Formula 1, Moto GP, WSB, 2021 Season

[Red C220]

What we have this year at some venues are the two top teams and two top drivers actually slugging it out for once.

So for once we are actually seeing F1 cars being used for close quarter battles *at the front*.

And we have two drivers who will try to pass. And as the season has progressed - feel they have to pass.

This is why we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory. It's been a long time since we had matched cars and matched drivers. It's providing controversy and ultimately excitement and entertainment. Opinions are polarised.

I'm really looking forward next season with a full reset and Russells move (although he's been clearly told not to tread on toes already).

Personally I'm most excited about watching Lando Norris' career progress. I think he has what it takes to be at the top.

 

[GeeJayW]

This is why we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory. It's been a long time since we had matched cars and matched drivers. It's providing controversy and ultimately excitement and entertainment. Opionions are polarised.

I'm really looking forward next season with a full reset and Russells move (although he's been clearly told not to tread on toes already).

Personally I'm most excited about watching Lando Norris' career progress. I think he has what it takes to be at the top.

I think if George has genuine pace as shown last season, Lewis will have his hands full. I too think Lando is bursting with talent and a future champion in the making. I’m hoping that under the new regulations, the field will be more competitive.

 

[Stratman]

To put things into perspective, 2.4G is over twice the retardation of your road car during an emergency stop.

 

[GeeJayW]

To put things into perspective, 2.4G is over twice the retardation of your road car during an emergency stop.

I’m sure he was hoping to catch Lewis napping and he did, hence the contact. Fortunately didn’t really have the desired effect.

 

[Bellow]

I have never heard of braking being deployed in F1 to give a place back, lap a back-marker or let a team-mate past. Thus the unpredictability of it on Sunday puts it on a par with weaving in the braking zone. Admittedly the DRS situation muddied the waters but resorting to braking was bang out of order. Accepting that Hamilton didn't want to pass where Verstappen wanted him to (why should the driver being punished be allowed to choose?) and then be stuffed with a DRS pass, I don't think Hamilton could reasonably have expected Verstappen to brake.

Also, after that debacle, how many laps was it before Hamilton was permitted to regain the place? Perhaps it is time for the stewards to illuminate the blue light on the person who has to yield's dash at a point of their choosing and failing to comply with it immediately incurs further sanction.

 

[Stratman]

Great idea re the blue light. Perhaps a flashing blue could mean 'give back the place before you cross the timing line'.

 

[GeeJayW]

Great idea re the blue light. Perhaps a flashing blue could mean 'give back the place before you cross the timing line'.

On Sunday, had the officials informed Lewis first that Max was to let him through and then Max, perhaps there would have been less confusion?

 

[Bellow]

If we revisit the incident that created the need for the place to be given back what we are viewing is LH cleanly passing MV approaching a left hand bend then MV just throwing it down the inside (giving commentators the possibility to say 'he was ahead going into the corner) without the remotest possibility of making the corner, losing the rear, causing LH having to take avoiding action, leaving the track himself then, cutting across (on the inside of its apex) the ensuing right hander and re-joining the track significantly ahead of LH. There and then he should have (and could have) handed the place back - as is common practice. But no, MV and RBR wait until rules are enforced - indeed, invoke the rules - then whinge (like ,many others) that the rules are intrusive. It's a mess. The stewards need to wake up to the loutishness they have to preside over.

 

[st13phil]

The stewards need to wake up to the loutishness they have to preside over.

When you have been, at least in part, the architects (or at the very least the enablers) of that loutishness it becomes quite difficult to act in an a way that is seen as both even-handed and authoritative.

 

[bob6600]

If you are suggesting that some of the moves reminded you of a lower formula - is that not in part a reflection of how close MV in a Red Bull and LH in a Mercedes actually are on track? What we are seeing is something that we normally moan about not seeing - which is close racing.

In F1 we have got used to strategic managed racing.

What we have this year at some venues are the two top teams and two top drivers actually slugging it out for once.

So for once we are actually seeing F1 cars being used for close quarter battles *at the front*.

And we have two drivers who will try to pass. And as the season has progressed - feel they have to pass.

I'm not complaining about the close racing, it's great to finally see it rather than a precession. It's the attitude that you would perhaps see in inexperienced drivers who learn the hard way that this sort of driving is unacceptable both from a safety point of view and from a respecting the rules point of view.

