F1 2021 - Covid 2: Viral Boogaloo

[Gray Fox]

This way around is probably better for viewing in fairness. Mercs looked a smidge faster in race pace.

[Disco]

I assume it's because there will need to be too many vehicles/crew on the track to repair the barrier, they really don't like doing that these days.

[thommo]

Nothing wrong with the way the red flag was called. It happens like that all the time. Imola and Baku were exactly the same. In fact, Lewis benefitted greatly from the red flag in Imola, so it feels like the balance has been restored.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And we don't lose loads of pointless laps behind the safety car. Luckily I don't have any evening plans.

There best be a standing start.

[Shindig]

The only thing that triggers my conspiracy alarm is how quick this barrier repair (they've inspected it but not apparently done much?) has been.

[Giggles]

If it’s a standing start then we’ve a Hamilton lead and run to the end. Verstappen has been useless off the line lately.

Or a crack between them and a week of nipple pulling :drool:

[Gray Fox]

They're going to hit each other. It's inevitable on this awful track.

[Disco]

Oh please, it takes a minute to get the car out and check all the barrier sections, nothing about this is abnormal in any way.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's amazing how the pair of them have the capacity to be streets ahead of the rest of the field as drivers, and still have the mental space to have a massive cry on the radio every ten seconds.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Straight cheating from Verstappen. Throw him out.

[Shindig]

Shambles.

[Gray Fox]

Straight cheating from Verstappen. Throw him out.

100%

[Giggles]

It's amazing how the pair of them have the capacity to be streets ahead of the rest of the field as drivers, and still have the mental space to have a massive cry on the radio every ten seconds.

I think they’re all crying but the rest aren’t good tv.

[Serj]

On first viewing that whole incident looked like a chain reaction caused by Verstappen's shenanigans up front.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's an unsafe re-entry to the track. I'd say there have been worse cases for a black flag or whatever the one below black flag is.

[Giggles]

Verstappen definitely needs to go a place back there.

[Shindig]

Are they going to penalise Max for what's effectively an incident on a lap that doesn't count?

[Giggles]

Straight cheating from Verstappen. Throw him out.

France.

[Disco]

They let Stroll cut a corner and make a pass on the first start so don't be surprised if they let him off.

[Gray Fox]

Ocon being there means he'll have to let 2 cars through.

I wanted this all sorted on track, but Bottas not punting Max off there is a shame.

[Giggles]

Are they going to penalise Max for what's effectively an incident on a lap that doesn't count?

I’d say they have to on the restart.

[Serj]

On first viewing that whole incident looked like a chain reaction caused by Verstappen's shenanigans up front.

On second viewing maybe not quite that bad, as there were a couple of seconds in between. Still, massively reckless.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Who knows what they'll decide, once they decided in Brazil that you're allowed to not bother making the corner if a guy overtakes you they've left themselves open to all sorts.

[Waffdon]

They’ll let him off with it based on Ocon earlier .

[Disco]

He clearly gained a place by leaving the track, Hamilton was fully ahead going into the corner so you can't claim to be pushed wide.

[Gray Fox]

Masi bottling it again.

[Giggles]

I love when Jimmy gets really partisan when he tries to play it so cool for soccer. He’s fucking absolutely boiling and I love to see it.

[Giggles]

Ocon - Hamilton - Verstappen.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This one's open and shut, Paddy, as you can hear on the radio there from Masi.

[Shindig]

"We're going to give you the option." What's the alternative? 5 second penalty?

[Waffdon]

That was the most confusing message ever. Does that mean Hamilton in P2 or P1?

[Serj]

Race direction forgetting about Ocon. :D

[Gray Fox]

I never thought I'd say this, but please resurrect Charlie Whiting.

[Giggles]

This one's open and shut, Paddy, as you can hear on the radio there from Masi.

Yet I can’t call someone a raghead. Same thing phonics

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think they'd forgotten that Ocon exists, which is understandable tbh. Fuck knows where he came from.

[Disco]

Why is it an option? Make the decision and tell them where they're starting, for a sport with so much money rolling about it doesn't half look pretty amateur sometimes.

[Shindig]

Sebastian Vettel would probably make a good race director.

[Giggles]

The commentator trying to dog LeClerc and being corrected by Brundle :D It doesn’t always wash.

[Gray Fox]

Mistake on Lewis there not closing the door.

[Disco]

Hamilton completely asleep, does nobody cover their inside anymore?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hamilton is going to get to him here and I can't see that Verstappen is going to let him by, so prepare yourselves for another crash.

[Serj]

Yeah, this seems all set up for a Prost/Senna-style double KO like in Monza.

[Shindig]

Verstappen's only losing this if he bins it.

[Waffdon]

Red Bull is a monster in sector 1. Only thing stopping Hamilton being a few seconds ahead. Agree with the potential crash with them two though, can’t see Verstappen letting him go past

[Jimmy Floyd]

The Mercedes has no grip in the slow corners or 22-23. He needs to turn in a couple of much better laps in a row to get this.

[Lewis]

I put this on after reading about how shit the track looked. Has this shitfest exceeded expectations?

