2023 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[Just_a_fan]

i will never understand the mental gymnastic needed to come up with the outcome that Lewis is to blame in that incident ...like WTF ?

If you dislike someone enough, you can make anything out to be their fault.

[PlatinumZealot]

Russell starting his push lap from turn 13 was pretty nuts. He was always going to be compromised in his lap. That is why Lewis was closing on him so rapidly. I think he was just desperate.

This. Russell was to push the lap before and blew it, so he pulled back to charge his batteries to take a nother go at it. So you had two Mercs a couple seconds apart starting their push laps. Madness. Russell or his wngineer was being a bit sneaky. Cost the team a front row over this.

[Juzh]

Russell starting his push lap from turn 13 was pretty nuts. He was always going to be compromised in his lap. That is why Lewis was closing on him so rapidly. I think he was just desperate.

This. Russell was to push the lap before and blew it, so he pulled back to charge his batteries to take a nother go at it. So you had two Mercs a couple seconds apart starting their push laps. Madness. Russell or his wngineer was being a bit sneaky. Cost the team a front row over this.

Diabolical thinking. What happened was a set of circumstances that hamilton also played a part in. Yes, russell is to blame for collision (as is tradition) for having zero spatial awareness of what was happening around him, but what was hamilton's plan anyway? Suppose russell leaves him space, what then? He's not getting his car far ahead enough to dismiss russell on the inside so both laps would be ruined in any case. Given russell's state of mind this quali I dont belive for a second he'd let hamilton have a lap if he's only half way ahead into T1.

Also, It's pretty normal to go again if you mess up a lap, what's wrong with that. As I said, diabolical thinking.

Cost the team a front row over this.

how and why?

[mkay]

Russell starting his push lap from turn 13 was pretty nuts. He was always going to be compromised in his lap. That is why Lewis was closing on him so rapidly. I think he was just desperate.

This. Russell was to push the lap before and blew it, so he pulled back to charge his batteries to take a nother go at it. So you had two Mercs a couple seconds apart starting their push laps. Madness. Russell or his wngineer was being a bit sneaky. Cost the team a front row over this.

Diabolical thinking. What happened was a set of circumstances that hamilton also played a part in. Yes, russell is to blame for collision (as is tradition) for having zero spatial awareness of what was happening around him, but what was hamilton's plan anyway? Suppose russell leaves him space, what then? He's not getting his car far ahead enough to dismiss russell on the inside so both laps would be ruined in any case. Given russell's state of mind this quali I dont belive for a second he'd let hamilton have a lap if he's only half way ahead into T1.

Also, It's pretty normal to go again if you mess up a lap, what's wrong with that. As I said, diabolical thinking.

Cost the team a front row over this.

how and why?

I can't possibly see a scenario where Hamilton is to blame. He has no idea what is going on. This is on his team for not properly informing the drivers, and partly on Russell for having aborted his lap in the first place.

As for whether it cost a front row, he had to change front wings and who knows if there was damage to the underfloor from running over the grass? Lewis did point out that the balacne of the car was slightly off in Q3.

[chrisc90]

My take - as I posted in the discord group last night.

Just watched Russel onboard there to start his lap. Around 52mins in on F1TV. Gets a little close to the Alpha tauri in front(literally on his back wing in turn 12), backs off a little, then verstappen is on a flyer so pulls right to let him through, Sainz was a few seconds behind verstappen making GR late to start his push lap.
Seemed a bit of miscommunication between both sides of the garage really. GR engineer didn’t tell him there was anyone behind whilst Bono didn’t mention GR ahead readying up another push lap.
GR had chance to get his lap going, but I think he was too eager to get going and the 2 cars on flyers behind made him loose too much space on track by being too late. All started at turn 10 being too close to the AT in front I think. Bono could have said GR was going for another lap and told Lewis to drop back a couple seconds to allow GR space. Unfortunate I guess. Easy to make errors.

Does seem a little odd lewis would try and overtake GR when he's flat out with his DRS open (otherwise he'd be fully backed off like sainz was) , but I guess Lewis didnt want to compromise his final flyer. If Bono told LH to wait another 3 seconds because GR was preparing ahead - then all would have been averted.

[Juzh]

I can't possibly see a scenario where Hamilton is to blame. He has no idea what is going on. This is on his team for not properly informing the drivers, and partly on Russell for having aborted his lap in the first place.

