Formula 1: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

[Mycroft]

Two races to go. First ever race at the venue, so no one knows exactly what to expect, although they think that it will be the fastest street circuit, and not far off the "Temple of Speed" at Monza.

Max Verstappen can put away the championship if he comes in first and Louis Hamilton does not finish at least 7th, and lots of other permutations involving fastest laps and Max first or second. Lewis can not take the championship this weekend even if Max does not finish. Other drivers end of season position are also up in the air, between Valteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, Lando Norris and Charles LeClerc, followed up by Carlos Sainz.

The constructors fight is equally close.

Mercedes and Red Bull are neck and neck. Ferrari can lock up P3 in the constructors over McLaren. Other midfield teams are also storing out position (and the attended money they get).

Sadly for Max and Red Bull, the Mercedes has been showing impressive straight line speed over the past few races, which may well suit their car, and Lewis has been driving like a man on fire.

How will the tyres fair? They did shake things up last race, at Qutar, also a new circuit. (I liked that track.) Here is a preview lap of the track in the safety car: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...GM8Hw2Jvr.html

A moment for Sir Frank Williams.

[Brucebubs]

Absolute nail biter shoot out for pole position with explosive ending!

[Silly Moustache]

Don't wanna give away any spoilers, but this new track looks more like a tube than a track.

Loads of corners - looks like a slalom!

I forecasted a lot of crashes.

Not wrong!

[Silly Moustache]

Race is ... finally (!) over!

To friends/fans not watching live, and intending to watch it in full, all I'd say is prepare sandwiches and a thermos or two!

I think I'll go for a lie down in a darkened room now!

[Silurian]

Wow! Probably the craziest GP I've ever seen. Wacky Races.

[Jeff Scott]

What a mess it was, today.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

What a mess it was, today.

Dangerous track! Limited access points.

I don't think it should be used for F1 again. Also many "incidents" in F2" and F3 races I believe.

[Puerto Player]

I hate street courses, this wasn't any different. Why? There are dozens of tracks all over the world not being used. Race at racetracks, not crap street courses.

Max Verstappen, what a chump. He should be kicked out of F1 and racing all together. He's dangerous, and will kill or mame somebody someday if allowed to just plow through turns with zero regard to the racers around him and now, brake checking to intentionally cause a crash so he can win the Championship! Just wow. I get that he's fast, but I'm no long a fan of his and hope he's kicked out of F1 soon.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Puerto Player

I hate street courses...

I always liked Long Beach. Fun place to walk around to various vantage points during the race.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by Puerto Player

I hate street courses, this wasn't any different. Why? There are dozens of tracks all over the world not being used. Race at racetracks, not crap street courses.

Max Verstappen, what a chump. He should be kicked out of F1 and racing all together. He's dangerous, and will kill or mame somebody someday if allowed to just plow through turns with zero regard to the racers around him and now, brake checking to intentionally cause a crash so he can win the Championship! Just wow. I get that he's fast, but I'm no long a fan of his and hope he's kicked out of F1 soon.

Interesting, I thought Max was very immature and reckless when he first joined Red Bull and couldn't understand why the team chose to shift their focus from Daniel Ricciardo to Max - the very reason Dan left the team to join Renault - however, to his credit Max has put in some great drives since then but when push comes to shove that reckless, immature side comes back out again.

Right now it's a battle between the F1 prima donna and the spoilt brat ... what a great final race!

[Charmed Life Picks]

Originally Posted by Puerto Player

I hate street courses, this wasn't any different. Why? There are dozens of tracks all over the world not being used. Race at racetracks, not crap street courses.

Max Verstappen, what a chump. He should be kicked out of F1 and racing all together. He's dangerous, and will kill or mame somebody someday if allowed to just plow through turns with zero regard to the racers around him and now, brake checking to intentionally cause a crash so he can win the Championship! Just wow. I get that he's fast, but I'm no long a fan of his and hope he's kicked out of F1 soon.

I suppose you're right to a point -- Max is VERY aggressive -- but he's too big of a draw for the sport. Plus, the cars are so well padded and insulated these days. I don't see him as reckless, but I'm just a casual observer. He's about 15 years younger than Lewis, and clearly he has more testosterone running through his veins than the current champ.

I think it's been a terrific season, and the F1 formula for points appears to be right on the money, considering that the two best drivers are dead even.

Is anyone familiar with the track for the last week? It's abundantly clear that the Mercedes car is considerably faster on the straights than the Honda Red Bull. If the upcoming track is wider with not as many twists and turns, one would thin Bottas and Hamilton have the winning cards.

Love it!
Scott

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

.

Is anyone familiar with the track for the last week? It's abundantly clear that the Mercedes car is considerably faster on the straights than the Honda Red Bull. If the upcoming track is wider with not as many twists and turns, one would thin Bottas and Hamilton have the winning cards.

Love it!
Scott

2016 - Lewis - Nico - Sebastian
2017 - Bottas -Lewis - Seb
2018 - Lewis - Seb - Max
2019 - Lewis - Max - LeClerc
2020 - Max - Bottas - Lewis

[Silly Moustache]

What would happen if Max and Lewis knock each other out next Sunday?

Who wins the championship if they are level on points?

Apparently, should both finish level on points come Sunday evening, Verstappen will win his first F1 title, denying Hamilton of his record-breaking eighth.

Verstappen would finish top due to having nine GP wins to Hamilton's eight.

Should Max come out on top, it would be Red Bull's first championship since 2013.

It would also prevent Hamilton winning his fifth title and stopping him from drawing level with Michael Schumacher, who managed the record between 2000-04.

You couldn't write it as a script could you?

[JimH]

Makes the farce at Spa this year more important to the title this year. If that race would have been canceled instead of the few laps they ran they would be equal on wins also going into the last race.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Right now it's a battle between the F1 prima donna and the spoilt brat ... what a great final race!

Excellent way to put it!