[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by dfox

Definitely not what I said, no need to put words in my mouth. I'm not here to disparage Hamilton.

Keep in mind, in Hamilton's rookie season, he was 22. Verstappen was 17. There's a lot of growth and maturity happening in those 5 years. They both won their first world championship at about age 24.... Alonso and Vettel were 23/24 as well. Max has a long career left ahead of him.

I totally agree wrt age and most people don't even think about that. The delta in maturity between a 17 and 22/23 year old is exponential. It makes it even more impressive that Max came in at that age and did what he did. The change in Max between that period is material to say the least and he is still maturing as a racer.

[Marcoose]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Even this guy?

Yes. He’d lap you (and me) like a breeze.

[Marcoose]

Originally Posted by lens

You can have the best car on the grid, but if your skills aren't up to par, it won't save you.

Perez has the best car on the grid, and he's barely P2.

Not on the F1 grid. They’re all sufficiently good to win. Just look at the accidental winners and runner-uppers; Rosberg (son and father), Button, Hill, Bottas, Massa, Barrichelo, etc. All famous, and none exceptional. But give them an above-average car and an unlucky teammate, boom, championship.

Pérez is also a good driver, but no Verstappen. (Verstappen is exceptional!) The problem with Pérez is that he’s driving ‘Verstappen’s’ car. Newey is a master at perfecting the car to his lead driver. Most teams do that. But Newey takes it to another dimension. Oh well. Tough luck. He’ll win many races, make heaps of money, and become famous. I’d love that job.

[lens]

Looks like this weekend is looking like Max for the win, and a double Mclaren podium.

Ferrari and Mercedes both suck at high speed corners.

[Mr Pete]

Max needs to give his mate Lando a break….

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by g21

wouldn't it be easier to do a shoot out? one car at a time. it's not like there are 100 cars waiting to do their lap.

I think track evolution is too much of a factor to do that.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by Mr Pete

Max needs to give his mate Lando a break….

Lando is for sure the driver that most deserves a win by now.
But then again, it's sports, the one that wins was the one that most deserved it


SAR crashed again. It'll be a long time before he deserves a win
I know it's his first year, but what he does isn't very impressive.

I'm eager to see what LAW will do. He knows this track well and I have the feeling that since the upgrades in Monza, the AT might not be the slowest car on the track anymore (although still in the Williams/Sauber/Haas class; it's still an AT of course )
And there's of course also a lot of pressure on TSU as this is his home race.

[lens]

Looks like it's Lando vs Max for pole.

They'll do 1 run each to save tires. And Q3 will be 1 lap shootout.

[GuidoK]

LAW just out of Q3 with 4,3/100 sec.
But TSU is through.

Still very good for an AT.

[GuidoK]

Max is saving a set of softs for tomorrow.

He wants to box 4 laps before the end to secure the fastest lap

[GuidoK]

Interesting to see how close both McLarens currently are.
PIA and NOR are very well matched.
I can see why McLaren signed PIA up to 2026.

[GuidoK]

Max just set an 1:28.877, the only 1:28 time, over 0,5sec faster than the rest.
What a strong lap!
over 0,7sec faster than PER...the difference between them is real....again.

Good performance of PIA too.

[lens]

That was a ridiculous pole lap.

I thought the Mclarens had a chance, then I saw a 30.8 sector one purple and I knew right away it was over lmao

[HFW003]

Let’s see how McLaren get the golden child ahead of Oscar this time.

[M5Rick]

Q Times
1 Max 1.28:877
2 PIA + 0.581
3 NOR + 0.616
4 LEC + 0.665
5 PER + 0.773 (come on Checo

[M5Rick]

''There you go,28'' No excitement from Max as he strolls to pole from the two Larens.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Mr Pete

Max needs to give his mate Lando a break….

He's had enough breaks with Max's trophies

[G30M]

[3798j]

.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by g21

Checo would probably beat Max hands down in those mini trucks

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

He who spews nonsense that the likes of Hamilton, Vettel and Verstappen don’t have skills and that’s all the car, obviously never stepped onto a track’s tarmac.

In Formula 1, they’re all very good drivers. Even Maldonado.

Hamilton, Vettel and Verstappen are brutally excellent drivers.

Valid point.

However, as regards one former F1 driver in the recent past, the jury is still out, though.

Views expressed by other drivers about his antics on track (expletives uncensored):

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by lens

Looks like this weekend is looking like Max for the win, and a double Mclaren podium.

Ferrari and Mercedes both suck at high speed corners.

MAX said : My pole lap wasn't perfect ! What ?!?!

The sweet taste of revenge ...