Thread: 2021 - Race 19 Brazil
-
13th November 2021, 23:41 #41
- Join Date
- May 2015
- Location
- Greenwich, London UK
- Posts
- 3,455
- Like
- 14
- Liked 790 Times in 652 Posts
It is not clear if the test of the wing happened before or after Verstappen touched the wing. Toto believes the wing was damaged during qualifying. I fail to see how that is an excuse though. The fact that Bottas' wing passed the test suggests that Mercedes were not cheating in any way.
Nonetheless, it is unclear if the test was done before Friday qualifying or after qualifying before or after Verstappen touched the wing
Once they had found the infringement, disqualification was unavoidable. The situation clearly impacts the championship fight but does not make it impossible. Mercedes would be expecting Bottas to win the race tomorrow. From 10th tomorrow, Hamilton may end up on the podium with the sort of pace we saw in the sprint race.Last edited by Nitrodaze; 13th November 2021 at 23:45.
Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
William Shakespeare
-
14th November 2021, 01:00 #42
- Join Date
- Aug 2001
- Posts
- 6,139
- Like
- 649
- Liked 677 Times in 473 Posts
We will see. I don't expect Bottas to lead beyond a pit stop. If Lewis has a good run and gets to Bottas that will be a free position unless he simply defies a team order. I expect Perez to fade as well, but he could at least slow Lewis down some.
Keep in mind that margin included Lewis having to pass 14 cars, though some were no doubt easy. But I don't think Max pushed that hard either really. But I'm fully expecting Lewis to make it to the podium, and with the speed he had today I would be surprised if he didn't.
Setups, strategy, and conditions/tires will all factor in no doubt. But I think often Lewis performs his best when he starts further back. I think he just gets his head into it and drives, rather than question the team as much. I really don't expect many cars ahead of him to slow him much until he is in the top 5 or so. He seems to have figured out the optimum attack to use his DRS down the main straight and let the new engine do the work from there.
Either way, I think we still have a race on our hands.
-
14th November 2021, 01:50 #43
- Join Date
- May 2015
- Location
- Greenwich, London UK
- Posts
- 3,455
- Like
- 14
- Liked 790 Times in 652 Posts
Firstly, Bottas would need to do another great start. If he can do that, he has the pace to keep Verstappen behind. He has won one race this season, he can win this one with good strategy. If Sainz can have another great start, he may put Perez in Hamilton's reach. Which would make podium a possibility for Hamilton. But if Perez can pass Sainz, chances are that there would be two Redbull's on the podium.
Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
William Shakespeare
-
14th November 2021, 09:12 #44
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Posts
- 2,858
- Like
- 62
- Liked 478 Times in 371 Posts
-
14th November 2021, 11:43 #45
- Join Date
- Feb 2001
- Posts
- 8,416
- Like
- 498
- Liked 793 Times in 587 Posts
-
14th November 2021, 13:00 #46
- Join Date
- May 2015
- Location
- Greenwich, London UK
- Posts
- 3,455
- Like
- 14
- Liked 790 Times in 652 Posts
If it is actually wing damage, then it would suggest they are trying to fix who wins the championships. Objectively, a team should not be punished for parts failure if it did not present a dangerous situation.
I always said this season smelled of a fix from the start. There is a rotten smell in the air of premeditated efforts to see Mercedes not win one or both of the championship titles.Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
William Shakespeare
-
14th November 2021, 13:01 #47
- Join Date
- May 2015
- Location
- Greenwich, London UK
- Posts
- 3,455
- Like
- 14
- Liked 790 Times in 652 Posts
Last edited by Nitrodaze; 14th November 2021 at 13:04.
Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
William Shakespeare
-
14th November 2021, 13:48 #48
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Posts
- 2,858
- Like
- 62
- Liked 478 Times in 371 Posts
-
14th November 2021, 13:54 #49
- Join Date
- May 2015
- Location
- Greenwich, London UK
- Posts
- 3,455
- Like
- 14
- Liked 790 Times in 652 Posts
They probably were punished because the failure was seen to have created an increased performance. Even so, the punishment did not fit the situation. It was not intentional and it is a very hard-fought championship situation where their punishment was going to have a profound impact on the championship outcome. In this instance, the driver is punished the most.
Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.
William Shakespeare
-
14th November 2021, 15:03 #50
- Join Date
- Aug 2001
- Posts
- 6,139
- Like
- 649
- Liked 677 Times in 473 Posts
1.3.3 If an Automobile is found not to comply with the applicable technical regulations, it shall be no defence to claim that no performance advantage was obtained.
The regulations do as much as possible to not allow for gray area. There is even a specific technical directive on how this test is done.
It sucks for Mercedes but they are fortunate that this happened after qualifying and not after the Sprint or the main race. Similar to the situation with Vettel the penalty would be without conditions attached. Intention does not create compliance.
McLaren Are Closing The Gap To Red Bull. A new season starts from Imola. Looking at the outcome of the Imola GP, we can see how the gap between Red Bull and the other teams is increasingly...
2024 Formula 1 Preview &...