F1 2021: Abu Dhabi GP - Yas Marina (Dec 12)

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Yeah Ham has to have his cake and eat it, for a 7 times champ you could say he needs to get a grip on the reality of the situation and judging by his latest attire that may come as a real struggle for him.

Indeed . But it gives a heartwarming feeling to know that Bieber will take care of him anyway.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

All they do is turn down the boost for the race, so much for the rocket PU of the number 2, I think we can see Russ has no inclination of being anyones number 2. At the moment the monster merc is at a standstill as regards signing Ham up again.

Xmas

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Xmas

Yes yes Mikey,those baubles are so so right

[M5Rick]

Good night Lew, sweet dreams with Beeber under the stars heheh

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Post # 1448 => https://www.m3post.com/forums/showth...4#post28370694

Interesting.

[Artemis]

Source: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...bS5zhwZci.html

-------------------
BUXTON: Born to race, lightning quick, ruthless on track – and now Max Verstappen is a world champion
Will Buxton - 13 December 2021

There’s been an inevitability about this. Long before his incredible 2021. Before even his first win. It pre-dates his debut in Formula 1. And single seaters. Even karts. From the day of his birth, articles were written saying that Max Emilian Verstappen would become Formula 1 world champion.

And now he has. 

The man who denied Lewis Hamilton, in a season where he found new depths to his insatiable and undeniable talent and desire, was born to racing stock. While his father’s Formula 1 story is well known, his mother was also a racer in her own right. And a damn quick one.

She was Jenson Button’s team mate in karts in 1995 and he raved about her to Beyond The Grid as a “fantastic”, “awesome” driver who was “so fast”. She raced against the likes of Dario Franchitti, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli, Jan Magnussen… even Christian Horner, the man who would become her son’s team boss 30 years later. Horner rated her as top 10. In the world. 

Racing is the only life Max has ever known. While his mother hung up her helmet to support her husband’s F1 career, as his own professional racing journey reached its twilight Jos focused on his son’s prodigious talent. Max was terrorising kart tracks from the age of four, winning title after title with his unabashed and sometimes overtly aggressive style catching the attention of pundits and rivals alike.

It was a school of hard knocks and tough love. Max has never shied away from detailing quite how tough his father could be if he underperformed. The stories are plentiful, and make for some difficult reading. But as someone who had charted his own course through the cut-throat world of motorsport, Jos was attempting to create a thick skin on a child who seemed set to ascend the ranks quicker than his years might ordinarily have allowed a defence mechanism to develop organically. 

The certainty of his rise got up people’s noses. Spats with racing rivals were numerous. I witnessed at first hand the disdain with which he was treated in his first open wheel championship when Ferrari launched an entry-level winter series, racing F4 cars in Florida in 2014.

Max was just 16, and in a championship with open data and post session group debriefs, often were the times when his older, more experienced rivals were left shocked and awed by what this kid was doing. They either couldn’t comprehend how he did it or simply couldn’t find the means to replicate it. They knew then, as we know now, that his destiny would outshine them all. And they hated him for it.

He was just a child back then, starting out on what was to be the most incredibly quick rise to the top table of motorsport. The Ferrari juniors all kept their own counsel and stuck to their own clique. Max was an outsider, quiet and seemingly insular. But in conversation he was carefree, silly, playful. He was a lot of fun to be around. 

But when that visor came down he was lightning. Channelled, determined, focussed, he was toying with his rivals, hanging off their rear wing as he’d always done to rear bumpers in karts and already deploying what would become known as “the Verstappen defence”, positioning his car in the middle of the track so as to create less ground to cover depending on which way his combatant moved for a pass. 

This was his first foray into single seaters. And he was already playing with everyone else on track.

Incredibly, by the end of the year he was running Formula 1 free practice sessions for Toro Rosso, beautifully catching slides and leaving onlookers agog. A year after making his open wheel debut, he was lining up on the grid for his first Grand Prix. 

That brash, unashamed style he’d brought from karting was still there. His joy at toying with his rivals was ever present. The beautiful simplicity of the gargantuan gift he’d been granted was clear for everyone to see. Here was someone supremely special. A world champion in waiting. 

But he’s had to work at his craft, adapt and change. And that wasn’t always obvious to him. Perhaps because the ascent had been so fast, not simply to Formula 1 but within a season and a few races to one of the very best teams in the sport and the top step of the podium, he built a level of unshakable confidence in his own abilities. If criticism came his way, he would shrug it off, deeming that he had always raced this way and it had got him this far. So why change? 

Perhaps a few years of F3 and F2 would have shaken that out of him. But he had to do his learning on the grandest stage of all.

In interviews he’d rarely be expressive or emotional. Perhaps, again, the tutelage of a driver father who raced in an era of nigh on robotic public relations didn’t help that, nor the thick skin that tough love had built. Nor that for Max racing was and is pretty much all he knew. Interests away from the track? Sim racing. There seemed few layers to the boy, few dimensions to explore. 

