F1 2020 (spoilers abound)

'Hey, remember when they enforced team orders on us because we couldn't stop driving into each other?'

'Look at us. Look at us. Who would have thought it? Not me!'#SakhirGP | #F1 pic.twitter.com/k9hVx4n0h2

— The Race (@wearetherace) December 7, 2020

I think it demonstrates some of the problems with F1, Checo out and daddy’s boy stays. Hope RB take him, Albion isn’t good enough IMO

As much as I hate this – ‘Daddy’ is investing millions and employing hundreds of staff in Racing Point and there’s no reason they can’t be at the front of the grid like the privately owned and run Red Bull.

If over the next couple of years they produce a car capable of winning then even Daddy Stroll won’t keep his son in the car if he isn’t delivering the goods. At the minute it’s a transition period and it doesn’t really matter financially so he may as well stay.

I’m still unsure on Perez either – he’s had a good season but he’s also had many mediocre ones.

Gutted for George, had it won really, Bahrain is seemingly a nightmare for some after Leclerc’s lost win there last year too.

I feel sorry for Alex, but there are only so many excuses you can make for the kid. Think it’s too early for Red Bull to promote Tsunoda, stick Albon back in the Alpha Tauri and let him and Gasly battle it out. Put Perez in the Red Bull alongside Verstappen and take the battle to Merc before the rules change for 2022.

Think it’s too early for Red Bull to promote Tsunoda, stick Albon back in the Alpha Tauri and let him and Gasly battle it out.

RB have already said they’re unlikely to consider Albon for the AT seat, it’s a case of earning the RB seat or not having a drive. Tsunoda seems favourite to get the AT drive and it looks like a showdown between Perez and Albon for the RB. The last two races have been very one-sided on that front, but we shall see. Certainly seems like Albon must have a mountain to climb in Abu Dhabi.

As I see it, Albon has had more than a season to prove himself in the RB and still isn’t there. Even if a miracle happens in the final race, one good race is nowhere near enough for him to keep his seat. If he’s retained over Perez it’s a travesty and only because of the Thai connection.

Pretty much guaranteed:
RB: Verstappen and Perez
AT: Gasly and Tsunoda

Wolff must be thinking about buying Bottas out of his contract with his performance going backwards and being completely outclassed by Russell on his third day in the car. Depends on how much he values Russell’s development and having the perfect Hamilton replacement for when he’s done with racing versus a mediocre second driver and Hamilton getting the job done for Mercedes. If RB don’t catastrophically screw up by retaining Albon, next year is sure to be closer and the Bottas deadweight could be a problem. If Russell isn’t in a Mercedes in 2021, it’s a sure thing for 2022.

Mercedes: Hamilton and Russell
Williams: Latifi and Aitken/Bottas

outclassed by Russell on his third day in the car

Arguably also his first 🙂

Can’t see Bottas taking a Williams seat now, I’m sure he’d rather go rallying or something.

I think it may hinge somewhat on how long Toto can get Lewis to sign for—and nothing’s even been inked for next year yet. Valtteri isn’t their next Lewis, George is. So if I were in Toto’s shoes my main thought would be around how he can maximise Russell getting the benefit of Hamilton’s expertise. If he can’t convince Hamilton to sign for at least two years then I would think that presents a challenge.

On the other hand: Merc as a constructor just want to win the constructors championship without their drivers crashing into each other. So far Bottas has come second to Lewis.

George may be closer to Lewis, but still second.

So why change Bottas for George, all you do is risk having George crash into Lewis.

I think you change Bottas for George because you want the two best drivers you can get and, right now, Russell’s potential seems greater than Valtieri’s. If Lewis doesn’t enjoy next year and knocks it on the head, you’d rather have George in your car than someone else’s….

Really interested to see if they’ll give him another run at the next GP – hope so!

Would be fun to see a Hamilton/Russell swap for the last race.
Let Hamilton see how much he can wring out of the Williams and fight without having the best car.
Never going to happen, but it’s nice to dream.

Valtteri isn’t their next Lewis

Valtteri Bottas wasn’t meant to be the next Lewis. He’s there as a second driver to ensure that Lewis wins titles and so far he’s done an excellent job.

I really, really wanted to see Russell win on his first time out in the Merc and to be absolutely fair to the guy he fought his way to the lead twice. Fastest lap and Driver of the Day is poor consolation for the missing silverware. Russell made no mistakes, he drove with supreme confidence and measured aggression, I cannot wait to see him in a decent car.

