Mercedes seem to have messed up strategy a few times this season.
Mercedes seem to have messed up strategy a few times this season.
Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/
Gordon Haskell - "You've got to keep the groove in your head and play a load of bollocks instead"
I blame Wynton, what was the question?
There are only 10 types of people in the World, those who understand binary and those that don't.
I'm glad Red Bull is doing well, and now look forward to Ferrari and Mclaren getting up to the same level, and making it a 4-team (8-driver) race.
IMO the big race (that the commentators missed) was Riciardo / Norris. they must have overtaken each other half a dozen times or more.
Alonso and Vettel were surprises. Note that Alonso buried Ocon.
Driver of the day could just as easily have gone to Stroll, who started at the back and (just) finished in the points. Or Tsunoda, who started at the back and finished 13th.
Russell did pretty okay, given his under-performing car. I didn't see what happened, but he fell way back early in the race and had to claw his way back up to 12th.
BUT - to your point:
Yes, Merc blew it on strategy. And why T F did they not bring Bottas in for soft tires in the 3rd or 4th last lap, to get the fastest lap extra point?
Regards,
Duncan
Why? I get sick of seeing one team and/or driver dominate.
I didn't even really notice. But there was so much action going on at the front, I paid little attention to the rest of the pack.
But what were they supposed to do with Lewis? Max already showed he had the pace to lead and then pitted from that lead which, with the power of the undercut, would have left Lewis even farther back than he was, if he pitted too. Leaving him out was their best option, I thought, given the circumstances. And don't forget, the #1 rule in F1 is not giving up the lead. What surprised me was Max's mediums not going off more than they did, given the high deg of the tires, and I figured Max would catch him but then wouldn't be able to pass. Apparently, Lewis' tires were in really bad shape by that point.Yes, Merc blew it on strategy. And why T F did they not bring Bottas in for soft tires in the 3rd or 4th last lap, to get the fastest lap extra point?
I wondered later what compounds Pirelli brought given that the hards didn't last long enough. I don't recall them saying, tho. After checking, they were C2-C4. So that's a surprise.
As for Bottas, I wondered that myself. But remember when they investigated Perez and Bottas and then reported no further action? Mercedes thought Perez was going to get a five second penalty for going off the track in his pass of Bottas. The stewards ruled Perez didn't gain a "lasting advantage" so he wasn't penalized and then it was just too late, for Merc/Bottas, I guess.
I don't think Mercedes really did anything wrong, as far as Lewis is concerned. Altho, they probably should have pitted Bottas a second time when Perez began closing in, especially when Bottas had told them it should be a two-stop race. Then he could have done the same as Max and maybe caught Perez at the end. Then again Perez going so long on the first stint meant his tires were in good shape at the end.
As for how Red Bull handled Max's strategy, I think they did everything right, for a change. As I said, pitting from the lead is generally a huge mistake (other than the first stop). I think maybe RB pitted Max figuring Mercedes would pit Lewis too. Had they waited a few laps, Mercedes might have pitted Lewis before RB pitted Max and then Max would have been a sitting duck. The fact that RB brought him in - especially as early as they did - forced Mercedes into staying out.
Ultimately, I think RB had Mercedes covered.
I think the biggest mistake made this weekend was by me in not recording the race because I'd love to go watch it again, right now.
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Philip Marlowe
Ran across old video of F1, this time from British Pathé. I'm sure it's on YouTube but I haven't been able to find it, yet. But here it is on Facebook: https://fb.watch/v/12v6tPg0b/
There are a bunch of old F1 videos of Pathé clips on YouTube, too: https://www.youtube.com/c/britishpat...=Formula%20One
And here's a really nice retrospective of Jimmy Clark:
Here's a cool video comparing the different types of race cars + MotoGP:
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Philip Marlowe
I've been watching this kid in Indy Car this year. He is the real deal:
https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclare...PktKn9FgJjxYHk
Attention race fans.
This weekend is the Styrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, German.
Carry on.
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Philip Marlowe
Comments by the commentators during FP2:
Drive To Survive is filming again, with a side episode all about Mazepin.
It's a spin-off!
Regards,
Duncan
I saw some YouTube video that compiled all the drivers' radio comments about Mazepin. Apparently, no one likes him.
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Philip Marlowe
OMG! I recorded qualifying, for once, and as I was watching it just now, just after Lewis crossed the line for his second run, the recording ended! WTF? Fortunately, there was hardly anything left and I was able to finish it on Formula1.com.
You know, I almost extended the recording but I thought, "it's qualifying, they don't run long."
Never again!
But, boy, that was a hell of a qualifying session!
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Philip Marlowe
My DVR is programmed to record each free practice, qualifying, and the race - with an extra 90 minutes at the end. And for the race itself I also record the 3 or 4 programs scheduled to come after the race.
I've lost too many race finishes in events that were delayed by red-flags etc.
Regards,
Duncan
Back when I actually had cable, I did the same, extending my recordings by 30 minutes or 60 minutes (I forget which). But then I'd also watch it at the same time, usually starting within 45 minutes after the race started. And if I saw it was a wet weather race, I'd modify the recording to go 1½ hours past the scheduled end time.
These days, I only record the race if it's in east Asia or Australia. Otherwise, I watch them live. I'm up anyway.
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Philip Marlowe
The race wasn't exciting - and terrible that the leaders lapped the majority of the field.
No excuse for Bottas to drop so far behind Hamilton.
I'm becoming disillusions / disappointed by Ricciardo, though I've always been excited by Norris - who is (along with Russell and LeClerc) one of the most exciting prospects for the next decade.
Regards,
Duncan
Red Bull have a faster car than Mercedes. I was reading an article today on the BBC that due the research budget restrictions Mercedes have essentially stopped developing this years car while Red Bull continue to fine tune. Expect to continue to see RB having the edge.
Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/
Gordon Haskell - "You've got to keep the groove in your head and play a load of bollocks instead"
I blame Wynton, what was the question?
There are only 10 types of people in the World, those who understand binary and those that don't.
Great qualifying session this morning. Alto, Alonso got robbed.
Anyone else, besides me, keep finding themselves rooting for Norris and Russell?
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Philip Marlowe
Me too, big fan of Norris and Russell
Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/
Gordon Haskell - "You've got to keep the groove in your head and play a load of bollocks instead"
I blame Wynton, what was the question?
There are only 10 types of people in the World, those who understand binary and those that don't.
Vettel has a 3 position penalty in the next race for that.
Interesting :
McLaren is appealing Norris's 5-second penalty.
Red Bull is supporting McLaren in that, despite the fact that it was their driver Norris tangled with!
The future of the sport rests with Verstappen, Norris, Russell, Sainz, and LeClerc ... IMHO
Regards,
Duncan
Verstappen is making it look easy, but that is creating great drama 2-5 and often 6-15. Love the Perez LeClerc battles yesterday, as well as the Ric trying, but ultimately failing, to hold off Ferrari.
Duncan's going to make a Horns Emoticon!!!
The Red Bull is clearly better than the Mercedes at the moment and Verstappen and Hamilton are better than Botas and Perez.
Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on progrock.com
https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-a...re-happy-hour/
Gordon Haskell - "You've got to keep the groove in your head and play a load of bollocks instead"
I blame Wynton, what was the question?
There are only 10 types of people in the World, those who understand binary and those that don't.
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