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Post by MartinT on Dec 9, 2020 17:13:48 GMT
There's so much talk about Hamilton not wanting Russell as a team-mate. I'm not buying it, I think he wants a genuine challenge and Bottas is not giving it. In many ways, Rosberg was more of a challenge.
Even if Hamilton doesn't win another championship, he has nothing left to prove. I hope he retires on a high and does not do a Schumacher.
I want Russell to succeed at Mercedes and I would dearly love Sainz to teach Leclerc some lessons since Binotto has prematurely announced that Leclerc can be the de facto No.1 driver. I have lost all respect for Binotto, he has no clue how to manage people.
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 9, 2020 20:34:54 GMT
Yeah, a better team mate would certainly be more motivating, easier to get up for every day 😀
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 11, 2020 13:38:59 GMT
Mind you, Lewis now returning, will have more to prove now that Russel has shown his worth.
Hopefully he'll be able to hit top form and monster Bottas.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 11, 2020 16:03:13 GMT
He already has, Steve, in every way that matters.
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Post by Dave on Dec 12, 2020 15:22:59 GMT
I'm stoked that Russell shook the F1 tree, his efforts clearly demonstrate that there are too many journeyman drivers installed in seats they don't deserve higher up the grid.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 12, 2020 18:33:49 GMT
Verstappen did very well to grab his first pole of the season. Hamilton did well to get 3rd considering he can't be back to full strength yet. Look at Norris and Sainz, the McLaren keeps getting better. I suspect Seidl has a lot to do with that.
Times
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:35.246
2 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 0.025s
3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 0.086s
4 Lando Norris McLaren 0.251s
5 Alex Albon Red Bull 0.325s
6 Carlos Sainz McLaren 0.569s
7 Daniil Kvyat AlphaTauri 0.717s
8 Lance Stroll Racing Point 0.800s
9 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 0.819s
10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri 0.996s
11 Esteban Ocon Renault 1:36.359
12 Daniel Ricciardo Renault 1:36.406
13 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:36.631
14 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo Racing 1:38.248
15 Sergio Perez Racing Point no time
16 Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo Racing 1:37.555
17 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:37.863
18 George Russell Williams 1:38.045
19 Pietro Fittipaldi Haas 1:38.173
20 Nicholas Latifi Williams 1:38.443
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Post by MartinT on Dec 13, 2020 18:12:44 GMT
Well, that's it for another year. I only saw the highlights of this one and it seems to have been one of the duller races of the season. Congratulations to Verstappen for finally winning a race. That Red Bull looks to be more competitive every time we see it. Nice goodbye messages on the radio from Ricciardo and Sainz. I'm already looking forward to next year.
Result
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:36:28.645
2 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 15.976s
3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 18.415s
4 Alex Albon 1 Red Bull 19.987s
5 Lando Norris 1 McLaren 60.729s
6 Carlos Sainz McLaren 65.662s
7 Daniel Ricciardo 4 Renault 73.748s
8 Pierre Gasly 1 AlphaTauri 89.718s
9 Esteban Ocon 1 Renault 101.069s
10 Lance Stroll 2 Racing Point 102.738s
11 Daniil Kvyat 4 AlphaTauri 1 LAP
12 Kimi Raikkonen 3 Alfa Romeo Racing 1 LAP
13 Charles Leclerc 1 Ferrari 1 LAP
14 Sebastian Vettel 1 Ferrari 1 LAP
15 George Russell 1 Williams 1 LAP
16 Antonio Giovinazzi 2 Alfa Romeo Racing 1 LAP
17 Nicholas Latifi 1 Williams 1 LAP
18 Kevin Magnussen 2 Haas 1 LAP
19 Pietro Fittipaldi 2 Haas 2 LAPS
R Sergio Perez Racing Point
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 13, 2020 21:06:02 GMT
Smooth race by Max.
Otherwise top 3 uneventful.
Strong 3rd in champ by McLaren.
Nice to see them back or thereabouts.
Doughnuts from Lewis.
Can relax into equal record F1s wins.
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 13, 2020 21:35:48 GMT
Yeah, typical dull Abu Dhabi but good job Max.
MB did seem to be nursing a car today and will be happy where they ended up. They stopped upgrading the car ages back and have been focusing on the 2021 car for ages.
2021 - Lets hope Vettel shines in the new Aston Martin (old Racing Point) seat.
McLaren have done really well and have been getting better each season after falling back a lot. 3rd in the championship shows their intent and is around £4million in the coffers more than the 4th place amount. They've also struck some big deal as well, I'm led to believe.
Riccardo and Norris together for McLaren next year looks a good pairing, they'll defo push each other too.
As Lewis has been saying for ages and today, lets hope they sort the drag and negative effective on car behind issue as it kills the potential for much more proper racing.
