2021 Italian Grand Prix - Monza, Sep 10 - 12

[Spacepace]

Just playing devil's advocate but could Merc have played some strategy call on start procedure to ensure Hamilton pass Bottas and it blowing up in there face. Just a thought

Lewis got a bad start. Looked like a combination of being on the dirty side plus just a bad start regardless. Lando got a good start behind Lewis on the dirty side, so it’s on Lewis mostly.

It also looks like the fresh engine in Bottas’ car just has a lot more dig.

Dirty side definitely part of it. I will say Mercedes hasn't been the best at starts particularly when they matter. But I know that won't change in that team as it has too many people to point the finger at so no one will be at fault. Mercedes looking like McLaren of the '00-'13

[NathanOlder]

Russell out qualified by Latifi !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha. Yes. The streak is broken. He was only 3 hundrths faster than Latifi yesterday too.

But it's not really qualifying is it ?

Unfortunatey this sprint --- is actually classed as qualifying.

[littlebigcat]

Hamilton is passed it...currently sitting 2nd in a Championship where Red Bull have the better car?

[MtthsMlw]

Not really sold on on SPRINT™ Qualifying yet, two standing starts per weekend is nice though.

[matt_b]

Bet Mercedes wished they started Lewis on the softs like they did with Bottas in the last sprint race, they have to take the engine penalty now because he ain't getting past Norris or Ric or max tomorrow but should be able to pass everyone else starting from the back. However knowing Mercedes and their questionable decisions they probably wont.

It would mean a pit lane start.

They might as well do it especially from what we saw last season.

[InsaneX_Badger]

Tbh, wish Lewis finished a few more positions down. As then it would be obvious for Merc to take the penalties and start from the pit lane, but starting from P4 it's the precarious position to maybe be in contention but still know it's really unlikely unless it's a repeat of Monza 2020.

[Spacepace]

Lewis is past it. That was a blunder. Absolute blunder. Now he will start 4th behind Max, Ricciardo & Norris. If he finishes even P2 or P3 behind Max, it will be a disaster. This was Mercedes' race & they have a car which is atleast 2 tenths quicker on race pace & atleast 3-4 tenths quicker on qualifying pace.

If Verstappen gets 25 to 18 for Hamilton & +2 for Sprint Race then Max gets 9 points for Monza when he should have been down 10 to 12. RB will be competitive in Mexico, Brazil, Saudi, Abu Dhabhi Turkey & possibly US. Mercedes have a decisive advantage in Monza & Sochi. LH should be getting 20 points over Max in these races. So in the next 7 races, if Max won say 4 & Lewis 3, then also Lewis had a good chance. This championship will be decided by under 15-20 points.

This was a super costly blunder & a disaster.

No Red Bull will be competitive at Sochi and Merc will be competitive at Turkey, Abu Dhabi and COTA

[Restomaniac]

Bet Mercedes wished they started Lewis on the softs like they did with Bottas in the last sprint race, they have to take the engine penalty now because he ain't getting past Norris or Ric or max tomorrow but should be able to pass everyone else starting from the back. However knowing Mercedes and their questionable decisions they probably wont.

It would mean a pit lane start.

They might as well do it especially from what we saw last season.

Possibly.

[Mr.S]

The Dirty Side thing is another BS excuse. Let us look @ other guys on the dirty side in the Top 10-

Norris - Atleast overtook LH
Gasly - Great start, only went out as he his front wing got damage but his start was great
Leclerc - Overtook Sainz from the dirty side
Gio - Overtook Perez from the dirty side

Almost everyone in the dirty side had a great start & gained places. Let us not start this thing. This was the 4th time LH lost out to Max in the start (it will be a disgrace if he wins after being beaten so many times)

[Mr.S]

Lewis is past it. That was a blunder. Absolute blunder. Now he will start 4th behind Max, Ricciardo & Norris. If he finishes even P2 or P3 behind Max, it will be a disaster. This was Mercedes' race & they have a car which is atleast 2 tenths quicker on race pace & atleast 3-4 tenths quicker on qualifying pace.

