F1 Thread

[chadrtc]

That's the first time I've seen a robbery after the car chase!

To be fair RB & MV didn't do anything wrong, neither did Merc & LH.

It seems to me that so desperate was the need for a green flag finish the rules were "re-interpreted" to allow this. A red flag immediately the safety car was deployed plus a standing start would have provided that. It would have provided a more level playing field and not denied Sainz a crack at MV & LH too, it is car racing after all!

I thought LH & Merc played it exactly right and had the positions been reversed RB would have done the same and Merc would have made the same pleadings as CH did.

While I think LH deserved the title I'm not sure taking from MV now is the right thing to do. This is a mess entirely of the authorities making and I can't see a wholly fair way out of it

[chadrtc]

The problem is that the rules have been inconsistently applied from one week to the next, the addition of the broadcasting of team principals lobbying the Race Director has been a cluster ****.it’s always happened… but letting viewers see behind the curtain to create drama, has only damaged the legitimacy of the sport.

The FIA have been trying to engineer a final race showdown from the resumption after the mid season break. The whole mess is on them, not Max or Lewis. We’ve ended up with a ridiculous finish that has ruined Max’s first world title, and disenfranchised one of the greatest drivers of all time. The sport has been turned into sports entertainment over the last few months. Netflix over sporting integrity.

Personally I’ve enjoyed Indycar far more this year… and I can’t remember that ever happening.

[RichC]

Or maybe the race Max won in Belgium after only 2 laps behind the safety car? I think you’re seeing a narrative that doesn’t exist personally.

Lewis Hamilton has been a class act this season, look at his response to the cluster**** on Sunday, it’s in stark contrast to Verstappen the week before being correctly penalised.

[Harv]

We get it, you despise him.

I don't like either of them

[Harv]

Or maybe the race Max won in Belgium after only 2 laps behind the safety car? I think you’re seeing a narrative that doesn’t exist personally.

Lewis Hamilton has been a class act this season, look at his response to the cluster**** on Sunday, it’s in stark contrast to Verstappen the week before being correctly penalised.

I thought that was a good solid race. Max led from start to finish and thoroughly deserved the points

[Harv]

Any comment on the Monza incident or was that just “racing”

Probably 50/50 really. Max was a bit cheeky but had every right to go for it, Lewis left him no room and actually moved towards him taking more space away. Pretty sure Brundle agreed during comms. The thing with both of them is that they rarely yield.

[Scratch]

I thought that was a good solid race. Max led from start to finish and thoroughly deserved the points

If Lewis had a better qualifying, it would have been him on pole and taking the half-max points. As it is, Verstappen out-qualified him (which was a common them this season I believe) so got the benefit.

Shame the rain came again, but at that time of the year it's common, maybe it's a race that would benefit from another calendar spot.

Next year will be George's year!

[Norbs]

Mercedes should have told Bottas to crash as soon as they knew what was going on.

That's a really good point, it would've denied them the constructors championship though and probably a pot of cash

[Scratch]

And, as we've seen before (was it Schumacher and Hill?) deliberately crashing, albeit not into an opponent this time, can end up with the individuals entire points total being wiped. With all the onboard cameras and whatnot, crashing deliberately would be hard to hide.

[Kenneth]

If the systems showed Max brake checking Hamilton on a straight causing a collision and the punishment was 5 seconds, I doubt they’d do much for running slightly wide and into a wall. Should have the same plausible deniability.

[chadrtc]

If the systems showed Max brake checking Hamilton on a straight causing a collision and the punishment was 5 seconds, I doubt they’d do much for running slightly wide and into a wall.

Normally I’d agree, but almost every punishment in the last 3 months has been with a view to getting to a showdown at the end of the season. I think anyone who caused that to not happen would have the book thrown at them, regardless of inconsistency.

The punishment for the brake check probably should have been retrospective disqualification, or a serious grid place penalty for the next race, but that would have spoiled their main event booking for the PPV ;-)

It’s the same as not having Hamilton give the place back early in the race on Sunday. At that point they thought Max had by far the faster car based on Qualifying, plus the soft tires. So they though not punishing Lewis would give them the competitive finale. The inconsistencies both ways have been wild over the last few months… but narrow minded folks just focus on those that confirm their bias towards one or another.

[Kenneth]

Maybe so. What a mess.

[Scratch]

It didn't show a brake-check tho, it showed Max desperate to let Lewis have the place back before the DRS zone and Lewis not having a clue what was going on so rather than passing Max he got too close behind him and they collided as Max desperately slowed down. Lewis had plenty of room to pass if he'd got the message and confusion reigned supreme.

[labourRed]

It didn't show a brake-check tho, it showed Max desperate to let Lewis have the place back before the DRS zone and Lewis not having a clue what was going on so rather than passing Max he got too close behind him and they collided as Max desperately slowed down. Lewis had plenty of room to pass if he'd got the message and confusion reigned supreme.

Nope, he brake tested. I can't remember the ab

According to the stewards, Verstappen “braked suddenly (69 bar) and significantly, resulting in 2.4G deceleration.”

So yes, Hamilton didn't get the message but became aware Verstappen was giving up the position but slowed down as he didn't want to overtake before the DRS line which was approaching or Verstappen would just slingshot back by him... which he 100% would have.

[Kenneth]

Max was told to cede the position at corner 22. He decided to slow and let Lewis pass on corner 27, just before the DRS zone. Lewis didn’t want to go along with such ****house tactics and slowed, then Max forced the issue and hit the brakes, causing a collision.

I’m not a flag waving Hamilton fan by any means, but I absolutely do not like Verstappen, he’s a genuinely dangerous driver and weak sanctions throughout this career have encouraged his behaviour, when they should be doing the opposite for the safety of all concerned.