Best Driver: Worst Driver: Luckiest Driver: Unluckiest Driver: Best Rookie/New Driver: Best Team: Surprise Team: Worst Team: Best Overtake: Most Surprising Result: Least Surprising Result: Funniest moment: Excuse of the week: Special Mention: Best post in race thread: Race Rating: ?/10
Best Driver: Verstappen. Probably his best drive. He weirdly comes into his own during a championship fight. Worst Driver: Vettel. He just can't overtake. Luckiest Driver: Raikkonen. It all played out well for him. Unluckiest Driver: Alonso and ricciardo Best Rookie/New Driver: Best Team: Ferrari. They're back. But where did they go? Surprise Team: Red Bull. Except for reliability Worst Team: Mercedes. They got suckered into the early pit stop. Best Overtake: Most Surprising Result: Kimi win Least Surprising Result: Vettel bottle Funniest moment: neooooww Excuse of the week: Vettel: I'm tired of recovery drives. Special Mention: Hulk Best post in race thread: Race Rating: 8/10 Was an interesting weekend all round. F1 as it should be.
Best Driver: Max Verstappen Worst Driver: Sebastian Vettel. Its just keeps getting worse. Luckiest Driver: Brendon Hartley. Gets his best result, thanks to two drivers getting a DSQ. Unluckiest Driver: Daniel Ricciardo Best Rookie/New Driver: Leclerc Best Team: Ferrari Surprise Team: Renault Worst Team: Mclaren Best Overtake: Most Surprising Result: Kimi Raikkonen wins Least Surprising Result: Vettel mistake #52 Funniest moment: Excuse of the week: Special Mention: Kimi. Finally capitalises on Lewis and Seb having issues. Had to withstand some pressure too. Best post in race thread: Race Rating: 8/10.
Best Driver: Kimi and Max. Solid drives from both Worst Driver: Bottas. Despite Vettel's errors, he still finished behind him Luckiest Driver: Vettel to still be in the title fight, even if only mathematically Unluckiest Driver: Ricciardo and his magical exploding Red Bull Best Rookie/New Driver: Leclerc Best Team: Ferrari Surprise Team: Renault Worst Team: Williams - Consistently crap Best Overtake: Hamilton's almost pass on Max. He's a braver man than I. Most Surprising Result: Kimi on the top step. Least Surprising Result: Vettel fluffing wheel to wheel again Funniest moment: The new engine sound effects Excuse of the week: Toto saying they just didn't have the pace. (I think he meant strategist) Special Mention: Can't think of one atm Best post in race thread: One of mine, clearly Race Rating: 8/10.
Yes. Quite unbelievable wasn't it? Some are even murmuring that it was a deliberate fix to string out the end of the season and prolong the agony for Vettel. Of course, it isn't*. The early pitstop for Hamilton, with Vettel being a long way back at the time, was almost a 'free' stop, and therefore a perfectly understandable decision despite putting him further back. But what was inexcusable was prolonging his second stint. It was obvious to all that he would need to come in again, yet even after his tyres dropped off, he continued to circulate whilst losing chunks of time to those who mattered. Bonkers. *–Felt the need to say that just in case what I've just said unsettles even more people!
That and allowing Kimi to sucker them in to a fight. They should have protected that second set as much as possible, then burned it once Kimi hit the pit lane. Pull out a gap, pit again when the second set starts to drop off, Win! Simples!
Sgt....Why aren't you working for Mercedes? You are making 100% more sense than they are. Maybe there is a placement there for you somewhere!!!!! SERIOUS THING!
One thing though is missing under Special Mention....The way Hamilton handled the duel with Max....maybe Vettel could lean something from that. Max has a certain reputation..not a very nice one... he isnt in the title fight, dont run the risk of him taking you out. Stay are far away from him as you can with just a few laps to go. Vettel, there is a lesson in there somewhere. Pick your battles and opponents carefully...
You would have done 100 per cent better... If ordinary people could see that they needed to pit Hamilton, what were those people on the pit wall thinking? Last time Toto excuse was that he was talking to Bono and they missed a trick, maybe they were chatting for several laps too in this race, because they surely weren't paying attention...lol
I used the word 'scripted' but not in serious vein, however I was in disbelief at Mercedes just sitting there, camera showing unmoving faces, while Lewis's lead ebb away before his second stop. They could so easily have got him out 1 to 2 seconds behind Kimi on fresh tyres, it was just unbelievable, my comment was an expression of being lost for an explanation.