If Verstappen gets 25 to 18 for Hamilton & +2 for Sprint Race then Max gets 9 points for Monza when he should have been down 10 to 12. RB will be competitive in Mexico, Brazil, Saudi, Abu Dhabhi Turkey & possibly US. Mercedes have a decisive advantage in Monza & Sochi. LH should be getting 20 points over Max in these races. So in the next 7 races, if Max won say 4 & Lewis 3, then also Lewis had a good chance. This championship will be decided by under 15-20 points.

This was a super costly blunder & a disaster.

No Red Bull will be competitive at Sochi and Merc will be competitive at Turkey, Abu Dhabi and COTA

Mercedes & RB will be competitive everywhere. Sochi should be a Mercedes advantage easily, atleast on par with Monza. Anyways I could be wrong - But I would bet on Monza & Sochi as Mercedes' 2 best races in H2 !

[Schippke]

Sprint comments/views aside... I reckon Lewis/Mercedes will run long and try to over-cut the McLaren's if they cannot get past them on the track; Holy, they're quick on the straight! Looking at the race pace of Bottas and Max, a good chance Lewis could've gone at least equally as fast in clearer air.

Surprised the Ferrari's held their own there, though they did have an Alfa Romeo between themselves and Perez. Mind you, they'll most likely be alone as the 4th best team in the race, being a clean one...

[Spacepace]

The Dirty Side thing is another BS excuse. Let us look @ other guys on the dirty side in the Top 10-

Norris - Atleast overtook LH
Gasly - Great start, only went out as he his front wing got damage but his start was great
Leclerc - Overtook Sainz from the dirty side
Gio - Overtook Perez from the dirty side

Almost everyone in the dirty side had a great start & gained places. Let us not start this thing. This was the 4th time LH lost out to Max in the start (it will be a disgrace if he wins after being beaten so many times)

Yeah it looked like another typical Merc start to me not anything to do with dirty side

[langedweil]

Dirty side definitely part of it.

But Norris was behind Lewis .. on the same side. It was just a botched start, --- happens.
Insane the drs didn't do much (or at least enough) on the straights, McL is a more than decent car outhere. But then again, Ric was already around 15s behind Bot and Ves after 18laps.

[pantherxxx]

It will be an easy Verstappen win tomorrow. Hamilton will maybe get through the Mclarens through pit stops and that's it.

[Spacepace]

Lewis is past it. That was a blunder. Absolute blunder. Now he will start 4th behind Max, Ricciardo & Norris. If he finishes even P2 or P3 behind Max, it will be a disaster. This was Mercedes' race & they have a car which is atleast 2 tenths quicker on race pace & atleast 3-4 tenths quicker on qualifying pace.

If Verstappen gets 25 to 18 for Hamilton & +2 for Sprint Race then Max gets 9 points for Monza when he should have been down 10 to 12. RB will be competitive in Mexico, Brazil, Saudi, Abu Dhabhi Turkey & possibly US. Mercedes have a decisive advantage in Monza & Sochi. LH should be getting 20 points over Max in these races. So in the next 7 races, if Max won say 4 & Lewis 3, then also Lewis had a good chance. This championship will be decided by under 15-20 points.

This was a super costly blunder & a disaster.

No Red Bull will be competitive at Sochi and Merc will be competitive at Turkey, Abu Dhabi and COTA

Mercedes & RB will be competitive everywhere. Sochi should be a Mercedes advantage easily, atleast on par with Monza. Anyways I could be wrong - But I would bet on Monza & Sochi as Mercedes' 2 best races in H2 !

The reason Merc has a pace advantage over Red Bull is due to the kerb riding here. Merc is the class of the field in that department and Red Bull's front end is sprung too stiff which it needs for it's aero map. Sochi isn't about riding kerbs except 16&17