2021 São Paulo Grand Prix - Interlagos, Nov 12-14

[Mr.S]

By the way -

PU - Hamilton (Belgium GP - Almost cancelled) + Dutch GP + Italy + Russia. PU New - Turkey + USA + Mexico. New PU - Brazil + Saudi + Qatar + Abu Dhabi.

Hamilton's Spa PU had little running in Spa & 30% running in Monza & lasted 4 races. Hamilton's Turkey PU has been used in 3 races & didn't deliver the decisive straightline speed in Mexico & USA that it did in Turkey (1st race). By Abu Dhabi, this PU will have 3 Qualy, 3 races & 1 sprint. Hamilton will not have this kind of ICE/Straight-line advantage in Abu Dhabi as he does in Brazil.

People have to stay calm & watch how these evolve - For all we know Lewis or Max could have a DNF completely turning the championship 1 way or the other

[Mchamilton]

Why? if the conditions are the same tomorrow as today, then yeah he will have to fight to hold on but its a different race tomorrow. Its surprising how many people on a technical forum overlook something so obvious that has been a consistent factor every weekend; conditions, conditions, conditions...

It’s just the typical propping up of a fan base’s favorite driver to make it look like some kind of miracle if he wins when starting P2 after finishing 1s behind Bottas in the sprint.

Under normal circumstances, Hamilton will make it up to P3 tomorrow. If there’s a safety car in his favor, who knows.

Hamilton also has to worry about contact from the midfield at the start.

I feel like we are all in the twilight zone now, did we not see Hamilton overtake 15 cars in 24 laps and with an overtake speed that will push him pass the RB's with ease once he is behind them? I saw nothing today that makes me believe that Max can hang on and win 2moro. Unlesss temperatures completely change and the RB get a LOT faster and he overtakes Bottas at the start...

Temperatures could be as much as double in the GP tomorrow...

[djones]

If I was Merc I’d put Bottas on softs to guarantee he’s in first for 20 laps, with an aim of keeping the initial pace of Max down while Lewis comes though.

[Mchamilton]

By the way -

PU - Bottas (Belgium GP - Almost cancelled) + Dutch GP, New PU Italy, New PU Russia (Brazil will be the 5th race after Russia, Turkey, US & Mexico) - Already you will see more deg

PU - Hamilton (Belgium GP - Almost cancelled) + Dutch GP + Italy + Russia. PU New - Turkey + USA + Mexico. New PU - Brazil + Saudi + Qatar + Abu Dhabi.

Hamilton's Spa PU had little running in Spa & 30% running in Monza & lasted 4 races. Hamilton's Turkey PU has been used in 3 races & didn't deliver the decisive straightline speed in Mexico & USA that it did in Turkey (1st race). By Abu Dhabi, this PU will have 3 Qualy, 3 races & 1 sprint. Hamilton will not have this kind of ICE/Straight-line advantage in Abu Dhabi as he does in Brazil.

People have to stay calm & watch how these evolve - For all we know Lewis or Max could have a DNF completely turning the championship 1 way or the other

Youre considering straight line speed based on PU output only though, on vastly different circuits and conditions. Austin has higher average cornering speed than turkey, so merc couldnt tune the rear third element to collapse as quickly as in turkey. Mexico is almost 2.5x the altitude of the next highest race so straight line speed differences are negated massively due to air density. Many variable. Its definitely not all down to engine degredation.

[Mchamilton]

If I was Merc I’d put Bottas on softs to guarantee he’s in first for 20 laps, with an aim of keeping the initial pace of Max down while Lewis comes though.

Cant see why a soft/hard race isnt entirely possible anyway. Especially aa you say if you want to guarentee bein p1 on lap 1

[Marty_Y]

As has been said before all we need is a safety car at some point to spice things up and it could be a possibility of Lewis winning.

Even without it, if Bottas can win and Max second, Lewis coming third, the rest of the season could still be interesting.

[zibby43]

Exactly. A good start for Max and he’s off. No way Bottas will be able to challenge then. Given how lenient Bottas has been in the battles so far, he will probably not put up much fight in turn one if Max goes for it.

He is fighting for the win tomorrow. Unless Max has a substantially better start, I think Bottas will be very hard with him tomorrow through the first 3 turns. Not to mention Max has a lot more to lose than Bottas does!

Bottas absolutely has a chance to redeem himself for Mexico.

Lemme go ahead and set my expectations to ZERO.

I hope for the sake of the Internet that Bottas isn’t clumsy if Max does have a go early.

[Mchamilton]

If I was Merc I’d put Bottas on softs to guarantee he’s in first for 20 laps, with an aim of keeping the initial pace of Max down while Lewis comes though.

