2021 Formula 1 Season Thread

[CWallace]

From watching the Sky coverage, it looks like they activated Double Yellow Flags for like a handful of seconds, then went Green, then Double Yellow (again for a handful of seconds) then Green.

So honestly, regardless of who it was, I think a penalty for not slowing down could be successfully argued against since the duration was so short. It was almost like the officials realized Gasly was not in danger, nor was he endangering anyone else, and it was the final hot lap of the final qualifying session to set the grid and they did not want to scupper it for those still arrears of the Checkered Flag.



Smart call by Lewis and AMG to get him out first, though, so he could not get caught out by such a situation.

 

[Pezimak]

Max has been given a 5 place grid penalty for 'speeding under a double yellow flag', I haven't seen the qualifying yet so can't judge myself. But rules are rules however he could be wiped out at the start, I hope not. But I believe he's 12 points ahead so if he can at least come second the battle will still be on.

 

[sunapple]

Don’t worry. Max won’t get a penalty.
Good day at the office for Lewis. Going to be interesting to see how the race goes. I like the night races. But if it is hard to follow as predicted, not sure if there will be much overtaking.

5 place grid penalty for Max. 3 places for Bottas. To think it would be any different is a little far fetched, even if you compare to other incidents.

 

[CWallace]

And Gasly, who caused the flags with his tire failure, is now starting second because Sainz was hit with one, too.

So really Lewis' race to lose with Max starting 7th.

 

[CWallace]

Spoiler

Max +3 in the first corner and almost +4 before Alonso "did a Max" on him and pushed him off-track.

Max to second in five laps and about five seconds in arrears of Lewis. Let's see how hard he burns his tires trying to catch up.

 

[Phil77354]

Seemed to be a reasonably straightforward race for Hamilton, never really challenged. Max moved up very well in just a few laps and gets probably the best outcome he could expect today, including fastest lap. And Alonso is on the podium, nice to see. Not as good as it should have been for Mercedes with Bottas out.

 

[CWallace]

Some excitement with all the front left tire failures, but otherwise a complete snoozer of a race.

Agreed that Lewis was never pressured at all. Max could put a faster lap together on occasion, but never consistently so Lewis was able to always control the gap.

Per statistics, Lewis now favored to win the WDC as he has won an inaugural race and he as won the WDC every year he won the inaugural races. Guess that means Max must win Saudi Arabia to cancel it out.

Great job by Alonso to finish third.

 

[sunapple]

Dramatic ending with those exploding tires, but didn’t lead to P3 for Perez unfortunately. VSC messed it up in the end. Bit predictable otherwise. Bottas was disappointing.

 

[Glideslope]

Congratulations to Fernando for his first Podium since 2014.

Great damage limitation by RBR/Honda. Nice gap closure in the WCC.

On to Saudi Arabia.……… ?

 

[Phil77354]

If the final two races result in the same outcome, Hamilton 1st and Verstappen 2nd, then Lewis will win the championship by just a couple of points, even if Max gets fastest lap both races, is that right?

That is still a lot to ask, no margin for error for either team but especially for Lewis.

 

[sunapple]

If the final two races result in the same outcome, Hamilton 1st and Verstappen 2nd, then Lewis will win the championship by just a couple of points, even if Max gets fastest lap both races, is that right?

That is still a lot to ask, no margin for error for either team but especially for Lewis.

Yes Hamilton will have to win every race. Not easy, not impossible.

 

[Glideslope]

Yes Hamilton will have to win every race. Not easy, not impossible.

Precisely why you could see the frustration in Toto for missing the fastest lap opportunity in the Post Race interview. It will be coming down to 1-2 points in the WDC.

Toto should do some self reflecting on why he left Bottas out on yellows for 35 laps. He knows Bottas can’t manage tires like Lewis can. Would be more constructive than saying “hopefully Bottas will do better in Saudi.“

 

[sunapple]

Precisely why you could see the frustration in Toto for missing the fastest lap opportunity in the Post Race interview. It will be coming down to 1-2 points in the WDC.

Toto should do some self reflecting on why he left Bottas out on yellows for 35 laps. He knows Bottas can’t manage tires like Lewis can. Would be more constructive than saying “hopefully Bottas will do better in Saudi.“

I feel like the tire failures came out of nowhere. Nevertheless Bottas was last to pit so it does seem like a mistake by the team. He never gets much luck.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I feel like the tire failures came out of nowhere. Nevertheless Bottas was last to pit so it does seem like a mistake by the team. He never gets much luck.

Hamilton is often praised for his intuition for strategy and it’s something he is often questioning and adapting during a race. A lot of drivers trust their teams entirely.

 

[Pezimak]

Boring race, and I did not appreciate Crofty on Sky insinuating Alpha Tory cheated and allowed the RB to pass them after the driver went very wide allowing the RB through.. shame RB messed up with Perez.

 

[Glideslope]

I feel like the tire failures came out of nowhere. Nevertheless Bottas was last to pit so it does seem like a mistake by the team. He never gets much luck.

Bottas is not the same level as Hamilton in consistency, but he can have his moments. I don’t believe luck is involved. When he replaced Rosberg, IMO, Mercedes committed entirely to his role as support only. Bottas at times may have thought it was different when they would seem on his side.

Mercedes decision to run him 35 laps on yellows was just another example of using him. While I feel bad as I truly like him, it was satisfying to see Toto loose significant ground in the WCC due to the way he runs the show as a one car team for the most part.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Boring race, and I did not appreciate Crofty on Sky insinuating Alpha Tory cheated and allowed the RB to pass them after the driver went very wide allowing the RB through.. shame RB messed up with Perez.

