F1 2022-Round 15 - Zandvoort :Dutch GP

i thought Mercedes had their 'race planner' predicting they would win before the safety cars? Wasnt really much at stake for Red Bull but it would probably have fairly pissed off Max if Lewis had won his home GP.. pity its not the 3rd or 4th race and things might have been more competitive with the mercs but as it is its long over.. im curious what the mercedes will look like next year.. will they give up on the zero side pod design or go back to the more standard looking design

Yeah it might have been the VSC that screwed him first. In any case, it was possible for him to win in a straight fight with the one stop strategy and great pace on his hard tyres. But in hindsight, Mercedes needed to change tack and focus on maximising points rather than sticking to a strategy thst couldn't actually win anymore.

After the safety cars, the win was pure fantasy stuff. It must have been hard to give up the strategy that was a potential winner, but circulate changed and Mercedes should have adapted.

I don't blame Russell for pitting, BTW. He recognised that they couldn't maintain temperature in old hard tyres so he was dead right to pit.

Mercedes should have pitted Hamilton too.

Agree. The battle Perez put up and Vettel’s blocking looked like it was going to cost Hamilton seconds he needed. Even when Merc reacted with Mediums after Max pitted for hards, the jig was up. Probably robbed a promising closing stint to the race in lieu of safety car excitement.

Perez form has been poor since Austria, even second in Spa was unconvincing. Hope he finishes strong like last season but some signs like poor quali, being poor off the line are back.