The Official 2014 Italian GP Thread ***Spoilers***

[Hungrymc]

Nico has made a few mistakes on the brakes this year. I don't think we need to search out a conspiracy theory.

Nico never really got things sorted out this weekend. It looked like he was going to profit from another bit of bad luck (the start procedure of Lewis's car) but Lewis had a lot of pace in hand this weekend and made the passes when he had to without panicking and forcing it. But it's only one weekend and Nico has been as quick and quicker than Lewis a few times this year so Nico's followers don't need to panic.

Not quite yet anyway..... Next few rounds will be great

[lbc]

Butter Face said:

All that booing at the interviews was a bit odd though!

I did not hear any booing.

If there was any, I don't see why it would come from British fans, as Lewis won the race!

[MGJohn]

Why so little mention of Bottas? Drive of the day for me and there were several very good drives today.

Enjoyed the race.

[hornetrider]

lbc said:

I did not hear any booing.

I recommend cotton buds.

[lbc]

MGJohn said:

Why so little mention of Bottas? Drive of the day for me and there were several very good drives today.

Massa was better probably.

[Vaud]

MGJohn said:

Why so little mention of Bottas? Drive of the day for me and there were several very good drives today.

Enjoyed the race.

I think MAS and RIC were stronger on the day as drives go. Solid, consistent drive from Bottas but not exceptional. V happy for Massa on the podium in Italy, fully deserved. Fairly uncluttered Martini colours look good on the podium.

I think 2015 will be good now for Williams from a funding POV whatever happens in the balance of the season. I wonder which mid field sponsors they can lure.

[The Moose]

Watched this earlier on iPlayer. Thought it was a really good and exciting race with lots of battles all through the pack.

The Nico vs Lewis disagreement was plain for everyone to see.

[Derek Smith]

Norfolkit said:

Crofty is a tt if he raised it, I didn't see the Sky coverage as we were at the race. The whole weekend drivers were doing exactly what Rosberg did at that chicane, GP3, GP2 and F1 it happened time after time in practice, quali and race.
What I would say is what a fantastic atmosphere there was at the track and in Monza after the race, brilliant, brilliant weekend.

Just had a friend come around to see me - I've been a bit ill - and we chatted about the race.

Neither of us think it likely that NR allowed LH to pass. But that didn't stop us having a chat about it.

So:

Is it possible that Merc told NR to throw a race if he was in the lead from LH?

I'd say yes.

Would they see this as a suitable punishment?

Yes.

Would NR want to disguise the fact that he was forced to do so?

Now that's a difficult one. If the conspiracy theorists are right then NR was willing to show that he was a bit of an idiot under braking, especially when LH is a bit good there?

However, what better than 'brake problems' to cover his actions? that's the classic of course.

Further what better location than where lots of other drivers had problems?

So it is a possible.

Where's the evidence?

Rosberg was planning this all along as he deliberately locked up at the same location during qually. Just practicing of course.

But then who would have thought that with LH 2/10s faster than NR in qually he'd have been in front? Is it likely that he'd have been planning that early?

Then again, LH as massive at the first chicane and there's little doubt that was where he would have tried to pass NR. Now if you were NR how much better to show that you were giving up a place rather than being out-driven.

[Derek Smith]

And another thing:

LH habitually uses less fuel that NR. Does that mean that he starts with a lighter fuel load?

[mollytherocker]

I think I agree with most of your logic Derek.

You are at the very least, near to the truth.

[RichB]

mollytherocker said:

I think I agree with most of your logic Derek. You are at the very least, near to the truth.

in what respect? That... "Neither of us think it likely that NR allowed LH to pass". Something, as it happens, I also agree with.

[hairyben]

re: tin foil hat stuff- I think if nico'd "thrown" the race then logically he had the pace to threaten hamilton - I doubt he have settled to tool around in 2nd without at least making a point.

[mollytherocker]

RichB said:

mollytherocker said:

I think I agree with most of your logic Derek. You are at the very least, near to the truth.

in what respect? That... "Neither of us think it likely that NR allowed LH to pass". Something, as it happens, I also agree with.

