Formula 1 2020 (Will Contain Race Day Spoilers)

[whitenemesis]

He snapped the elastic band...

 

[Rpp999]

I watched most of practice 1 & 2 and thought Bottas was having a nightmare and was struggling to get he’s brake balance to he’s liking, and struggling to keep it on the black stuff.
To finish 11th in P2 was not what I’d have thought to be a satisfactory session from Mercedes point of view. As far as him doing the donkey work that may have been the case in P1 but definitely not P2.

 

[GeeJayW]

Are we being a bit harsh on Bottas, could he being doing the donkey work while Mercedes get Russell up and running? IF.... if this is the case it might be frustrating for Bottas

I think people are a bit harsh on Bottas, but really it’s up to him to put in the driving performances that would keep people on-side.

I saw a report where Toto said VB broke his car early in FP1, but no explanation of what he broke.

I think he broke part of the floor in the first session, don’t know what happened to him in FP2.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

I saw a report where Toto said VB broke his car early in FP1, but no explanation of what he broke.

Maybe that’s toto throwing him a ‘get out of jail free’ card.

 

[glojo]

I feel Bottas struggles with this aspect and only occasionally hits the correct configuration, Lewis is a master and it seems Russell dialed the car in quickly. Or was just lucky!

Could it also be that on Friday first practice, Bottas is the quicker driver? Yes, I accept this was not the case yesterday but I am half convinced that Russell was understandably eased into this car and was not asked to experiment (poor word)

If and a very big if, but if Russell beats Bottas in qualifying and the race, then if I were the team principal, I would be skyping, zooming, pinging or is it wattsapping Hamilton and saying $7million for a new contract or we sign Russell!!!! If an agreement is reached then would I be looking to review that contract that was signed by Bottas

Grosjean
If and again a big if, but if the doctors were to say this driver was fit to drive in the next race and if Grosjean wants to drive then so be it.

But... If he is unfit to drive and this incident was proven to be driver 'error' then his request to have a final drive in an F1 car after the season has ended, then if I were the HAAS team principal, would I say I am sick and tired of your antics and there's the f****king door. I know that some folks here dislike bosses swearing at their employees but they do not live in what I will call the real World and the HAAS team principal has been known to utter the occasional blasphemous word (or three)

 

[whitenemesis]

If and a very big if, but if Russell beats Bottas in qualifying and the race, then if I were the team principal, I would be skyping, zooming, pinging or is it wattsapping Hamilton and saying $7million for a new contract or we sign Russell!!!! If an agreement is reached then would I be looking to review that contract that was signed by Bottas

Might be a bit short-sighted to judge and/or base any decision on a single race weekend but I understand your point.. Any leverage must be used during negotiations

 

[glojo]

Might be a bit short-sighted to judge and/or base any decision on a single race weekend but I understand your point.. Any leverage must be used during negotiations

Totally agree with you and I guess I am guilty of wanting to stimulate debate. I am NO authority on this topic and love to read the inputs of those more knowledgeable SCUMBAG............ Where are you??? (I will have to try and contact him)

 

[Rpp999]

I would imagine Hamilton and the other No1 drivers in a team have a big say in who their No2 drivers are. If that is the case and Russell proves to have a successful weekend, would Hamilton block he’s drive and would Mercedes revoke the contract that Bottas has for next year.

 

[glojo]

I would imagine Hamilton and the other No1 drivers in a team have a big say in who their No2 drivers are. If that is the case and Russell proves to have a successful weekend, would Hamilton block he’s drive and would Mercedes revoke the contract that Bottas has for next year.

Excellent question.

I have just watched yesterdays F2 Qualifying and if that is anything to go by, then F1 qualifying might become a mess!!

 

[glojo]

Hmmmm 3rd practice Russell 7th Bottas second. I wonder if they are now actually increasing the work load on Russell. Hopefully he might do a little bit better in qualifying

 

[AMGeed]

Watching qualifying now. A 53 second lap is ridiculous. This isn't a proper GP circuit IMO.

 

[Nat]

Good result for Mercedes

GR done well. Fingers crossed he'll do well tomorrow to take him off from nil points.

 

[glojo]

Watching qualifying now. A 53 second lap is ridiculous. This isn't a proper GP circuit IMO.

It is definitely not to my taste but well done Mercedes.

If this was a team sport, and if both drivers get a good start..... I would tell Bottasa to let Russell through and then act as rear gunner to protect this 'inexperienced' driver. I 100% accept that Russell is not inexperienced per se but he is new to the Mercedes, his toopsies are slightly to big for the controls and perhaps his seat is not perfect. A great performance by Russell and half the job is done but will Verstappen be biting at his ankles if he does fall in behind Bottas and If they all get a good start.

Hats off to Red Bull for standing by Albon, but the lad is not performing, is the odd result good enough?

 

[glojo]

Just heard Russell being interviewed, he states he is battered and bruised after qualifying. He is 6' 2" tall compared to the 5' 7" of Hamilton. I am guessing that the car might not possibly have been designed for someone with size 11 feet and 6' 2" tall. A big hats off to Russell and hopefully they might be able to do something about the seat, straps and footwell. But can they if the car is under parc ferme rules?? (question)

 

[bob6600]

Not sure if Albon had any issues regarding traffic etc but that was a bad result in qualifying for him. Quickly wipes away his podium last week. He will need to perform tomorrow but on a short circuit it will be hard.

Great result for Russell, 0.026 behind Bottas in your first qualifying session is amazing. The other two drivers in new cars did not manage that against their team mates. I think Russell with be in the Mercedes in 2022 unless Bottas wins the championship next year. If Lewis decides not to sign a new contract, Mercedes will prise Russell out of his Williams contract and get him in the car.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Great performance by GR. To be just 0.026s (Albeit a short lap) behind a much more experienced teammate after just a few days in a new car is astonishing.

Aside from the Merc boys there was a huge margin between the teammates of Red Bull, McLaren & Ferrari.

 

[AMGeed]

I can envisage plenty of safety car incidents tomorrow. Hopefully no more incidents like last Sunday.

 

[GeeJayW]

I can envisage plenty of safety car incidents tomorrow. Hopefully no more incidents like last Sunday.

Yep, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is chaos on the first lap and then later as cars are being lapped/scrap for the minor placings. Definitely hope for no incidents like last weekend.

 

[zipdip]

George is clever very clever

 

[glojo]

Yep, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is chaos on the first lap and then later as cars are being lapped/scrap for the minor placings. Definitely hope for no incidents like last weekend.

Watching the Formula 2 race, the first lap had me going boss-eyed trying to keep my eyes on what was going on. Thankfully there were not too many incidents and it was an entertaining race..