2021 Round 17: United States Grand Prix

flazio · 22-10-2021 1:08pm #1

What's the feeling? Lewis's real home race?

US GP Qualifying is at 10pm on Saturday, with extended build-up from 8.30pm
The US Grand Prix starts at 8pm on Sunday, with build-up under way at 6.30pm

Charlie-Bravo · 22-10-2021 2:06pm

Evening races are great to have a drink during. Should be a good session....and the race too.

*Drink Responsibly, use a coaster.

PsychoPete · 22-10-2021 4:13pm

Liked Burndles comment there "bumps, deal with it"

flazio · 22-10-2021 4:36pm

Anybody got a deck chair?

Frank Bullitt · 22-10-2021 4:59pm

Bottas with ANOTHER new engine. Along with Vettel and Russel, Merc have serious concerns with reliability.

skipper_G · 22-10-2021 4:59pm

Bottas taking another new engine

McFly85 · 22-10-2021 5:17pm

Early days but already looking like a serious pace advantage for the Mercs this weekend - I’d sat RB would love to get out with a second place for Max going to Mexico

RunningFlyer · 22-10-2021 6:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059026#Comment_118059026

Seems unusual - I know they are citing reliability issues but does anyone think Merc might be doing this on purpose on tracks where BOT may be strong to keep him out of the way from Lewis?

22-10-2021 6:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059401#Comment_118059401

I very much doubt it. Bottas has demonstrated that he will do whatever is asked of him in order to support Hamilton. It would make much more sense to sarafice his race in order to slow up Max (assuming he qualified ahead of Max).

Hijpo · 22-10-2021 7:05pm

Merc have one second over RB on like for like tire. I doubt they need to do anything to slow down Max.

Frank Bullitt · 22-10-2021 7:31pm

The suspension on the Merc at the rear does hunker down on the straights, that is probably what Horner was referring to.

If this is indicative of the final races, then it is game over...

McFly85 · 22-10-2021 7:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059494#Comment_118059494

I would have agreed with you a couple of months back, but with Bottas’ long term future secure with Alfa Romeo, would Bottas really give up a potential race win? Could be one of his last chances, and has literally nothing to lose by going for it.

Mercedes might want to avoid that whole scenario. Lewis/Max would be more preferable to a Valtteri/Lewis/Max finish for them.

El_Duderino 09 · 22-10-2021 8:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059401#Comment_118059401

No. Why would they do that when they could just tell himnto move aside if he's ahead of Lewis? Theylikenhim to be ahead of Max.

Lads, there's no need to look for a conspiracy theory every time. He's taking an engine component because Mercedes think he needs it. That's all that's happening.

flazio · 22-10-2021 8:13pm

Max flipped the bird 🤣

El_Duderino 09 · 22-10-2021 8:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059703#Comment_118059703

So what's the plan, gibe Bottas a new power unit every week just in case he's ahead of Lewis and doesn't give the place up? I'd love to know why Russell and Vettel are taking new engines this week too. Maybe, since they're all Mercedes drivers they're making everyone with a Mercedes take a new engiennto get them out of Lewis' way. Or maybe they have an issue with reliability which is why 3 Mercedes powered cars are taking new components this race.

Hard to know if you lads are being serious.

McFly85 · 22-10-2021 8:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059923#Comment_118059923

It’s obviously a Merc reliability issue, definitely not suggesting Mercedes are ditching perfectly good parts to keep Lewis far away from Bottas.

But I do think the last thing Mercedes need in the home stretch is their second driver competing with Lewis, he’s driving wonderfully at the moment and could end up having a say in the drivers championship yet. Mercedes don’t have the carrot of a new contract to keep him reigned in, and if he’s driving so well, why shouldn’t he try and go for wins?

So I just wonder if all that helped shape their thinking. If the roles were reversed and Lewis’ car potentially needed a new engine, would they be as readily willing to lose more points to RB or try and stick it out?

El_Duderino 09 · 22-10-2021 8:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118060042#Comment_118060042

I wonder what they would do. Have they given Lewis any engine parts and taken any grid penalties recently...?

AMKC · 22-10-2021 9:05pm

It's punishment for Bottas winning the race in Turkey. I would love to see Bottas win this race too and Max in 2nd with Lewis down in 6th or 8th or better yet not finishing the race at all.

El_Duderino 09 · 22-10-2021 9:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118060263#Comment_118060263

Mercedes would probably just give max a new engine and make him take a penalty to keep him away from Lewis. 🙄

AMKC · 22-10-2021 10:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118060480#Comment_118060480

Lol that could not work lol.

Faugheen · 22-10-2021 10:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118059917#Comment_118059917

I just saw this and I honestly don't see what Hamilton had done wrong there. Max is the one driving off the track when he could have easily backed out of it.

Doubt Hamilton cares too much though.

Killinator · 22-10-2021 10:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118060731#Comment_118060731

Yeah, ridiculous.

Max calling him a stupid idiot not realising that particular scenario took two to tango.

