2019 United States Grand Prix - Austin, 1-3 November

[ringo]

Awaiting comments from Sir Jackey Stewart and Jaques Villeneuve.

[zibby43]

Typical Verstappen. Being disrespectful without anything being confirmed whatsoever. He's the most disrespectful driver on the grid for a reason (in my opinion).

Disrespectful towards who he answers the question asked ?

. . . we still can't be 100% sure about the exact reason yet . . . but I think that we will need to wait until 2020 to see the definitive result of that directive.

Completely agree re: your first point. On the second, I think Brazil could give us the answer. Ferrari need to run at their maximum potential to understand what happened at COTA.

[zibby43]

Verstappen’s been taking shots at Hamilton all year. Now he’s unloading on the Scuderia.

He had another Ferrari quote today, as well:

https://twitter.com/kwebie/status/11911 ... 17216?s=21

He barely congratulated Hamilton on his title, whereas VET had the pure class to seek HAM out.

Bloody Max Verstappen. He can’t help saying exactly what he’s thinking.

Sometimes it gets him in trouble but sometimes it answers a question that few dare ask directly and a question that the FIA wanted to hide away. Thanks Max for lifting your head above the BS parapet and answering a question honestly.

Earlier this season, I thought Max was sort of starting to mature; not only with his racing, but how he carried himself off the track.

He's kind of reverted to v.1 Max the past 2 weekends (on and off the track).

Here's the full extent of his answer to questions about Ferrari's performance

Asked if it was strange Ferrari could not fight at the start, Verstappen replied: "Oh that’s not strange," before adding "well why do you think? You can fill it in yourself" when invited to explain his reply.

Informed that Vettel had reported a lack of grip on the opening lap, Verstappen said: "Yeah yeah, I would say the same."

P3 in Austin drew Verstappen to within 14 points of third-placed Leclerc in the drivers' championship, keeping the Red Bull driver's hopes of a podium finish in the final standings alive.

Verstappen was asked if his view on the battle for P3 had changed, with one reporter suggesting it may have swung in his favour "now that Ferrari may not have the same-" - at which point the Dutchman butted in: "Power you could say? Or grip, I don’t know what it is!

"We always try. For me of course, only first counts, but it’s still better to finish third than fifth of course."

via Luke Smith

[GPR-A]

Verstappen’s been taking shots at Hamilton all year. Now he’s unloading on the Scuderia.

He had another Ferrari quote today, as well:

https://twitter.com/kwebie/status/11911 ... 17216?s=21

He barely congratulated Hamilton on his title, whereas VET had the pure class to seek HAM out.

Bloody Max Verstappen. He can’t help saying exactly what he’s thinking.

Sometimes it gets him in trouble but sometimes it answers a question that few dare ask directly and a question that the FIA wanted to hide away. Thanks Max for lifting your head above the BS parapet and answering a question honestly.

Earlier this season, I thought Max was sort of starting to mature; not only with his racing, but how he carried himself off the track.

He's kind of reverted to v.1 Max the past 2 weekends (on and off the track).

Here's the full extent of his answer to questions about Ferrari's performance

Asked if it was strange Ferrari could not fight at the start, Verstappen replied: "Oh that’s not strange," before adding "well why do you think? You can fill it in yourself" when invited to explain his reply.

Informed that Vettel had reported a lack of grip on the opening lap, Verstappen said: "Yeah yeah, I would say the same."

P3 in Austin drew Verstappen to within 14 points of third-placed Leclerc in the drivers' championship, keeping the Red Bull driver's hopes of a podium finish in the final standings alive.

Verstappen was asked if his view on the battle for P3 had changed, with one reporter suggesting it may have swung in his favour "now that Ferrari may not have the same-" - at which point the Dutchman butted in: "Power you could say? Or grip, I don’t know what it is!

"We always try. For me of course, only first counts, but it’s still better to finish third than fifth of course."

via Luke Smith

It is hardly surprising as Jos himself keeps talking trash and seems like that is how he has brought his son up, it shows.

[selvam_e2002]

Where did Max get support to talk like this? Just think about it? If RB is not supporting him then he cannot talk like that. It is RB's responsibility to mature him as a racing driver.


