2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah, Dec 03 - 05

[Big Tea]

I think brundle was saying that the impact is not what could damage the gearbox but the rear suspension going through the casing?

Parts of the suspension are mounted on (for want of a better word) 'holes' in the case and if the 'hole' is dragged out, as it is moulded it can smash quite a lump out. As when a front air dam on a road car hits a stone.

[bonjon1979]

What a lap by Max, he was on the edge at Turn 13, turn 23 24 . .. everyone knows I am Lewis fan but boy oh boy that was a mighty lap until last corner.

Anyways Lewis and bottas needs to pull away with atleast 5 to 6 sec gap to 3rd car. That will gaurentee 1 - 2

It was a good lap until it wasn't. Max has the best car this weekend. The MErc just cannot fire up the tires, it's something that happens every time they go on street circuits, something that has been hampering them since 2015 actually, with their Singapore woes. Max should have been on pole here. No excuses. He still has a chance to win tomorrow even with a grid penalty, because he will be fast.

Red bull went all in for qualifying. I think that’s why they’re all so downbeat. They needed to be on pole. V short run to turn 1 then it’ll be tough to follow

[bonjon1979]

What o mean is, the way they set up the car

[jurinius]

What a lap by Max, he was on the edge at Turn 13, turn 23 24 . .. everyone knows I am Lewis fan but boy oh boy that was a mighty lap until last corner.

Anyways Lewis and bottas needs to pull away with atleast 5 to 6 sec gap to 3rd car. That will gaurentee 1 - 2

It was a good lap until it wasn't. Max has the best car this weekend. The MErc just cannot fire up the tires, it's something that happens every time they go on street circuits, something that has been hampering them since 2015 actually, with their Singapore woes. Max should have been on pole here. No excuses. He still has a chance to win tomorrow even with a grid penalty, because he will be fast.

For me the traffic didn't help Mercedes in Q1 or Q2 to get the right tyres preparation easily, but when they had clear track both were working well. So I don't think they will be bad if they manage to stay in front after 2 laps.

[falonso81]

You all need to understand the different mindset between Hamilton and Verstappen. Hamilton's aim is to break every record, take as many championships and be as famous as he can. Verstappen's aim is to take a championship. Even one is enough for him, just like Rosberg. He might even retire after he manages it.

[zibby43]

[Stormblessed]

What an incredible final lap from Verstappen!! Until the crash. Would have been a classic pole if he had finished it

[Restomaniac]

Max was absolutely hammering his car around the track, but it seems like all that time gained in the middle sector degraded the predictability of the grip on the tyres by the end of the lap.

He locked up into the last corner, didn't find the grip mid corner and still didn't find it on the exit as he smacked the wall.

Not even to say that the tyres had gone, just that by the time he arrived at the last corner, they weren't able to keep providing what he expected of them.

TBF he’d nearly binned it in sector 1. He was bordering being over the edge all the way round. I said to my lad this is either amazing or he’s in the wall.

[BlueCheetah66]

If RB wants to look at positives, if the gearbox survives, Max is still in a good position for the race. Also his pace here will give them a lot more confidence for Abu Dhabi which I would've thought would be better for RB than here

[SchuMassa]

If RB wants to look at positives, if the gearbox survives, Max is still in a good position for the race. Also his pace here will give them a lot more confidence for Abu Dhabi which I would've thought would be better for RB than here

They should change the engine (+5 places), cruise in P3 and go all-in in Abu Dhabi.

[NL_Fer]

Merc seems to have a great racepace also

[nevill3]

Lewis wins with fastest lap and Max comes in second........points equal going into last race, I'm all for that

[bonjon1979]

If RB wants to look at positives, if the gearbox survives, Max is still in a good position for the race. Also his pace here will give them a lot more confidence for Abu Dhabi which I would've thought would be better for RB than here

They should change the engine (+5 places), cruise in P3 and go all-in in Abu Dhabi.

I’m not sure it’s a cruise around here. Brutal track

[nevill3]

Max's gearbox could be OK because teams use an outer casing that the suspension attaches to with the actual gearbox OK within. Redbull would be allowed to change the casing with no penalty I think.

[Hammerfist]

What a lap by Max, he was on the edge at Turn 13, turn 23 24 . .. everyone knows I am Lewis fan but boy oh boy that was a mighty lap until last corner.

Anyways Lewis and bottas needs to pull away with atleast 5 to 6 sec gap to 3rd car. That will gaurentee 1 - 2

It was a good lap until it wasn't. Max has the best car this weekend. The MErc just cannot fire up the tires, it's something that happens every time they go on street circuits, something that has been hampering them since 2015 actually, with their Singapore woes. Max should have been on pole here. No excuses. He still has a chance to win tomorrow even with a grid penalty, because he will be fast.

For me the traffic didn't help Mercedes in Q1 or Q2 to get the right tyres preparation easily, but when they had clear track both were working well. So I don't think they will be bad if they manage to stay in front after 2 laps.

The traffic was not a problem. They just could not make full use of a fresh set of tires when fueled for one lap whereas Verstappen had no such issues. They were never fast when going for one lap all weekend. They always needed extra laps to extract the pace. But that means they use up the tires and therefore have no ability to get the optimal lap time.