That said, Perez did an amazing job of recovering from a first lap clash that wasn’t of his own making. His overdue win comes without a contract in his pocked for next year and he’s made his team mate look distinctly average. Perez deserves to be in F1 next year, I hope that Red Bull give him that opportunity.

It shows how much difference a car can make.
I’ve often wondered just how good Leclerc is, he manages to put that rubbish Ferrari in the top 5. What would he do in a Reb Bull or Merc ?

Perez win was somewhat hollow, no matter how “deserved” it was because there’s no way he would have been higher than third on the podium if it wasn’t for the biggest* clusterf**k in F1 history!
😉
*Biggest I can remember…though I’m sure there’s plenty I’ve forgotten!

biggest* clusterf**k in F1 history!
😉
*Biggest I can remember…though I’m sure there’s plenty I’ve forgotten!

There have undoubtedly been bigger, but I can’t remember a team screwing up two pit stops in the space of ten seconds before…

Merc tend to **** up at least 2 races a year but have always had the ability to reset and go again the next race without a hangover, Toto and Lewis just bring that experience and calmness to the team, no others seemingly can do that. Compare that to Ferrari last year, fastest car for at least the first half of the season and one mistake just kept rolling into the next as they did their best keystone cop impressions, they had the fastest car but zero confidence they could win races.

You know after Sunday merc will just work to make sure they don’t **** up again, Toto will reassure the pit crew that they can make it right next race and the driver that he did everything right and raced a great race. Other teams would be recriminations, tantrums and bitterness plaguing them into the next race.

Thing is, although Russell got Bottas at the start, Bottas’s later race was screwed up by the safety car pit stop, where they ended up leaving him on old, hard tyres. Russell (eventually) got nice new mediums, so Bottas had no chance against him.
So I’m not sure that Russell was that much “better” than Bottas (apart from the start)

I thin MB should suggest to Lewis that he needs more rest after his covid infection
Put George back in the car for 2 reasons.
He deserved a win in what was the dominant performance on the day, and…
To see if he can repeat the same thing next weekend to prove hes really got skills and get him a contract if he does

Russell (eventually) got nice new mediums, so Bottas had no chance against him.
So I’m not sure that Russell was that much “better” than Bottas (apart from the start)

Hmm, I wonder what would have happened if VB had came if for another stop??? Such a short lap made it risky I guess but with little to lose, they (MB) should have gone for it…

Quite frankly, Bottas doesn’t have the talent to scythe through the field so another stop for fresh tyres would have sent him even further backwards. He’s shown that time and time again, with people defending him by saying the car doesn’t work in traffic, but Hamilton and Russell can do it.

Bottas doesn’t have the talent to scythe through the field

Yeah agree…he’s been stuck behind slower cars way too many times

Valtteri Bottas wasn’t meant to be the next Lewis. He’s there as a second driver to ensure that Lewis wins titles

That’s the point I was making. When Hamilton retires they need a replacement for Hamilton. And Bottas isn’t it.

So I’m not sure that Russell was that much “better” than Bottas (apart from the start)

Hm, he had better pace for most of the race (late tyre hiccups notwithstanding), didn’t make errors that put himself under pressure like Bottas did, and handled the restart with aplomb…

Hm, he had better pace for most of the race (late tyre hiccups notwithstanding), didn’t make errors that put himself under pressure like Bottas did, and handled the restart with aplomb…

Whilst asking questions about which buttons do what and getting at least one of them wrong during the race.

I think they’ll be happy to continue with Bottas next year as a partner to Hamilton, then promote Russell in 2022 as a future team leader for when Hamilton steps aside. It’s possible that other teams will catch Merc when the new regulations and cost caps take effect and it’s not clear if Hamilton will be motivated to keep driving in a less competitive car against young, hungry drivers. That’s when Merc will need Russell, but next year they probably think they’re best to just stick with a pairing that works nicely.

Hm, he had better pace for most of the race (late tyre hiccups notwithstanding), didn’t make errors that put himself under pressure like Bottas did, and handled the restart with aplomb…

Except Bottas was catching Russell..cut his lead from 8 to 5 seconds or so before the safety car and crap pit stop.

Don’t get me wrong…I’m no fan of Bottas but I don’t think there was as much difference between them as it appears. Which in itself shows how much better Russell will be when he’s got a car that fits and has driven it more than 4 times

Gutted for Russell but I actually thought Verstappen would have an accident with him in the first couple of corners, fortunately that didn’t happen and he at least got to show what he was capable of.

