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2021 Formula 1 Season Thread

I was a little surprised at just how well Lewis' tyres held up, they were only 12 laps fresher. But they obviously had all the data and were extremely confident.

I had a dream last night that Bottas was dropped and had to check the news in the middle of the night. 😂 I'd be amazed if he were there next year. Russell is surely the red hot favourite. Can't see Lando going there, he's the main man at McLaren and plenty of time for him to drive at a top team. Which could well be McLaren anyway after the 2022 & 2025 rule changes.

Lewis said today he wants to get a new contract signed before the summer break in 3 months. His haters will have to suck it some more.
 
michael9891 said:
Anyway, back in the real world. Drivers should all be given at least some time to prove themselves. But I can't see past Mazepin being a 1 season failure. Hasn't done himself an favours getting in the way of Lewis today & Lando yesterday.
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Guess it depends on if he brings in more money than he causes in wreck repairs.

The-Real-Deal82 said:
Anybody else think Hamilton deserves credit for his reaction skills at turn 1 at the start? I know the commentators said Max had his elbows out but it was thanks to Lewis we didn’t see a big shunt. It may be a bit of psychological dominance from Max but I think it also demonstrates the experience of a 7 time WDC to concede and play the long game.
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IMO, Max needs to be first at the corner because I believe the RBR is better on full tanks so his best chance of securing a victory is to be out front and build enough of a lead that he cannot be undrcut/overcut at the first pit stop. So he will push hard to be first.

I believe the MB is better on light tanks so I believe Lewis knows he can afford to lose the corner because he can probably stay in close enough touch that strategy and less late-stage performance degradation means he can probably take the lead back by the Checkered Flag.
 
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Well after yesterday if I'm Max I'm seriously asking myself, "What's the point?".

He led almost the entire race only to be left in the dust because of new tires.

And. he. was. left. in. the. dust.

Lewis blew by him.

So what is the point? They had enough in hand to just go by like that?
Did they already have enough in hand without the tires?
 
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pachyderm said:
Well after yesterday if I'm Max I'm seriously asking myself, "What's the point?".

He led almost the entire race only to be left in the dust because of new tires.

And. he. was. left. in. the. dust.

Lewis blew by him.

So what is the point? They had enough in hand to just go by like that?
Did they already have enough in hand without the tires?
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Max will be thinking how much closer they are this year and plenty of chances will come his way. He won't have a defeatist attitude. Could have been a reversal if he went into the pits first.
 
F1 drivers are never short of many things. The one thing they have in abundance is self belief. Max will certainly be encouraged how close he is. One DNF (probably courtesy of one of the rookies) for Lewis and he’s in the lead.
 
Apple fanboy said:
F1 drivers are never short of many things. The one thing they have in abundance is self belief. Max will certainly be encouraged how close he is. One DNF (probably courtesy of one of the rookies) for Lewis and he’s in the lead.
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Indeed, if F1 drivers are performing well like Max and Lewis are, their bubble are feeding their egos with how brilliant they are. Their motivation is carefully managed as their results ultimately benefit a few thousand people and their wage packets. They are also aware that in a competitive sport three quarters of the battle isn’t even on the track and completely out of their hands.
 
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Apple fanboy said:
Max and Lewis are getting the best out of their cars, that’s for sure. Or is it that Perez and Bottas are getting very poor performance from theirs?
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Haha both! I think the cars are developed more toward a certain drivers preference for Merc & Red Bull. That puts Bottas and Perez even further behind.
 
Sometimes i think Max driving is very dangerous and a little crazy. There was no need for Lewis to back off on that first corner but if he did not ,then they would have been both out of the race. Lewis is playing the long game but i am confident that Max is going to have a major accident this season with that type of attitude. There was a very similar incident in the previous race where Lewis had to go over the Curb and damaged his car.
 
michael9891 said:
Waste of time any driver being there if they only looked at the negatives. And find it strange to suggest Max would be asking "what's the point" after 4 races and only being 14 points behind.
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Because there is no point?

I had hoped for something different this season and there doesn't appear to be.

Too many tire choices, gadgets, and gimmicks. And if you're team can't develop them(gadgets) was well as the rest your screwed.

No one else was bothered by how that race ended?

