Lewis Hamilton's contract demand : Mercedes agree to 'Max Verstappen clause' ?!?!

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Oh boy.

I know...I'm constantly amazed at the nonsense some peoples can post.

Any barely sentient being could see that Russell was going to win the Bahrain GP.
The idea that Mercedes would think they could try to hide his performance by faking a botched pit stop is beyond credibility to anyone with a fully functioning brain.

Russell is an exceptional driver and in the Mercedes at Bahrain he was on his way to a certain victory.
That doesn't mean he is the equal of Hamilton...same as Bottas winning GPs doesn't make him the equal of Hamilton.
If, as expected, they are team mates in 2022 then we shall see.

If you want a clear example of sabotage then re-watch the Spain GP 2016 where Red Bull manoeuvre Ricciardo out of first place with an extra pit stop to enable Verstappen to win.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

I know...I'm constantly amazed at the nonsense some peoples can post.

Any barely sentient being could see that Russell was going to win the Bahrain GP.
The idea that Mercedes would think they could try to hide his performance by faking a botched pit stop is beyond credibility to anyone with a fully functioning brain.

Russell is an exceptional driver and in the Mercedes at Bahrain he was on his way to a certain victory.
That doesn't mean he is the equal of Hamilton...same as Bottas winning GPs doesn't make him the equal of Hamilton.
If, as expected, they are team mates in 2022 then we shall see.

If you want a clear example of sabotage then re-watch the Spain GP 2016 where Red Bull manoeuvre Ricciardo out of first place with an extra pit stop to enable Verstappen to win.

I know. It was classic and now we have a clear example of them projecting their fav team's malfeasance onto their nemesis.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

In Niki Lauda, Mercedes also lost a key element of what made the fabric of this team. His influence, leadership, will power and driving force cannot be underestimated. It will be interesting to see where Mercedes lands without him.

I had the privileged of meeting Mr. Lauda in 2012. He was a titan in motorsport and, to your point, the heart and soul of the team.

He is still represented on each car and just as they didn't fall off in 2019 and 2020, I don't think the team will fall off in 2021 or through the change in the formula.

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Oh boy.

Lewis Hamilton at McLaren:

26 of 30 pole positions that the team achieved from 2007 to 2012. 87%
21 of 33 victories the team achieved from the same time period. 64%

I have been watching F1 for over 45 years.

VER is the most overhyped driver I've ever seen. Sir Lewis has more pole positions in the 6th fastest car on the grid from 2009 than Max has in his entire career. Max has no one-lap speed, makes questionable decisions, and was exposed in Turkey as never before.

The ONLY way he wins a WDC is for Sir Lewis to retire. And even then it's no guarantee. RIC beat him over their time there and he's had shrubs for team mates. Sir Lewis has been teamed with 3 WDCs and bet them 5 of 7 times. His resume is unassailable unless a person knows NOTHING about F1 or has some other motivation.

We can agree on some points. Max is far from my favorite driver and at times I've hated the fact he's in the sport. He does have a knack for causing a collision and coming out unscathed, but he has also taken himself out many times as well.

It's not sabotage or a fake pit stop like the one referenced with Red Bul, but explain why team orders were called in Russia 2018? Lewis is the better driver of the 2, which is fairly well established. Did Bottas not deserve to win? Would it have effected the championship outcome?

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by MilehighM3

We can agree on some points. Max is far from my favorite driver and at times I've hated the fact he's in the sport. He does have a knack for causing a collision and coming out unscathed, but he has also taken himself out many times as well.

It's not sabotage or a fake pit stop like the one referenced with Red Bul, but explain why team orders were called in Russia 2018? Lewis is the better driver of the 2, which is fairly well established. Did Bottas not deserve to win? Would it have effected the championship outcome?

The outcome for the WDC and the WCC in 2018 at the time of the race was far from certain. One must look at the results longitudinally, rather than as the results at the end of the year. This season was nip and tuck with the Ferrari being faster than the Mercedes. They were trading blows until not-then Sir Lewis went on romp after Germany to the end. Asking BOT to give up the win was de-risking the WDC and had zero negative impact on the WCC.

Remove all emotions and it was the smart decision to make. Cheers-mk

Edit: Had it not been for Kimi's retirements, it is likely that Mercedes would have lost the WCC that year.

[SenorFunkyPants]

I hate those kind of team orders...The FIA tried to ban them but it never worked.
You have to feel for Bottas..he lost some enthusiasm after the Russia race.

