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Whereas the mandated F1 summer season break means 4 weeks and not using a Grand Prix, it’s the good alternative to mirror on the season up to now and put together for the second half of the yr. I obtained the possibility to speak to David Coulthard in regards to the present state of play in Components 1. Max Verstappen and Pink Bull Racing has run away on the earth championship standings, Coulthard feels there’s nonetheless an essential combat forward for groups and drivers additional down the order.
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Coulthard is at the moment an F1 pundit on Channel 4 in the UK, however he’s extra famously identified for his exploits as a Formula 1 driver within the Nineties and 2000s. The Scotsman, generally known as DC, took 13 Grand Prix victories over his 15 seasons on the earth championship. All however one in all his F1 wins got here whereas he was a driver at McLaren.
The battle for this yr’s world championship between Pink Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari has turn into fairly lopsided. Ferrari hasn’t had both driver stand on the rostrum because the Austrian Grand Prix, a race that Charles Leclerc gained whereas the automobile of his teammate Carlos Sainz burst into flames. Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen leads the drivers’ championship by 80 factors over Leclerc. Pink Bull is main the constructors’ championship by 97 factors over Ferrari.
REK: “Sure, and clearly speaking about issues that could possibly be a hindrance to Pink Bull. One of many issues which were attention-grabbing to me prior to now couple of races is that this, I wouldn’t say resurgence, however slight enchancment that we’ve seen from the earlier constructors’ champions Mercedes and the way they’ve gotten second and third on the final two races. It looks like they’re discovering their manner again to the entrance of the sphere.
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DC: “I feel that Ferrari have delivered a really quick race automobile with two fast drivers. Clearly, Charles [Leclerc] has been extra comfy in exploiting the qualifying efficiency within the first half of the season. However, I feel that Carlos [Sainz] has been coming again and displaying good tempo within the final couple of races previous to the break. I feel that Ferrari are an actual menace to Pink Bull by way of selecting up victories within the remaining half of the season.”
“Whether or not there’s an excessive amount of of a factors deficit now to actually have an opportunity on the Drivers’ Championship stays to be seen. They’ve clearly had their fair proportion of reliability points within the first half of the yr and a few strategic mistakes in hindsight. I might anticipate Pink Bull may have some penalties and reliability-related penalties simply by the character of the actually tight controls of the engines for the season. However that stated, they might properly strategically take these penalties on circuits that they assume there’s a greater likelihood of overtaking. Budapest wouldn’t have been a kind of circuits.”
“Components 1 continues to ship shock, and I feel that in the event you’re going to fee the primary half of the season, you’ve undoubtedly obtained to say it’s up there with one of many extra entertaining as a result of we’ve had large crashes the place drivers stroll away. You recognize these are a part of the present. We’ve had some nice battles for the pole, we’ve had some good battles for the race victories and we nonetheless obtained 9 extra of them to play with earlier than the tip of the yr.”
REK: “Sure, and clearly speaking about issues that could possibly be a hindrance to Pink Bull. One of many issues which were attention-grabbing to me prior to now couple of races is that this, I wouldn’t say resurgence, however slight enchancment that we’ve seen from the earlier constructors’ champions Mercedes and the way they’ve gotten second and third on the final two races. It looks like they’re discovering their manner again to the entrance of the sphere.
DC: “I feel in outright efficiency phrases, Budapest was by far and away essentially the most spectacular like-for-like efficiency. Sure, you may say ‘Properly, okay. Max [Verstappen] didn’t get his remaining run in qualifying.’ However, the cooler monitor temperatures at Budapest appeared to carry their automobile right into a window the place it actually carried out. Now, they are going to be in all probability scratching their heads, as a lot as we have been all stunned, as to how they actually discovered that window of efficiency. However, you don’t by chance discover many pole positions so the underlying tempo of the automobile was undoubtedly good.”
“It will likely be attention-grabbing after we go to Spa to see comparatively how far-off they could be. And I say how far-off as a result of I feel the character of that monitor with lengthy straights and high-speed corners that hasn’t essentially been Mercedes’ development. In the event that they nearer at Spa, then I feel we are able to undoubtedly say ‘Okay, it is a comeback to actually with the ability to be aggressive for the rostrum in each race. However, I can’t presumably know what upgrades they’ve obtained for Spa. Primarily based on the primary half of the yr, the automobile is a bit of bit too draggy on the straights to possibly actually shine in Spa. However, , you by no means know. It may piss down with rain and be ten levels the entire weekend. It’s Belgium in spite of everything.”
REK: “One among my favourite moments from the Hungarian Grand Prix was the combat in direction of the entrance of the midfield, the place Daniel Riccardo pulls off this unbelievable double overtake previous each the Alpines. It appears to me that’s the story within the midfield, Alpine versus McLaren. It looks like it’s going to be neck and neck between all 4 of these drivers for the remainder of the yr.”
DC: “I feel that’s an excellent commentary of which the world championship, constructors’ or drivers’, will handle itself in some ways. However that midfield battle is so essential to these groups. The monetary reward for ending greater within the constructors’ is essential, so each level is a prisoner. These groups not solely are battling on-track in fact, however they’re battling for drivers’ companies going ahead as properly. That’s simply the character of Components 1. It’s the quickest type of closed circuit racing, a very world world championship. It provides us a bit of little bit of every part, doesn’t it? You recognize it’s not all about who’s gained the Grand Prix. I feel it’s proper to level out that there’s some nice battles within the midfield.”
Throughout our dialog, I discovered it laborious to disagree with Coulthard that the stakes are excessive for these combating for each positions additional again within the area. Regardless of the championship combat behind nowhere near a nail-biter, I nonetheless discover myself questioning what may occur on a moment-by-moment foundation throughout races. The final word final result of who will obtain the silver trophy on the FIA Gala would possibly really feel determined, however I nonetheless need to see the twists and turns alongside the way in which.
The FIA Components 1 World Championship returns from its summer season break for the Belgian Grand Prix on August twenty eighth.
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