F1 2021

[evilwebby]

It's not like they can rely on Bottas to push and press him into making a mistake or even semi-intentionally putting him in a pickle, as he'll be nowhere near him.

For me, this has been their Achilles heel throughout the season: woeful decision making from the strategists and team to the point of negligence.

Maybe it's been negated in previous years due to their pace, which means they've not been pressed into making choices, but this year it's a huge decline.

The sprint race weekends are just an encapsulation of the problems they have faced all year-

Hamilton Qualifying result: 1,1,1
Grid start: 2,4,(tbd, but let's say 5)

Verstappen Qualifying: 2,3,2
Grid start: 1,1, (tbd, but quite possibly 1)

takes some doing to be stuffing up so regularly. And this is pretty reflective of how the whole season has gone. You can't win a championship when you keep letting your best chances slip through your fingers to your biggest competitor.

 

[PhilM]

The sprint race weekends are just an encapsulation of the problems they have faced all year-

Hamilton Qualifying result: 1,1,1
Grid start: 2,4,(tbd, but let's say 5)

Verstappen Qualifying: 2,3,2
Grid start: 1,1, (tbd, but quite possibly 1)

takes some doing to be stuffing up so regularly. And this is pretty reflective of how the whole season has gone. You can't win a championship when you keep letting your best chances slip through your fingers to your biggest competitor.

Previously, Mercedes frequently outwitted their opponents or at least made the simple, reliable choices and it reaped rewards. It was almost like a catalyst.

Now for whatever reason, they seem to be making the wrong choices on a regular basis. Was it that their excessive speed masked their inefficiencies?

Did it make it easier for them? I'm tending to think they're not use to the pressure and having to be reactionary - e.g. chasing an opponent - and it's unravelled.

Rightly or wrongly, they chose to focus their time, money and effort on R&D for next year, which I'm expecting they'll believe will benefit them in the long-term.

But, you'd have thought that they'd have focused this year on their strategies and getting it right. Instead, it's like they're blindly pulling ideas out of a hat.

Red Bull in general have a faster car and that will always make it difficult, however like you say they're letting their chances slip away - no, they're tossing them away.

 

[The binman chronicles]

I thought that. It's all very strange and again potentially looking like the continng saga of Mercedes making the wrong choices.

Either they have decided to run illegally to get an extra % advantage hoping they won't get caught or perhaps it was damaged and that's what they are waiting on before handing out the punishment. Or Verstappen pushed his hand in to widen the gap while they were parked up...

 

[PhilM]

Either they have decided to run illegally to get an extra % advantage hoping they won't get caught or perhaps it was damaged and that's what they are waiting on before handing out the punishment. Or Verstappen pushed his hand in to widen the gap while they were parked up...

Honestly, I wouldn't pit it past him.

 

[john jako]

Previously, Mercedes frequently outwitted their opponents or at least made the simple, reliable choices and it reaped rewards. It was almost like a catalyst.

Now for whatever reason, they seem to be making the wrong choices on a regular basis. Was it that their excessive speed masked their inefficiencies?

Did it make it easier for them? I'm tending to think they're not use to the pressure and having to be reactionary - e.g. chasing an opponent - and it's unravelled.

Rightly or wrongly, they chose to focus their time, money and effort on R&D for next year, which I'm expecting they'll believe will benefit them in the long-term.

But, you'd have thought that they'd have focused this year on their strategies and getting it right. Instead, it's like they're blindly pulling ideas out of a hat.

Red Bull in general have a faster car and that will always make it difficult, however like you say they're letting their chances slip away - no, they're tossing them away.

One bit of pressure and they have crumbled. Easy making decisions when there is nobody challenging you.

 

[BNJ1878]

Honestly, I wouldn't pit it past him.

Honestly, I'm sure thats what Merc will argue.

They'll ask them to compare Bottas car (that Verstappen didn't touch) and see that it complies.

It's a weak argument, but both Merc and Red Bull are capable of extreme pettiness.

 

[arminisgod]

Honestly, I'm sure thats what Merc will argue.

They'll ask them to compare Bottas car (that Verstappen didn't touch) and see that it complies.

It's a weak argument, but both Merc and Red Bull are capable of extreme pettiness.

if a human can push and damage the wing.... its just not plausible.

But this is F1, a huge soap opera

 

[The binman chronicles]

Honestly, I'm sure thats what Merc will argue.

They'll ask them to compare Bottas car (that Verstappen didn't touch) and see that it complies.

It's a weak argument, but both Merc and Red Bull are capable of extreme pettiness.

You would wouldn't you. It is weak but unless other footage comes out that shows he didn't actually touch it then it's an argument to be had. He definitely touched his own in a few places, almost like he was closing something so he only has himself to blame if Lewis doesn't get a penalty and he gets one. That was amateur hour in full force, see something on a car you think is ropey report to the stewards, not try and take measurements yourself.

 

[BNJ1878]

You would wouldn't you. It is weak but unless other footage comes out that shows he didn't actually touch it then it's an argument to be had. He definitely touched his own in a few places, almost like he was closing something so he only has himself to blame if Lewis doesn't get a penalty and he gets one. That was amateur hour in full force, see something on a car you think is ropey report to the stewards, not try and take measurements yourself.

*speculation alert*

He shoved his hand into his own DRS letterbox and then put it into Merc to compare the gap, if any.

Silly boy.

Anyway, it's 8am there. As soon as sticky buns are out the way they'll deliver a verdict.

 

[Connor]

Seems as if the outcome will be:

Hamilton DSQ from quali, pit lane start for the sprint. Verstappen reprimanded for breaking Parc Ferme rules.

The cars passed scrutineering after he went near it so he clearly didn't damage anything - if he even touched it all. Incredible drama, though.

 

[arminisgod]

*speculation alert*

He shoved his hand into his own DRS letterbox and then put it into Merc to compare the gap, if any.

Silly boy.

Anyway, it's 8am there. As soon as sticky buns are out the way they'll deliver a verdict.

Spolier alert for the race...

Hamilton starts at the back.... gets hit on the first lap, for no reason whats so ever the FIA call a safety car out... Hamilton gets a free nose change.

on lap 30 as Hamilton is 200 metres away from the pits... another safety car is called for 'debris on the track'.... Hamilton gets another free stop and puts him in the podium places

 

[Tubey]

It'll be a shame if the title race is destroyed by something so silly, but by the rulebook it should be a DQ for Hamilton and he starts at the back for the sprint, and Verstappen just gets a reprimand.

At that point it's game over and Verstappen wins the title.

 

[BNJ1878]

Whilst we wait for stewards to dish out punishment.....

Just found this on twitter. Ace.

 

[PhilM]

Max fined €50,000.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Max fined €50,000.

Red Bull will just pay it for him anyway, fines at the top end of F1 are pointless.