Vandoorne is for real. He drove like a veteran.

 

Indeed. With the likes of Verstappen, Sainz, Vandoorne and Wehrlein the future of Formula 1 looks bright. If the "stakeholders" could stop messing about with aspects of the sport which are fine as they are, and don't need to be messed about with, and spread the teams' share of the spoils rather more equitably (Sauber and Force India allegedly both in dire straits at the moment) then the sport will benefit, and improve.

I thought the race was excellent, with action all the way through. The additional tyre allocation seems to have added an extra strategic element to the weekend, so if the powers that be can sort qualifying out we could have a really good season, with Ferrari able to worry Mercedes on race day.

 

What odds on verstappen being a future champion?

 

I think he's overrated.

Not to say that he isn't good, but all of these 'amazing' overtakes he has done have been with a superior tyre advantage.

Let us also note that last year he had the most penalty endorsements on his license.

Sainz has easily been able to keep pace but has been much more unfortunate than Verstappen.

It seems obvious to me that Kvyat is a no go, so I'd promote Sainz and keep Verstappen in the Torro Rosso. I'm pretty convinced that no one else will want him for another few years, certainly not Ferrari.

 

Before his signing by Torro Rosso none other than Trevor Carlin had touted Max Verstappen as being an outstanding talent.

For anybody who doesn't know who Trevor Carlin is, he's one of the leading team owners in the formulae below F1, and has a solid reputation as a talent spotter, and a very shrewd operator. If Carlin believes that Max Verstappen is an outstanding talent, be assured that he's right.

The problem, as always, is the ability of Verstappen to find his way into the right car, at the right time. Red Bull, or specifically Dr Helmut Marko, has been putting Daniil Kvyat under pressure recently, so don't be surprised to see Max promoted to the premier Red Bull team. And if Red Bull can find some power courtesy of Mario Ilien, who knows? Verstappen in a car which can run with the Mercedes and Ferrari is quite an enticing prospect.

 

In a rare (to the point of being unprecedented) show of unity, the eleven teams competing in Formula 1 have persuaded FOM and the FIA to revert to the qualifying format used in recent seasons, and abandon the "elimination" system brought in at the beginning of this season, which has rewarded fans with empty tracks for the last few minutes of each session on both occasions that it has been used.

A victory for common sense.

 

This still has to be passed by the final two stages in the legislative process, the F1 Commission and the FIA World Council, but an FIA spokesman told BBC Sport he was "optimistic" it would be approved and that the 2015 format would be used from the next race in China on 15-17 April.


It ain't over 'till the fat lady (Bernie in this case) sings.

 

http://www.pitpass.com/55836/Officia...to-2015-format

As ever in Formula 1 there will be a price to pay, as pointed out in the last sentence of the Pitpass article. The 2017 regulations have still to be agreed...

 

http://www.pitpass.c...-to-2015-format

As ever in Formula 1 there will be a price to pay, as pointed out in the last sentence of the Pitpass article. The 2017 regulations have still to be agreed...
[/quote]

From PitPass first paragraph.


Despite a lack of official word on the matter sections of the media jumped the gun this afternoon, announcing that qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix (and beyond) would revert to the 2015 format.


Like I said, until Bernie says it is so ... it isn't so!

 

Indeed. Sebastian Vettel made criticisms and his engine lunched itself on the warm-up lap!