Grand Prix thread 2017 Bahrain Grand Prix Chat and Predictions

If they'd let Hamilton go as soon as Vettel pitted, before the SC, they could've won. I won't call team orders until Bottas has the pace to be in front and gets moved aside, today he wasn't close to Lewis' pace.

 

Feel for Stoffel. What do you do? Stick with Mclaren and hope for better?

 

The penalty was probably 5s, as it wasn't particularly dangerous and it didn't really impede DR, as he still came out of the pits ahead of LH. But no problem, the irrational dislike for LH continues.

 

It's not an irrational dislike for Lewis it's a rule to prevent the positioning of drivers - which is exactly what happened.

If Lewis had come in nose to tail on Bottas he wouldn't have lost anymore time than he did, so he obviously did it to gain an advantage. Additionally he blocked Ricc in the Pitlane preventing him from going past - which is allowed if under the pit lane restricter, so that's 3 infringements. Lewis holding Ric back prevents Ricc from potentially jumping Bottas if he has a slow stop and limiting the chance of Ricc from jumping Lewis. That is cheating and that's why the rule is there.

As Miggs continually stated the rules must be implemented the same for all drivers, and I would argue a different penalty may have been given for another driver.

 

I think if they were matched on pace it would be harsh, but Hamilton was way quicker today. Ferrari didn't seem to let Kimi get in Vettel's way either which was absolutely the right thing to do.

 

The pace differential in the Ferraris in China was massive - maybe Merc learnt from thier mistake? One things for sure, that wouldn't have happened with Nico in the other seat.

 

Agreed.

 

It potentially cost him a chance at the win, so the penatly served it's purpose.

 

It obviously cost him the win and I'm sure there is no one more frustrated than him about that. He was (for me) the fastest driver/car combo today. However you can't have teams/drivers using the no overtaking under safety car to gain an advantage - and if deemed deliberate it should be dealt with more severely.

This rule was brought in because of a scenario like this happening previously, I actually think it was kimi in his first Ferrari stint. In a sport measure in tenths, a 10 car length is a massive amount of time lose before drivers take the piss further.

 

Early days I know, but who takes that second Ferrari seat when they get rid of Kimi?

Could trigger the market

 

Sainz, Perez or Grosjean. Take your pick. I am sure Hulk is tied down with the Renault project for a while.

 

My thoughts too.

 

Anyways, more importantly, a sickening crash in formula 4 today. Hope all make a recovery.

 

I know Hamilton is complete marmite, but today reminded me of why I love watching him race. That final charge was marvelous to watch, even if it didn't result in a ding dong finale. Though I like the results when he wins, I much prefer seeing having to turn it on. Hoping for plenty more of that this season.

 

Really exciting race. Bottas not yet showing much competitiveness for merc. Great to see (at least so far) 2 different teams with talented multiple world championship drivers at the front battling. Shame that their team mates can't be more even and get in to the fray, however it's early doors yet and hope they can step up (though I'm doubtful with raikkonen who just seems past it imo). Then if redbulls can get near.. Who knows?

 

Matter of time before Redbull are challenging. I reckon they will be up there in Europe.

 

The last switch made perfect sense, for both Bottas and Kimi their team mates just blew past on pure performance and new tyres. The first switch after the pit stop will be the one that Bottas has to understand, the SS was arguably the worst tyre and he would have the right to argue at that point his pain would pay dividends at the end. They were matched in the first stint, so at that point nobody knew if they wouldn't have been matched in the final stint in the same tyre.

 

Sorry should not have posted that.l apologise.

 

Ah, I missed the edit.

I will forever not know the abuse I received. Bad times.

 

It was in response to what I posted earlier, anyway sorry.