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

[Schuttelberg]

I am devious like that! I apologise and welcome also Hammy to the club! May I try (as I am so devious already anyway) to probe for your opinion on Hamilton asking about it on the radio to his engineer as well?

He said it in exactly the same words on sky, no coincedence I would think:

https://youtu.be/jycoFd_AxRs

Of course he is not saying anything outright, just implying, he is in F1 longer then today but If I am devious just, then how do you explain what Hamilton means here?

Well, I didn't like the radio message at all. Personally, I never take radio messages seriously. It's all heat in the moment stuff. Also, Vettel is not like Schumacher. Schumacher's actions were cold, calculated and grey. Vettel is not going to go down that route but he's a hot head and he can do a Baku again.

On the interview side? Well, Lewis is a great driver so I don't let some of the shades of his personality cloud my judgement. At least I try not to let it. However, I've always felt that LH has a desperation of victimhood. He loves to portray that the whole world is against him, 'still he rises.' The reality is far from it.

Also, as a fan I'm so down with the loss of the title so I can imagine the feelings of Seb. More than Lewis, the constant low blows by a certain Alonso just lacks class and dignity.

Fair enough, from your viewpoint that is actually a defendable standpoint. I think Lewis thought it was on purpose (me too I have to admit). I think all drivers are constantly in a battle of ego's. Actually off track Seb is usually (always?) very, very classy. It is just that on track he does sometimes seem to get too hot. It is hurting him the most. I personally have the same, Lets call it passion, when I am sporting. It sometimes helps you but it can also work against you, and others.

Listen, next year Seb will have the chance again, but for his own sake he must remain more composed, don't let baku happen again. I am a Max fan und should he also be in the mix I actually fear for his passion as well. Well 2 more races where only victory is at stake and then on to next year!

Class post! I'm quite okay with LH winning. The guy's journey is truly inspiring and he deserves it. I like he mentioned his family. His dad, as obnoxious as he was in the paddock is an absolute rockstar. The dude did 3/4 jobs to get his son to where he's at. I think we tend to forget all of that in the razzmatazz.

As for the Baku episode? I thought Seb would learn after 16, but he hasn't. I'm his fan and I have no qualms in admitting he absolutely needs a crash course on anger management. But, having said everything, he's not a bookkeeper. He's a racing driver, a heck of a racing driver at that and I love him for all his mistakes as I do for his brilliance.

[Vettelswonmeover]

Just my opinion but I think that Alonso was classless in saying that "Its odd seeing Vettel 4 and Hamilton 3 in WDCs". This year was one of the more exciting years in the championship in recent memory. I would have been happier if the championship had gone to the last race like most people here. But Ferrari shot themselves in the foot. In fact, they ran out of feet to shoot themselves in. Singapore and Japan being the standouts. But Lewis has been different this year. I was a fan and maybe still am but I have lost a little respect for him this season. Till last season he was classy but this year he has become a bit arrogant. The one thing which stood out were his comments on the Monza podium. Yes the Italian fans booed him out of the building but you don't tell Italians on their face that Merc power was always better than Ferrari power especially in Italy. Rosberg, Montoya, Alonso and Vettel were also booed at several points in their careers but never said such things to home GP fans. Yes Vettel is a hot head and this weakness has been exposed but I prefer that natural demeanor vs the false diplomacy at Merc. Ferrari and Merc both used team orders but only Merc denied using them

Anyway, I had expected to him to win the WDC this year and Congratulations to him but Ferrari and Vettel made a fight out of it at the very least. Max Verstappen has been aggressive and hard sometimes but he has been unfairly vilified.

Kimi and Bottas have struggled vs their team mates this year. Bottas has track specific weaknesses and Kimi was poor overall and was sacrificed by Ferrari. If we need more action, we need more equal teammates. I would love to see Hamilton and Ocon at Merc, Vettel and Dani Ric at Ferrari, Max and Sainz at Red Bull and so on.

Next year is looking up. If Ferrari, Merc, RB and McLaren can make cars on par in performance and in accordance with the preferences of their lead drivers (Vettel, Hamilton, Max/Dani and Alonso) , then an explosive championship awaits.

[Sieper]

Vettel for sure is a true racer, without him the F1 would be so much less interesting. Lewis his personality has so many aspects, truely intriguing. Alonso can blurt out a lot, but he also is a wicked racer! Next year could be real great (or If the merc engine is indeed that much better again, not so much!) but then we will be #blessed very often again. LH certainly a master of the track and indeed deserved his fourth title as well.