See how it affects Vettel now in ferrari? only exception is Ricciardo.

[ENGINE TUNER]

Where did Max get support to talk like this? Just think about it? If RB is not supporting him then he cannot talk like that. It is RB's responsibility to mature him as a racing driver.


See how it affects Vettel now in ferrari? only exception is Ricciardo.

Absolutely agreed, both Vettel and now Verstappen were coddled by rbr and also the stewards and it ultimately has had a negative effect on their careers, crashing every other race, breaking driving standards and blaming everyone else other than themselves. Hamilton on the other hand was harshly penalized and overly blamed in his early F1 career and has learned to overcome by keeping it clean. Very interesting case studies in how to groom young championship level talents.

[GPR-A]

The two torpedo forces, Kvyat and Perez came together, unsurprisingly. Looks like Kvyat is competing with Max to show that Max can never beat him in the "Art of Destruction". RB has really got depleted in their talent pool due to which they gave him another opportunity.

Hey anyone else thinks Ocon is responsible for Perez' recent crashes?

[foxmulder_ms]

Where did Max get support to talk like this? Just think about it? If RB is not supporting him then he cannot talk like that. It is RB's responsibility to mature him as a racing driver.


See how it affects Vettel now in ferrari? only exception is Ricciardo.

rrr. horner is no different. lol.

[Wass85]

Congratulations to Hamilton, one behind Schumacher now. A weekend to forget but it's all about the title.

5th to 2nd and only 4 seconds behind Bottas, magic drive

Yep great drive and Bottas was amazing. Going to be an epic next season if he brings this form.

[GPR-A]

Congratulations to Hamilton, one behind Schumacher now. A weekend to forget but it's all about the title.

5th to 2nd and only 4 seconds behind Bottas, magic drive

Yep great drive and Bottas was amazing. Going to be an epic next season if he brings this form.

Rosberg beat Hamilton in qualifying in 2014 and the season was close. What happened in 2015? Every new season resets every driver and the cars are going to have evolved and would have changed their basic strengths and weaknesses despite gaining performance advantage over the predecessor.

Mercedes are considering changing some of their philosophy for next year's car, obviously to shed the drag to fight Ferrari in straight line speed. That can change the behavior of the car in so many aspects.

I wouldn't be surprised if the story repeats in 2020.

[Wass85]

5th to 2nd and only 4 seconds behind Bottas, magic drive

Yep great drive and Bottas was amazing. Going to be an epic next season if he brings this form.

Rosberg beat Hamilton in qualifying in 2014 and the season was close. What happened in 2015? Every new season resets every driver and the cars are going to have evolved and would have changed their basic strengths and weaknesses despite gaining performance advantage over the predecessor.

Mercedes are considering changing some of their philosophy for next year's car, obviously to shed the drag to fight Ferrari in straight line speed. That can change the behavior of the car in so many aspects.

I wouldn't be surprised if the story repeats in 2020.

True but Bottas' form has been especially great since the updates at Suzuka, aren't these updates influencing the 2020 car?

You would be a fool to bet against Lewis but Bottas is getting closer in every department.

[GPR-A]

Yep great drive and Bottas was amazing. Going to be an epic next season if he brings this form.

Rosberg beat Hamilton in qualifying in 2014 and the season was close. What happened in 2015? Every new season resets every driver and the cars are going to have evolved and would have changed their basic strengths and weaknesses despite gaining performance advantage over the predecessor.

Mercedes are considering changing some of their philosophy for next year's car, obviously to shed the drag to fight Ferrari in straight line speed. That can change the behavior of the car in so many aspects.

I wouldn't be surprised if the story repeats in 2020.

True but Bottas' form has been especially great since the updates at Suzuka, aren't these updates influencing the 2020 car?

You would be a fool to bet against Lewis but Bottas is getting closer in every department.

It is natural for him to get closer as he has so much material to refer to from these 3 years, but that doesn't guarantee beating him over a season. There will be races where Hamilton wouldn't be at his best and those are opportunities for Bottas to score and he has to bring his absolute best at those times. But when Lewis gets it sorted, it would be impossible for Bottas to beat him. Next year's tyres are once again going to a puzzle and with an evolved car the behavior is again going to be very different. So it is going to be relearning process all over again, no matter how much one has improved.

