Formula One
Comments
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Didn't he do well
what a driver, must have been the best race of this season.Fingers and everything else crossed for him to take another Championship.
It will be hard though as I think there are those that are out to stop him one way or another.
Max didn't look to happy.
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A lot of questions being asked about the Mercedes at the moment. An engine change in itself wouldn't produce such a massive increase in straight line speed? What I found interesting was that the whole persona of LH seem to change this weekend even before the racing started which made me suspicious. I hope Max is still in with a chance.
David
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If I were Bottas, I would be asking why my new engine did not give the same power improvement.
Fantastic drive and commitment, but the car was so much better than everything else in the race, it was very surprising.
The season has been kept closer by the red flag early in the season when Hamilton was allowed to restart on new tyres along with every one else, but also allowed to unlap himself so that by the end he managed to score good points.
I see the need for the safety car and safety in general, but should it have such an impact on the results, or just the safety of drivers and marshalls.
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Evening
Personally I think both mercs are about equal in performance. It's all about the set up on the day, maybe LH has a better feel for things than Valteri? I don't know but remember when Russell took the seat when LH had covid? He was a country mile quicker than his team mate.
Constructors at the top like merc and Redbull don't scrimp on the second drivers car and set up. I just think Valteri isn't as hungry as Lewis in an equal car.
On the safety aspect, the safety of everyone trackside is paramount. If that means drivers lose points to ensure no one gets hurt then so be it. I spent a lot of the 80's heavily involved in quarter mile drag racing. It was a different world in motorsport then and a lot of folk especially marshalls would get hurt in the name of the sport.
It will be an exciting end to the season but I think RBR will snatch it.
JK
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Safety is paramount and as I spent 20 + years photographing the British Grand Prix from inside the catch fencing, I was more than grateful a few times.
Once the situation has been contained by either a safety car or a red flag, why is it necessary to allow cars to unlap themselves. It not only gives a great advantage to the lapped drivers, it also holds up the restart. Simply allowing the lapped cars to drop back under the safety car or pushed to the back of the queue in the pit lane after a red flag. This would speed up restarts significantly.
From the Auto Scuderia web page, the top speed of Lewis Hamilton along the start finish straight was 348 kph Bottas was 308 kph 40kph difference
verstappen 326 kph Perez 332kph only 6kph difference
These figures were from the sprint race which Bottas was winning with Max chasing hard, which probably explains his speed being close Bottas as he was getting DRS from him.
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Bluemalaga said:-
From the Auto Scuderia web page, the top speed of Lewis Hamilton along the start finish straight was 348 kph Bottas was 308 kph 40kph difference
The interesting thing about the difference in speed on the straight that if the cars were the same there should be no difference. Whatever we think about Bottas he is a very competent driver and recently seems to have got his mojo back, perhaps the relief of leaving Mercedes!! Clearly he is not as good as LH but I reckon all drivers at that level are capable of driving the same car at virtually the same speed on the straight, or thereabouts? A 40kph difference suggests something else. Some have suggested that as the engine has only needed for 4 races they have tuned it to a level that would eventually destroy the engine if it had to last the average 7 races? That strategy is not without risk as it could let go at a crucial point in the championship, but of course Mercedes have all the stats. One suggestion is that they have done something to the car to reduce the drag on the straights perhaps by reducing the downforce.
David
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Just heard there is another investigation into the incident with Max and Lewis where they both went off track.
The outcome may have an affect on grid positions this weekend which may make Lewis favourite for the next race. Given the extra pace in the Merc with this surprising speed increase, the 10 points Lewis achieved after the red flag in Turkey where he was permitted to un lap himself could be the title deciding points given they are only 14 apart rather than 24 with the remaining tracks apparently suiting the merc better.
Love to see fair wheel to wheel racing, which Max probably exceeded last weekend with the weaving, the jury still out on the corner manoeuvre, nothing Lewis has not done a few times (Mr Rosberg would probably agree).
However safety cars and red flags should be for safety only, and not make a major change to the outcome of races or championships, surely, exciting though.
