2018 Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring, 27-29 July

[cooken]

So Cooken. Why don't you blow Bottas horn too? I have read many times that Bottas is not as good as Rosberg, but the same guys saying Rosberg was not good in the rain.

Hamilton had one guy to beat. Well done to him.

Woah...umm... all I said was that some driver ability was involved to counter the assertion that "ability counts for nothing". I did not blow any horns, but if you're asking if Bottas getting 2nd involved some ability in the wet, then the answer is also yes.
Not sure why all of a sudden you want to involve a Bottas vs Rosberg comparison.

[bonjon1979]

Am I correct in saying tyre selections will only be revealed seconds before the formation laps? Will only add to the audience and excitement if so and the race start should be monumental. Should be a nice tense race.

Correct. Brand new sets as well. Track position is king here. Merc need to keep both Ferrari’s behind so surely need to go ultra soft, formation fly into turn one to block Ferrari off. At least one Ferrari will be up to p2 tho I should imagine

[LM10]

Why do people even talk as if driver skills are only being shown in wet conditions?

Because every tom, dick and harry can win in dry, including a Maldonado. When it rains, the same mortals end up in barriers and it's easy to know throughout the modern history, who have consistently won in wet conditions. The Senna, The Schumacher and The Hamilton. It's that simple.

What an extremely arrogant way to write. And on the top, it's ignorant.

"Because every tom, dick and harry can win in dry,.." - So then I guess Hamilton wasn't one of the toms, dicks and harrys when he was lacking performance and couldn't manage to control his car in FP1-FP3 compared to his team mate? Just a little example.

[GPR-A duplicate2]

I think thr weather will be really hot tomorrow; so my guess is Mercedes may be cautious about putting US and then being forced to pit early and potentially into traffic.

Going by the past 2 GPs, it has been Mercedes who have managed to get best pace in hot conditions, while Ferrari and Red Bull have shown a lot of blistering on the tires. So from that perspective, it might not harm to start on US and maintain the pace at the front. With the kind of potential starts that Ferrari can get, it would be risky for Mercedes to start on Softs, that require much longer to get into the zone than US.

Given the nature of the track (like Monaco) it would make sense to retain a 1-2 into the first corner, then try to bunch up the field as much so that none of the Ferraris can pit (as it would put them into traffic). By doing that, they could retain performance in the tire towards the end of the stint. Being in the lead also means you are the first to get a free space to pit. I think the Soft tire may be the less risky option, then go to the mediums later in the stint.

Or indeed a US-S race to make sure you are not vulnerable at the start.

While it would be a good idea to bunch up, but hungary almost always provides SC and there is a good opportunity to play a gamble too.

[Spoutnik]

I wonder if Mercedes will put Softs on their car for the starts tomorrow. With a 1-2, they may be able to block the Ferraris, even if they start on the USs.

I strongly believe, it's about who comes ahead after first pit stop. So, no points for running longer on this track on the first stint. Make a stop as soon as there is a possibility, bolt the hard(est) tire possible for the car and go all the way to the end.

Does anyone have the available tires for the race? I suppose all have a set of new Mediums available?

I think thr weather will be really hot tomorrow; so my guess is Mercedes may be cautious about putting US and then being forced to pit early and potentially into traffic.

Given the nature of the track (like Monaco) it would make sense to retain a 1-2 into the first corner, then try to bunch up the field as much so that none of the Ferraris can pit (as it would put them into traffic). By doing that, they could retain performance in the tire towards the end of the stint. Being in the lead also means you are the first to get a free space to pit. I think the Soft tire may be the less risky option, then go to the mediums later in the stint.

Or indeed a US-S race to make sure you are not vulnerable at the start.

Wouldn't surprise me if the teams goes for differents strategies for each driver.
Hamilton and Vettel = US as they need a very good start, and track position
Raikko and Bottas = S as their pace on long run was very good and they need to protect their teamates. They'll play the long game

[bonjon1979]

Ferrari was simply slower in these conditions. It has nothing to do with LH's abilities. Otherwise Bottas would've been 8th or so.

77 poles. A win in every season. Just embrace the fact you’re watching something very special!

