Bottas was 0.1 down and if patterns are anything to go by, Bottas is generally 0.1-0.2 down on Saturday. Rosberg was always closer to Hamilton on Saturday.Hoffman900 wrote: ↑18 Jul 2020, 18:17I think Bottas has proven himself to be very fast, especially over 1 lap. It's race craft where Lewis really differentiates himself from Valteri.foxmulder_ms wrote: ↑18 Jul 2020, 17:29Redbull is a marketing operation so they invest and "arrange" everything to create a legendary persona who can market their products. They are not good for F1 as a sport... as a spectacle, maybe...
I am surprised Bottas was close to Ham frankly. I was expecting a bigger delta.
Overall Mercedes engined cars looked very strong. I think first 3 races were the weakest for Merc and it looks like they are going to win all three, if they don't collide to each other... I think Merc may win all races this year.
I don't get the RP hate, and I am saying this as a Mclaren fan. The other teams not pushing the rules in regard to copying a proven design is foolish. Eventually they come around (see: tunnels, high nose, mid engine vs front engine, reclined seating positions, etc).
This is where good team managers are worth their weight in gold. They basically are the captain steering the ship and set the direction.
My assessment of the whole thing? For what it counts, I think Hamilton, a lot like Alonso and Vettel focus a lot more on Sunday than Saturday. This doesn't mean they bin qualifying because it has a lot of importance but they tilt the favour of set up more for Sunday in order to allow them the chance to come back in the event things don't pan out perfectly or there are any first lap shenanigans. There is a reason Rosberg/Bottas go through or went through the tyres a lot more on Sunday and not to mention the wheel to wheel combat where Hamilton easily aces them both. My personal feeling is both tried to put Hamilton on the backfoot early and tried/try to make him pass on track because they both know that if the shoe is on the other foot they have a lesser chance of winning. It suits Hamilton as well because he is able to still ring a lap out on Saturday and in the event the opposition does get him which in Rosberg's case was one in two and a half and one in four with Bottas, he still can apply the pressure on Sunday.
Bottas was not winning a normal Austrian Grand Prix. Hamilton was catching him hand over fist and in all likelihood would have passed him. In the second race, he was put in his place and frankly, second is the worst position a Mercedes can finish this year which is what he achieved. His only opportunity tomorrow is at the start and even if he gets Hamilton, Hamilton might do him in at the stops or on track although this is a notoriously hard track to pass. Over a full season, Bottas will need a Rosberg'esque' ball of fortune to finish ahead in the standings.