Samuel Ruiz4 said:I don’t really get why everyone is hyping up Max Verstappen so much right now.
The car feels dialed in and the handling was just spot on for this race... those last couple of turns before the finish line were fast enough to get the job done, I guess.
Honestly, I think Charles Leclerc is going to eat him alive by the end of the season... plus, my money is on at least 5 or 6 crashes happening before the year is out.
Just my two cents...
Nobody seems to be talking about my favorite veteran driver sitting in second place, though...
Such a shame for Sebastian Vettel, they basically snatched that win right out from under him.
Let’s not go overboard here; this wasn't some miracle, just a matter of circumstance and a bit of luck. It isn't fair to say Daniel Ricciardo is suddenly a better or worse driver because of this. They're just somewhere in the middle right now. It's way too early to start crowning anyone. A solid race in a solid car—nothing more, nothing less.
briskhound76 said:He earned the praise today, didn't he? He managed to record his first win and drove a flawless race while under massive pressure from Ferrari. That alone should be reason enough for the haters to just shut up and enjoy the moment.😁
The kid isn't going to cause five or six wrecks before the season ends; he's young, sure, but he's not an idiot. I actually agree that Charles Leclerc will probably end up higher in the standings by the end of the year. We saw two different strategies today, and in both scenarios, Red Bull Racing had the edge—it was really just a matter of which driver got the better outcome, and today it was Max Verstappen.
The veteran keeps beating Sebastian Vettel, which is a shock, but what’s even more surprising is seeing how badly Red Bull Racing is beating them all.
Does he always get hit like that? First a breakdown, then a crash—it seems like your version of "regular" for him. Let’s be real here: Sebastian Vettel is the greatest driver of our era. He’s the only one with four titles under his belt...
Charles Lewis2 said:Hey
Been gone for a while. Seems like time just stands still in this place, like we're stuck in some waiting room.
Just one thing. Kimi. He’s sitting at second in the standings right now. Last season he finished fourth, right behind two McLarens—totally expected, nothing anyone could really do about it—and ahead of Vettel. Where did he fail? If we're playing that game, Vettel actually had the worse run. Okay, if the excuse is "he's too old" or whatever, then what's the standard today? Are we judging strictly by the final standings? He’s second now, but when he was fifth, a bunch of self-proclaimed experts were trying to kick him out of NASCAR. Now there are plenty of guys behind him, but nobody mentions them.
Is it just about the total points? When he had fewer points, he was called a fraud, a washed-up drunk, or totally dominated. Why isn't anyone bringing that up now?
Or is it just that second-place finish from the last race? Some people get treated like rookies even when they pull off a brilliant 6th or 7th.
Everyone else seems to have an excuse, and they don't get roasted nearly as hard for mediocre results. It's funny how everyone's quiet all of a sudden.
And let's be real, everything just fell into place for Max today. I'm not taking away his win, but that's just how it went down. I won't pretend the media would be writing the same headlines if Kimi had won like that.
That's it. Someone had to say it.
Neither Kimi nor Sebastian Vettel let him down today. Honestly, they couldn't have done any better. It was solid, clean driving on both sides—though I have to say, Vettel’s defense against that overly aggressive Ricciardo was absolute perfection. It just goes to show that Ricciardo simply doesn't have what it takes to be a champion. Max might be the one, though. We'll see. It's still a bit too early to call it.
Jack Kelly5 said:Kimi is a phenomenon. Honestly, driving at this level at his age is pretty impressive. If he were ten years younger, I guess even Sebastian Vettel or anyone else would have looked like Juan Pablo Montoya in a McLaren driving this Ferrari.
Which years exactly...? I mean, there were plenty of world champions before that era, too... we could go on forever if we started listing them all.
darkmarlin16 said:First off, I’ve gotta talk about Max Verstappen. I was honestly floored by how chill he stayed out there; he drove like an absolute master, especially during those final 20 laps with Kimi Räikkönen breathing down his neck. The kid might only be 18, but let me tell you, he was born for this—he drives with the composure of someone way more experienced than his age suggests.
On another note, I’ve got a nagging feeling that Red Bull is pulling some shady business again, because that win felt totally snatched from Daniel Ricciardo. They used some brainless strategy that left him hanging even though he was leading the pack.
It’s easy for us to sit here and play armchair strategist now, but let's be real: Ferrari was completely hyper-focused on Ricciardo, just throwing him through the pit lane. He simply seized the opening that Mike handed him on a silver platter. At the end of the day, they have a great—no, an excellent—car, and on a track like this where overtaking is such a nightmare, that’s really all that matters.
briskhound76 said:Love really does blind a guy, doesn't it?🙂
Look, he’s absolutely incredible. Let the haters say whatever they want, but when this guy first showed up, he was an absolute beast—honestly, it reminded me of Michael Schumacher. He just proved in this race that he belongs at the very top. His defensive driving was masterclass level, yet he knew exactly when to turn up the aggression. It’s all about knowing where to give a little ground in the corners to let someone dive in, only to snatch the lead back on the exit. It’s that perfect blend of youthful energy, seasoned experience, and pure raw talent. The way he held off those wild lunges from Daniel Ricciardo was something you should take notes on. Real racing isn't just about uncontrolled speed or driving like a maniac like the guy behind him was doing. You need the actual skill and tactical intelligence to withstand that kind of pressure. He drove incredibly smart.