Must've been waiting for an opportunity the last few years. Not been many I suppose.
F1 2021 Season
- Thread starter pauldyson1uk
- Start date
The first pit was a huge mistake. Everybody was gaining 2.5 seconds from the undercut and Mercedes decided to leave Hamilton out for a second lap. That was a stupid decision which left me shouting when he didn't get brought in.
The second pit was a more difficult decision. Red Bull had already covered themselves on that by leaving Perez out with tyres that were 9 laps younger than everybody else at the front. If Hamilton had followed Verstappen they would have lost the undercut time again and then have to get past Perez as well as Verstappen.
Max win shows he'll be top tier. Mistake at the start costs him his lead yet kept his head down and wins with a fantastic 3rd stint. Other drivers melt. Bottas probably should have held him up for 1 more lap but then you see Hamilton couldn't keep him behind either. Hamilton got every millisecond out of the car as always. Think the previous race and the restart is going to be the difference. From certain second to 0pts. Very expensive 18pt loss there.
I think it will also.
Not outbreaking himself would be a start.
They were sitting ducks, but this is symptomatic of a larger problem. He’s been poor for ages, and now that there is a competitive Red Bull, they can’t get away with it anymore. Whilst he hasn’t been brilliant, Red Bull are reaping the benefits of having a decent number 2 in Perez. If it was Albon in Baku, Hamilton only has to hold off Vettel and likely doesn’t make the mistake with the breaks.
I’m just bitter that we’ve been denied a title fight since Rosberg left because there is a poor driver in the number 2 car.
Same question I asked. Strange hey.
they were hoping Perez was gonna get a penalty
With the foul mood he was in he probably ignored them
think he'd genuinely rather see Verstappen win than HamiltonMerc need to make the right call here, bring in Russell tell him he is too support Hamilton as Bottas has zero interest.
According to Toto he had a “strong” race.
Ok. But should not base their thinking on speculation.
Love your username by the way. You are smarter than most of us.
What's the connection between Bottas not wanting to be nr.2 and how he races? It's not like he pulled over and waved Max and Perez through because he's sulking and I don't see what would change in his driving if he was Merc's obidient little puppet.
He's been Merc's nr.2 for 5 years now, he knows it, Merc knows it and we know it since he's been doing the job of the nr.2 in every single race he's not finished ahead of Lewis, which is pretty much all of them. Today he made a mistake when he chose to take a different line onto the dirty part of the track on ruined tires to protect his position and couldn't get the car turned in, but it's not like he would never have made that mistake if it was official that he truly is their nr.2 driver.
Couldn't it be as simple as - he's just not a great racer?
Just watching it again on C4 and on lap 31 Hamilton told his team, let's make sure that we pit first after Verstappen told the RB team that his tyres would not last.
And of course the RB team reacted first.
That was where the race was lost for Lewis.
And of course the RB team reacted first.
That was where the race was lost for Lewis.
Bottas has been given every chance to challenge for a title most of the time, but hasn't got that ruthless instinct you can see in Lewis and Max.
Until now, he's been solid enough as a number 2, picking up a podium more often than not
Now, he's average at best, yes at times he's been unlucky, and yes like Max has in the past Lewis is getting more out a car that isn't as good as it has been in the past
I think it was telling how in that interview on the qualifying highlights, Toto said it will be Bottas OR George. Usually he just defends Bottas. Wonder if Bottas has been given a target that if he doesn't achieve he will be gone next year and the pressure is getting to him - previously because he's just plodded round picking up 2nd or 3rd and staying out Lewis way, they've left him alone, now they've lit a fire under him and he's crumbling with the pressure.
I'm not saying the team haven't messed up at times, but the last few races he's been way below average.
Until now, he's been solid enough as a number 2, picking up a podium more often than not
Now, he's average at best, yes at times he's been unlucky, and yes like Max has in the past Lewis is getting more out a car that isn't as good as it has been in the past
I think it was telling how in that interview on the qualifying highlights, Toto said it will be Bottas OR George. Usually he just defends Bottas. Wonder if Bottas has been given a target that if he doesn't achieve he will be gone next year and the pressure is getting to him - previously because he's just plodded round picking up 2nd or 3rd and staying out Lewis way, they've left him alone, now they've lit a fire under him and he's crumbling with the pressure.
I'm not saying the team haven't messed up at times, but the last few races he's been way below average.
It is pretty easy to envisage that Mercedes must be getting very concerned about loosing the constructors WC.
And promoting the quicker Russell may well become a necessity.
Edit. And Bottas was passed by Perez - who only stopped once.
Very good point, a promoted Russell would have a lot more to fight for than Bottas who's time is very close to being up
I'd like to see Russell in the 2nd Mercedes, it would be good to see what he can do with it.
