With the Method 1 grid returning to the US for this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, we thought it was an ideal time to open up the mailbag.
Nevertheless, with the timing lining up with the 2025 NFL Draft, some soccer questions crept in. So … one thing for everybody!
Let’s dive in. Thanks to everybody who submitted a query!
In case you’ll indulge me on an NFL query as a Pats fan: Can Will Campbell enhance our terrible go block win price so Drake can prepare dinner?
Again to F1: The noise round Jack Doohan getting changed has calmed down in current weeks. Has he accomplished sufficient to complete the 12 months or is a transfer to Colapinto across the nook? — @fanampfantasyhq on Threads
Ah sure, a wonderful query to start with, with the NFL Draft having not too long ago drawn to a detailed.
Let me say that I imagine Campbell was an outstanding choice and precisely what the Patriots wanted to do in that spot, given how the draft started forward of them. I do know there are considerations about his arm size — or lack thereof — however this deep dive into that query that includes perception from Dante Scarnecchia is properly value your time.
In the end, the place I got here down on Campbell is right here: His “brief” arms weren’t an issue towards SEC go rushers, and he has the approach to deal with life on the sting within the NFL, even when his arms didn’t verify the field scouts are likely to search for.
Now, to the larger query, bear in mind this.
Offensive line is a weak hyperlink place group.
This idea has been drilled into my head by scouts, coaches, and common managers alike. You probably have 4 good offensive linemen and one unhealthy offensive lineman, you should not have a superb offensive line. Consider it from the opposing defensive coordinator’s perspective. In case your upcoming opponent has one unhealthy offensive lineman, however 4 good ones, the place is each blitz bundle going? The place are you lining up your finest go rusher on third-and-long?
Campbell is a chunk of the puzzle, however it’s not full but.
As for Jack Doohan, he has not accomplished sufficient but the place we are able to say he might be within the seat all season lengthy. I believe that’s truthful. However that’s life in Method 1. Nevertheless, I’ve some confidence that he’ll put in a strong efficiency down in Miami. His first worldwide win got here in Florida, and I believe he put the break to good use.
What are some similarities between overlaying the NFL and F1? Much more particularly, overlaying the NFL draft versus going to a race in Miami. — @MidfieldPod on Threads
Truthfully, there are extra variations I believe than similarities.
Open, brutal honesty is uncommon within the NFL. To the purpose that when a coach or a participant actually opens up it turns into a meme. Consider Jim Mora’s “Playoffs?” rant, or Dennis Inexperienced’s “They’re who we thought they have been” post-game explosion.
As a rule, post-game feedback are crammed with refrains comparable to “we now have to go verify the tape” or “we’ll study from this and transfer on.” Nicely, generally there may be not a lot to study from a 56-0 loss.
That’s very true for the NFL Draft, which may be referred to as the league’s official Mendacity Season. I take each single story I hear throughout the NFL Draft, whether or not a couple of participant specifically, a possible commerce, a possible prospect a group is eying, or the rest, with an enormous grain of salt. There’s a motive behind each textual content, each personal message, and each cellphone name. To the purpose the place I nearly dismiss it out of hand.
In F1? Brutal honesty is the secret.
The stopwatch doesn’t lie, and in contrast to the NFL the place you’ll be able to level to 22 gamers on the sector and make the case that you’ll not know what went fallacious till you evaluation every part, the info is there for everybody to see minutes after a session ends. Brake too early in your remaining nook in Q3 and miss out on pole place? It’s there for the world to see. Miss the apex and miss out on Q1? The article breaking that down is written earlier than you communicate with Lawrence Barretto. So there isn’t any hiding, and brutal honesty is the norm.
For me, that is among the many causes I really like F1 a lot. The honesty.
From what you’ve got seen up to now and what you realize of the tracks arising within the subsequent few races, is Ferrari climbing up or was the rostrum extra of a blip? — @theromit on Threads
From the skin wanting in, it does look like issues are reasonably uneven at Ferrari proper now.
Lewis Hamilton, after sounding optimistic following the Bahrain Grand Prix was something however following his P7 in Jeddah. That left Workforce Principal Frederic Vasseur fielding questions on Hamilton’s struggles, and whereas Vasseur went to the mattresses to defend his driver, it’s clear that some work stays to get Hamilton’s full confidence within the SF-25.
Nonetheless, Charles Leclerc’s podium in Saudi Arabia could also be an indication of alternatives to come back, if just for one motive.
Climate.
Whereas Mercedes is off to a “good” begin this 12 months, in response to Workforce Principal Toto Wolff, a difficulty that plagued them a season in the past reared its head in Saudi Arabia. Each George Russell and Kimi Antonelli struggled with overheating tires, which ruined any likelihood of a podium end.
