Formula 1 Round 21 Saudia Arabia GP

nf2k

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118274337#Comment_118274337

This makes the most sense and is likely what was going on. Why can't they call this out in the media. If that's what Lewis was doing then it as his job to stay a safe distance behind. Max probably figured out that this is what Lewis was doing and slowed down further and this was the point that caught Lewis out

SlickRic

.

Burkie1203

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118275390#Comment_118275390

There was huge space on space on track at that point.

Max got penalised today, yet Hamilton was fluting around on the racing line in practice 3 and nearly got hit by Mazepin so why was there no penalty there.

Burkie1203

Did Max get the 5 second penalty for the incident at turn one (not leaving enough room for Hamilton)

So, if that's the case why was there no penalty for Hamilton for doing pretty much the same thing?

https://twitter.com/victorabadf1/status/1467563475509694471?s=20

tigerboon

Hamilton was reluctant to pass Verstappen because it was obvious from the 1st restart that Verstappen would rather take Hamilton out than let him pass. He didn't steer into the turn when he went off track and should have been black flagged for it. Hamilton said it immediately after the collision that Verstappen brake tested him. If that is true then a fairly severe punishment should be given.

klose

Also, whoever was the director for the stream for the race should be shot, a very rare race to the finish line for a podium between ocon and bottas which bottas won be a mere tenth of a second and all we got to see was the camera pointing at verstappens visor on his cool down lap, you couldnt write it.

walshb

Determined that Max braked very significantly to cause Lewis to hit him. That is dangerous/deliberate.

You cannot apply the same rules for the general public about fender benders to these F1 guys.

McFly85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118275805#Comment_118275805

Some of the stuff about Hamilton is ridiculous (The FIA were a shambles yesterday for the most part) but absolving him of any blame for this fanciful notion that Max would take him out is equally ridiculous.

You cannot judge a race by what a driver might do, only what a driver has done.

The FIA has basically decided now that the driver who will get the space back essentially gets to choose when that will be. Fine, just apply that consistently in future.

BrentMused

Wouldn't be at all surprised if we get a Hill/Schumacher type incident like we saw in Australia 1994, next week.

It's hard to see how the Red Bull can beat the Mercedes in Abu Dhabi based on what we've seen over the past month.

A "collision" may be Max's best chance.

recyclebin

Putting all the shenagins aside and looking at the pace and tactics, it may have been difficult but under a normal racing conditions Red Bull may have had the pace to beat Mercedes yesterday. A mistake in qualifying and wrong tyre choice didn't help Max.

Will both teams turn up the engines to maximum now for last race and risk it for the championship?

artanevilla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118275925#Comment_118275925

I would, the precedent is stripping all points away in the Championship.

pjohnson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118275900#Comment_118275900

Thats why I wonder will the driver in front still get penalised for not giving back the position quickly enough. Or will that rule be removed now.

recyclebin

I don't see it happening. Max has been trying to put his car in a place for a collision but Hamilton has avoided it the last few races. The big run off areas have helped a lot. Back in the 80s and 90s you would normally have a gravel trap or wall to hit.

SeeMoreBut

I think Red Bull and Jos need to take Max away and calm him down and get him back driving the way he got into the lead. His emotions have taken over his driving and instead of looking forward he's to busy looking in his rear window. Hamilton seems to be in his head and could tell that with the restart with his giving out and instead of concentrating at task in hand.

Lets hope it doesn't end up in a crash. Whoever wins next week will be unbearable. Hamilton/Toto will be over coming this that and other. Max/Horner be we've to beat everyone and FIA.

namloc1980

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118275954#Comment_118275954

Can't see anything other than a handy Hamilton win next week. There's 2 huge DRS zones/straights in Abu Dhabi that the Mercedes will utterly dominate on.

This is it

Max, to me, is driving the same as he has all the season. It's not that Hamilton is in his head, it's that the Merc is now faster than the RB. And there's nothing he can do about it.