Had a drag race down the straight after running wide at the last corner (therefore most likely ruining his lap before it started for track limitations) and only after he had to concede the 1st corner as Hamilton was on the inside did he decide it was stupid, not before then 🤔

Two of them in it but both trying to gain whatever physiological points they can off the other at this stage.

quokula · 23-10-2021 1:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118060755#Comment_118060755

Max didn't just run wide, he was out there because he had to take evasive action from Lewis which wasn't shown on camera. There's more detail here: https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-unseen-moments-that-led-to-verstappen-and-hamilton-run-in/

Here's Lewis completely missing the apex to make sure Max has nowhere to go:

And this was at a point when Max and other cars in front were queueing up and leaving space to take their turn to have clean laps, which Lewis could have done too but chose not to. It's just practice so ultimately it doesn't matter, but you can see why Max would be annoyed in the moment.

Frank Bullitt · 23-10-2021 1:22am

Race pace looks super close, all teams struggling with the grip levels due to the heat. This looks like a close one.

23-10-2021 8:22am

Regardless of who was right or wrong with this incident I am disappointed that Max reacted in that way, he should not allow himself to be reduced to that level. It would be better not to react as that is what Hamilton wants. Easy for me to say I guess :)

pjohnson · 23-10-2021 8:34am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118061006#Comment_118061006

Lewis yet again completely failing to understand what an apex is when in very close relation to a Red Bull car.

flazio · 23-10-2021 10:13am

Making mental note not to start race threads again. The notification bell is going into overdrive everytime I log in. Thankfully I've emails turned off.

PsychoPete · 23-10-2021 10:39am

Some really cool helmet designs this weekend particularly Ricciardos tribute to Dale Earnhardt

Faugheen · 23-10-2021 10:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118061006#Comment_118061006

Are you going to show the 5 seconds before this still shot?

Hamilton is a full car length ahead going into the corner, Max decided to floor it and ended up off the track.

Evasive action? He was a full car length behind him. He didn't need to take evasive action but he got too hot-headed and wanted to make it a dick-swinging contest in FP2.

weisses · 23-10-2021 1:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118061867#Comment_118061867

They were both about to start a quick lap ...Lewis decided to overtake Max just before the start of that lap .... which is a bit of a dick move, he then ran him wide forcing him of the track .... So yes lewis acted as a **** idiot

Faugheen · 23-10-2021 1:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118062491#Comment_118062491

So you agree the notion Max had to take evasive action is absolute nonsense, then?

Hamilton was nowhere near him. Max is the one who lost the head. What was Max trying to achieve fighting him on it?

weisses · 23-10-2021 1:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118062545#Comment_118062545

No ... If Hamilton kept his normal line Max could have stayed on the track

He was pissed of because of Hamilton **** up his lap

You agree it was a dick move from hamilton yes ?

Faugheen · 23-10-2021 2:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118062575#Comment_118062575

Or if Max didn’t floor it and stayed the greater-than car length behind Hamilton instead of trying to make it a dick measuring contest he wouldn’t have ended up off the track either.

Both of them are starting hot laps. Hamilton didn’t go anywhere near Max was well clear going into the corner and Max lost the head.

But of course, everyone here believes Max is entitled to do whatever he wants.

weisses · 23-10-2021 2:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118062598#Comment_118062598

Just watch this clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOsCT5i0SEo&ab_channel=VascoFerreira

Now ... who was **** up who's lap ??

Faugheen · 23-10-2021 2:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118062630#Comment_118062630

Why are you showing me a clip I have already seen?

I suggest you watch the clip.

Max is crawling along, Hamilton goes well past him, Max loses the head and tries to fight him, then proceeds to race Hamilton down the straight when off the track and trying to force his way back onto it.

If Hamilton behaved the way Max did we wouldn't hear the end of it. However for some bizarre reason Max is the forum darling and can do what he wants. Monza the prime example when Max had no hope of making a corner that resulted in him taking out both drivers. 'Racing incident'.

weisses · 23-10-2021 2:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118062675#Comment_118062675

Right .... Is this your first GP ? Do you have a bit of an idea of the do's and don'ts ?

Max Is " crawling" along to create a gap between him and Gasly so he can do a quick lap ... Which is subsequently ruined by Hamilton passing him just before the last corner. Which is basically not done

Perhaps shy away from your stained Hamilton poster and look at the facts leading to this incident.

23-10-2021 3:06pm

I not a fan of Hamilton or his hissy fits and would love nothing more than Max winning the WDC but having watched the video for the first time it looks like the balance of the blame lies with Max. Just my opinion, I’m not interested in an argument.

Faugheen · 23-10-2021 3:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118062714#Comment_118062714

No it's not my first GP, at all.

Did Hamilton break any rules? I'm sure the expert you make yourself out to be can explain that one.

Max on the other hand tried to force his way back onto the track in an unsafe manner. Only for he had a more experienced, calmer head alongside him that could have been very dangerous.

It's clear as day that Max is completely in the wrong here. I understand he was annoyed with Hamilton but his behaviour afterwards doesn't justify it.

Don't tell me to look at the facts when you are literally incapable of disputing anything I have said, and you're trying to create a narrative whereby it's ok for Max to drive the way he did.