[Phil]

The sport would be boring without Hamilton, Max, Seb and Alonso. To me, these 4 are what make the sport what it is. Sure, sooner or later, someone will rise up and take their place, but for now, these 4 are the true heroes that stand out. Love Hamilton for his aggressive driving and race craft, Max for his arrogance and incredible speed and Seb for some of his hot-hotheadedness (this year) but beyond that, he put in some stunning performances on more than a few occasions this year as well. Seb was also mesmerizing in 2011-2013 and I'll admit that as someone who supported Mark. Alonso, well, his fight on track against Hamilton just showed why.

[Vasconia]

It is worth remembering that, Red Bull is getting a new PU almost every race! A modified, slightly more powerful one every time, though extremely unreliable. Whereas, Mercedes got their last and latest Spec in Spa! That was 6 races ago (Mexico was 7th) !!!. For sure, they are not using the latest spec PU everywhere and might as well be using Spec 2 and 3 in some races and two more races to go. So, it's not a rocket science to understand that the Renault PU is helping come closer to Mercedes and Ferrari with this situation. While both leading drivers of Merc and Ferrari have to conserve their PU as much as they can in races, RB need not have to worry about it. They can go bonkers as they have nothing to lose. With the monkey off the back, we might see Merc and Ferrari go full monty in the next two races. No holds barred. Just the sheer display of the arsenal!

I am sure, neither Mercedes, nor Ferrari have stood still on the PU development part and I wouldn't be surprised if next season, we would be back to square on power terms and RB might still become a decent third. As much as I would like to see THE TOP FOUR TEAMS, including McLaren fight for the championship next year, it might still be between Merc and Ferrari.

Fernando for champion next year and 2019. Then all three FOUR TIME CHAMPIONS retire! Yes. Yes. Yes.

Good info, thanks for it. It will be interesting to see if this 100% true and Red Bull are clearly behind again. On the other hand, this updates could help Renault to have a truly competitive(finally) PU next season.

Not a fan of Alonso but it would be really really unfair if he retires with only two championships. At least he deserves to win one more.

And we deserve to enjoy this battle against Lewis, Seb and Max, of course.

[Vasconia]

The sport would be boring without Hamilton, Max, Seb and Alonso. To me, these 4 are what make the sport what it is. Sure, sooner or later, someone will rise up and take their place, but for now, these 4 are the true heroes that stand out. Love Hamilton for his aggressive driving and race craft, Max for his arrogance and incredible speed and Seb for some of his hot-hotheadedness (this year) but beyond that, he put in some stunning performances on more than a few occasions this year as well. Seb was also mesmerizing in 2011-2013 and I'll admit that as someone who supported Mark. Alonso, well, his fight on track against Hamilton just showed why.

All have strong characters and a great amount of talent. Can we ask for more? well yes, competitive cars for all of them.

Back in 2010-2013 many people suggested that Seb was not a true race because he only won from the pole, and they doubted he could be a good overtaker. I guess those doubts should be gone long time ago.

[jz11]

I'm wondering when did it become OK to push the competitor (who is beside you on the track) out of the track on the corner exit, I mean, not caused by oversteer or anything, just drive into them thinking they'll cave in, VET on VER, VER on HAM at this race, and that isn't recent, it goes back at least a few years.

Did that start with the introduction of the "safe" run-off areas on tracks?

[kaepernickus]

The sport would be boring without Hamilton, Max, Seb and Alonso. To me, these 4 are what make the sport what it is.

i believe RIC derserves to be there as well.
Beat Vettel at Red Bull, pushes an exceptional talent like Verstappen to the max and also offers lots of raw pace (Monaco anuone?).

... not to forget he delivers all that being a nice chap who's always in a good mood.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

On to the last line of your post- I don't know if you loathe Seb and Ferrari or you're just not that into him. I don't know. But your avatar is of someone who drew me to the sport. He's my childhood hero and for me, he's my hero for life. I felt some connect between him and Seb from the first day and then with their character being similar I became a Vettel fan- If he doesn't get a title at Ferrari.. I will be devastated. I feel it will be the right homage to his hero and the memory at Fiorano. Not even a title at Mercedes or anywhere else.. It has to be in red.

Don't get me wrong buddy. I do like Vettel, other than Lewis and Fernando. He is a great chap and I understand your feelings about him to be a Ferrari Champion. Ferrari champions should be EXTRA-ORDINARY and the only NON EXTRA-ORDINARY Ferrari champion is Kimi, I don't like that fact, but he is. Ironically, my joy knew no bounds at the end of 2007, when I saw Kimi win for Ferrari. Why not, I have been a staunch supporter of Ferrari, purely because of MS driving for them and followed Ferrari for a while, until a point where I realized it isn't worth shedding tears for the mediocrity that runs in the Maranello DNA. I simply like excellence, whether it was from MS, Rory-Brawn-Todt (never watched Ayrton race live on TV and haven't really followed him that much) OR from Fernando, Lewis, Newey, Vettel, Mercedes, Verstappen. I enjoy the genuis creators of F1 and the skillful drivers.

