Formula 1

[ukracer]

Just reread you comment and you quoted that he had switched a bias switch but in his interview he said he had switched the break switch off. No mention of a bias . Perhaps he was still in shock during the interview and has had time to think about it. It admit it did seem strange to have a switch that could switch the brakes off.

That's they way they talk about brake magic...it's on or off.

 

[ukracer]

Well the French GP was actually pretty good with a decent bit of overtaking. I'm actually starting to feel sorry for Bottas now and he was absolutely justified in what he said on the radio at the end of the race - Valtteri Bottas fumes at Mercedes in French GP - 'Why the f*** does no-one listen to me?' (msn.com) Typically the team could apologise to Sir Hamilton yet only acknowledge what Bottas said with "Copy, we understand"! Some 'team' eh

I think Merc allows what fairness is realistic. Given that they look likely to loose the Drivers championship the way things are going.
It's more difficult with constructors title.
You can only prioritise one if you are on the back foot.

As for the specifics of the French race. Strange decisions were made not least not putting Bottas for the fastest lap at the end. That made no sense as he was 5 seconds behind checko with 54 seconds in hand over 5th place.

 

[ukracer]

whole heartedly agree with that , if your not the a1 driver you are invisible it seems

Teams use the B driver to pressurise the other team into a tactic/action.
That said they pitted Bottas first when he was second on track. That cost Hamilton track position.
It's weird it looks simple to us when in reality there are milliseconds and millions of pounds at stake.

 

[Nick DV]

I think Merc allows what fairness is realistic. Given that they look likely to loose the Drivers championship the way things are going.
It's more difficult with constructors title.
You can only prioritise one if you are on the back foot.

As for the specifics of the French race. Strange decisions were made not least not putting Bottas for the fastest lap at the end. That made no sense as he was 5 seconds behind checko with 54 seconds in hand over 5th place.

Understand what you are saying, and at this race they cocked up with both cars, so not 'unfair' as such. My point is the different way they reacted to their drivers when it came to 'apologies'.

 

[ukracer]

Anyway I thought it was the most enthralling race this season, despite the result not going the way I would have liked. Much less predictable this year than last.

 

[Nick DV]

Anyway I thought it was the most enthralling race this season, despite the result not going the way I would have liked. Much less predictable this year than last.

Definitely, and there was some good overtaking right through the rest of the field

 

[ukracer]

Understand what you are saying, and at this race they cocked up with both cars, so not 'unfair' as such. My point is the different way they reacted to their drivers when it came to 'apologies'.

I think that's more down to the engineer than team.. also the apology was not really an apology for a mistake with Bottas. Their problem was they don't need/want their second driver taking points off the leading driver closest to Max on points.

Pitting Bottas first for the second stop (that they never made) was in hindsight the best option unless Max reacted next lap. Then it would be self inflicted 3rd place for lewis (potentialy).
BUT at best it might have allowed Bottas to hold up max for a darn sight longer.

 

[Screwdriver]

The best part for me was Toto's reaction to the Bottas rant. Good. He said " I want my drivers to be motivated and authentic" my paraphrase.

I hope we get to see Bottas start taking decision like "I'm coming in for tyres" commensurate with regular team dynamics for who gets the first call etc.

Interesting tactic to have Hamilton (and Bottas??) pressurise Max into wearing out his tyres. I thought that was pretty clever but when it worked, I couldn't understand why they didn't capitalise on that bearing in mind they were also wearing down their own tyres at an even greater rate.

But why have both Hamilton AND Bottas chase down Max? Surely the obvious thing was to let Bottas hang back and be in the right place to be a post pitstop backstop. Half a second a lap would save a huge amount of life in the tyres let alone keeping out of the disturbed air from close following. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but it was pretty obvious at the time. Max came in, Mercedes didn't respond. Weird.

 

[redlig]

The best part for me was Toto's reaction to the Bottas rant. Good. He said " I want my drivers to be motivated and authentic" my paraphrase.

I hope we get to see Bottas start taking decision like "I'm coming in for tyres" commensurate with regular team dynamics for who gets the first call etc.

Interesting tactic to have Hamilton (and Bottas??) pressurise Max into wearing out his tyres. I thought that was pretty clever but when it worked, I couldn't understand why they didn't capitalise on that bearing in mind they were also wearing down their own tyres at an even greater rate.

But why have both Hamilton AND Bottas chase down Max? Surely the obvious thing was to let Bottas hang back and be in the right place to be a post pitstop backstop. Half a second a lap would save a huge amount of life in the tyres let alone keeping out of the disturbed air from close following. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but it was pretty obvious at the time. Max came in, Mercedes didn't respond. Weird.

The IF's and BUT's of racing ! Thank God it's not completely all cut and dried YET.

 

[PhillipM]

As for the specifics of the French race. Strange decisions were made not least not putting Bottas for the fastest lap at the end. That made no sense as he was 5 seconds behind checko with 54 seconds in hand over 5th place.

It made a lot of sense given Perez was under investigation at the time and the penalty post race would have been a 5 second drop - that's why Bottas was trying to stay in the 5 second window

 

[arther dailey]

Teams use the B driver to pressurise the other team into a tactic/action.
That said they pitted Bottas first when he was second on track. That cost Hamilton track position.
It's weird it looks simple to us when in reality there are milliseconds and millions of pounds at stake.

yup all a expensive chess game in reality , was worth watching this time thats for sure

 

[Parm]

yup all a expensive chess game in reality , was worth watching this time thats for sure

Thats a good way of putting it

 

[Bullet2012]

Especially when a few baguettes cause “tens, no hundreds of thousands of damage” say Red Bull and AMG.

 

[ukracer]

It made a lot of sense given Perez was under investigation at the time and the penalty post race would have been a 5 second drop - that's why Bottas was trying to stay in the 5 second window

I was not aware he was under investigation. What was it for?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I was not aware he was under investigation. What was it for?

Possibly exceeding track limits.

 

[Bullet2012]

I was not aware he was under investigation. What was it for?

Possibly exceeding track limits.

When he overtook VB, someone at AMG got a bit upset and went running to the headmaster.

 

[Danez]

excellent race so glad I didn't miss it.

while I want ham to in the title (to beat Schumacher) I want him to fight for it for once, thank god for RB and max!

 

[Bullet2012]

Today is GR63 best chance of a points finish.

 

[DavSki153]

Today is GR63 best chance of a points finish.

You jinxed him Bullet!

 

[ukracer]

You jinxed him Bullet!

Real boring race this weekend.