It felt like Lewie simply let Max lead until it became crunch time. Then there was nothing Max could do.
 
nebo1ss said:
Sometimes i think Max driving is very dangerous and a little crazy. There was no need for Lewis to back off on that first corner but if he did not ,then they would have been both out of the race. Lewis is playing the long game but i am confident that Max is going to have a major accident this season with that type of attitude. There was a very similar incident in the previous race where Lewis had to go over the Curb and damaged his car.
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I think Hamilton certainly looked good avoiding that and ultimately overtaking for the win. I do question some of Max’s moves sometimes do think it’ll bite him at some point.

Mark Webber used to say all drivers take unnecessary risk until they have ‘the big one’. I know Webber had a huge crash at Spa pre-F1 and he said this calmed him down. Not sure of Max’s but experience in terms of accidents but he does appear to have a different approach to drivers of more experience and success.
 
pachyderm said:
Because there is no point?

I had hoped for something different this season and there doesn't appear to be.

Too many tire choices, gadgets, and gimmicks. And if you're team can't develop them(gadgets) was well as the rest your screwed.

No one else was bothered by how that race ended?

It felt like Lewie simply let Max lead until it became crunch time. Then there was nothing Max could do.
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If you were expecting less technology and tyre choices this season then you clearly don’t follow F1 that close. Next year there will be more changes. This year we have two of the best drivers in two cars with similar speed.
Some tracks will suit Mercedes. Some will suit RBR. They can both get strategy right and wrong.

Personally I’m enjoying this much closer season.
 
pachyderm said:
Because there is no point?

I had hoped for something different this season and there doesn't appear to be.

Too many tire choices, gadgets, and gimmicks. And if you're team can't develop them(gadgets) was well as the rest your screwed.

No one else was bothered by how that race ended?

It felt like Lewie simply let Max lead until it became crunch time. Then there was nothing Max could do.
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Of course there is. I'll say it again, there's 14 points between them which is absolutely nothing. And if Red Bull had decided to pit again before Lewis went in, it could have been a different outcome. Because he was struggling to get past Max. Fine margins.

These are all professional athletes and every single one of the 20 drivers has something to motivate them and drive for. Max knows if he keeps pushing and giving it 100%, he has a real chance.
 
Apple fanboy said:
If you were expecting less technology and tyre choices this season then you clearly don’t follow F1 that close. Next year there will be more changes. This year we have two of the best drivers in two cars with similar speed.
Some tracks will suit Mercedes. Some will suit RBR. They can both get strategy right and wrong.

Personally I’m enjoying this much closer season.
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LOL.

Did I ever say anywhere that is what I was expecting?

And as for right now, I believe it is a fabricated "closer" season.

We'll see.
 
Hmmmm, is the writing on the wall?
www.gpblog.com

Bottas sells his Mercedes, the internet jokes

Valtteri Bottas has been under fire again this season and recently it was even rumoured that he would be replaced by George Russell before the end of the season. The fact that Valtteri Bottas has put his Mercedes AMG-GT S up for sale today is of course food for thought.
www.gpblog.com www.gpblog.com
 
zagato27 said:
Hmmmm, is the writing on the wall?
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Russel's contract runs through the end of the year, but Mercedes is his manager so I guess that means he drives at Williams as part of their supplier agreement with Mercedes so I imagine that Mercedes is not under any "time crunch" to sign him as they decide who he drives for (at least amongst supplier teams) so they could keep him at Williams or work a (better supplier) deal with Aston Martin or McLaren to send him there.

There are also rumors that the new contract Hamilton will sign with Mercedes will give him veto power over the teams' #2 and there is some speculation that could mean Hamilton will ensure Bottas keeps the seat for that period.
 
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I can’t imagine Hamilton wanting a young fast teammate as his partner when he can have Bottas who challenges him rarely but does enough to help win the constructors each year. Hamilton is driving the best of his life and Mercedes must want him to continue for a couple more years as he’s bringing home the goods. As good as Russell is, he’s never proven himself fighting for a title (yet) and is still incredibly young. Bottas is the sensible option but Mercedes might fancy the extra marketing quid that a young Brit could bring too? I know Hamilton is very valuable to the Mercedes brand due to his image and popularity in the celebrity scene which is something Rosberg and Bottas have never brought. Interesting times.
 
