2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[Alex_Z]

Why can't Lewis show frustration and vent during the race without the usual suspects in this thread labeling him as childish, playing the victim, or unprofessional? Meanwhile, drivers like Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Kimi Raikkonen often swear, lash out, or disrespect their engineers on the radio, yet they’re praised as brutally honest and authentic. Many users display unconscious racial bias against Lewis, and for certain users in this thread (they know who they are), it is a conscious choice. He isn’t afforded the same grace and leeway to express frustration as white drivers—Tsunoda is another driver who’s experienced similar treatment. It pains them a black driver is the most successful of all time

[ToffeeTyres]

Why can't Lewis show frustration and vent during the race without the usual suspects in this thread labeling him as childish, playing the victim, or unprofessional? Meanwhile, drivers like Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Kimi Raikkonen often swear, lash out, or disrespect their engineers on the radio, yet they’re praised as brutally honest and authentic. Many users display unconscious racial bias against Lewis, and for certain users in this thread (they know who they are), it is a conscious choice. He isn’t afforded the same grace and leeway to express frustration as white drivers—Tsunoda is another driver who’s experienced similar treatment. It pains them a black driver is the most successful of all time

I feel exactly the same way. Well said and agree with everything you said. I don’t understand it either

[wunderkind]

Merc refusal to allow LH to join Ferrari for post season testing at AD is a big set back for LH. Without the test on track it will be hard to get a good feel of exiting Ferrari and Charles set up.

I think Toto’s refusal to let LH join Ferrari for any post season testing is because the team has lined up lots of farewell commercial work for Mercedes and team sponsors in the month after the Abu Dhabi weekend.

[Quantum]

Lewis used the W14 to fight for P2 in the WDC.

George used the W15 guided in his direction, to fight for P6.

Comparing 2 different cars designed by 2 different heads from 2 different seasons

[GrizzleBoy]

Why can't Lewis show frustration and vent during the race without the usual suspects in this thread labeling him as childish, playing the victim, or unprofessional? Meanwhile, drivers like Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Kimi Raikkonen often swear, lash out, or disrespect their engineers on the radio, yet they’re praised as brutally honest and authentic. Many users display unconscious racial bias against Lewis, and for certain users in this thread (they know who they are), it is a conscious choice. He isn’t afforded the same grace and leeway to express frustration as white drivers—Tsunoda is another driver who’s experienced similar treatment. It pains them a black driver is the most successful of all time

Considering this is a race where George displayed slimy personality traits and literally shouted at his race engineer for his last tyre choice, it is actually strange that the narrative of the thread regarding conduxt this weekend is about Lewis quietly being disappointed/reflective toward himself and understandably looking forward to a new start.

Also, expect backlash for mentioning this.

Lewis used the W14 to fight for P2 in the WDC.

George used the W15 guided in his direction, to fight for P6.

Comparing 2 different cars designed by 2 different heads from 2 different seasons

Just like the person I replied to did.

What's your point?

[GrizzleBoy]

Lewis used the W14 to fight for P2 in the WDC.

George used the W15 guided in his direction, to fight for P6.

Comparing 2 different cars designed by 2 different heads from 2 different seasons

[AR3-GP]

Lewis used the W14 to fight for P2 in the WDC.

George used the W15 guided in his direction, to fight for P6.

The W14 was the first winless car of the Mercedes hybrid era. The W15 has won 4 races. I am not saying this to claim it is Hamilton's fault, but only to provide an equally misleading fact to your own...

[Tonino]

Why can't Lewis show frustration and vent during the race without the usual suspects in this thread labeling him as childish, playing the victim, or unprofessional? Meanwhile, drivers like Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Kimi Raikkonen often swear, lash out, or disrespect their engineers on the radio, yet they’re praised as brutally honest and authentic. Many users display unconscious racial bias against Lewis, and for certain users in this thread (they know who they are), it is a conscious choice. He isn’t afforded the same grace and leeway to express frustration as white drivers—Tsunoda is another driver who’s experienced similar treatment. It pains them a black driver is the most successful of all time

Ah, the good old racism card. Let me be clear, I don’t care about Verstappen, Tsunoda, or any other driver’s behavior on or off the radio. I’m commenting as a Mercedes fan first and foremost. I also don’t care if you consider Lewis the second coming of Jesus who can do no wrong. As I already explained in another post, to me, his driving has been subpar, and his behavior unprofessional this year. If you disagree, that’s fine, I don’t care. We’re all entitled to our own views, but spare me the racism card.

[Quantum]

Considering this is a race where George displayed slimy personality traits and literally shouted at his race engineer for his last tyre choice, it is actually strange that the narrative of the thread regarding conduxt this weekend is about Lewis quietly being disappointed/reflective toward himself and understandably looking forward to a new start.

