2018 Abu Dhabi GP [Yas Marina]

[Nitrodaze]

Dirty vestappen punts bottas
...but bottas too. Another dissapointing drive

Yea twice Verstapenn drove into other drivers. First Ocon and then Bottas. Very fiersty [a bit naughty] drive. I really can't wait to see him in a car good enough to get into thick of the championship fight.

Bottas disappointed in a car that won the race. I think he is spent as a Mercedes driver but his connection to Toto has seen him getting another chance in the 2019 season. But really, l don't see him in the car in 2020 , well that depends on what he does in 2019 of course.

Overtake of the race was by Vandoorne. We get a glimpse of the magic of Vandoorne that we have seen alot of in F2 but has unfortunately not materialized in F1. Which is a great shame, Vandoorne is a great driver we may be deprived from seeing his true talent.

I kind of think Ricciado was robbed of the podium by the Redbull strategy. But it is his last race for Redbull and this is the sort of goodbye he was afforded to give the team.

Great to see Hulkenburg survived that barrel roll, the Sophia Floersch crash in F3 seem to be a premonition and both drivers walked away from it which is brilliant.

Sainz and Leclerc did an excellent job.

[Nitrodaze]

A very nice touch with Hamilton and Vettel giving Alonso a champion's farewell. A triple doughnut by a Mercedes, Ferrari and Mclaren on the pit straight was something very special.

[BigWorm]

Bottas gets fifth in the standings. Quite remarkable to do so in the Merc.

[Nitrodaze]

Bottas gets fifth in the standings. Quite remarkable to do so in the Merc.

Bollocks
Top three would be respectable. Fifth is pathetic really in a car that won both titles.

[N. Jones]

Can't agree that Max is at fault. He had no room to go anywhere but into Bottas.
I agree that Bottas is not in a good place driving along side Hamilton.

[Nitrodaze]

If anything, Bottas' fifth suggest that he stopped trying after he was out of contention for the title. Only doing enough to be noticed. Mercedes's titles is mostly due to Hamilton really; especially when it mattered.

But one has to acknowledge that the development of the car was orientated towards Hamilton's preference once it was clear that Bottas was out of contention. Even so, he should be comfortably in the top three which would have been respectable under the circumstances.

Some races, Bottas was just difficult to watch. He drove like he was out of his depth. His tyre management was very poor and he was always easy picking for the Redbull pilots. If you put out a vote of confidence in Bottas right now, l doubt he would attract 20% of the votes.

[BigWorm]

Bollocks
Top three would be respectable. Fifth is pathetic really in a car that won both titles.

Remarkable for the wrong reasons

[Firstgear]

Bollocks
Top three would be respectable. Fifth is pathetic really in a car that won both titles.

Give him back the 8 points that he lost in Sochi due to team orders and he'd be third overall. So you're saying his results are respectable then?

[Nitrodaze]

Give him back the 8 points that he lost in Sochi due to team orders and he'd be third overall. So you're saying his results are respectable then?

I think he should have been aiming for 2nd place. Minus the eight points, he should still have been 3rd and in the top three. With hindsight, Hamilton would have still won the title without those eight points, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

From what l have seen since he joined Mercedes, he is not of the caliber of Rosberg. He showed promise in the first half of the season and had some bad luck, but it is how you bounce back that show the measure of a man. He didn't and was a very sorry sight at some races. He is lucky that he has one more chance in 2019. I doubt he would have lasted this long if he was at Redbull. Kyvat was performing better compared to Bottas but still got shafted for Verstapenn,.

[Nitrodaze]

Remarkable for the wrong reasons

I don't see a right reason for finishing fifth in a championship winning car.