Go Lewis Go!!!!!
The Official Formula 1 Racing Thread
- Thread starter Supafly
- Start date
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
I pull for Hammy, but I wouldn't have minded seeing Kimi win either. I just watched the race on DVR last night and I was shocked. Probably not as much as Vettel, but still shocked. 
Also, how about that Verstappen?
He's still so incredibly immature. If he'd let Bottas go (even after the 5 second penalty), he could have tucked in behind the Merc and kept his lap times down... probably stayed ahead of Vettel on track and timing & scoring. But no, he said he knew that he was losing time to Vettel by driving defensively to stay ahead of Bottas on the track, but said he didn't care. So he went from 3rd on the track to 5th on the final time sheet. He could have been 4th. He's super talented, but such a *****.
Also, how about that Verstappen?
He's still so incredibly immature. If he'd let Bottas go (even after the 5 second penalty), he could have tucked in behind the Merc and kept his lap times down... probably stayed ahead of Vettel on track and timing & scoring. But no, he said he knew that he was losing time to Vettel by driving defensively to stay ahead of Bottas on the track, but said he didn't care. So he went from 3rd on the track to 5th on the final time sheet. He could have been 4th. He's super talented, but such a *****.
Supafly
Back for Good
Spot on on Verstappen. That balance between the will to get ahead and to make split-second decisions about changing tactics on the fly is something only true champions have.
Verstappen might be just a hot shot who won't make it to winning a championship, id he does not learn.
Verstappen might be just a hot shot who won't make it to winning a championship, id he does not learn.
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
Also, seems like since Vettel was paired with Ricciardo, in his last year with Red Bull, he hasn't been the driver that he was in his championship years. Course, maybe that dominant Red Bull car, that enabled him to sprint off into the distance from his typical pole position, meant that he didn't have to further develop his race craft. Maybe that situation masked his weaknesses... and now they're coming to light when the pressure is on? :dunno: Anyway, I haven't seen this many mistakes from a true championship caliber driver in a long, long time... this season and last. Right now, Vettel is still in a decent position, because the Ferrari appears to be the dominant car over the Mercedes. But unless Hamilton runs into some bad (mechanical or racing) luck, I don't know that Vettel can take advantage of the car's prowess, because it's likely that he isn't done tripping over his own two feet. And if Kimi is really out of contract for '19, I wouldn't be surprised to see him also steal some of Vettel's thunder.
One thing I do know: this has been one helluva drama filled and surprising season. I wasn't even going to watch the entire Italian GP (was going to fast forward through it) because I figured the Ferraris would beat the stuffings out of Mercedes based on practice and qualifying times. But ya gotta watch every lap of every race this season! :nanner:
One thing I do know: this has been one helluva drama filled and surprising season. I wasn't even going to watch the entire Italian GP (was going to fast forward through it) because I figured the Ferraris would beat the stuffings out of Mercedes based on practice and qualifying times. But ya gotta watch every lap of every race this season! :nanner:
larss
I'm watching some specialist videos
That gets a thumbs up from me.
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
Lewis deserves a night with his pick(s) of the grid girl litter after the performance he put on in qualifying. I'm still a devoted Senna fan. And I still say that he was magic in qualifying. But me thinks that Mr. Hamilton has that same genie in the bottle.
Dayuum! :eek: I haven't seen anything like that in a long, long time. And apparently, neither has Seb Vettel or the braintrust at Ferrari. I wish I could find an online pic of the look on Arrivabene's face (the Sky boys described the shocked look) as Lewis posted that other-worldly time.
Dayuum! :eek: I haven't seen anything like that in a long, long time. And apparently, neither has Seb Vettel or the braintrust at Ferrari. I wish I could find an online pic of the look on Arrivabene's face (the Sky boys described the shocked look) as Lewis posted that other-worldly time.
Nice, hopefully grid girls could return to F1 again for every races.
Supafly
Back for Good
Hamilton had the Pole Position, and he did what he does best:
Take off, take the lead, and manage what the race deals regarding opponents errors, and his car and tire setup. He can't be touched at this point of the championship.
I have the impression that both Verstappen and Vettel were wise enough not to push their luck in the first corners, so both could stay in the race. But DAMN Ferrari fucked this one up.
Take off, take the lead, and manage what the race deals regarding opponents errors, and his car and tire setup. He can't be touched at this point of the championship.
I have the impression that both Verstappen and Vettel were wise enough not to push their luck in the first corners, so both could stay in the race. But DAMN Ferrari fucked this one up.
larss
I'm watching some specialist videos
Great race from Lewis. Did everything right. Saved his tyres and ran a steady race. Got a little nervy when they came up to Sirotkin and Perez who seems oblivious to anything else happening around them but Lewis handled it well, keeping Verstappen behind.
