2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina, Dec 10 - 12

[El Scorchio]

Now I am just waiting for an investigation, reprimand and grid drop for Hamilton. How can they drop the ball like that AGAIN?

Forget it, man. It's just free practice...

He got a reprimand last race for the exact same thing. One more reprimand and he gets a 10 place drop.

They won’t do that for the same reason there have been some other lenient or ‘non’ penalties in the last few races. They want Verstappen and Hamilton lining up 1-2 on the grid to maximise publicity, interest and viewership. This scenario is a dream for F1 and they aren’t going to drop Hamilton 10 places on the grid and ruin the climactic race before it’s even begun. It would be a disaster for them.

[bonjon1979]

He’s off the racing line to left, if he’d been in the right and mazepin had troubled the apex then he would’ve blocked him there.

[_cerber1]

[Juzh]

Penalty or not, Hamilton will win this race easily.
FP3 gap of 2 tenths is misleading, Hamilton had a big oversteer moment in S3 on his 1.23.2, costing him probably around 2 tenths. Real difference is around 4 tenths.

edit. typos

[max_speed]

Forget it, man. It's just free practice...

He got a reprimand last race for the exact same thing. One more reprimand and he gets a 10 place drop.

They won’t do that for the same reason there have been some other lenient or ‘non’ penalties in the last few races. They want Verstappen and Hamilton lining up 1-2 on the grid to maximise publicity, interest and viewership. This scenario is a dream for F1 and they aren’t going to drop Hamilton 10 places on the grid and ruin the climactic race before it’s even begun. It would be a disaster for them.

Shouldn't rule be rule as merc/ham fans keep citing when max verstappen is involved. Fia favours merc else this drama in last race would not have been possible.if they are worth salt then they should penalize him, merc fans should not worry with "spicy" engine at his back he will still win it.

[RZS10]

The only real similarity is that it's the same drivers... otherwise it's the pit exit where you are bound to be on the racing line (he moved off the track, Mazepin made a mistake anyways) vs. a fast almost blind corner (dawdled around on the racing line, Mazepin reacted like a young god) ... it would be surprising if this even gets investigated.

[El Scorchio]

He got a reprimand last race for the exact same thing. One more reprimand and he gets a 10 place drop.

They won’t do that for the same reason there have been some other lenient or ‘non’ penalties in the last few races. They want Verstappen and Hamilton lining up 1-2 on the grid to maximise publicity, interest and viewership. This scenario is a dream for F1 and they aren’t going to drop Hamilton 10 places on the grid and ruin the climactic race before it’s even begun. It would be a disaster for them.

Shouldn't rule be rule as merc/ham fans keep citing when max verstappen is involved. Fia favours merc else this drama in last race would not have been possible.if they are worth salt then they should penalize him, merc fans should not worry with "spicy" engine at his back he will still win it.

Actually they’ve gone a bit easy on both of them for a couple of things in recent times with the goal of a championship thriller in mind. It’s not in my mind favouring either of them but trying to manufacture the situation they’ve got.

[nimoraca]

Botas and Perez do not look to be in the mix so we should get what we all want to see (in some order).

[Tvetovnato]

Botas and Perez do not look to be in the mix so we should get what we all want to see (in some order).

Bottas will for sure be in the mix come qualifying. Perez less so.

[Tvetovnato]

[search]

will be interesting to see what's the plan for Red Bull, probably unable to come close to pole position. Contrary to Mercedes, they kept two sets of hards, and only one medium (Mercedes the other way around). Maybe they'll do Q2 on Softs (for S-H-H in the race) or even on Hards. Looks like they need to try sth different at least

edit: my mistake, Mercedes has two sets of hards as well. So only difference are mediums (Red Bull 1, Mercedes 2) and softs (Red Bull 4, Mercedes 3)

[El Scorchio]

Rear wing issues AGAIN for the Red Bull cars. I really can’t understand why they are having such repeated problems with it in the latter part of the season.

[west52keep64]

Rear wing issues AGAIN for the Red Bull cars. I really can’t understand why they are having such repeated problems with it in the latter part of the season.

It looks like engineered drama, the wings were off, and 10s later they are back on.

EDIT: Update, Checo is switching to the low downforce rear-wing.

It also sounds like RB are going to try and start on the soft tyre...

[El Scorchio]

Rear wing issues AGAIN for the Red Bull cars. I really can’t understand why they are having such repeated problems with it in the latter part of the season.

It looks like engineered drama, the wings were off, and 10s later they are back on.

EDIT: Update, Checo is switching to the low downforce rear-wing.

It also sounds like RB are going to try and start on the soft tyre...

I’m sure this isn’t the preparation they wanted. All out gamble with the last minute switch? But if not now, then when!

[Unc1eM0nty]

Rear wing issues AGAIN for the Red Bull cars. I really can’t understand why they are having such repeated problems with it in the latter part of the season.

It looks like engineered drama, the wings were off, and 10s later they are back on.

EDIT: Update, Checo is switching to the low downforce rear-wing.

It also sounds like RB are going to try and start on the soft tyre...

I doubt it.

They'd struggle to make them last long enough to get a safe pit window. And going a tyre softer than Merc cost them last time out, there'll be no crusing or fuel saving in this race, its flat out from flag to flag.