It’s not cheating. Other teams often help a friendly team. Same with Mercedes’ engine customers. They just don’t want to be an oil in the ointment.

Race wasn’t that great. Lewis drove off and Max was never going to catch him. Good for the title race though.

Enjoyed seeing old man Alonso get on the podium. Even if he didn’t get any champagne!

Those curbs were a bit sharp. Expect them to be changed if we race there next year. At least there was more overtaking than predicted.

 

[Glideslope]

Boring race, and I did not appreciate Crofty on Sky insinuating Alpha Tory cheated and allowed the RB to pass them after the driver went very wide allowing the RB through.. shame RB messed up with Perez.

You can be concerned over Sky Sports comment. They have a couple good former drivers on analysis the race commentators are the worst in motor sports. Led by Martin Bumble the absolute Emperor of Arrogance.

 

[Pezimak]

It’s not cheating. Other teams often help a friendly team. Same with Mercedes’ engine customers. They just don’t want to be an oil in the ointment.

Race wasn’t that great. Lewis drove off and Max was never going to catch him. Good for the title race though.

Enjoyed seeing old man Alonso get on the podium. Even if he didn’t get any champagne!

Those curbs were a bit sharp. Expect them to be changed if we race there next year. At least there was more overtaking than predicted.

Firstly he didn’t let the RB through he ran very wide, and secondly I agree however Crofty was directly accusing them of cheating. Hence my complaint, I Can’t stand the man personally and the utterly stupid comments he makes.
I cannot wait till 2024 when the Sky exclusive contract is up, because I’m praying Amazon will come in and out bid Sky for it, then I can watch it on Prime without an overpriced subscription, but I think that’s a dream now more then anything, I know I can watch it in Now TV but its Over £34 a month currently, and that’s only in 720P HD. Hopefully we’d get some decent commentators then.
My mums a tennis fan and since Sky dumped all tennis tournaments, the coverage by Amazon and the ATP streaming app has been both fantastic and endless and extremely good, pretty much every tour is on streaming live and catch-up.

 

[Phil77354]

Yes Hamilton will have to win every race. Not easy, not impossible.

I hope that both Hamilton and Verstappen are able to finish competitively for the final two races. It is so close, and with only two races left, that a single mechanical failure or accident that puts one of the out of the race will almost certainly be determinative.

I respect Lewis and Mercedes for regrouping and coming back so strongly in Qatar. But I am ready for a different champion, even if it has to be Verstappen.

 

[Pezimak]

Oh and as for those stupid triangle tyre killers, I put them on the same level of stupidity thinking for ’safety’ mechanisms as sausage kerbs, with the FIA seemingly refusing to change them. Poor Abbie Eaton broke her back recently due to squash a kerbs:

How long will it be before these ‘safety’ measures cause a fatal accident?

 

[Pezimak]

I hope that both Hamilton and Verstappen are able to finish competitively for the final two races. It is so close, and with only two races left, that a single mechanical failure or accident that puts one of the out of the race will almost certainly be determinative.

I respect Lewis and Mercedes for regrouping and coming back so strongly in Qatar. But I am ready for a different champion, even if it has to be Verstappen.

Unfortunately there is talk of Mercedes using another new engine, it’ll be there sixth this year if they do and pretty much guarantee Lewis the win, I really don’t want Lewis to win, again.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Firstly he didn’t let the RB through he ran very wide, and secondly I agree however Crofty was directly accusing them of cheating. Hence my complaint, I Can’t stand the man personally and the utterly stupid comments he makes.
I cannot wait till 2024 when the Sky exclusive contract is up, because I’m praying Amazon will come in and out bid Sky for it, then I can watch it on Prime without an overpriced subscription, but I think that’s a dream now more then anything, I know I can watch it in Now TV but its Over £34 a month currently, and that’s only in 720P HD. Hopefully we’d get some decent commentators then.
My mums a tennis fan and since Sky dumped all tennis tournaments, the coverage by Amazon and the ATP streaming app has been both fantastic and endless and extremely good, pretty much every tour is on streaming live and catch-up.

I hope Sky lose it to Amazon too, just so I can occasionally watch a full race live. I’ll be honest though, highlights is good enough for me mostly as it’s less time consuming to get the best of the action. I do hate Sky with a passion and the sooner they get out-bid, the better as far as I am concerned.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I hope that both Hamilton and Verstappen are able to finish competitively for the final two races. It is so close, and with only two races left, that a single mechanical failure or accident that puts one of the out of the race will almost certainly be determinative.

I respect Lewis and Mercedes for regrouping and coming back so strongly in Qatar. But I am ready for a different champion, even if it has to be Verstappen.

I always support a Brit, so will cheer for Hamilton until he retires like I have through his entire F1 career. I wouldn’t have minded seeing a different champion this year, but I can’t really warm to Max, despite acknowledging he’s a brilliant talent. You’d expect him to be though with his privileged upbringing. Hopefully next year we’ll see Hamilton, Russell and Norris up there in the fight. I always wanted to see a Brit win a WDC in a Williams for old times sake. But it’s not Williams anymore without that family connection. Not that they’d be at the front anyway lol.

 

[Glideslope]

Unfortunately there is talk of Mercedes using another new engine, it’ll be there sixth this year if they do and pretty much guarantee Lewis the win, I really don’t want Lewis to win, again.

Its not talk. Toto confirmed in the Post Race “ We are installing our zippy engine we still have for Saudi Arabia.”

Power Unit changes can go south sometimes……….

Does he receive a 5 grid penalty for another change?