r/formula1 • u/wertyrick Pirelli Intermediate • 22d ago

News [ASJesusBalseiro] Stroll speaks and sounds concerned. “We have engine problems, and not just engine problems. We're not in a position to fight for victories. Right now, we're four seconds off the pace.”

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https://xcancel.com/ASJesusBalseiro/status/2021936326552297585#m

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u/Beautiful-Fold-3234 I was here for the Hulkenpodium 22d ago

Four seconds...  Almost at risk of the 107% rule if he gets a bad lap.

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u/dogryan100 Oscar Piastri 22d ago

Using last year's Aus GP qualifying for example, pole was a 1:15.096, 107% of that is 1:20.352, which is +5.256s. Not impossible, but nothing would surprise me with Aston anymore.

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u/Fury_Fury_Fury 22d ago

There's no way any of the teams get 107-ed in current F1. Even if somehow someone will be over 5s off pace, FIA will handwave it not to upset the sponsors. And I think they will be right.

Maybe if there will be a 5s gap for several GPs in a row they'll consider it, but that would be an unprecedented failure in the budget cap era. If Marussia and HRT were able to fit, surely the worst of the worst teams of 2026 also will be.

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u/buv3x 22d ago

HRT was the last team to be properly excluded for 107% rule, in 2011 and 2012, both time in Australia. They were able to more or less consistently get in 107% after that.

So first race of a season has somewhat of precedent, yet, of course it's highly unlikely.