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

[TheDeuce]

Big Nanas said:

TheDeuce said:

nuttywobbler said:

I’m not saying Hamilton’s rubbish, far from it. But put Max - or George - in the same car, and they would beat Hamilton, because they’re simply faster.

You're so blatant

Keep on, it helps the rest of us feel superior to you.

Where's Sparta?

He has to switch accounts, then he'll be back on - and nuttypillock will suddenly be quiet.

[Boom78]

nuttywobbler said:

I’m not saying Hamilton’s rubbish, far from it. But put Max - or George - in the same car, and they would beat Hamilton, because they’re simply faster.

It’s not really that clean cut, all 3 are clearly super quick but the art is racecraft, the ability to go toe to toe, understand the changing track, know when to force tyre changes etc

However, GO GEORGE!!!!!!! So chuffed for him, when he got signed for Williams I just knew it was the start of a new champ. He’s earned his spurs and on a great trajectory, proper Hollywood sh**!!

[Sandpit Steve]

kambites said:

That'll make it a bugger for the cars at the back, they'll basically be driving under constant blue flags for three quarters of the race.

Yes, it could be quite a horrible race for those at the back, constantly seeing blue flags and having to get out of the way. They’ll want to see a safety car or two, to bunch the field back up.

[kambites]

It's really not working for Bottas is it... whether it's a track he doesn't get on with or the pressure of competing with Russell?

[WickerBill]

Let’s get some perspective here.

1) Bottas best theoretical lap is 3/10ths ahead of Russell
2) Russell has 2 years experience in a Williams
3) Russell has 6000km of testing in a Mercedes over the last 2 years and hundreds of hours of sim work with them.
4) Russell is known to be a talented young lad
5) Yes the W11 is the best car out there, but it takes a decent driver to peddle it.

All these things are true, so it’s hardly surprising Russell is up there, but it’s only 2 practice sessions.

I predicted Social media would be a sewer of opinions from all sides come Monday, and it’s only Friday!

I think people need to let the weekend run it’s course before judging performances

[evoivboy]

Is this Lewis's exact car or does he get another one?

[kambites]

evoivboy said:

Is this Lewis's exact car or does he get another one?

It's Lewis's car. It has to be his drive-train because this race comes out of his season allocation. It would be a bit odd for them to bolt the drive-train into a different tub for Russell.

[TheDeuce]

WickerBill said:

Let’s get some perspective here.

1) Bottas best theoretical lap is 3/10ths ahead of Russell
2) Russell has 2 years experience in a Williams
3) Russell has 6000km of testing in a Mercedes over the last 2 years and hundreds of hours of sim work with them.
4) Russell is known to be a talented young lad
5) Yes the W11 is the best car out there, but it takes a decent driver to peddle it.

All these things are true, so it’s hardly surprising Russell is up there, but it’s only 2 practice sessions.

I predicted Social media would be a sewer of opinions from all sides come Monday, and it’s only Friday!

I think people need to let the weekend run it’s course before judging performances

Who are all these people that need to let it run it's course?

What I have seen is a few muppets declaring GR is the second coming, and then a majority which have simply said he's been impressive - which even if 2-3 tenths down on Bottas come quali would still be true.

It's only the noisy minority that get over excited, most on here seem pretty level headed about it don't they?

[Boom78]

WickerBill said:

Let’s get some perspective here.

1) Bottas best theoretical lap is 3/10ths ahead of Russell
2) Russell has 2 years experience in a Williams
3) Russell has 6000km of testing in a Mercedes over the last 2 years and hundreds of hours of sim work with them.
4) Russell is known to be a talented young lad
5) Yes the W11 is the best car out there, but it takes a decent driver to peddle it.

All these things are true, so it’s hardly surprising Russell is up there, but it’s only 2 practice sessions.

I predicted Social media would be a sewer of opinions from all sides come Monday, and it’s only Friday!

I think people need to let the weekend run it’s course before judging performances

Just what we all ordered, a pint of Misery!! We have our best young driver (based on junior formulas) who has been driving a dog whilst all those he creamed got top seats finally given the platform and so far grabbing it with both hands!!!

[SpudLink]

Discussion on the FiveLive commentary about Russell’s long run pace. Apparently his pace was fading relative to his teammate. The suggestion is his time at Williams hasn’t given him the chance to learn the same level of tyre management.

[ajprice]

All the 1's for Mercedes



BBC feed mentioned that Russell looked smooth and Bottas looked on the limit. There's going to be some comparing notes tonight at Mercedes.

[WickerBill]

Boom78 said:

Just what we all ordered, a pint of Misery!! We have our best young driver (based on junior formulas) who has been driving a dog whilst all those he creamed got top seats finally given the platform and so far grabbing it with both hands!!!

Oh absolutely he’s doing an amazing job but maybe we need to moderate things a bit and gain some perspective .....some people are either calling it the second coming or declaring it’s obviously all the car If Russell can just jump in and be this quick.

[kambites]

Long run pace looks interesting. Not only does Bottas look faster than Russell, but Verstappen looks to potentially be faster than both of them, or at least right up there with them.

[DanielSan]

WickerBill said:

Let’s get some perspective here.

1) Bottas best theoretical lap is 3/10ths ahead of Russell


All these things are true, so it’s hardly surprising Russell is up there, but it’s only 2 practice sessions

I'm taking a punt now and saying that those 3/10s from today won't be that much by the end of quali tomorrow.

[TheDeuce]

ajprice said:

All the 1's for Mercedes



BBC feed mentioned that Russell looked smooth and Bottas looked on the limit. There's going to be some comparing notes tonight at Mercedes.

Bottas was more on the edge - because he was actually going faster and pushing the car harder. The times were deleted but the sector time are known.

Bottas was fastest today in reality, just not technically. Difficult to achieve that without driving on the limit.

Also probably worth remembering that GR normally drives a car that is very unpredictable when close to it's limit. I think he's a fantastic driver but it would only be normal for him to take a little time to trust just how far he can push the Merc.

[TheDeuce]

DanielSan said:

WickerBill said:

Let’s get some perspective here.

1) Bottas best theoretical lap is 3/10ths ahead of Russell


All these things are true, so it’s hardly surprising Russell is up there, but it’s only 2 practice sessions

I'm taking a punt now and saying that those 3/10s from today won't be that much by the end of quali tomorrow.

I agree. GR will be learning every lap, he will fairly quickly work out where to improve - in addition to growing his confidence in the car.

[HustleRussell]

Russell’s fit in the car doesn’t look great, he’s talked about the undersized boots which isn’t a big deal and he’s played it down generally but his head looks high in the car and he isn’t that comfortable which will affect him in an 80 lap race.

George’s starts/first laps haven’t been great at Williams

[nuttywobbler]

Bet Lewis is squirming in his hotel bed watching this!

Loving it!

[Boom78]

WickerBill said:

Boom78 said:

Just what we all ordered, a pint of Misery!! We have our best young driver (based on junior formulas) who has been driving a dog whilst all those he creamed got top seats finally given the platform and so far grabbing it with both hands!!!

Oh absolutely he’s doing an amazing job but maybe we need to moderate things a bit and gain some perspective .....some people are either calling it the second coming or declaring it’s obviously all the car If Russell can just jump in and be this quick.

Isn’t it really interesting though, despite his practice heroics I’d be happy for him just to come in top 5, but, I’m a dreamer and love a success story, Bottas is clearly more experienced as most of the top 10 but my god he’s doing a great job

[TheDeuce]

nuttywobbler said:

Bet Lewis is squirming in his hotel bed watching this!

Loving it!