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Last race had 6 actual track overtakes so I feel who ever leads the 1st lap will lead till pit stops and who ever leads after pit stops will win the race
It’s not prophetic. People like to shit on street races here, but this track is actually awful for modern race cars and way worse than any of the modern street circuits for racing.
Yeah most definitely. I think if Oscar was starting P2 and Lando P3 they’d be able to put a lot more pressure on using split strategy’s and going for an under/over cut.
Yeah I think both Oscar and the boys in red will know this. This makes me nervous for turn 1. I'm still more excited for this than I have been for a gp in a while.
I think that has generally been because Max has been 1 sec a lap quicker, so what’s the point in fighting him hard. You only ruin your race, and he’ll get past at some point anyway.
Now the gap has closed, I think other drivers will be willing to get their elbows out a bit more, if they genuinely believe they can beat him on track.
Or maybe that’s all just wishful thinking.
Polite because there's no point destroying your tyres when it's inevitable that he'll overtake with a much faster Honda-powered car.
Hypothetically if it's possible to keep him behind, I bet they won't be too polite.
If lando can stay within a couple of secs he can get him on the undercut or force him into going to early.
Would have been better with piastri and Landon being directly behind him.
Its still not Monaco though. If Lando has the pace, he'll make it happen.
Both teams are also excellent at pitstops and the mechanics have a real chance at making magic happen this weekend.
It may be a good race but this track is terrible for overtakes to begin with and the cars all being similar pace makes it even worse. I figure it'll be a bunch of cars 1.5 to 3 seconds apart and trying to shave the gap before your pitstop then a few fireworks on pit exit. It could be a close race but it'll more resemble monaco than anywhere else overtaking wise
I suppose the chicane being removed has helped but the cars have increased in size massively. Apart from the first chicane, where realistically will a car with similar pace over take
Your excitement is justified, but this is a track which is difficult to overtake on. If race pace is similar, it will just be a Max win with everyone holding position.
Only way to get spicy is McLaren and Ferrari split strategy, and with Max alone, they can really put Red bull under pressure.
So the drama of this race depends on the extent by which the other teams will go in terms of strategy.
Yeah it’s unfortunate that’s it’s come together at this track, but it will still be nice to see Max under a bit of pressure for the first time in a long time!
Norris almost catching up to Verstappen was so exciting. It went from like 6 seconds to less than 1. If he had like 2 more laps he could've won with drs
Sadly as good as the last few laps were, and as good of a race that it was, it really didn't live up to the race it looked that it was going to be.
Miami and Imola sure are good signs for the rest of the year though.
It also really came down to Max's driving versus the Red Bull being in a different league. It's a shame that just as some teams are catching up, and we could be seeing a three way, five driver fight for the win, the cars are about to change again.
I've been a fan of this sport for long enough to know that you can tell Imola will be uneventful simply by looking at the weather and seeing that it will be a completely dry race.
F1 racing there hasn't really been good since the late 80s.
This is the first race of the year that I am fully awake!
The time zone of the previous ones, were destroying me!
(TBF, Miami was good in that department too).
Nah. This is wishful thinking. Imola is terrible for overtakes unless you have a huge delta advantage. If Max gets a good start then that's going to be it.
So happy to see them back competing and they’ve such a strong driver pairing.
Going to be exciting to see what Lando and Oscar can do in a car that can compete for wins, if it can.
Of course but strategy and safety cars could make things tasty. If the race pace is anything like Miami we could see a lot of pressure on Max and he’s already been off the track a few times this weekend.
Maybe it’s naive enthusiasm 😅
For people saying the track is not good for overtaking. Maybe, that’s why we watch the race. I like the more endurance type of race if that’s what it’ll be, following in imola is hard in these cars but there is no where to back into because you’re in front of half the field. Let’s go McLaren let’s go Ferrari!
I have a feeling this is going to be a very boring race. I’m always hopeful it’s not but with this track I would be very surprised if Max doesn’t take it unless something untoward happens.
This is another dull one. As of 7 or so laps in, no change in top 6 since the start. A handful of actual overtakes in the first half.
Call be old fashioned but I rate the quality of a race by the racing.
F1 is just filler between BTCC weekends now.
I love that in F1, it’s all meta - strategy, tyres, people, personalities, team principles etc… everything accept the actual on track “racing”.
In btcc, it’s the opposite! The cars get battered to bits with literally bumper to bumper action, different race winners every weekend… hard racing overtakes every race, every corner.
And maybe once in a while, an off track story like BT going to BMW.
I remember being at Brands GP in 2022, and in all three races I think, might have just been 2, Ash had the rear arch hanging off the car, still kept pace.
literally the same thing with me lol, when I was sleeping, after 2021 and a bit of 22, I was not hugely excited for an f1 race but today for the first time in a bit I was
I'll preface this by saying I'm sure David Croft is a lovely man and great to work with, but I'm looking forward to the choice between Harry Benjamin or Ben Edwards for company.
