2017 Bahrain GP

[Duncan]

What do you think about the Stroll-Sainz crash? I'm not so convinced that it was 100% Sainz's fault - it didn't really look like he overshot the corner, it's just that Lance wasn't expecting him there. IMHO it was an overoptimistic attempt by the Spaniard, but a wiser driver than Stroll would have given a bit room there, especially considering that they would be fighting for position and thus a dive was not out of the question.

When I first saw it, I thought that maybe Stroll had turned in too sharply, but then you look at where Sainz was coming from at turn in and I really don't think he should have been there. The whole thing looks eerily reminiscent of the Maldonado-Gutierrez incident at the same corner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o9TYzGy_q0

[N4D13]

Yup, I guess that sounds about fair. The FIA seems to have the same viewpoint, as Sainz has been handed a 3-place grid penalty for Sochi.

[journeyman racer]

Ferrari's fairytale is over. Third race in the season and already half a second behind Bottas. Expect the same 45 seconds when Catalunya comes.

This is an interesting comment in hindsight

[journeyman racer]

finally mercedes release hamilton from slow man bottas ugh.
TBH i was hoping that bottas would be challenging vettel at the front slowing both of them down, but bottas just got slower lap after lap on the same tyres as vettel.
baffling lack of pace. SMH

Slow man Bottas?

You mean pole man Bottas?

[journeyman racer]

mercedes better stick to a 1 stop!

well...maybe not.
but if they are going to pit, now would be the time

You should get a job as their strategist, as opposed to whining on here.

[journeyman racer]

bottas better move out the way quick...for good of the show ( snickering smile and wink lol)

Confirmation of fanboyism and a theatergoer.

[journeyman racer]

Yes you have to give Ferrari credit for going for an attacking strategy and making it work.

Its the advantage of not having the best car. You can be more aggressive with pit strategies.

[journeyman racer]

the Mercedes in hamiton's hands, was clearly the faster car today but hampered by piss poor strategy and a self inflicted wound by hamilton's rash thinking. Although the first issue of not splitting the strategy caused the latter poor thinking.
There really needs to be better race management from mercedes. this has gone on for 3 years now. It is one thing to win races when you are miles ahead of the others in terms of pace and you can make up poor pit stops and shoddy strategy. But not in 2017. This one cost them the race, pure and simple. I don't care if they pitted Bottas first (he was the lead car and had the right to come in). In fact, the moment vettel pitted, bottas should have come in the next lap. He was already complaining about his tyres and would have covered vettel. Verstappen and RBR did it. but not arrogant mercedes. It was obvious for everyone to see what needs to be done but not toto and his gang of fools.

Speaking of Bottas. he was shambolic today IMO. If there was ever a race for him to win, challenge vettel and announce himself part of the WDC fight, this was it. He accomplished none of the three and firmly placed himself as a #2 driver. couldn't manage his tyres and let vettel sprint away on identical tyres after the safety car. He simply wilted like a frail flower and opens the door to that 2018 seat.

Instead of being butt hurt over MB strategy and taking a dump on Bottas (who'll take half the season to get up speed being good in a good car). Why don't you get butt hurt over Hamilton not getting pole, therefore denying himself the best opportunity to win the race?

[steveaki13]

What do you think about the Stroll-Sainz crash? I'm not so convinced that it was 100% Sainz's fault - it didn't really look like he overshot the corner, it's just that Lance wasn't expecting him there. IMHO it was an overoptimistic attempt by the Spaniard, but a wiser driver than Stroll would have given a bit room there, especially considering that they would be fighting for position and thus a dive was not out of the question.

How does Stroll know he is there though?

He was not in his mirrors down the straight because he excited the pits. Then he came from a fair distance back. Unless the team tells him which he can not control then he had no way of knowing a car had appeared there and so can not be blamed really. Dont forget cars exiting the pits also have blue flags waved at them leaving the pits instructing to give way to cars at racing speeds on the track. It must be the driver coming of of the pits job to slot in safely.

Shame cos Sainz has been good this season.

[Rollo]

Dont forget cars exiting the pits also have blue flags waved at them leaving the pits instructing to give way to cars at racing speeds on the track. It must be the driver coming of of the pits job to slot in safely.

+1 This.

If this was in the real world and on a motorway in NSW, Sainz would be charged with:

- Failing to give way while merging
- Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Colision

Fault from an insurance perspective almost always goes to the car behind; that was Sainz.