In the round-up: Lewis Hamilton says he prefers having to fight his way to victory instead of leading all the way from pole position.
In brief
Winning from pole “boring” – Hamilton
Hamilton ended a two-and-a-half year winning drought with victory at Silverstone earlier this year, then added another win at Spa. While 10 years ago he was habitually winning races from pole as Mercedes dominated the first seasons under the V6 turbo hybrid formula, he says those victories weren’t as satisfying.
“Oh, God, it’s so boring,” he told Performance People. “Honestly, starting from first, leading the race all the way through, it’s really boring compared to fighting from the back and having racing.
“Because it’s not racing. You could be on a test. You are fighting a time gap behind you. [But] you have to psych yourself into thinking that you’re fighting a car ahead or something like that. You have to be chasing something.
“But it’s different when you have a car or cars ahead of you and there’s a track that you can overtake like Austin or Silverstone, for example. Different lines you’re trying to discover, utilising the tyres, the wind, crosswinds, all these different things. And then you finally get someone in battle, that’s the best thing. That’s the most rewarding experience as a driver.”
Albon’s floor made legal in seconds
After Alexander Albon was disqualified from qualifying for last weekend’s race because part of his floor was too wide, Williams team principal James Vowles revealed the work needed to make it compliant took a matter of seconds. “It was rectified with nothing more than sandpaper really for a few seconds on one area on the floor,” he said in a video released by the team.Goethe replaces Colapinto at MP
Red Bull junior Oliver Goethe will surrender his extremely slim chance of winning the Formula 3 championship this weekend to take over the Formula 2 seat at MP vacated by Williams-bound Franco Colapinto. Goethe lies seventh in the F3 standings, 35 points behind leader Leonardo Fornaroli with 39 available.
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Date set for Ferrari WEC appeal
The FIA International Court of Appeal will hear Ferrari’s appeal over the World Endurance Championship’s Six Hours of Spa on Tuesday. Ferrari took issue with the stewards’ decision to restore the time lost during a lengthy mid-race suspension due to barrier damage. Their original protest was thrown out on the grounds that stewards’ decisions cannot be challenged.
Carpenter gives seat up for Rasmussen
Ed Carpenter has relinquished his seat at his own team for the final three races in favour of Christian Rasmussen. Carpenter was due to drive the final three races of the season but admitted he has not been satisfied with his performances at the other oval races so far this year.
“This was a very difficult decision for me to make,” said Carpenter. “I want to make it clear that this is not a retirement announcement. However, the reality is, I have not performed to the level that I expect of myself for the team.
“Christian tested at Gateway prior to the race and he showed me that he deserves this expanded opportunity. He also had such a strong performance during the Month of May and has earned the chance to continue his development. I am excited to watch him finish the season out strong for the number 20 crew and the entire ECR team.”
Katherine Legge will also return to the series this weekend in her latest appearance for Dale Coyne in their number 51 car.
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Links
Japanese F4 postpones Suzuka round due to typhoon risk (Formula Scout)
'Typhoon number 10 (named since it is the 10th such event of the meteorological season) formed in the sea south of Japan and a combination of factors including strong northerly winds has sent it in the direction of the country. Although it then slowed once it approached land, it then headed a in north-easterly direction and therefore led to Suzuka being in its path.'
How Carbon Fibre is used in F1 (Ferrari via YouTube)
Competing in Formula 2 - From workshop to race track (Formula 2)
''At the moment, we are in the middle of designing a system for the pit stop practice so it can do automatic timing,' Data Systems Engineer Alex Thew says. 'There will be a screen with a little Raspberry Pi running a script on it, but it’ll be connected to some buttons either side of it so they can hit a button to start it, do the change and hit another button to stop it.''
‘It’s an amazing feeling!’ – Gademan (F1 Academy)
'I didn't expect to get P4 as we were struggling a lot in FP2 on Friday with the pace in in the dry conditions, but I think we improved a lot in that. I knew what I had to do differently and gaining two places in race one was amazing.'
