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So will this be another race that Rosberg will dominate or will Hamilton blaze through the field?

Am sure we'll get another great race.

Hoping Bottas or Raikkonen able to get past Rosberg by the 1st corner!

It will be interesting to see what happens at the first corner. If more than two cars go wide, and each is expected to navigate that silly bollard/marker, there could be real carnage.

I'm hoping for some decent battles up front.

it would be good to see a mix up in the order after the first corner, nico had it easy so far and i'm hoping lewis gets a good start with no collisions

Even with Hamilton starting in 10th it'll be a Mercedes 1-2 at the end... Unless there is carnage in the first couple of turns. Which is always a real possibility.

Blackhander wrote:Even with Hamilton starting in 10th it'll be a Mercedes 1-2 at the end... Unless there is carnage in the first couple of turns. Which is always a real possibility.

I'll put my prediction cred on the line by saying I don't think so. The absurd Mercedes advantage of the past that allowed them to start from the pitlane and still finish on the podium is just that - in the past. If all four cars run clean, I don't think Hamilton will make it past both Ferraris.

Of course, Ferrari reliability being what it is currently, he may not need to!

From Adam Coopers Twitter:

Bernie on 2016: "A lot more lively than last year, a lot more interesting. And now with Lewis helping us, it's all the things we wanted..." https://twitter.com/...683015821312000

Best of luck to Hamilton today. I'm away at a family event so will miss the race and have to watch the highlights later. Really gutted to see what happened in qualifying yesterday, Rosberg is able to just walk it this season so far, the only good thing about Hamilton starting so far back is that if he doesn't collide with anyone should be a great race of him coming through the pack. Hoping some cars can get in front of Rosberg at the start to at least make him work for this one.

Hope Seb's Ferrari doesn't break down and he makes it to the podium.

That first bend has a concrete wall very dangerously close (and a few other fast places), but I hope there would be no practical reminders how dangerous F1 is related to this track.

Hope to see Williams back in game.

I really hope Bottas can jump Rosberg at the start, he's had some great starts lately.

Exediron wrote:

Blackhander wrote:Even with Hamilton starting in 10th it'll be a Mercedes 1-2 at the end... Unless there is carnage in the first couple of turns. Which is always a real possibility.

I'll put my prediction cred on the line by saying I don't think so. The absurd Mercedes advantage of the past that allowed them to start from the pitlane and still finish on the podium is just that - in the past. If all four cars run clean, I don't think Hamilton will make it past both Ferraris.

Of course, Ferrari reliability being what it is currently, he may not need to!

I'll take that wager! Probably just the cynical side of me but I still think Mercedes are simply holding back on their engine settings to make it SEEM closer and more competitive. Of course doesn't hurt their reliability. Of course if he does get held up I might have to change my tune... But I do love being cynical

Just don't think it will be as easy as people reckon for Hamilton to get 2nd. 1 stop race and overtaking will be hard, I expect to see the usual messages of how Hamilton can't overtake but it will depended how close you can get in the last few corners. Williams have the same engine so they will be hard to pass.

Does Lewis have to start on the same tyres as Q2?

I did forget that it is a one stop race... Hmm. On the other hand tyre life won't be an issue which means he will be able to wind up the engine power which should help with so many 90 degree turns.

f1newbie wrote:Best of luck to Hamilton today. I'm away at a family event so will miss the race and have to watch the highlights later. Really gutted to see what happened in qualifying yesterday, Rosberg is able to just walk it this season so far, the only good thing about Hamilton starting so far back is that if he doesn't collide with anyone should be a great race of him coming through the pack. Hoping some cars can get in front of Rosberg at the start to at least make him work for this one.

The first corner looks like a nightmare, there was a big incident there last year amongst several cars, I pray for Hamilton.

There you go first corner again, at least Hamilton kept out of trouble by just driving off the track

Vettel

Ouch

Red Bull on mediums...

Will Hamilton get away with overtaking a clutch of cars by going off the track?

steoc4 wrote:Will Hamilton get away with overtaking a clutch of cars while off the track?

Haha, your gagging for another reprimand

It seems Vettel was hit be Kvyat.

steoc4 wrote:Will Hamilton get away with overtaking a clutch of cars by going off the track?

Looked like he gave a couple of places back. Still seemed a bit "fortuitous" shall we say

Vettel cursing !!!!

steoc4 wrote:Will Hamilton get away with overtaking a clutch of cars by going off the track?

I think that clutch of cars crashed into one another, nice try though

Kvyat needs punishing for trigging all of that

Vettel's anger more than justified, that was some crappy driving at the start by some.

What is the tv director doing!! REPLAYS PLEASE

Amon wrote:Vettel cursing !!!!

Understandable

How is Hamilton in fifth?

Vettel has worse luck than Hamilton.

Lewis is on fire

OutKast wrote:How is Hamilton in fifth?

He took a massive shortcut without even trying to follow the track, and gained 5 places by the time he rejoined.

Are drivers allowed to make up places by overtaking while going around the polystyrene marker board?

DirtyMike wrote:What is the tv director doing!! REPLAYS PLEASE

Effing joke, so many laps of safety car, and they couldn't show the ONE thing every fan needed to see, ie, who hit Vettel the second time! Idiots!

pokerman wrote:

steoc4 wrote:Will Hamilton get away with overtaking a clutch of cars by going off the track?

I think that clutch of cars crashed into one another, nice try though

Kvyat needs punishing for trigging all of that

At least now Seb has a reason to be angry at the Russian. I wonder what Kvyat's reaction will be after the race.

steoc4 wrote:

OutKast wrote:How is Hamilton in fifth?

He took a massive shortcut without even trying to follow the track, and gained 5 places by the time he rejoined.

The fact he did so while avoiding the cluster F*%$ at the start is irrelevant. I guess he should have stayed on track and just crashed?

I tend to believe, this first lap did nothing to enhance the releationship between Kvyat and Vettel ...

Kvyat needs to be banned for hitting Vettel again.

steoc4 wrote:

OutKast wrote:How is Hamilton in fifth?

He took a massive shortcut without even trying to follow the track, and gained 5 places by the time he rejoined.

It's hurting you isn't it lol. Hamilton couldn't take the corner due to the Redbull who also took the shortcut.

omg Kvyat should be black flagged, he hit Seb twice!!!

Just saw it on replay.

Wow wow wow, Kvyat