Also, it would be a nice introduction to the Mercedes for Russell- he would be guaranteed 2nd driver this season so no expectation on him apart from helping Lewis out and getting on the podium.
Do we think they would let him race Hamilton next season? What if he's stronger than Lewis?
No , not sure he was.
Well Mercedes always say that their drivers are allowed to race. So that would be a very interesting scenario.
I mean Russell is undoubtedly quick. But he would have to deal with the relentlessly fast Lewis Hamilton. And over a season, we have seen the pressure he puts on the whole team and especially the second driver.
Like many, I would love to see him in the team this year. But I would be surprised.
Solid strategy from Red Bull today, Mercedes showing the cracks quite visibly now. Some awful calls from their strategy team today. I expect the next two GPs to be a great opportunity for Red Bull.
Russell quietly had a good weekend. No points as usual, but 12th is a great result in that Williams
That is right. The unbreakable Mercedes seem to be cracking under the pressure from Red Bull.
And it is only the utter brilliance of Hamilton which is keeping them in the hunt.
The way he conducted himself after the race was pure class.
In complete contrast to Bottas and to a degree Toto Wolff. He needs to stop trying to wind up the RB team and concentrate on getting his team to wring out some more performance from the car and themselves.
Hamilton will do it but the team has to improve before it is too late.
Load of tripe
I thought that too. I'd be fuming after two own goals from the team. Very professional, I suspect behind closed doors he is kicking off.
Yep, utter class.
Blokes a fecking twat and you still need more evidence why people dont like him?
Thinking back there has been multiple occasions over the past 3 or 4 seasons where Hamilton has been left out on the same tyres and just done enough to bring the car home. I'm not sure if the tactics have hugely changed, or whether Hamilton has managed to bring the result despite less than perfect tactical decisions.
Maybe now Red Bull have roughly an equal car those decisions are now showing up more rather than them being due to mistakes suddenly being made.
Maybe now Red Bull have roughly an equal car those decisions are now showing up more rather than them being due to mistakes suddenly being made.
What is wrong with that
It wouldn't be bad under normal circumstances nevermind a minute after losing due to at least 2 bad calls. He spoke highly of Max and his own team post race. Also Bottas spoke worse. Max and all the others do it to yet Hamilton is singled out.
Strange post.
Internal team radio is one thing.
Post race conduct and interviews are another.
Errr maricahi heads gone That post race team radio was composed as you like
That post race team radio was composed as you likeWell the changes to the floor regulations has done what it intended to which is to slow down Mercedes. With the gaps now much closer, the calls on the pit wall are ever more visible as they're making a difference to the outcome of the race. Mercedes pit stop crew have never been the quickest, especially compared to Red Bull, however due to the close running of the cars it'll be the organisation of the pit stops that will determine the race result for a lot of the races this season. It was never an issue for Mercedes as they always had a comfortable gap up front. Other impacts to Mercedes has been wind tunnel time restrictions and one sole spec of engine.
Red Bull are interestingly keeping development going longer than Merc this year, so I don't expect to see any changes soon.
Errr maricahi heads gone
Hamilton lives in his head rent free. You only have to go back through every F1 season thread in this forum to see. Nothing contentious in radio messages, least of all both drivers' call being correct on a two stop being the quickest.
Errr maricahi heads gone
I just ignore any Hamilton related posts from him, have done for about 3 seasons, it ain’t worth it
Still love you Marchi.
Pirelli has opted to supply F1 teams with two different selections of compounds for the pair of races that will take place at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
For this week's Steiermark Grand Prix at Spielberg, Pirelli has nominated the C2, C3 and C4 compounds while its tyre selection will be one step softer for next week's Austrian Grand Prix.
Pirelli says the two different selections - an approach trialed at Silverstone's double-header last year - will create a differential between the two races that will provide a level of strategic variation.
"Once again after last year Austria hosts a back-to-back race, which means that the teams have plenty of data on this track and recent experience of how to deal with its particular challenges and tactics," explained Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola.
"However, having two different tyre nominations is a first for the Red Bull Ring, so it's going to be interesting to see how the teams get to grips with the softest C5 tyres for the second race weekend – and how the new selection influences strategy in order to create different opportunities compared to the preceding Steiermark Grand Prix."
fter the tyre drama that unfolded in Baku and the controversy surrounding pressures, there were no incidents to report last weekend in France, although there was plenty of complaining from teams about degradation and graining.
Aston Martin, whose driver Lance Stroll suffered a blowout in Azerbaijan, said that last weekend's trouble-free French Grand Prix will have hopefully "silenced" those who suspected Team Silverstone – and Red Bull Racing – of tampering with tyre pressures in Baku.
"In Paul Ricard, both of our drivers did long stints", said Aston team boss Otmar Szafnauer.
