Spanish GP (Circuit of the Americas) – May 15, 2016

Thomas Martin4 said:I don't quite follow the comparison footage... it seems to me he started messing around right after he slowed down—almost as if he shifted into some other mode for some entirely different reason altogether. 🤔

Did Wolf accidentally hit a button on the pit wall?😬
Honestly, I have no clue if that's even possible, but who's to say the crew can't just remote-control the engine power down? 🤷

coastalwolf6 said:He has nothing left to defend; Lewis Hamilton has already caught up to him.

Funny how Kimi Räikkönen was allowed to squeeze people in China, but now suddenly Nico Rosberg isn't.😁

stormybadger8 said:Funny how Kimi Räikkönen was allowed to squeeze people in China, but now suddenly Nico Rosberg isn't.😁

My eyes seem to be telling my brain that those two aren't even remotely similar, but fine.🤔

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

coastalwolf6 said:He has nothing left to defend; Lewis Hamilton has already caught up to him.

Just take a second to look at how he was already drifting wide; if Hamilton tries to make a move in this shot, there's no way he isn't going straight off into the grass.

That collision was just a racing incident, nothing more.
It’s such a shame Ferrari messed up the strategy and basically handed the win away from Sebastian Vettel.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/124298

"So apparently he thought I was being a little too aggressive over the radio. Typical," Ricciardo remarked.

"See, unlike 99 percent of the guys out there, I actually bothered to try an overtake.

Most of them seem perfectly happy just hanging back and not even attempting to take a shot at it.

Talk about shots fired...

Raymond Ortiz89 said:Just take a second to look at how he was already drifting wide; if Hamilton tries to make a move in this shot, there's no way he isn't going straight off into the grass.

That is irrelevant. In this image, they are practically wheel-to-wheel. This implies he successfully placed his front wing alongside Nico Rosberg a millisecond earlier. A new situation was established—one where closing the door or forcing someone off the track is no longer permitted. Simply put, Rosberg lost the right to drift diagonally toward the edge of the track as if he were the only one there, acting out of pure lack of focus.

That’s exactly why he nearly slammed into Sebastian Vettel twice; he's just desperate to overtake someone who's clearly playing games. I have no idea where you found that 99% statistic. 🤣

You probably just convinced yourself that all those overtakes in the previous races were his.

Michael Diaz4 said: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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

I'll keep it simple: he got smoked by the Red Bull driver, he got smoked by his own teammate, and here you are trying to play defense for third place.🤦

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.

Honestly, ever since Pierre Gasly got his shot, I’ve had this gut feeling that this is Daniel Ricciardo's last year at Red Bull...
I have a feeling Max Verstappen is going to be the next massive superstar, so naturally, Ricciardo is just going to get these top-tier strategies. 😁
But the real question is, where does Ricciardo end up? Ferrari or Mercedes?
I honestly haven't a clue. 🤷

How much time was Vettel actually putting in on Max before his last pit stop when he locked in those final NM?

briskhound76 said:I'll keep it simple: he got smoked by the Red Bull driver, he got smoked by his own teammate, and here you are trying to play defense for third place.🤦

The Pit Wall absolutely crushed him.
Kimi settled things right at the start.
I can't believe I'm actually looking back at this old thread about Kimi Räikkönen. It’s wild how much has changed since then. Just reading through these old posts makes me realize how much we all thought we knew back in the day. Honestly, some of these takes are hilarious in hindsight.
Just look at that pit strategy... absolute disaster.

Max's gonna pit later...
I can't believe we're actually seeing this happen. Max is just on another level right now. It’s honestly getting a little ridiculous to watch him pull this off consistently. At this point, you have to wonder if anyone else even has a prayer of catching him. He's making it look easy, which is the most frustrating part for everyone else on the grid.

Then there was that brilliant move by Ferrari to pull him off those old softs. He was absolutely flying on them—half a second faster than anyone else on track, even Max, and nearly three seconds per lap ahead of the field. Instead, they swap him to mediums with 29 laps left, despite being on a three-stop strategy. Pure genius. 🤦😵
I can't believe I'm actually looking at this. Honestly, watching the way things are going with Daniel Ricciardo right now feels like watching a slow-motion car crash. You want to root for him, really you do, but the performance just isn't there. It’s frustrating to watch such a talent struggle to find even a shred of consistency. At this point, it's less about "what if" and more about "how much longer?" Just my two cents.
It happened right before Ricciardo hit the DRS zone, too. The guy was shaving half a second off his lap time like it was nothing. Honestly, if you're going to beat him, at least give him a chance to show what he can actually do first.
It’s probably what you’d expect. Ricciardo got stuck right behind Jevon Palmer immediately after Sebastian Vettel pitted, so he just couldn't find a way past.