He can take the lead with impressive starts but ultimately, over the course of a race, he'll struggle to keep the lead. Max and RB will need a lot of luck next week to win.

Mitch Connor

Vertappen even used the excuse that it was fine for him to push Hamilton off the track in Brazil, so why was it an issue here - which shows the absolute mess the FAI and stewards have made of racing.

Verstappen thinks it is perfectly acceptable to not try for a corner at all - simply take the inside and drive your opponent off the track. Which is what people said would be the result of Verstappens 'defence' in Brazil being deemed perfectly legal and not worthy of a punishment.

Genuinely I can't see any other outcome next week than Max winning the championship. Either he will have a faster car and come first, or he will take Hamilton out - his driving in the last few races show he is clearly willing to simply drive off the track and either force Hamilton off or allow them to crash.

Wanderer78

wow, what a race, the first most exciting race ive seen in years, next weekend is gonna be something else, now this is f1!

McFly85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118276043#Comment_118276043

Max causes a collision next week and he’ll be DQ’d from the championship.

I hope both drivers are told that if there’s the slightest hint of shenanigans and causing a DNF, you’ll be DQ’d.

That will suit Hamilton more having the faster car, but a boring procession would be preferable at this stage to another race the FIA haven’t a clue how to handle.

Rossi IRL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118276065#Comment_118276065

Red Bull could just ask one of their other drivers to do it

Yuki take him out and we will give you a season in the main team or something along those lines.

BrentMused

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118275985#Comment_118275985

I feel Max at the moment is very similar to the Lewis we saw when he first arrived on the scene. It has shades of 2007 with some mistakes being made under pressure as we get to crunch time.

Lewis is playing mind-games lately and to an extent, it is having an impact. Whereas you'd be forgiven for thinking Lewis was out for a practice session as he has the experience built up and doesn't let the pressure get to him as much.

The experience for Max will come (fighting for Championships is a different type of experience level than racking up GP's, and this is the first time Max has really been in title contention), and even if he doesn't win the Championship this year, he will be a better driver for this.

I have no doubt in my mind that Max will be a multiple world champion when all is said and done and he will probably look back on this battle as key to his growth.

namloc1980

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118276047#Comment_118276047

Can't see it - Mercedes will rocket down the massive DRS zones/straights in Abu Dhabi. It'll be fairly handy for Hamilton.

Vicxas

Verstappen won last year pretty comfortably in Abu Dhabi did he not? Can’t remember the specifics of the race though

Mitch Connor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118276183#Comment_118276183

he did. RB dominated, but the track is a different config this year, so might suit Merc more this time.

BrentMused

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118276183#Comment_118276183

Yeah, Max led from pole and it was a shockingly boring race. However, the track layout has changed this year and also Lewis was suffering the after-effects of COVID too. He certainly looked worse for wear at that race IIRC.

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118276065#Comment_118276065

If he just blatantly slams into Hamilton, sure.

But far more likely is that he pulls one of his "aggressive" throwing himself into the corner manoeuvres that just so happens to result in a collision, then you have Horner shouting that it was just a racing incident etc etc and how can you DQ a driver for trying to race etc etc.

Vicxas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118276191#Comment_118276191

Just seen the changes, jesus christ that plays right into Mercedes hands.

pjohnson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118276043#Comment_118276043

Verstappen would be disqualified. This conspiracy makes no sense. It just hands Lewis the championship.

Max cant collide with Hamilton or be crashed into by Hamilton or he will be disqualified.

tigerboon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118275900#Comment_118275900

Look at the angle Verstappen rejoins the track at after the 1st restart and compare with one of the Ferraris (LeClerc I think) around lap 23-24. Verstappen made no effort to steer into the turn. Hamilton had to brake to avoid a collision then. So Hamilton could judge by what the other driver has previously done/attempted.

donspeekinglesh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118275957#Comment_118275957

The precedent for doing it and failing is losing 2nd place in the championship. There's twice as much precedent for doing it successfully and keeping the title.