European Formula 3 2014 Thread

[nobster]

Exactly, no bashing from my side either, but it is clear that with much less car racing experience Verstappen is showing more speed, if not for his gearbox failure he would most probably have won race two gaining another 25 points and with that result Ocon would have some points less for finishing behind Max.
The lead would have been say 30 points less, so it is still anyone's championship right now.

[ivanalesi]

This year it is easier for the rookies because of the new engine rules. The experienced drivers don't have the same advantage as they would have had and as a result we can see rookies easily winning. They are all mighty impressive, but the test for them will be in the next step.
So far Verstappen looks like mega quick, especially considering that his team were never contenders for the podium. I think both parties(driver & team) are doing a excellent job so far.

[wsrgo94]

Originally Posted by ivanalesi

This year it is easier for the rookies because of the new engine rules. The experienced drivers don't have the same advantage as they would have had and as a result we can see rookies easily winning. They are all mighty impressive, but the test for them will be in the next step.
So far Verstappen looks like mega quick, especially considering that his team were never contenders for the podium. I think both parties(driver & team) are doing a excellent job so far.

I have two questions here, the first one being, what exactly are the new engine rules and how are those helping the rookies?

The second one isn't really a question, it's to refute the fact you're putting that the team is as responsible as the driver in Verstappen's case. Jules Szymkowiak has about as much experience as Verstappen in cars (probably a bit more, seeing as he did Formula BMW Talent Cup last year), and yet he's nowhere near Max. Verstappen is also crushing Gustavo Menezes, who was best of the rest behind the Motopark trio in German F3 last year.

[Zanquis]

Well Ocon is leading and yes he had his bad luck. But he also benefited the most from other drivers bad luck so far.

Ocon lost 13 points in race 1, but gained 10 in race 2 and another 3 in race 3. So basically he broke even. he has had about as much bad luck as good luck.


Verstappen won 7 and lost 25 in race 2, but gained 7 in race 3 again. So he scored a -9 in bad luck points.


If you look at it Blomqvist probably has had the most bad luck losing 2 poles (maybe even a 3th) due to a engine change and only getting a 5th place for it in return. If not for this he would be leading the championship by now probably.

With over 27 races to go, there is no domination yet. I more compare it to GP2 in 2012, Valsecchi won, but he only looked dominating at 1 track where he scored 50 out of a maximum of 60 points. He won yes but never seemed dominating anymore which really hurt his chances in F1.

[wsrgo94]

Originally Posted by Zanquis

Well Ocon is leading and yes he had his bad luck. But he also benefited the most from other drivers bad luck so far.

Ocon lost 13 points in race 1, but gained 10 in race 2 and another 3 in race 3. So basically he broke even. he has had about as much bad luck as good luck.


Verstappen won 7 and lost 25 in race 2, but gained 7 in race 3 again. So he scored a -9 in bad luck points.


If you look at it Blomqvist probably has had the most bad luck losing 2 poles (maybe even a 3th) due to a engine change and only getting a 5th place for it in return. If not for this he would be leading the championship by now probably.

With over 27 races to go, there is no domination yet. I more compare it to GP2 in 2012, Valsecchi won, but he only looked dominating at 1 track where he scored 50 out of a maximum of 60 points. He won yes but never seemed dominating anymore which really hurt his chances in F1.

Razia led for the most part og 2012. You believe we are going to see someone do that? If so, who?

[Zanquis]

What I meant to say was that after the first few races everyone seemed to believe Valsecchi would simply walk away with the title while in reality after his great start he seemed to stall in the middle of the season and just before the end managed to grap the win.


I am just saying the same could happen to Ocon, or any other driver. All it took for Valsecchi to lose his great lead was 3 bad races with no points while the nr 2 scored well.

If Pau would be a bad luck weekend for Ocon and a good luck weekend for any driver in the top 9, then he could emerge championship leader. I am not hoping that for Ocon, but I am sure he will be outside the podium couple of times also and then his lead could go down fast. He just needs to hope that every time a different guy wins if it is not him.

[Alessio]

Originally Posted by wsrgo94

I have two questions here, the first one being, what exactly are the new engine rules and how are those helping the rookies?

The engines are slightly more powerful (J. F3 said about 10%) and more like a road car engine now. The engines aren't directly helping the rookies, but the fact that all drivers are starting with no knowledge on the engine therefore makes all drivers more-or-less rookies.

[wsrgo94]

Originally Posted by Alessio

The engines are slightly more powerful (J. F3 said about 10%) and more like a road car engine now. The engines aren't directly helping the rookies, but the fact that all drivers are starting with no knowledge on the engine therefore makes all drivers more-or-less rookies.

Ah, I get you. Quite like Kvyat and Magnussen this year in F1.

[ivanalesi]

Yes, the engines change the whole setup of the cars. They have more torque, different installation & balance. You can see how Rosenqvist is struggling and I somehow doubt Ocon will be able to beat him at Hockenheim in the old car.