As much as you think Vettel should win with Ferrari, I guess I had unimaginable hope to see Fernando win for Ferrari. Well, that didn't happen. I wouldn't be longing to see Vettel winning it for Ferrari, but when it happens, I would rejoice it. Regardless of good, bad or ugly that people think of Alonso, for me he is a pure joy to watch while driving and I would always wish to see him win more championships.

[TwanV]

I'm wondering when did it become OK to push the competitor (who is beside you on the track) out of the track on the corner exit, I mean, not caused by oversteer or anything, just drive into them thinking they'll cave in, VET on VER, VER on HAM at this race, and that isn't recent, it goes back at least a few years.

Did that start with the introduction of the "safe" run-off areas on tracks?

Not sure what you're referring to? HAM took the outside line smartly in the second corner, but VER was well in front when VET lost control and hit both cars on the right-rear.

[santos]

Well done for Lewis. He deserved to win the champinoship. Loved to see in the end when Seb was talking to the press, and Hamilton came and they gave a hug. Yesterday made me realise that probably the "haters" of Seb, or Hamilton, or even Max... they don't hate the driver. They hate their fans. At least it was the feeling that i had when i saw people sugesting that Vettel crashed into Hamilton deliberately...

[Schuttelberg]

On to the last line of your post- I don't know if you loathe Seb and Ferrari or you're just not that into him. I don't know. But your avatar is of someone who drew me to the sport. He's my childhood hero and for me, he's my hero for life. I felt some connect between him and Seb from the first day and then with their character being similar I became a Vettel fan- If he doesn't get a title at Ferrari.. I will be devastated. I feel it will be the right homage to his hero and the memory at Fiorano. Not even a title at Mercedes or anywhere else.. It has to be in red.

Don't get me wrong buddy. I do like Vettel, other than Lewis and Fernando. He is a great chap and I understand your feelings about him to be a Ferrari Champion. Ferrari champions should be EXTRA-ORDINARY and the only NON EXTRA-ORDINARY Ferrari champion is Kimi, I don't like that fact, but he is. Ironically, my joy knew no bounds at the end of 2007, when I saw Kimi win for Ferrari. Why not, I have been a staunch supporter of Ferrari, purely because of MS driving for them and followed Ferrari for a while, until a point where I realized it isn't worth shedding tears for the mediocrity that runs in the Maranello DNA. I simply like excellence, whether it was from MS, Rory-Brawn-Todt (never watched Ayrton race live on TV and haven't really followed him that much) OR from Fernando, Lewis, Newey, Vettel, Mercedes, Verstappen. I enjoy the genuis creators of F1 and the skillful drivers.

As much as you think Vettel should win with Ferrari, I guess I had unimaginable hope to see Fernando win for Ferrari. Well, that didn't happen. I wouldn't be longing to see Vettel winning it for Ferrari, but when it happens, I would rejoice it. Regardless of good, bad or ugly that people think of Alonso, for me he is a pure joy to watch while driving and I would always wish to see him win more championships.

Can't help but agree with everything!

[Shakeman]

Imagine for one moment if Lewis had not defied conventional thinking and stayed with McLaren it would be very likely be Rosberg being hailed as a 4 time champion right now.

These margins of success/failure are so fine but all credit to HAM, he backed himself when most of motorsport questioned the decision and is now rightfully judged as one of the finest drivers in F1 history.

I'd love to see him equal if not beat Schumacher's record now in the coming years if Merc can give him the car and who would bet against him?

[Schuttelberg]

Imagine for one moment if Lewis had not defied conventional thinking and stayed with McLaren it would be very likely be Rosberg being hailed as a 4 time champion right now.

These margins of success/failure are so fine but all credit to HAM, he backed himself when most of motorsport questioned the decision and is now rightfully judged as one of the finest drivers in F1 history.

I'd love to see him equal if not beat Schumacher's record now in the coming years if Merc can give him the car and who would bet against him?

He can do it. But what you're effectively saying is he needs to do double of what he already has. Those are the sort of achievements Michael has.

[JonoNic]

Imagine for one moment if Lewis had not defied conventional thinking and stayed with McLaren it would be very likely be Rosberg being hailed as a 4 time champion right now.

These margins of success/failure are so fine but all credit to HAM, he backed himself when most of motorsport questioned the decision and is now rightfully judged as one of the finest drivers in F1 history.

I'd love to see him equal if not beat Schumacher's record now in the coming years if Merc can give him the car and who would bet against him?

Rosberg a 4 time world champion would not have been likely. One of the big names would have jumped for the other seat either that season or the next. However, your comments make lots of sense.

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