Cant see why a soft/hard race isnt entirely possible anyway. Especially aa you say if you want to guarentee bein p1 on lap 1

Then again, track temps will be much higher in the GP that keeping the softs alive is probably unlikely

[zibby43]

As has been said before all we need is a safety car at some point to spice things up and it could be a possibility of Lewis winning.

Even without it, if Bottas can win and Max second, Lewis coming third, the rest of the season could still be interesting.

My thoughts as well. I just want the fight to continue.

[Mchamilton]

Exactly. A good start for Max and he’s off. No way Bottas will be able to challenge then. Given how lenient Bottas has been in the battles so far, he will probably not put up much fight in turn one if Max goes for it.

He is fighting for the win tomorrow. Unless Max has a substantially better start, I think Bottas will be very hard with him tomorrow through the first 3 turns. Not to mention Max has a lot more to lose than Bottas does!

Bottas absolutely has a chance to redeem himself for Mexico.

Lemme go ahead and set my expectations to ZERO.

I hope for the sake of the Internet that Bottas isn’t clumsy if Max does have a good early.

Let him be clumsy, shouldnt be giving max an inch in any situation.

[Mr.S]

By the way -

PU - Bottas (Belgium GP - Almost cancelled) + Dutch GP, New PU Italy, New PU Russia (Brazil will be the 5th race after Russia, Turkey, US & Mexico) - Already you will see more deg

PU - Hamilton (Belgium GP - Almost cancelled) + Dutch GP + Italy + Russia. PU New - Turkey + USA + Mexico. New PU - Brazil + Saudi + Qatar + Abu Dhabi.

Hamilton's Spa PU had little running in Spa & 30% running in Monza & lasted 4 races. Hamilton's Turkey PU has been used in 3 races & didn't deliver the decisive straightline speed in Mexico & USA that it did in Turkey (1st race). By Abu Dhabi, this PU will have 3 Qualy, 3 races & 1 sprint. Hamilton will not have this kind of ICE/Straight-line advantage in Abu Dhabi as he does in Brazil.

People have to stay calm & watch how these evolve - For all we know Lewis or Max could have a DNF completely turning the championship 1 way or the other

Youre considering straight line speed based on PU output only though, on vastly different circuits and conditions. Austin has higher average cornering speed than turkey, so merc couldnt tune the rear third element to collapse as quickly as in turkey. Mexico is almost 2.5x the altitude of the next highest race so straight line speed differences are negated massively due to air density. Many variable. Its definitely not all down to engine degredation.

Probably. I agree with you. People forget Sainz finished 17.5s odd off Verstappen. And Verstappen overtook him in Lap 4.

That is 17.5s in 20 laps. Almost 9 tenths per lap on empty fuel. That was the gap Bottas & Verstappen pulled on Ferrari - Almost 1st per lap (which was roughly the pace of Mclaren, Ashton, Alpine, Alpha Tauri etc) in race pace.

The person setting the fastest lap of the race was Verstappen with 1'21'31 vs 1'21'3 of Bottas & Hamilton while Leclerc/Norris/Sainz were around 1s slower on their own fastest lap. Even with the amazing speed, Hamilton's speed was close to Max's but behind (Maybe without the traffic he would be tied or marginally ahead in race pace) but would not blow Max away by any logic as people are pretending here !

[NathanOlder]

He is fighting for the win tomorrow. Unless Max has a substantially better start, I think Bottas will be very hard with him tomorrow through the first 3 turns. Not to mention Max has a lot more to lose than Bottas does!

Bottas absolutely has a chance to redeem himself for Mexico.

Lemme go ahead and set my expectations to ZERO.

I hope for the sake of the Internet that Bottas isn’t clumsy if Max does have a good early.

Let him be clumsy, shouldnt be giving max an inch in any situation.

Exactly, Max needs to give Bottas extra room, if he doesn't then thats on Max.

[bonjon1979]

Did max still get driver of the day?

[Tvetovnato]

Exactly. A good start for Max and he’s off. No way Bottas will be able to challenge then. Given how lenient Bottas has been in the battles so far, he will probably not put up much fight in turn one if Max goes for it.

He is fighting for the win tomorrow. Unless Max has a substantially better start, I think Bottas will be very hard with him tomorrow through the first 3 turns. Not to mention Max has a lot more to lose than Bottas does!

One can only hope…

[search]

If I was Merc I’d put Bottas on softs to guarantee he’s in first for 20 laps, with an aim of keeping the initial pace of Max down while Lewis comes though.

Cant see why a soft/hard race isnt entirely possible anyway. Especially aa you say if you want to guarentee bein p1 on lap 1

Then again, track temps will be much higher in the GP that keeping the softs alive is probably unlikely

Bottas also used both his best (3 laps on it) sets of Softs today already, as far as I could see (in FP2 and Sprint Race). The next available one has 5 laps on it already, making it even harder to hang on