Ze German Grand Prix Chat & Prediction

REPRIMAND.

 

Ferrari have the car to beat Mercedes now, but not the drivers. Over a season, Hamilton is just better than Vettel. Too many wasted points from Seb over the last two years.

If they're too proud to take back Alonso, I'd personally run Ricciardo-Leclerc.

 

A very unexpected outcome from that race, Vettel really did throw it away, was a very odd race for him. Moaning over the radio for a fair chunk of the race and then binning it all on his own. Fair few big lock ups which was very odd for someone who had both the car and pace to win this race with ease.

I feel like Hamilton got away with it penalty wise, however there's not much precedent for penalties here. The last one was Baku 2 years ago, which was a 5s penalty that didn't change the result in any way. It's also a bit iffy in the rules as the rules talk about cutting the line to enter the pits, not to abort a pit. Then Baku also has those special rules for the pit entry line given the huge speeds through there.

 

The stewards are treading very dangerous ground by not being consistent once again. It can be perceived as bias.

 

Kimi has been moaning to the press after the race about Ferrari not simply saying move over.

 

Couple of things...

Why do people get bent out of shape over team orders? If Raikkonen or Bottas were remotely close to their respective team mates in terms of talent and ability to win a title, i could understand it, but they're not. They're both functioning nunber 2s, regardless of what the teams say.

I really doubt there would be any overall bias towards Merc or Hamilton given the sport could really use a different constructor winning. They might have got away with it with it being Merc's home race tho...

 

I think this is about the spirit of the law.

When Raikkonen was penalised for this offence the (tiny) time penalty had no effect on the outcome of the race. It was effectively a slap on the wrist.

If Hamilton had been given the same penalty it would have changed the outcome of the race and denied Hamilton the win. A much larger penalty. So he was given a reprimand, a slap on the wrist.

On a separate note, this wasn't investigated until after the race. I wonder what caused the stewards to look at it belatedly. A protest from Ferrari maybe, one of whose drivers might have remembered being penalised for the same offence before? Just a wild speculation.

 

Well the outcome of all this is new leaders in both championships.

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Rules should be clear. Do this and you get this punishment. Not ok... we will see what we can do to manipulate a decent result for you. It shouldn't be raised by protest either. Are there not guys watching for any rule breaking? Can they not decide foul play on there own without a driver moaning about it?

 

Really good race, Hamilton did superb on old tyres to keep himself in touching distance, Vettel dropped a clanger but there will be more twists in the title race. That Merc is looking far from bulletproof.

For me this season has been a bit sad though, because there is like seconds on seconds difference between the midfield and the top 4 teams. They may as well be driving shopping trolleys.

There used to be some genuine challenge to making up places, some difficulty. All season the top 4 basically cut through the others like a mild annoyance, and the midfield just get out there way.

Alonso today might as well have given Hamilton a blowjob and the keys to his house as well as letting him past.

 

Stewards confirmed no protest lodged by Ferrari.

I have no issues with team orders, except those that attack Ferrari and then either forget or defend Merc. People/Press were itching to throw Ferrari under the bus in Austria and they didn’t do it - don’t think they will make that mistake again after today.

Toto leading up to the race “we have the fastest car” not got the points we deserve etc.

This weekend “we’re losing 5/10ths on the straights”. I remember him mocking Horner. All I can say is that Ferrari is either **** in the corners or Merc really do have the best drivers.

 

How the hell is Alonso still 8th in the WDC? That's ridiculous.

Also, Gasly's desperate strategy move to full wets was hilarious.

 

What happened to Alonso today? Vandorne is having a mare and Alonso finished miles behind.

Will see how we line up into the summer break, Ferrari looking fastest and Mercedes fragile, but then today was very much the opposite.

 

Bottas is more than a number 2 imho .

 

Yet they only ever give him single season contracts.

 

And ?

 

Not exactly committing to him are they?

 

So the whole pit not pit issue. It seems the last instruction Hamilton was given was in in in in in in, which he didn't follow, which arguably won him the race.

 

Given Merc's strategy blunders, that might be a good way to continue.

 

No .

My point is , he is more than a number 2 . Perhaps The fact he is only on a one year contract , is to to keep him on his toes .

That does not detract from his Driving talent at all imho .