2021 Mexican Grand Prix - Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Nov 05 - 07

[bonjon1979]

For reference - what Ferrari did to Lewis in Mexico 2019 is what Merc should have done to Max in 2021. Instead, Bottas left the door wide open while staying in the middle of track.

https://i.imgur.com/NrFj12n.gif

exactly. Bottas was focused on not letting hamilton past, it probably wouldn't have changed the result in the end as red bull was too fast but if bottas had have managed to stay ahead of max for 10 laps or so then hamilton might have built up a big enough cushion.

[101FlyingDutchman]

For reference - what Ferrari did to Lewis in Mexico 2019 is what Merc should have done to Max in 2021. Instead, Bottas left the door wide open while staying in the middle of track.

https://i.imgur.com/NrFj12n.gif

exactly. Bottas was focused on not letting hamilton past, it probably wouldn't have changed the result in the end as red bull was too fast but if bottas had have managed to stay ahead of max for 10 laps or so then hamilton might have built up a big enough cushion.

You really suggesting he was trying to block HAM? You must be out of your mind

[basti313]

For reference - what Ferrari did to Lewis in Mexico 2019 is what Merc should have done to Max in 2021. Instead, Bottas left the door wide open while staying in the middle of track.

https://i.imgur.com/NrFj12n.gif

That would be correct if BOT had a decent start which he didn’t

No, nonsense. In the 2019 example you can clearly see, that Ham profits from the slip before Vet can move over. It was clearly stated by Massi that this is forbidden. If Ham would have done the Vettel squeeze, he would have received a penalty...sitting duck for both RedBulls in the end. Without the possibility to squeeze they would have ended like the Sochi example with P3 profiting strongly against P2.

So the strategy was clear, Bot needs to move.

[Restomaniac]

For reference - what Ferrari did to Lewis in Mexico 2019 is what Merc should have done to Max in 2021. Instead, Bottas left the door wide open while staying in the middle of track.

https://i.imgur.com/NrFj12n.gif

That would be correct if BOT had a decent start which he didn’t

Bottas was on pole if you look Vettel was 2nd on that start. Bottas’ poor start and Hamilton fast start made the situation become net the same further down the track. In fact Bottas needed to move less that Vettel did to get the same result.

[Sieper]

A start always is a bit unpredictable. Who gets off the line well, where do they move to, how does an other answer.

Mercedes had been practicing braking late into turn 1 with both drivers all weekend, it cost them several sets of tires when they locked up. Max in his RBR could brake later, latest. Bottas said post race he expected Max to not make the corner at all anymore.

[basti313]

More interesting topic than the start: The pit stops.

I was actually just waiting for a Perez undercut. I think they were waiting for clearing Lec. Still it turned out to be strategic masterclass by Merc in the end:
- They knew that the only danger is Gas going long when they go aggressive and stop early.
- Seems like they anticipated the Ferrari move to stop once Ham is in to undercut Gas if he goes long.
- This prevented Gas from going long, as one lap more and he would have ended behind Lec.

Nice gamble...Ferrari stopping one lap later, Gas gambling and taking another lap and Ham would have lost enough time in lap 32 behind Gas to Per who cleared his traffic in lap 32.

[nacho]

Was there any reason why Ricciardo didn't get any penalty for taking out Bottas?

[DChemTech]

Was there any reason why Ricciardo didn't get any penalty for taking out Bottas?

It was judged a racing incident, and that seems fair. RIC was perhaps a but aggressive, on the other hand, there was no need for Bottas to turn in so far. Both sides could have avoided it, and since it was lap 1, there's more leniency anyway

[TimW]

Was there any reason why Ricciardo didn't get any penalty for taking out Bottas?

Bottas was found to be predominantly at fault, he braked too early....

[Vaexa]

Bottas and/or Hamilton would've likely been penalised for any attempts to push Verstappen towards or even off track, given Masi published a document (document #55, Race Director's Note) explicitly reminding drivers that any attempts to hinder drivers by pushing them off the track or through any other "unusual change of direction" would be reported to the stewards.

I know that's probably unpalatable for the Mercedes fans who think a 2019 Ferrari style boxing in would've somehow kept Verstappen from winning this, but one or both Mercedes drivers being penalised likely would've just made the job a lot easier for Red Bull.

[101FlyingDutchman]

Bottas and/or Hamilton would've likely been penalised for any attempts to push Verstappen towards or even off track, given Masi published a document (document #55, Race Director's Note) explicitly reminding drivers that any attempts to hinder drivers by pushing them off the track or through any other "unusual change of direction" would be reported to the stewards.

I know that's probably unpalatable for the Mercedes fans who think a 2019 Ferrari style boxing in would've somehow kept Verstappen from winning this, but one or both Mercedes drivers being penalised likely would've just made the job a lot easier for Red Bull.

Nailed it

[andrewf1]

Bottas and/or Hamilton would've likely been penalised for any attempts to push Verstappen towards or even off track, given Masi published a document (document #55, Race Director's Note) explicitly reminding drivers that any attempts to hinder drivers by pushing them off the track or through any other "unusual change of direction" would be reported to the stewards.

I know that's probably unpalatable for the Mercedes fans who think a 2019 Ferrari style boxing in would've somehow kept Verstappen from winning this, but one or both Mercedes drivers being penalised likely would've just made the job a lot easier for Red Bull.

You don't need to put a driver on the grass in order to box him in.
So that argument is invalid.

See this pic?


If Bottas had kept the line, Max would've had nowhere to go.
Or would have had to back off in order to switch to the dirty inside.

[Vaexa]

Bottas and/or Hamilton would've likely been penalised for any attempts to push Verstappen towards or even off track, given Masi published a document (document #55, Race Director's Note) explicitly reminding drivers that any attempts to hinder drivers by pushing them off the track or through any other "unusual change of direction" would be reported to the stewards.

I know that's probably unpalatable for the Mercedes fans who think a 2019 Ferrari style boxing in would've somehow kept Verstappen from winning this, but one or both Mercedes drivers being penalised likely would've just made the job a lot easier for Red Bull.

You don't need to put a driver on the grass in order to box him in.
So that argument is invalid.

See this pic?
https://i.ibb.co/RBvkPGS/Maxonboard.png

If Bottas had kept the line, Max would've had nowhere to go.
Or would have had to back off in order to switch to the dirty inside.

By that point Verstappen is still accelerating, and if Bottas jinks to the left he opens up a neat little slot between them for Verstappen to slide into without having to back off. If Hamilton follows him in, they both end up on Verstappen's outside for both this corner and the next.

With one eye to CotA, giving Verstappen the inside line was probably not what Mercedes had planned for the start. Hamilton starting that fast probably scuppered their actual tactic for the start, given he wasn't alongside Verstappen to actually box him in anymore.

[WaikeCU]

What’s with Max’s ductaped rear wing in quali? Come race day no ductape was seen on the rear wing.

Not sure what parc fermé are, but somehow the issue got solved.

[Vaexa]

What’s with Max’s ductaped rear wing in quali? Come race day no ductape was seen on the rear wing.

Not sure what parc fermé are, but somehow the issue got solved.

Teams can replace components with identical spec replacements as needed as long as they have a reason to, and if they notify the FIA about it. Rear wings breaking under load is a safety issue, and in any case RB replaced it with an identical spec.