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2026 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix Heroes and Zeroes

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Jericoke:
Paraphrasing Jeff Goldblum from Jurassic Park:
"Ah, now eventually you do plan to have 22 race cars on your, on your 22 race car series, right?"

Heroes:
Kimi Antonelli - Youngest pole sitter, second youngest race winner.  Fell behind on the first lap: kept his cool. Flatspotted his tires near the end of the race: kept his cool.

George Russell - Started second, finished second, did a great job combating the Ferraris and still preserving a single stop strategy.

Hamilton, Leclerc - Like Russell they fought fairly but also put on a great show.  Leclerc even brought it up on the radio how great their battle was.

Bearman and Gasly - the midfield was very competitive, coming out on top was not nearly as forgone as the top finishers were.

Zeroes
Aston Martin - Borderline piling on, but as long as they can't provide a formula one racing car, that's what the zero category is for.

McLaren - Double DNS, also zeroes.

Ocon - there's certainly no need to fight that hard for scraps.  With the current rules, careful driving is rewarded more than chance taking.

I'm still a fan of the 2026 formula.  Yes, it would be nice if the cars were more reliable.  The difference from first to last was only a lap, unusual for major rule changes, so even teams like Cadillac finish the race in a historically competitive position.

Dare:
Looks like Kimi may be a factor this year

Be funny if the championship is decided on who can get their car running

Jericoke:

--- Quote from: Dare on March 15, 2026, 07:40:56 PM ---Looks like Kimi may be a factor this year

--- End quote ---

Last year, I thought it was interesting that Norris's window for a WDC might close if Piastri snatched it up.

Russell might face that same pressure!

Wolf has handled double '#1' drivers before, I'm sure he's not excited to do it again, unless they're just trading 1/2s all season.


--- Quote ---
Be funny if the championship is decided on who can get their car running

--- End quote ---

I've seen headlines that the Mercedes engines provided to customer teams might be substandard.  I would like to think that isn't true.

Many, many years ago, most teams were 'customer' teams.  The engine was made by an entirely different entity.  Ferrari was the exception, and sort of Mercedes with McLaren.  I thought that's how F1 was, you build your own car, and then buy an engine to stick in it.

I never liked the idea of 'works' teams.  I would concede you need to allow it for Ferrari, but I don't like when a team races cars AND sells engines to customers.  The conflict of interest, despite the rules, despite the reputational risk, is just too high.

cosworth151:
One of the major things that made the late 60s - early 70s such a golden age for F1 was the Cosworth DFV. A competitive, reasonable priced engine that was available to any team on an equal basis. That's what is needed today.

I wonder what would happen if every engine from every supplier  were all delivered to the FIA. Then they would distribute each supplier's engines to the teams that use them (including the supplier's factory team) on a "blind draw" basis. That would make sure that all teams from any given supplier get the same engines. I know some external parts of the engines are specific to each team but I'm sure something could be worked out.

In Ocon's defense, if he could have scored even a single point Haas would be tied with Red Bull for 4th in the Constructors Championship. (I never, ever thought I would be able to say that!  :swoon:  )

Andy B:
I understand your thoughts but it would be impossible as you could not fit a Ferrari engine into a Mercedes, Hass, Aston Martin or any other car as the chassis design is specific to each engine.

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