#Pairings
turbid socket
agreed
turbid socket
leclerc-sainz is the most balanced lineup ever
spark zodiac
McLarens lineup has the most potential imo
but rn it's Ferrari
The one vote for RB tho 😭
turbid socket
Agreed 
exotic carbon
spark zodiac
recency bias
steep solar
but rn it's Ferrari
Honestly, 100% agreed
steep solar
Quite an interesting poll this was. The mclaren pairing was winning by a landslide until rip cassidy started this thread, and the tides turned quite dramatically
Also shocked to see ZERO votes for RUS-HAM out of 54 votes
Yet one vote for vcarb 💀
Also @spark zodiac, if you don't mind, who is cassidy 💀
spark zodiac
Also <@848469818675822632>, if you don't mind, who is cassidy 💀
oh lmfao
it's cuz last year in the fe season
I was rooting for nick cassidy
and then then in the penultimate race in London he got taken out by his teammate which lost him the championship
I just haven't changed my nickname since 💀
spark zodiac
Yet one vote for vcarb 💀
nah didko (not gonna ping) just loves vcarb I guess
voted for Laurent mekies as best TP asw 😭
spark zodiac
Also shocked to see ZERO votes for RUS-HAM out of 54 votes
F1 fans move too quickly at times
steep solar
I just haven't changed my nickname since 💀
Oh 💀
spark zodiac
but also I think this season both Merc drivers have had enough disappointing results and sessions and the McLaren pairing have had quite good showings to put Merc out of the conversation
steep solar
F1 fans move too quickly at times
Agreed
spark zodiac
because right now I'd argue Lando is performing better than Hamilton
and Oscar better than Russell
steep solar
Still, 0 votes is pretty shocking
spark zodiac
even though obviously Lewis is better than Lando overall as of yet and Russell better than Oscar
spark zodiac
oh yeah definitely
I think people may have taken this as a current form poll
not like a general driver strength
steep solar
Yep
spark zodiac
tbf to Oscar tho
he's putting himself up with the likes of Russell and Sainz already 💀
not a Lando or Charles level driver just yet but he does not feel like f1s joint newest driver 💀
steep solar
Oscar is defo very skilled, the fact that he is a significant talking point in the "best driver pairings" discussion since last year is very impressive
spark zodiac
if Merc nail the 2026 engine regs
i don't have faith in Merc the F1 team to come up with a good car aerodynamically
steep solar
It kinda feels wild to think that Oscar and Logan were rookies in the same season, because no offense, Logan still sometimes drives like a rookie 💀
spark zodiac
I reckon McLaren could be up there
one of the strongest driver pairings with one of the best engines
supported by a great team and company
spark zodiac
It kinda feels wild to think that Oscar and Logan were rookies in the same seaso...
I guess Logan, being a weaker driver, just needed that extra f2 season
it's sad cuz Logan has pace
he has racecraft
and he can have confidence
steep solar
if Merc nail the 2026 engine regs
"It's always if if if if if... if my mum had balls, she'd be my dad"
spark zodiac
just never at the same time
spark zodiac
"It's always if if if if if... if my mum had balls, she'd be my dad"
this quote gonna be the comments section of every video with a reporter question
spark zodiac
James Vowles has zero faith in him, and it's visible
tbf to him, Logan was a jost capito decision and Vowles gave him all the support for 2023
now he's getting tired but he has also said he will try and support Logan as much as possible for this year
so even tho toto said he had nothing to do with the Antonelli request
between toto and james I'm gonna believe James 💀
steep solar
James Vowles has zero faith in him, and it's visible
Quite unfortunate that latifi was in the same circumstances when he was fired, who would have thought at the time that his replacement, a driver who is doing great in f2, could potentially face the same fate as the driver he replaced
spark zodiac
sad way to go but maybe he could do a de vries
in wec not fe 💀 because he's shit in fe
steep solar
💀
spark zodiac
maybe Astons wec programme?
steep solar
Quite unfortunate that latifi was in the same circumstances when he was fired, w...