Esports champ wants to get into real world of motorsport (BBC)
'I joined Team Redline and after that it’s just been up and up and up until this point right now.'
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Comment of the day
Daniel Ricciardo is F1’s worst starter at the moment but how much of that is down to the car?
It seems as if the RB has an inherent weakness in terms of its launches. I have noticed both Yuki and Daniel seem to lose more ground during launches. Yuki has been more aggressive though in recapturing places.
Nick T
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Jelle Van Der Meer, Metrium, F199Player and Stefano!
On this day in motorsport
Edvaldo
29th August 2024, 1:47
It is boring but it’s the easiest way to do it and it’s the most common type of win for every driver with many race wins.
PlosslF1 (@f1-ploss)
29th August 2024, 1:54
Funny story regarding a Force India sim I drove at a Motorshow back in 2015 that had the front half of a FI car like in the picture above, it was £5 for about 6-7 minutes around Brands Hatch Indy circuit, you wouldn’t believe the amount of pressure you have to press on the brake.
When on a push lap I was losing it coming out of Druids on the power and would end up in the barrier (it happens so fast), next door was the Suzuka Legend EJ12 Jordan car and I got talking to the driver and mentioned the flying off at Druids and he said something along the lines of ” Oh, they’ve even simulated the marbles, what you need to do is keep the car following the line of the bend and aim for the inside of it on exit, not a straight line into Graham Hill, the marbles all gather on the outside”. About £15 later I got the second fastest lap of the day.
Constantijn Blondel
29th August 2024, 8:48
That’s a cool story – I love those anecdotes.
Shoutout to all forum posters: more of that … tell us cool, racing-related stuff that you experienced!
BasCB (@bascb)
1st September 2024, 12:05
Cool, really shows how much detail they put into those simulators. And good on you for doing the learning and getting it to work!
Nick T.
29th August 2024, 1:58
This is basically the crap all drivers say, but reliably they don’t back that talk up. Hamilton rallied to keep Bottas as his teammate and Max went out of his way to make sure RBR didn’t sign Alonso. What they should say is, “It’s more fun to win coming through the pack than from pole.”
Short Circuit (@jjohn)
29th August 2024, 8:31
Old times if you won a race from the front you’d just know you won a race.
If you won a race from the back you knew you had beaten everyone and they knew too.
But to my mind no place in F1 for reverse grids.
Nick T.
29th August 2024, 8:32
I don’t want reverse grids.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
29th August 2024, 11:29
Never for the actual race, but reverse grids for the Sprint races might be fun, though it might also prove very expensive in repairs.
Doh
29th August 2024, 15:09
If sprints are to remain or even eventually be at every round, I do believe reverse grids have a place.
Sprints are pretty pointless otherwise.
At least now it’s better than previously with 2 quali sessions instead of the sprint setting the grid for the race.
I still think reverse grids would be great since we’d see more racing as long as there is enough incentive all through the field. The Silverstone GP was great for a reason and reverse grids would allow opportunities to see the top cars and drivers battling each other a little more. I’ll always point to Malaysia 2010 as to why reverse grid sprint could be fun. Of course that was exaggerated since those 4 cars were racing much slower cars but it could still be great fun to watch instead of the sprints as they are, which are dull.
There would be the option of reversing the GP grid or to avoid creating a mess could just have the grid set as reverse championship order. The hard part is incentivising it because if points are only down to 8th, the guy that’s first in the title and starting at the back won’t care to try get there
I think best would be to reverse the top 8 and top 12 separately (if points are given for top 8)
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
29th August 2024, 3:42
I agree with hamilton, I’m just surprised because I didn’t hear him say that when he was having those dominant wins.
Doh
29th August 2024, 5:11
Why would anyone be dumb enough to explicitly say that while they’re winning? Lol
Red Andy (@red-andy)
29th August 2024, 7:46
Raikkonen was known to say it occasionally.
