2024 Japanese Grand Prix - Race Thread

[stefa]

Great job by the team today, hopefully the upgrades bring us closer to Red Bull.

[FerrariF60]

Well done P3 and P4.

^this
Good points haul

[Greig]

Another poor weekend for Lewis....maybe he has lost desire to drive for Merc.

[stefa]

Another poor weekend for Lewis....maybe he has lost desire to drive for Merc.

Can't wait to switch for Ferrari

[Aviamata]

Oh well, I'd have imposed team order. Not point placating to a driver who's leaving

It's fair for SAI too , his will to perform best will also help us this season . LEC will have to qualify better next time if he want to finish ahead of SAI

[FerrariF60]

Another poor weekend for Lewis....maybe he has lost desire to drive for Merc.

He’s looking forward now to drive the red rocket in 2025

[FerrariF60]

It's fair for SAI too , his will to perform best will also help us this season . LEC will have to qualify better next time if he want to finish ahead of SAI

Cousteau agree more, he’s gotta do better in quali

[patrese86]

Another poor weekend for Lewis....maybe he has lost desire to drive for Merc.

He was quicker than Russell in Quali tbf but the Merc strategy was terrible today. Hung there drivers out on hards for way too long when they didn't have the performance on them.

[tifosi1993]

I hope whatever they are bringing for Imola will be huge in terms of improvement.

[FerrariF60]

I hope whatever they are bringing for Imola will be huge in terms of improvement.

We’ll see mate, i truly hope so too
But all this big hype about a BIG upgrade coming…I’ll believe it when I see it

[tifosi1993]

It's fair for SAI too , his will to perform best will also help us this season . LEC will have to qualify better next time if he want to finish ahead of SAI

I think he's setting up the car more race than qualifying, which causing the tyre warm-up issue for him in low temperature.

[gump1480]

I hope whatever they are bringing for Imola will be huge in terms of improvement.

Yeah. Btw when is the Imola race...can't wait for it.

Also when is the first sprint race, need to see our sim tools beating everyone else.

[FerrariF60]

Yeah. Btw when is the Imola race...can't wait for it.

Also when is the first sprint race, need to see our sim tools beating everyone else.

A month from now

[nani_s23]

I think he's setting up the car more race than qualifying, which causing the tyre warm-up issue for him in low temperature.

He will get better as the races go on.

[tifosi1993]

And as I've said yesterday, the SF24 came alive in today's warmer temperature. It was flying everywhere and had Charles qualified P3, Red Bull would have hard time today.

Tomorrow had nothing to do with the SF24 being "poor". Charles had literally zero drop off today, which may explain his struggle yesterday with the warm up. I think he needs to put a bit more performance towards the qualifying.

But I know both China and Miami will be warmer, so I don't he will have issues there.

[nani_s23]

Great 1st stint by Charles & great drive by Carlos.

Strategy team … big thumbs up to them.

Overall P3 & P4. Good recovery.

Now let’s get that upgrades & give us some race pace advantage over RB. Currently I guess the difference is 0.3 - 0.4.

[tifosi1993]

He will get better as the races go on.

Of course he will. But some people here making it sound like that Charles is some slowpoke, which is becoming a bit annoying.

Also, Xavi is impressing me more and more. He listened to Charles's feedback and didn't force a 2-stop. I think he's becoming quite good with time and experience.

[Aviamata]

Yeah. Btw when is the Imola race...can't wait for it.

Also when is the first sprint race, need to see our sim tools beating everyone else.

Sprint is China next race , in next 2 weeks

[nani_s23]

Of course he will. But some people here making it sound like that Charles is some slowpoke, which is becoming a bit annoying.

Also, Xavi is impressing me more and more. He listened to Charles's feedback and didn't force a 2-stop. I think he's becoming quite good with time and experience.

Yeah for once they listened to him.

Sainz matched the pace of RB’s in the last stone which bodes well. Charles done personal best lap on the last lap which is good.

Waiting for those upgrades & better quali to challenge RB.

[RossTheBoss]

I love everything that Vasseur is doing to Ferrari. The race pace, development, strategy, team structure, his willingness to be hands on. The results speak for themselves in what a massive upgrade he has been.

And yet, his judgement to sign Hamilton and ditch Sainz in the manner he has, makes this all seem bittersweet. The team is coming together, and they're break up the best driver pairing on there right now.

For all you guys that have crapped on Sainz for years, and whined that he doesn't play the team game, just wait until Hamilton arrives with his diva attitude and rogue episodes. It's not a matter of if he'll refuse to play the team game, ruin races for Leclerc, and eventually crash him, it's how fast that happens, and the crisis that will unfold at Ferrari. Mark my words on that. Then, you'll really miss Sainz.

[Kyss4k]

Great damage limitation race, could not have ask for anything more really. And what a drive from Charles! 23 laps on the mediums with competitive pace was unbelievable to see, he made Mercedes look silly. Now bring those upgrades finally!

[Aviamata]

Great damage limitation race, could not have ask for anything more really. And what a drive from Charles! 23 laps on the mediums with competitive pace was unbelievable to see, he made Mercedes look silly. Now bring those upgrades finally!

Mercedes is a joke now ! They're not the same 2017 2018 team anymore , so much blunder from pitstop to strategy today

[nani_s23]

Great damage limitation race, could not have ask for anything more really. And what a drive from Charles! 23 laps on the mediums with competitive pace was unbelievable to see, he made Mercedes look silly. Now bring those upgrades finally!

No need to compare to Mercs. They are still understanding which concept will work.

It’s a track for McLaren & RB. Outcome of this race we closed the gap to them & taken out one.

[FerrariF60]

Mercedes is a joke now ! They're not the same 2017 2018 team anymore , so much blunder from pitstop to strategy today

Ha ha true that
I keep wondering how much longer will Toto keep his job, before they give him the BOOT

[nani_s23]

Rumours are Carlos signed a contract with Mercs. News might come out anytime in couple of days.

[Kyss4k]

No need to compare to Mercs. They are still understanding which concept will work.

It’s a track for McLaren & RB. Outcome of this race we closed the gap to them & taken out one.

Oh I'll enjoy comparing to Mercedes every time the chance comes out! After the years of pain they gave us, it's nice to see Ferrari destroying them. Only Red Bull left to deal with now.

[Greig]

Mercedes are useless now when it's not just about the engine..

[Brembo]

Ferrari 21 points behind R Bull in 2nd place. If Carlos didn't miss that race "WOW! There's hope!

[Aviamata]

LEC pace:
38.2 🟡
37.8
38.0
38.1
37.9
38.2
39.0
39.1
38.8
38.4
38.5
38.1
37.8
37.8
37.7
37.5
37.4
38.2
37.7
37.7
38.0
37.9
43.1
36.0 ⚪️
36.3
36.2
36.2
36.1
36.1
35.8
36.3
36.0
36.6
36.1
36.0
35.6
36.3
35.4
35.7
35.7
35.6
35.7
36.7
35.9
35.5
35.5
35.2
35.1
35.3
35.0

[Brembo]

Lewis Carlos 2025 with Ferrari would be unbeatable!!