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Hiya All,


I haven’t read any of the gossip on this at all 😂



My point of view on the current posturings:
1. Bottas’s manager is drumming up business
2. Bottas is ok with this - he needs a ride.
3. Toto is ok with this - its a gee up for Hamilton to sign the contract to stay next Year.



Toto’s ideal driver set up for next season:
Stick to a winning formula:
1. Hamilton - until he retires
2. Bottas



Toto’s ideal driver set up - When Hamilton retires:
1. Russell - And keep the driver bills down as long as possible
2. Bottas



My 2 pennies worth! :)

Martin
 
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Apple fanboy said:
It’s his way of apologising for the WC he cheated him out of!
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....I’m slow catching up with the chitter chatter! :)


It reflects well on Nico if that is indeed the case, that he is a favourable commentator on hamilton, because he feels guilty for his sportsmanship, in order to win the WC.


Marshalled my thoughts on Nico:


1) Did I like the way Nico pulled every Schumacher trick in the book on Lewis, in order to win that WC?
> Nope, it stunk.


2) Do I respect Nico for his perseverance on his hard journey in F1? First Schumacher as a partner, then Lewis!
> Wow, begrudgingly will have to. Silver spoon or not, that must have been hell at times.
> Having Schumacher as a team mate was where he learn't the tricks of the trade to beat your team mate


3) Do I acknowledge him as a bona fide WC?
> On reflection, yes absolutely. He beat LH in his own back yard.
> Not the better racer, but the harder worker that year, and especially the previous year (the foundation to his WC year, while Lewis slackened off for the last 3 races.)


4) Has Nico been good for the sport?
> Yes.
> Awesome watching him and Lewis hammering it out.
> Lewis has become a more complete champion because of him. Schumacher would not have lost that year for example, by slackening off and allowing the other driver a chance to get back into the game.
> Nico made up for lack of comparative natural racer skill, by mastering all the electric wizardry of the car; mastery of getting away from the line, that weakness of the car at that time; Mastering the steering wheel options etc. etc. - To be as close as, good as, with Lewis in the same machinery.

> Nico is an inspiration to all the 'also rans' out there. Work hard with the tools, and you can be there when the opportunity arises to beat the opposition.




My next 2 pennies worth!
Glad thats off my chest! :D


Best wishes
Martin
 
Marty_Macfly said:
....I’m slow catching up with the chitter chatter! :)


It reflects well on Nico if that is indeed the case, that he is a favourable commentator on hamilton, because he feels guilty for his sportsmanship, in order to win the WC.


Marshalled my thoughts on Nico:


1) Did I like the way Nico pulled every Schumacher trick in the book on Lewis, in order to win that WC?
> Nope, it stunk.


2) Do I respect Nico for his perseverance on his hard journey in F1? First Schumacher as a partner, then Lewis!
> Wow, begrudgingly will have to. Silver spoon or not, that must have been hell at times.
> Having Schumacher as a team mate was where he learn't the tricks of the trade to beat your team mate


3) Do I acknowledge him as a bona fide WC?
> On reflection, yes absolutely. He beat LH in his own back yard.
> Not the better racer, but the harder worker that year, and especially the previous year (the foundation to his WC year, while Lewis slackened off for the last 3 races.)


4) Has Nico been good for the sport?
> Yes.
> Awesome watching him and Lewis hammering it out.
> Lewis has become a more complete champion because of him. Schumacher would not have lost that year for example, by slackening off and allowing the other driver a chance to get back into the game.
> Nico made up for lack of comparative natural racer skill, by mastering all the electric wizardry of the car; mastery of getting away from the line, that weakness of the car at that time; Mastering the steering wheel options etc. etc. - To be as close as, good as, with Lewis in the same machinery.

> Nico is an inspiration to all the 'also rans' out there. Work hard with the tools, and you can be there when the opportunity arises to beat the opposition.




My next 2 pennies worth!
Glad thats off my chest! :D


Best wishes
Martin
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Is that you Martin Brundle? Lol. I think what I respect Nico for the most, is having achieved his WC, he immediately retires. He knew he’d never be able to repeat that monumental effort with a good dose of bad luck for his teammate to beat him again. Good to go out at the top.
 
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