2021 French Grand Prix - Le Castellet, June 18 - 20

[ringo]

Merc had the faster race car and they just threw it away on strategy.

Simple as that.

Faster?

Hmm, doesn't seem like it, seems like it's very close. The car difference is so small that it all comes down to the human element.

Human element? nope. Max fluffed the first lap, and was making errors in the corners with lewis following him.
Strategy did it for redbull today. Not so much driving. All top 4 drivers drove very well today.

[Hoffman900]

Merc had the faster race car and they just threw it away on strategy.

Simple as that.

Faster?

Hmm, doesn't seem like it, seems like it's very close. The car difference is so small that it all comes down to the human element.

The RedBull looks markedly faster and more composed than the Mercedes.

They’re close, but I think roles are reversed in terms of drive ability.

We know you’ll twist it to see fit though

[Restomaniac]

I disagree. They did not havd the fastest car at all. Perez pace and Max's pace says otherwise. Max mad a mistake and Lewis was just Lewis. He knows how to hunt down a leading car. I would say the Redbull was ever so slightly faster and the strategy made the difference.

You mean pace on far younger tyres?

Mercedes 1 stop would have worked fine if the were the faster car.

Yeah having the ‘faster’ car means you can just ignore tyre deg.

[Artur Craft]

Did Pirelli claim that a 1 stop was the ideal/fastest strategy?

If so, it´s just further evidence that Pirelli is the biggest farce in F1. Red Bull shown them up(Pirelli) pretty badly with that strategy. Mercedes was clearly faster than Max, both LH and VB, and Perez was nowhere. On equal conditions, ie, same tyre life, Mercedes was very notably quicker and Mercedes only lost because they fell for Pirelli´s "prediction/estimate".

If I were a LH/Mercedes fan, instead of blaming the team for doing a 1 stopper_ and thus losing the race, despite having a faster car_ I would solely blame Pirelli for the poor job they provide. But, actually, if I were a LH fan, I could not blame Pirelli either because it´s only due to Pirelli that Max didn´t open a massive lead on Baku

It´s so sad that F1 is stuck with this company.

I know lot´s of people love to defend Pirelli saying things like: "they have the capability to do wonderful tyres but only do what they are asked for", but I(and a huge crowd) would really love to have another tyre company supplying tyres for F1

[Redragon]

Mercedes slaughtered on strategy. They had the faster car and threw that win away.... twice.

Oh and then not going for the fastest lap? Incredible incompetence from them.

I disagree. They did not havd the fastest car at all. Perez pace and Max's pace says otherwise. Max mad a mistake and Lewis was just Lewis. He knows how to hunt down a leading car. I would say the Redbull was ever so slightly faster and the strategy made the difference.

If merc had the faster car, the one stop strategy would have worked regardless of what redbull did.

Bottas wanted the two stops and Mercedes deny him to protect Hamilton. Consecuently Bottas lost podium. Also they didn't Bottas go for the fast lap which would have been 1 point less for Verstapen. Today Mercedes was clearly thinking on one driver not as a team. So Redbull was faster at some points but strategy today by Mercedes were too bad, even themselves recognise on radio to Hamilton at the end

[Just_a_fan]

I just don’t understand why they didn’t put Lewis on lap 43, he would have hunted max down no problem

It's not only they he was asked to stop but declined so.

Hamilton said if we're going to pit then we need to do it first.

Both drivers also said on the radio that they had said it would be a two stopper. Vowles said on the radio that it was a strategy call mistake and the loss was their fault.

[etusch]

I just don’t understand why they didn’t put Lewis on lap 43, he would have hunted max down no problem

It's not only they he was asked to stop but declined so.

Haha that would hurt

[Pany]

Yesss,finally.

Merc had the faster race car and they just threw it away on strategy.

Simple as that.

Faster?

Hmm, doesn't seem like it, seems like it's very close. The car difference is so small that it all comes down to the human element.

[Juzh]

Why didn't mercedes go for fastest lap with bottas? Only reasonable scenario is he would come out in lapped traffic and would have no space to actually go for it? They could only do it on second to last lap to prevent red bull's response with Perez..

