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so who's holding back their performance to surprise us tomorrow?

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Motorsports trend for 2024: everything is a bad taste joke now

After only three days of testing, I wonder if any of the teams can really afford to sandbag

I'd say today you're more likely to concentrate on race setup then quali runs. Some may do a low fuel run and others may not.

Stroll is compromised by his injury.

He's doing T1 like you usually do the Monaco hairpin.

that's kinda worrying, one thing is doing on practice on a slower pace, another is doing 50 times fighting for position

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Motorsports trend for 2024: everything is a bad taste joke now

Can't even do the racing line suggested by the engineer

Who will find something on the Aston to protest first, Toto or Christian? I think they would have let it slide if only Alonso could get good times out of the car, but when the other guy only has 1.5 hands and does it...

I'd say Horner will complain. Perhaps the strulovichs are allowing Mercedes to try something cheeky with their engines and it seems to be working

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Motorsports trend for 2024: everything is a bad taste joke now

Oh yeah there will be accusations of illegal Merc help. Par the course if a customer team does well the manufacturer will get accused of illegally helping them.

Mercedes is actually being very clever by pushing the boundaries and let all the blame fall into the green cars

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Motorsports trend for 2024: everything is a bad taste joke now

In this case, it's a huge help. Such a help that Merc forgot to help themselves first.

Since 2017, the driver with the best time of Season Opener's FP2 ended up as champion.

*El Plan intensifies*

Lots of hype around Aston Martin but I think it's mostly smoke and mirrors. Certainly more competitive than last season, but they seem quicker mainly on the straights and I'm not convinced their race pace is good enough to match RB and Ferrari. In the early races they'll probably be right around with Mercedes, until they fall behind in the development race.

I think Alpine are the biggest sandbaggers thus far though and are holding back quite a bit of pace until qualifying.

I think Aston has the pace to be around top 5, but not like wins. I hope im wrong and they are even better.

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https://www.youtube.com/user/Alonsofanscro

Don't necessarily see why they would fall behind in the development race.
They've clearly made a step and if their concept allows development and they make the right choices, I see no reason why they shouldn't hover around 3rd and 4th fastest team all season long.7
Don't forget their technical staff is strong with key Mercedes and Red Bull staff joining them in 22.

And with Alonso driving the car and the team, who knows

Tbh, especially after the pink Mercedes, I don’t trust stroll sr one bit. Since he bought it it’s waiting for a scandal that makes all others seem insignificant

I don't understand this theory. What is the benefit of sandbagging even through practice sessions of the first event? What response do people think the other teams could possibly take if Alpine showed their true pace that would justify them hiding it, and what's the point when everyone will know after round 1 quali? I'm waiting for the hot takes that Alpine are sandbagging in quali and the race as well.

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Looks like Nico Rosberg's been allowed back into the paddock.

Alonso fastest again in FP3. I don´t see him fighting for pole, but a podium tomorrow would be a nice surprise.