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It seemed a bit of a swings and roundabouts day at the Qatar Grand Prix yesterday (what a dull track!). Max lost a bit of his lead in points but Red Bull narrowed the race for the Constructors Championship. Difficult to say if Max would have won had he not had the 5 place penalty? Tyre problems seem to have resurfaced which could be a worry for the last two races. Good to see the old warhorse Alonso on the podium.
David
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The end of the season is certainly turning into a nail-biter.
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Considering Lewis did not use his newest engine, this weekend, that is more powerful according to Mercedes due to the engines losing power as they age. The next two races that favour power, is looking like a mountain to climb for Max.
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Well, yesterday was certainly eventful. With all to play for next week, will Verstappen be doing the full "Mel Gibson" or will it be as the boxing referees say "a good clean fight" ?
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You've got to admit Max's attitude on the podium was very unsportsmanlike. And what about Mr Horners face during interview, like he'd been chewing a lemon
JK
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Christian Horner has suggested that F1 is missing the experience of Charlie Whiting? I am not quite sure what Max is expected to do. He is on the cusp of a Championship against a very experienced rival. I don't think Lewis or Mercedes play it clean all the time although they tend to be a bit more subtle. Max is a very exciting driver and the match of Lewis, maybe even better. It is racers like Max that get us all watching F1 which if the same team keep winning it becomes boring as it did in the Michael Schumacher days. I would love to see Max win the championship but I wonder if the odds are maybe stacked against him?
David
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What a chaotic race on a crazy track designed for red flags and safety cars. Most drivers enjoyed the track but surly something needs to be done to reduce the number of times the race is stopped or affected by numerous safety car periods before next years race. Maybe its time F1 brought in new track designers?
Max was up to his usual tricks and was given two separate time penalties and two points on his licence for bad / dangerous driving.
So winner takes all next Sunday. Remember Senna v Prost 1990!
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Michael Schumacher's dominance was due to a number of factors. Team orders from the get go, not just at the critical stage towards the end of the championship. A fair few dubious actions to ensure he gained the most out of red/yellow flag/safety car incidents and the clear superiority of Ferrari for most of his time with them.
Lewis Hamilton does, AFAICS, generally drive a pretty clean race without resort to 'unsportsmanlike' practices, at least from my TV viewpoint.
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Strange thing penalties.
Ocon goes off the track at the second restart comes back on in the lead - no penalty and was not required to give the position back to Hamilton or Verstappen.
Hamilton pushes Verstappen off the track at turn one - no penalty
Verstappen is ordered to slow down to allow Hamilton to pass after they both fail to slow down enough to make turn one. Hamilton declines to take the pass to avoid doing so before the DRS line and runs into Verstappen. Result Verstappen is penalised and Hamilton gets a black and white flag, no time penalty. I have no doubt that Hamilton new exactly what was going on even though the team claim differently, otherwise he would have assumed that Verstappen had a problem and passed without hesitation. They both knew what they were doing.
Not only did Verstappen have to give back a place but also received time penalties.
Hamilton was very concerned that Verstappen would be allowed to change tyres under the red flag, and the team were not overly happy. However earlier in the season under a red flag situation, Hamilton went off the track and sustained some damage and was lapped. The race was red flagged shortly after and Hamilton not only changed his tyres, but was also allowed to change damaged parts and unlap himself.
Interesting though, that even with a damaged front wing, Hamilton set the fastest lap.
Roll on Sunday,
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Well put BM and I entirely agree Hamilton knew exact what was going on when he was allowed to pass otherwise with a slowing car in front why did he not streak by assuming a problem with the car in front? They were both shown to be braking. However inspite of all the incidents I think Hamilton would have won anyway. Vestamppen's tyres were shot well before the end of the race and he finished on a wing and a prayer.
peedee
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Agreed
When it comes to sporting moves and champions, they do not match very often
Think of all the times in the passed few years that drivers have passed on corners with sporting drivers without collisions or forcing each other off track, non became champions, in Hamiltons case even team mates on occassions but very few times have passes taken place between champions when both stayed within white lines. None give up the corner and brake as late as possible which means either one or both go off track. Thats what makes them champions. Hamilton is just smarter and has the best car for many years. Verstappen has to take more chances just to stay in the race. Bottas is a sporting driver in the same car as Hamilton but never a champion. Rosberg only managed to compete for one season when he threw caution to the wind, but did not fancy another season.