[Sevach]

Mercedes did outsmart themselves on the first round of pitstops, should've pitted Hamilton following lap of Bottas, maybe Red Bull then places Max on the Sérgio strategy, but they would've been well protected.

The 2 stopper was tougher to work here, more time in the pitlane, and a roadblock team mate(utter incompentence from Bottas again).

[godlameroso]

Merc had the faster race car and they just threw it away on strategy.

Simple as that.

Faster?

Hmm, doesn't seem like it, seems like it's very close. The car difference is so small that it all comes down to the human element.

Human element? nope. Max fluffed the first lap, and was making errors in the corners with lewis following him.
Strategy did it for redbull today. Not so much driving. All top 4 drivers drove very well today.

The car isn't going to jump into the pits on its own Human element aka decisions humans take. Verstappen could have waited a lap or two more to jump on the mediums but it was the right call in the end.

[Spacepace]

I just don’t understand why they didn’t put Lewis on lap 43, he would have hunted max down no problem

It's not only they he was asked to stop but declined so.

Hamilton said if we're going to pit then we need to do it first.

Both drivers also said on the radio that they had said it would be a two stopper. Vowles said on the radio that it was a strategy call mistake and the loss was their fault.

I think but can't confirm that Hamilton was asked after Verstappen's second stop. But what you stated is all also true

[Hoffman900]

Did Pirelli claim that a 1 stop was the ideal/fastest strategy?

If so, it´s just further evidence that Pirelli is the biggest farce in F1. Red Bull shown them up(Pirelli) pretty badly with that strategy. Mercedes was clearly faster than Max, both LH and VB, and Perez was nowhere. On equal conditions, ie, same tyre life, Mercedes was very notably quicker and Mercedes only lost because they fell for Pirelli´s "prediction/estimate".

If I were a LH/Mercedes fan, instead of blaming the team for doing a 1 stopper_ and thus losing the race, despite having a faster car_ I would solely blame Pirelli for the poor job they provide. But, actually, if I were a LH fan, I could not blame Pirelli either because it´s only due to Pirelli that Max didn´t open a massive lead on Baku

It´s so sad that F1 is stuck with this company.

I know lot´s of people love to defend Pirelli saying things like: "they have the capability to do wonderful tyres but only do what they are asked for", but I(and a huge crowd) would really love to have another tyre company supplying tyres for F1

I think Merc is capable of deciding for themselves what the strategy should be, and do.

And I am not a Pirelli apologist by any means.

[Restomaniac]

Did Pirelli claim that a 1 stop was the ideal/fastest strategy?

If so, it´s just further evidence that Pirelli is the biggest farce in F1. Red Bull shown them up(Pirelli) pretty badly with that strategy. Mercedes was clearly faster than Max, both LH and VB, and Perez was nowhere. On equal conditions, ie, same tyre life, Mercedes was very notably quicker and Mercedes only lost because they fell for Pirelli´s "prediction/estimate".

If I were a LH/Mercedes fan, instead of blaming the team for doing a 1 stopper_ and thus losing the race, despite having a faster car_ I would solely blame Pirelli for the poor job they provide. But, actually, if I were a LH fan, I could not blame Pirelli either because it´s only due to Pirelli that Max didn´t open a massive lead on Baku

It´s so sad that F1 is stuck with this company.

I know lot´s of people love to defend Pirelli saying things like: "they have the capability to do wonderful tyres but only do what they are asked for", but I(and a uge crowd) would really love to have another tyre company supplying tyres for F1

That argument works right until they bring in Bottas. You protect your lead driver not leave him open to an undercut.

[nzjrs]

Why didn't mercedes go for fastest lap with bottas? Only reasonable scenario is he would come out in lapped traffic and would have no space to actually go for it? They could only do it on second to last lap to prevent red bull's response with Perez..

I think they were trying to stay within 5s of Perez in case he gets a penalty for the Bottas overtake off-track moment.