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Yeah it's a shit result for him. I think he's in a league above Vettel TBH though, and I really hope he finds what he needs as the season progresses.
I think, had he won the championship last year, he would have quit (edit, at the end of last year, before this season). Knowing when to leave the party etc.
Poor Sainz, yes.
Howard-
Honestly I don't see it, he's just been fortunate enough (#blessed) that his team's lead lasted twice as long as Vettel's.
I think he'll stick around longer as despite what he may try to convey, I think he does care about how he's perceived. And leaving the sport as soon as he no longer has a championship winning car would be a bad look. Though maybe he'll pull a Schumacher and come back after a few years of being bored off-track.
If he'd have won the WDC last year, I wouldn't have been surprised if he cashed out there. Would've been a very different story indeed.
mmccarthy
Also, Hamilton getting lapped while Russell gets P4. Personally, I'd rather have Hamilton up at the front fighting (Alonso too for that matter), but I can't help but enjoy seeing the (IMO) excessively pro-Hamilton folks fumbling to make excuses for this season's performances (don't get me wrong, I'm sure pretty much every driver has their fawning fanbase who'll defend their driver to the end, but I don't have to listen to them as pundits/commentators every race).
Big season for Hamilton, if he manages to get back on top it'll look great for his status (a performance like MSC getting pole in Monaco in the mid-tier Mercedes, or his 1996 Spanish GP win in a shitbox Ferrari). If not, I struggle to see how he can be remembered much different from Vettel (#teamVettel), untouchable given the right car, but unable to properly lead otherwise (he did put in some decent performances in the McLaren alongside Button, though maybe none as strong as Button's 2011 win in Canada).
Will be an interesting one for sure, good to see all teams able to score points and some tight fights throughout the field (especially at the front).
Now if only Sainz can fecking finish a race...