Moi
29th August 2024, 16:24
So we are at the stage where not being a hypocrite means you are dumb?
And TeamLH wonder why their idol is disliked..
AlanD
29th August 2024, 23:27
After his win in the French GP, 2019, he said that if the fans thought it was boring, he agrees with them, and was asking for the ruke makers to look into this to try to stop it happening again and again.
SteveP
29th August 2024, 8:33
People have previously pointed out that he did. Called for changes to make the Sunday event more of a race and make it more interesting.
Some people get their jollies from an easy win, others like to race for the win. @red-andy mentions one such.
Pete
29th August 2024, 11:20
That’s because whilst winning from pole may be a bit boring, it’s much more fun than finishing 5th.
AlanD
29th August 2024, 17:30
But he was saying these sorts of things when he was winning. For example, in an interview with Ted Kravitz about five years ago on Sky he said “I race because I love racing other cars. I don’t like driving around on my own on the track, that’s for sure.”
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
29th August 2024, 5:47
Typhoon number 10 sounds good much like Mambo number 5
SteveP
29th August 2024, 8:38
I’m thinking more Dave Edmunds: “Crawlin from the wreckage”
Nick T.
29th August 2024, 23:47
Yeah it does. It’d be a good name for a band, SM, channel, etc. I’d make it Typhoon No. 10 though.
Jere (@jerejj)
29th August 2024, 6:33
His view is understandable, but ultimately, as pointed out, the way most drivers with high double-digit victory amounts win at some point at least.
Of course, he didn’t say so during the very dominant 2014-16 period or even 2019-20, but that’s normal for any driver.
COTD: Indeed & a bit like with Lando, but comparatively worse, which will only cost them more & more opportunities unless they manage to fix the issue soon.
Simon
29th August 2024, 17:43
Word salad…
Nick T.
29th August 2024, 23:48
Still obsessed with Jere, huh? It’s getting stalker’ish at this point.
Illusive (@illusive)
29th August 2024, 7:43
Really miss those Force India colours on the grid, ofcourse was not a big fan of the darker colours they took towards the hybrid era.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
29th August 2024, 8:23
I have always thought that the trophies from those wins, like Lewis describes, will be the ones at the back of the trophy cabinet. Or the ones that get given away etc.
Of course, any win is a win and will be gladly accepted by any driver.
But it must feel glorious to cross the finish line knowing that you have absolutely driven your socks off in order to earn the trophy.
Osnola
29th August 2024, 14:21
Theres a lot at the back of lewis xabinet then.
Ankita
29th August 2024, 8:41
oooohhh poor boy … I guess he was bored in most of his 100+ wins …
An Sionnach
29th August 2024, 9:00
So, what does the wins leader board look like when you only count non-pole ones? Is it still Lewis? Schumacher? Prost?
Severin (@severin)
29th August 2024, 9:21
Most wins scored from a grid start outside of pole position –
Schumacher – 51/91
Hamilton – 44/105
Prost – 33/51
Verstappen – 29/61
Vettel – 22/54
Senna – 12/41
Conclusions?
Senna was the best qualifier ever (probably).
Schumacher and Prost were exceptionally good at coming through the field
notagrumpyfan
29th August 2024, 10:25
Thank you.
And continuing the list:
Stewart – 19/27 (70%)
Alonso – 18/32 (56%)
Lauda – 16/25 (64%)
Mansell – 14/31 (45%)
Coulthard – 11/13 (85%); the highest percentage of those with at least 10 wins, and thus the least bored according to Lewis ;)
An Sionnach
29th August 2024, 18:07
Thanks, both of you. Had a feeling Prost would come out good in that list, although he’s too far behind on wins to catch up with the other two.