Honestly, I rarely see decisions this brainless. The Pit Wall hasn't been this clueless since the USA, and even Mckenna’s mess with Lewis Hamilton in Monaco wasn't even close to this level of stupidity. 🤦

Some guys actually thought Max and Kimi wouldn't last on mediums. They were dead wrong. Apparently, they thought because Sebastian Vettel had those three laps of medium tire advantage, it meant nothing. Total nonsense.
The second they called him into the ring, he knew he stood zero chance of finishing ahead of Kimi and Max.
The big question is: why on earth would they make such a brainless call? What’s actually driving this nonsense? 🤔

northerncobra31 said:That’s exactly why he nearly slammed into Sebastian Vettel twice; he's just desperate to overtake someone who's clearly playing games. I have no idea where you found that 99% statistic. 🤣

You probably just convinced yourself that all those overtakes in the previous races were his.

To be perfectly honest, even I couldn't wrap my head around that whole "day bomb" nonsense.

stormybadger8 said:The Pit Wall absolutely crushed him.
Kimi settled things right at the start.
I can't believe I'm actually looking back at this old thread about Kimi Räikkönen. It’s wild how much has changed since then. Just reading through these old posts makes me realize how much we all thought we knew back in the day. Honestly, some of these takes are hilarious in hindsight.
Just look at that pit strategy... absolute disaster.

Max's gonna pit later...
I can't believe we're actually seeing this happen. Max is just on another level right now. It’s honestly getting a little ridiculous to watch him pull this off consistently. At this point, you have to wonder if anyone else even has a prayer of catching him. He's making it look easy, which is the most frustrating part for everyone else on the grid.

Then there was that brilliant move by Ferrari to pull him off those old softs. He was absolutely flying on them—half a second faster than anyone else on track, even Max, and nearly three seconds per lap ahead of the field. Instead, they swap him to mediums with 29 laps left, despite being on a three-stop strategy. Pure genius. 🤦😵
I can't believe I'm actually looking at this. Honestly, watching the way things are going with Daniel Ricciardo right now feels like watching a slow-motion car crash. You want to root for him, really you do, but the performance just isn't there. It’s frustrating to watch such a talent struggle to find even a shred of consistency. At this point, it's less about "what if" and more about "how much longer?" Just my two cents.
It happened right before Ricciardo hit the DRS zone, too. The guy was shaving half a second off his lap time like it was nothing. Honestly, if you're going to beat him, at least give him a chance to show what he can actually do first.
It’s probably what you’d expect. Ricciardo got stuck right behind Jevon Palmer immediately after Sebastian Vettel pitted, so he just couldn't find a way past.

Honestly, I rarely see decisions this brainless. The Pit Wall hasn't been this clueless since the USA, and even Mckenna’s mess with Lewis Hamilton in Monaco wasn't even close to this level of stupidity. 🤦

Some guys actually thought Max and Kimi wouldn't last on mediums. They were dead wrong. Apparently, they thought because Sebastian Vettel had those three laps of medium tire advantage, it meant nothing. Total nonsense.
The second they called him into the ring, he knew he stood zero chance of finishing ahead of Kimi and Max.
The big question is: why on earth would they make such a brainless call? What’s actually driving this nonsense? 🤔

..which is basically part of the race itself.

Timothy Castillo6 said:How much time was Vettel actually putting in on Max before his last pit stop when he locked in those final NM?

Three seconds on the first lap.
Then about 1.2 to 1.5 seconds per lap after that.
In my opinion, he would've caught him in about 12 or 13 laps.
And then he would've passed him. Easy.

Michael Diaz4 said:Ferrari focused entirely on Daniel Ricciardo. It felt like they used those useless extra pit stops just to try and confuse the rival teams. Naturally, that opened the door for Kimi Räikkönen to hunt down Max Verstappen, though he couldn't quite close the gap. You can really see that Charles Leclerc has a fantastic car right now; the progress they've made over the last few races isn't just luck.

??????

Do you even have a clue which car Max is driving? 🤣