2020 Austrian Grand Prix - Spielberg, 3-5 July

[Wouter]

People talk about what they care about, nothing you can really do about it if people don't care about what you do.

I like the F1 races. I care about the race with 20 drivers. I thought you can read about it in a race Topic, you also can in other race Topics on other forums. All I read here is Lewis, Lewis, Lewis and Mercedes. There are also 9 other teams.

What would you like to talk about with regard to other drivers and teams? Bring stuff to the table and maybe others will discuss it with you.

I would like to post something about AlphaTauri and Honda or Norris, Sainz and Kimi, but there will never be a response, so I will do that in the team Topic instead of in the race Topic.

[SmallSoldier]

I like the F1 races. I care about the race with 20 drivers. I thought you can read about it in a race Topic, you also can in other race Topics on other forums. All I read here is Lewis, Lewis, Lewis and Mercedes. There are also 9 other teams.

What would you like to talk about with regard to other drivers and teams? Bring stuff to the table and maybe others will discuss it with you.

I would like to post something about AlphaTauri and Honda or Norris, Sainz and Kimi, but there will never be a response, so I will do that in the team Topic instead of in the race Topic.

Sometimes it takes someone to lead! I will answer

I’ll admit that my highlight yesterday was Norris, not only because of the podium, but also because of managing to pull the Fastest Lap of the race, at the last lap with all the pressure that it implies... And he was coming from a couple of laps were he made several mistakes (he missed T1 and T3, going off track and then got wheel to wheel with Sainz afterwards)... For him, to get back in the rhythm and pulled 2 great laps at the end (lap 70 was a 1:07.8 and lap 71 a 1:07.4) is pretty impressive.

In addition and probably just anecdotal, his Fastest Lap matched Max’s Fastest Lap of 2019... Which shows how much the MCL35 has improved from the previous season and still waiting for some upgrades that will come at Silverstone.


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[foxmulder_ms]

It felt like they were going to swap Bottas and Hamilton around the last few laps, to give Hamilton max chance of keeping 5 seconds ahead of anybody but Bottas and let Bottas stay off the curbs nurturing his car home.

It didn’t look like blocking from Bottas

He was 2 seconds slower than Lewis in lap 69, which put Lewis in bad air, which meant Lewis was slower than Leclerc and Norris

https://i.imgur.com/Fdvzc0K.jpg

What Bottas did in both qualifying and the last lab was ugly... it will make Lewis's win more satisfying. Bottos will be replaced either by Ocon or more probably Russell next year.

[zeph]

At the risk of sounding vindictive, RBR's double DNF feels like karma for insisting on a grid penalty for Hamilton.

That was super-cynical from Horner et co. and it seems like divine justice they didn't get to reap any possible rewards.

[PlatinumZealot]

They would have DNF'd anyway. For me it is a sign RedBull conceeds that they cannot win on pace this year.
The WDC has Hamilton written all over it. Might as well give him now.

[DChemTech]

He was 2 seconds slower than Lewis in lap 69, which put Lewis in bad air, which meant Lewis was slower than Leclerc and Norris

https://i.imgur.com/Fdvzc0K.jpg

What Bottas did in both qualifying and the last lab was ugly... it will make Lewis's win more satisfying. Bottos will be replaced either by Ocon or more probably Russell next year.

Which would be rather stupid. Bottas is an ideal number 2 driver; fast, but knows his place. A Barichello, but probably better. Russell maybe the next Hamilton for them, but then he should replace the old Hamilton - not bottas. And Ocon... Little chance he gets that seat. And rightfully so.

[El Scorchio]

I don't believe Bottas would have gone off the track in qualifying on purpose. Far too great a risk of damaging his car and possibly himself. I think you'd have to be a bit of a psychopath to do that, just in the hope of wrecking your team-mate's lap.

I'm undecided about whether he slowed intentionally to deny Hamilton second place. My gut reaction is that he probably did. However I am sure that is being internally taken care of, and it would be pretty easy to prove with all the data the team has available. The team however have dropped a major clanger by not instructing the drivers to swap places to try and maximise points. Very bad race all round strategy wise, as soon as the race diverged from a controlled situation. If there was ever a case study for how trying to neuter a race can backfire, then that was it. I'm not buying this sensor issue that coincidentally occurred just when the team could see their cars getting closer and closer. LET THE DRIVERS RACE.

[Andres125sx]

Sometimes it takes someone to lead!

Indeed, it´s much better than assuming there will be no response

I’ll admit that my highlight yesterday was Norris, not only because of the podium, but also because of managing to pull the Fastest Lap of the race, at the last lap with all the pressure that it implies... And he was coming from a couple of laps were he made several mistakes (he missed T1 and T3, going off track and then got wheel to wheel with Sainz afterwards)... For him, to get back in the rhythm and pulled 2 great laps at the end (lap 70 was a 1:07.8 and lap 71 a 1:07.4) is pretty impressive.

Yes impressive perfomance by Lando. From 3rd on the grid to 3rd in the race does not look impressive, but if you add it was not a Ferrari or RBR, not even a pink Mercedes, but a McLaren, the pov change drastically

3rd in the grid was awesome, but I think even the most stalwart McLaren fans in the world knew he will drop some places. But he didn´t!!