[Disco]

If they want marshalls running onto a live track then they really should start paying them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's the worst venue they've ever been to, certainly since Phoenix/Caesars Palace.

[Disco]

Did Tilke design this one before or during his recent stroke?

[Shindig]

It looks like an alright place to hotlap but it's not great for racing.

[Shindig]

Did Tilke design this one before or during his recent stroke?

It's a family business now. His son Carsten did this.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That was dirty as well. He went off the track! Has to be a penalty.

[Jimmy Floyd]

OK, now I have no idea what's going on.

[Disco]

This is getting silly, at some point you have to acknowledge that someone has overtaken you.

[Gray Fox]

Disqualify the Dutchie. You cant stop on the main straight ffs.

[Serj]

Looks like Mercedes didn't know about Max having to give the position back, but I still don't get why he didn't just pass him. What a weird race. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's just Schumachering his way round.

[Shindig]

So ... they wanted to give the place back, brake checked him and now ... don't want to?

[thommo]

Max definitely goes too deep in T1, got told to give the position back... and then Lewis just doesn't overtake and drives into the back of him? Really confused why Lewis just didn't go past.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hamilton should pit now for a nose and then they still have to give the place back.

[Gray Fox]

Masi has no control of this at all.

[thommo]

Let's just cancel this race and tack on a decider at Donington.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Verstappen brake tested him to fuck, having seen it a few times.

[Serj]

Looks like Mercedes didn't know about Max having to give the position back, but I still don't get why he didn't just pass him. What a weird race. :D

Yep, that seems to be what happened. Why did Hamilton not just overtake him, though? Verstappen was going noticably slower before that. I don't get it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Thank god for that. Not even MS had a single race with as many dirty episodes as this.

[Waffdon]

Lewis should just not bother taking him over now

[Jimmy Floyd]

Max needs to take him out now. Negate the time penalty. Needs to run into him.

[thommo]

I think the final result is going to be the deserved result eventually. It's been fucking chaos. And we're back here for the 2nd race next year.

[John Arne]

This has been handled terribly from Masi. Mid-race negotiations with a team regarding their own punishment should not be happening.

[Serj]

Whatever comes from this, it's a very bad look for race direction. The way they've communicated both the restart and Verstappen having to give the position back was terrible.

[Disco]

That radio feed will be gone by next season.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have a lot of sympathy for Masi, both the top two teams are in absolute spoiled child mode and he's run into an absolutely terrible, borderline dangerous circuit which they've never run before.

[thommo]

This has been handled terribly from Masi. Mid-race negotiations with a team regarding their own punishment should not be happening.

I think that point was fine - basically telling Max to give back the position, or they refuse and the stewards get involved.

[SincereTheRebel]

Ive never witnessed a race with so much bitching and crying over the radio.

[Serj]

Verstappen brake tested him to fuck, having seen it a few times.

I really don't think that's the case, by the way. He was going noticably slower before the incident, it wasn't really abrupt. I just think Hamilton had no idea what was going on due to terrible communication between Masi/Red Bull/Mercedes/Hamilton.

[Disco]

Looks like Hamilton would have had him on tyres by the end anyway but this is the dirtiest drive I've seen in a while from Verstappen.

[Waffdon]

Horrific camera work showing Hamilton on his own when Bottas and Ocon are battling

[Disco]

If that was your logic then we'd have been watching Leclerc and Sainz going at it for most of the race, the reality is nobody cares about 4th.

[Waffdon]

Bottas :cool:

[Shindig]

I think that point was fine - basically telling Max to give back the position, or they refuse and the stewards get involved.

Agreed. If the race was still live, he'd still be told to give the place back before applying the penalty. Bottas gets third. Good job, bro.

[Waffdon]

If that was your logic then we'd have been watching Leclerc and Sainz going at it for most of the race, the reality is nobody cares about 4th.

It was for 3rd

[Disco]

And 4th.

[thommo]

To be fair I'd rather watch live racing than a face cam of Hamilton who had finished already. Terrible race direction.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can't remember a time when the first two went into the final race level on points. Maybe back in the 60s or something.

Max wins the title with a first corner crash... unless they deduct him points I suppose.

[Shindig]

Dropped points makes that really hard to figure out. Schumacher and Hill was one point going into Adelaide. Foreshadowing.

[Disco]

They've been getting stick for sponsors this week but I've found it odd for a while seeing 'Crowdstrike' written on a Mercedes, the Swiss are still salty about that one.

[7om]

Fuck me, I don’t even know what to think. All I can safely say for now is that this track is unsafe and we need some tweaks.

Next weekend is going to be absolutely wild.

[Shindig]

The one thing I'll say is, if Verstappen's going to slow down and give the place back, make it obvious. Pull off to the side and make it an open goal.

Both Lewis and Max booed on the podium. Twats. :D

[SincereTheRebel]

Hamilton to take the title in Dubai and retire as the G.O.A.T.

[7om]

The one thing I'll say is, if Verstappen's going to slow down and give the place back, make it obvious. Pull off to the side and make it an open goal.