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Why do people even talk as if driver skills are only being shown in wet conditions?

Because every tom, dick and harry can win in dry, including a Maldonado. When it rains, the same mortals end up in barriers and it's easy to know throughout the modern history, who have consistently won in wet conditions. The Senna, The Schumacher and The Hamilton. It's that simple.

What an extremely arrogant way to write. And on the top, it's ignorant.

"Because every tom, dick and harry can win in dry,.." - So then I guess Hamilton wasn't one of the toms, dicks and harrys when he was lacking performance and couldn't manage to control his car in FP1-FP3 compared to his team mate? Just a little example.

Are there points for FP1s and FP3s. Why not talk about most poles and wins? How many toms, dicks and harrys have that?

[godlameroso]

Red Bull drivers in a competition with axes? Prequel to them having an axe to grind next year?

[JonoNic]

So Cooken. Why don't you blow Bottas horn too? I have read many times that Bottas is not as good as Rosberg, but the same guys saying Rosberg was not good in the rain.

Hamilton had one guy to beat. Well done to him.

Woah...umm... all I said was that some driver ability was involved to counter the assertion that "ability counts for nothing". I did not blow any horns, but if you're asking if Bottas getting 2nd involved some ability in the wet, then the answer is also yes.
Not sure why all of a sudden you want to involve a Bottas vs Rosberg comparison.

All I'm saying is that Bottas doing well shows that the Mercedes is very good in the rain. It's not all Hamilton as you were alluding earlier.

[siskue2005]

Ferrari was simply slower in these conditions. It has nothing to do with LH's abilities. Otherwise Bottas would've been 8th or so.

77 poles. A win in every season. Just embrace the fact you’re watching something very special!

The guy is clearly troll baiting ..... but if we respond then we will be accused of troll baiting....so just don't respond

[digitalrurouni]

So what I don't understand is - hot temps the Mercs are overheating their tires? because they put more energy in to them than Ferrari does. But what EXACTLY does that even mean? It's not a matter of weight right? I mean Mercedes wouldn't want the car to be heavy like a Nissan GT-R cause that would be detrimental to the car's overall performance so weight is not the reason why the Merc drives the tires hard. Is it suspension setup? As in much more stiffer in general because they don't run the rake like Ferrari and Red Bull do? Less downforce overall so they have to have more camber? I am trying to understand here. What do you guys think is the reason?

[Restomaniac]

Ferrari was simply slower in these conditions. It has nothing to do with LH's abilities. Otherwise Bottas would've been 8th or so.

77 poles. A win in every season. Just embrace the fact you’re watching something very special!

Hamilton is the kind of talent some only notice when they are gone.

He is setting records that will probably stand for decades.

Can his lifestyle be questionable?Absolutely.

Does he have a talent you cannot teach? Absolutely.

I’m watching his natural talent for what it is. Because in the blink of an eye he’ll be retired leaving a huge hole the likes of some of the greats have done in the past. Then we will all reminisce about how great he WAS.

[RZS10]

Red Bull is essentially the McLaren of the top teams ...

[Shakeman]

What an extremely arrogant way to write. And on the top, it's ignorant.

"Because every tom, dick and harry can win in dry,.." - So then I guess Hamilton wasn't one of the toms, dicks and harrys when he was lacking performance and couldn't manage to control his car in FP1-FP3 compared to his team mate? Just a little example.

No mate, he comprehensively demolished your argument with facts and you didn't like it, it wasn't arrogant or ignorant.

However, it is ignorant to suggest spins in free practice session mean anything other than the driver trying to find the limit. I remember Schumacher in his pomp spinning in countless FP sessions as he was finding the limit, come the race he pissed off into the distance, so your point?

[TAG]

All I'm saying is that Bottas doing well shows that the Mercedes is very good in the rain. It's not all Hamilton as you were alluding earlier.

Bottas has always been good in the wet, he put a Williams P3 in Canada 2013. Who was on pole, Vettel at the height of the Red Bull domination with their blown overrun diffuser. P2 was Hamilton.

So what does this say? A great car will compliment a mediocre wet driver but only a great wet driver will excel in a mediocre car.