Grand Prix thread Gran Premio De La Ciudad De México 2021

71 laps of the 4.304-kilometre Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City
05th November Practice 1 17:30 - 18:30
05th November Practice 2 21:00 - 22:00
06th November Practice 3 17:00 - 18:00
06th November Qualifying 20:00 - 21:00
07th November Race 19:00 - 21:00

All times are UK times

Poll closes before Quali.

Could be an interesting one with the altitude (2,238 m, 7,342 ft, 1.4 miles up) affecting the aero and PU?

 

Interested in this one- have a sneaky suspicion Ferrari can surprise and be much closer to the big boys. Think their car might be suited but I’m no engineer so might be talking utter tosh.

Knowing me Merc have probably overcome their historic turbo issues here and will be beasts down the straights

 

Max all the way here. Would have gone Perez but I'd have only stuffed it for him.

 

Only way Perez will have a chance of winning is if Max is out!! Same goes for Bottas.
Still unsure if it will still be a Red Bull track or Merc and their dropping rear suspension will make up for lack of aero efficiency?

 

Imagine the uproar if Perez is asked to give up the lead for Max....in Mexico...

Of course, if that scenario played out, it would make perfect sense to do it, but that would be one hostile crowd. Wouldn't want to have to make that radio transmission.

 

2 years since they last raced here so not sure we can rely on previous seasons form. However looking at this seasons form if Merc are winning they will throw it away on mistaken strategy. I will wait for the first couple of practise runs before casting. I don't see Ferrari as a contender really, till next year, when I hope they make a come back.I hope it is at least a 3 horse race with Mclaren also in the mix.

 

Am I correct in thinking the bumpy track at Austin meant they didn't run it there? I imagine most of the rest of the tracks will be fairly smooth, being newish facilities not build on shoddy foundations...

Although the track in Saudi Arabia hasn't laid any tarmac yet from the latest images I've seen, so perhaps a bit premature to assume it'll be decent quality.

 

From what was said it appears that Merc had to increase ride height due to bumps so the rear couldn't be dropped low enough to stall the rear diffuser. So I think you are correct that they didn't run it after FP1.

 

Well Bhaji has predicted Max for the win, so you can be sure his race will end in a fireball at turn 1. So Perez it is then.

 

It'll be a complete engine replacement, or they'll get there and realize they forgot to pack his car.

 

Max will either win or DNF. Got a sneaking suspicion that Hamiltons going to take a new PU.

 

I guess a new pu for lewis depends where max qualifies, maybe even where Bottas and Perez qualify. I doubt Merc would risk him going to the end of the season on his 4th PU when Bottas is on 6th!!

 

It is dusty as anything out there- Checo and Charles already having some spins

 

I think that lap from Lewis showed the merc does a lot more speed to come. I guess he has about 0.7sec to come at least! He lost 0.5 in middle then tyres had peaked but still purple on last sector.
Could be interesting although fp1 in Austin looked good for Merc but after that they slipped back.

 

Yeah it was like a rally track out there- lots of track evolution to come but for sure there is plenty under the bonnet from Lewis and I’m sure many others.

 

Am I being niave but could Lewis drive Bottas's car that has a fairly new PU without any penalty? I was wondering if Merc were building a bank of engines for Lewis to use. I realise they can't put a Bottas enging in Lewis's car but what stops them swapping cars?

 

I don't think so. I seem to remember something about this when George took over for Lewis for a race. Something like the allocation is for the car so even if a different driver steps in they have the same components as the driver they replace. i.e merc have 'A' car and 'B' Car so the 'A' car is on 4th ICE and 'B' car is on 6th ICE.
Then again, you could be right, Merc and you may have found a loop hole in the rules and that if the PU units are allocated to a specific car then Lewis could swap cars?

 

Thought this might be closer but to be honest no one is near Red Bull or Merc yet

 

I have been pondering this since Turkey, why all these engine changes for Bottas? I don't think Merc reliability is so bad for him to keep swapping. I have tried looking it up and can not find an answer. Transferring Lewis's set up to the other car would be easy for Merc. And stand in drivers can earn points in another car, Russell last year. Between team mates would we even know? The engine goes wth the chassis, not the driver. Have they swapped already, Bottas driving Lewis's car to give him an extra PU or ICE.