But as he aged so he grew. Year on year, the lessons of the past seemed to sink in. A realisation of self as an individual, of learning and understanding who he was in himself as a man, not just as a driver. A relationship and the family it brought to him. The responsibilities and care he needed to deliver not just to himself now, but to others. 

And all the while, a team being formed around him. Taking all he’d learnt from those with more experience and applying it to his own craft. Stepping up to be a team leader, helping to fashion a car perfectly suited to his needs, pulling his garage and crew around him, inspiring and delivering. Week in, week out. 

Still ruthless on track, now more mindful on and off it. Mesmerisingly fast, he has enough spare capacity to either joke with his engineers or start to call potential strategies for himself and his team mate while in the midst of the fight. Still pushing the limits of what is acceptable to the absolute limit, still getting up his rivals’ noses. Still unapologetic. And with a car finally underneath him to compete and contend at every track, now handed the gilt-edged opportunity to grasp his perceived birthright. 

But he hasn’t had it easy. Yes, the Red Bull has inarguably been the class of the field for much of the season, but Mercedes have fought back valiantly and by the final quarter of the season could claim to have had the upper hand. And at times, with a team mate still adapting to a car suited primarily to Verstappen and a team built around him, it hasn’t so much been Mercedes versus Red Bull as it has been Mercedes versus Max.

He can still carry an air of arrogance. He can still push things too far. Couldn’t we all at 24?

He isn’t the finished article. Not by a long stretch. He’s still learning. Still growing. Still finding his way in the world. 

A world which now stands at his feet. Formula 1 world champion. And only, really, at the beginning of the ascent to the greatness he can no doubt achieve. If we imagine the driver Hamilton was at 24, a first world title under his belt too, and we see the man and the racer he has become into his mid 30s, we should marvel at what lies ahead for our newest champion when he finally and truly learns from his faults and fully realises his potential.

The talent that exists within him is indisputable and limitless. 

A future world champion no more. 

The only question now is how many he’ll achieve.
-------------------

[Hulk Smash]

Mercedes should react like the 90s Bulls would have. They should dominate next year to the point that fans stop watching the races out of the boredom from Lewis winning by big margins and increasing a huge points lead. Had Michael Jordan been cheated out of a ring, he never would've had mercy on his competitors the following year, he would've made it a point to embarrass them.

The strength of Mercedes toward the end of this year and the fact that Redbull needed assistance from the race director to win the final race really proves their strength is unmatched on a level playing field. Use that strength to seek and destroy next year... be so good it's boring.

[Artemis]

Brazil 2008: "You will never see a more dramatic conclusion to any motor race, let alone a Grand Prix, than that. (...) We have done 206 Grand Prix together as ITV. We have done some exciting ones you and I over the years. I hope we'll have the chance to work together again, but I don't think you and I will ever experience anything quite as dramatic as that. (...) Felipe Massa wipes back the tears. He was half a lap away from being the world champion (...) It was only in the final two corners that Lewis Hamilton passed the Toyota [of] Timo Glock to claim his title. (...) The most dramatic Grand Prix for many years, possibly one of the most dramatic ever. Lewis Hamilton is the world champion. I'm sure he will win other championships, but the first one is always the most special. (...) It's 'lump in the throat' time for everyone who is involved in this extraordinary sporting drama that's developed over the course of the last half hour. (...) I've never seen anything like it. It's an incredible situation, an incredible last lap and a last lap that made a Grand Prix very special but also made a world championship for Lewis Hamilton in very, very strange surroundings." (07:52 / 09:09 / 15:56 / 17:27 / 17:49)
(Felipe Massa racing in P1 was virtually 2008 F1 world champion until Lewis Hamilton moved from P6 to P5 in one of the ultimate corners of the final lap and managed to hold that track position until the finish line).

Abu Dhabi 2021: "Hold my beer."

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Brazil 2008: "You will never see a more dramatic conclusion to any motor race, let alone a Grand Prix, than that. (...) We have done 206 Grand Prix together as ITV. We have done some exciting ones you and I over the years. I hope we'll have the chance to work together again, but I don't think you and I will ever experience anything quite as dramatic as that. (...) Felipe Massa wipes back the tears. He was half a lap away from being the world champion (...) It was only in the final two corners that Lewis Hamilton passed the Toyota [of] Timo Glock to claim his title. (...) The most dramatic Grand Prix for many years, possibly one of the most dramatic ever. Lewis Hamilton is the world champion. I'm sure he will win other championships, but the first one is always the most special. (...) It's 'lump in the throat' time for everyone who is involved in this extraordinary sporting drama that's developed over the course of the last half hour. (...) I've never seen anything like it. It's an incredible situation, an incredible last lap and a last lap that made a Grand Prix very special but also made a world championship for Lewis Hamilton in very, very strange surroundings." (07:52 / 09:09 / 15:56 / 17:27 / 17:49)
(Felipe Massa racing in P1 was virtually 2008 F1 world champion until Lewis Hamilton moved from P6 to P5 in one of the ultimate corners of the final lap and managed to hold that track position until the finish line).

