2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku, June 04 - 06

[tpe]

Regarding the issue with LH brakes.
At the restart, LH brakes were smoking like the Titanic. At first I thought that they forgot something, that the ducts were covered or similar...
Amazing finish, too bad Vettel couldn't pass SP. That would be an amazing result for him,

[Restomaniac]

It was a stunt, very stupid and artificial. The race director should be ensuring we get a safe and fair race, it's not about making it "exciting". I'm sure plenty of people find it exciting seeing cars go into concrete walls at 200mph, personally not me.

So RedBull asked for a restart instead of getting an easy 1st place behind the safety car for giggles? Not because they feared another tyre may fail obviously. It’s all down to Masi damn him.

Your comment doesn't make any sense to me. I wasn't making any suggestion or accusation against Red Bull if that's what you are suggesting? My point was it was clear race control had very little control over the situation at that point in time, as evidence by that radio exchange.

RedBull stood by far the most to lose yet THEY didn’t want to continue on tyres that were clearly not safe so I imagine every team said exactly the same. Masi did exactly the right thing he got them all off tyres that were clearly no longer fit for purpose that’s what the Red flag did it gave everyone a chance to get rid of them.

[NathanOlder]

I think the "Peak" Hamilton epoch is over. Another mistake, and quite a desperate one. He could have simply brought the car home in second for 15 relatively safe points. Just goes to show what pressure can do to anyone.

Bottas really needs to go though.

What a huge mistake...... 2nd place gives out 18pts

[piast9]

I think the "Peak" Hamilton epoch is over. Another mistake, and quite a desperate one. He could have simply brought the car home in second for 15 relatively safe points. Just goes to show what pressure can do to anyone.

Bottas really needs to go though.

What a huge mistake...... 2nd place gives out 18pts

There was a mistake but I don't think it was desperate. Hamilton had a really good start and was ahead and inside of Checo before the braking zone. If his brakes worked correctly and if he got the braking point correctly I think he would lead the race into turn 2.

[NathanOlder]

certainly was a mistake, by pressing that button when he shouldn't have.

Anyway, lets be clear everyone, Max/RedBull fans and Lewis/Merc fans.......

None of us are happy with that, so lets not post BS about being happy with the outcome. with 4 laps to go Max had a 15pt lead, with 2 laps to go Lewis had a 14pt lead. Both sides lost badly today. Lets just move on to France.

[dtro]

certainly was a mistake, by pressing that button when he shouldn't have.

Anyway, lets be clear everyone, Max/RedBull fans and Lewis/Merc fans.......

None of us are happy with that, so lets not post BS about being happy with the outcome. Both sides lost badly today. Lets just move on to France.

To be fair, that race was awesome, regardless of how the outcome affects the drivers/constructor's championship.

[hollus]

Did something else happen to Hamilton’s car?
After the lock up into T1, he rejoined last, well, behind the Haas pair. And he rejoined just behind them, so one would expect him to make minced meat out of them... he could not pass and he even fell back!
Looking at the onboard, the Haas pair had the straight line speed to keep him behind, normal in a low downforce car, but they also seemed to brake as good as him, and to have a bit more apex speed in many corners, and to accelerate before he could. Bizarre!

[NathanOlder]

Did something else happen to Hamilton’s car?
After the lock up into T1, he rejoined last, well, behind the Haas pair. And he rejoined just behind them, so one would expect him to make minced meat out of them... he could not pass and he even fell back!
Looking at the onboard, the Haas pair had the straight line speed to keep him behind, normal in a low downforce car, but they also seemed to brake as good as him, and to have a bit more apex speed in many corners, and to accelerate before he could. Bizarre!

Maybe the flat spot was enough to cause him issues.

[Jolle]

Smoking brakes: no problem. He had this before. This puts heat into the tires, which you need in turn 1.
For “a big mistake”, mhoa… more a small accident with big consequences.

I think that for the championship, Verstappen’s DNF, because of a problem outside Verstappen/RedBull or Honda, this way hasn’t got a direct consequence.

[aMessageToCharlie]

Did something else happen to Hamilton’s car?
After the lock up into T1, he rejoined last, well, behind the Haas pair. And he rejoined just behind them, so one would expect him to make minced meat out of them... he could not pass and he even fell back!
Looking at the onboard, the Haas pair had the straight line speed to keep him behind, normal in a low downforce car, but they also seemed to brake as good as him, and to have a bit more apex speed in many corners, and to accelerate before he could. Bizarre!

He fried the tires with that lock up and probably had vibrations.

[lh13]

Masi should have finished the race under the safety car. Pathetic handling of the situation, it's clear Masi didn't have any idea what to do when you heard the Red Bull team radioing him. The FIA needs to replace him pronto.

Another mickey mouse race from the FIA circus

Tbh it's the first time I think Masi's got it right! He's been mostly useless.

He did not get anything right. There was not even a safety car immediately after the crash. What the hell is he doing if a team needs to tell him what to do?

[Steven]

I think race control was fine, just a quite late decision to convert those double-yellows at Verstappen's incident to a SC. Maybe it was because of being so late in the race, but it shouldn't matter.

As for Hamilton's final two laps, I don't know, maybe he just felt it wasn't worth it anymore. How would he be making up 6 places in two laps?

[epo]

certainly was a mistake, by pressing that button when he shouldn't have.

Anyway, lets be clear everyone, Max/RedBull fans and Lewis/Merc fans.......

None of us are happy with that, so lets not post BS about being happy with the outcome. with 4 laps to go Max had a 15pt lead, with 2 laps to go Lewis had a 14pt lead. Both sides lost badly today. Lets just move on to France.

I'm Dutch so yeah more of a Max fan but I respect Lewis but Toto even more. What you saw today is we are all humans, even Lewis can makes mistakes under pressure. For me as a more a Max fan that is nice, but in total this race is a total win for the sport, hope it goes on like this until the end whoever wins.

I would say I would have appreciate if Max would shown more respect to Checo for the win and keeping Hamilton of him. But Checo was way to thankful to Max or excuses sorry for the team Max had had the tire issues.

[siskue2005]

certainly was a mistake, by pressing that button when he shouldn't have.

Anyway, lets be clear everyone, Max/RedBull fans and Lewis/Merc fans.......

None of us are happy with that, so lets not post BS about being happy with the outcome. with 4 laps to go Max had a 15pt lead, with 2 laps to go Lewis had a 14pt lead. Both sides lost badly today. Lets just move on to France.

Agree

[subcritical71]

Pirelli is notoriously for putting it "cuts". It did so during the 2013 British GP, where tyres were blowing up left and right. It blamed it on the high downforce levels and the sharp kerbstones. However, the grand prix afterwards they replaced the steel belts in the tyres with kevlar ones and the problems got solved.

Now, Baku is also notorious for debris. It is totally possible debris actually cut the tyre. But, there should be some resistance to very small pieces cutting the tyre up. A butter knife can technically cut through wood. Does that mean it should?

IMO, let's wait and see. Red Bull will probably have a reply ready should Pirelli try to just pin it on debris.

Pirelli mentioned Hamilton’s right rear that was removed during the red flag had a large cut from debris.

Anyone think the magic button will be relocated by next race?