Be good to see LH and Max having some good on track battles, although I've always thought there's more potential for shunt with Max which wouldn't be good for my boy Lewis in terms of potential dnf then.
I'd like to see Ferrari get right back up there. Actually wouldnt it be fab to have at least four, even fives teams as close as in terms of pace.
Been into F1 since I was a kid and always been a big LH44 fan, so I do find the winter break hard going - lol, Bring on Feb testing......
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Post by MartinT on Dec 13, 2020 21:48:24 GMT
Back when I started following F1, I was a Nigel Mansell fan. Boy, he knew how to man-handle a car around a track. I still remember watching him around Brands Hatch, the noise those cars made was like the end of the world. Then there were the Schumacher drought years when the excitement dropped to nil. Once Hamilton joined McLaren, I followed him avidly and still do.
Russell and Sainz are two drivers I like to follow and probably will continue to do so once Hamilton retires.
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 13, 2020 23:14:00 GMT
Back when I started following F1, I was a Nigel Mansell fan. Boy, he knew how to man-handle a car around a track. I still remember watching him around Brands Hatch, the noise those cars made was like the end of the world. Then there were the Schumacher drought years when the excitement dropped to nil. Once Hamilton joined McLaren, I followed him avidly and still do. Russell and Sainz are two drivers I like to follow and probably will continue to do so once Hamilton retires. Excellent !  Like Sainz a lot and hope Ferrari dont do his head in with frustration there. And please we get Perez in a good seat, no disrespect to Albon but Perez in the Red Bull would defo make it just that bit harder for MB, IMO. |
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Post by ant on Dec 14, 2020 14:34:16 GMT
Back when I started following F1, I was a Nigel Mansell fan. Boy, he knew how to man-handle a car around a track. I still remember watching him around Brands Hatch, the noise those cars made was like the end of the world. Then there were the Schumacher drought years when the excitement dropped to nil. Once Hamilton joined McLaren, I followed him avidly and still do. Russell and Sainz are two drivers I like to follow and probably will continue to do so once Hamilton retires. With me it was senna and prost, i always (and still do) thought prost was the most complete racing driver id ever seen. For me, Senna is still the yardstick though. Gerhard berger was always someone i followed, along with mr smoothness himself, damon hill. Ill never know why he got the boot for frentzen. Watching him lead in hungary in that arrows was heart in mouth stuff, shouting at the telly telling murray walker to keep his gob shut! And mika hakkinnen. The flying finn I kinda missed 2000 to 2015, missed alonso, weber and vettel, and hamilton for that matter, i only got interested again in around 2015. That season looked to me like 1993 with prost and hill in the williams. This season has been a really good one, ive been following danny ric, sainz, perez and gasly this year, and hamilton although his 7th was a forgone conclusion a couple of races in. Itll be the same next year, if perez lands the red bull seat that is, and vettel, i want to see him do well in the aston after the almighty kick in the balls from ferrari this year. Roll on 21 |
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Post by Dave on Dec 15, 2020 20:53:29 GMT
PREDICTION: Guenther Steiner will leave Haas F1 within the next few months, and probably sooner rather than later.
Steiner has a reputation for being a straight talker, however if you caught his interview with CH4's Steve Jones and David Coultard on Sunday you will have witnessed Steiner deliberately sidestep a direct question from Jones regarding Nikita Mazepin's reputation, behaviour and suitability as an F1 driver. Even when Coulthard pressed him further on the matter, Steiner continued to be evasive. Rumours suggest that Gene Haas wants out of F1, and Daddy Mazepin has lots of money. If Mazepin buys the team from Haas, I cannot see Steiner sticking around if he is expected to babysit a delinquent daddies boy...
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Post by MartinT on Dec 15, 2020 21:59:46 GMT
Interesting. I'm not surprised that Haas wants out of F1, though.
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Post by Dave on Dec 17, 2020 16:37:31 GMT
More wild rumours: George Russell is being considered for the second seat at Red Bull...
Not sure what to think about this one, it would be a heck of a slap in the face for Checo but there is some logic here, this decision would likely hinge on RB securing Mercedes power units...
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Post by MartinT on Dec 17, 2020 19:42:46 GMT
I'm not sure Mercedes want to supply engines to Red Bull. Russell is also under contract and Williams may not be willing to let him go, especially if Mercedes want him to stay there in order to grab him the following year when they will undoubtedly let Bottas go.
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Post by Dave on Dec 18, 2020 4:54:03 GMT
I agree, but stranger things have happened before...  |
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Post by Dave on Dec 18, 2020 10:09:49 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Dec 18, 2020 13:02:07 GMT
That's good news for Perez.
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Post by ant on Dec 18, 2020 14:08:25 GMT
Renault r25 being spanked round the track by alonso.
Last of the howling v10s
Glorious
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