F1 2021 Season

Valtteri Bottas is taking a grid penalty for the Formula 1 Russian GP after changing some Mercedes power unit elements overnight.

The team expects that the Finn, who originally qualified seventh, will start from 17th place – which will put him three spots ahead of Lewis Hamilton's title rival Max Verstappen.

The strategic move gives Mercedes the opportunity to potentially compromise Verstappen’s attempt to charge through the field after the Dutchman took a complete set of new Honda power unit elements for FP2 on Friday.

Bottas also took a new power unit at the last race in Monza, and the second change gives him extra elements with which to reach the end of the season.
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https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/bottas-russian-gp-grid-penalty-engine-change/6674900/amp/

Valtteri, this is James......Please change your PU for Lewis. :lol:

Wonder if Russell is in for this kind of treatment.
 
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Bottas is racing for nothing anyway, it’s logical and Red Bull would do the same.
 
WPMUFC said:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/bottas-russian-gp-grid-penalty-engine-change/6674900/amp/

Valtteri, this is James......Please change your PU for Lewis. :lol:

Wonder if Russell is in for this kind of treatment.
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OHH I smell tactics here, Bottas 3 in front of Max, smart by Mercedes on this track, he should be able to hold Max off, well in theory.
Even if it is, its a no brainer, Bottas is not challenging for the WC , Lewis still is, its a team sport and anything they can do to help is OK in my book.
Some of you wont like it, but team orders have been in F1 for, well for ever.
 
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I kind of hope bottas just lets him pass, he's not known for being this super "omg i can't pass" defender, just let him pass and gets some sweet revenge.
 
pauldyson1uk said:
OHH I smell tactics here, Bottas 3 in front of Max, smart by Mercedes on this track, he should be able to hold Max off, well in theory.
Even if it is, its a no brainer, Bottas is not challenging for the WC , Lewis still is, its a team sport and anything they can do to help is OK in my book.
Some of you wont like it, but team orders have been in F1 for, well for ever.
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I like it a lot
 
I can definitely see a crash if Verstappen feels like he's stuck behind Bottas and tries to force something after a few laps.
 
I thought Bottas had a new engine last race? Have they really just taken another penalty to get in Max's way

Hope the rain hits!

Would like to see Norris win
 
Checking in, hoping for an awesome day out in the F1 thread.

What we thinking? Verstappen to make it to 5th? Lewis to get the win or just on the podium? Potential banana skins with the rain getting involved...
 
You could see that Hamilton was doing everything to not get hit in the first corners and was not interested in getting involved. Now it's settled down he will move through them.

As I type this he takes Alonso.
 
You're really better off not being on pole at Monza and places like this
 
Not the start that Hamilton would have wanted. The slip stream really seems to make that start crazy. Almost penalises people at the front
 
I think Hamilton got bogged down behind the McLaren and had to back off, and he probably did his best not to get hit as no point getting taken out and losing any chance of points

Would love a podium for Russell and win for Norris
 
Bottas definitely let Verstappen pass there. There was 0 fight.
 
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