Paul Anthony
Well-Known Member
I can't even with this team. What a total team bottlejob this has been.
F1 2025 (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Saddlebrains
- Start date
SkyBlueSoul
Well-Known Member
No need to try and be clever at this stage of the season
Saddlebrains
Well-Known Member
Ive said all year mate, neither McLaren driver deserves this title. Max has been better, and Red Bull operationally leathe Mclaren out of the park
Paul Anthony
Well-Known Member
But today wasn't on the drivers. It was on probably the worst strategy call I've seen a team make since Ferrari fumbled the title for Alonso in 2010.
There was so much talk before the race about pitting on lap 7, and that was without a safety car. As soon as it was lap 7 under a safety car, boxing one driver at least should have been a given. I don't think you even needed to be particularly well qualified to see that was the case. It's total amateur hour by the strategists.
SkyBlueSoul
Well-Known Member
I understand the "we didn't think everyone would pit" to a point, but at least offset the two of them. Could have played it safe with Oscar because he's leading and bring him in to match up with Max, do something a bit rogue with Lando in case it works out and he gets ahead of him
skybluecam
Well-Known Member
McLaren were never going to split the strategies. Imagine if they only pit Oscar and not Lando, and they finish P1 vs P5. Or vice versa. Basically decides the championship.
StrettoBoy
Well-Known Member
If Verstappen wins the final race, as I think he will, Lando needs to finish second. Could be tight.
I wonder if team orders might come into play if, with a few laps to go, Piastri is second and Lando third. I suspect they will, although for me it would slightly taint the title.
I wonder if team orders might come into play if, with a few laps to go, Piastri is second and Lando third. I suspect they will, although for me it would slightly taint the title.
skybluecam
Well-Known Member
Nah Lando only needs 3rd
In theory it should be fairly straightforward. Qualify top 3, let Verstappen and Piastri fight it out for the win and bring the car home 3rd.
Paul Anthony
Well-Known Member
And instead they chose the option that guaranteed they were going to lose the race and put them under even more pressure in the championship. It was the wrong call, and when it all dies down tomorrow, even they'll admit that.
When you're fighting for a title with both drivers, there will be situations where you simply can't make decisions based on fairness for both drivers. At some point you'll have to make a decision that's ruthless and upsets one side or the other. Today was one of them and they chose the worst possible option.
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skybluecam
Well-Known Member
They should probably have just pit them both, but it would have lost Lando a few positions that he would’ve struggled to get back (given he couldn’t overtake on fresher tyres).
But Oscar would’ve won the race yeah.
StrettoBoy
Well-Known Member
Ah, that makes a difference. They said he would need second but perhaps that was before he managed to snatch fourth place on the penultimate lap.
StrettoBoy
Well-Known Member
Spot on @skybluecam
It was clinching fourth that made the difference. Could be quite a big difference because, all things being equal, you would usually expect Verstappen, Norris and Piastri to be on the podium.
I hope Lando tries to get the win though. I think it could be dangerous to drive for third.
SkyBlueSoul
Well-Known Member
It's stupid, just when you think they can't back themselves into a corner any more in the pursuit of ultimate fairness
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SkyBlueSoul
Well-Known Member
Saw this online which is very useful (assuming it's correct, haven't gone through and checked)
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
Should be a fun last race. Hopefully lando gets over the line. Literally
Paul Anthony
Well-Known Member
Kimi Antonelli is 19 years old, in his first full season of F1. He made a genuine mistake last night, and now, because Red Bull are just that toxic and have been allowed to be for far too long, he's recieving death threats.
It's time someone told Helmut Marko to step back and belt up. If Red Bull aren't going to do it, then the FIA need to take action. Even by his toxic standards, this is bang out of order.
It's time someone told Helmut Marko to step back and belt up. If Red Bull aren't going to do it, then the FIA need to take action. Even by his toxic standards, this is bang out of order.