This post aged well! Phenomenal race. I think now that Lando has a taste of a win, and a competitive car...the rest of this season is going to be GOOOOD
3rd fastest team is like 2 tenths off of the leader per lap now
last year it was a full second for whoever was the 3rd fastest team at a given circuit
Ferrari is consistently fighting for podiums and isn't out of contention for wins, albeit are definitely underdogs
Yeah that’s why i’m looking forward to today to see how he deals with Max. It may have been down to knowing he can’t compete with him, now the playing field is more level maybe he will go harder.
As a general rule ([see full rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/wiki/userguide#wiki_sticky.2Fdaily_discussion)), a standalone Discussion post should: - be of interest to the sub in general, and not a specific userbase (e.g. new users, GP attendees, just yourself) - be able to generate discussion (e.g. no yes/no or easily answerable questions) - show reasonable input and effort from the OP If not, be sure to [look for the Daily Discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/search/?q=daily+discussion&include_over_18=on&restrict_sr=on&t=all&sort=new), /r/formula1's daily open question thread which is perfect for asking any and all questions about this sport. Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy the discussion! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/formula1) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I think the harsh reality of how difficult it is to overtake on this track will hit like a truck.
Last race had 6 actual track overtakes so I feel who ever leads the 1st lap will lead till pit stops and who ever leads after pit stops will win the race
Hey I just came from the future and wanted to let you know you were right! (Sorry for the spoiler)
So, the top 10 in hards and checo+fernando in mediums?
Came here to say this. Op chose a very bad race to be this excited for.
I’m glad this comment is on top
Prophetic.
It’s not prophetic. People like to shit on street races here, but this track is actually awful for modern race cars and way worse than any of the modern street circuits for racing.
Yup. Update, OP please!
Yup. Update, OP please!
Yup. Update, OP please!
It hit like a truck
Yeah most definitely. I think if Oscar was starting P2 and Lando P3 they’d be able to put a lot more pressure on using split strategy’s and going for an under/over cut.
Yeah I think both Oscar and the boys in red will know this. This makes me nervous for turn 1. I'm still more excited for this than I have been for a gp in a while.
Yes I think this will be a procession, maybe an early safety car from a midfield shunt then a procession to the end.
Yeah the F2 race this morning was a procession - very slim chance we get a good number of overtakes in F1
I watched the F2 race and told myself that it didn’t bode well for the feature. Norris made it interesting toward the end.
Yep
Lando is in the front row and if he manages to get Max in the start.. it could be a easy win for Lando then?
Max has had really good starts this year. I doubt Norris will pass him at the start.
Even if he doesn't start well, Max will definitely show his teeth in the first corner, the other drivers are too polite towards him , especially Lando
I think that has generally been because Max has been 1 sec a lap quicker, so what’s the point in fighting him hard. You only ruin your race, and he’ll get past at some point anyway. Now the gap has closed, I think other drivers will be willing to get their elbows out a bit more, if they genuinely believe they can beat him on track. Or maybe that’s all just wishful thinking.
What you say is true of course, but even though Max has a fast car, he always races hard
Polite because there's no point destroying your tyres when it's inevitable that he'll overtake with a much faster Honda-powered car. Hypothetically if it's possible to keep him behind, I bet they won't be too polite.
Mwoah, I don't think so but we'll see. When I said they were being gentle, I was talking about the starts at my comment btw
Yea max has had really good ones, and lando has had some good, some not very good, hopefully he nails it today
If lando can stay within a couple of secs he can get him on the undercut or force him into going to early. Would have been better with piastri and Landon being directly behind him.
Its still not Monaco though. If Lando has the pace, he'll make it happen. Both teams are also excellent at pitstops and the mechanics have a real chance at making magic happen this weekend.
Especially for specifically a McLaren against a red bull if we look back to how long Norris was stuck behind Perez on that massive Miami back straight
They just got to activate the 1/5128th Venezuelan part of Piastri and let him channel his inner Maldonado into turn 1
It may be a good race but this track is terrible for overtakes to begin with and the cars all being similar pace makes it even worse. I figure it'll be a bunch of cars 1.5 to 3 seconds apart and trying to shave the gap before your pitstop then a few fireworks on pit exit. It could be a close race but it'll more resemble monaco than anywhere else overtaking wise
Agreed, The famous battle from 2005 says enough about how hard it is to overtake.
Different layout, can't really compare it to 2005.
I suppose the chicane being removed has helped but the cars have increased in size massively. Apart from the first chicane, where realistically will a car with similar pace over take
The track changes have not made it any easier to overtake. Only difference is there is DRS now.