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
I think that Grosjean, Sirotkin and Perez all share the same brain... and it's a very tiny one. If Grosjean gets dumped by Haas, I won't be sorry to see him go. I've just never liked him. I'd love to see him replaced by Ocon or Wehrlein.
As for Hamilton, with that pole lap and the race drive, he's showing himself to be the most deserving of the WDC this year. The Vettel we're seeing this year isn't the Vettel from the Red Bull championship years. He appears to be the Vettel that Ricciardo put the hurtin' on in his last year with Red Bull. And I actually kinda like Vettel. But he's really folding up under pressure.
BTW, I was watching the pre-race on Sky (presented by ESPN in the U.S.) and I didn't see the grid cuties. Did you guys in Europe see them?
As for Hamilton, with that pole lap and the race drive, he's showing himself to be the most deserving of the WDC this year. The Vettel we're seeing this year isn't the Vettel from the Red Bull championship years. He appears to be the Vettel that Ricciardo put the hurtin' on in his last year with Red Bull. And I actually kinda like Vettel. But he's really folding up under pressure.
BTW, I was watching the pre-race on Sky (presented by ESPN in the U.S.) and I didn't see the grid cuties. Did you guys in Europe see them?
Supafly
Back for Good
Drama, Bitches!!!
This season is developing into a nightmare for Ferrri, amd other teams are having headaches, too. Mercedes has another great season, after early problems. And in Russia, Bottas has the Pole Position, in the GP which was his first win in F1. Loks like even Lewis can't match him here.
This season is developing into a nightmare for Ferrri, amd other teams are having headaches, too. Mercedes has another great season, after early problems. And in Russia, Bottas has the Pole Position, in the GP which was his first win in F1. Loks like even Lewis can't match him here.
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
I'm happy to see Bottas get a pole before his confidence began going downhill. I don't see him being allowed to win this one, unless Lewis breaks down or is so far behind the Ferraris that Bottas can't wave him by. But I am glad to see him have a good day.
Looks like Putin won't come through for me. I was expecting him to stick it in the eye of the FIA and Liberty: put grid girls out there in barely-there bikinis tomorrow. :laugh:
Looks like Putin won't come through for me. I was expecting him to stick it in the eye of the FIA and Liberty: put grid girls out there in barely-there bikinis tomorrow. :laugh:
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
I'm almost sorry that I was right... uh, almost, I say. 
Pretty good race at what is often a rather boring circuit.
The way I see it, Hamilton owes at least two victories this year to Bottas: this one and the one at the Italian GP. Seems like there was another one too, where he played the part of a great wingman. But anyway, he's about the best teammate a team leader could have. I know it must be hard for him, but that's just the role he has to fill this year. As for Vettel, I can't blame Kimi for not helping him more. Vettel has made way too many mistakes throughout the season. Before a teammate can help you, you have to be able to first help yourself.
Pretty good race at what is often a rather boring circuit.The way I see it, Hamilton owes at least two victories this year to Bottas: this one and the one at the Italian GP. Seems like there was another one too, where he played the part of a great wingman. But anyway, he's about the best teammate a team leader could have. I know it must be hard for him, but that's just the role he has to fill this year. As for Vettel, I can't blame Kimi for not helping him more. Vettel has made way too many mistakes throughout the season. Before a teammate can help you, you have to be able to first help yourself.
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
I'm really trying to search my memory for the last time a driver in the hunt for a championship self-destructed as badly as Sebastian Vettel has in the latter part of this season. Both Vettel and Ferrari are falling apart under pressure (****** and unforced errors), while Hamilton and Mercedes are turning up the heat and getting it right. If not for a massive amount of mistakes from Vettel and Ferrari, the driver and team championships would be neck and neck now. I would have enjoyed that more, even though I'm pulling for Hamilton. Next year, I'd much rather see Ricciardo in the Ferrari than Leclerc. But maybe [NOBABE]the ***[/NOBABE] will perform and not screw things up like Vettel has this year.
Still, hell of a race today. Hamilton didn't have to do much after making a good start. But the action provided by Verstappen and Vettel was worth the price of admission. And if I could pick one F1 race to attend, it would be the Japanese GP at Suzuka. So much history there and such a great track. Plus, I'd like to know what it feels like to sit amongst the most passionate F1 fans in the world. :nanner:
Still, hell of a race today. Hamilton didn't have to do much after making a good start. But the action provided by Verstappen and Vettel was worth the price of admission. And if I could pick one F1 race to attend, it would be the Japanese GP at Suzuka. So much history there and such a great track. Plus, I'd like to know what it feels like to sit amongst the most passionate F1 fans in the world. :nanner:
