2018 F1 Thread

[Flashback]

Hamilton is far enough ahead, did they REALLY have to screw over Bottas and issue team orders for a win?

 

[JessicaTam]

Hamilton is far enough ahead, did they REALLY have to screw over Bottas and issue team orders for a win?

BOT looked absolutely gutted when he got out of his car.

 

[Flashback]

BOT looked absolutely gutted when he got out of his car.

Rightly so, too!

 

[kelvedon]

BOT looked absolutely gutted when he got out of his car.

I don’t think Rosberg would have been so obliging

 

[eastwest101]

Just saw the "highlights" package on One, that seemed a very dour and lacklustre podium, no one seemed very excited about that result, not even the guy in P1 !

Some nice racing in the first few laps, nice drive from Verstappen but obviously a power circuit, so no hope for anyone with a Renault or Honda engine. No matter what strategy Ferrari took they still weren't good enough to beat Mercedes on this high speed drag strip and won't be able to catch them unless we see wet races and/or blunders or mistakes from Mercedes. Season over. HAM and Mercedes have this year in the bag, once Hammy gets another win or two then we may see Bottas win some more races.

New rules and cars needed, shorter tyre life to increase pit stopping, and bring back refuelling in the pits to improve the effect of different strategies.

 

[kelvedon]

Yes, I think HAM will repay the favour to BOT and you’ll see him “win” a few once the championship is sew up.
HAM seemed genuinely contritious on the podium

 

[eastwest101]

Yes, I think HAM will repay the favour to BOT and you’ll see him “win” a few once the championship is sew up.
HAM seemed genuinely contritious on the podium

I don't think Hammy had much to apologise for, I think the Mercedes team possibly owed Bottas and Hammy an apology but their cars are so superior to everyone else at the moment that they were always going to finish in P1 & P2, the choice was which Mercedes driver ended up in P2.

I think I saw Hammy even try to give the big P1 cup to Bottas on the podium so I suspect that Hammy feels Bottas was hard done by.

 

[kelvedon]

I think I saw Hammy even try to give the big P1 cup to Bottas on the podium so I suspect that Hammy feels Bottas was hard done by.

Yes I saw that too. He offered BOT the winners cup but he declined it.
In the post race Pit Lane walk Ted Kravitz also mentioned the schmozzle in the podium ceremony as Putin and his large entourage accessed the ceremony, complete with his own TV camera, contrary to the strict FIA policy.

 

[JohnK]

Hamilton is far enough ahead, did they REALLY have to screw over Bottas and issue team orders for a win?

I cannot understand how this type of race rigging continues to be sanctioned. People around the world bet on individual races and the championship and race bosses decide who wins? Seriously?

 

[kelvedon]

I cannot understand how this type of race rigging continues to be sanctioned. People around the world bet on individual races and the championship and race bosses decide who wins? Seriously?

It has always gone on but more surreptitiously. Then a few years ago the FIA gave up and legalised it. Its done because F1 is a team sport and the teams first goal is to win the constructors championship, and the drivers championship is secondary.
In Mercedes case, the team manager Toto Wolfe, made the call to swap drivers because their cars were likely to finish 1st and 2nd (and so same number of points for the team), but Hamilton has not yet secured the drivers championship (and Bottas has no chance of doing so).
At the end of the season he has to justify to the Mercedes board the next years budget and if Hamilton had lost the championship by the 8 points finishing second would have scored him, Toto would have a bit of explaining to do. As he was quoted as saying "I'd rather be the baddie today and not the idiot at the end of the year"
....and if people are stupid enough to gamble on this, well....

 

[JohnK]

....and if people are stupid enough to gamble on this, well....

People are stupid enough to gamble on anything. Most governing bodies do take race/match fixing seriously.

 

[kelvedon]

People are stupid enough to gamble on anything. Most governing bodies do take race/match fixing seriously.

I take your point, it’s a form of fixing but It’s a risk the gambler takes. Like betting on Billy Slater scoring the most number of tries when it’s up to the team manager to decide if he even plays the full game.

 

[JessicaTam]

People are stupid enough to gamble on anything. Most governing bodies do take race/match fixing seriously.

I agree that people go to gaol for trying to fix a horse race but not in F1. The difference being I suppose that 'team orders' are well known as a part of the F1 race.

 

[JessicaTam]

Engine troubles for RIC so out of qualifying in Q2.

 

[docjames]

Not a great qualifying session unless you’re a Hamilton/MB fan.

Ric’s engine condemned him to 15th the Ferrari royally stuffed Q3 leaving Vettel 9th and the championship looking even more over than it already did.

 

[moa999]

One upside for RIC.
It was a throttle actuator, can be replaced in parc ferme with no penalties and didn't harm the engine.

Will still be a tough race from 15, but at least he has tyre choice.

 

[Flashback]

Will be flying when this race is on, so blackout on this thread for me till I arrive home and can catch up. Pretty boring qualifying, although good to see Torro Rosso with 2 cars in the top 10.

 

[JessicaTam]

And the VET/VER drama continues!

 

[Flashback]

Decent run by RIC to get back up the order, also awarded driver of the day.

 

[JessicaTam]

He sounded a bit better post race than post qualifying!