I think that Monaco could be more interesting if they used the F1 cars for qualifying. Then for the Grand Prix, the drivers race in smaller spec cars designed to make the racing exciting, perhaps F3 cars, or something else readily available and tuned that would make the race competitive. Drivers points would be awarded on the Grand Prix in the spec cars, but the constructors points would be awarded on qualifying position in the F1 cars. Raise the cost cap to account for the expense of the spec cars.
Heck, have only one spec car per team and make the drivers swap mid-race. Both drivers get equal points (call it the Ocon/Gasly Gambit).
Triathlon style: current race distance in the car, which is 45km shorter than the required minimum race. Follow that with 35km on a bike and finish with a 10km run.
Or the spec cars idea: F2 and F3 are already at Monaco at the same time. Shouldn’t be too difficult to toss the F1 drivers in those. Reverse team standings to make it interesting, so the worst two F1 teams get the PREMA and Trident cars?
I like it. There is the Mediterranean right there for a swim leg as well. Or even a thoughtfully placed swimming pool right there if you wanted to keep everything on the current course.
So, Priness, is your boy Charles gonna parlay his big win in The Principality and send it in Canada? Or will he fade back into mediocrity? And what about Carlos? What kind of team orders might there be in place, and why would he give a flyer anyway? He’s got no seat. I can see him doing an Arnoux the rest of the season. What would be the loss?
If I was Carlos, I’d do a “Slapshot” Trade Me Right Fucking NOW! phone call. What’s the worst that could happen?
It’s time for Canada. Rain forecasted all weekend. May the chaos that avoided Monaco reign supreme in Montreal.
Ferrari is pushing Red Bull for the WCC with Perez not benefiting from a car head and shoulders above everything else on the track, and Leclerc is still pretty close to Verstappen in the WDC. It’s entirely possible Max forgets the month of May and returns to stomping the field, but maybe not, and there’s actually a fight at the front.
Checo has signed for another two years at Red Bull.
Ocon is leaving Alpine at the end of the year.
Sainz still doesn’t have a seat next year. It’s pretty much Williams or Sauber/Audi.
All in all, the rain made for a good race. Haas taking 15 places between the two of them in the opening laps, McLarens racing McLarens, Mercedes racing Mercedes, safety cars throwing wrenches at strategy, and a reversal of fortune for Lando.
Nice to see that Haas cars move up the field at the beginning, and then they gave some of them away by not having Magnussen’s intermediate tires ready when he pitted. I wonder how many places that cost them at the end of the race.
Felt like the first safety car made the race less interesting. It came at a time when the track was drying, more rain was forecast, and everyone’s (except Magnussen’s) intermediate tires were getting old. It would have been interesting to see what pit calls the different teams made. Then the safety car came and everybody put on new intermediates.
I’m not sure I ever saw how Perez knocked his rear wing all cattywampus. That was just when everything started happening; did they ever replay what happened to him?
Lost it at a chicane and went ass-first into the barriers.
Turns out the team knew he would get a penalty driving back to the pits, but told him to anyway to avoid a safety car. Checo gets a 3-place grid penalty for Spain, Red Bull gets a $25k fine.
While it’s a smart move by the team, there were other places Perez could have pulled off long before the pits without causing a safety car. Also, I detest Horner, so the fine should probably be half a million instead.
Nobody else with a super license wants to drive the Williams? Antonelli doesn’t qualify yet (and Mercedes might just yank him straight to the main team), and Bearman and Lawson are already taken by good teams. But he’s done at the end of the season if he doesn’t improve, and I don’t know anyone that optimistic.