Both Lewis and Max booed on the podium. Twats. :D

I’m Team Lewis, but Max did nothing wrong in my mind. He slowed down gradually down the straight so it wasn’t a break check. Lewis should have seen what was happening and simply went round on the left.

[SincereTheRebel]

A brawl in the paddock or podium would finish this off nicely.

[Shindig]

I’m Team Lewis, but Max did nothing wrong in my mind. He slowed down gradually down the straight so it wasn’t a break check. Lewis should have seen what was happening and simply went round on the left.

Yeah, although he was probably waiting for confirmation on the radio.

[thommo]

A brawl in the paddock or podium would finish this off nicely.

Highly likely, considering Jos the Boss is there.

[Disco]

I think the speed is very deceptive as well, Verstappen could have been doing anything and there's an extent to which you can't just pull over at racing speed. It sounds as if they were in the process of telling Mercedes/Hamilton while he was slowing to give the place back.

[Shindig]

From how it's described (bloody radio), Red Bull were trying to give it back in a Spa 2008 fashion. So they could nail Hamilton into turn 1. They repeated the trick one more time before the penalty hit.

[7om]

And Max summoned to the stewards. This is literally mental. I’d give anything to be in the paddock right now.

[Gray Fox]

It looks worse for Max with each viewing.

But what can they do? A time penalty is nothing unless it's about 20 seconds worth. A grid drop for the next race? I'd say maybe no further action, but they only summoned him that I can see so they've decided he's 100% at fault.

[thommo]

What are you on about? He brakes consistently, you can hear the downshifts.

I still don't understand why Lewis just doesn't pass him. Even if Lewis hasn't been told he's getting the position, why don't you just take the lead?

[7om]

Lol at Toto saying he saw Max’s telemetry. Max is nuts, but he did nothing wrong there. At the very worst you could say he was being snidely by trying to let Lewis past just before the DRS line but even that is flimsy.

[SincereTheRebel]

My guess is LH does not overtake him because
1. LH thought maybe there was an accident ahead and because MV slowed down, LH did too
2. He was scared of overtaking MV because of the history between them
3. All of the above

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hamilton being fairly punchy in this interview. Max getting away with a lot I think because we're all loving the fight.

[Gray Fox]

He didn't even look at Max after the race ended all the way throughout the podium presentation. Max also sheepishly running off suggests he knows he crossed the line today.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The first restart (where Max drives straight across the chicane and in a straight line into Hamilton) was the worst thing he did all day and yet got the lightest penalty.

[Disco]

Whichever one it was where Hamilton was fully past him and he simply cut the corner to retake the position, that's the worst one for me. Very much not a fan of his tactic of intentionally not making corners and then claiming to have 'run wide'.

[Shindig]

Yeah, there was one where, like Interlagos, he went in too hot and used the runoff as insurance.

[thommo]

10 second penalty for Max for causing a collision. Stays P2 so ultimately doesn't mean anything, but I genuinely still don't understand why Lewis didn't just go past.

[Disco]

10 second penalty and two license points for 'erratic braking causing a collision'.

[Gray Fox]

A good job he didn't stop for that fastest lap attempt then.

[niko_cee]

My Sky box failed me so had to catch up with the derpy out of sync sky highlights [presumably caused by the race taking forever]. Fuck the C4 offering.

You can tell exactly what Verstappen's plan is for next week off his 'I have the race wins advantage' comment. Pretty strong case for being black flagged today, but that was never going to happen as it would ruin the spectacle next weekend. He does seem like he might be losing it slightly.

Edit - lol if he wins it off the back of that 'race' at Spa, which seems an age ago. I'd completely forgotten about that.

[Shindig]

Yeah, if that race was abandoned, we'd have Hamilton in the lead by a few points.

[Gray Fox]

I'm sure they fixed the rules on that post '94.

I'm sure I recall Schumacher being throw out of an entire championship for trying it.

[thommo]

For every mention of Spa, there needs to be a mention of Silverstone or Hungary or Baku. Both Lewis and Max have had good and bad luck throughout the season.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, if that race was abandoned, we'd have Hamilton in the lead by a few points.

Isn't it also his tie-breaker race win?

[thommo]

I'm sure they fixed the rules on that post '94.

I'm sure I recall Schumacher being throw out of an entire championship for trying it.

1997, Schumacher turned into Villeneuve at Jerez in an attempt to take him out - only succeeding in taking himself out. He was disqualified from the entire championship.

[niko_cee]

Which was the race Hamilton started on his own? This season has been absolutely batshit.

[Disco]

Which was the race Hamilton started on his own? This season has been absolutely batshit.

Hungary.

[thommo]

Hungary after the red flag. All the other runners pitting to switch off the inters as the track had dried.

[Disco]

My Sky box failed me so had to catch up with the derpy out of sync sky highlights [presumably caused by the race taking forever]. Fuck the C4 offering.

You can tell exactly what Verstappen's plan is for next week off his 'I have the race wins advantage' comment. Pretty strong case for being black flagged today, but that was never going to happen as it would ruin the spectacle next weekend. He does seem like he might be losing it slightly.