Also, expect backlash for mentioning this

Imagine someone referred to Hamilton as displaying "slimy personality traits" and the ensuing reaction.
The "backlash" should be up to the mods, because right here is perfect example why this thread is shitpit.

What's your point?

Is it possible to be reasonable and not make this thread a party ground for hate?

[Jurgen von Diaz]

Why can't Lewis show frustration and vent during the race without the usual suspects in this thread labeling him as childish, playing the victim, or unprofessional? Meanwhile, drivers like Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Kimi Raikkonen often swear, lash out, or disrespect their engineers on the radio, yet they’re praised as brutally honest and authentic. Many users display unconscious racial bias against Lewis, and for certain users in this thread (they know who they are), it is a conscious choice. He isn’t afforded the same grace and leeway to express frustration as white drivers—Tsunoda is another driver who’s experienced similar treatment. It pains them a black driver is the most successful of all time

Verstappen, Norris, Räikkönen aren't feeding conspiracy theories like Lewis when George is dealing with Merc's screw ups also.

[Matt2725]

Like I said. Can we get back to serious commentary yet?

Rather than out of context asinine commentary designed to start arguments yet again?

Also the W15 apparently guided by George won 4 races unlike the previous year which won none. So he can't be that bad at pushing development.

[dren]

This thread needs more Raikkonen discussion. It'd make it more interesting.

[GrizzleBoy]

Like I said. Can we get back to serious commentary yet?

Rather than out of context asinine commentary designed to start arguments yet again?

Also the W15 apparently guided by George won 4 races unlike the previous year which won none. So he can't be that bad at pushing development.

It's also the most inconsistent car they've driven according to both drivers that mostly works in uncommon track conditions and all of the WDC/WCC positions are lower than last years.

Well George went from 8th last year to 6th this year and Lewis went from 3rd to 7th this year, but I wouldn't say there was an improvement there in the car just because it won 4 races, two of which relied on rain.

[venkyhere]

Why can't Lewis show frustration and vent during the race without the usual suspects in this thread labeling him as childish, playing the victim, or unprofessional? Meanwhile, drivers like Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Kimi Raikkonen often swear, lash out, or disrespect their engineers on the radio, yet they’re praised as brutally honest and authentic. Many users display unconscious racial bias against Lewis, and for certain users in this thread (they know who they are), it is a conscious choice. He isn’t afforded the same grace and leeway to express frustration as white drivers—Tsunoda is another driver who’s experienced similar treatment. It pains them a black driver is the most successful of all time

I feel exactly the same way. Well said and agree with everything you said. I don’t understand it either

Ah, I was waiting for when this was going to come up.... and it has. Eventually.
The last resort of the justifier army.

THE GUY CAN'T CHANGE HIS DRIVING STYLE TO SUIT THE CAR'S CHARACTERISTICS, WHILE OTHERS CAN.
When the car is super stiff and super low (on specific tracks or in case the car is heavy with fuel in a race, unlike qualifying), he is able to do his 'brake late and gain time on corner entry, sacrificing corner exit' in 8/10 corners where it doesn't make a huge difference whether the 'duration' of a corner flips one way or other (sacrifice either entry or exit, both can't be had), but on corners where sacrificing exit isn't the optimal way, he struggles. Or on tracks where the car has to be setup higher and/or softer (due to bumps/kerbs or in 90 degree turn rear limited tracks) , he suffers BECAUSE HE CAN"T DO THE 'OTHER THING', BY BRAKING AND ROTATING EARLY AND MAKING EXIT FASTER.
Whether it's decades of muscle memory or simply stubbornness or generally wear of mind/body due to age (he is human afterall), there will be differences in opinion, but one thing everybody (atleast everybody who are serious followers of F1, not the DTS crowd) agrees upon --- HAMILTON STRUGGLES WITH THE GROUND EFFECT CAR BECAUSE HE IS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN 'ATTITUDE STABILITY' OF THE FLOOR OF THE CAR GOING INTO A CORNER. On super-low rideheight and super stiff suspension tracks (where the car doesn't dive) he is able to get away with it, and looks like the driver from 2014 to 2021.

I will go out on a limb and say that he is going to suffer similarly (or lesser, since Ferrari is a car with a wider operating window) at Ferrari. He is one of the greats, a genius with optimal racing lines, tremendous racecraft in one-on-one battles, tyre preservation etc; but even greats have chinks in their armour. The ground effect car that requires the throttle brakes and steering to be treated with velvet gloves, is the chink in his armour.

[Lasssept]