General Sports Thread

I can’t believe that Mercedes never had a plan to block verstappen squeezing through on the left.
If Bottas had hung left, with Lewis coming across to cut verstappen cutting inside, he wouldn’t have got past.
Or am I mistaken?

 

Not sure it was poor notate or poor from abort as, he should have cut across Max and defended the first corner far better.

 

I do wonder if a Bottas was staying for next season he'd have been happier to hang Verstappen out to dry out wide and let Lewis sail through the inside.

But right now he appears to have little appetite for playing the team role to be there simply for Hamilton's benefit

 

I just wonder if the whole Tsunoda drama yesterday was just a tactic to get Max 3rd on the grid TBH. Starting 3rd seems be better than pole which is just ridiculous. The race was done after the first corner. Lewis will be relieved to get out of Mexico with 2nd place. Onto Brazil where it should be more of an even contest.

 

Absolutely no chance you can orchestrate that!

 

Well let's just say Red Bull weren't as pissed as they would have been if that had happened at say, Monaco for example!

 

Well no, but no way they orchestrate that (or that they could tbh).

 

Mostly, Verstappen just braked insanely late; he was level with the two Mercedes, but with the wide track position he had more of a chance to brake late and still make the corner, but it was an enormous risk. Bottas probably should have covered it off, but was worried about Perez splitting down the middle and moved over too late.

 

Bottas did not follow team orders, he was to cover the outside with Hamiton in behind to give a toe for Hamilton around the first corner. But he ****ed up the start off the Line and then failed to cover the outside. Mercedes have made alot of uncharacteristic errors this season, the one they may regret most was not taking Russell sooner. Any good No. 2 driver would have ensured, by whatever means, that a Mercedes led onto that first corner, either himself or his team-mate.

 

Spent far too long watching this today -

 

Hopefully the FIA send both Lewis and Max to the back of the grid for today's sprint race. That would spice things up!

 

Stewards are taking a long time over Hamilton and Verstappen. It's almost as if the destination of the driver's championship rests on their decision....

 

Cracking game of rugby, between the Irish and the Kiwis.
Ireland are playing superbly 19-10 so far

 

Verstappen fined 50k, so no punishment at all really.

 

Edit score 20-10

 

Hamilton disqualified from qualifying. Unless Hamilton can storm through the pack in the sprint race and minimise the damage for tomorrow it's looking like the Championship fight is done.

 

FWIW I don't think the stewards had any choice with Lewis. He was ****ed once the rear wing was deemed to be illegal. Think Max is lucky to escape without a grid penalty though.

 

Nah. Max touched his car, really so what.

I don’t think it’s done as yet though. Lewis can still make it happen. If he does win this championship, it’s his best ever though.

 

Starting from the back in the sprint isn't at all fatal. You'd expect him to pick up several places, so it's likely he'll be starting mid-pack for the race proper.