[steve nielsen]

Pau FP1

1 Max Verstappen 1.11.298
2 Estaban Ocon + 0.125
3 Felix Rosenqvist + 0.289

live timing: http://live-itschrono.com/live-gp-pau/live.html

[Sev]

I can already see this shaping up to be a two horse race to the title...

Between two very talented young guys who both have a great future; so yay!

[Rf1 Fan]

Originally Posted by ivanalesi

Yes, the engines change the whole setup of the cars. They have more torque, different installation & balance. You can see how Rosenqvist is struggling and I somehow doubt Ocon will be able to beat him at Hockenheim in the old car.

Well Ocon had raw pace in Macau, unfortunately he stalled and then he destroyed his steering wheel. Despite that he finished in top 10.

If we look to the pace of Rowland and Gasly both in GP3 and 3.5 testings were bang on the pace.

[steve nielsen]

Pau FP2

1 Esteban Ocon 1.10.688
2 Max verstappen 1.10.859
3 Felix Rosenqvist 1.10.950
4 Lucas Auer 1.11.083

no time for Fuocco in FP2, he crashed in FP1

[nobster]

Originally Posted by Rf1 Fan

Well Ocon had raw pace in Macau, unfortunately he stalled and then he destroyed his steering wheel. Despite that he finished in top 10.

If we look to the pace of Rowland and Gasly both in GP3 and 3.5 testings were bang on the pace.

without a steering wheel, that is pretty impressive indeed...

[Rf1 Fan]

qualy between Max and Esteban was just so insane in such a short track.


This is unbelievable.

[steve nielsen]

Pole for Ocon in race 1: 1.10.072, fastes in group B

Auer will start 2nd 1.10.429 fastes in group A

Verstappen will start from 3rd 1.10.096(just 0.024 slower than Ocon)

Blomqvist will start 4th 1.10.634

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

Pole for Ocon in race 1: 1.10.072, fastes in group B

Auer will start 2nd 1.10.429 fastes in group A

Verstappen will start from 3rd 1.10.096(just 0.024 slower than Ocon)

Blomqvist will start 4th 1.10.634

I made a mistake there, it was Latifi, not Blomqvist that was 2nd in group A, so Latifi will start 4th

and Blomqvist still has a 10 place penalty for this race, so he will start 16th

[skells22]

so i have a question and it was due to the 1st lap with yellow flags, will those two that crashed at the yellow flag zone on lap 1 get a major telling off?

[steve nielsen]

So Ocon wins race 1 at Pau ahead of Auer and Verstappen, wich is now also the top 3 in the championship.

[steve nielsen]

Championship standings after race 1 at Pau

1 Ocon 128
2 Auer 81
3 Verstappen 68
4 Fuocco 67
5 Blomqvist 67
6 King 58

Ocon also on pole for race 2 and 3 tomorow


race 2 grid:

1 Ocon 1.10.192
2 Rosenqvist 1.10.197
3 Verstappen 1.10.249
4 Blomqvist 1.10.547
5 Dennis 1.10.647
6 Giovinazzi 1.10.561

(Lucas Auer will start from P12)

Race 3 grid

1 Ocon 1.10.265
2 Rosenqvist 1.10.300
3 Verstappen 1.10.315
4 Blomqvist 1.10.603
5 Dennis 1.10.828
6 Gilbert 1.10.614
(Auer starts from P8)

[steve nielsen]

Race 2 results:

1 Blomqvist
2 Ocon
3 Dennis

Race 3 results

1 Rosenqvist
2 Ocon
3 Blomqvist

BTW: Max Verstappen crashed in lap 2 of this race because his suspension failed after Ocon drove into him at the start, I think he should have gotten a drive through for that, but since the race was in France he only got a warning.

Championship standings after Pau:

1 Ocon 164
2 Blomqvist 107
3 Auer 95
4 Verstappen 68
5 Fuocco 67
6 Giovinazzi 61

[Bodysnatcher]

Ocon may have hit Max at the start, but possibly the suspension failure was due to the very hard hit on the kerbs after Foch. (actually on the exit of Le Goulet, heading toward me.) ? Drivers right suspension?

[Rf1 Fan]

So from now Blomqvist and Auer are the only drivers who can reach Ocon in Hungary.

If the trends continue until Norisring it will start to become difficult to close the gap.

[Alessio]

Originally Posted by Bodysnatcher

Ocon may have hit Max at the start, but possibly the suspension failure was due to the very hard hit on the kerbs after Foch. (actually on the exit of Le Goulet, heading toward me.) ? Drivers right suspension?

I think Ocon weakened the suspension and it eventually broke when Max hit a kerb

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by Bodysnatcher

Ocon may have hit Max at the start, but possibly the suspension failure was due to the very hard hit on the kerbs after Foch. (actually on the exit of Le Goulet, heading toward me.) ? Drivers right suspension?

Ocon actualy pushed Max into the barriers at the start of race 3.

in race 2 max mad a mistake over the kerbs and spun himself.

here's the most spectacular pic of the weekend:



Alexander Toril launches himself over the car of Mitch Gilbert in race 1