F1 - 2023

[MiniDave]

I heard the Adrian has taken a "step back" from daily operations again

[Brit_in_TX]

I heard the Adrian has taken a "step back" from daily operations again

Needs to be several steps back until F1 car design is a dot to him!

[MiniDave]

Well, 2023 is off to a bang up start - that is to say a lot of things are going "Bang"!

So tomorrow's grid was expected to be all Red Bull on the first row, but because Max broke a driveshaft in Q2, he'll be starting in 15th

Checo got his second pole at Saudi, and even tho LeClerc was second in Q3, because he had to replace his computer controller for the third time this season he will start 12th

Aston had a good day.....well Alonso did.....and he will start 2nd tomorrow and given how easy the Aston is on its tires, Alonso may have a shot at his first win in YEARS!

So with LeClerc and Max out of their usual positions, I expect them to come storming thru the field....I hope that doesn't lead to tears and recriminations!

Piastri easily out qualified Lando - he is not having a good season so far - and Sargeant actually had the measure of Albon till his first lap was deleted for just clipping the pit entrance line (or was it pit out?) and then he broke something when he brushed the wall on a later lap.

LeClerc being moved to the back means George will start third, it will be interesting to see if he can hold onto the place and Sainz will start 4th....so an interesting grid. The Hamster could only manage 8th.....

Should be a fun race tomorrow - can Max win from 15th? I wouldn't be surprised - he was fastest all weekend by a good margin, and he has won from 14th before.....but it will be a struggle - or maybe not!

[MiniDave]

Well, to answer the big question - No, Max didn't win, Checo did.
Because of the track layout, 2nd place actually had a better run to the first corner than pole does, and Alonso took full advantage to lead the first two laps, but as soon as DRS was enabled, Sergio surged ahead and never looked back.

Max had a good race to finish 2nd, about 6 seconds back but the last 10 laps or so he thought he was losing another drive shaft. But just to keep things in their proper order, he did the fastest lap on the last lap of the race, otherwise Checo would be ahead in the championship - now they're tied instead.

So congrats to Checo, great race drive.....

The finishing order was interesting, two Red Bulls, Alonso, two Mercs, two Ferraris, two Alpines and Kmag got the 10th place and final point. I think Stroll could have been 4th but his brake by wire system died so they retired the car.

LeClerc carved thru the pack on his soft tires in the first half of the race, but at the pit stop they went to the hards and both he and Sainz just didn't seem to be able to do anything from there.

[MiniDave]

So, 45 min after the race was over they took Alonso's 3rd place away saying that the mechanics had touched the car while he was serving a 5 sec penalty because the rear jack touched the car (and was immediately pulled back) much like they did with Ocon in Bahrain.

Now they have reversed again and reinstated Alonso's 3rd place (and 100th podium too) saying that there actually is no rule that says they can't touch the car, only that they can't work on it - it's ambiguous at best and I'm sure they will have a clarification in place by the next race.

But, even George said Alonso deserved his 3rd place.....