Edit - lol if he wins it off the back of that 'race' at Spa, which seems an age ago. I'd completely forgotten about that.

Most places would see you disqualified for brake checking someone, it is slightly mad that he's essentially been let off entirely.

[7om]

I'm sure they fixed the rules on that post '94.

I'm sure I recall Schumacher being throw out of an entire championship for trying it.

Lol if they get Checo to do the dirty work then.

[Disco]

He'd have to be near the front for more than a lap to manage that.

[niko_cee]

Problem is he has to be close enough to do it, unless they go for a blue flag 'misunderstanding' which would probably see the whole team thrown out of everything.

[Jimmy Floyd]

No way Mateschitz will allow them to sully the sugary drink's reputation by trying anything blatant next week, though Max is probably desperate to do so if his recent conduct is anything to go by. He also goes for the Trumpian approach of just lying about every incident afterwards when it's clear he knows exactly what he's doing.

They do have three rear gunners who they could use as torpedos / kamikaze pilots, or to re-run Crashgate. I wouldn't rule out that sort of thing.

In the broader sense, I do think the stewarding/penalties have got completely out of control this season, largely because of Horner and his sporting director mate being desperate cunts, and almost entirely as a result of all the run-off and lack of natural penalty for going off track.

[niko_cee]

Isn't the Red Bull name synonymous with evil in most branches of whatever they endorse? I don't know about that air race thing, but have always assumed it was an elaborate cover to keep the Red Baron gainfully employed.

[Disco]

I don't think Franz Tost is going along with his drivers getting involved to that extent and Red Bull won't want to get thrown out of the constructors (although it would be amusing given their whinging about repair costs etc after Silverstone and Hungary). So it's up to Max to believably run him off the road which he has shown he is quite happy and able to do. It will end up like one of those insurance scam videos with Hamilton having to comically drive around him.

[7om]

I genuinely can’t wait to see what happens.

[Jimmy Floyd]

One thing's for sure, if they're both on the front row it will be a hype train unlike anything since Senna/Prost in 1990 at Suzuka. And that ended well.

[Disco]

Processional HAM/BOT/VER to end the season.

[niko_cee]

Processional HAM/BOT/VER to end the season.

:D

Was about to say exactly the same.

[Shindig]

Isn't it also his tie-breaker race win?

You're right. It has been a mad season.


Magic button Baku
Hamilton's lonely start in Hungary.
Silverstone's racing incident which cost $3m worth of damage, according to Alex Albon's simulations.
Spa's non-race.
Aston Martin's fuel protest.
Red Bull's wobbly rear wing.
Mercedes' DRS thing.
The Monza collision.
Hamilton burn from the stern in Interlagos.
This absolute Jeddah shit show


It's been exhausting.

[Disco]

:D

https://i.imgur.com/pLh3K6H.png

[Giggles]

As with most of these stupid late starts I missed the end of this because of the NFL. I do love reading through this before going back and watching what actually happened though, top stuff.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Loser has to review Villeneuve's album, deal (scoring system will depend on how badly I'm doing).

Getting very nervous about this. At the very least I need Lance Stroll to finish top five in Abu Dhabi to evade his countryman's presumed pop-rock warblings.

[Shindig]

It's probably better than than Lewis Hamilton's stuff.

We need a Wrestlemania X7 type hype package for next weekend.

[Disco]

Getting very nervous about this. At the very least I need Lance Stroll to finish top five in Abu Dhabi to evade his countryman's presumed pop-rock warblings.

In hindsight some of my picks look insane, I should never have doubted Fernando.

In shittier news Abu Dhabi have been confirmed as the final race of the season up until 2030. A decision which makes me hope for seasons that are sewn up with at least one round to go.

[Shindig]

The only one of my picks that looks daft is down to my assumption Aston Martin would just crack on like a Pink Mercedes. I forgot Kubica had two races this year.

I've been watching the race highlights to refresh my memory and it was all proper cordial (well, in a tough but fair sense) with Verstappen and Hamilton until Silverstone. Russell's crash with Bottas was this year as well. George didn't come out of that looking clever.

[Disco]

Yup, the rule changes hit them hardest and they don't have unlimited resources to chuck at solving the problems unlike Mercedes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was thinking of all the 1995 parallels after they hit each other at both Silverstone and Monza, just as Hill and Schumacher did that year. Bottas is very Coulthard, and Perez sort of scans as a more corporate Johnny Herbert. Leclerc and Sainz are quite Berger and Alesi, and McLaren are VERY mid 90s McLaren but without a scheming Ron Dennis trying to, and ultimately succeeding in, destabilising the rest of the field.

It even had a comical comeback for a 40 something ex WDC, albeit Alonso managed to fit in his car, which was a disappointment.

Both years also featured Martin Brundle being sidelined by a highly corporate entity starting with M (Mugen Honda and Megan Thee Stallion, respectively).