After many years of watching fabulous F1 action, it seems pretty clear that when the more determined of drivers come up behind the lesser determined, the pass it usually fairly straightforward.
Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Hamilton and now Verstappen.
I would also put Mansell in the same category, he did not bend very much either.
Wonder what todays technological coverage would show about passed manouveres.
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BM
Interesting what you say about Ocon. I would not deny him is moment of glory but I imagine race control were pretty sure he wouldn't stay in the position gained in a few laps time which seems a pretty strange way of fairness of decisions? Without doubt Max wants to win this championship but I am sure his inner self is telling him that this won't be his only shot at it. More changes in regulations coming for next season and we never know until the first race of the season on what impact they make.
David
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Given that all this stuff happens in microseconds, do any of the drivers really have time to think about the ramifications of the scenario other than "can I avoid" or "can I pass"
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I believe they both admitted to doing exactly that, so the answer is clearly YES.
I must admit having done a quite a few track days and am comfortable driving over 100mph, when pushing flat out on the straights, with an instructor by my side, I am only able to focus on the track, not even able to check speedo or mirrors.
These two drivers are a class above the rest, even at nearly 200mph they still have time on a tight track to evaluate several things..
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Perhaps I have this wrong, but what was the point of giving Vestappen those number of seconds penalty after the race finished when the stewards knew the time gaps? They made difference to the result overall. Or are those seconds to be carried forward to the next race and so be a proper penalty?
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If a penalty was to be severe, it should be a grid place one for the next race. More importantly did Max get points on his racing license?
JK
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Yes. Two points.
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Looking forward to Sundays race, but how different it might have been.
Had Lewis not been permitted to unlap himself following the red flag in Turkey where he scored 10 points that he would not have achieved and the 25 points he scored following smashing Max off the track at Silverstone. Not sure if he got a penalty there or not, but Max also had to replace running gear for the next race which he received a penalty on the grid.
Take those points away and Max would already be champion Interesting that 2 crashes by Lewis could be the game changers.
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I read somewhere that Channel Four will screen the race live of free to air TV, they have come to some arrangement with Sky. A bit like the good old days!!!
David
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What does tomorrow look like then? I'm obviously a die hard teamLH but I think it will go the other way. Red Bull are good at this track, crashtappen won there last year.
Good to see c4 have got it live. Got a crate of guinness in the fridge that's my Sunday sorted
JK
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I lost my enthusiasm for Lewis the year he was beaten by Rosberg. He spent all year complaining that the mechanics including chief mechanic were swapped by Mercedes and that was the reason he was not beating Rosberg. However at the start of the next season when Bottas joined the team Lewis was offered the choice to change the mechanics back, but declined the offer and kept the guys that he spent all the previous season moaning about.
As for this year, I would not bet against Lewis. Lewis was still getting over COVID last year and the areas where the track was suited best to Red Bull have been changed for this year.
just catching up on practice 3 and Lewis is 1.5 seconds faster than Max
Game over?
do you agree that an engine change should be allowed when the one being used is working well but has worn parts that have slowed the speed. Seems to defeat the object of cost cutting. The merc engine is faster when new but drops off as it ages, but still works. The Honda is slower but does not drop off so much.
Seems like swings and roundabouts don’t apply to the Merc.
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Will Hamilton get a penalty for blocking the Hass, he didn’t last week, but I read yesterday that he has enough points on his licence this year, that one more transgression would mean a 10 place grid penalty.
That suggests the stewards may bottle it. If that happens, Max may have a point about his treatment being different to others, as the lack of Ocon’s penalty at the same corner last week.
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