The F1 thread

stickyfiddle

Gutted for George but he so obviously has The Talent that he showed in F3 and F2. And if it had to happen to George I’m really pleased it was Checo who picked up the win, after running last on lap 1. 

Get that man a Red Bull deal...

not_the_dj

The usually ice cool Toto swearing live on Tv....he he he. 

Rich210

Toto Wolf on Sky Sports, 'its was a colossal fuck up'

fretmeister

Apparently UAE rules means that Hamilton won’t be allowed in next week.

Maybe GR will get another go this season. 

Rich210

fretmeister said:

Apparently UAE rules means that Hamilton won’t be allowed in next week.

Maybe GR will get another go this season. 

I'm hoping so, out of all the rookies he deserves it

stickyfiddle

On the current rules here (and assuming no special dispensation) Lewis will need to test negative within 48 hours of travel, so to enter on Thursday he'll have to have a test result on Tuesday or Wednesday, so it doesn't look good. 

That said, he might be able to come in on a private plane and isolate and have another test on Thursday, as the track is only about 3 miles from the airport and there is a corridor of closed roads between the two (they've been doing UFC in the same area and using the same hotels for isolation etc)

I hope Lewis is safe and well but I really hope George gets another run and a win to finish the season. 

Edit: we also have a mandatory 2-week quarantine with GPS tracking watches (NOT FUN...) but obvious that’s just be being waived for the whole F1 circus as they will be arriving together, staying together and leaving without mingling with outsiders, so should be ok

thumpingrug

Wow!  You have to feel for George.  That was a fantastic race from someone who has always been at the back of the grid, really showed Bottas up.  But was a mess was that pit stop.  Bottas actually did well to hang on to his final position given the age of tyres he was driving at that point.

Perez coming from last to win.  OMG, that not something you see often, and Verstapen driving himself into a wall - if i were Horner, Id be sacking him and asking George to sit in next year.

I think the position on Lewis for next week is unclear, but I hope George gets another go.

Brio

Perez coming from last to win.

Didn't Button do that twice in Canada 2012?

Brio

2011!!!!

TimmyO

I don’t understand Merc’s comment about a radio malfunction in the pits. Do they normally radio the garage before every stop to say “ok we’d like you to not mix the 2 drivers’ tyres up and fit an illegal mixed set” ?

Cols

From context, I suppose the pit crew weren’t expecting Russell to come in and had Bottas’s tyres out.

Total farce.  Gutted for both drivers; Russell deserved the win, and Bottas was left on old rubber looking like a clown after the restart.

Emiel

Before the race start, I thought this was going to be the first race in a long, long time that someone else (Verstappen) could finally battle with the almighty Mercs. Sadly, Leclerc totally f*cked up not only his but also those of Verstappen and Perez. But Perez came back, and how! What a drive from last to first. If I were him, I'd would go and see Marko & Horner now and simply say "so, can we talk about a seat then?".

Imagine being Bottas. First he loses the start to Russell and being it equal cars on equal rubber, all he can do is follow. Then Merc screws up both pitstops so he has to continue on the same worn set of tires.

Apart from Russell's obvious talent, that car is so damn dominant and easy to drive that I think any F1 driver can win in that car. That is... all except Bottas screwing it up all the time (and his team for him, he had such bad luck this year)...

mattacjones

Best race for ages

PC_Dave

It turns out that Netflix were filming Merc for their episode on Drive to Survive... Merc don't have a very good track record when they are being filmed, it would appear.....!

stickyfiddle

PC_Dave said:

It turns out that Netflix were filming Merc for their episode on Drive to Survive... Merc don't have a very good track record when they are being filmed, it would appear.....!

If that's true I wonder if they'll tell Netflix to get lost next season. It's great for us as fans but not good if it's interrupting their normal ops

skunkwerx

Emiel said:

Before the race start, I thought this was going to be the first race in a long, long time that someone else (Verstappen) could finally battle with the almighty Mercs. Sadly, Leclerc totally f*cked up not only his but also those of Verstappen and Perez. But Perez came back, and how! What a drive from last to first. If I were him, I'd would go and see Marko & Horner now and simply say "so, can we talk about a seat then?".

Imagine being Bottas. First he loses the start to Russell and being it equal cars on equal rubber, all he can do is follow. Then Merc screws up both pitstops so he has to continue on the same worn set of tires.

Apart from Russell's obvious talent, that car is so damn dominant and easy to drive that I think any F1 driver can win in that car. That is... all except Bottas screwing it up all the time (and his team for him, he had such bad luck this year)...

I agree. 

No doubt Russel is talented, but I think several other drivers would be dominant in that motor too. 

The birds eye of the start showed max’s pace off the line, he would have had the Mercs. And that would have made a damn good race! I reckon Leclerc would have been battling up there with Perez too.. 5 of them all up front. 

The pit stop was a royal fuck up! Feel sorry for Russell but he is young, he will have plenty of opportunity I think. 

chillidoggy

What a race, on what I thought would be a shit track!

Russell gave the best drive I've seen for absolutely ages. It ain't often I'm screaming at the telly but I sure as shit was last night. Taking aside Merc's astonishing pitlane fuck-up, dare I say this but it was like watching Bottas and Hamster battling on track, especially that awesome overtake.

Whilst Perez is to be congratulated, Russell would have won that race, no question about it. Merc should get him in a car pronto.

PC_Dave

skunkwerx said:

Emiel said:

Before the race start, I thought this was going to be the first race in a long, long time that someone else (Verstappen) could finally battle with the almighty Mercs. Sadly, Leclerc totally f*cked up not only his but also those of Verstappen and Perez. But Perez came back, and how! What a drive from last to first. If I were him, I'd would go and see Marko & Horner now and simply say "so, can we talk about a seat then?".

Imagine being Bottas. First he loses the start to Russell and being it equal cars on equal rubber, all he can do is follow. Then Merc screws up both pitstops so he has to continue on the same worn set of tires.

Apart from Russell's obvious talent, that car is so damn dominant and easy to drive that I think any F1 driver can win in that car. That is... all except Bottas screwing it up all the time (and his team for him, he had such bad luck this year)...

I agree. 

No doubt Russel is talented, but I think several other drivers would be dominant in that motor too. 

The birds eye of the start showed max’s pace off the line, he would have had the Mercs. And that would have made a damn good race! I reckon Leclerc would have been battling up there with Perez too.. 5 of them all up front. 

The pit stop was a royal fuck up! Feel sorry for Russell but he is young, he will have plenty of opportunity I think. 

This point has come up a lot, and it is irking me somewhat. It's not just about being able to put the boot down and drive fast that makes a driver dominant - it's racecraft, and split second decision making. That's why Hamilton is 7 time WC, and why others are not. Yes, there are other drivers who would be quick in that car, but I don't think there are many who would be dominant. Bottas is a prime example........

stickyfiddle

Wis @PC_Dave - almost any F1 driver could win some races in that car. But not multiple championships - that takes consistency and grit far above anything Bottas has shown so far. Russell absolutely showed hints of that yesterday. Granted they were on different tyres, but Bottas has been in the midfield a few times the last couple of years and not been able to push through the field, while Hamilton usually gets back up to at least 4th or 5th in the same position - Russell reminded me far more of Lewis yesterday.

fretmeister

PC_Dave said:

It turns out that Netflix were filming Merc for their episode on Drive to Survive... Merc don't have a very good track record when they are being filmed, it would appear.....!

Nope.

https://twitter.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/1335948627391483904