Difficult to draw too many conclusions from just numbers. I agree that Schumacher and Prost were exceptional, but then they’re the two who share my top spot as the greatest, so I’m only confirming what I feel! Senna was a great qualifier. I’ve reflected a lot on how to rate him and be fair to his talents. I’d say he was the most committed driver when he was behind the wheel. He’s too difficult to rate as his skills were extraordinary, but he had limitations that aren’t always discussed.
I’m not qualified to comment on Lewis or Vettel, but I don’t think Vettel was in the same galaxy as Prost. I’d like to see Lewis race Verstappen with both of them the same age and in the same car. Perhaps throw Schumacher in there, too. One of them may have been the most technically proficient driver of all time. Maybe Prost could have lived with them, too. He had so many things all working in concert and was more collected and calculating than the others. I sometimes think of Schumacher as some mix of Prost and Senna. A far more aggressive Prost with a level of commitment that spooked even Senna. I think the limits that Prost had in terms of commitment made sense from a survival perspective and he has my respect for that. Seems like a nice man too, and not just for a world champion. How many world champions could you leave hungry in a room with your dinner and expect to find it there when you return?
I’ll have to see where Clark is. He was a great qualifier and a great driver. He may not come out of this too well, but I don’t think anyone would put him in the same stable as Vettel. Vettel can have the stable to himself. Clark belongs in the stately home!
An Sionnach
29th August 2024, 18:16
I see both Prost (64.7%) and Lauda (64%) have similar stats. They both prepared more for the race than for qualifying. Has anyone else done this to the same extent as them? Perhaps I’m wrong, but I don’t see this happen so much anymore. It might make sense for the non-McLaren drivers in the leading pack up focus on this and leave pole to Norris?
Niefer (@niefer)
30th August 2024, 7:48
Piquet. 5/23. That’s around 78%
MichaelN
29th August 2024, 10:58
It’s amusing that Vettel’s percentage here is equal if not slightly ‘better’ than Hamilton’s, given all the years of complaining about Vettel ‘only’ winning from pole (although you can of course argue that Hamilton taking more poles is a pro, which is fair enough).
SteveP
29th August 2024, 12:21
Mistake there.
A quick doubling of the top and bottom of the Vettel numbers would show you that for 44 on top, it’s 108 on the bottom.
If you actually do the % calc* it’s 41.9% Hamilton, 40.7% for Vettel.
Stewart was probably beaten to the pole on a number of occasions by someone in a more fragile car – those were the days when actually finishing should probably have got you a certificate at least.
*I didn’t initially, just the rough comparison
MichaelN
29th August 2024, 15:59
You’re right, of course! Not sure how I messed up 54×2 > 105.
Nick T.
29th August 2024, 23:54
It also makes a big difference if many of those 25 came from the front two rows. I’d like to see the numbers of wins from 5+,10+, etc. And, again, the data lies about. A win from 20th in the Mercedes wasn’t impressive unless their teammate finished too without incident because they were so fast. There were times when the Mercedes was more than 3+ a seconds a lap faster than the next fastest car when they turned up the engine all the way.
An Sionnach
30th August 2024, 0:38
I think Prost has an impressive record of winning from lower positions, but he wasn’t fussed about getting pole, so this distorts his stats a bit. He once demonstrated that he could do his best lap, change into his jeans, finish early and still out-qualify everyone. Another driver remarked that if Prost was matching his qualifying times in the morning warm-up, you were in trouble. Lauda also set up for the race. Makes sense as there are so many more laps in it. Even on a track where you can’t pass, if your car is maximised for race performance, you only need to be close at the pitstops, give it everything for a few laps and you’ll gain places.
Nick T.
30th August 2024, 10:26
Yup. Prost almost always setup for the race. It’s still clear though that even had he not, Senna would have the edge 2 out of every 3 times or so. The crazy thing about Prost is that he’s just a few points away from having 7-8 WDCs instead of 4. Schumi was just a few points away from having 10 instead of 7.
