BRREAKING NEWS. LEWIS HAMILTON OUT OF THE SAKHIR GP THIS WEEKEND.

[wire2004]

Tests positive for the corona virus.


https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/mot ... m=referral

[Lojik]

Who is in line as replacement?

[JN23]

Vandoorne?

[wire2004]

Who's the reserve drivers. Ant Davidson???? Estaban Gutierrez??? That's my guess.

[wire2004]

My initial reaction to this.
I am calling Bull$#@t.
He was fine on sunday. And he wouldn't have left the circuit as they are at the same circuit. So no one would have left the facility.

So. My view is he either raced positive. (And so the whole paddock and Lewis Hamiltons whole car bubble) will now be positive.
Or.
He is just taking the last 2 races off. He is 130+ points in front of bottas. So he doesnt need to race again this year his season was over after turkey. He raced for fun in Bahrain. And either he. Or the FOM have asked him to not compete this weekend or next weekend to make things intresting. 130+ points in front of the championship with 2 races left. With the possibility of winning the last 2 races. Is a embarrassment for the FOM. To be 5+ race wins in front of your nearest challenger in a 17 race season is not a good thing for FOM for advertisers etc.

[inky38]

Ain’t gonna happen, but I’d love to see George Russell get the drive.

More than likely will be Vandoorne

[JN23]

Hope he’s ok.

In another note - wonder if anyone else could be affected by this?

[F1Tyrant]

We finally get the answer to the question everyone's been asking for years? Can anyone (Stoffel Vandoorne) win in a Mercedes?

Max will be kicking his lips at the thought of chasing down either of these guys for the win. However, he and Albon will be at the highest risk of testing positive in the next few days!

[Covalent]

Ain’t gonna happen, but I’d love to see George Russell get the drive.

More than likely will be Vandoorne

This would be a golden opportunity for them to properly test George. But I'd like to see Hulk given a last good shot at finally getting that podium.

[Covalent]

We finally get the answer to the question everyone's been asking for years? Can anyone (Stoffel Vandoorne) win in a Mercedes?

Max will be kicking his lips at the thought of chasing down either of these guys for the win. However, he and Albon will be at the highest risk of testing positive in the next few days!

I don't think anyone would expect a stand-in to win even in the Merc.

[UnlikeUday]

Just a wild guess - would they opt for Hulk?

[JN23]

My initial reaction to this.
I am calling Bull$#@t.
He was fine on sunday. And he wouldn't have left the circuit as they are at the same circuit. So no one would have left the facility.

So. My view is he either raced positive. (And so the whole paddock and Lewis Hamiltons whole car bubble) will now be positive.
Or.
He is just taking the last 2 races off. He is 130+ points in front of bottas. So he doesnt need to race again this year his season was over after turkey. He raced for fun in Bahrain. And either he. Or the FOM have asked him to not compete this weekend or next weekend to make things intresting. 130+ points in front of the championship with 2 races left. With the possibility of winning the last 2 races. Is a embarrassment for the FOM. To be 5+ race wins in front of your nearest challenger in a 17 race season is not a good thing for FOM for advertisers etc.

He tested negative three times last week, including on Sunday ruling out your first conspiracy theory.

Edited to amend typo.

[mikeyg123]

My initial reaction to this.
I am calling Bull$#@t.
He was fine on sunday. And he wouldn't have left the circuit as they are at the same circuit. So no one would have left the facility.

So. My view is he either raced positive. (And so the whole paddock and Lewis Hamiltons whole car bubble) will now be positive.
Or.
He is just taking the last 2 races off. He is 130+ points in front of bottas. So he doesnt need to race again this year his season was over after turkey. He raced for fun in Bahrain. And either he. Or the FOM have asked him to not compete this weekend or next weekend to make things intresting. 130+ points in front of the championship with 2 races left. With the possibility of winning the last 2 races. Is a embarrassment for the FOM. To be 5+ race wins in front of your nearest challenger in a 17 race season is not a good thing for FOM for advertisers etc.