On the balance of probability, I think he was always going to concede to Lewis. As subtle as he could manage.

But we may never know.

[MGJohn]

hornetrider said:

lbc said:

I did not hear any booing.

I recommend cotton buds.

Me old muttons aint what they used to be forty odd years ago but even so, I distinctly heard booing when NR spoke on the Podium.

[jules_s]

Just watched it all

I'll wager Lewis will be speaking Italian next year

[MGJohn]

Derek Smith said:

Norfolkit said:

Crofty is a tt if he raised it, I didn't see the Sky coverage as we were at the race. The whole weekend drivers were doing exactly what Rosberg did at that chicane, GP3, GP2 and F1 it happened time after time in practice, quali and race.
What I would say is what a fantastic atmosphere there was at the track and in Monza after the race, brilliant, brilliant weekend.

Just had a friend come around to see me - I've been a bit ill - and we chatted about the race.

Neither of us think it likely that NR allowed LH to pass. But that didn't stop us having a chat about it.

So:

Is it possible that Merc told NR to throw a race if he was in the lead from LH?

I'd say yes.

Would they see this as a suitable punishment?

Yes.

Would NR want to disguise the fact that he was forced to do so?

Now that's a difficult one. If the conspiracy theorists are right then NR was willing to show that he was a bit of an idiot under braking, especially when LH is a bit good there?

However, what better than 'brake problems' to cover his actions? that's the classic of course.

Further what better location than where lots of other drivers had problems?

So it is a possible.

Where's the evidence?

Rosberg was planning this all along as he deliberately locked up at the same location during qually. Just practicing of course.

But then who would have thought that with LH 2/10s faster than NR in qually he'd have been in front? Is it likely that he'd have been planning that early?

Then again, LH as massive at the first chicane and there's little doubt that was where he would have tried to pass NR. Now if you were NR how much better to show that you were giving up a place rather than being out-driven.

If there were some covert arrangements as part of "Nico's Punishment", he must have cursed his luck finding himself in the lead so early in this first race after the incident. That is if there was something about allowing his team mate to pass should he find himself in the lead as part of any behind closed doors deal. Any other race and he'd be well chuffed ...

May come a time when we will know. Seemed strange that NR did what looked like a "rehearsal" some laps before... drivers of that standard rarely if ever make the same mistake at the same place twice.

All very strange. So, he obviously made an outbraking mistake TWICE at Monza today but that single outbraking himself during Q3 at Monaco was premeditated ...some folks want it both ways ... Until and if we ever know one way or another, I shall reserve judgement on all counts. It could indeed be part of MB-GP's way of managing the previous incident to even the score somewhat.

Yes, all strangely convenient all things considered.

EDIT to add @ 00.02

Here's something else I find strange on a now for something completely different basis. I wanted to edit this post so having clicked on the edit button and up comes the please log in or register window. All very strange.

Edited by MGJohn on Monday 8th September 00:02

[vournikas]

FWIW, I thought that was an excellent race today.

Notwithstanding Lewis' charge from a poor start, the driving from Ricciardo and Bottas was first class.

[Badboy930]

Mercedes laughs off conspiracy talk I see from autosport. If there are dark knights at play I'll never darken the doorway of this sport again.

[Zad]

One of the most interesting races for a long time, lots of overtaking and incidents that weren't terminal but looked pretty spectacular. Good to watch, and good for F1 too. LH seemed to have a pretty consistent speed advantage all weekend. I'm not his biggest fan, but he certainly seemed to have his act together and be in control of things for a change.

So... Given how good the race was, has Bernie made any mutterings yet about not going to Monza any more, and how they will have to look elsewhere unless many millions of pounds are "spent" on "facilities"?

[Inertiatic]

Rosberg has form for mistakes under pressure - similar thing happened in Canada and I'm sure he has outbraked himself elsewhere as well. You could see it coming when Hamilton started catching him quickly after the pit stops. No tin foil hat here.

Excellent race. Bottas and Ricciardo are stars and even the McLarens looked up there. Perez held on well under pressure. Massa had a quiet afternoon for once and subsequently podiumed...