2021 Italian Grand Prix - Monza, Sep 10 - 12

[Ryar]

Not sure if anyone posted the FP2 times. Long runs show RedBull to be ahead of Mercedes.

[matt_b]

Still think Mercedes were dumb to take the engine penalty here, they've basically conceded pole and the win to their main rival, fair enough if that engine is finished but if it could've done the race then it is the wrong decision.

Then again there could be carnage between the McLarens and Max and end up being a genius decision.

All will be revealed tomorrow.

[PlatinumZealot]

Mistakes have gallored this year from Lewis. Past 7 years, even when there were massive blunders, a Mercedes would sleep walk the entire field to finish second at a minimum. What was missing was competition and pressure, which forces so many errors on a driver that we are witnessing now. Imagine George next to Lewis next year and if there are more than 2 teams with level performance.

Excatly. Lot of pro journalist (ofc not British ones) pointed that Hamilton is super fast and super consistent as long... as he has no opponent. And from 2016 he hadn't. This year - a lot of mistakes, not only from Lewis but Mercedes overall. Coincidence? No. It's RBR and Max.

Ungrateful lot of you. Haha. You have a driver in the sport for over fourteen years and you expect him to be perfection year in year out? Something's gotta give. It would be a sad day in any sport if an old scruffy dog driver just dominates till the end of time. You gotta take the little blips and slip ups but most importantly appreciate the moments of brilliance with the older drivers. I don't understand how It's always taking digs at driver A because he drives against driver B. Its a big mystery why these swipes need to be taken? There is no enjoyment in it.
Enjoy and appreciate the little nuances on both. Enjoy the sport a bit muchachos!

[Ryar]

Still think Mercedes were dumb to take the engine penalty here, they've basically conceded pole and the win to their main rival, fair enough if that engine is finished but if it could've done the race then it is the wrong decision.

Then again there could be carnage between the McLarens and Max and end up being a genius decision.

All will be revealed tomorrow.

That's the only way Mercedes has a chance this year it seems. Not because they have the better package of driver, car and the strategy.

[basti313]

Still think Mercedes were dumb to take the engine penalty here, they've basically conceded pole and the win to their main rival, fair enough if that engine is finished but if it could've done the race then it is the wrong decision.

Then again there could be carnage between the McLarens and Max and end up being a genius decision.

All will be revealed tomorrow.

I think the timing was a big error in the end. I think they just wanted to post it before Max could take it but they should have known a bit their issues with overtaking...
They should have waited until the Sprint was over and do it right away to be still ahead of RB. Then they could have canceled it. No reason to do the swap that early.

[Gillian]

Mistakes have gallored this year from Lewis. Past 7 years, even when there were massive blunders, a Mercedes would sleep walk the entire field to finish second at a minimum. What was missing was competition and pressure, which forces so many errors on a driver that we are witnessing now. Imagine George next to Lewis next year and if there are more than 2 teams with level performance.

Excatly. Lot of pro journalist (ofc not British ones) pointed that Hamilton is super fast and super consistent as long... as he has no opponent. And from 2016 he hadn't. This year - a lot of mistakes, not only from Lewis but Mercedes overall. Coincidence? No. It's RBR and Max.

Ungrateful lot of you. Haha. You have a driver in the sport for over fourteen years and you expect him to be perfection year in year out? Something's gotta give. It would be a sad day in any sport if an old scruffy dog driver just dominates till the end of time. You gotta take the little blips and slip ups but most importantly appreciate the moments of brilliance with the older drivers. I don't understand how It's always taking digs at driver A because he drives against driver B. Its a big mystery why these swipes need to be taken? There is no enjoyment in it.
Enjoy and appreciate the little nuances on both. Enjoy the sport a bit muchachos!

There is no use in debating it. When I see posts like that I often wonder wether the poster actually believes his own words... Hamilton has had great years, 2017 and 2018 where great imo, not many faults.

I think he is making more mistakes this year because of Verstappen having a competitive car and he still has the desire to win more. Verstappen is better this year than Hamilton but that does not take away to what a fantastic driver Hamilton is.

[Schuttelberg]

So now Mercedes is to blame for changing the PU on Bottas' car because Hamilton couldn't win today's sprint? Jeez.

He has the car to win tomorrow. It seems more like Lewis' fans not being able to accept that he can have off days and they're not to blame completely for it. The person they are fans of continuously deflects blame and never seems to accept he messed it up.

To say Red Bull have a massive pace advantage this weekend is ludicrous. It's like saying Mercedes had a fair chance at Zandvoort!

[Gillian]

Mercedes has a few tenths of pace on Red Bull. Overtaking just is not as easy (as expected).

[Scorpaguy]

"MISTAKES"...may be a bit strong a term when discussing actions in which there are literally thousands of variables. Racing has always included a bit of "luck" in regards to time, position and surroundings. I tend to always hate the hotshoe on the best team, and Ham is no exception. Still, I would rate Ham as one of the most mistake free drivers on the grid, especially in the V6TurbHyb era. If we raced on paper, Max wins tomorrow. But we do not race on paper, that is why Gas won last year. Anything can and does happen (remember, Maz is on the grid)...starting from 4th is hardly the end of the world for a Ham in a Merc. Anyone willing to "bet the farm" on Max tomorrow could end up homeless.

[TimW]

Not sure if anyone posted the FP2 times. Long runs show RedBull to be ahead of Mercedes.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E_ADRJrXIAA ... ame=medium

It's just that Merc's first stints were on high fuel, otherwise the 2 second gain on the second stint makes no sense.

[Unf]

I think he is making more mistakes this year because of Verstappen having a competitive car and he still has the desire to win more.

And this is excatly the same what I and Ryar said, so don't know why you are trying to bother me.

[LHamilton]

Not sure if anyone posted the FP2 times. Long runs show RedBull to be ahead of Mercedes.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E_ADRJrXIAA ... ame=medium

Nice. Since you know that you can also give me their fuel load while your at it? Because there is noway for you to be sure of the Red Bulls being ahead unless you know fuel loads.

[Gillian]

I think he is making more mistakes this year because of Verstappen having a competitive car and he still has the desire to win more.

And this is excatly the same what I and Ryar said, so don't know why you are trying to bother me.

I don't understand what you mean? Why am I bothering you? You raise a point and I respond? You literally said this:

Excatly. Lot of pro journalist (ofc not British ones) pointed that Hamilton is super fast and super consistent as long... as he has no opponent. And from 2016 he hadn't. This year - a lot of mistakes, not only from Lewis but Mercedes overall. Coincidence? No. It's RBR and Max.

He had an opponent in 2017 and 2018, Vettel in the Ferrari. I just think Hamilton has never feared (I am not native english, not sure about a better word) Vettel the way he does Verstappen. This is then not about having an actual opponent, but more so who he perceives as an opponent.

I find the difference in perspective on the matter important because it then is no longer about how much competition Hamilton has had in the years, but about his mental resillience. I think he had a lot competition (sure 2014 - 2016 not a lot, let's be honest.. but he is been on the grid for longer than that), but he is his own worst enemy at times.

[dans79]

I think he is making more mistakes this year because of Verstappen having a competitive car and he still has the desire to win more.

And this is excatly the same what I and Ryar said, so don't know why you are trying to bother me.

Because some of you say it every single chance you get, It's annoying.......

[basti313]

What do you think about strategy?

McL today won the sprint at the start with the Soft. That was massive. But I think they need to cover Ferrari with Medium.
If I would be Merc I would start on Soft. Furthermore I guess Toto will have a word with Zak, they were allowed to play today, tomorrow is money down.

So the big question is if Max will start on Medium or Soft.