[Shindig]

More stuff I forgot: Lewis having to steal fastest lap off Bottas because, even though Valtteri aborted the lap, he still smashed it. :D Lando throwing away a race win in Sochi whilst the smart money was on Inters. Turkey's next. That was the place that didn't dry up, as I recall.

[Disco]

I've been catching up on the Bathurst weekend and it strikes me that all Australian sports seem to have someone who can reasonably be referred to as 'Larko', is it a bylaw or something where do they all come from?

[Disco]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swxpX6yZS_k

[Gray Fox]

It's great analysis. It shows very clear Max has that "I win or we both crash" mentality in him. Lewis has learned since Silverstone that Max will simply not back out and give the corner at any point.

Monza we saw a flash of it too. Max was never making the chicane where he was taken by Lewis and chose to take them both out rather than give the corner up. His reaction of seeing his car on another mans head was "That's what you get." The boy spends too much time around Marko and Horner.

[Yevrah]

When's this on? May have to get involved.

[Giggles]

Ah yes, British tv says “Lewis” is hard done by. Legit.

[Gray Fox]

When's this on? May have to get involved.

FP3 if you really want to invest in build up, is 10am tomorrow. Qualy is 1pm, with the race at 1pm Sunday.

[Shindig]

I feel like Max was genuinely pissed off from the pit stop as well. The annoying thing is, if Lewis' stop wasn't slow, he would've been even further clear by the chicane. Man, Sunday's going to be something. Even if Max has a scruffy qualifying, he's probably the best at launching off the grid.

[Disco]

The difference between the two for me is that Hamilton tends to stay on track, once he thinks he has the corner he'll absolutely push right to the edge, he's done it throughout his F1 career. Verstappen takes it a step further and regularly just misses the braking point intentionally and runs off the track to take/keep a position.

Max has been raised by Jos who is not a very nice person. It's been effective but I think he needs to do a Hamilton and bin his dad for a bit in order to re-establish the relationship on an equal footing, Jos seems to act like Max is still 12.

[Yevrah]

FP3 if you really want to invest in build up, is 10am tomorrow. Qualy is 1pm, with the race at 1pm Sunday.

Cheers Fox, might have to hit that. Feels like one that's transcending the sport.

[Disco]

When's this on? May have to get involved.

Live on Channel 4 on Sunday, or there's about a million streams these days.

[Shindig]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v95JYmcLmI

Roserg and Alain talking about their rivalries. Should be good. Nico's so giddy. :D

[Disco]

What we should all take away from that is that the French are such cunts even Alain Prost had to leave.

[niko_cee]

Ah yes, British tv says “Lewis” is hard done by. Legit.

I think that analysis is right, but what it misses is that Verstappen's chuck it up the inside theory can also work without running people off the track [see the second restart last week]. I think a lot of his early days flat out dangerous double moving etc is probably being held against him [perhaps not unfairly, he is quite dangerous].

I was also coming round to your thinking on the over praise he was getting for his qualy lap [in the end keeping it between the kines is a skill] but I do think it shows he probably is the best in terms of pure pace. Whilst I want Hamilton to win, Verstappen winning might be better for the sport as not winning will break him and Red Bull will probably be absolutely useless again next year once all the new regs come in and Mercedes can money/outsmart everyone to death.

Disco has Jos's number, between him and Horner Max has little hope.

[Disco]

https://jalopnik.com/did-haas-f1-photoshop-gene-haas-onto-guenther-steiner-f-1848193338 :harold:

[Shindig]

I admire the improvisation.

[Disco]

On the face it the FP3 times look rather good for Mercedes but sand not exactly hard to come by this weekend. I still expect Red Bull to go aggressive in qualifying to try and get track position either by starting ahead or using the soft for a pace advantage early on. Although if these times are reliable it may not matter, especially given the race is a couple of hours later in the day.

[thommo]

Lewis pootling out of the pits and blocks Mazepin in FP3 for the 2nd week in a row. Communication in Mercedes needs to be improved, it's happening too frequently.

[Gray Fox]

I never bother with FP1, but in FP2, Mercedes had 0.6/7 seconds in hand. In FP3 it was closer, but Max and Lewis kept aborting flying laps on the soft as the tyres were burning up midway through the lap.

The key here is FP2 was an evening session, as Qualy and the race will be. A massive heat difference. Cooler running and harder tyres has suited the Mercedes all year long so you'd suggest they're on top as it is. I reckon there's been a fair amount of sandbagging too.

Button thinks Red Bulls FP2 programme means they're locked in to starting on softs for both guys. Also interesting to note that they've gone for their skinniest rear wing, while Mercedes don't seem to have.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're going to need track position I think. I can't imagine a scenario where Max is able to reel Lewis in from behind, unless there's some massive tyre or strategic difference that you really wouldn't expect at this godforsaken venue.

I would have thought they will be softing up all four bulls in Q2, probably a big undercut here as you have to drive through the hotel foyer to rejoin.

[Giggles]

As much as I’d love to see a top two smash for the absolute meltdown it would cause, I don’t see Verstappen even featuring as a factor in this race at all this weekend. Hamilton has been the best driver over the whole year anyway and will win it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think the crucial part in crash or no crash will be whether Bottas can park himself between them.