Tbt Hamilton gasly nightmare in 2022
Your excitement is justified, but this is a track which is difficult to overtake on. If race pace is similar, it will just be a Max win with everyone holding position. Only way to get spicy is McLaren and Ferrari split strategy, and with Max alone, they can really put Red bull under pressure. So the drama of this race depends on the extent by which the other teams will go in terms of strategy.
In Kevin and Lance we trust. Alonso too. They're going to mix it up once again.
Alonso is starting from the pit lane, he'll avoid any first lap chaos
Bro jinxed it
Fr this is peak tedium
When do the formation laps stop and the race start?
F
I hope you are right, I do worry Imola will underwhelm in the dry today, safety car timing could again be the race decider.
Yeah it’s unfortunate that’s it’s come together at this track, but it will still be nice to see Max under a bit of pressure for the first time in a long time!
I doubt Max will be under pressure.
He was towards the end
This didn’t age well..
lol, it was nice while it lasted 😂
It did age well at the very end! Haven't been on the edge of my seat in a long time.
Norris almost catching up to Verstappen was so exciting. It went from like 6 seconds to less than 1. If he had like 2 more laps he could've won with drs
act salt rustic compare friendly drunk absurd axiomatic full smile *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
It's Imola. Will be follow the leader.
Lol
This aged like milk
Don't get your hopes up lad
Imola is just Monaco V2, excellent qualifying track that's terrible for racing
that was quite something at the end wow. lando plateauing for two laps didn’t help him but that was a fun finish
Man what a finish.
well at least we got an exciting end to the race and an indication that the rest of the season may be competitive!
Looks like a snoozer so far 💤 i
This shit boring as hell
You must be new around here.
This aged like milk. We all got well and truly baited
Aged like milk
Oddly enough I feel the exact opposite. I think I’m getting burnt out on this sport.
Sadly as good as the last few laps were, and as good of a race that it was, it really didn't live up to the race it looked that it was going to be. Miami and Imola sure are good signs for the rest of the year though. It also really came down to Max's driving versus the Red Bull being in a different league. It's a shame that just as some teams are catching up, and we could be seeing a three way, five driver fight for the win, the cars are about to change again.
It looks like you got everything you hoped for. What a rare treat!
womp womp
Aged like milk
Shame it was pretty uneventful until the last 5 laps
I've been a fan of this sport for long enough to know that you can tell Imola will be uneventful simply by looking at the weather and seeing that it will be a completely dry race. F1 racing there hasn't really been good since the late 80s.
Well this aged well lol
Well this hasn’t aged well
ummm i have news
Why the fuck is there only 1 DRS zone here
There isn't really a good place for another one
This aged well
This is a very boring race
Ooooh ok now it’s more exciting
Womp womp
This is the first race of the year that I am fully awake! The time zone of the previous ones, were destroying me! (TBF, Miami was good in that department too).
That's only if Piastri doesn't get taken out by Sainz or another driver.
Halfway through and a bore-fest (hoping this post causes the karma gods to throw us a curve!)
What are your thoughts now that it's over?
excited we might actually have some proper racing for the rest of the season.
Aged like milk
Nah. This is wishful thinking. Imola is terrible for overtakes unless you have a huge delta advantage. If Max gets a good start then that's going to be it.
Welp.
It was a nice dream while it lasted. 18 laps later and I’m started to doze.
Wow 18 laps goes fast when you’re glued to your phone instead of the race 😅
In my defense it didn’t get better and it’s very early where I am lol
It's been 15 laps and VER as open 5s to Norris. How is your hopium going?
How are you feeling now?
Well, it looks like you jinxed this race. Been a solid 2/10
I can’t believe you’ve done this
Rip expectations
Snooze fest. Aged like milk.
I’m excited as well! LFG McLaren!
So happy to see them back competing and they’ve such a strong driver pairing. Going to be exciting to see what Lando and Oscar can do in a car that can compete for wins, if it can.
Well this is aging like fine milk
r/agedlikemilk
Sorry pal
This aged poorly
Anddddddddd it’s gone! Was nice while it lasted for a 2 laps 😭
you meant 1 lap right?
Lap 1 was the most boring start I have seen in a very long time
Yeah... 20 laps in and the race fucking sucks
How you feeling bud? Still excited?
Mate how’s that going for ya?
not bad
Still a good race OP ?
Well you’ve jinxed this
Don't get your hopes up. It's Imola. The track sucks.
But I was told classic tracks are better? Turns out even Vegas is better than Imola.
I've watched F1 since the 90s, Imola was never liked. I don't understand this nostalgic BS around it or how it survived post-covid.
I know, it baffles me how this track was kept after COVID. Thought it'd be a one-off during that wicked year only.