“Tonight was all in regards to the tires and sadly, ours have been affected by overheating. I used to be pushing to stick with Verstappen firstly of the second stint, but it surely shortly turned clear that we weren’t going to have the ability to dangle on,” stated Russell after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. “I attempted to handle the tires somewhat extra however, with the tire age offset they’d constructed, Leclerc and Norris have been in a position to transfer forward. After that, my tires dropped off the cliff and it was all about simply bringing the automotive house in P5.”
“That was our worst efficiency of the 12 months up to now. The tempo dropped away as our tires overheated and that was irritating. We got here into the race hoping we may compete for the rostrum however, with the constraints we had with the tires, P5 and P6 was the utmost for us,” added Wolff. “We have to analyze our efficiency, work out why that was the case, and shortly discover enhancements. The subsequent race in Miami is one other race on a sizzling observe floor so we’ll have to be higher than we have been at this time if we wish to keep away from a repeat efficiency.”
If Mercedes continues to battle with overheating — and Miami is anticipated to be one other sizzling weekend — that might open doorways for Ferrari.
After all, Lando Norris may not begin in P10 every race.
Query for you lol how do you are feeling going into this race after having gone to some final 12 months as press? does it really feel completely different? — @undrgrndcircuit_ on Threads
It feels very, very completely different.
Final 12 months’s Miami Grand Prix was my first F1 race as an FIA-credentialed media member.
And I used to be utterly misplaced. Actually and figuratively. It took me hours to determine how you can get into the paddock — you realize, which is in the midst of the HUGE NFL STADIUM — and even longer to determine the place to go, and when. The most effective instance may need been with the catering scenario. The press space for media members is on the press field degree of Laborious Rock Stadium. I may solely discover this one space with snacks and simply assumed that issues like chips, cookies, and popcorn together with drinks have been all that have been provided.
Till Saturday evening after I smelled some fish and went up a set of stairs to what seemed like a restaurant, on the membership degree. The place there was meals for miles, together with a number of the finest cod I’ve ever had. I had no thought it was there for principally three days, and was dwelling off cookies and soda.
Which isn’t often a nasty factor however nonetheless …
So it took some time to get my F1 media legs beneath me. I didn’t ask many questions in media scrums, press conferences, or the like, deferring to these round me. I used to be joyful to take all of it in. One other prime instance was Frederic Vasseur’s post-race press availability within the Ferrari hospitality house. I’m fairly positive I used to be the one media member who didn’t ask a query.
Fred knew it too, as a result of he smiled and winked at me after he completed giving his remaining reply. I did respect that.
Then got here the US Grand Prix in Austin. With that as my second F1 race as a credentialed media member, I used to be way more comfy asking questions in scrums, hospitality areas, and the like. I even interviewed Lewis Hamilton minutes after he spun out within the opening portion of the race, together with only one different media member. So the boldness degree had elevated by then.
Nonetheless haven’t requested Fred a query but. Hoping to vary that this week.
Is the Max leaving Crimson Bull stuff bored reporters, an actual chance, or one thing else? — @ChrisBaileyGuy on Bluesky
Truthfully? I believe all the above applies right here.
Let’s begin with a truth of F1 media life: Driver switch hypothesis and rumors click on. They completely click on, as my editors and executives maintain reminding me. A deep dive right into a qualifying efficiency utilizing telemetry knowledge? I really like writing items like that — and also you’ll in all probability see a couple of this week — however they don’t precisely transfer the needle for enormous web page views.
Hypothesis about Driver X leaving Workforce Y for Workforce Z? That clicks.
ESPECIALLY when Max Verstappen is that driver.
Now, are there causes to write down these tales in the meanwhile? Positive. The RB21 is just not the challenger the group hoped to offer Verstappen this 12 months, at the very least not but. Whereas he’s nonetheless gifted sufficient to win with it, Crimson Bull’s challenger is just not the dominant bundle on the grid. And as he has stated many instances — and Christian Horner has admitted — Verstappen needs to have the quickest automotive. Each driver does.
The priority at Crimson Bull that they can’t ship Verstappen the quickest automotive on the grid is actual.
The hypothesis solely grows when there are dots to attach, as there are with Verstappen. Positive, each group on the grid would like to signal him. However one can simply draw a connection from Verstappen to Aston Martin given one, Adrian Newey and two, the upcoming partnership with Honda. Management on the producer has made it clear they’d like to work with Verstappen once more, they powered all 4 of his Drivers’ Championships, and once more the connection is simple to make.
So, I believe a part of the hypothesis is as a result of driver switch information is a narrative all followers gravitate in the direction of. However there is part of this that’s underlined by real concern at Crimson Bull that if they don’t nail these upgrades and provides Verstappen a sooner automotive earlier than the 12 months is over, the exit door — which in the meanwhile is presumably open simply the tiniest of cracks — may swing open.
SB Nation might be on the bottom for the complete Miami Grand Prix, so verify our story stream all week lengthy for full protection!