MichaelN
29th August 2024, 10:59
“Not winning from pole is so boring.”
Said Leclerc, maybe, possibly.
Pete
29th August 2024, 11:22
Lando agrees. That’s why every time he’s on pole, he makes sure to head into turn 1 behind someone. Spices things up for him…
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
29th August 2024, 12:50
Didn’t see any sandpaper in the Ferrari video.
Roger Ayles (@roger-ayles)
29th August 2024, 14:03
Starting from pole & winning by as big a margin as possible is what your supposed to be aiming to do.
A key part of the sport which the best used to aim to do would be start at the front to stay out of trouble & then build a comfortable gap to control the pace in order to be able to manage the various elements of the car that needed to be managed.
The idea that it was supposed to be about fighting through the field & racing in amongst the pack was never what the sport was about & not something drivers of the past ever used to talk about one way or another because that wasn’t what they were there to do. They were there to start on pole & win with as big a margin as possible to be able to manage there pace & not have to worry about having to push & put any extra stress on the car or themselves.
Your supposed to be there to win. That should be all that matters & if Lewis wants to be fighting in the mid pack then maybe he should sign with Williams or another back marker team because wanting to win races & championships isn’t something your going to be able to do regularly if your more interesting in fighting through the field as that isn’t how you win.
But show over sport & all that other Liberty nonsense.
S
29th August 2024, 14:25
That might be what you want, but winning by the smallest margin and with the least effort expended possible is preferable to everyone else – especially in F1. “Win at the slowest speed possible” is the famous motto.
Regardless – doing that still doesn’t mean it is the most fun kind of racing, which is what he’s saying.
Every racing driver (and indeed, every sportsperson) has more fun with tight competition for the same result – because it isn’t all just about the result, it is very much about the process and how the result is achieved.
Hamilton never went to Williams because they can’t win on a technical level, no matter how good his personal performance as an athlete is. He wants to win, but he also wants to fight for it. Competitive spirit is a thing.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
29th August 2024, 14:33
He knows that …. he’s just saying it’s boring.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
29th August 2024, 21:05
@roger-ayles For most of F1’s history, the objective was to win as slowly as possible. In the early decades this was because the cars often had quite enough trouble holding together long enough for one race thank you very much. During the refuelling era, not wasting fuel going faster than necessary meant the team could put less fuel in, which increased the probability of being in a position to win in the first place. Since 2004, it’s because the more one saves on engine/gearbox wear, the more left to use in a future race where that extra resource might be needed to get victory in the first place.
Only drivers with truly dominant cars in both performance and reliability, or those in circumstances where their rivals all have even bigger problems with reliability/performance/staying on the track than they do, have had the luxury to get away with deliberately winning with large margins.
The earliest quote I ever saw about this was Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1950s, and it’s also been said (with slight variations of phrasing) by Reg Parnell, Jackie Stewart and Alain Prost over the decades.
M2X
29th August 2024, 19:47
Never heard Lewis complain when he was winning, not in RC, not in karting, not in F3, not im F1.
It’s only when he stopped winning that he started complaining about everything wrong with the sport, with the team, with the car, with the FIA etc.
AlanD
29th August 2024, 23:19
2019, he told Forumla 1 magazine that he hoped Red Bull and Ferrari would be able to compete with Mercedes for the titles that season.
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
29th August 2024, 21:11
Giancarlo Fisichella’s pole at Spa carries a lovely set of memories, including my favourite quote from Jonathan Legard (a BBC F1 commentator for 2 seasons): “Seeing is believing – I think…”
I was an administrator for a Force India unofficial fan forum at the time and everyone was incredibly excited. One of my friends on a more neutral blog missed the qualifying session, saw the headline and assumed someone had hacked the website. It was a bit of a strange feeling for me because I suspected that his days at Force India were numbered. Although it is difficult to imagine that Fisico would still be racing 15 years later had he stayed there rather than go to Ferrari.