If they end up in hand to hand combat, there's going to be a crash, or at least an incident of some kind.

[Disco]

Bottas and Perez might as well be holograms they've been that far behind the other two recently.

[Giggles]

Bottas won’t need to feature, luckily for Hamilton and Merc. It’s looking like a race off into the distance.

[Shindig]

I think the crucial part in crash or no crash will be whether Bottas can park himself between them.

Nah, Verstappen from 3rd on the grid is still rapid. He's possibly the best starter out of them.

[Jimmy Floyd]

These Petronas ads have real SPECTRE vibes. Do they have any idea how it all comes across?

[Gray Fox]

Well then. Seems like Max was forced into softs, rather than wanting to. Lewis only 0.3 behind on a scrappy looking mediums lap too.

[Giggles]

That’s adding about 0.8 onto Hamilton isn’t it did they say? Gap is huge.

[Disco]

Red Bull starting on softs, I think I'd be quite happy to see that if I was Mercedes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I dunno. The fact they had Perez on softs too makes me think that was their play all along.

[Waffdon]

Yeah, I’m not sure that’s good news at all for them. Im not sure if it really matters if Hamilton is behind Verstappen with them long straights but I suppose it’s best to be in front and avoid being wiped out

[Gray Fox]

With them both on softs this Q3 becomes crucial. If Max can be in front of Bottas tomorrow then we're heading straight for that turn 1 crash. Bottas needs to stick it on 2nd.

[Disco]

Red Bull have tended to prefer the softer compounds this year so they may get more out of them on Sunday than Mercedes.

[Shindig]

Bottas is on an old engine so I don't think he'll have the grunt to challenge.

Okay, that tow looks massive. :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

They've gone for the Kenyan 5,000m approach, cracking stuff.

[Gray Fox]

This is all coming up Red Bull here.

[Giggles]

Merc going for the same approach here.

Or not. Surprised after how the came out on top of each other.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think the tyre difference means Hamilton doesn't have to be aggressive into T1. Too close to call for me.

[Waffdon]

This couldn’t be any better set up with Verstappen on softs and pole. Offft

[Gray Fox]

That's perfect for tomorrow.

Big showcase that the Mercedes doesn't enjoy the softer compounds. We may well see 2 stop v attempted 1 stop.

[Disco]

How is Norris third, they've been nowhere for weeks. Similar to last week pace-wise for the top two, Verstappen looking faster in qualy but it remains to be seen if that can be translated to race pace.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Valtteri 6th a fine sign-off to his Mercedes career.

Can't wait to see if Russell can get amongst the top two, pace-wise (assuming those are still the two cars to beat, which is by no means certain).

[Shindig]

I think he might but I've never been wholly convinced of his ability to manage a race.

[Waffdon]

That's perfect for tomorrow.

Big showcase that the Mercedes doesn't enjoy the softer compounds. We may well see 2 stop v attempted 1 stop.

Has 2 stop ever worked here?

I fucking love Lando. I can’t wait until he gets a proper car.

[Gray Fox]

Has 2 stop ever worked here?

I fucking love Lando. I can’t wait until he gets a proper car.

Track is much faster, with now 3 or 4 long sweeping fast corners, so previous data doesn't really apply.

[Disco]

It's been a one stopper traditionally and that has been the favoured strategy almost everywhere else too.

[Baz]

When's this exciting race on then? Even my parents are talking about it.

[Disco]

These Petronas ads have real SPECTRE vibes. Do they have any idea how it all comes across?

If it's anywhere short of doing a literal war crime then they've come out ahead.

[Giggles]

When's this exciting race on then? Even my parents are talking about it.

Sky Sports F1 and Channel 4.

[Disco]

For streams, this one is pretty good: https://www.streameast.io/fb/

Or there are loads more here: https://v2.sportsurge.net/

[Baz]

The correct answer appears to be 1pm on Sunday.

Thanks Baz.

[Waffdon]

If you bothered to look the thread you’d have got your answer.

[Giggles]

Horner really looks like he doesn’t enjoy this.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nico Rosberg asked Horner earlier if he ever gets snappy with his wife. The facial expression was a picture.

[Giggles]

Rosberg only goes on there to try wind up as many people as he can.

[thommo]

I think he might but I've never been wholly convinced of his ability to manage a race.

He was a don in F2. And his one drive in a Mercedes cemented my belief that he can control races from the front. It'll be great to see how he performs, especially in comparison to Lewis.

[Giggles]

I wonder does he factor tomorrow? For all Hamilton’s media button pressing, Verstappen would want to be watching himself with Russel too. He’s on the books already with zero to lose.

[Gray Fox]

Not a chance anyone else gets involved. You don’t want your career with that stain on it.

[Shindig]

Yeah, it did Piquet no favours.

[niko_cee]

What's the crack with the tyres then? Offset strategies sounds like it could be fun. Red, yellow, yellow for Verstappen and then either yellow, white or yellow, yellow, red for Hamilton? How long are the softs likely to hang on from the start? Will there be time to build a buffer to the field or is Verstappen likely to be pitting into the midfield clusterfuck? Definitely feel the denouement could be one of them chasing the other down on much better tyres.

