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Schumacher forever#1 wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:32 pm

Verstappen can only perform so many miracles.

Inb4, Verstappen gets a Grand Chelem at Monaco.

Schumacher forever#1 wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:32 pm

Verstappen can only perform so many miracles. Mercedes are back!

Merc clearly have the fastest car. Thank god Verstappen is at least making it competitive.

I'd say that is an excellent way to watch the pole sitter convert the win! More, please!

Get in there, James!

(Sorry for slagging you off before)

JN23 wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:38 pm

Get in there, James!

(Sorry for slagging you off before)

Ditto!

Mercedes have optimised speed and tyre wear rate on the (yellow) Medium tyres.

Red Bull are faster on the softer Red ones but only marginally.

I think Leclerc was the stand out driver this weekend.

Mercedes had nothing to lose being the car behind, faster car and driver helps you out

Max should've pitted for the 2nd time when Lewis pitted. RB lost the race there.

Max not letting his head drop in the interview is good!

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:42 pm

Max should've pitted for the 2nd time when Lewis pitted. RB lost the race there.

Unless the had a new set of tyres sitting in the garage either way his goose was cooked as soon as Hamilton pitted.

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:42 pm

Max should've pitted for the 2nd time when Lewis pitted. RB lost the race there.

Yeah, the displayed estimation showed that Max would've been some 1,5 sec in front, don't understand why RBR didn't took advantage of that, as that would've been their only chance, with same tyre age they could just about keep Ham behind. Maybe they didn't trust that estimation...

TheGiantHogweed wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:41 pm

I think Leclerc was the stand out driver this weekend.

He does seem to have driven brilliantly, but then Hamilton didn't do a lot wrong and did an awful lot right.

This track is really not needed. Drivers were finding it hard to even pass with DRS. And what benefit did turn 10 deliver?

Jezza13 wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:46 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:42 pm

Max should've pitted for the 2nd time when Lewis pitted. RB lost the race there.

Unless the had a new set of tyres sitting in the garage either way his goose was cooked as soon as Hamilton pitted.

He had new softs. Will be a bit of debate about that I’m sure whether they should have given up track position and gone for it.

Bacus wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:48 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:42 pm

Max should've pitted for the 2nd time when Lewis pitted. RB lost the race there.

Yeah, the displayed estimation showed that Max would've been some 1,5 sec in front, don't understand why RBR didn't took advantage of that, as that would've been their only chance, with same tyre age they could just about keep Ham behind. Maybe they didn't trust that estimation...

If they knew the game was up on Mediums anyway, they needed to diverge from the strategy Mercedes were on.... pitting for Softs at that point would have just left Lewis needing to wait till they went off, RB had no more sets of Mediums.

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:50 pm

This track is really not needed. Drivers were finding it hard to even pass with DRS. And what benefit did turn 10 deliver?

None, but it's a proper drivers track and not every single race has to be a DRS festival or mega non abrasive tarmac to throw up gotchas. One for the purists, sure, but you can surely appreciate it alongside some of the more random races.

If Perez was involved that would have stopped Hamilton pitting again, he needs to start performing

Dissapointed. I usually have a nice nap at this gp after the first corner and i had to stay awake for the whole race! Great strategy from merc, feel for verstappen he drove perfectly. I quite liked Bottas getting his elbows out and Leclerc and danny showing well.

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:50 pm

This track is really not needed. Drivers were finding it hard to even pass with DRS. And what benefit did turn 10 deliver?

This circuit has been poor for F1 for years. The final chicane made no difference in allowing passing down the main straight and actually removed a fast, exciting bit of track. T10 removed a big braking zone, thus making passing there even harder than normal. Crazy.

Absolutely stellar from Hamilton. Say what you want but if you don't appreciate that performance then its your loss.

Have always wondered why they have Spain and Monaco are back to back though. Would it not make sense to have a few races in between where overtaking is a bit more possible.

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:50 pm

This track is really not needed. Drivers were finding it hard to even pass with DRS. And what benefit did turn 10 deliver?

They need to remove that chicane for starters, something Russell recomended a couple of weeks ago. If they are not prepared to do that then I would get rid.

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:50 pm

This track is really not needed. Drivers were finding it hard to even pass with DRS. And what benefit did turn 10 deliver?

It's a very boring track. I can't remember the last time there was an exciting race here. Maybe 2016?

JN23 wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:50 pm

Jezza13 wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:46 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:42 pm

Max should've pitted for the 2nd time when Lewis pitted. RB lost the race there.

Unless the had a new set of tyres sitting in the garage either way his goose was cooked as soon as Hamilton pitted.

He had new softs. Will be a bit of debate about that I’m sure whether they should have given up track position and gone for it.

hungary 2019 flashback, redbull should have rolled the diced

There was a time when RB always had the best pit strategies & did something good. They did miss a step of pitting Max. Am sure he could've fought off Lewis with fresher runner.

A classic case of running 2nd and nothing to lose, leading is almost a disadvantage in these scenarios

mikeyg123 wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:21 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:20 pm

Ridiculous by Bottas does he want the Red Bull to win the race, Perez moved over for Max and then Bottas pits so what was the point and then Bottas is pitted to take the fastest lap off Hamilton.

Did Bottas know he was pitting?

I don't know that was merely the irony of what he did, when Perez helps Max but Bottas does not help Hamilton, also are you sharing Bottas' delusion that Bottas is a title contender, strange when many want him out of the Mercedes because of his inability to challenge.

