2021 United States Grand Prix - Austin, Oct 22 - 24

[TimW]

It was not his battle. Strategically it would have been plain stupid for him to fight Max in a race where tire degradation is everything. It would have compromised his race against Sainz and Norris.

No conspiracy here....

Edit: Ricciardo was at the end of his stint, so it was not tire deg but not to have time loss in his undercut fight with drivers around him.

[ringo]

Another point of note was how much Max could dictate his teammate's fate for his own means. Redbull aren't shy about the #1 driver policy at all.
He pretty much asked that Perez race be compromised for his for strategy, then Perez easily stepped aside after Max's pitstop.
Mercedes would be in a stronger position if they were as open with their drivers.
Bottas lack of being a team player has costed the team some good points for LH.
I'm not complaining about redbull, just saying they aren't ashamed to maximize their #1 driver's points at all costs.

[TimW]

Valtteri it's James..... I don't know how much more open you can be with your drivers.

[Wouter]

Another point of note was how much Max could dictate his teammate's fate for his own means. Redbull aren't shy about the #1 driver policy at all.
He pretty much asked that Perez race be compromised for his for strategy, then Perez easily stepped aside after Max's pitstop.

Perez was at least 0.2s slower per lap than Max. It makes sense that he let him pass.

[dans79]

Valtteri it's James..... I don't know how much more open you can be with your drivers.

Watch drive to survive from russia last year, and you will see what Ringo means!

[LM10]

Another point of note was how much Max could dictate his teammate's fate for his own means. Redbull aren't shy about the #1 driver policy at all.
He pretty much asked that Perez race be compromised for his for strategy, then Perez easily stepped aside after Max's pitstop.
Mercedes would be in a stronger position if they were as open with their drivers.
Bottas lack of being a team player has costed the team some good points for LH.
I'm not complaining about redbull, just saying they aren't ashamed to maximize their #1 driver's points at all costs.

Every single team would do the exact same thing at this point of the season in such a tight championship.

[El Scorchio]

Another point of note was how much Max could dictate his teammate's fate for his own means. Redbull aren't shy about the #1 driver policy at all.
He pretty much asked that Perez race be compromised for his for strategy, then Perez easily stepped aside after Max's pitstop.
Mercedes would be in a stronger position if they were as open with their drivers.
Bottas lack of being a team player has costed the team some good points for LH.
I'm not complaining about redbull, just saying they aren't ashamed to maximize their #1 driver's points at all costs.

Every single team would do the exact same thing at this point of the season in such a tight championship.

Exactly this. As they should, and any team who didn't do it would be completely stupid. Red Bull should 100% be ordering Perez to help Verstappen any way he can, and likewise Mercedes to their drivers.

Although it's a constant source of amusement that some people on here act utterly outraged when Mercedes ever do anything that benefits Hamilton in this way, yet never say a word when any other team does the same sort of thing.

[Sieper]

Another point of note was how much Max could dictate his teammate's fate for his own means. Redbull aren't shy about the #1 driver policy at all.
He pretty much asked that Perez race be compromised for his for strategy, then Perez easily stepped aside after Max's pitstop.
Mercedes would be in a stronger position if they were as open with their drivers.
Bottas lack of being a team player has costed the team some good points for LH.
I'm not complaining about redbull, just saying they aren't ashamed to maximize their #1 driver's points at all costs.

That is then probably why the called Perez in at cost of his podium to take the fastest lap away from Lewis. Or wait, no they didn’t. Sure Perez has been clearly supporting Max ‘ WDC bid but not at all cost and also not yet to any great cost for him. Unlike Bottas. Who has been offered up and churned up on so many occasions and in so many ways and still gets called “not a good team player”.

[Sieper]

Another point of note was how much Max could dictate his teammate's fate for his own means. Redbull aren't shy about the #1 driver policy at all.
He pretty much asked that Perez race be compromised for his for strategy, then Perez easily stepped aside after Max's pitstop.

Perez was at least 0.2s slower per lap than Max. It makes sense that he let him pass.

Every driver that does not fight Max to the limit (preferably way over it) is a dissapointment for Ringo. Even if they have nothing to gain, or it would be detrimental to them, they still should. Literally every driver that Max overtook he has wrote a post about (sometimes more than one) in this topic.

[dans79]

Another point of note was how much Max could dictate his teammate's fate for his own means. Redbull aren't shy about the #1 driver policy at all.
He pretty much asked that Perez race be compromised for his for strategy, then Perez easily stepped aside after Max's pitstop.