It doesn't work like that lol. If someone has the virus they won't infect everyone they come into contact with. In fact they will likely infect very few people. Hamilton, could have been positive the whole weekend, make out with every single person in the paddock and only a small percent would catch it from him.

[Harpo]

My initial reaction to this.
I am calling Bull$#@t.
He was fine on sunday. And he wouldn't have left the circuit as they are at the same circuit. So no one would have left the facility.

So. My view is he either raced positive. (And so the whole paddock and Lewis Hamiltons whole car bubble) will now be positive.
Or.
He is just taking the last 2 races off. He is 130+ points in front of bottas. So he doesnt need to race again this year his season was over after turkey. He raced for fun in Bahrain. And either he. Or the FOM have asked him to not compete this weekend or next weekend to make things intresting. 130+ points in front of the championship with 2 races left. With the possibility of winning the last 2 races. Is a embarrassment for the FOM. To be 5+ race wins in front of your nearest challenger in a 17 race season is not a good thing for FOM for advertisers etc.

I was tested positive early september, and it still amazes me (I work at home and was more than careful. My only proven contact is my wife and she is negative)... Except for a complete loss of the sense of smell, that alerted me, I wouldn't have been tested. And wouldn't even have counted among the positives during the "1st wave"... It wouldn't have prevented me from driving. Actually, it didn't.
Anyway, you're negative one day and positive the next day. If you take into account the waiting time, Hamilton may well have been negative on saturday and declared positive on monday.

That said, such is the state of the F1 business that your view could be right. If it's a fake, the other option is that Hamilton is putting Mercedes under pressure while negotiating..

[DOLOMITE]

The prospect of Vandoorne in the Merc is....underwhelming. I too would love to see Russel in there, but I can't see Williams allowing that.

[Steve_muzzy]

What are the covid regs relating to vandoorne? He is testing in another country. Will he have time to self isolate?

[MistaVega23]

Hulk please. To jump in the RP as he did this year and stick it in P3 at Silverstone surely proves that he'll be quick straight out of the box. Vandoorne and Gutierrez will take time to get up to speed, IMO.

Russell also deserves a shot though.

[Option or Prime]

We finally get the answer to the question everyone's been asking for years? Can anyone (Stoffel Vandoorne) win in a Mercedes?

Max will be kicking his lips at the thought of chasing down either of these guys for the win. However, he and Albon will be at the highest risk of testing positive in the next few days!

Agree the pressure is on Max now, he simply HAs to win this weekend. All those who say its the car that wins it, hold your breath!

[tootsie323]

I'll echo the views on others here i that (i) would love to see Russell given an opportunity though it almost certainly won't happen and (ii) think that Hulk would be a good choice to stand in.

[jimmyj]

I hope Lewis gets well soon. But, as many of you have pointed out, this is a very interesting development and I cannot wait to see who does what in the car. Bottas and Max will be expected to outperform the sub driver, let's see how they do!
Personally I hope Hulk gets the ride.

[Good_Year]

Don't give it to hulk.

When did Hamilton last retire due to technical issue? And the time before that?

Exactly! Heartbreak awaits.

[MistaVega23]

Whichever way you look at it, the pressure is well and truly on Bottas now. Defacto no.1 driver for this weekend and whoever comes in, he'd better have them covered.

[Greenman]

.

No one wants Alonso ?

[Schumacher forever#1]

Don't give it to hulk.

When did Hamilton last retire due to technical issue? And the time before that?

Exactly! Heartbreak awaits.

He's probably got two races to do it though.

Let's go Hulk!!!

[Schumacher forever#1]

.

No one wants Alonso ?

Alonso definitely not in consideration I'd say. Nor would I say he wants it. Alonso will want to practice and make sure he's fully up to speed first before racing the same car as someone like Bottas.

