Round 9: Austria - Red Bull Ring (06Dec17 @ 8:15pm AEDT)

[AaronWebb85]

Last Season's Results (F1 2014):
1st: Dubzzy__
2nd: STYLN18
3rd: El_Majacko
Pole: STYLN18 (1.06.982)
Fastest Lap: STYLN18 (1.07.521)

Pre-race Questions:

1. After eight rounds we've seen the polesitter victorious in six Grand Prix, with third on the grid triumphing in the remaining two races. Will we see pole win again here?
2. With 40% of the season complete, have you identified any rivals you intend to battle for championship position?
3. Next time we see F1 in real life they will have halos. What are your thoughts on this device and how do you think it will affect F1 2018 the game?
4. It is rumoured the championship leader rates the Red Bull Ring as the most difficult track on the calendar. Where would you rate Austria? Which track would you say is the hardest? Rank all 20 circuits if you can be bothered!

 

[El_Majacko]

1. After eight rounds we've seen the polesitter victorious in six Grand Prix, with third on the grid triumphing in the remaining two races. Will we see pole win again here?
Yes, I predict Maznat will be untouchable here, pole and the win. I'll look to limit the damage with a podium and look to my stronger tracks coming up.
2. With 40% of the season complete, have you identified any rivals you intend to battle for championship position?
Yep, Maznat and dreglar. I may have a decent points advantage but they're both capable of closing that down if I slip up, or even if I don't.
3. Next time we see F1 in real life they will have halos. What are your thoughts on this device and how do you think it will affect F1 2018 the game?
Its very sad to see such a nanny state solution to what is hardly a problem. Its not even a guaranteed solution. I'd rather they weren't mandatory, but if they have to be surely they could be transparent. T-Cam will be interesting next game, hopefully the view isn't too obstructed.
4. It is rumoured the championship leader rates the Red Bull Ring as the most difficult track on the calendar. Where would you rate Austria? Which track would you say is the hardest? Rank all 20 circuits if you can be bothered!
Rumoured? Its damn true! The only track on the calendar I find anywhere near as difficult as Spielberg would be Monza.

 

[kidbyers]

1. I think pole is very important on this track. I’m predicting the pole sitter to take victory here tonight. 

2. I also seem to be close with Dani in every race and when it comes to the championship. So hopefully despite missing last weeks race I can still stay close to her in the points battle. 

3. I think the HALO’s are just the next step in the evolution of F1. Doesn’t look great but I think it will lead to the development of either a canopy or some other kind of more aesthetically pleasing head protection. Personally I think it will be just in for 2018 then scrapped. 

4. #1 Monaco
    #2 Baku
     #3 Singapore 
     #4 Canada 
      #5 Bahrain 
       #6 China
       #7 Russia 
       # 8 Abu Dhabi
       #9 Brazil 
       #10 Mexico 
       # 11 Austria 
       # 12 Kinda don’t mind the rest

See you all tonight

 

[El_Majacko]

Q: 2nd
I gave my final flyer everything I had as I had already registered a great banker, and came up just short of pole, but setting a PB, so I have to be happy with that, especially at a circuit I struggle at more than most.

R: 1st
The respective launches of the polesitter, Maznat, and I were very similar. He left space on the inside at turn 1, but got decent traction around the outside. He seemed cautious into turn 2, and I took the opportunity to make my move, knowing without doing so he likely would have pulled away and won by a decent margin. He seemed to steadily adjust to the dirty air before making a few minor attacks which I was able to fend off until the pit stop phase. During my defense, which was clearly slowing Maz down, kartdude had caught us, with everyone else seemingly having issues. I pitted at the end of lap 12, to prevent either driver behind from undercutting me, and kart followed me in. When Maz pitted the next lap, kartdude had undercut him into P2. Once we cleared all the traffic yet to pit, I had a 2 second gap back to kart who was similar in pace to me, but holding Maz up. Eventually Maz overtook him and quickly closed in on me. Soon after he began to attack me for the lead and I had to make sure no mistakes crept in to my race as I'm sure he'd have pounced on anything. We had an incredible few sequences of side-by-side battling, but well-chosen rich mixture timing and one or two calculated squeezes meant I maintained my lead to the very end. It's been ages since I've had such an epic duel, and to come at a track I've loved to hate over the years makes it all the better. Weird that I've won every round divisible by 3, Rounds 3, 6 & 9. Guess that bodes well for Spa!

 

[El_Majacko]

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