Formula One ( F1 )

Take Hamilton out and he'll likely DQ'd from the race if not the championship

He's already been warned about potential point deductions. It would be a pretty daft risk to take.

Schumacher was completely disqualified from the 1997 drivers championship for trying to take out Villeneuve, even though he failed.

Realise track limits have been discussed at length this season, and it's an incredibly dull subject, but what's stopping them putting some temporary slippery run-off (whatever it is they have on the exit on turn 1 here) in order to stop drivers going out there?

Verstappen's first lap definitely looked over the line on the last corner, but it's pretty hard to make out given the amount of rubber on the rumble strips.

Also, guessing Red Bull have sacrificed downforce (and ultimate lap time) to try to reduce the straight-line advantage of the Mercedes here. Seems like they're pretty screwed here.

Also, also, loving the in-helmet cameras they've got this weekend.

Hopefully a neutral question on Red Bull vs Mercedes, but any idea why there seems to be so much communication between Sky F1 & Red Bull (and McLaren it seems) during the sessions, but not Mercedes? Seems we're always hearing from Horner & Seidl (& occasionally Szafnauer), but nothing (that I can recall) from Wolff?

In helmet cameras are fantastic, totally agree. I watched the onboard lap of alonso during fp3 and was amazed at how much they have to move their heads to check the mirrors. I’d always assumed it’d be something they could do with very little effort.

I imagine Mercedes didn't try the tow in order to ensure Bottas wasn't left nowhere. If so, that didn't work out so well. Bottas is normally pretty decent in qualifying here too!

Excellent.

I think that depends on how it happens- both going for a corner, racing incident, could have happened to anyone etc etc.

If he just side swipes him, fine- that’s an obvious DQ. But if it’s side by side racing in the last GP of the year, for the championship- who is going to blame him?

True, the most likely scenario here is similar to Brazil where he'll try to run him out of road. Hamilton will bide his time and get him on one of the 2 long DRS straights as the Mercedes seems to have a hefty power advantage.

who is going to blame him?

95% of the British Sky F1 viewing public?

But, it’s much like the “UK public angry at EU” type stuff- the EU doesn’t give a shit as we’re no longer a member.

Max’s fanbase, and Max, give zero shits about Sky/Hamilton fans I suspect.

Why does the Merc now have such a hefty power advantage now and yet Bottas can do nothing with it. So weird. I suppose he just does not give a fuck now.

Hamilton got a fresh engine which has only been used in 2 races so far (Brazil & Saudi), I assume Mercedes can bump up the output since it's only got to last for a fraction of their usual lifespan. Think most of Bottas' new engines also were put into the pool prior to an engine upgrade in the summer as far as I recall. (Back when Bottas was getting engine penalties every other race)

Also probably he's out of fucks to give.

Red Bull definitely have the advantage on the 'number 2 driver loyalty' front this weekend.

Max’s fanbase, and Max, give zero shits about Sky/Hamilton fans I suspect.

I'd wager that there's just as much over-the-top fanatics & biased TV coverage on the pro-Max side as there are on the pro-Lewis side to be fair. It's just that it's not thrown in our faces week in, week out (though that's mostly just the biased TV coverage).

Hamilton got a fresh engine which has only been used in 2 races so far (Brazil & Saudi)

Ah yeah that's true. Knowing that they were going to do this, I guess there must have been some reason as to why RB couldn't do the same. Like Hamilton they would have literally been coasting past everyone else on the straights in Brazil with DRS.

Mercedes engines have a much more siginificant power drop-off throughout their lifespan than the Honda units apparently. The word from the Red Bull folks is that they wouldn't see much performance improvement from a fresh engine relative to the currently fitted ones.

Ah, interesting. Thanks.

Slight F2 spoilers ahead!

First though, was watching the onboard from Max's pole lap, and his lap delta looked barely affected by being in Perez's slipstream. Quite an impressive lap from Max there! I'd mostly put the gap down to getting the tow down the straights. Though it'll be interesting to see if we're 'treated' to another 2010-esque finale at Abu Dhabi if the slipstream + DRS is that weak here.

Looking forward to seeing Piastri in F1 hopefully next year/2023. He's had quite the record in the last few years of single-seater championships (not that that guarantees equivalent performance in F1 of course, think it was Vandoorne who had a stellar F2/3 record then fell flat in F1).

I imagine Mercedes didn't try the tow in order to ensure Bottas wasn't left nowhere. If so, that didn't work out so well.

At least Mercedes won't be regretting their decision to replace him due to a last minute showing of speed and form.

if both fail to finish how do they work out who wins ? wins through the season / poles ?
max appears first currently on the drivers standings

Race wins. 8 v 7 in Max’s favour

Although if there is an incident with one of them at fault, the stewards have indicated that they will dock points, giving the WC to the other driver.

i hear litigators and lawyers licking their lips with joy

I don't think it's so clear cut is it? For example, if we had another Silverstone/Monza incident, we wouldn't necessarily see Hamilton/Verstappen docked points for that, right?

As in, any incident that is not deemed a racing incident will not necessarily result in docked points.

I’ve been in Amsterdam for the best part of the last two weeks. Small man syndrome in full effect. The media coverage is nauseating.

Haas going to extreme lengths to save some money at the end of the season I guess!

Mazepin out due to positive covid test, and no eligable replacement available.

Mazepin finishes 21st in the championship, behind Kubica. Not a great debut season!