Lewis Hamilton dominated the Styrian Grand Prix from start to finish to take his first win of the season. Valtteri Bottas passed Verstappen for second in the closing stages, making for a perfect result for Mercedes AMG F1.
Until you put them in the same car you can't make such statements about driver X is better than driver B when they are both so good and car concept (low-rake vs high rake, DAS vs no-DAS) is so different. To me the smoking tyres indicate DAS has been a big help in heating the tyres. Perhaps we can see that when we get footage of warm-up laps.
The smoking tires meant nothing, just a pretty shot. VERs tires were still smoking while HAM was getting out of his car, so were SAI tires.
Much of the steam would have been off the disks. Did you see a shot of Vitel waiting to leave the pitlane? his were steaming at least as much and he had only driven from his pit so would not be so much water sprayed.
When arguing with a fool, be sure the other person is not doing the same thing.
Actually, the fact that Williams perform as close as they did to Ferrari shows that they have more issues on their chassis than their PU... Beyond “drivability” and power delivery, the PU’s factor in a wet qualifying is very small versus the car balance and confidence that it gives to the drivers.
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Oh I agree Ferrari have major issues but so does every other Ferrari PU powered car it seems this week, last week and probably next week, etc.
The more data we get the more it will become clear just how much they are hurting PU wise.
I don't know what you try to achieve by constantly stressing on the fact that the Ferrari PU lost power. It's clear, yes, but today's wet qualifying didn't make that point clear. The grip is massively limited and the drivers literally massage the pedal to not slide around when it's wet.
If any, the qualifying only showed that the Ferrari not only has a power issue, but also a big aero issue. Haas and Alfa were in their usual positions. I wonder why their positioning seems to surprise you.
It’s another data point dear boy, another data point.
From what I’ve previously read VER had his chance at a Merc drive; he chose RB.
When was this ?
Way I remember it, Mercedes expressed interest in Verstappen, and him and his dad took that as a negotiating chip to RBR to force the mid-season switch from STR.
So in 15 while both HAM and ROS were still there and ROS had a couple years left on his contract?
Until you put them in the same car you can't make such statements about driver X is better than driver B when they are both so good and car concept (low-rake vs high rake, DAS vs no-DAS) is so different. To me the smoking tyres indicate DAS has been a big help in heating the tyres. Perhaps we can see that when we get footage of warm-up laps.
The smoking tires meant nothing, just a pretty shot. VERs tires were still smoking while HAM was getting out of his car, so were SAI tires.
Much of the steam would have been off the disks. Did you see a shot of Vitel waiting to leave the pitlane? his were steaming at least as much and he had only driven from his pit so would not be so much water sprayed.
Yeah, but these were definitely from the tire tread. But like I said, they meant nothing, just made for a pretty picture.
Assuming no safety cars at inopportune moments or a poor start, if last week is anything to go by if he makes it round turn 1 in the lead, he’ll be able to just drive off into the distance.
Yeah but there are alot of drivers out of position, which means that there will be plenty of action, which means that there will probably be at least a couple safety cars
Yup. That’s why I said ‘assuming no safety cars at inopportune moments’!
However I think it’s pretty clear they’ll trigger a safety car given a sniff of a chance seen as they seem to equate that with entertaining racing. Was listening to beyond the grid with Masi and he seemed to take some pride in the fact that last week’s race was a spectacle for TV viewers. Very worrying that the race director should give that a thought at all. Totally not his job.
At the height of the Verstappen-Mercedes rumors, sources said the German marque intended to place the talented 16-year-old in GP2 next year.
Toto Wolff confirmed to the Austrian news agency APA, "We would have gone with him first into GP2 and given him a few Formula One days."
Ultimately, however, advised and managed by his F1-famous father Jos Verstappen, the F3 sensation signed with Red Bull on the promise of a now highly controversial Toro Rosso race debut in 2015.
"Max is an extraordinary talent," Wolff agreed. "He is definitely Formula One material and possibly a star of the future.
"Whether it's good for Formula One -- putting a 17-year-old on the grid -- is another thing," he insisted. "Formula One is not a playground where you develop somebody."