[Gray Fox]

If it's a 2 stop race for both, you've got it right. Though Max does not have a new set of mediums. Lewis has 1, so he is still on the optimum strategy.

It is possibly a 1 stop, which would go Medium to Hard, but that one is probably out of the window for Max now. I'm not sure those softs would last long enough.

It all depends on tyre deg. If it's high and pushes to a 2 stop, you'd think Hamilton will bye his time for later in the race.

[Disco]

Medium to Hard, then you have the option of switching to a Soft if Verstappen is coming back at them too quickly.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'll certainly be going from medium to hard if it turns out that a 1-stopper is the only way to go.

[Disco]

It would be about the 60th Hamilton win where he just extends the first stint and keeps enough tyre to stay clear until the end.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've got quite into the first corner game theory. In all the scenarios I can imagine (short of protagonists being really slow off the line), the most chaotic outcomes come from Perez getting off to a flier from behind, crossing over to the right and making a super-aggressive sweep into 1. I expect Max to do the same from ahead, but Perez doing it could be carnage.

I don't know what I'd do as Hamilton. You can't be too cautious or you could end up in 7th or something.

[thommo]

Last year, RB pitted Max on lap 11 from mediums to hards, and he ran them to the end of the race. With the course changes, this might not be viable, but that's a mega stint on one set to the end of the race, so he might try to make it work this time around.

[Shindig]

None of this will matter when Max yeets it into the pitlane wall.

[John Arne]

I reckon HAM may retire if he wins it today.

I guess he want may to try to "new era" cars, but I just have a little feeling.

[Gray Fox]

Assuming we get away from Turn/Lap 1/2, I think we're on for a repeat of Austin, with Lewis having to close and pass in the final laps to win it.

Qualy was a bit of a re-do from Max. This is what it would have looked like last week had he not binned it. FP2 and Q2/3 suggest the Mercedes is not so happy on the softs here, but does seem to have the advantage on the yellow tyres.

If I had to pick, I'd lean Max right now. Track position with the way he's been defending lately would make him a mighty tough guy to pass. I just hope whoever wins, it's through skill on track. None of those season long gremlins(Red Bulls rear wing, Mercs engine) popping up to deny someone.

I don't think Lewis will retire if he wins or not. Those 2022 cars will be a lot of fun if they work as intended. And that's the stage he's approaching now. He already has all of the records bar the outright titles. I think he's giving himself the year to see if they work and if Mercedes nail the new regs yet again. He may yet even extend into his 40's.
Since the woman left, he's kept to himself seemingly, so there's no family for him to be leaving the sport for.

[Shindig]

One more year to show Russell the ropes and then he's out. The only thing that could stop him is his health. He's shattered after some races.

[Disco]

I don't see him leaving for a year or two even if he wins today, although it is interesting to wonder who they'd get if he did a Rosberg this evening. Who is even available?

As for the race, if you look at the speed trap results for qualy the Red Bull was awfully fast in a straight line. They put a very skinny rear wing on for Verstappen which would help him defend but could also put extra wear on the rears. My guess is they'll both try for a one stop but Hamilton will extend his first stint to try and have a grip advantage on the hards later in the race but he's probably going to have to make the pass on track.

[Disco]

Mazepin out with Covid, only one Haas will start. They were supposedly down to their last two chassis so lol if this is cover for them running out of bits.

[Shindig]

I don't see him leaving for a year or two even if he wins today, although it is interesting to wonder who they'd get if he did a Rosberg this evening. Who is even available?

They'll have development drivers. Stoffel Vandorne and Nick de Vries. They could even dip in for Piastri probably.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ocon to Mercedes, Piastri to Renault would be my guess.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's genuinely amazing, watching these parallel interviews on Sky, that people think Lewis Hamilton is the dickhead of the two.

[Waffdon]

George Russell is the biggest dickhead of all. Him getting more airtime from next year :sick:

[niko_cee]

"Biggest race of their lives".

:harold:

Maybe for Max, not so sure for Hamilton.

[Gray Fox]

It's very interesting mentally. This is Lewis' 11th proper title challenge. He's 7/10 and the 3 he lost were all final day deciders, albeit in '07, '10 and '16 the damage was really done before the final race.

If Lewis doesn't win, I imagine it'll annoy him, but not for too long. He's got 7 done and can still go on to another one or two.

For Max, not winning from where he was, with the ego and toxicity that seems to now surround him, might set him back a bit.

[Disco]

I make it equal 9th for Hamilton, he's been in this position a comically large number of times.

[Yevrah]

Newb here, so real talk please?

Why have Verstappen's team picked a tyre strategy that everyone says is shit and what does the man himself do that pisses people off so much?

[Disco]

And if Mercedes have to dip into FE for a driver (a jump which nobody has made) they might as well pack it all up. Throw money at Icon, Norris or even Verstappen before that, christ I'd get Hulkenberg on a plane before I looked at the milk float lot.

