The 'Better Do It Now' Chinese GP Chat & Predictions

[allsaintchris.]

I don't think anybody wants to see penalties doled out willy nilly again, but Max really need something to cut out these errors. He could be a great driver if his decision making improves. The problem he's got is that he's surrounded by people telling him he doesn't need to change.

It's a catch-22. Curb his aggressiveness and you end up with a tame racing driver (no, not that one!), but I also agree that he needs to be calmed down. Hopefully the team will take him to one side and give him the book of Murray Walker's top 100 phrases, which in it he will find 'to finish first, first you have to finish'.

And then they can show a video of how Ricciardo overtakes, and then smack him around the head and tell him to do it the same way!

 

[dhel]

BBC can't work it out either

"A positive for Lewis Hamilton is that he has closed the gap on Sebastian Vettel - down from 17 to 11 points."

I think it is 9 points not 11.

 

[SgtBhaji]

It's a catch-22. Curb his aggressiveness and you end up with a tame racing driver (no, not that one!), but I also agree that he needs to be calmed down. Hopefully the team will take him to one side and give him the book of Murray Walker's top 100 phrases, which in it he will find 'to finish first, first you have to finish'.

And then they can show a video of how Ricciardo overtakes, and then smack him around the head and tell him to do it the same way!

It's not really the aggression that's the problem, it's the decision making that's the problem. It's that aspect that needs addressing.

 

[dhel]

It's not really the aggression that's the problem, it's the decision making that's the problem. It's that aspect that needs addressing.

And it's not just the decision making, it's the almost dont-care-ish attitude. He keeps saying he doesnt care what anybody thinks, he will drive the same again....well, he will get worse results if he continues. What they need to do is when he does things like that, wait until the race is over and send him to the back of the pack. So, even if he wins he is automatically placed last. Maybe that would curb his nonsense.

 

[allsaintchris.]

And it's not just the decision making, it's the almost dont-care-ish attitude. He keeps saying he doesnt care what anybody thinks, he will drive the same again....well, he will get worse results if he continues.

30 odd years ago they said the same about Senna when he felt he was untouchable at the start of his career.............

 

[Smithers]

And it's not just the decision making, it's the almost dont-care-ish attitude. He keeps saying he doesnt care what anybody thinks, he will drive the same again....well, he will get worse results if he continues. What they need to do is when he does things like that, wait until the race is over and send him to the back of the pack. So, even if he wins he is automatically placed last. Maybe that would curb his nonsense.

Agree 100%, mistakes happen. He is wreckless at best and almost deliberate at worst. Maldonado, Grosjean and even Lewis (2011) came under more pressure than Max.

 

[SgtBhaji]

He's young and has time to fix his probs, but not while people like his dad, Helmut and Jack Horner make excuses for him and say he should carry one doing what he does. His decision making is appalling at times. I do think he genuinely knew he ****ed up today though, so maybe this is the turning point.

 

[Justjazz]

He's young and has time to fix his probs, but not while people like his dad, Helmut and Jack Horner make excuses for him and say he should carry one doing what he does. His decision making is appalling at times. I do think he genuinely knew he ****ed up today though, so maybe this is the turning point.

Well, let's hope so. It is the arrogance of youth but he needs to know he has to suppress the arrogance to become great. Horner can not keep saying he is young, we all know that but really this is his 4th season. It is a judgement thing. I also think his belief in the second half of last year, expecting Seb and Lewis not to tangle with him because they were in the championship race, seems to be carrying over to this season when the same rule does not apply.

Great race today though (other than Max's role in it).

 

[SgtBhaji]

May have to go Vettel on this one to keep my losing streak going.

Well I did keep it going.

 

[Big Ern]

Well I did keep it going.

If it makes you feel any better, I am winning, with 1 point.

 

[Big Ern]

Bottas got grief last race for not doing exactly what Max is getting **** for doing this week.

 

[SgtBhaji]

Bottas got grief last race for not doing exactly what Max is getting **** for doing this week.