I remember there was so much hype for Logan replacing Latifi, perhaps as much hype as Antonelli is getting rn
spark zodiac
or even Prema in indy
spark zodiac
I remember there was so much hype for Logan replacing Latifi, perhaps as much hy...
nah I think the Antonelli hype is definitely bigger because antonelli probably has the higher ceiling
and he's being touted as a Verstappen esque junior
steep solar
He is one of the reasons mercedes let hamilton go, the fear of losing antonelli, so he definitely does have the higher ceiling
spark zodiac
it's just the possibility of him ending up like a Logan isnt out of the question because he's being rushed in faster than Logan was
if he gets Sargeants seat that id
is
steep solar
Definitely
spark zodiac
because the Williams is a terrible car to drive as well
he's gonna be crashing a fair bit most likely
steep solar
💀
spark zodiac
confidence gets knocked
steep solar
Starts cracking under pressure
spark zodiac
and even if you don't rate Albon that high antonelli will not be beating Albon if even Albon can't get this car to work
because Williams would have tried to build it around Albon as much as possible
turbid socket
Also shocked to see ZERO votes for RUS-HAM out of 54 votes
lots of q2 knockouts in sprint shootouts , qualis + they took each other out in qatar
this isnt really a good pairing isnt it?
- they have tripped over each other soo many times in 2023
russell had a 2018 bottas level shitty season in 2023
spark zodiac
yeah and Lewis has had a pretty bad start to the year
off the pace and beaten by Russell
and then in Miami he decides to charge into t1
and then forgets to press the pl limiter and goes 17kmh over the limit 💀
the form for them plus Mercedes being outclassed by a customer team who was nowhere 1 year ago and has been at best a higher midfield team in the past 10 years before their current run of form
it's time to kick Mercedes out of the 'top 5'
mercedes Aston are the upper midfield now
turbid socket
mercedes Aston are the upper midfield now
how the times have changed from 2021 😭
turbid socket
the form for them plus Mercedes being outclassed by a customer team who was nowh...
its just embarrasing ngl at this point for mercedes
turbid socket
and then in Miami he decides to charge into t1
imo it was lewis's fault but fia saw nothing
spark zodiac
he literally used Alonso as a brake
spark zodiac
its just embarrasing ngl at this point for mercedes
they are weak in strategy as well and pitstops
spark zodiac
just shows that their time in the lead made them complacent and it was just masked by their insane engine
and it's showing through toto as well
people say he led Merc to their domination era when really it was Michael and Ross brawn
Christian Horner is someone who really led a team to domination (twice) and red bull still did well when they didn't have the engine
scary when Carlos said he couldn't feel his legs briefly after impact
if he was going faster over it it could have paralysed him
or something major through his back
and yet toto was so eager to defend the 'great job' by liberty
and now he's just whining every race
'not an ok car' yeah who's fault is that
as if it's another teams fault for them being shit
no wonder Lewis left
steep solar
Christian Horner is someone who really led a team to domination (twice) and red ...
Look at this poll
Horner is getting way too much shit because of this years events
steep solar
Fr
steep solar
people say he led Merc to their domination era when really it was Michael and Ro...
I don't understand what Michael did to set mercedes up for the next 7-8 years?
steep solar
and now he's just whining every race
Showing his true colours nowadays
steep solar
'not an ok car' yeah who's fault is that
He shouldn't be saying it in public like that, really undermines the efforts being taken by the team members, regardless of the results
spark zodiac
I don't understand what Michael did to set mercedes up for the next 7-8 years?
hes been credited by brawn, wolff and vowles amongst others for instilling a determined and focused work ethic within the team
- probably helped with some technical knowledge and also would have caused some people to join the team
steep solar
Ah
spark zodiac
Horner is getting way too much shit because of this years events
hes literally the only TP on the grid whos built a team up from the start and had 2 periods, both multiple seasons long, of championship success
key to bringing and retaining newey
steep solar
hes literally the only TP on the grid whos built a team up from the start and ha...
I KNOW RIGHT!!!
spark zodiac
yeah he might be unlikable at times but hes fucking good at what he does
steep solar
Newer fans have no idea who Christian Horner really is
spark zodiac
only thing now is his alleged actions have caused instability within the team
and probably contributed to driving newey out
steep solar
key to bringing and retaining newey
It was actually DC who was key to bring in Newey, but yes, retaining him was something horner did exceptionally well
steep solar
and probably contributed to driving newey out
Honestly, I feel like Newey leaving has nothing to do with the horner drama
Maybe not "nothing", but definitely not as significant as media suggests
spark zodiac
i think he probably wanted a new challenge before he hangs up the...pencil? 💀
but also he wouldnt have liked the atmosphere within the team
steep solar
Him and Christian have gotten along very well along the years, I don't think their relationship has soured too much
steep solar
i think he probably wanted a new challenge before he hangs up the...pencil? 💀
Rb17 is that new challenge
spark zodiac
and then sf27 (let me be delusional)