Formula One ( F1 )

Totally agree. I think, if they hadn’t let the 5 lapped cars through and Verstappen passed all of them and still won, that would be fine. Setting them up for a one lap sprint with one car on fresh tyres seems to be handing a massively unfair advantage to the team that pits.

Totally. It was a done deal the second they made that decision.

The more I think about it the more I think Mercedes bottled it to an extent. There was every chance there would a full s/c at some point after the first VCS. They chose to keep track position by not pitting when they had the opportunity, so they were always going to be massively vulnerable if there was a late SC.

But at 12 seconds clear of RB then if Merc pitted then RB would have stayed out and got track position.
RB had the luxury of essentially a free pitstop. If they put on fresh tyres and there was no SC then they finish 2nd, which is where they'd have finished with old tyres too.
If they don't put on new tyres then they probably finish 2nd regardless of whether there's a SC.
They could react to Mercedes, but Merc couldn't do the same (which is fine)

Seemed Mercedes and RB both made the sensible call in staying out and changing tyres respectively.

Never been a Lewis fan, but definitely seems robbed today.

I'm not sure why they can't have a "all lapped cars must drive through the pits slowly" rule, which would effectively shuffle them all to the back of the pack, rather than sending them ahead.

though that'd be the same sort of ad hoc rule change, so no help today

Fair point. Still feels super unsatisfactory though.

I'm not sure why they can't have a "all lapped cars must drive through the pits slowly" rule, which would effectively shuffle them all to the back of the pack, rather than sending them ahead.

It would sort the order, but not allow them to unlap themselves relative to the other cars on the lead lap, infact they'd end up lapped by all the lead lap cars, so effectively be penalised I think.

It would sort the order, but not allow them to unlap themselves relative to the other cars on the lead lap, infact they'd end up lapped by all the lead lap cars, so effectively be penalised I think.

Could just count it as having unlapped themselves. Presumably they wouldn't be at the pointy end of the points so the minor faff of them having slightly less travelled tyres (but a little more fuel to offset) wouldn't be too bad. Anyway, just musing

Pitting under the safety car should be a gamble, you give up track position for a chance to be faster on fresh rubber. If race control are going to artificially shuffle the pack to give the track position back, that’s ridiculous.

Agree.

I think Hamilton’s interview with Jensen Button just after the race was very impressive- given what had just happened and the way in which he’d lost the championship.

I very much hope Lewis get championship 8 next season.

If they don’t hand it to him because F1, one of the bright sides is that he has to keep racing for the elusive 8th.

one of Mercedes appeals was just rejected. Second decision imminent

Yeah, there are some things that Mercedes and Hamilton are within their rights to complain about. This isn't one of them.

We had similar calls here to rewrite the rules on pitting under VSC when it lead to Vettel jumping Hamilton for the win in Australia 2018.

We should acknowledge the real winners are Netflix and tsunoda

Also, a load of new interest in the sport ahead of what should be a damn good season with the new regulations!

Fingers crossed we don't see another Brawn 2.0 that find a massive loophole and absolutely wipes the floor with the competition!

#sainz2022

Bottas is getting a light run in all of this - went totally missing in the tail end of this season. You see the difference between him and Perez

Why didn’t Mercedes cover off the first pit when under the VSC?

Whilst the end is pure BS I don’t understand the above.

Horner saying ‘the narrative of he’s a dangerous driver…’ I mean it’s the narrative because he is a dangerous driver

To be fair, Perez had an unusually great race. Bottas was Mercedes' lab rat for their engine changes. The performace deficit further compounded by Lewis's fresh engine I imagine. He's as good a number 2 has you'd want IMO (though his racecraft is pretty atrocious at times!). Think they learned their lesson from the Nico years and went for the historic Ferrari-esque driver pairing.

Though to be fair, I wouldn't be surprised if he put in less effort in the final few races.

Decision upheld.

To CAS we go…

the difference between him and Perez

Perez seems to be having an easier time playing second fiddle, and seems happier to get a vicarious win.

https://twitter.com/pardz_king/status/1470057640608911368?s=21

Confirmation of VB not GAF

It's his first year in a championship winning team with a clear no.1 driver. I'm sure he won't be trying to rock the boat!

I'm sure they'll both be vying for no.1 status next year (and I doubt Perez will get it), so we may see a different side then. Valterri's had his fair share of "Valterri, Lewis is faster than you, can you confirm you understood this message" moments that have probably turned him away from the team a bit.

I’m interested in what you think CAS would do.

They can’t penalise RB because RB are not at fault. They can’t rewind time and change the decision RE lapped cars.

So what should they do? Award a 7 time world champion driving for the team who have one the last 7 years in a row another championship - off the track? I mean maybe but I don’t think a lot of people would understand it.

Maybe they could award Mercedes and Lewis financial compensation which they so clearly need.

It'll be awkward if he finds himself having to move over for Zhou next season!

Excellent video, I think that and the post-race Monza interview tell you all you need to know about Bottas' feelings!

Just void it and race it again at a decent track

With these cars, are any of them decent tracks?