Official 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix 2020 Thread **SPOILERS**

Official 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix 2020 Thread **SPOILERS**

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

56 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
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MiniMan64 said:
Petrus1983 said:
I can’t be the only person who thinks Lewis saw RG’s crash on Sunday and knows he’s already tied up the championship and the constructors and thought he may as well sit this one out.
Doubt it
Agreed.

Ahonen

5,020 posts

281 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
Supersam83 said:
Hulk could be super sub again. Maybe his first podium will be a win!
That would be wonderful. It won't happen, sadly.

Sandpit Steve

10,497 posts

76 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
Whoa, that’s surprising news about Lewis. He spent the whole summer until a week ago, living out of his big camper van with only his trainer for company. Genuinely the last person I thought would get it, in sharp contrast to many other sportsmen.

He’s not missed a single race since his debut in 2007, which I think is yet another record for concecutive race starts. Never been sick or injured. Huge opportunity for someone, Vandoorne or perhaps even George Russell.

Also a great opportunity for Pietro Fittipaldi, who will make his F1 debut replacing the injured Romain Grosjean in the Haas this weekend. I guess none of the F2 title contenders were available!

Digga

40,557 posts

285 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
Petrus1983 said:
I can’t be the only person who thinks Lewis saw RG’s crash on Sunday and knows he’s already tied up the championship and the constructors and thought he may as well sit this one out.
Or a convenient way to boycott a place he has (understandable) political misgivings about?

Either way, a great opportunity for a "Stig".

anonymous-user

56 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
Petrus1983 said:
I can’t be the only person who thinks Lewis saw RG’s crash on Sunday and knows he’s already tied up the championship and the constructors and thought he may as well sit this one out.
People love a conspiracy theory, so you wont be alone.

The stink from faking a test result would be career and reputation ending, it's an absurd suggestion.

ch37

10,642 posts

223 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
Some quality conspiracy theory stuff here, there is no way Lewis would choose to sit out a race and what is more than likely yet another win for his record.

I did think he'd be the last person to get it though, he's lived like a hermit (relatively speaking) this year, in contrast to pretty much every other driver on the grid. I guess he may have let his guard down a little after securing the championship, but even so, wasn't expecting it.

HustleRussell

24,803 posts

162 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
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Autosport reporting that Vandoorne was expected to travel to Bahrain in his reserve driver capacity having tested Formula E in Valencia.

number2

4,358 posts

189 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
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Mercedes will have had a contingency plan for this covid event, so assuming the isolation rules are fixed and LH can't race, they'll know who is stepping in. Should be very interesting seeing how they perform!

df76

3,671 posts

280 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
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So how many people did Hamilton hug in celebration after winning on Sunday? All now self isolating?? Always thought it was odd that you have stringent measures in place over the weekend, but then the winner can just do anything at the end of the race..

MiniMan64

17,091 posts

192 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
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Oh please give Russel a go, Christ can you imagine if they did and he beat Valtteri?

As nice as it would be for Hulk I can't see it happening, unless he replaces Russel at Williams but that doesn't seem appealing either.

Merc have got nothing to loose, they've won it all this year, why would you not give him a go and see what he can do?

EIther way Verstappen vs Bottas should be interesting....

HustleRussell

24,803 posts

162 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
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No way Williams are releasing Russell, Sakhir will surely be one of their best points opportunities of the year.

Williams are currently pointless and Haas have only 3 points.

snotrag

14,645 posts

213 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
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Regardless Hamilton - remember we have a very interesting/unusual circuit layout this week.

I make it 8 rights, 3 lefts, and the lefts are perhaps not all as "high energy" either. Have we had such a one-sided track in recent years?

TheDeuce

22,585 posts

68 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
snotrag said:
Regardless Hamilton - remember we have a very interesting/unusual circuit layout this week.

I make it 8 rights, 3 lefts, and the lefts are perhaps not all as "high energy" either. Have we had such a one-sided track in recent years?
This was my first thought - it's a one off race and I'm sure he will be gutted not to add it to his hit list this season.

Getting the tyres right and managing them well is going to be massive here, which Lewis really does have a gift for.

Not to be though! But with the unique benefit of DAS and the superior car beneath him, this is one bottas should be expected to win. Puts a lot of pressure on him as he really won't want to have his chief competition removed and still not win...

bobbo89

5,339 posts

147 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
snotrag said:
Regardless Hamilton - remember we have a very interesting/unusual circuit layout this week.

I make it 8 rights, 3 lefts, and the lefts are perhaps not all as "high energy" either. Have we had such a one-sided track in recent years?
Yeah I'm really looking forward to this weekend. There's a brilliant mid-field points battle going on, interesting circuit layout and new drivers being thrown into the mix. It's also on at a brilliant time that means I can spend the day out on the bike and still get back in time to watch it with a few beers and some snap..

Munter

31,319 posts

243 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
Autosport reporting that Vandoorne was expected to travel to Bahrain in his reserve driver capacity having tested Formula E in Valencia.
All seems a bit tight on timings. But, the obvious thing. I don't buy the "but they didn't say what car he'd drive" speculation either. I expect Russel will be in his usual seat and the replacement in the Merc.

snotrag

14,645 posts

213 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
TheDeuce said:
Puts a lot of pressure on him as he really won't want to have his chief competition removed and still not win...
Can Max take 2nd in the WDC? He is going to be extra fired up, RedBull will want to show that they can beat Mercedes, Just not Lewis himself.

I think Max is going to go full Banzai.

Sandpit Steve

10,497 posts

76 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
Munter said:
All seems a bit tight on timings. But, the obvious thing. I don't buy the "but they didn't say what car he'd drive" speculation either. I expect Russel will be in his usual seat and the replacement in the Merc.
I’m sure that’s the more likely option, but it’s really hard to say GR doesn’t deserve the shot after outperforming his car all season. Let them put the journeyman sub in the Williams, and give George the shot at a ride in a winning car.

TheDeuce

22,585 posts

68 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
snotrag said:
TheDeuce said:
Puts a lot of pressure on him as he really won't want to have his chief competition removed and still not win...
Can Max take 2nd in the WDC? He is going to be extra fired up, RedBull will want to show that they can beat Mercedes, Just not Lewis himself.

I think Max is going to go full Banzai.
They can't beat Lewis OR Mercedes in title terms... But yes, Mac can beat bottas in WDC terms and this certainly hands him a tangible opportunity smile

Nothing against bottas, I like him and think he's quite underrated in various ways.. but overall I'm a fan of racing so bring it on max!

SmoothCriminal

5,102 posts

201 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
snotrag said:
TheDeuce said:
Puts a lot of pressure on him as he really won't want to have his chief competition removed and still not win...
Can Max take 2nd in the WDC? He is going to be extra fired up, RedBull will want to show that they can beat Mercedes, Just not Lewis himself.

I think Max is going to go full Banzai.
Yup he is only 12 points I think behind Bottas which in itself is massively embarrassing given Hamilton/Mercs domination this season.

andburg

7,394 posts

171 months

Tuesday 1st December 2020
quotequote all
Guess we'll find out whether Max is right and anybody could win in that car.
If its Stoffel hes done plenty of sim work and his race craft should be good, be interesting to see how far off Bottas he is. If he beats both Red Bulls then Max might have a point but I just cant see it myself!