Abu Dhabi 2021: "Hold my beer."

I hope no driver has to go through what Massa had to then.

[M5Rick]

I see Valter Rohrl the veteran rally driver has mouthed off to go against Max and FIA criticising F1 blowing out like from his Group B exhaust, most likely a mate of Toto, he also slammed Latifi for having that off which started the safety car and regrouping process.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Source: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...bS5zhwZci.html

-------------------
BUXTON: Born to race, lightning quick, ruthless on track – and now Max Verstappen is a world champion
Will Buxton - 13 December 2021

M. Schumacher already knew it..Just like I

[///M Power-Belgium]

*****

[Artemis]

In my book Lewis is Lewis (regardless race, nationality, religion, sex, etc.): indisputably one of the greatest F1 drivers of our time - a living F1 legend. Respect.

[Hulk Smash]

Originally Posted by Artemis

In my book Lewis is Lewis (regardless race, nationality, religion, sex, etc.): indisputably one of the greatest F1 drivers of our time - a living F1 legend. Respect.

Agreed, but unfortunately a lot of people have a difficult time accepting someone that belongs to a group they do not identify with. Lewis just being Lewis is breaking through some barriers. Everyone has challenges to overcome, but Lewis has some unique obstacles he has to navigate. Perhaps that fueled his drive for success.

Many would prefer he never entered the sport and others wish he wasn't good enough to be one of the greatest because he doesn't fit their image of what a F1 driver should look like.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Artemis

In my book Lewis is Lewis (regardless race, nationality, religion, sex, etc.): indisputably one of the greatest F1 drivers of our time - a living F1 legend. Respect.

Of course he is . And I agree completely.
But in the fastest and most dominant car ever in the F1 history ..

After 7 years , that changed in the 2020 season , when MAX finally got a competitive car as well .
It all began with splitting the never ending Mercedes P1 , P2 ..

And next year ,from in the beginning of the 2022 season . Mercedes will be extremely dominant again ..

Just watch how fast HAM pulled out of the slow corners with his Mercedes Rocket torque !
Actually MAX didn't had a chance , but he won it by the perfect pitstop strategy and pure race craft in T 5 .

HAM is used to get it always easely with the fastest car of the decade .
MAX is used to fight with less in dog fights .

[Humdizzle]

well thats f1 for you

70-80% car
20-30% driver ability

redbull also had an extremely dominant car with Vettel winning 4 titles in a row. then the rule changes happened and we got these lame turbo engines starting in 2014 (mercedes excelled here with their design).

vettel had a competitive car with ferrari and came in 2nd/3rd

now he's with aston martin and coming in 12th.. lapped on the final race no less.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

*****

As far as Kallenius is concerned he showed more than a passing interest of Max.
Do you think he's sizing things up in case a disenchanted Ham decides to call it a day though I really think Ham is just putting on a minds game ghosting a walk out for more funds from Merc to stay on.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

M. Schumacher already knew it..Just like I

Max has waited a while to have that number one from his kart put on his '22 car, well all good things come to those who patiently wait.

[Bubbles]

Full list of 2021 driver crash costs in Euros (as quoted by Sky Germany)

1 Mick Schumacher (Haas) 4,212,500
2 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 4,046,000
3 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 3,889,000
4 Nicholas Latifi (Williams) 3,116,500
5 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 2,713,500
6 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 2,686,000
7 Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 2,606,500
8 Nikita Mazepin (Haas) 2,468,000
9 Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) 1,950,000
10 George Russell (Williams) 1,845,000
11 Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 1,756,000
12 Lando Norris (McLaren) 1,453,000
13 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1,235,000
14 Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) 1,113,000
15 Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 939,000
16 Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) 854,000
17 Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 713,000
18 Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) 660,000
19 Fernando Alonso (Alpine) 315,000
20 Esteban Ocon (Alpine) 280,000

[Autobacs]

The Top 10 F1 Drivers of 2021 per Race.com

1. Max Verstappen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Lando Norris
4. Charles LeClerc
5. Carlos Sainz
6. George Rusell
7. ALO
8. Pierre Gasly
9. Esteban Ocon
10. Valtterri Botas

[Artemis]

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/3...bu-dhabi-crash
"Williams' Nicholas Latifi received death threats after Abu Dhabi crash"

"What shocked me was the extreme tone of the hate, abuse, and even the death threats I received."

Totally unacceptable that Latifi gets attacked.

[TTM0TION]

Crazy world we live in.