Grand Prix thread ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2021

Or maybe he needs a holiday cos frankly a 20 odd race season ending in December must be exhausting for a 36 year old.

They start again in very short order so they all deserve a break?

Btw, if it is a tactic it's a good one as it inevitably primes people to ask the question when they can

 

My guess he is trying to just let time pass to let the wound heal. Staying silent probably helps put it to the back of his mind, well as much as he can. He needs to take a good break and enjoy himself to recharge his batteries. Then start training big time to be as fit as possible to make his comeback and show the world what a great driver he is. I really hope Red Bull have messed up their 2022 car or gone over budget and get caught! It would be great if Ferrari and McL are challenging Merc next year.
Just read that Merc didn't use any development tokens this year!!!!!

 

Of the two, I expect Merc to be ahead of RBR for 2022. It felt like RBR threw the sink at Merc this year and i suspect that is why Horner looked so relieved after they won the WDC.

Ferrari appear to be well focussed on 2022, McLaren moved on to that with plenty of time to spare, and Alpine had a 3 year old PU this year so they have some nice room to improve!

Aston Martin knew they were cooked early in 2021 so they are also a dark horse, though I expect their challenge to come in 23/24 onwards.

Williams, Alfa and Haas are intriguing, the latter obviously saving their budget for the new regs and also about to benefit from an improved Ferrari power unit

 

Just seems odd for him given that he's normally very active.

 

The more the event is talked about the more it lingers. I think he is just keeping silent as it would only wind him up more with the responses he would receive.
I hope he is just sorting his head out and enjoying time off to come back 100%, ready to annihilate the opposition

 

Mercedes still be the team to beat they had the fastest car every since 2014, be nice to see someone else win the constructors title for once

 

Do you have a preferred team?

 

For me the regs are massively changing in multiple areas

The tyres have a massive impact on suspension, ground effect under car, front wing completely different concept intended, rear wing design, enforced change to fuels but.... but the power units are not changing and that says mercedes are in the box seat here.

This is an opportunity for all the teams to advance but for the most clever teams to try counter the intent of the rules by gaining downforce, like the merc collapsing suspension or using the new areo to actively create wash to subvention the intent.

I think some teams tried to get ahead this year with the high v low rake stuff

Mercedes should have straight line speed but the best suspension and aero package is wide open.

 

I don't do social media (apart from this forum), it never entralled me. Working in the IT industry for more than 44 years I was instant messaging colleagues from the mid 1980s, across the national borders. I was already bored with the technology when twitter etc came about.
I think Lewis needs to ignore the noise, think for himself (which he will) decide his objectives, priorities. He claims he has no interest in statistics. I hope for the Mercedes team he stays at the wheel, at least for one season. The team back at the factory will want him to stay and if any can influence him, they can.

I will add, I think if he does decide to quit now he will regret in a few years.

 

Well apparently he has unfollowed everyone in instagram.... even Roscoe

 

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No point speculating, only time will tell.
Meanwhile....

Merry Christmas to everyone.

 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Great New Year. Thanks for all the chat, it's been an exciting, interesting, shocking year.
Hopefully we will have a great 2022 season with lots of clean battles.