Assuming no safety cars at inopportune moments or a poor start, if last week is anything to go by if he makes it round turn 1 in the lead, he’ll be able to just drive off into the distance.
Yeah but there are alot of drivers out of position, which means that there will be plenty of action, which means that there will probably be at least a couple safety cars
Yup. That’s why I said ‘assuming no safety cars at inopportune moments’!
However I think it’s pretty clear they’ll trigger a safety car given a sniff of a chance seen as they seem to equate that with entertaining racing. Was listening to beyond the grid with Masi and he seemed to take some pride in the fact that last week’s race was a spectacle for TV viewers. Very worrying that the race director should give that a thought at all. Totally not his job.
Yes, but his job is to save the drivers(from their own stupidity) and protect the marshals at all costs. I hate the safety cars, but they are kind of necessary right now. The drivers must be made to get their cars off the track better though, and that's on the race director to hold them accountable. Masi learned under Whiting who was in my view incompetent and far too lenient, so I doubt we'll see much improvement.
At the height of the Verstappen-Mercedes rumors, sources said the German marque intended to place the talented 16-year-old in GP2 next year.
Toto Wolff confirmed to the Austrian news agency APA, "We would have gone with him first into GP2 and given him a few Formula One days."
Ultimately, however, advised and managed by his F1-famous father Jos Verstappen, the F3 sensation signed with Red Bull on the promise of a now highly controversial Toro Rosso race debut in 2015.
"Max is an extraordinary talent," Wolff agreed. "He is definitely Formula One material and possibly a star of the future.
"Whether it's good for Formula One -- putting a 17-year-old on the grid -- is another thing," he insisted. "Formula One is not a playground where you develop somebody."
Yeah, but that doesn't count in my book. Any other opportunities after 2016?
I am no tech guru, but I am quite certain I saw Lewis and Valtteri "DAS" ing on the build up to laps in Q1 and Q3. But then, Toto said neither driver did use it and he's the most honest and honourable guy I've seen in the sport since I fell in love with it in 1994.
I think I've seen Hamilton's lap five times since the session ended and my mouth is open every time. I really don't care what he used or didn't use but that Mercedes is not that much better than the Red Bull, it uses the same tyres as the rest of the grid and a bloke that won a grand prix seven days back drives the same car. Just an epic lap from the best driver on the grid and an all time great. The bitterness in some people is just mind boggling to me.
From a Ferrari point of view, how many seasons has it now been that they struggle to 'warm up the tyres?'
It's just amazing that this amount of resource and the best driver pairing on the grid is yielding such results. I can't even begin to imagine the plight if it was any worse.
Huge shout out to McLaren. I had a petulant dislike for them in the 90's for obvious reasons and I have been itching to see them get back in it and they are 100% a team on the upswing. I had called RedBull out when they let Carlos go and he is showing them they made a huge error in judgement. I also didn't understand Carlos' switch but I guess he knows better. "Ferrari will ultimately get it right" is what I heard endlessly in 2015 when Vettel joined and Alonso left.. Here we are and it is looking as miserable as 2014 if not worse! Makes me respect Michael even more now for doing what he did in this hell hole.
Lastly, Mercedes would be barking mad to not put Russell in the second Mercedes right from next year. Hamilton will not go on forever and if they think Bottas is on the same pedestal as Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, Ocon, Norris, Albon and god knows how many more young lunatics are out there then they're just another team living in the now with no eye on the future.
"Sebastian there's very, you're a member of a very select few.. Stewart, Lauda, Piquet, Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Fangio.. VETTEL!"
Yeah, but that doesn't count in my book. Any other opportunities after 2016?
Nope, because he kept extending his contract with RBR, before Merc has needed a replacement. Basically he made his bed early on in his career, and now he has to sleep in it.
I don't think you will see him in a Merc before Lewis retires, and by then Russell might be in the second seat and ready to take over the team. With charles at Ferrari, Lewis at Merc and Russell in the wings (or so it seems), He might be stuck at Red Bull his entire career unless he want to take a gamble with a move to McLaren.
