Yep, it boils down to max did a divebomb and didn’t leave Lewis any option but to run off the track. You have to leave racing room so the stewards called it correct in my eyes
This is spot on IMO.
Christ this is tense!
Perez showing his teammate how to defend hard and fairly at the same time. Verstappen owes him a pint or two.
Great work by Perez. Getting exciting.
Yes perez that's racing
go Perez
Perez the ultimate team mate there. That was hard but fair, if only Max could drive like that
Max for another lunge then?
Perez showing his teammate how to defend hard and fairly at the same time
This.
Perez showing his teammate how to defend hard and fairly at the same time.
Was wondering if Perez might "accidentally" give him a tap but it seems he's a much fairer driver than his teammate.
Christ on a bike!!!
No contest in the battle of the teammates! Massive stuff from Checo.
Great, fair driving by Perez there.
Lewis was ultra cautious there with passing Perez.
Great action though and that is what you call hard but fair racing between the two...
And I don't Turn 6 lap 1 will really have a bearing either given Lewis's pace advantage
No contest in the battle of the teammates! Massive stuff from Checo.
Yep - while I'm obviously hoping for a LH win, that was an excellent bit of fair and clean racing.
So now whose hard compounds are going to fall away first…?
does that possible 5s penalty come back into play again? Although LH seems to be driving away again.
Well we know Hamilton will be looking after his tyres he is driving like a true Champion.
Love the message on the side of Kimi's car...
'Dear Kimi. We'll leave you alone now...' 🙂
Merc really need Bottas a few seconds closer…
I'm really hoping Bottas can do a Perez, maybe a bit to much to hope for.
He’s on fresh tyres and can’t pass a Ferrari that keeps locking up… he’s out of the picture this weekend.
he’s out of the picture this
season
FTFY
Safety car?
VSC
This is a hard call for Merc
Surprised that LH hasn't pitted!
This might come back to bite them at the end if his tyres fall away.
Why hasn’t Lewis pitted? Could this be a massive strategic mistake?
Ooo eck.
Surprised that LH hasn’t pitted!
RB would always go for the opposite of Hamilton, though.
so sad pleading with the fia by toto.. its a sport ffs
Blimey..this is getting tense
Interesting decision...
I think Merc are gonna gonna regret not pitting Lewis
but why didn't he just cover the move next lap?
Ohhhh, 17 seconds and Lewis with 20 laps to manage those tyres.
Please no punctures!
Yeah, not a great look for Toto.
or another VSC?
so sad pleading with the fia.. its a sport ffs
Yeah, that came across really badly.
I reckon it'll come down to the final couple of laps with MV closing right up.
but why didn’t he just cover the move next lap?
Chances are the VSC would have ended.
Max seems to have gained 4s under the VSC…
Did Karen pay Giovannazzi to park up there? There was a nice gap in the fence just behind him!
Wild lunge on the last lap? This is properly going down to the wire…
I think Merc have dropped a massive clanger here.
Yeah, if LH had come in, MV would have stayed out and had track position so LH would have then had to overtake on track to win.
I'd have used a code call on the radio to make it sound to RB like he was staying out but then dive in last second.
but why didn’t he just cover the move next lap?
Danger of VSC ending and Max suddenly having a load more speed
so [s]sad[/s] pathetic pleading with the fia by toto.. its a sport ffs
make it sound to RB like he was staying out but then dive in last second
Max was what, 4-5 sec behind? Loads of time to respond. Even if he was right on his gearbox he could still react.
bruneep, Horner has made that behaviour his M O, I don't like hearing it from any of them.
I think Merc might still have this ...
Gap has stabilised a bit.
Verstappen needs Lewis' tyres to go off, very quickly.
I know who I'd put my money on if it's just a driver under pressure
Verstappen is nowhere near fast enough to catch Lewis.
Hope the back markers keep it clean for both LM and MV.
Merc don't often get their strategy wrong.
He's making what, 1/2 s per lap and 13 laps to go, doesn't look as close as it feels.
Hopefully Max continues to push and push and overcooks at some point, remove the ambiguity.
tyres to go pop
I think Merc might still have this …
Assuming the tyres hold on, probably.
Any sort of incident or the tyres giving up though and it could come right down to the final corner!
Yeah, Max isn't going fast enough.
Where has Max's pace gone? Lewis is in traffic and he's still not closing
10 laps to go, 12 second gap.
Horner is saying there's nothing that RB can do now to close it down but that might be a double bluff...
Down to Lewis's tyres staying together, then...
1s a lap now, how much due to the back markers?
If Max does lose this he needs to employ a driver coach over winter. Aggression may win races it doesn’t win championships though.
If Max does lose this he needs to employ a driver coach over winter.
Horner made a big thing about how Max is his own man and doesn't need such things where as Lewis needs all kinds of support.
I agree though he may need to reconsider even if he does win...
Down to Lewis’s tyres staying together, then…
Adelaide 86?
I'd stayed up all bloody night to watch that!
Back to just under 12s….
Max seems to be struggling to catch and get past the back markers.
Oh!
It'll finish under the safety car now.
Hello....
ooff safety car soft tyres
Aaargg
Shit.
shit
Finish under SC?!
Played right back into RB hands here.
Oh ffs
Oh oh!
Max pitting? He’s got to do a lot of
Overtaking!
Ffs
This is a gift for Max
Lots of British marshals go to AD don't they? You know what to do folks...
Safety car to the end?