Would be nice if he got a Merc seat in 2021 but not sure he will. As for 2022 – seems a shoe-in then but given all the new regs it might not be the dream seat it currently is, will be interesting to see who adapts the fastest between him and Lewis though.

Not sure if it’s already been posted but someone’s done a detailed 3D simulation of Grosjean’s crash – scary how close the armco was to trapping him and thank **** for the halo slicing through the barrier rather than it hitting his helmet.

Would Hamilton have pitted in that situation? I dont think he would have, with a few laps to go and the pace he would have had, he would probably think it was a risk not worth taking…
I’m not sure what Merc have to gain by unseating Bottas for 2021. As long as they have Russell in for 2022 they’ll have continuity.

Perez has had a great season. The RP is certainly capable and the team seem to know their strategy, so they’ve been in the right place at the right time. And how well do people really think Perez would go in the RB? It’s car built around Max with a massive front end balance. Gasly couldn’t drive it and is competitive again back in a more normal car. Albon is still getting to grips with it. They’re not shit drivers.

Would Hamilton have pitted in that situation? I dont think he would have, with a few laps to go and the pace he would have had, he would probably think it was a risk not worth taking…

Agreed, he has form for not going along with all the team calls – wouldn’t really have been an option for Russell though and Bottas isn’t really in a position to overrule the team either. The call itself was sound though (for Russell at least), they just messed it up and I’m sure will have procedures in place now to double/triple check all pit wall calls are received properly by the garage.

Stay out on hard old tyres while the pack is backed up behind him and the safety car on softer tyres? He might have done a better job of defending than Bota’s, but even Lewis wouldn’t have been able to hold them back, he would have been just as much a sitting duck. Coming in for the tyre change was the right thing to do, they just **** it up in an unimaginable way.

Tabloid fodder I know – but Russell and Bottas changing their Insta Bios… 🤔🤔

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1369750/Valtteri-Bottas-Mercedes-George-Russell-Williams-Instagram

…maybe Bottas was already on a written warning following his mistakes this season?

…maybe Bottas was already on a written warning following his mistakes this season?

winning more races than anyone other than Hamilton, qualifying usually withing a tenth of probably the best qualifier ever, standing second in the championship behind his teammate and delivering his fourth successive constructor’s title? Not in the same league as Lewis but hardly written warning territory.

I’m not talking literally ‘written warning’!

But the fact Mercedes will only give him 1 year deals speaks volumes about where he sits with them.

Bottas is 2nd. Hamilton is 1st. I see no point in changing Bottas for anyone. No one can do better while Hamilton is driving the other car.

Given Hamilton is 1st, how can you better 2nd ?

Merc only want to win the constructors championship. The have two drivers who win 1st and 2nd. Job done.

…Russell might be better than Hamilton! 🙂

That is entirely possible.
And having two drivers fighting for the championship has never caused them any problems in the past.

If Mercedes don’t give Russell a seat next season, someone else could make him an offer.

If Mercedes don’t give Russell a seat next season, someone else could make him an offer.

He is contracted to Williams for 2021.

winning more races than anyone other than Hamilton, qualifying usually withing a tenth of probably the best qualifier ever, standing second in the championship behind his teammate and delivering his fourth successive constructor’s title? Not in the same league as Lewis but hardly written warning territory.

But how much of that is the car when a bloke who barely knows how the steering wheel works rocks up and beats you at the first go?   How many of the other drivers on the grid would beat Bottas?   Has he been shown to be a mediocre driver in a superb car which is flattering him?

The thing is, when Hamilton moves on, they’ll want someone who can light up the track and the media.   Bottas isn’t really either.

He is contracted to Williams for 2021.

So? Contracts get bought out, it’s almost a revenue stream for poorer teams to develop talent.

But would Russel bite? Knowing that the seat is probably his in 2022. Would you take a chance and go somewhere else or wait for the best team in the history of Formula 1 to give you the seat you know is coming?

We’ve new regs coming in 2022 that promise to be a game-changer, more overtaking, a fundamentally different car concept with ground effect and budget caps that. Do you bring your future star driver into a new team with new rules with a reliance on getting up to speed quickly, or do you bring them in for 2021 to learn how the team works and help develop a new clean sheet car?

Everyone else is trying to get their team structures into place – Red Bull wants continuity of engine and star driver, McLaren will have the unplanned grace of a year getting reacquainted with Mercedes, Sainz and Leclerc will have had a year to acclimatise.