What a season young Norris is having- his quali lap yesterday was something else. He’s managing to out drive the basic McLaren car strengths and weaknesses at the moment! I genuinely thought McLaren would have an extremely difficult weekend, like Ricciardo showed, but Lando just did a super job. Danny wasn’t incredible when he first got in the Renault but as time went on, he just absolutely mastered it and started to take them to the podium. Exciting for McLaren with him and Norris next year.
Binotto saying they didn't check the left side as it wasn't damaged!!!! I think he means it didn't hit the wall so they assumed it wasn't damaged when it actually was. I am shocked they they didn't inspect that side of the car. They used to strip everything down every night before parc ferme. I know they didn't think the left would be damaged but surely you check everything you can. I assume that after all their race experience they didn't follow a well rehearsed procedure while the damage was being repaired to check the other corners, chassis, etc. Were they that short of time? I don't think they used one of their allowed overnight working sessions. I am very shocked that they didn't investigate more of the car after an accident, I could understand it it they were in FP3 trying to get out into it out into quali you could cut corners but overnight!!!! Shocking.....
I like this plan...but it may backfire, and he might actually win. Then we'll have to really punish ourselves.
I hadn't notice Haas finished 3 yes 3 laps down!!! Everyone else from 8th back were lapped!!! At least there were 8 different constructors in the top 10 finishing today!!
Very hard to judge to be honest MB- I happen to think both are outstanding talents and will be battling each other in all forms for a long time. I think George might just have the mental edge but that gets carved out through experience and over time. With Russell in the Williams that still sits a way off the pace, there’s not a lot to judge Russell on.
Who knows where they might shuffle come next season with the reg changes. If Macca can continue the comeback and Russell gets that Merc drive...
Apparently Toto is saying Bottas is partly to blame for the wheel nut issue. The blame game at Mercedes when things don't go right is getting toxic
Really ? How on earth can he be responsible ? Unless he was meant to have his foot in the breaks ? Although it would ease the pressure on the pit crew . So much for winning as a team and losing as a team . That surely means Bottas is out next year , if we didn’t think so already ..... Edit . Wolf is saying Bottas pulled up a bit short in the pit box so the mechanic had to readjust . The other 3 mechanics all readjusted correctly !
Yeah... Saw that. That's utter guff. The other three came off and went on just fine.it either went on wrong initially or the gun man shredded it. The only thing missing your marks should mean is a slightly slower stop.
While Bottas missing his marks wouldn't help it would have been the same issues for front right wheel man and he managed. Being right or left handed and on which side of car the wheel man was would effect the angles, probably more 1 side of car than others. Anyway anyone can make a mistake and when it's an action that has to happen so quickly it's not surprising it goes wrong on rare occasions. What I do find a bit odd is Toto blaming people, when thinks are going well and something goes wrong he says 'no one person is to blame etc'. Now things are getting closer and Lewis was on back foot as they just couldn't switch on tyres the pressure is getting to Toto. I suspect now the field might be getting very close (although flexi wing ban might widen gap) plus budget cap, plus 2022 regs work, Toto is feeling the pressure in a big way. Must admit I thought budget cap would take a couple of years to start to bite but maybe it is creating issues for Merc and they can't just spend to gain performance..... I think 2022 might be quite interesting as Red Bull will be throwing more budget at this year than they planned as Max does have a chance at championship and Merc want to go down in history as the team that dominated the first turbo hybrid era. Plus they can't be left behind on the 2022 cars as they wont be able to spend more money to gain performance should they get something wrong. It's all getting a bit more exciting.....
You think George "I crash out when I'm on for a point" Russell has the mental edge over Lando? I'm not seeing it. Heat causes metal to expand, so it's possible the problem was caused by Bottas overheating the tyre lap after lap.
That might explain why he was second and Lewis 7th. Bottas might have switched his tyres on, while Lewis couldn't for some reason. Really can't see Bottas was responsible because he wasn't on the mark, as pointed out, the others coped. Surely you practise for those moments, more than when everything is perfect. Merc have had to double some of their peoples salaries, massive increase, I am guessing there is no reason to double the pit crew salary. I am suspecting money is corrupting the team spirit a little. That whole Ron Dennis/Mosley thing, wasn't the gas used to fill the Ferrari tyres part of the differentiation? I don't buy the positives put out about Moseley re the safety he brought to the sport, he was doing a job he was paid to do. Others might have done it better without questionable values in other matters of life. The orgy thing, sad but so what, but in other attitudes, not a fan of a person like that.
When you put it like that George I think has a champion in him somewhere. Lando is awesome right now but back end of last year we’d probably have given George the edge. Two fabulous talents though- really intrigued to see how they get on!
Blimey... He'd need be putting a lot of heat in to that. Maybe he clipped a barrier that was unseen, but surely their would be evidence of that.