In the round-up: Carlos Sainz Jnr says his run of bad luck in recent races is beginning to frustrate him.
What they say
Sainz said he would have finished in the points “pretty easy” if it hadn’t been for a failure with some of the team’s equipment during his pit stop.We were just cruising up to the first round of pit stops. I stayed out on the hard tyre. We were starting to ‘overcut’ everybody and create a big tyre delta which would have put me in a very strong position for the rest of the race.
But again another five seconds or something lost in the pit stop and, from there on, back into traffic and back into a very bad position. So all that hard work undone. So another tough day.
I’m starting to get a bit frustrated and bit out of words because nothing seems to go right for me at the moment. I guess I drove well today, I was happy with how the race was going and I just need to turn the page very quickly.
I think all the hard work was done in that first stint and we were looking very strong after that. So we lost a lot of time today in the pits. I don’t think it’s the guys’ fault, I don’t want to be tough with anyone, I think we had a mechanical failure at the pit stop. So it’s not something to be tough about but as a competitive driver that I am I’m obviously very disappointed.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Last commitments of the day, and we are ready to start the practice tomorrow. #indy500 #66 Thanks @ArrowMcLarenSP @RuoffMortgage #progressive @Kimoa @MissionFoodsUS @BangOlufsen @DUELIT_official @Richard_Mille ! ✊️ pic.twitter.com/JJUKhrif26
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) August 11, 2020
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Looking for more answers at Montmelo (Ferrari)
Simone Resta: "There will be no particular updates on the SF1000, however Sebastian (Vettel) will have a new chassis, because after the Silverstone post-race analysis, we spotted a small fault caused by a heavy impact over a kerb. It would not have had much of an effect on performance, but it was the logical decision to take."
Tsunoda 'had the potential for first,' even without late Prema crash (F2)
"I had the potential for first, even without the collision in front of me. For sure, I could have been at least second, because Robert looked like he was struggling with his tyres."
Pagenaud aiming for rare Indy repeat (IndyCar)
"It's a chance now to race a lot freer so I can just focus on myself a lot more and not worry about the outcome as much. Now, I don't have to worry about this at all."
Blistering, Tyre Choices and More (Mercedes via YouTube)
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Comment of the day
Do you want to see a ban on special qualifying engine modes?
Bit torn on this. I don’t dislike the idea of pulling the field closer together, but at the same time I dislike development and innovation being stifled and I like qualifying and the race to be different things. This is a Q2 tyre rule for engines, and I really don’t like the Q2 tyre rule.
But anyway… personal dislike aside, I hope it’s actually done right. Be a bit silly if a team could, say, flip ‘quali mode’ on while they’re trundling down the pit lane under the speed limiter, and that would make it legal.
Neil (@neilosjames)
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On this day in F1
- 25 years ago today Damon Hill won the Hungarian Grand Prix for Williams while a fuel pump problem put title rival Michael Schumacher out
@HoHum (@hohum)
13th August 2020, 0:41
COTD and qually mode, or party mode, whatever, MB have up to a dozen “strats” some to save fuel, some to save the PU, some to save the tyres, and some to maximise performance, all within the rules as written, next year they can have an engine-explode mode called qually mode but locked out to comply. Or will there only be 1 engine performance mode?
Next year expect the FIA to introduce “push to pass” mode to improve the racing !
James Norris
13th August 2020, 12:03
We have push to pass, its called DRS
Hiland (@flyingferrarim)
13th August 2020, 19:04
Actually, its called ERS!
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
13th August 2020, 20:12
the problem is that party mode is very likely a “trick” after what happened to ferrari it was only fair to see fia actually realise how ambiguous the rules are.
Jere (@jerejj)
13th August 2020, 7:39
I copy-paste my post from the article specifically about the matter referred to in the COTD:
There isn’t really any specific ‘qualifying’ mode, though, as they’re merely engine/PU modes with the highest being the one used regularly for a single-lap performance. How could this work without taking away all modes even the lowest ones?
Jere (@jerejj)
13th August 2020, 7:49
I was supposed add my point about the rule regarding race starting tyre set as well:
The Q2 tyre rule is something that shouldn’t be in place anymore. At the beginning of the era post-refuelling, there might’ve been a reason to have a rule of this type, but this hasn’t been the case for a few years anymore. Everyone should be allowed to start the races on the compound they desire, not just those who didn’t reach Q3. Without this rule, there wouldn’t be any tactics with tyre choices for the middle segment of QLF, only the softest compound available for a given event would be in use throughout QLF as no one would have to worry about having to start with a less desirable compound option, especially from P7-P10 on the grid.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
13th August 2020, 8:03
I get your point about the Q2 tyre rule, but arguably this and the different tactics between Mercedes and Red Bull gave Verstappen the opportunity to jump the Mercedes via the longer 1st stint.
Hiland (@flyingferrarim)
13th August 2020, 19:15
Agreed! Generally I agree with Jere, but your point is 100% on point and shows that its needed! Personally, I relish the days of refueling! I understand the added risks to that, but it made the racing far more exciting as you didn’t know what strategy folks where on (fuel load wise). For folk unaware of the qually rules during the refueling era… you start the race on the fuel load you qualify on! Plus, there was NO tire or fuel managing! Just the fastest car and fastest strategy wins!
I think F1 should do pitstops like Indycar. One person changing tires on each corner, jack men, and fuel guy (safer with less people in the pits). The majority of the danger was mostly in how quick the stops where. If you have one tire changer for each corner, you could slow down that fueling process and in turn would make it safer.
Fred
13th August 2020, 10:29
Leeclark is going to make mincemeat of Sanzi next year!
Lapov Onor
13th August 2020, 13:16
Is that you Fernando?
TFLB (@tflb)
13th August 2020, 11:02
Sainz is right to feel aggrieved – he would have finished in front of Norris for the last four races on the trot if it weren’t for his run of bad luck. Three slow pit-stops and a tyre failure.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
13th August 2020, 20:13
yes but still slower though.
Mozza
13th August 2020, 13:34
I think Sainz is more frustrated and being 4-1 down to Norris in both quali and race so far this season…
Norris is definitely outperforming his more experienced team mate so far this season….