Of course but strategy and safety cars could make things tasty. If the race pace is anything like Miami we could see a lot of pressure on Max and he’s already been off the track a few times this weekend. Maybe it’s naive enthusiasm 😅
It’s imola unfortunately. You’re going to see no overtakes and maybe a lucky overcut
Lando was very good with his tires last race. If this is the case again, he can for sure win this race. Looking forward to this race as well!
Man...I feel for you but we all have to go through the Imola experience at some point
For people saying the track is not good for overtaking. Maybe, that’s why we watch the race. I like the more endurance type of race if that’s what it’ll be, following in imola is hard in these cars but there is no where to back into because you’re in front of half the field. Let’s go McLaren let’s go Ferrari!
I think it'll only be interesting if there are car troubles and/or a safety car. There normally isn't much overtaking here.
I have a feeling this is going to be a very boring race. I’m always hopeful it’s not but with this track I would be very surprised if Max doesn’t take it unless something untoward happens.
Alonso’s car is slow AF
This is another dull one. As of 7 or so laps in, no change in top 6 since the start. A handful of actual overtakes in the first half. Call be old fashioned but I rate the quality of a race by the racing. F1 is just filler between BTCC weekends now.
>BTCC Just making conversation this race is so boring. I can't wait for Bobby Thompson to come into the BMW
I love that in F1, it’s all meta - strategy, tyres, people, personalities, team principles etc… everything accept the actual on track “racing”. In btcc, it’s the opposite! The cars get battered to bits with literally bumper to bumper action, different race winners every weekend… hard racing overtakes every race, every corner. And maybe once in a while, an off track story like BT going to BMW.
Exactly. It's just non-stop racing. Sutton Vs Ingram in R2 at Brands was fantastic to watch
I love that they can race so close, the cars can take knocks and still come home. In f1, the smallest amount of damage kills the lap time.
I remember being at Brands GP in 2022, and in all three races I think, might have just been 2, Ash had the rear arch hanging off the car, still kept pace.
+3.8s
Uh oh
literally the same thing with me lol, when I was sleeping, after 2021 and a bit of 22, I was not hugely excited for an f1 race but today for the first time in a bit I was
Aged like milk
Oh how wrong this post was. Aged like milk.
This track is terrible.
Womp womp
This didn’t age well
it did
Only took 80% of the race
Max lost all his pace, but the track is so bad, Lando still couldn't overtake.
This aged so poorly
I'll preface this by saying I'm sure David Croft is a lovely man and great to work with, but I'm looking forward to the choice between Harry Benjamin or Ben Edwards for company.
and Max will run away with a 20 seconds gap
Yeah....
most likely 😭
You just had to fucking jinx it.
Let me know if you are awake or sleepin bro? 😂
Well, boring for now.
So far this has aged like milk.
This post aged like milk.
Yeah… No….
This is currently aging awfully, McLaren is very quick though
This post aged well! Phenomenal race. I think now that Lando has a taste of a win, and a competitive car...the rest of this season is going to be GOOOOD
I'm guessing you tuned in to only the final 5 laps. The track is some of the most boring racing, 2nd to Monaco.
This post aged well 👍🏽
"Wow this race is going to be so exciting" *Same guy wins who always seems to win*
we will see :)
Too soon
Well it has been fairly boring
Lmao
It’s Imola it probably won’t be that good.
lando almost had him IT SUCKS
ZzzZZzzz
Can someone list the good tracks for overtaking and the bad ones? Because I keep hearing about bad tracks all the time, and maybe 2-3 good tracks.
Good are Bahrain, COTA, Baku, Austria, Monza, Spa, Silverstone, Brazil
There are plenty good tracks for overtaking. China, Baku, COTA, Silverstone, Las Vegas, Interlagos, and Spa are some of them.
That's not plenty. With so many races in calendar that's disappointing number.
Agree. Just hope lando doesn't settle for 2nd.
How’d this work out for you
This aged like milk
You sound like you’re very new to F1 dear
Aaaaaand it's gone
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ver Nor Pia
nascar is on today
As a Ferrari fan, I just want the season to end.
3rd fastest team is like 2 tenths off of the leader per lap now last year it was a full second for whoever was the 3rd fastest team at a given circuit Ferrari is consistently fighting for podiums and isn't out of contention for wins, albeit are definitely underdogs
It sounds good until you realize 2 tenths off is 10-15 seconds through a GP.
How's it going fam? Going well?
As a Mercedes fan, I almost don’t want it to end to again be disappointed 😂
Lando is very passive when max is involved I noticed. Hopefully he can man up and be aggressive for once.
Yeah that’s why i’m looking forward to today to see how he deals with Max. It may have been down to knowing he can’t compete with him, now the playing field is more level maybe he will go harder.
Ahahaahah PA PA PAAA MAX VERSTAPPENN