Hamilton would have overtaken both Norris, Russel on hards and Sainz, if Merc kept Russel out.Spoutnik wrote: ↑18 Sep 2023, 11:08Yes, it's equal when it's better for George sometimes let's say... Hamilton is a pretty calm guy these days but I think he has to stand up. Especially if you consider Russell performance so far this season... It's not 2022 anymore.Puffpirat wrote: ↑18 Sep 2023, 11:00Like the equal treatment in Zandvoort last year… George needs to shut up and drive or more important Merc needs to stop listening to him.
Best shot at winning the race or at least maximize the points haul would’ve been to only pit Lewis, would have saved him 3s in the pit lane that he needed to wait for the double stack. Sainz couldn’t have played his game either… but hindsight and so.
Don’t think giving the place back to lando mattered in the end. Lewis would’ve lost the place just like Charles did under SC
I still believe Russell could've pressured a lot more Sainz, led him to a mistake/destroying his tyres, but it was not the case as Russell had in mind the extra stop since Saturday, that's also what his radios with his engineer highlights.
In case of the DRS train tactics, Sainz could've been more troubled by the Merc of Russell who was faster this weekend, and preserve his tyres better than the McLaren of Norris.
Lewis on the other hand with his usual line changing tactics (notice how closer he was to Russell than Russel was to Norris, notice too how close he finished the last lap to Norris) when he's behind another car would've probably - at least - finished ahead of Norris, if not challenged for the win.
That's how much pace Hamilton had in the car and front end. He did not need DRS to get by, he would have done something similar to what Ocon did to Alonso. Pass them on traction.
But yes he is too calm these days and relaxed. He sat back behind russel, but there were a few times he could have even passed Russel on the same tyres.