"Hopefully that will silence those who argued that we are somehow circumventing the regulations in terms of dealing with these tyres.
"We have never broken the rules and we will not. We just understand very well how to work with the tyres and in France we demonstrated this again.
"We followed the new technical directive but our tyres still worked well. Perhaps we should pay more attention to some of our opponents who lost pace and find out exactly what they were doing."
For this week's Steiermark Grand Prix at Spielberg, Pirelli has nominated the C2, C3 and C4 compounds while its tyre selection will be one step softer for next week's Austrian Grand Prix.
Pirelli says the two different selections - an approach trialed at Silverstone's double-header last year - will create a differential between the two races that will provide a level of strategic variation.
"Once again after last year Austria hosts a back-to-back race, which means that the teams have plenty of data on this track and recent experience of how to deal with its particular challenges and tactics," explained Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola.
"However, having two different tyre nominations is a first for the Red Bull Ring, so it's going to be interesting to see how the teams get to grips with the softest C5 tyres for the second race weekend – and how the new selection influences strategy in order to create different opportunities compared to the preceding Steiermark Grand Prix."
fter the tyre drama that unfolded in Baku and the controversy surrounding pressures, there were no incidents to report last weekend in France, although there was plenty of complaining from teams about degradation and graining.
Aston Martin, whose driver Lance Stroll suffered a blowout in Azerbaijan, said that last weekend's trouble-free French Grand Prix will have hopefully "silenced" those who suspected Team Silverstone – and Red Bull Racing – of tampering with tyre pressures in Baku.
"In Paul Ricard, both of our drivers did long stints", said Aston team boss Otmar Szafnauer.
"Hopefully that will silence those who argued that we are somehow circumventing the regulations in terms of dealing with these tyres.
"We have never broken the rules and we will not. We just understand very well how to work with the tyres and in France we demonstrated this again.
"We followed the new technical directive but our tyres still worked well. Perhaps we should pay more attention to some of our opponents who lost pace and find out exactly what they were doing."
could be a wet every session this weekend
could be a wet every session this weekend
Lewis is singled out all the time, OK so sometimes he brings it on himself, well most of the time, but I saw nothing wrong with this, he was calm.What is wrong with that
He spoke highly of Max and his own team post race. Also Bottas spoke worse. Max and all the others do it to yet Hamilton is singled out.
After the race he had nothing but good words for Max, like you say Bottas was the one giving it out.
Lewis and Bottas were both screwed by the team.
absolutely, love a good wet race, so long as it is safe of course.
Helmut Marko confirmed that Red Bull has asked the FIA to inspect the front wing on Mercedes' W12 car to assess whether the aero element's flexibility complies with F1's regulations.
Red Bull was singled out after last month's Spanish Grand Prix after onboard footage showed the rear wing of its RB16B flexing significantly under load on Barcelona's main straight.
The footage prompted the FIA to introduce in France last weekend more stringent anti-flexing tests which all teams, including Red Bull, passed without any issues.
However, the Milton Keynes-based outfit now wants a rigorous test to be conducted on Mercedes' front wing following the dissemination of footage also showing the appendage flexing under load.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said that it only made sense for the FIA to scrutinize both rear and front wings on a car.
"We trust the FIA will police these things and of course you can't treat the wing in isolation," he said.
"You have to look at both front and rear wings and what applies to the rear one would assume will apply to the front as well."
Horner also said that the clampdowns enforced by the FIA at Paul Ricard proved conclusively that the strong performance of Red Bull's car was in no way linked to the RB16B's rear wing.
"A lot of comments have been made in the last few weeks," Horner said. "We’ve had accusations made.
"But we've complied with the rules and the way that we've reacted I think shows the strength and depth, that our performance isn't based on rear wing flexibility."
Red Bull was singled out after last month's Spanish Grand Prix after onboard footage showed the rear wing of its RB16B flexing significantly under load on Barcelona's main straight.
The footage prompted the FIA to introduce in France last weekend more stringent anti-flexing tests which all teams, including Red Bull, passed without any issues.
However, the Milton Keynes-based outfit now wants a rigorous test to be conducted on Mercedes' front wing following the dissemination of footage also showing the appendage flexing under load.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said that it only made sense for the FIA to scrutinize both rear and front wings on a car.
"We trust the FIA will police these things and of course you can't treat the wing in isolation," he said.
"You have to look at both front and rear wings and what applies to the rear one would assume will apply to the front as well."
Horner also said that the clampdowns enforced by the FIA at Paul Ricard proved conclusively that the strong performance of Red Bull's car was in no way linked to the RB16B's rear wing.
"A lot of comments have been made in the last few weeks," Horner said. "We’ve had accusations made.
"But we've complied with the rules and the way that we've reacted I think shows the strength and depth, that our performance isn't based on rear wing flexibility."
Could be a wet one this weekend