I know it's maybe snooze city for some, but we've now had 23 of the 24 races this season and there have only been 4 different winners - Verstappen, Norris and Piastri have 7 each and Russell has 2. The championship will only be decided at the last race in Abu Dhabi next weekend. Impartial* fans like me have certainly enjoyed the shenanigans teams/drivers have got up to this year!

*I'd like to see Norris win it as he's a Brit, but am not convinced he deserves it

It's been incredible. I'm firmly backing Norris, but Piastri would be an acceptable second best. I really hope it's not Verstsppen, although his meteoric return to the top in the last few months underlines his extreme talent.

It's been quite interesting really compared to previous seasons. I'm very sorry about the problems Hamilton seems embroiled in. Is it machinery, team culture or just getting a bit less sharp with the passing of time.
McLaren seems to be trying to do things a bit differently with the way they treat their drivers. More modern mentoring rather than the cut-throat competition you would expect. It seems to have tied them in knots for the last few races though.
Verstappen is an absolute talent but maybe a bit too no-holds barred approach, rather like Schumacher, Senna and Prost eras. He also totally dominates his team (or his Dad does!)
It's going to be an interesting last race for certain.

What a good topic! I love formula one and I'm surprised @Newportnobby that you are not backing Red Bull Racing as a Milton Keynes based outfit!! I'm from Milton Keynes originally but live in London at the moment! But very much a fan of Max and I hope he can do it!

But good luck for Norris but I think he will crumble under the pressure like he always does. But nice to see if go to the final race like back in 2010 with Vettel winning with RBR. I have everything crossed.

But at the weekend what was McLaren thinking not pitting! Everyone else did and know the risk with 25 laps on each set of remaining tyres so they all where being carefully around a track that its hard to over take on! 

My Dad introduced me to motor racing in my childhood (Snetterton was our nearest circuit) and I was an avid fan of F1 until the early 90s. By that time there seemed to be less and less real racing and races were processions, won or lost in the pits. Technology took over, the circuits became identikit venues and, in my opinion, the heart went out of it. A few years ago, even my stepson who followed it avidly gave up on it.

Sorry to be a downer! Bring back James Hunt and Murray Walker...

Cheers,

Chris

Of course I would love it if Max wins, this would be incredible!
But Piastri and Norris also had a great season, Piastri at the start and Norris with better results later on.
Bad luck for them that they have two good drivers in the team that was so dominant in the first part of the season, if not one of them would already have won the championship.

Jan

As a Williams fan for the vast majority of my life (originally a Ferrari fan, but when Mansell came over to Williams I followed him and never left, that ages me), another podium this weekend was wonderful.

5th place secured in the Constructors as well, what a turn around from the dismal years we have had recently.

As for the drivers; McLaren have made a complete horlicks of it.

To make strategy calls like this weekend when you have a generational talent like Max (I don't especially like him, but I am not blind!) in the mix is ridiculous.

I can seriously see Max winning his fifth (in my mind fourth, but that's a wound that will take a while to heal) next weekend and a lot of that is McLaren giving it to him.

Or at least giving him the chance.

Madness!

Skyline2uk

Quote from: Skyline2uk on Today at 08:57:51 PMAs a Williams fan for the vast majority of my life, (...) another podium this weekend was wonderful.

I'm a Carlos Sainz fan!! 

I'm old enough to remember Fangio Hawkins Clarke Brabham Hunt etc when they used to race side by side! This procession stuff and tactics is not for me!

Yes - it's been an interesting season for different reasons throughout the field.  While there have only been 4 different race-winners (Sprint for Lewis doesn't count), 9 drivers from 7 teams made it to the Podium at least once. And 19 out of 21 drivers been in the top 6 at least once.

At the front, really the only reason there are still 3 contenders for the Drivers' Championship is Mclaren's equal treatment of the drivers meaning they've shared results. If they had given one preferential treatment like Max has at Red Bull or Seb Vettel before him, or Michael Schumacher and Fernando had at Ferrari, their wins would probably have been split 12/2 or 11/3 rather than 7/7 and it would be done and dusted long ago... Instead we have a situation like 2007 where Max has a chance to pinch it like Kimi did then from Mclaren's Lewis/Fernando...

As a long-standing Williams fan (from Rosberg Senior, Piquet, Mansel days) pleased to see them as most improved. Seems Carlos has settled in better than his replacement at Ferrari... Speaking of which those Red cars again fail to deliver on their hallowed past, looking a real handful to drive and seem expert at screwing up the strategy at every opportunity.

Contrasts at Mercedes - George solid, steady, quietly picking up results when possible, Kimi clearly quick but raw talent.

Red Bull continue the game of musical Chairs trying to find someone willing to sit next to the class bully (or head boy depending on your allegiance).

Aston Martin mostly marking time until Adrian Newey design and Honda power take effect next year, with occasional moments of brilliance from the wily old dog Fernando rather showing up the boss's boy...

At the tail end, Hass as usual showing flashes of form among budget-conscious mediocrity; Sauber clearly benefiting from an injection of German precision and so pleased Hulk (finally) got a podium. Meanwhile we continue to laugh at the French Farce - Alpine being included only for the comedy value...