F1 2021 – spoilers here

mashr

I’d bet nobody loses pace because of it. It’s not as blatant as when Merc were runing under pressure. I reckon they’ll all be at it and it’s all marginal gains stuff (remember it was the least stressed tyres going at Baku rather than the ones doing all the work)

Yes true, it’s not that huge of a difference. It’s only got to save a handful seconds over an entire stint to be worthwhile though.

If the ‘cheat’ is running the tyres at low pressure, then i suppose it makes sense that a relatively unloaded one would fail. The loaded ones get hotter and therefore run at higher pressure, therefore less flex in the sidewall.

Also the lesser loaded tyre will spend more time dragging the inner edge along the tarmac due to the camber, maybe that’s why they both failed on the inner sidewall.

Ocon has signed with Alpine until 2025. Significant, because Ocon was a junior Merc driver managed by Toto Wolff and was theoretically in contention for the second seat at Mercedes.

It’s a straight choice now between Russell and Bottas.

If Bottas leaves Merc, where would he go ?

Williams, surely?

Finland?

Williams is the obvious one. Now that their finances are stable, they could use an experienced driver to help develop the car under the new rules. Not sure what Kimi’s contract situation is, but Sauber would be the other obvious one. Haas would probably benefit from having him, but not sure they will want to pay for him.

Five quid says around the summer break Mercedes announce Hamilton and Russell, both on two-year contracts.

In which case, Bottas either in a Williams or a rally car.

Bottas either in a Williams or a rally car

or *shudders* Extreme E

Broadly agreed, although I won’t be surprised to see Hamilton opt for a year’s extension with an option for extension. If incorrect, a fiver will go to a charity of my choice.

Five quid says around the summer break Mercedes announce Hamilton and Russell, both on two-year contracts.

Williams would do a lot worse than to snap up Bottas over yet another junior driver that won’t necessarily develop the car in the right direction.

Depends what Williams ambitions are and how deep their pockets are – he’s not going to trundle round at the back for 500k a year! 🙂

Interesting about Ocon’s contract, wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t an option in the contract to recall him to Merc should his services become required in a year or two.

I’m pretty sure Ocon is a free agent. Only connection to Mercedes now is Toto is his manager.

the-muffin-man
Full Member

Depends what Williams ambitions are and how deep their pockets are – he’s not going to trundle round at the back for 500k a year! 🙂

Unless there’s not a better option on the table from elsewhere

the-muffin-man
Full Member

I’m pretty sure Ocon is a free agent. Only connection to Mercedes now is Toto is his manager.
Posted 32 minutes ago

Right you are, i misremembered

please

It’s pretty much the only way to make Paul Ricard entertaining that’s for sure

Be careful what you wish for.

Max will spin off and Horner will blame Mercedes because it was the wrong sort of rain! 🤣

The French GP is generally a snoozefest, but a dash of rain would liven it up enormously.

Shock horror…Mazespin is facing backwards….

Hamilton and Bottas swapped cars for this weekend. Now Hamilton’s complaining that there’s something not right with the car.

Quite enjoying hearing these radio convos with Michael Masi.

Team: “Can you can get rid of those yellow kerbs? We’ve just done 100 grand there”

MM: “Nope, the teams asked for this you ****”

(paraphrasing slightly)

Hamilton and Bottas swapped cars for this weekend. Now Hamilton’s complaining that there’s something not right with the car.

I realise that it’s never quite so simple as this, given that both drivers will have their own setup choices but wouldn’t it be a turn up if Bottas’s car was a pup? Anyway, isn’t Bottas’s car all new after the Russell coming together earlier in the year?

Dodgy prawn phall?

Vettel blames wind for turn 11 off.

Hamilton and Bottas swapped cars for this weekend.

Why on Earth would they do that?

Anyway, isn’t Bottas’s car all new after the Russell coming together earlier in the year?

Yes. And the old one had been on the podium before George wrecked it…
Still seems an odd thing to do though, surely they get familiar with one?
.
I remember in 14 and 15 Hamilton won the title, just in 14 and easily in 15, then Mercedes swapped the mechanics over and Rosberg won in 16 with Hamilton’s old mechanics. I like that Mercedes are so even handed with their drivers.
Personally, I think another factor was Hamilton getting complacent in early 16 after an easy win in 15 and then being too far behind to catch up once he realised he had a fight on his hands. IIRC Bottas 2.0 was in the lead 4 races in a couple of years ago but I think Hamilton had learned from the 16 experience and upped his game early enough to do something about it.

Bottas leaves Merc, where would he go ?

i suspect that largely depends if someone is prepared to pay him what he will want to trundle round in the back half of the grid assuming he would rather do that then retire

Still seems an odd thing to do though, surely they get familiar with one?

In theory, they should be basically identical. Each driver will have some parts customized for them (seat, pedals, steering wheel etc.), plus engines and gearboxes are assigned to a driver. All those parts will be swapped to the new chassis, plus aerodynamic and suspension parts will probably be swapped out regularly so they’re really only talking about the carbon-fibre tub that everything bolts onto. If a driver can tell the difference between one tub and another after swapping all the parts, then there’s a problem.

Ooh, NOT Mazepin!

Give him a chance!

Still not Mazepin!

It is a Haas though…

Haas looks properly shit.

F1 twerk

so, dark skies over the circuit 😀

Enjoyed that – good race!

Great race by Red Bull, looks like the back-office boffins at Mercedes called it wrong!

Good race, lots of overtaking and exciting to the very end. Will Verstapen and Red Bull be able to continue to beat Hamilton and Mercedes on a regular basis and win the championship. Mercedes seem to be making more mistakes than they normally do, such as their strategy today.