Most likely, 2020 is going to be the last season for Bottas in Mercedes as they have to look at their future. It's not going to be ideal for him to be driving with that pressure and if he bins the car, he is going to suffer major set back. No driver has come from behind to beat Lewis so far in a season whereas he has done it on upteen number of times. Bottas is like Vettel and Rosberg, where he is good when he gets the lead at turn 1, but he can't come from behind and win a race, which might happen more often next year with Red Bull improving. If Ferrari comes out with another out of the box good car, it's going to be tough for Bottas to handle all of these to prevail.

[Wass85]

Rosberg beat Hamilton in qualifying in 2014 and the season was close. What happened in 2015? Every new season resets every driver and the cars are going to have evolved and would have changed their basic strengths and weaknesses despite gaining performance advantage over the predecessor.

Mercedes are considering changing some of their philosophy for next year's car, obviously to shed the drag to fight Ferrari in straight line speed. That can change the behavior of the car in so many aspects.

I wouldn't be surprised if the story repeats in 2020.

True but Bottas' form has been especially great since the updates at Suzuka, aren't these updates influencing the 2020 car?

You would be a fool to bet against Lewis but Bottas is getting closer in every department.

It is natural for him to get closer as he has so much material to refer to from these 3 years, but that doesn't guarantee beating him over a season. There will be races where Hamilton wouldn't be at his best and those are opportunities for Bottas to score and he has to bring his absolute best at those times. But when Lewis gets it sorted, it would be impossible for Bottas to beat him. Next year's tyres are once again going to a puzzle and with an evolved car the behavior is again going to be very different. So it is going to be relearning process all over again, no matter how much one has improved.

Most likely, 2020 is going to be the last season for Bottas in Mercedes as they have to look at their future. It's not going to be ideal for him to be driving with that pressure and if he bins the car, he is going to suffer major set back. No driver has come from behind to beat Lewis so far in a season whereas he has done it on upteen number of times. Bottas is like Vettel and Rosberg, where he is good when he gets the lead at turn 1, but he can't come from behind and win a race, which might happen more often next year with Red Bull improving. If Ferrari comes out with another out of the box good car, it's going to be tough for Bottas to handle all of these to prevail.

I've given up predicting, a couple of races back Ferrari looked like they'd be favourites for next season. Now it does look like they've been up to tricks. Next season we wipe the slate clean, Hamilton can get more out of the car when he's struggling than Bottas. It's those days where he grabs points the Finn wouldn't.

Yes I agree with you there, when the car was perfect the likes of Button, Rosberg and Bottas could fight and beat Hamilton. Beating Lewis though over a season is a big ask.

[Edax]

Disrespectful towards who he answers the question asked ?

. . . we still can't be 100% sure about the exact reason yet . . . but I think that we will need to wait until 2020 to see the definitive result of that directive.

Completely agree re: your first point. On the second, I think Brazil could give us the answer. Ferrari need to run at their maximum potential to understand what happened at COTA.

I agree. But the start already looked quite ominous. The system as described would be most effective at the start and when getting out of slow corners. The ferraris certainly looked down on power in the run up to the first corner, compared to their lightning starts since summer, that is not down to aero, balance or front wheel grip, that is just grunt.

There may also be the possibility that suddenly have to remove the system during the weekend threw for instance their gear shift and turbo management out of whack. In that case removing a small performance gain could have a larger knock on effect. That they should be able to recover for the next race.

Verstappen might be quite thick at times, but on the other hand he is sitting closest to the fire as it was his team which lodged the protest. One can only assume that he is pretty well aware of the system and its capabilities.

[Just_a_fan]

Awaiting comments from Sir Jackey Stewart and Jaques Villeneuve.

Stewart was on UK radio this morning and basically kept trying to say that it's only because Hamilton's in the best team/car etc. It was cringe-inducing listening to the sad old man struggling to accept that Hamilton's achievement. It's a shame to hear as Stewart is one of the great names in the sport.