2017 Mexico Grand Prix - Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, 27-29 October

[Schuttelberg]

Well deserved championship for Hamilton.

Commanding drive from Verstappen. All cars lapped except the top 4. 1.5 second faster than Bottas while cracking jokes with his engineer. I think we will not hear anyone suggesting that he is an overhyped brat anymore. He is the real deal.

Ocon is also shaping up nicely. And of course Alonso showing that he hasn’t lost it.

With Red bull finally having closed the gap to the front runners and Mclaren switching powerplants I cannot wait for next season. Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso and Verstappen squaring it off in similar equipment would be epic.

I wish Mercedes and Ferrari had better second drivers.

[drunkf1fan]

Realistically Sainz had a car that was top 10 on pace, everyone Vettel was passing earlier on in the race were much slower cars than Sainz. So you had a faster car and as you say he had DRS but wasn't making the move on the Sauber for whatever reason. Hamilton also had fairly significant damage to the diffuser which even worse still, was on the right hand side. The car is putting a lot of weight on the left side of the car coming onto the mains straight with less weight on the rear right, so traction out of that corner with the right side of the diffuser completely broken is as bad as it could be here.

You also had the issue that the slower cars, the Haas's, Saubers, Ferrari teams, let Vettel through without defending at all while they all faught Ham tooth and nail. Likewise they saw Vettel had decent pace so would lose time fighting while they saw Hamilton was slow and thus had more expectation to be able to hold him behind and maybe get points for themselves.

So many cars just moved over in T1 for Vettel while they covered the inside and made it much harder for Hamilton throughout. Basically the drive through from the back couldn't have been much easier for Vettel or much harder for Hamilton.

[drunkf1fan]

Verstappen showing a pace that no one else could match. I don't believe Vettel could have won this race ahead of Verstappen and based on bottas's pace while I think Ham with no damage could have been faster, I don't think he could have beaten Max either.

AS I said about what I thought the real pace was in Singapore, Malaysia, Cota, I think RBR is just a step faster than Ferrari and depending on the race faster or very very close to Hamilton. The RBR, though it has to be said, really only in Max's hand, has absolutely ridiculous race pace now.

[Restomaniac]

Your hate is well renowned.

Rubbish.

Your blind loyalty however. Let me guess Vettel didn't do anything wrong? Correct?

Awww. You should go do something about that. Get him to retire!

People like you belong in my list! Adios.

Couldnt bring yourself to say it then. Yep no blind loyalty shown there.

[Phil]

Ps: big respect for Ferrari for not swapping places.

Once it was obvious that the title was gone, Vettel wouldn't have wanted to swap places I think. Why be on the podium in front of the crowds when all you really want to do is be somewhere quiet with your thoughts?

The swap would only have happened if Vettel had a realistic chance.

I absolutely agree. But thinking like a chess player, i would have swapped them just to put that little bit more pressure on Mercedes. Pressure in the sense, a potential Max failure would immediately reward Seb to 2nd place, although i think with Hamilton in 9th, it wouldnt have mattered.

Anyway, what i really like about Ferrari not swapping is because these things belittle the drivers achievement. It wouldnt be necessary and i think some of the (perceived) team orders this year just get fans more emotional and angered.

In that sense, i am really happy that Hamilton/Mercedes gave back that position to Bottas at hungary this year. It just feels right and i am glad it was done, even if at the time, i was more in favor of not (because of the gap).

[Schuttelberg]

Pure class from two 4 time WDC in the interview area! Genuine respect there! Wish it were like that on the forums.

[komninosm]

The Vettel hate is strong!

I'd say emotions just running high on the moment. My initial reaction too was to pull Vettel over. It needs some cooling down to put into perspective. Vettel was clumsy to destroy his front wing and not to react on Hamilton having to lift off for Verstappen, no way around that. But, first lap accidents are always treated lenient and in that regard no action was warranted. A shame though it ruined both their races.

Even Schumacher was black flagged for less obvious stuff.
FIARRARI a disgrace again for F1 (seriously why are they still trying? can't they see the championship is over?)
Vettel again a sore loser (after Baku and several other tracks, Singapore, Malaysia)

This year has really solidified my opinion that Formula 1 would be really better if Ferrari wasn't there, or if at least it stopped getting preferential treatment (and money). They really need to push it aside.
Also as many sensible Ferrari supporters admit on the net, Ferrari fans are the worse by far. Worse behavior, most bias, terrible.

[Phil]

Pure class from two 4 time WDC in the interview area! Genuine respect there! Wish it were like that on the forums.

Which interview?

ORF signed off after the race podium and some post race interviews in the Mercedes garage. Got to wait for the non Live Channel 4 coverage i guess...