As for whether it cost a front row, he had to change front wings and who knows if there was damage to the underfloor from running over the grass? Lewis did point out that the balacne of the car was slightly off in Q3.

I'm not saying he's to blame, just that he played his part. On second thought as chriss says he probably didn't have a clue what george was up to, still it seems weird putting your car in such a tight position, kinda reminds of gasly and ocon situation in melbourne where it could have been avoided by either driver but wasn't as they both kept it pinned or were clueless as to their surroundings.

[Just_a_fan]

I can't possibly see a scenario where Hamilton is to blame. He has no idea what is going on. This is on his team for not properly informing the drivers, and partly on Russell for having aborted his lap in the first place.

As for whether it cost a front row, he had to change front wings and who knows if there was damage to the underfloor from running over the grass? Lewis did point out that the balacne of the car was slightly off in Q3.

I'm not saying he's to blame, just that he played his part. On second thought as chriss says he probably didn't have a clue what george was up to, still it seems weird putting your car in such a tight position, kinda reminds of gasly and ocon situation in melbourne where it could have been avoided by either driver but wasn't as they both kept it pinned or were clueless as to their surroundings.

Lewis was gaining on him and George moved to right. That, for most drivers, would be an indication that the car ahead is getting out of the way because they're moving off the racing line when they're not in a race situation. Lewis says "thanks" and goes for the gap that is the racing line. George then moves back across after Lewis is committed to the pass.

Lewis would have been in George's blind spot plus George was possibly concentrating on what the Ferrari was doing ahead and to his right.

All a bit Keystone Cops, really, and luckily nothing more than a bit of front wing damage. Could have been worse if wheels had interlocked at that speed, but this time that didn't happen.

[PlatinumZealot]

Russell starting his push lap from turn 13 was pretty nuts. He was always going to be compromised in his lap. That is why Lewis was closing on him so rapidly. I think he was just desperate.

This. Russell was to push the lap before and blew it, so he pulled back to charge his batteries to take a nother go at it. So you had two Mercs a couple seconds apart starting their push laps. Madness. Russell or his wngineer was being a bit sneaky. Cost the team a front row over this.

Diabolical thinking. What happened was a set of circumstances that hamilton also played a part in. Yes, russell is to blame for collision (as is tradition) for having zero spatial awareness of what was happening around him, but what was hamilton's plan anyway? Suppose russell leaves him space, what then? He's not getting his car far ahead enough to dismiss russell on the inside so both laps would be ruined in any case. Given russell's state of mind this quali I dont belive for a second he'd let hamilton have a lap if he's only half way ahead into T1.

Also, It's pretty normal to go again if you mess up a lap, what's wrong with that. As I said, diabolical thinking.

Cost the team a front row over this.

how and why?

Russell chance was already shot behind the Ferrari so he should have aborted and let 44 thru instead of that shambless we witnessed.

Coming around the last two corners I was like what the hell is George dooooing??!!

[PlatinumZealot]

Anyway...

On to a more positive conversation... I do genuinely think we have a chance to win in Barcelona if our tyres last. It's a high deg track and if Max has gets a bit of traffic (George are you listening?) or graining we could see the tables turn in our favour.

[chrisc90]

Anyway...

On to a more positive conversation... I do genuinely think we have a chance to win in Barcelona if our tyres last. It's a high deg track and if Max has gets a bit of traffic (George are you listening?) or graining we could see the tables turn in our favour.

Certainly be interesting to see the race pace on the new upgrades W14. Didnt some long runs still have it half a second or so behind the RB/Alonso?

[PlatinumZealot]

Half a second slower in early phase of the race. Seems to be within three tenths late first stint. But Max likely controlling the pace quite heavily .

[PlatinumZealot]

The way George thinks in the race reminds me of Jenson so much. He's definitely got brain capacity. A lot like Sainz too. But George is unique becauae this trait is unusual for a fast qualifying type of driver. Usually it's the slower qualifiers who look to beat their faster teammates in other ways or actions in their control.

[Stu]

They’ve had a very good race, certainly seems to be an improvement. Great performances from both drivers; I don’t think that they could have reasonably hoped for any more.

[PlatinumZealot]

Yeh three tenths. The car has potential. Sclupting here and there under the floor. Few bits and bobs and i think 3 tenths off in all conditions should be possible before the season is out?

[ValeVida46]

Great result today! More than could be reasonably expected, and now well clear in 2nd spot of constructors championship. All round a very positive weekend for Merc.