In addition and probably just anecdotal, his Fastest Lap matched Max’s Fastest Lap of 2019... Which shows how much the MCL35 has improved from the previous season and still waiting for some upgrades that will come at Silverstone.

In addition, it was not only one McLaren, but both of them. Lando earned that podium but Carlos was just behind so even if Norris would have suffered some problem, the trophy would still be in McLaren stands, wich is the reason they´re 2nd in the WCC

Obviously Ferrari and RBR will do it much better in next races, but they can be proud of their perfomance in first gp of the season, whatever happens in nexts those 27 points will remain in McLaren scoreboard

[nokivasara]

Seems like every time Bottas is in the lead he get's to hear "Valtteri, it's James". This time because of a gearbox issue that was worse for him, if I were Bottas I'd like to see the sensor data from both cars at that time.

I wonder how Sainz jr feels about his move to Ferrari?

All in all an eventful season opener, it's tighter than ever behind Mercedes. I hope we don't see the SC as much in the upcoming races.

[Wynters]

I’ll admit that my highlight yesterday was Norris, not only because of the podium, but also because of managing to pull the Fastest Lap of the race, at the last lap with all the pressure that it implies... And he was coming from a couple of laps were he made several mistakes (he missed T1 and T3, going off track and then got wheel to wheel with Sainz afterwards)... For him, to get back in the rhythm and pulled 2 great laps at the end (lap 70 was a 1:07.8 and lap 71 a 1:07.4) is pretty impressive.

The only blot on his copy book was the Perez move and, in a way, I think it shows good development. One of his points for improvement last season was his caution about getting his elbows out. There's definitely a time and a place for it but Sunday was a useful marker to put down, especially with someone he might be racing wheel-to-wheel with over the next few races.

Very impressed with MCL's development. I didn't think they'd make anywhere near the step they have done. I'm looking forward to seeing how far they can take this concept, particularly with the regs extending through 2021 now.

What Bottas did in both qualifying and the last lab was ugly... it will make Lewis's win more satisfying. Bottos will be replaced either by Ocon or more probably Russell next year.

Bottas did nothing in qualifying and, if he did slow Hamilton up in the last few laps, then that was smart of him. It's a competition and what he did was perfectly legal.

[sosic2121]

They would have DNF'd anyway. For me it is a sign RedBull conceeds that they cannot win on pace this year.
The WDC has Hamilton written all over it. Might as well give him now.

Absolutely, if stops making stupid mistakes like yesterday. And of course if improves his Q pace.

[dans79]

if he did slow Hamilton up in the last few laps, then that was smart of him. It's a competition and what he did was perfectly legal.

The team won't see it that way, the team wants 1/2's and maximum points. If Bottas Hadn't slowed down, Lewis would had 3rd easy, and if he had upped his pace as soon as the 5 second penalty was announced he might have even been able to keep second.

[PlatinumZealot]

They would have DNF'd anyway. For me it is a sign RedBull conceeds that they cannot win on pace this year.
The WDC has Hamilton written all over it. Might as well give him now.

Absolutely, if stops making stupid mistakes like yesterday. And of course if improves his Q pace.

I didn't see any stupid mistakes from Hamilton. Not sure what you are talking about. The completion of this race has not brought any concerns about Hamilton's driving. What I saw was monster race pace that Bottas had no answer to. No one has a chance if that black rocketship of a car is reliable.


AUT - round 2 - HAM
HUN - HAM
GBR - HAM
GBR r2 - HAM
ESP - HAM
BEL - HAM
ITA - HAM

I can't see Bottas really getting on top without some luck.

[Big Tea]

if he did slow Hamilton up in the last few laps, then that was smart of him. It's a competition and what he did was perfectly legal.

The team won't see it that way, the team wants 1/2's and maximum points. If Bottas Hadn't slowed down, Lewis would had 3rd easy, and if he had upped his pace as soon as the 5 second penalty was announced he might have even been able to keep second.

Was he not told in no uncertain terns to 'save the car'? It had already passed the stay off the curbs stage, and stay of the red and white too.

[dans79]

if he did slow Hamilton up in the last few laps, then that was smart of him. It's a competition and what he did was perfectly legal.

The team won't see it that way, the team wants 1/2's and maximum points. If Bottas Hadn't slowed down, Lewis would had 3rd easy, and if he had upped his pace as soon as the 5 second penalty was announced he might have even been able to keep second.

Was he not told in no uncertain terns to 'save the car'? It had already passed the stay off the curbs stage, and stay of the red and white too.

Bottas's lat times after the restart and after they had been told to stay of the curbs.

Lap 61- 1:08.204
Lap 62 - 1:08.378
Lap 63 - 1:08.062
Lap 64 - 1:08.174
Lap 65 - 1:08.238
Lap 66 - 1:08.199
Lap 67 - 1:08.023
Lap 68 - 1:07.657
Lap 69 - 1:10.046
Lap 70 - 1:08.200
Lap 71 - 1:08.412

Lap 69 Put Lewis right on his butt and in Dirty air. and cost the team points.