[TheGiantHogweed]

if they don't use a reserver driver for their purpose, then this year in f1 having drivers miss a race at least 4 times, then the point of them literally is pointless. I'm hoping it will be vandoorne for this reason. He's the one with the reserve role and has been with the team for some time now. I can't really see a reason to go for anyone else. Suggestions for russell are nonsense. Then what are williams supposed to do? If they went for hulkenberg, he would be far less prepared than vandoorne. There is only one sensible choice.

[mikeyg123]

if they don't use a reserver driver for their purpose, then this year in f1 having drivers miss a race at least 4 times, then the point of them literally is pointless. I'm hoping it will be vandoorne for this reason. He's the one with the reserve role and has been with the team for some time now. I can't really see a reason to go for anyone else. Suggestions for russell are nonsense. Then what are williams supposed to do? If they went for hulkenberg, he would be far less prepared than vandoorne. There is only one sensible choice.

Yes but you said Racing Point using Guitierez instead of Hulkenberg was the only sensible choice.

Vandoorne, Russell and Hulk would all probably do a similar job. I think you put way to much store in a couple of simulator sessions. Hulk for example I would consider far better prepared than Vandoorne having much more recent experience of driving F1 cars.

[DOLOMITE]

We finally get the answer to the question everyone's been asking for years? Can anyone (Stoffel Vandoorne) win in a Mercedes?

Max will be kicking his lips at the thought of chasing down either of these guys for the win. However, he and Albon will be at the highest risk of testing positive in the next few days!

Agree the pressure is on Max now, he simply HAs to win this weekend. All those who say its the car that wins it, hold your breath!

Surely the pressure is on Bottas not Verstappen....

[babararacucudada]

When Salo was brought in to replace Schumacher and was winning the race, he was told to give the victory to Irvine.
Mercedes have nothing to gain by putting a driver in the car who can clearly beat Bottas, so it's unlikely that will happen.

I'd like to see them put the best driver they can get into the car - even for 1 race (it might help the contract negotiations with Hamilton? - but could also backfire in that regard).

Bottas continues to do enough to win the Manufacturer's and isn't any threat to Hamilton, so Mercedes don't need anyone better.

[Siao7]

When Salo was brought in to replace Schumacher and was winning the race, he was told to give the victory to Irvine.
Mercedes have nothing to gain by putting a driver in the car who can clearly beat Bottas, so it's unlikely that will happen.

I'd like to see them put the best driver they can get into the car - even for 1 race (it might help the contract negotiations with Hamilton? - but could also backfire in that regard).

Bottas continues to do enough to win the Manufacturer's and isn't any threat to Hamilton, so Mercedes don't need anyone better.

Different circumstances though, Irvine was in the WDC hunt against Hakinen. Otherwise Salo would have kept it, I truly believe that.

[F1Tyrant]

Surely the pressure is on Bottas not Verstappen....

I disagree, Bottas hasn't convincingly outperformed Verstappen even in a better car. If Verstappen wants bragging rights as the next big thing, winning the next two races will prove it.

[mikeyg123]

Surely the pressure is on Bottas not Verstappen....

I disagree, Bottas hasn't convincingly outperformed Verstappen even in a better car. If Verstappen wants bragging rights as the next big thing, winning the next two races will prove it.

Why? He's still got the same car deficit he's had all season.

Bottas is under way more pressure. If the replacement is in his ball park it looks bad and he has a drive to try and earn for 2022.

[DOLOMITE]

Surely the pressure is on Bottas not Verstappen....

I disagree, Bottas hasn't convincingly outperformed Verstappen even in a better car. If Verstappen wants bragging rights as the next big thing, winning the next two races will prove it.

Well I can agree to disagree then!

With Hamilton absent, there is absolutely an expectation that assuming all goes well Bottas should pick up the baton and win the race. Verstappen might have a good opportunity , but I don't think there's an expectation that he should win. If he's 2nd to Bottas he still has the Merc-is-a-better-car excuse, if Bottas is 2nd to Verstappen he has nothing.

