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

[Big Tea]

To slightly steal Merc thunder here, Bottas kept Max boxed in.
Max had to weigh up risk/reward of a second place finish and second place start with Hamilton 5+ how ever many places behind, v a failed pass which could cost him far more and lost points, plus showing Merc what his pace actually is.

I think Max drove a tactical race today, but Geez did Hamilton drive a stormer. (That car goes a lot better now they have fixed that broken DRS )

I think youre just trying to spin it to make Max out to have been the best in the race in one way or another.

Not at all. I am pointing out Max only did what he had to do, which is score more points than Hamilton while not damaging his position. To me it was plain who best in race was and it was Hamilton by head and shoulders.
However, Hamilton had do do all he could, not just what was needed.

[AeroDynamic]

I watched Sainz vs Max onboard. I noticed max did the same thing again; he hugs a driver who is doing a move on the inside, trying to force an issue. This time Sainz went into him a little and Max went off track (again) that could’ve gone very wrong for Max. As we saw, he had the pace to get sainz later, he should not risk close wheel to wheel in his position.

[Shrieker]

Damn, Lewis could've gotten p3, if he hadn't spent 1 extra lap behind Ricci and Seb each... That means, it's still all to play for tomorrow.

[AeroDynamic]

Damn, Lewis could've gotten p3, if he hadn't spent 1 extra lap behind Ricci and Seb each... That means, it's still all to play for tomorrow.

Meh, my prediction will be the race won’t resemble the last 2 days at all. Temperatures are going to be a lot hotter, and it’s going to be about tyres and conditions again; whoever’s car thrives in the conditions, wil be the favourite to win. Best to judge in the day this season, not practice or qualy.

If MCS struggle on tyres, it’s over. If they don’t then it’s on for them. If for some reason Max’s tyres struggle then Lewis could turn his weekend around in the face of that huge set back for him

[InsaneX_Badger]

If the track temps really will double tomorrow you can see why Max was quietly confident after the sprint.

[aMessageToCharlie]

Amazing effort from LH and an exciting sprint race in general.

Looking forward to tomorrow's main event.

[djones]

So it turns out the wing was ok on one side and the middle, but one side was 0.2mm out of spec due to damage.

With that in mind and given other teams have been allowed to change damaged parts in a similar scenario it makes the DSQ seem a little harsh in my opinion.

[Senna55]

Lewis had the same pace as Bottas. Nothing special there. I expected fastest lap time from him considering he got new engine and they adjusted rear wing after quali. But streight line speed and his overtaking abilities were amazing.

[SiLo]

So it turns out the wing was ok on one side and the middle, but one side was 0.2mm out of spec due to damage.

With that in mind and given other teams have been allowed to change damaged parts in a similar scenario it makes the DSQ seem a little harsh in my opinion.

Without sprint qualifying happening, it would be a non issue likely caught between Free Practice sessions. Just makes me hate sprint quali even more tbh

[AeroDynamic]

So it turns out the wing was ok on one side and the middle, but one side was 0.2mm out of spec due to damage.

With that in mind and given other teams have been allowed to change damaged parts in a similar scenario it makes the DSQ seem a little harsh in my opinion.

Where was it confirmed, 2mm?

[Jolle]

So it turns out the wing was ok on one side and the middle, but one side was 0.2mm out of spec due to damage.

With that in mind and given other teams have been allowed to change damaged parts in a similar scenario it makes the DSQ seem a little harsh in my opinion.

If it was real damage, the team would have been allowed to change the part for a non-damaged part, like they would with a floor that's damaged and wouldn't be inside the rules. My guess the tolerances on these cars are just so extreme, that a bit of a misfit, and you're screwed. And pushing tolerances is risk.

[Edax]

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 !

I think we’re seeing the effect of the regulation change. Only two teams are still putting effort in current cars, the others moved on to next year.

That means that barring a DNF (which I hope not) this will go to the last race since it will be hard to pull a decisive gap.

[ispano6]

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.

Same with Lewis, better show Perez some respect. Lewis might be overzealous and may compromise his race like he did to Albon.

[RZS10]

[holeindalip]

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 !

1:12 not a 1:21….