Did we give him grief for not t-boning Vettel?

 

[Big Ern]

Did we give him grief for not t-boning Vettel?

It's how it would've ended if he'd tried the move into turn 1 in Bahrain.

 

[Julius Caesar]

Well, let's hope so. It is the arrogance of youth but he needs to know he has to suppress the arrogance to become great. Horner can not keep saying he is young, we all know that but really this is his 4th season. It is a judgement thing. I also think his belief in the second half of last year, expecting Seb and Lewis not to tangle with him because they were in the championship race, seems to be carrying over to this season when the same rule does not apply.

Great race today though (other than Max's role in it).

Well, it's a maturity issue, but it's worth noting that Vettel was the "crash kid" in his 4th season and 2011 was Lewis's 5th season.

That was the whole problem. Penalties were handed out too frequently and were normally far too severe for the crime. There was no consistency and a driver would have his race ruined by a dubious penalty.

The system will never be perfect, but what we have is better than what it used to be. There is a penalty, you can see why Max went for the gap as it was there initially but ultimately it was risky as Vettel was always likely to come back onto his line but bothered suffered for it with their spins. Vettel's tyres were finished like the Mercs anyway, so Max was always going to finish in front of him (which Max should have realised and waited for a clearer opportunity, but that is another argument altogether about his desperation).

I don't really see the two problems as linked? Sure making penalties meaningless reduces the effect of inconsistent stewarding, but it just papers over the cracks, no?

I'm by no means nostalgically wanting the good old days back (well except for the engines and the lack of halos). Want I want to see is penalties being rare, but meaningful, and for the driver's location on track and where he actually in race position to be one and the same thing. I don't have any problem with a drivers race being ruined if they ruin another's. Verstappen lost no positions net as a result of the penalty. The crash did impede his race, but nothing like the damage he did to Vettel's.

I recall an incident last year where somebody overtook off track and then pulled out enough time to not get put back behind the guy he passed illegally. When that sort of thing is possible I think we have a problem.

 

[SgtBhaji]

If it makes you feel any better, I am winning, with 1 point.

Blimey.... a high scoring one this year. Did Bando decide not to knobble the one?

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

I don't think anybody wants to see penalties doled out willy nilly again, but Max really need something to cut out these errors. He could be a great driver if his decision making improves. The problem he's got is that he's surrounded by people telling him he doesn't need to change.

I doubt his Father helps much either .

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

Well, it's a maturity issue, but it's worth noting that Vettel was the "crash kid" in his 4th season and 2011 was Lewis's 5th season.



I don't really see the two problems as linked? Sure making penalties meaningless reduces the effect of inconsistent stewarding, but it just papers over the cracks, no?

I'm by no means nostalgically wanting the good old days back (well except for the engines and the lack of halos). Want I want to see is penalties being rare, but meaningful, and for the driver's location on track and where he actually in race position to be one and the same thing. I don't have any problem with a drivers race being ruined if they ruin another's. Verstappen lost no positions net as a result of the penalty. The crash did impede his race, but nothing like the damage he did to Vettel's.

I recall an incident last year where somebody overtook off track and then pulled out enough time to not get put back behind the guy he passed illegally. When that sort of thing is possible I think we have a problem.

I was not aware of your first comment .interesting .

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

Bottas got grief last race for not doing exactly what Max is getting **** for doing this week.

That’s because some see Bottas as being weak . I’m not one of them . He’s not the best , but he is worthy of that place at MB .

I think his quiet manner goes against him in a big way , and I get the feeling he already knows he will not be there next year .

I also think his wife is drop dead georgious!!!

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

If it makes you feel any better, I am winning, with 1 point.

I would have gotten away with it , if it wasn’t for that pesky Honey Badger.....

 

[SgtBhaji]

Bottas is a solid driver, He'd probably be extremely useful to Williams right now, but I just don''t see him anywhere near the same league as Hamilton, Vettel or Alonso. I think that 's why his seat is questioned.