[DOLOMITE]

Hulk please. To jump in the RP as he did this year and stick it in P3 at Silverstone surely proves that he'll be quick straight out of the box. Vandoorne and Gutierrez will take time to get up to speed, IMO.

Russell also deserves a shot though.

Gutierrez doesn't currently have a SuperLicense.

[Mort Canard]

Streaks that will be broken when Lewis doesn't start the next race.
Most consecutive race starts. Lewis is first at 265
Most consecutive wins. Lewis is tied for sixth with five
Most consecutive points finishes. Lewis is first with 48.
Most consecutive points scored. Lewis is first with 998 points.

Lewis could also have tied both Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel for the most wins in a season at 13. That can't happen now.

[pokerman]

I guess if you're going to get the virus best to get it at a point in the season when it doesn't matter.

In respect to who replaces Hamilton my guess would be Vandoorne, he's been seen in the Mercedes garage several times this season as the back up driver.

[F1Tyrant]

Bottas is under way more pressure. If the replacement is in his ball park it looks bad and he has a drive to try and earn for 2022.

With Hamilton absent, there is absolutely an expectation that assuming all goes well Bottas should pick up the baton and win the race. Verstappen might have a good opportunity , but I don't think there's an expectation that he should win. If he's 2nd to Bottas he still has the Merc-is-a-better-car excuse, if Bottas is 2nd to Verstappen he has nothing.

I can see it from that point of view, I just think Max has been sniffing for another victory this season and both the next races present an enormous opportunity. I guess I was getting it kind of backwards but most people think Max is much faster than Bottas.

Most consecutive race starts. Lewis is first at 265

I'm not certain this streak will be broken, while he'll certainly lose his consecutive entries streak I think consecutive starts is contigent on being entered and as he's missing the entire weekend that streak shouldn't be broken unless his car gives up on the formation lap in Melbourne.

[DFWdude]

Hamilton has the virus, and all you guys can do is salivate over who will replace him?

I hope Lewis gets through this successfully, and with no lingering effects.

I hope the team has no further positives that might force the team to withdraw from the remaining races.

[TheGiantHogweed]

if they don't use a reserver driver for their purpose, then this year in f1 having drivers miss a race at least 4 times, then the point of them literally is pointless. I'm hoping it will be vandoorne for this reason. He's the one with the reserve role and has been with the team for some time now. I can't really see a reason to go for anyone else. Suggestions for russell are nonsense. Then what are williams supposed to do? If they went for hulkenberg, he would be far less prepared than vandoorne. There is only one sensible choice.

Yes but you said Racing Point using Guitierez instead of Hulkenberg was the only sensible choice.

Vandoorne, Russell and Hulk would all probably do a similar job. I think you put way to much store in a couple of simulator sessions. Hulk for example I would consider far better prepared than Vandoorne having much more recent experience of driving F1 cars.

It isn't to do with who they are. What is the point of a reserve driver if they don't do their duties? This to me is getting ridiculous. I agree about gutierrez once I found out he couldn't even drive, but even if his ability possibly wasn't as good as Hulkenbergs, I still think it made more sense for him to drive as that should have been his job. Same with Vandoorne. And In a sense, I think Vandoorne is equally as prepared as hulkenberg as he does testing for the team and will know the car - and is their reserve driver and actually can race.

it isn't to do with how much i like or dislike the drivers or anything like that. I think all teams should have an official reserve driver and have none of this messing around. They will be far more prepared this way.

[TheGiantHogweed]

Just thinking about it, as unfortunate as it is for hamilton to be missing the next race and probably the final one, he is the only driver that already has their highest possible finishing position confirmed in the WDC. All 19 other drivers can either move up one or more, or some the same way backwards. Though several will stay put. At least Verstappen will know that nobody can pass him.