The Official 2018 French Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**

[Dr Z]

Derek Smith said:

NRS said:

TheInternet said:

Derek Smith said:

That's a bit strange from Max. Pushing LH for a change?

They must've decided it won't rain any time soon.

But spilling strategy as they have Danny ahead in case it does rain.

Just had an email from a mate suggesting that it forces LH to say out, at least as long as Ricc stays out

Hamilton still has Raikkonen in his window....Ferrari can leave him out as long as they like.

[Dr Z]

Mr_Thyroid said:

So, are Ferrari going to instruct Kimi to hold position +5s behind Vettel?

He's already within 5 secs now, so no chance.

[Dr Z]

Well, Kimi is not hanging about is he?

A podium is on!

[Dr Z]

Alonso trying for the fastest lap ...

[Dr Z]

Vaud said:

Jasandjules said:

Not read the thread yet but am I the only one who thought Vettel ought to have no penalty?!?! First few corners on the first lap, surely we want them to try ?!?!

I think it was marginal but probably the right penalty overall.

I agree...Vettel wasn't fully under control but we've seen drivers do that on cold tyres in the first corner many times. Surely, Bottas on the outside also risked such an outcome?

The Mercs did a nice box in manoeuvre I thought.

[Dr Z]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Where’s the next GP thread anyways? Someone’s slacking



(In all seriousness, I remember a template thread for them ages ago when DrZ was busy with work but can’t find it? It really should be a sticky so it’s not all down to one poster to sort out.)

It's coming!

I can probably take it up to the summer break (Hungarian GP), then perhaps other posters can start it off.

[Dr Z]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Dr Z said:

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Where’s the next GP thread anyways? Someone’s slacking



(In all seriousness, I remember a template thread for them ages ago when DrZ was busy with work but can’t find it? It really should be a sticky so it’s not all down to one poster to sort out.)

It's coming!

I can probably take it up to the summer break (Hungarian GP), then perhaps other posters can start it off.

Can you remember the template thread? Perhaps bump it up again and we can flag it to a mod to make it a sticky so it’s easier for everyone?

I don't remember there being such a thread. One only need to find the OP of any of the recent GP thread for a template though?

Derek Smith said:

I think the point with Vettel's error at the first corner is not that it was a do or die manoeuvre - most of us would have had a certain sympathy with him in that case - but that, despite conceding the corner to the two Mercs - he was off the throttle some time before braking - he still managed to lock up and drive into Bottas.

Bottas and Hamilton braked in clean air, Vettel had dirty air.

[Dr Z]

Derek Smith said:

Dr Z said:

Bottas and Hamilton braked in clean air, Vettel had dirty air.

I know, you know and I'm sure my wife, a keenish fan of F1, knows the problem with this. It's bandied around commentaries of many races. The question that bemuses me is why Vettel brake as late as he did? He must have know he was compromised.

I know it is all too easy to misread replays, even in slo-mo, but my feeling was that Hamilton braked early, or rather earlier than one might expect, especially so when one considers that Bottas was on his outside, and going a bit faster. If so, then perhaps Vettel has an excuse, or rather a reason. If not then the error is his.

Clever move by the two Mercs, or so I thought. I reckon they were trying to feed Vertappen a chance at Vettel. Given the speed Verstappen was carrying into the corner, right up until he saw the danger, I reckon he'd have done so if he'd stayed on the circuit.

It's the old cry; what might have been if only the drivers hadn't hit one-another.

IMO, Vettel has a blind spot in situations where there is some perceived injustice towards himself, think Baku last year. Either he realised late what was happening with Bottas boxing him in and tried to back out of it, misjudged the braking point, locked up and hit Bottas unwittingly.

Or a moment of red mist after realising that Bottas & Hamilton boxed him in and hit Bottas intentionally.

Bottas is getting a bit more bold in the first corner, isn't he? Verstappen around the outside in Canada and Vettel here in PR.

I'd like him to try the outside of Hamilton once, just for fun to see what happens.