If Bottas is drawing a line in the sand here to the point were he's prepared to help Red Bull well we can perhaps see him being replaced by Russell, this is not how Wolff operates, it's one thing to want to beat your own teammate but not help the opposition.

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 3:02 pm

If Bottas is drawing a line in the sand here to the point were he's prepared to help Red Bull well we can perhaps see him being replaced by Russell, this is not how Wolff operates, it's one thing to want to beat your own teammate but not help the opposition.

No way. Russell is even less likely to co-operate than Bottas. At least Hamilton has a big advantage over Bottas whil Russell is a complete unknown.

Schermerhorn wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:54 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:50 pm

This track is really not needed. Drivers were finding it hard to even pass with DRS. And what benefit did turn 10 deliver?

It's a very boring track. I can't remember the last time there was an exciting race here. Maybe 2016?

It could all change with next gen cars (hopefully). From a driving POV the track is nice, it's a classic, flowing one. These 'dirty air' cars are making it look way too bad.
But that last chicane still doesn't have any sense.

TheGiantHogweed wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:32 pm

i think that off track moment for stroll is going to result in a penalty that will lose him 5 or more places

Why he got forced off the track by Fernando "you must always leave the space" Alonso and then gave the place back.

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 3:02 pm

mikeyg123 wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:21 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:20 pm

Ridiculous by Bottas does he want the Red Bull to win the race, Perez moved over for Max and then Bottas pits so what was the point and then Bottas is pitted to take the fastest lap off Hamilton.

Did Bottas know he was pitting?

I don't know that was merely the irony of what he did, when Perez helps Max but Bottas does not help Hamilton, also are you sharing Bottas' delusion that Bottas is a title contender, strange when many want him out of the Mercedes because of his inability to challenge.

If Bottas is drawing a line in the sand here to the point were he's prepared to help Red Bull well we can perhaps see him being replaced by Russell, this is not how Wolff operates, it's one thing to want to beat your own teammate but not help the opposition.

Bottas to RBR, confirmed.

Mutual respect nonetheless:

About as good as a Spanish Grand Prix as you are ever really likely to get in the dry at least. Very much a 2020 race really despite the similarities to Hungary 2019 with Mercedes looking the quicker and being able to dictate the strategy due to having two cars in the same pit window.

It seemed like Merc could have actually pitted Hamilton the lap after Verstappen and had a good chance of an overtake although that window was closing too fast to be entirely secure. Red Bull perhaps could have stopped Verstappen after Hamiltons second stop but they didn't have the mediums available. Last week was a reminder of just how good Hamilton is, this week was too but even more a reminder of how good Mercedes are.

A good showing from Leclerc again and Ricciardo while Perez recovered reasonably well but needs stronger weekends in future.

I don't really get it from Bottas to be honest... I understand that he wants to show some determination to win the title but I think probably it's time to be realistic with his ambitions. I really like Bottas but he simply doesn't have it to challenge Hamilton for the title. Since he joined he's only finished 2nd in the WDC once I think? Now that there's another team challenging for wins he needs to support the team and show some appreciation towards the guys that have backed him constantly and gifted him with a drive in the best car.

F1Tyrant wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 3:06 pm

pokerman wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 3:02 pm

If Bottas is drawing a line in the sand here to the point were he's prepared to help Red Bull well we can perhaps see him being replaced by Russell, this is not how Wolff operates, it's one thing to want to beat your own teammate but not help the opposition.

No way. Russell is even less likely to co-operate than Bottas. At least Hamilton has a big advantage over Bottas whil Russell is a complete unknown.

Just give Russell a 1 year contract if Bottas is tired of his 1 year contracts.

Raikkonen & Ocon were the only drivers to do a single stop. No one had any faith on hards.


Source - Imgur


Source - Imgur

Bacus wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 3:07 pm

Schermerhorn wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:54 pm

UnlikeUday wrote: ↑

Sun May 09, 2021 2:50 pm

This track is really not needed. Drivers were finding it hard to even pass with DRS. And what benefit did turn 10 deliver?

It's a very boring track. I can't remember the last time there was an exciting race here. Maybe 2016?

It could all change with next gen cars (hopefully). From a driving POV the track is nice, it's a classic, flowing one. These 'dirty air' cars are making it look way too bad.
But that last chicane still doesn't have any sense.

Indeed, it kills the flow of the track. If it was one big wide sweeping arc of a corner there would be more flow and cars would have an earlier slipstream.

How much would it cost to get rid of it?

Mercedes had a good advantage in the race so even pole yesterday by Max would not have matter. Having 2 guys at front they could have different strategy and they both were in the race against him. RBR need Perez up front so Hamilton could not pit again and still come at front. Ferrari seems to be the third best team then Mclaren. Fight for the fifth and final two point was pretty good.

Bottas, "I'm not here to let people by", he also knew he was about to pit to try for fastest lap for those asking.

Bottas also believes he could have won the race if circumstances had been different, I guess qualify on pole on a track were it's very difficult to pass.

I wonder in future knowing their intention to pit Bottas, Mercedes will next time just pit Bottas out of the way.

On a human level I can understand frustration on the part of Bottas. This could be his final chance to become a world champion, but it's slipping away fast. His qualifying pace is very respectable but whenever Hamilton outqualifies him, it seems to make him vulnerable to a 'Formula 1.5' car at the start which comprises his first stint. Then when he did secure pole position, he got his pants pulled down by Hamilton in the first stint anyway.

He seems to be stuck in a horrendous cycle of either having solid race pace but not the track position to do anything about it, or having track position and not having the race pace to take advantage. He needs to keep his head down though as he is still fighting for his F1 future even if the title is drifting away.