F1 Grand Prix Season

[Yankee_Jack]

Startling news. Seems definite that George Russell eventually will be offered the Bottas seat at Mercedes but there is strong rumour that it might happen before Silverstone. Seems unlikely to me but can't wait to see how this plays out!

Wow ... how are these contracts and affiliations structured. Is Russell a Mercedes property on loan to Williams? Is it just a question of recalling Russell and loaning out Bottas. I presume Bottas is going to drive somewhere. Or do they just dump Bottas, pay-off his contract and then the drivers just shuffle up ... Russell to Mercedes and somebody from F2 to Williams?

 

[ivoralljack]

Is Russell a Mercedes property on loan to Williams?

I believe that is the case but I could be wrong.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

That's interesting.

 

[ivoralljack]

Reading today that Russell is a junior driver for Mercedes who have promised to reward him him if he continues his strong form for Williams. Guess that explains the situation.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

So its just like football. Rich clubs develop and stock all the good assets then loan them out to the lesser clubs - keeps them in their place and develops the talent on the cheap

 

[ivoralljack]

Feisty race yesterday with a brilliant chase from Hamilton to snatch the win from an excellent Le Clerc. The crash? Many saying that Verstappen got a taste of his own medicine. He's been socking it to Lewis (and everybody else) all season who obviously decided that enough was enough and gave some back.

Rich to hear Christian Horner bitching about Lewis when his own driver, Max, is about the most aggressive out there. On the radio this morning, someone neutral in Formula 1 was asked his opinion about the incident. He said that Max is totally uncompromising, never gives ground to anyone and opined that he would have done exactly the same thing to Lewis had the positions been reversed.

Both are superb drivers light years ahead of anyone else given the quality of their cars and backup. Max undoubtedly is a future multiple world champion in waiting and might notch his first this year. BUT, as that 'neutral someone' commented, Lewis showed Max that he is fed up with the bullying and is going to start to give it back. Senna, Prost? Mansel, Piquet? It promises to be a helluva ride for the rest of the season!

 

[Yankee_Jack]

@ivoralljack .... Horner bleating about the racing incident reminds me of Ducks' old phrase ... "if you can't take it, don't give it".

From what I saw of the copious replays in slow-mo from various vantage points: going into the corner Max was aware of Hamilton inside him and had twitched the steering wheel to the left at one point to provide some margin and then failed to check right when he steered more into the curve. Max braked a tad later going into the curve than Hamilton because he had the wider angle, which took him a tad ahead, but it all happened so quickly that if Hamilton had any reaction time at all he would have had to stamp on the brakes to avoid any contact even if there had been sufficient deceleration time to drop back before Max steered right into the contact. Hamilton had no viable moves: go forward (no - too far into the corner); go right (not on - to close to the side wall and track limit); or drop back (not enough time).

From here on out ... it's elbows out.

One other point of note ... Bottas is he that slow a driver or his car that less powerful that Hamilton could catch him, pass him, and leave him behind in towards the end of the race. I presume they had similar amounts of fuel left and tire age.

 

[ivoralljack]

Horner bleating about the racing incident reminds me of Ducks' old phrase ... "if you can't take it, don't give it".

I remember that so well, so often said when Ducks was bending over someone he'd just flattened. And that could be a team mate in training as well!! Happy days, they don't make 'em like Ducks any more.

One other point of note ... Bottas is he that slow a driver or his car that less powerful that Hamilton could catch him, pass him, and leave him behind in towards the end of the race. I presume they had similar amounts of fuel left and tire age.

I believe that Bottas was given team orders to make way for Hamilton who duly acknowledged it by thanking Bottas on air after the race for his help.

 

[Yankee_Jack]

Bottas ... there's one thing responding to orders ... and there's another waving goodbye as Hamilton disappears over the horizon into the sunset and in comparison you look like you're parked.