I want them to race hard, on the limit and leave nothing on the table but with respect for the points I made above. I really don't want it to be a Senna-Prost situation in the last race.

 

[bob6600]

I don't buy the fastest car argument. All World Champions have had a consistent race winning car otherwise they would simply not have won it. In the past 7 seasons, Mercedes have won it, Ferrari came close but then were found to be doing something naughty and lost a chunk of performance. Have they all had crap team mates? I wouldn't say so. Hamilton was overall a better driver in that car than Rosberg, Bottas and Alonso. Max has been better than all of his team mates as was Schumacher etc etc. If the driver wasn't as good as he was, then their respective team mates would have won more races in the same car.

 

[GeeJayW]

I don't buy the fastest car argument. All World Champions have had a consistent race winning car otherwise they would simply not have won it. In the past 7 seasons, Mercedes have won it, Ferrari came close but then were found to be doing something naughty and lost a chunk of performance. Have they all had crap team mates? I wouldn't say so. Hamilton was overall a better driver in that car than Rosberg, Bottas and Alonso. Max has been better than all of his team mates as was Schumacher etc etc. If the driver wasn't as good as he was, then their respective team mates would have won more races in the same car.

Plus, if the cars are more levelled up, we end up with the scenario we had where Keke Rosberg gets to be world champion with only one race victory (only ever won five I think). So perhaps not the best driver or the best car becoming champ. That’s not very satisfying either.

 

[LTD]

Maybe if tracks were designed with more overtaking opportunities then the tactical skullduggery would not matter as much

 

[GeeJayW]

Maybe if tracks were designed with more overtaking opportunities then the tactical skullduggery would not matter as much

I think part of the issue is that the drivers are so much more confident that they won’t get injured if they have a collision. Lots of run off safety, amazingly strong cars etc.. There is no perception of jeopardy.

In addition, the penalties for rules transgressions under the sporting regulations are not punitive enough.

Hamilton got disqualified from qualifying under the technical rules for a truly minuscule infringement that would have resulted in no material advantage (I’m not against that). Had that been after a race, he may have been disqualified from that, which is one reason why I am 100% certain MB didn’t do it deliberately. It’s a slam dunk DNQ.

The 10-second penalty awarded to Hamilton in Silverstone under the sporting regulations (though I saw the incident as a racing incident as per the Stewards in Brazil) and Max in Jedda made no impact on the race result or anything else.

Stunts like brake-testing as so deftly demonstrated by Max should be roundly penalised so that there are real and lasting consequences for the championships.

 

[Petrol Pete]

These have been spotted in the MB garage being prepped for Sir LH to choose from in Abu Dhabi.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Honestly , if I were Toto I would ask MB to wrap a Unimog in 44 livery just so I could park it in the paddock at Abu Dhabi Get the snow plough option on it as well.

 

[E55BOF]

I wouldn't be surprised if Hamilton retired if he won the WDC this year; he'd have broken pretty much every record there is to break.

I wouldn't be surprised if Verstappen took him off to 'win' the championship, but if the boot was on the other foot, I'd be very surprised if Hamilton did the same.

You don't get to be the best without being ruthless, but there's a difference between ruthless and unscrupulous; just like other great drivers like Senna and Schumacher, I don't think Verstappen sees that difference.

 

[baxlin]

May as well include what RBR have for Max (apologies if a re-post from earlier in the season)

 

[GeeJayW]

How much of this could be attributed to Liberty Media deliberately creating controversies to increase the audience for the final race?

I think you have a point. Certainly in terms of which aspects of the events are publicised and the spin put on everything. Might explain also why some drivers get penalties for certain driving incidents when other drivers escape unpunished for similar driving.

 

[bob6600]

I hope Toto has ordered a few extra sets of headphones for this weekend

Good review from Martin Brundle

Martin Brundle: Max Verstappen must stop these tactics vs Lewis Hamilton for his legacy... but what a title showdown we'll have

Sky F1s Martin Brundle unravels the chaos and controversy of the Saudi Arabian GP, explaining the title rivals bizarre collision, his unease over Max Verstappens style against Lewis Hamilton, and much more; The title rivals are level on points heading to the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP

www.skysports.com