[Schuttelberg]

Ps: big respect for Ferrari for not swapping places.

Once it was obvious that the title was gone, Vettel wouldn't have wanted to swap places I think. Why be on the podium in front of the crowds when all you really want to do is be somewhere quiet with your thoughts?

The swap would only have happened if Vettel had a realistic chance.

I absolutely agree. But thinking like a chess player, i would have swapped them just to put that little bit more pressure on Mercedes. Pressure in the sense, a potential Max failure would immediately reward Seb to 2nd place, although i think with Hamilton in 9th, it wouldnt have mattered.

Anyway, what i really like about Ferrari not swapping is because these things belittle the drivers achievement. It wouldnt be necessary and i think some of the (perceived) team orders this year just get fans more emotional and angered.

In that sense, i am really happy that Hamilton/Mercedes gave back that position to Bottas at hungary this year. It just feels right and i am glad it was done, even if at the time, i was more in favor of not (because of the gap).

There is a much unrequited hate for TO in this sport. To any reasonable person, Hamilton and Vettel have absolutely pasted their team mates. No team will intentionally favour a slower driver. This is all press driven drivel. I found the swap back in Hungary quite unnecessary. Hey, but that's just me!

[Shrieker]

Funny how it looks from the outside; Hamilton like a gypsy primma donna wannabe rockstar, and Vettel the trusted family man. And yet when they get in the car and the visor goes down, it's just the opposite. Hamilton the gentleman, and Vettel the gypsy. I think the pressure got to Vettel immensely this season. Baku, Singapore and now here. We probably knew he wasn't maybe as good as Alonso or Hamilton wheel to wheel, but he's somehow managed to drag his reputation down right next to Ocon and Perez. He's in a rut and must pull himself out if he is to challenge for the title again. Maybe he can take a leaf out of Hamilton's book from his 2011 season.

[FrukostScones]

I'm so dumb. why didnt I put some money on VES.... I mean Kvyat went off

VES??? You mean VER

Yes 2 time this year for Max!

VES is correct. VER is Vergne and HAR is Haryanto.

; P


Y

[TAG]

No team will intentionally favour a slower driver. This is all press driven drivel. I found the swap back in Hungary quite unnecessary. Hey, but that's just me!

Press driven drivel? You're purposely confusing the issue because it's only Ferrari that actively do it to the capacity they do. Press driven drivel? Tell that to Raikkonen. But hey, he's getting paid quite nicely to do that job, the way Massa did it for Alonso, and Barrichelo did it for Schumacher, it's the Ferrari way and most of us understand it and accept it as one of the additional hurdles to overcome while fighting Ferrari. Only a die hard fan would try to pass it off as drivel.

It was a great race to watch today actually, enjoyed the fight through the field from both the four time world champions. I just hope that Red Bull and perhaps Renault as well as McLaren join the fray next season as well.

[komninosm]

Ps: big respect for Ferrari for not swapping places.

So it has come to this?
Big respect to FIARRARI for not doing something obviously shameful and unsportsmanlike AFTER the championship was mathematically over?
I mean "big respect" really?
How low have our standards dropped?
No offense to you Phil. I'm angry at our F1 "overlords" here, not you, for making us eat the crumbs off their table and making us less.

[komninosm]

Ps: big respect for Ferrari for not swapping places.

Once it was obvious that the title was gone, Vettel wouldn't have wanted to swap places I think. Why be on the podium in front of the crowds when all you really want to do is be somewhere quiet with your thoughts?

The swap would only have happened if Vettel had a realistic chance.

I absolutely agree. But thinking like a chess player, i would have swapped them just to put that little bit more pressure on Mercedes. Pressure in the sense, a potential Max failure would immediately reward Seb to 2nd place, although i think with Hamilton in 9th, it wouldnt have mattered.

Anyway, what i really like about Ferrari not swapping is because these things belittle the drivers achievement. It wouldnt be necessary and i think some of the (perceived) team orders this year just get fans more emotional and angered.

In that sense, i am really happy that Hamilton/Mercedes gave back that position to Bottas at hungary this year. It just feels right and i am glad it was done, even if at the time, i was more in favor of not (because of the gap).

Your argument is not logical, sorry. If Max's car died, even on the last lap, Ferrari still could have RAI wait 15 seconds or so for Vettel to pass him then.

[turbof1]

Alright, I understand people are upset about the incidents. However, this is not a hatred release zone. A bit of composure and decency is expected, and certainly the ability to control emotions.

Posts not conforming will be removed, insistence on spewing hatred will be answered with warnings.

For the record, criticsm and discussion are all allowed, but with respect as a requirement.