Looking at those results you also have to feel for Ricciardo...6 DNFs in 13 races often from near or at the front.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

I hate those kind of team orders...The FIA tried to ban them but it never worked.
You have to feel for Bottas..he lost some enthusiasm after the Russia race.

Looking at those results you also have to feel for Ricciardo...6 DNFs in 13 races often from near or at the front.

They really are less than optimal but at least, now, it's out in the open.

And RIC had 8 DNFs that season. It is highly likely that he would have finished 3rd or 4th in the championship that season.

Cheers-mk

[Ngilbe36]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

I know...I'm constantly amazed at the nonsense some peoples can post.

Any barely sentient being could see that Russell was going to win the Bahrain GP.
The idea that Mercedes would think they could try to hide his performance by faking a botched pit stop is beyond credibility to anyone with a fully functioning brain.
.

There in lies the problem

[yco]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

I hate those kind of team orders...The FIA tried to ban them but it never worked.
You have to feel for Bottas..he lost some enthusiasm after the Russia race.

Looking at those results you also have to feel for Ricciardo...6 DNFs in 13 races often from near or at the front.

partially right but at the same time he has multiple chances to change that since 2017.. this will be his 5th attempt to outperform Lewis and change this and become a champion.. 5 times is quite a privilege.. otherwise he could have just walked away.. but he stayed..

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

I know...I'm constantly amazed at the nonsense some peoples can post.

Any barely sentient being could see that Russell was going to win the Bahrain GP.
The idea that Mercedes would think they could try to hide his performance by faking a botched pit stop is beyond credibility to anyone with a fully functioning brain.

Russell is an exceptional driver and in the Mercedes at Bahrain he was on his way to a certain victory.
That doesn't mean he is the equal of Hamilton...same as Bottas winning GPs doesn't make him the equal of Hamilton.
If, as expected, they are team mates in 2022 then we shall see.

If you want a clear example of sabotage then re-watch the Spain GP 2016 where Red Bull manoeuvre Ricciardo out of first place with an extra pit stop to enable Verstappen to win.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by yco

partially right but at the same time he has multiple chances to change that since 2017.. this will be his 5th attempt to outperform Lewis and change this and become a champion.. 5 times is quite a privilege.. otherwise he could have just walked away.. but he stayed..

I don't blame him, he would be an idiot if he walked away from that team/situation/money IMO. If he can't keep up with HAM the majority of the time in the same car, switching to a lesser car/team certainly isn't going to help. Swallowing one's pride isn't always the worst thing to do.

[Ngilbe36]

Originally Posted by minn19

I don't blame him, he would be an idiot if he walked away from that team/situation/money IMO. If he can't keep up with HAM the majority of the time in the same car, switching to a lesser car/team certainly isn't going to help. Swallowing one's pride isn't always the worst thing to do.

Its a pretty sweet gig IMO to make millions and finish 2nd place in every race as long as you can mentally handle being inarguably worse than arguably the best driver of all time.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by m5theonlyone

took the words out of my mouth.

Well....

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Well....

Max spraying champers close to his trophy there wisely keeping an eye on it in case it should suddenly disappear

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Max spraying champers close to his trophy there wisely keeping an eye on it in case it should suddenly disappear

Regarding champers : Actually you're right my friend ...

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Actually you're right my friend ...

Trento?not the real deal from the French region then

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Trento?not the real deal from France then

Indeed my friend . The Italian Ferrari Trento ...

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Indeed my friend . The Italian Ferrari Trento ...

It can only be a prosecco instead of class Champagne

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

It can only be a prosecco instead of class Champagne

Brazil 2019....

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Brazil 2019....

Good morning my friend and what a pleasant way to start the day by watching Max jump Hammy who demands more battery

[M5Rick]

I actually use that driving style myself turning in later into a bend keeping the car flatter when I'm driving at Merc World.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Good morning my friend and what a pleasant way to start the day by watching Max jump Hammy who demands more battery

•Analysis regarding the Mercedes W12 :

•Does the strange bump on the 2021 W12 explain anything about the Mercedes pow ?
•The mystery of the "Mercedes PU hood bump" is the source of much speculation ?

•As we know Merc absolutely wants to achieve the 8th world title , it got during the winter tests significant PU issues ,because the Merc PU is tuned beyond the limits !

•So, probably the most interesting change is the "pimple" that developed halfway up the PU hood. It seems that one of the engine parts needs extra space. The question now is whether this is because Merc wrapped the hood so tightly around the engine or because the Merc PU is somehow bigger than last year.