Perez was at least 0.2s slower per lap than Max. It makes sense that he let him pass.

Every driver that does not fight Max to the limit (preferably way over it) is a dissapointment for Ringo. Even if they have nothing to gain, or it would be detrimental to them, they still should. Literally every driver that Max overtook he has wrote a post about (sometimes more than one) in this topic.

Again, go and watch the season 3 drive to survive episode for Russia. Not being a team player is one thing, actively helping a competitor from another team is another.

[Hammerfist]

Another point of note was how much Max could dictate his teammate's fate for his own means. Redbull aren't shy about the #1 driver policy at all.
He pretty much asked that Perez race be compromised for his for strategy, then Perez easily stepped aside after Max's pitstop.
Mercedes would be in a stronger position if they were as open with their drivers.
Bottas lack of being a team player has costed the team some good points for LH.
I'm not complaining about redbull, just saying they aren't ashamed to maximize their #1 driver's points at all costs.

no they aren't. Christian Horner has basically confirmed it a few weeks ago.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bull- ... -his-role/

Also Perez almost never runs the same spec car as Max, he is always behind. He is there strictly to help Max beat Hamilton and Mercedes. Bottas gets an equal chance every year to beat Lewis but he has failed over an over. Some people just refuse to accept the facts.

[Sieper]

Perez was at least 0.2s slower per lap than Max. It makes sense that he let him pass.

Every driver that does not fight Max to the limit (preferably way over it) is a dissapointment for Ringo. Even if they have nothing to gain, or it would be detrimental to them, they still should. Literally every driver that Max overtook he has wrote a post about (sometimes more than one) in this topic.

Again, go and watch the season 3 drive to survive episode for Russia. Not being a team player is one thing, actively helping a competitor from another team is another.

I've stopped with DtS after episode 2 or so in season 2. Cant stand it. very soap show. to many liberties with reality.

sneak edit, I know what you mean, that tow thing. Yeah , that was very peculiar. We also had "to whom it may concern".

I can understand where Bottas is coming from. So far I think Checo has not been abused to that level and I hope it will not need to be. Likely RBR will also ask "Valterri this is James" from Checo but so far that has not been needed yet.

[Sieper]

Another point of note was how much Max could dictate his teammate's fate for his own means. Redbull aren't shy about the #1 driver policy at all.
He pretty much asked that Perez race be compromised for his for strategy, then Perez easily stepped aside after Max's pitstop.
Mercedes would be in a stronger position if they were as open with their drivers.
Bottas lack of being a team player has costed the team some good points for LH.
I'm not complaining about redbull, just saying they aren't ashamed to maximize their #1 driver's points at all costs.

no they aren't. Christian Horner has basically confirmed it a few weeks ago.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bull- ... -his-role/

Also Perez almost never runs the same spec car as Max, he is always behind. He is there strictly to help Max beat Hamilton and Mercedes. Bottas gets an equal chance every year to beat Lewis but he has failed over an over. Some people just refuse to accept the facts.

like you, and even proceed to sell it to others. Why do you thing Bottas has sometimes been deviant. Because of all the fair treatment?

[dans79]

I've stopped with DtS after episode 2 or so in season 2. Cant stand it. very soap show. to many liberties with reality.

just watch this then.

Listen to Horner talking about bottas giving Max a tow.

Basically, Bottas couldn't get pole, so he intentionally towed max down the strait to try and ensure Max got second and he got 3rd, as that would hurt Lewis at the start and benefit him. The team, was even on the radio telling him not to tow max, and he did it anyway (all the way down the main strait).

[TimW]

Perez was at least 0.2s slower per lap than Max. It makes sense that he let him pass.

Every driver that does not fight Max to the limit (preferably way over it) is a dissapointment for Ringo. Even if they have nothing to gain, or it would be detrimental to them, they still should. Literally every driver that Max overtook he has wrote a post about (sometimes more than one) in this topic.

Again, go and watch the season 3 drive to survive episode for Russia. Not being a team player is one thing, actively helping a competitor from another team is another.

In 2020 Mercedes was unchallenged, Hamilton already had a 70 point lead over Verstappen. Totally different situation. Bottas was right to take up the only fight that could have been that season. There was nothing at stake for Mercedes.

This race they did not even compromise Perez' race by pitting him. On the contrary, it was his only chance of undercutting Hamilton and getting p2.
The thing that hurt Hamilton's chances was the fact that Mercedes decided (needed?) to give Bottas a new engine here. Without the penalty Bottas would have been in Verstappens pit window and he would not have been able to undercut Hamilton...