2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah, Dec 03 - 05

[PlatinumZealot]

I don't care. That was an epic lap from Max!
He nearly lost it at turn 2, but the he was one with the car until that lock up. I think he maybe just braked one inch too late if that much! Awesome lap.

The Mercedes were very conservative on the curbs as usual. Good laps, but nowhere near as on the limit as Max was. He can pick himself up after this.

[aMessageToCharlie]

Damn, that was a hell of a lap until the shunt, lol. Not a mm of space left, but I guess that's what you get. Wonder how he gets his massive cojones into the cockpit.

Gearbox damage expected.

[zubster]

Oh man I am Lewis fan but that Max lap was looking so damn good! I really hope no gearbox issue, so its a straight fight

[JordanMugen]

He was near the walls on other occasions. He really didn't need to push that hard in the last corner.

Oh well, it was a maximum attack lap, pardon the pun!

Qualifying P2 with the chance to wedge the car into the first corner would've obviously been better, but oh well.

[adrianjordan]

Oh Max!! If only he'd backed out of it.

That's a broken drives haft at least, based on what we've seen before I'd be gobsmacked if that's not a gearbox. Wouldn't surprise me if they change it anyway - 5 place penalty is better than potential DNF (think LeClerc in Monaco - Ferrari could take the risk of course).

That would have been the lap of the season, let alone the weekend if he'd have completed it.

[politburo]

Is that Verstappen's Mark Webber Korea moment? It doesn't seem terribly clever for Verstappen to have hit the throttle too early, when he had already messed up that hairpin already.

Oh well, "that's motor racing."

Agree, took an unnecessary risk. This was his only chance, to start 1st. Ham race pace is insane man.

[Roo]

OMG MAX NOOO, HE WAS PULLING A LAP OF THE GODS THERE

I'm a Lewis fan through and through, but he was ragging that car by the neck and I hoped he stuck that lap as it looked on the ragged edge and magical. I really, really hope he doesn't have a gearbox penalty there.

It was a great lap from MV; doesn't that sum MV he's going for things that are just too far. He'll learn from this season.

[El Scorchio]

Holy s*** what an end to the session. Verstappen was flying until he binned it. I hope no serious damage done.

How much was he up ?

About .2 or .25 I think. It did look like a very special lap until the end.

[adrianjordan]

Just looking at the grid, only Norris and LeClerc would be an issue to get past for him to get back to 3rd if it does need a new box. You'd expect the Alphas and Perez to jump out of his way.

[Marty_Y]

103 baby!

[politburo]

Oh Max!! If only he'd backed out of it.

That's a broken drives haft at least, based on what we've seen before I'd be gobsmacked if that's not a gearbox. Wouldn't surprise me if they change it anyway - 5 place penalty is better than potential DNF (think LeClerc in Monaco - Ferrari could take the risk of course).

That would have been the lap of the season, let alone the weekend if he'd have completed it.

Broken rear suspension, broken steering, broken rear right driveshaft at least. Gearbox maybe not so much.

[max_speed]

Gutted.. gutted.. can not believe. He is almost crying. Lewis luck never dries out.

[adrianjordan]

Oh Max!! If only he'd backed out of it.

That's a broken drives haft at least, based on what we've seen before I'd be gobsmacked if that's not a gearbox. Wouldn't surprise me if they change it anyway - 5 place penalty is better than potential DNF (think LeClerc in Monaco - Ferrari could take the risk of course).

That would have been the lap of the season, let alone the weekend if he'd have completed it.

Broken rear suspension, broken steering, broken rear right driveshaft at least. Gearbox maybe not so much.

Hopefully. I think we all want to see a good clean straight fight without any more penalties getting in the way.

[Tizz]

Holy s*** what an end to the session. Verstappen was flying until he binned it. I hope no serious damage done.


About .2 or .25 I think. It did look like a very special lap until the end.

Well, I thought Hammi would lead Max by quite a margin with his new engine but the pace is there so it is going to be just as exciting tomorrow...

[politburo]

Just looking at the grid, only Norris and LeClerc would be an issue to get past for him to get back to 3rd if it does need a new box. You'd expect the Alphas and Perez to jump out of his way.

Gearbox not a risk not that hard an impact. But they'll assess. More importantly, what is Perez doing behind a Ferrari?. A slightly compromised Ferrari at that.