podium despite the limitations of their engine performance.

[ILuckyGuyI]

Even if you look at their results in the last few races, it's actually quite miraculous that they can at least stay in the top 5, because what can we expect from their engine—from the start I was pessimistic that they could get good performance with their partnership with Ford. So if Max can win the Austrian GP later, that would be quite an extraordinary achievement for them, because they were able to get a podium despite the limitations of their engine performance.

I was so used to seeing Red Bull that dominant over the years that I got shocked with their very quick downfall. It reminded me of Mercedes' domination years and the later part...

But of course I don't like the truth in this sport that you are the best by far if you are rich and know what you are doing. I mean there is no equal cars thing. I wish we were able to see the drivers in the same cars also. 

[tokeweed]

^  The best thing for something like that to happen is if Verstappen moves to Mercedes and drives along side Antonelli...

So we got the hottest young driver in Antonelli and the best vet on the grid in Veratappen.  That partnership will for sure get the fans that have stopped watching F1 watch it again.   

Well that and if they figure out a way to get the screaming aspirated engines back.

[ILuckyGuyI]

^  The best thing for something like that to happen is if Verstappen moves to Mercedes and drives along side Antonelli...

So we got the hottest young driver in Antonelli and the best vet on the grid in Veratappen.  That partnership will for sure get the fans that have stopped watching F1 watch it again.   

Well that and if they figure out a way to get the screaming aspirated engines back.

Man I'd just love to see such change!    Max would make things really interesting after joining Mercedes. Antonelli would lose his current domination most probably.

It only depends on how fast Max adapts to a Mercedes and that's it! Russell is just not the man for this task at least this year. He is very disappointing!

However above all, I just hope FIA really brings ICE era back otherwise it looks like Max will retire from F1.

[tokeweed]

^  It would depend on what kind of driver Antonelli really is.  Assuming that his head engineer will still be Bono, he could be a formidable rival against Verstappen.  But them again, what kind of driver is he?  Is he a push over and allow Verstappen to trample all over him or is he gonna be like Hamilton, who wouldn't take no sht from nobody..?

Hopefully it's the latter as it would make for an entertaining number of seasons while the two are in one team.  

Edit:  Verstappen top 3 at 3.00 looks good here. 

[retreat]

The FIA ​​has just confirmed that for 2027, F1 is moving to a 58-42 split between combustion power and electric energy, and then the following year it will move to a 60-40 split to allow teams time to adapt to the changes. The FIA ​​took this step after receiving feedback from drivers who were not entirely on board with a 50-50 split between combustion power and electric energy. With this move, it is hoped that the regulations will accommodate the requests of drivers and fans who do not favor the 50-50 split.

Although this is pretty good news, the best is yet to come in 2029/2030 with a pure engine, no batteries. Let's hope that happens.

[goodpunt]

Almost forgot about F1 because of the World Cup.
Wonder if Ferrari is now competitive again - the current outright markets are giving Lewis Hamilton quite good odds.
Tempted to give it a try.....the only worry is Ferrari's pit wall!
Can't wait for the Austrian GP!

[FanEagle]

George Russel to be sent would be weird to see ,but not impossible. If he was leading this season clearly, then we would see him staying and Antonelli leaving in that case. Why keep a young kid when you can have two great drivers?

But between George and Max hating each other, and also George getting mogged by a kid, I would say Antonelli staying would be more likely. Also Bono would probably be with Antonelli, not for nothing but Max battled against Hamilton/Bono duo for years, so I do not think that they are that much liking each other.

[Velvet78]

George Russel to be sent would be weird to see ,but not impossible. If he was leading this season clearly, then we would see him staying and Antonelli leaving in that case. Why keep a young kid when you can have two great drivers?

But between George and Max hating each other, and also George getting mogged by a kid, I would say Antonelli staying would be more likely. Also Bono would probably be with Antonelli, not for nothing but Max battled against Hamilton/Bono duo for years, so I do not think that they are that much liking each other.

I also asked the same question at first. But it seems like that young kid is doing much better than Russell now. 

Russell is just lost man... He had a great opportunity in Catalunya actually after Antonelli was DNF. But even in that situation he lost the lead to Hamilton.

I think it would be great for Mercedes to bring Verstappen to replace Russell.

[tokeweed]

George Russel to be sent would be weird to see ,but not impossible. If he was leading this season clearly, then we would see him staying and Antonelli leaving in that case. Why keep a young kid when you can have two great drivers?

But between George and Max hating each other, and also George getting mogged by a kid, I would say Antonelli staying would be more likely. Also Bono would probably be with Antonelli, not for nothing but Max battled against Hamilton/Bono duo for years, so I do not think that they are that much liking each other.

Russel to be given the boot weird to see?  I don't think so.  I think the writing is on the wall bud...  At the end of this season Verstappen will activate his contract's performance clause and get out of Red Bull asap.  Toto Wolff is licking his chops right now and couldn't wait to get his hands on the best driver on the grid.

All the things Verstappen is saying that he wants out of F1 are just mind games imho.  He just wants out of Red Bull.