Best Driver: Kimi Worst Driver: The Spin man, Vettel. Second place goes to Stroll. Luckiest Driver: Verstappen because of Ricciardo battery failure and Lewis's strategist. Unluckiest Driver: Ricciardo, really hope Renault catch Red Bull next season. Best Rookie/New Driver: Best Team: Ferrari - how much have Ferrari been in mourning? Has that been a factor here, I am suspecting it. Surprise Team: Renault Worst Team: Williams Best Overtake: I am going with Hamilton's attempt on Max. Most Surprising Result:Bottas Least Surprising Result: Alonso DNF Funniest moment: Kimi's little tweak of the wheel Excuse of the week: Toto failing to recognise the strategic error. Special Mention: Kimi, good on him. Best post in race thread: Race Rating: 7/10.
Yes, JJ. Agreed. Be assured though, I wasn't referring to your comment. I was referring to murmurs and consternation outside this forum which include people at the circuit; but yours very much concurs with the general 'tongue-in-cheek' elsewhere. –But the fact that we are even discussing it is an embarrassment to Mercedes' complacent (lack of) strategy!
People having a moan about Mercedes strategy, Ferrari have been awful for that for most of the season. Like when they sent both Ferrari's out on a dry track with wet tyres then vice versa once lol
Best Driver: Verstappen. Worst Driver: Considering his position with Ferrari and that he has accrued four Drivers' Championships, I too am nominating Vettel. Luckiest Driver: Several drivers had Lady Luck on their side this time but none stand out enough to pick alone. Unluckiest Driver: Ricciardo. At present, he would also be my primary choice for unluckiest driver of the season. Best Rookie/New Driver: I don't think any stood out enough to justify a place here this time. Best Team: Ferrari – although once again let down by a driver. Surprise Team: In the positive sense, Renault. In the negative sense, Mercedes scored a baffling own-goal. Worst Team: Williams. McLaren were very poor once again too. Tragic to see both of these once magnificent teams in their current situations*. Best Overtake: Verstappen carved through the field but the most spectacular action was his defence against Hamilton. Hamilton's race-craft during that battle is worth a lot of study to any aspirational driver, as well as his wisdom (considering his position in the Drivers' Championship) in eventually bailing out of it. Watch the way he plays Verstappen like a hooked fish before discretion bettered his valour. So, this unsuccessful attempt to pass actually gets my nomination!** Most Surprising Result: I confess really not anticipating a Räikkönen win. Congratulations to him; without doubt the most popular driver on today's grid. Least Surprising Result: Not sure I should pick Vettel's collision here. I even considered putting it for 'Most Surprising' because I am astonished any World Champion – yet alone a multiple one – continues to make such misjudgements in close combat. Funniest moment: I'll go with sound effects. Someone having a laugh so close to the live-feed commentary is a potential embarrassment – but funny when it confuses a clever-dick who likes to say 'Fettle' and give himself a hopefully catchy name. Excuse of the week: I too was not convinced by Wolff's rather lame attempt to excuse Mercedes' strategy. Special Mention: Not 606; an apology. Sorry I'm so late getting this done! Race Rating: 8.65/10. Very good indeed. Almost edge of the seat stuff at times. * Self-inflicted, in my view. ** Not sure if I'm breaking house rules here!
Not sure what your point is here, Giggs. Surely such 'moaning' is consistent with criticisms very recently aimed at Ferrari here in this forum? Even the specific incident you've picked out was criticised here. Also, wouldn't you agree giving voice to such 'moans' is part of the function of any forum focussed upon any sport? I think criticisms at both teams this season have been valid – as they have been with Red Bull if you go back a bit further, and McLaren before that. Such discussion is normal.
Sorry its late . Loads going on . Best Driver: Hurts to type this , but Son of the thug ( Max ) Worst Driver:Vettel ( head gone ) Luckiest Driver: Vettel ( head gone but still lucked in ) Unluckiest Driver:Ricciardo . Best Rookie/New Driver:Leclerc Best Team:Ferrari Surprise Team:RBR Worst Team:have a guess Best Overtake: Most Surprising Result:Kimi winning Least Surprising Result: Sadly , Seb losing it . It really seems to get to him when the chips are down . Funniest moment:Neeooww Neeooww Neeooww Excuse of the week: Special Mention: Cosi Cave for keeping this going . More of us need to get our fingers out and I am as bad as anyone else . Best post in race thread: Race Rating: 8/10
