New Grand Prix Season Is Almost Upon Us!!!

[Hotschi]

What disaster for Ferrari! Race incident, as was decided post-race by the experts (race commissaires), enough said. Alonso kicked out as well, would have been interesting with him still in the race. Ricciardo with gearbox troubles, couldn't use all gears, so no way to attack Mercedes.

And Lucky Lewis wins this race, gifted by the collision at start. Ferrari 0, Mercedes 40, top result for the team. Six races left, Vettel woud need to win 4 races (with Hamilton 2nd) just to equalize Hamilton's lead. I wouldn't place a bet on Vettel.

Verstappen has a disastrous year - either his car breaks down, or he get's crashed, or he makes mistakes himself. A year to Forget, but he's still a Youngster.

[warspite1]

Gasly for Kyvat. Sorry, but its long overdue that Kyvat got dropped. He just hasn't performed in relation to Sainz and the mistakes are just too much.

[Lecivius]

Am I the only one looking on in shock at Force India?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

Am I the only one looking on in shock at Force India?

warspite1

In what way?

[Lecivius]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

Am I the only one looking on in shock at Force India?

warspite1

In what way?

If you have to ask, then it's not obvious. I'll go sit in a corner & be quiet [;)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Lecivius

Am I the only one looking on in shock at Force India?

warspite1

In what way?

If you have to ask, then it's not obvious. I'll go sit in a corner & be quiet [;)]

warspite1

Er...okay [:)]

[ncc1701e]

I think this year is for Lewis.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

I think this year is for Lewis.

warspite1

Let's hope you're right, but two things you can be certain of with Lewis - it won't be straightforward and there will be plenty of drama.

Sadly my money is still firmly on Vettel - a truly great driver, but also one of the luckiest World Champions ever. As Napoleon famously said when assessing a general being championed "Yes, but is he lucky?"

[ncc1701e]

Yeah but Vettel seems out of luck these days... [:D]

[warspite1]

Well based on the Friday practice sessions Mercedes are waaaay off the pace and not even second to Ferrari [&:]

[ncc1701e]

Nice race for Vettel except for his arrival... [:D]

Lewis is still there. This end of season will be entertaining.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

Lewis is still there. This end of season will be entertaining.

warspite1

God knows how. That is two races now where the Mercedes has been outclassed by both the Ferrari and the Red Bull's and only circumstance has stopped Vettel having an enormous lead over Lewis.

The real yardstick for the Mercedes performance is Bottas - who has been absolutely nowhere in the last two races and its only Hamilton's ability (allied to massive slices of good fortune) that has seen him actually increase his own lead.

Mercedes need to get a grip here or the Championship - particularly with the Red Bulls also taking points away from Lewis - is over [:(]

[warspite1]

Suzuka.

Early signs are not looking good for Lewis and Mercedes.....[:(]

[ncc1701e]

Well will see. Second session was not really meaningful with all this rain.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

Well will see.

warspite1

Indeed. Mercedes must be wondering if they made the right decision with Bottas on the evidence of the last few races though. He is miles off his team mates pace at the moment....

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

Well will see.

warspite1

Indeed. Mercedes must be wondering if they made the right decision with Bottas on the evidence of the last few races though. He is miles off his team mates pace at the moment....

I'm not sure, but seems often that the second drivers get to be more out of pace as the season matures, and the stars get their wishes fulfilled on everything related to car development and race tactics... Bottas is still third on standings, with Mercs securely in the first place with all the others a way behind them. Maybe he doesn't want to rock the boat too much at this stage. Which sucks, of course, if true.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: ncc1701e

Well will see.

warspite1

Indeed. Mercedes must be wondering if they made the right decision with Bottas on the evidence of the last few races though. He is miles off his team mates pace at the moment....

I'm not sure, but seems often that the second drivers get to be more out of pace as the season matures, and the stars get their wishes fulfilled on everything related to car development and race tactics... Bottas is still third on standings, with Mercs securely in the first place with all the others a way behind them. Maybe he doesn't want to rock the boat too much at this stage. Which sucks, of course, if true.

warspite1

I don't think its a case of not wanting to rock the boat and Mercedes have made very clear - and they have been totally consistent (even to their own detriment) - that both drivers get the same treatment.

Bottas is third because he has won two races and put in some fine performances. But he himself has admitted that the last few races have been the worst time of his racing career - he has simply been miles off the pace with the same equipment. Good to see this qualifying performance was more like Bottas at the start of the season.

[VPaulus]

Note that Bottas his using a new Aero package since Malaysia while Lewis was still using the old one:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/13211 ... ro-package

I believe that he's keeping the new one and Lewis the old one for Suzuka.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hami ... an-961549/

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: VPaulus

Note that Bottas his using a new Aero package since Malaysia while Lewis was still using the old one:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/13211 ... ro-package

I believe that he's keeping the new one and Lewis the old one for Suzuka.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hami ... an-961549/

warspite1

Yes, but to be clear I am commenting on what has come straight from the horses mouth. I am not suggesting Bottas is having a bad time - he himself and Toto Wolff are.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formul ... ottas.html

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: VPaulus

Note that Bottas his using a new Aero package since Malaysia while Lewis was still using the old one:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/13211 ... ro-package

I believe that he's keeping the new one and Lewis the old one for Suzuka.
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hami ... an-961549/

warspite1

Yes, but to be clear I am commenting on what has come straight from the horses mouth. I am not suggesting Bottas is having a bad time - he himself and Toto Wolff are.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formul ... ottas.html

Certainly. It˚s just that I don’t quite agree with ”Mercedes must be wondering” part of your post. Yet. But he needs to up his game quickly, obviously.