I'm afraid to say I am in some agreement on Russell, he seems too keen to play up the rich boy knobhead look (even though it's promotional this weekend) for there not to be some truth to it. Went on holiday with Lance Stroll too :sick:

[niko_cee]

Newb here, so real talk please?

Why have Verstappen's team picked a tyre strategy that everyone says is shit and what does the man himself do that pisses people off so much?

They didn't pick it, he meffed up in Q2 and had to take the softs to make sure he wasn't starting from 10th [and thereby out of it].

[Jimmy Floyd]

Newb here, so real talk please?

Why have Verstappen's team picked a tyre strategy that everyone says is shit and what does the man himself do that pisses people off so much?

His medium tyre (often the better one to start on so that you only need to stop once in the race) was botched during qualifying, so he only has used ones of those and new softs (quicker, but faster degrading). He is therefore boxed into one strategy option whereas Hamilton is probably more flexible.

[Yevrah]

Martin Brundle stalking the pit lane like a pervert in a nightclub looking for a girl drunk enough to rape is a bit odd to say the least.

[Gray Fox]

He's extremely talented, but he's surrounded himself with people who wont say no to him. Think rich parents with only child who can do no wrong. Every now and then they hire "the help" to drive the other, somehow inferior but the same, car.

His team wanted him on the other tyre, but he ruined his last new set of them with a lock up. So they switched him. Those red soft tyres should degrade quite quickly, forcing Max into 2 stops, or a 1 stop with bad tyres at the end of the race.

If they do not degrade as expected by Mercedes, then it's going to be tough for Lewis to reel him in later on.

[niko_cee]

Did Martin Brundle just completely blank Robbie Williams whilst b-lining for Stormzy?

[Disco]

Newb here, so real talk please?

Why have Verstappen's team picked a tyre strategy that everyone says is shit and what does the man himself do that pisses people off so much?

They have to start on the same set of tyres that they used in the second part of qualifying, Verstappen initially set a time on a set of mediums but then had a lock up and potentially ruined that set so he went back out and set a time on the softs. Debatable if this was by accident or design as the RB tends to prefer the softer compound compared to the Mercedes.

On Max himself, he is incredibly uncompromising in his driving style, he is also quite combative out of the car too which both attracts and repels fans in equal measure. There's quite a good article on the beeb about how his dad trained him through karting etc (minus the domestic violence and restraining orders).

[Jimmy Floyd]

His dad was a shit driver in the late 90s. Very Haaland vibes about the whole thing.

[7om]

I’m nervous.

[Shindig]

I haven't seen that level of maturity that usually comes from drivers. Max has been on the grid for six years and he hasn't learned how to settle for a result. Hamilton's back in the fight because of the long game. If anything, this season he's got more aggressive. Maybe that's the measure of what he's up against but he really hasn't come on much since punting Leclerc for the win in Austria 2018.

[Giggles]

It's genuinely amazing, watching these parallel interviews on Sky, that people think Lewis Hamilton is the dickhead of the two.

I think anyone with half a clue are well aware that they’re both dickheads. Hamilton is just far more media polished.

[Don]

Mon the dirty tax-dodging BLM doing a Senna.

[Giggles]

Newb here, so real talk please?

Why have Verstappen's team picked a tyre strategy that everyone says is shit and what does the man himself do that pisses people off so much?

Because they’ve no other choice. It’s not a great strategy to win this race but it was the best choice of a bad lot. There’s a big gap between both cars (and both drivers imo).

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is Mazepin a DNS or have Sky just left him off their graphic?

[Waffdon]

Put £10 on Norris to be leading at end of lap 1. Verstappen to be too worried blocking Hamilton off and Norris through on the inside

[Shindig]

DNS. Haas just running the one car.

[Disco]

Is Mazepin a DNS or have Sky just left him off their graphic?

Covid, and you need to have done a session to take part in the race so they can't put anyone else in.

[Pepe]

Is the fear that he infects everyone as they lap him?

[Disco]

Given it's supposedly the 'preferred tyre' there aren't a lot of people starting o the medium.

[Yevrah]

What a fucking start.

[Pepe]

Go on then. :drool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

What happened there? Didn't Verstappen run him off the road?

Not sure I agree with Sky on this.

[Gray Fox]

Max pushed him off there straight away.

[Yevrah]

I wasn't even sure it was the two leaders and how the hell did they end up still in first and second if it was them?

[Disco]

What happened there? Didn't Verstappen run him off the road?

Do you even need to ask.

[Pepe]

Dirty as fuck.

[Giggles]

Fantastic start from Hamilton. That’s the winning of it there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Brundle talking utter shit, which is unusual and had me worried for a moment.

How shit was Max off the line.

[Yevrah]

All clear from the replay. No investigation necessary. I'm fapping myself silly here.

[Pepe]

Door was open. :harold:

[Giggles]

No way that place should go back either, Verstappen tried to clip him.

[Disco]

No investigation, get fucked Dutchies.

[Pepe]

I hope Hamilton wins by like two minutes.