2021 British Grand Prix - Silverstone, July 16 - 18

[dans79]

Curiously, how did Mercedes suddenly became faster on the straight? Aren't they using the same PU? Someone should look into that. Were there any reliability updates?

It's called a lot less rear wing!

[TimW]

Aren't you allowed to change direction only once on the straight

Max was weaving when Hamilton was close by. That's a clear infringement.

I was wondering the same thing.

Ever since Masi has been the race director they have been really selective with which rules they follow. I mean, the guy has to explain his motives regarding something every single weekend.

Rules are being selectively picked to aid the forced excitement.

As for the sprint race. Boy, was it cringe. The whole thing is so incredibly forced. And then the interviews afterwards.

The sprint race has seriously taken away the joy that I would normally feel from a race weekend.

Weaving to break tow is allowed, weaving to block is not, and not under breaking.

[ringo]

We also get the knowledge that Verstappen does have the pace to keep Hamilton at bay, yay...

Very different variables tomorrow now though with full stints, and 2 Mercs against 1 RB.

1.4s isn’t a huge gap and both HAM and VER did a 29.9 on the last lap.

Maz was crusing on the last lap.
The team told him to slow down.
Redbull seem to be about 2 tenths or 3 quicker per lap in these conditions.

[ringo]

It was Sepang 2010 when Hamilton did that on Petrov and weaving on the straights got banned afterwards because of that! So how is it allowed in 2021??

he did not get banned and it was not only against Petrov. I remember many drivers complaining about it

btw, Alonso´s first lap was the only memorable thing about this whole thing. What a brilliant driver he still is

The rule was not clarrified at the team he was doing that. The clarification came after.

[Sevach]

What does it actually mean these days when drivers ask for more power during the race? What process is involved?

Engine maps are fixed so it changes battery deployment.

I guess Hamilton wanted to go from "stable" battery to a plan that gradually decreased it's level, it was just a few laps from the end after all.

Anyway, awkward to have a race that barely gives points and the winner doesn't feel like celebrating.
Any of the things that happened here would be better saved for sunday.

[ringo]

As fir the mercedes the upgrade has given them more downforce so they are now able to trim back the wings. The car js more efficient overall.
As for the race tomorrow. Hamilton can win on tyre deg and pressuring max into a mistake.
But its going to be tough. Max is driving very well and has the energy of youth on his side.
His reflexes are very good. No matter what Lewis wants to say, he cannot have the same spunk and energy as a 23 year old. He will just have to win on experience and skills and driving style for whatever its worth. Should bebinteresting tomorrow.
The race between Leclerc and Norris should he fun.

[Pany]

Big mistake from mercedes. After start and first 2 laps with verstappen clearly in front they did not make use of strategic advantage. They shoul have tried to send bottas with red tires in front to try all in for few laps and attack max. At least they had nothing to loose in trying it

[Mogster]

Aren't you allowed to change direction only once on the straight

Max was weaving when Hamilton was close by. That's a clear infringement.

I was wondering the same thing.

Ever since Masi has been the race director they have been really selective with which rules they follow. I mean, the guy has to explain his motives regarding something every single weekend.

Rules are being selectively picked to aid the forced excitement.

As for the sprint race. Boy, was it cringe. The whole thing is so incredibly forced. And then the interviews afterwards.

The sprint race has seriously taken away the joy that I would normally feel from a race weekend.

I was prepared to give it a go but the whole palaver feels unsatisfying. After the usual first lap hubbub I started to wish I was watching standard qualifying, Hamilton’s poor start and Alonso’s first lap antics were the only realinterest. Qualy on Friday evening just felt odd, almost meaningless.

As for the name FOM seem to be struggling with “stage one” and “stage two” seem ideal, like in NASCAR. I’m sure we’ll have “stage three” and even “stage four” when Liberty decide a couple of enforced red flags on a Sunday will make things so much more exciting…

[i70q7m7ghw]

Big mistake from mercedes. After start and first 2 laps with verstappen clearly in front they did not make use of strategic advantage. They shoul have tried to send bottas with red tires in front to try all in for few laps and attack max. At least they had nothing to loose in trying it

The red wall (softer) tyres were slower than the yellow wall tyres after a few laps. That's Pirelli's fault, unfortunately.

[Wouter]

[Pany]

Alonso with red tire di magic laps up to lap 11.

Big mistake from mercedes. After start and first 2 laps with verstappen clearly in front they did not make use of strategic advantage. They shoul have tried to send bottas with red tires in front to try all in for few laps and attack max. At least they had nothing to loose in trying it

The red wall (softer) tyres were slower than the yellow wall tyres after a few laps. That's Pirelli's fault, unfortunately.

[codetower]

If you really want to shake things up, forget the sprint race. Keep quali but with changes to the top 10. Once the top 10 is set, they would get reshuffled through a lottery, with the higher you qualify, the more lottery balls you get. You can even give points to the top 3 qualifying positions so teams still give it their all on Saturday. Now THAT would be wild. Some weeks you could see Lando on pole, Charles… heck even Russel would have a shot to start on pole.

[darkpino]

Big mistake from mercedes. After start and first 2 laps with verstappen clearly in front they did not make use of strategic advantage. They shoul have tried to send bottas with red tires in front to try all in for few laps and attack max. At least they had nothing to loose in trying it

The red wall (softer) tyres were slower than the yellow wall tyres after a few laps. That's Pirelli's fault, unfortunately.

I don’t understand how that is Pirelli’s fault. Softer tires always you degrade quicker than harder tires, seems obvious to me?

[Sieper]

What does it actually mean these days when drivers ask for more power during the race? What process is involved?

Engine maps are fixed so it changes battery deployment.

I guess Hamilton wanted to go from "stable" battery to a plan that gradually decreased it's level, it was just a few laps from the end after all.

Anyway, awkward to have a race that barely gives points and the winner doesn't feel like celebrating.
Any of the things that happened here would be better saved for sunday.

I know a lot of people here think of Max as arrogant. And I can sometimes see what they mean, but, I think he is a lot like his mother and I truly believe he was trying not to rub it in today. It isn’t very classy in someone else’s home.

[Sieper]

Aren't you allowed to change direction only once on the straight

Max was weaving when Hamilton was close by. That's a clear infringement.

I was wondering the same thing.

Ever since Masi has been the race director they have been really selective with which rules they follow. I mean, the guy has to explain his motives regarding something every single weekend.

Rules are being selectively picked to aid the forced excitement.

As for the sprint race. Boy, was it cringe. The whole thing is so incredibly forced. And then the interviews afterwards.

The sprint race has seriously taken away the joy that I would normally feel from a race weekend.

I was prepared to give it a go but the whole palaver feels unsatisfying. After the usual first lap hubbub I started to wish I was watching standard qualifying, Hamilton’s poor start and Alonso’s first lap antics were the only realinterest. Qualy on Friday evening just felt odd, almost meaningless.

As for the name FOM seem to be struggling with “stage one” and “stage two” seem ideal, like in NASCAR. I’m sure we’ll have “stage three” and even “stage four” when Liberty decide a couple of enforced red flags on a Sunday will make things so much more exciting…

Yeah, the biggest thing is that qualy is now not (to me) the gut wrenching excitement it was anymore. I am now more Kimi about it. There is also another aspect, for the midfield it is more fair. Everybody has equal chance to qualify where they qualify, and yes, they then still have to race for it and especially in the midfield a lot can happen, but then they all have the same tire, free choice. Otherwise nr 11 12 and 13 etc. Have an unfair advantage over 7 8 and 9 who have to be in slightly used tires that are less optimal compound usually.