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

[taperoo2k]

Also, that was a real thump. If the gearbox has survived that will be incredible

Yeah it wasn’t just a tap and some have suggested.

The real worries would be if the gearbox looks ok.. no way of really testing it before the race. Risk it or go for a new one is really the question.

If Red Bull are lucky it'll be the components attached to the gearbox that are damaged, and can be replaced without penalties. If they are not sure about the damage, I suspect they'll take a new gearbox. It could be a double whammy if they risk it aka fail to finish this race due to a gearbox failure, and then face a 5 place grid penalty at the final race.

[nevill3]

Will Bottas be penalised for his clash with Kimi earlier in qualifying, Max could still start P2

[pantherxxx]

Red Bull will probably change gearbox to minimize the risk of a DFN. Then Max can still get 3rd or 2nd and then he needs to win in Abu Dhabi and he will be the champion.

[nokivasara]

Gutted.. gutted.. can not believe. He is almost crying. Lewis luck never dries out.

I disagree with the luck thing. It's common sense not to go for broke on a street circuit. Max took his chance as he's prone to. Knowing when to fold is always the better long term strategy.

Max is 24 years old and common sense is something we get with age
Tbf, Lewis pushed it too far aswell in his first run in q3.

[Shrieker]

If Red Bull are lucky it'll be the components attached to the gearbox that are damaged, and can be replaced without penalties. If they are not sure about the damage, I suspect they'll take a new gearbox. It could be a double whammy if they risk it aka fail to finish this race due to a gearbox failure, and then face a 5 place grid penalty at the final race.

If they can't finish the race, they can take a gearbox free of any penalties for the next race, no ?

[Raleigh]

Will Bottas be penalised for his clash with Kimi earlier in qualifying, Max could still start P2

Unlikely to give a penalty, Kimi and Bottas were both on slow laps.

[Dee]

On the onboard, I can't really see where Max braked too late, it just looks like the tyres went on him.

[dans79]

Yeah it wasn’t just a tap and some have suggested.

The real worries would be if the gearbox looks ok.. no way of really testing it before the race. Risk it or go for a new one is really the question.

If Red Bull are lucky it'll be the components attached to the gearbox that are damaged, and can be replaced without penalties. If they are not sure about the damage, I suspect they'll take a new gearbox. It could be a double whammy if they risk it aka fail to finish this race due to a gearbox failure, and then face a 5 place grid penalty at the final race.

If you fail to finish, you can change the gear Box for free!

[Tvetovnato]

RB are now appealing the Hamilton verdicts.

[Hammerfist]

Yeah it wasn’t just a tap and some have suggested.

The real worries would be if the gearbox looks ok.. no way of really testing it before the race. Risk it or go for a new one is really the question.

If Red Bull are lucky it'll be the components attached to the gearbox that are damaged, and can be replaced without penalties. If they are not sure about the damage, I suspect they'll take a new gearbox. It could be a double whammy if they risk it aka fail to finish this race due to a gearbox failure, and then face a 5 place grid penalty at the final race.

I don't think they want to chance it. Because if the gearbox breaks during the race it's game over pretty much. I think the sensible thing to do is to replace the gearbox. Max can still win from P8. This race isn't going to be a straight forward one.

[Marty_Y]

If you look at Mexico, anything could happen. Max could be leading by the end of lap 1 so I don't know why the Red Bull fans are acting like the championship is over.

Is it permitted to swap to another gearbox he has in his pool without penalty? Presuming he has another one.

[dans79]

If you look at Mexico, anything could happen. Max could be leading by the end of lap 1 so I don't know why the Red Bull fans are acting like the championship is over.

Is it permitted to swap to another gearbox he has in his pool without penalty? Presuming he has another one.

As far as I'm aware, no. He took a new gearbox this weekend and it must be used for the race or he takes a penalty.

[Marty_Y]

If you look at Mexico, anything could happen. Max could be leading by the end of lap 1 so I don't know why the Red Bull fans are acting like the championship is over.

Is it permitted to swap to another gearbox he has in his pool without penalty? Presuming he has another one.

As far as I'm aware, no. He took a new gearbox this weekend and it must be used for the race or he takes a penalty.

Thanks.

[Bill_Kar]

If you look at Mexico, anything could happen. Max could be leading by the end of lap 1 so I don't know why the Red Bull fans are acting like the championship is over.

Is it permitted to swap to another gearbox he has in his pool without penalty? Presuming he has another one.

Yes, of course anything could happen. Even Hamilton could retire tomorrow.

But the thing is, it seems that RB did really everything they could to snatch pole, even sacrificing race pace (by a lot actually). So, the fact that he didn't get pole, on its own, is a problem. The fact that Bottas is in front of him, is a problem. And the fact that he could possibly take a new gearbox and 5-place drop, is even worse (and no, he cannot change gearbox tomorrow without penalty).

So, it's not the end of the world, as he looks set for a podium finish, but he has two Mercedes in front of him and that's certainly a problem.

[Restomaniac]

Yeah it wasn’t just a tap and some have suggested.

The real worries would be if the gearbox looks ok.. no way of really testing it before the race. Risk it or go for a new one is really the question.

If Red Bull are lucky it'll be the components attached to the gearbox that are damaged, and can be replaced without penalties. If they are not sure about the damage, I suspect they'll take a new gearbox. It could be a double whammy if they risk it aka fail to finish this race due to a gearbox failure, and then face a 5 place grid penalty at the final race.

Nah if a car doesn’t finish it gets a free box for the next race.