dans79 wrote: ↑27 Oct 2021, 16:18
Sieper wrote: ↑27 Oct 2021, 16:13
Wouter wrote: ↑27 Oct 2021, 15:19
Perez was at least 0.2s slower per lap than Max. It makes sense that he let him pass.
Every driver that does not fight Max to the limit (preferably way over it) is a dissapointment for Ringo. Even if they have nothing to gain, or it would be detrimental to them, they still should. Literally every driver that Max overtook he has wrote a post about (sometimes more than one) in this topic.
Again, go and watch the season 3 drive to survive episode for Russia. Not being a team player is one thing, actively helping a competitor from another team is another.
In 2020 Mercedes was unchallenged, Hamilton already had a 70 point lead over Verstappen. Totally different situation. Bottas was right to take up the only fight that could have been that season. There was nothing at stake for Mercedes.
This race they did not even compromise Perez' race by pitting him. On the contrary, it was his only chance of undercutting Hamilton and getting p2.
The thing that hurt Hamilton's chances was the fact that Mercedes decided (needed?) to give Bottas a new engine here. Without the penalty Bottas would have been in Verstappens pit window and he would not have been able to undercut Hamilton...