2018 German Grand Prix - Hockenheimring, July 20-22

[PlatinumZealot]

This is a different discussion, but the track to track comparison was already done. I was very relieved at times when Ferrari and Vettel tripped over themselves. This year, the self inflicted wounds are coming from the Mercedes side of the pit lane. So many strategy errors. Two clear wins given away.

Melbourne and?

France. VSC.

[Sierra117]

I've been out of it for some time but am I right in saying that the original track layout had a very narrow straight? Why'd they remove it? I remember it used to be a really exciting part of the track. Can't remember who but someone drove into the grass to overtake or something, it's that why they removed it?

[zibby43]

This is a different discussion, but the track to track comparison was already done. I was very relieved at times when Ferrari and Vettel tripped over themselves. This year, the self inflicted wounds are coming from the Mercedes side of the pit lane. So many strategy errors. Two clear wins given away.

Melbourne and?

France. VSC.

I'm confused? Hamilton won in France.

[FLuidd]

Looking back after the quali in Silverstone, I got that rare impression where although a car is in pole it doesnt feel like it is going to win.

I guess the fact that Kimi was under .100 from Hamilton added this to my feeling.

After the race in Silverstone I got the impression that Vettel will run with the WDC almost like in 2013.

On paper this track seems like it will be a slam dunk for Ferrari, i mean everything is there, the regular threaded tyres, that blend between power and corner ability and last but not least quali pace along with faster starts from the grid.

I see a Ferrari win and i think that before the summer break Vettel will have 30+ points on hamilton in the wdc.

[PlatinumZealot]

Melbourne and?

France. VSC.

I'm confused? Hamilton won in France.

My mistake. Not France.. The races have been a little unremarkable as you can tell. Was really refering to the race where James Vowles royally screwed up. It was the austrian GP i think. Yes. Had Hamilton pitted he would have cruised to the win without issue.

[dfegan358]

Hamilton retired in Austria due to mechanical fault. Do people forget that. He would not have won anyway even if he pitted under VSC

[falonso81]

People have short term memory. Hamilton had a mechanical DNF in Austria. They did not give up a win, their car broke down.

[zibby43]

France. VSC.

I'm confused? Hamilton won in France.

My mistake. Not France.. The races have been a little unremarkable as you can tell. Was really refering to the race where James Vowles royally screwed up. It was the austrian GP i think. Yes. Had Hamilton stayed out he would have cruised to the win without issue.

You are correct - that would've been Austria. Luckily for Vowles, the DNF masked the magnitude of that error.

[roon]

It was the austrian GP i think. Yes. Had Hamilton pitted he would have cruised to the win without issue.

Can't rule it out, but it seems unlikely that the pit stop timing would have caused a mechanical failure. Believe it was fuel system related.

[iotar__]

It was the austrian GP i think. Yes. Had Hamilton pitted he would have cruised to the win without issue.

Unless you can count to two, source: pitstop summary. He couldn't make tyres last and you're still whining about delayed pitstop on SS? We all know that other cars (Ferrari, RB) unlike Ham's Mercedes were fine in dirty air and had not problems with one-stoppers.

More on "he would have" category :
- Hamilton would have cruised to the win without issue in British GP had he not lost two positions at the start
- Bottas would have fininshed in front of him and not behind had Mercedes pitted him. They wrapped this nicely in "win attempt gone wrong" BS.

[AnotherAlex]

[...] I'm hoping for a dry weekend. Things are sufficiently unpredictable that we don't really need the lottery of a rain affected race. (I'm happy to eat my words if Hockenheim turns into a procession.)

[siskue2005]

Hamilton retired in Austria due to mechanical fault. Do people forget that. He would not have won anyway even if he pitted under VSC

the issue manifested when he stuck behind other cars...they could have managed the race while leading...which would have reduced the risk of any mechanical failures

[falonso81]

Hamilton retired in Austria due to mechanical fault. Do people forget that. He would not have won anyway even if he pitted under VSC

the issue manifested when he stuck behind other cars...they could have managed the race while leading...which would have reduced the risk of any mechanical failures

Could have, would have...again, you are speculating. Merc's tyres would never make it to the end. Even in free air, blistering would appear, just as in Max's car.

[Phil]

Could have, would have...again, you are speculating. Merc's tyres would never make it to the end. Even in free air, blistering would appear, just as in Max's car.

The blistering was a direct result of 'overheating the surface of the tire' - also due to pushing hard on them. Not pushing them hard would have prevented that blistering. It really isn't rocket science what happened.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Could have, would have...again, you are speculating. Merc's tyres would never make it to the end. Even in free air, blistering would appear, just as in Max's car.

The blistering was a direct result of 'overheating the surface of the tire' - also due to pushing hard on them. Not pushing them hard would have prevented that blistering. It really isn't rocket science what happened.

It indeed is, for some. Especially, when you lack awareness of the energy that is put into the tires while cornering at max possible speed (while chasing) and at lift and cruise speed (while comfortably leading in free air). I guess the premium of being on pole is not well understood.