Max Verstappen
Discussion
I think the race was closer than a lot of people here think, It wasn't until Hamilton got through the traffic and the gap was down to 10s that I thought the race was on. Of course Hamilton was lapping faster- that's what you do if you are on a strategy which features an extra pit stop.
The suggestion that the Mercedes is a second a lap quicker than the Red Bull is simply wrong. If Verstappen hadn't taken the 'free' pit stop on lap 67 for fastest lap he would have finished within sight of Hamilton after 70 laps?
On Saturday we saw both cars on low fuel with the wick turned up. Mercedes have two of the best qualifiers on the grid but it was Verstappen / Red Bull on pole.
Mercedes checkmated Red Bull with strategy yesterday.
If you lot must bemoan something, bemoan the fact that this is the most 'Red Bull' circuit that we have for the remainder of the season apart from Singapore and Mercedes still won it.
The suggestion that the Mercedes is a second a lap quicker than the Red Bull is simply wrong. If Verstappen hadn't taken the 'free' pit stop on lap 67 for fastest lap he would have finished within sight of Hamilton after 70 laps?
On Saturday we saw both cars on low fuel with the wick turned up. Mercedes have two of the best qualifiers on the grid but it was Verstappen / Red Bull on pole.
Mercedes checkmated Red Bull with strategy yesterday.
If you lot must bemoan something, bemoan the fact that this is the most 'Red Bull' circuit that we have for the remainder of the season apart from Singapore and Mercedes still won it.
TobyTR said:
kambites said:
The telling part of the race IMO was just after the first lot of pit stops. Verstappen came in for new tyres and Hamilton stayed out, losing about half a second per lap on tyres which were 25 laps older and had spent a fair number of those laps being abused in dirty air. Then Hamilton cames in and, on tyres only six laps newer than Verstappen's (and that's six laps of the hard, which should have minimal degradation), reeled him in at two seconds a lap.
I think Verstappen/Redbull did a phenomenal job getting as close as he did in a car which was, IMO, a good second a lap slower in terms of race pace.
Sums the gulf up rather well. Imo, Mercedes still hold some in reserve until they really need to show their cards, and then they romp into the distanceI think Verstappen/Redbull did a phenomenal job getting as close as he did in a car which was, IMO, a good second a lap slower in terms of race pace.
Edited by HustleRussell on Monday 5th August 10:18
HustleRussell said:
The suggestion that the Mercedes is a second a lap quicker than the Red Bull is simply wrong.
I guess this is something we'll have to agree to disagree on. Whilst they generally don't try to put figures on it, every single post-race analysis I can find seems to agree the Mercedes was significantly faster than the Redbull in race trim.
I'm certainly not bemoaning anything. I think Mercedes had by far the best car and thoroughly deserved to win. I also think Verstappen and Redbull put together a masterful race in order to end up anywhere near Hamilton.
Edited by kambites on Monday 5th August 10:20
kambites said:
HustleRussell said:
The suggestion that the Mercedes is a second a lap quicker than the Red Bull is simply wrong.
I guess this is something we'll have to agree to disagree on. Whilst they generally don't try to put figures on it, every single post-race analysis I can find seems to agree the Mercedes was significantly faster than the Redbull in race trim.
I'm certainly not bemoaning anything. I think Mercedes had by far the best car and thoroughly deserved to win. I also think Verstappen and Redbull put together a masterful race in order to end up anywhere near Hamilton.
Edited by kambites on Monday 5th August 10:20
After the first pitstop, Hamilton after running 6 laps longer came out behind Verstappen with just under a 6-second gap.
Within one lap that was halved.
IMO the Mercedes was in a different league in race trim.
kambites said:
HustleRussell said:
The suggestion that the Mercedes is a second a lap quicker than the Red Bull is simply wrong.
I guess this is something we'll have to agree to disagree on. Whilst they generally don't try to put figures on it, every single post-race analysis I can find seems to agree the Mercedes was significantly faster than the Redbull in race trim.
I'm certainly not bemoaning anything. I think Mercedes had by far the best car and thoroughly deserved to win. I also think Verstappen and Redbull put together a masterful race in order to end up anywhere near Hamilton.
Edited by kambites on Monday 5th August 10:20
Wills2 said:
Max's new found maturity has I suspect, quite a lot to do with the fact he doesn't have anyone challenging him in the team anymore.
Although I liked "head butter" Max, always a bit of drama with him and the sport needs characters.
Probably helps, but he’s also 22? and so you mature a lot very quickly in the early 20’s, so not surprising. I think it was Palmer on the BBC who stated Max will be in another league, as previous drivers often peak around 30 due to a combination of body being slightly worse, but experience counts for more. Max will be at that experience level maybe around 25 or so, but with a younger and ‘better’ body before it slows as much. Although I liked "head butter" Max, always a bit of drama with him and the sport needs characters.
Wills2 said:
Max's new found maturity has I suspect, quite a lot to do with the fact he doesn't have anyone challenging him in the team anymore.
Although I liked "head butter" Max, always a bit of drama with him and the sport needs characters.
I can't remember the specific interview but Horner (and possibly Max has also said? Although I liked "head butter" Max, always a bit of drama with him and the sport needs characters.
) that it was the totally unnecessary crash in FP3 of Monaco last year which meant he couldn't compete in quali and then Ricciardo going on to win the race that was the turning point for Max.Knowing you were in a car that could have won Monaco and yet you binned it for no reason in a practice session apparently really 'hurt', and his form since then speaks for itself.
TobyTR said:
kambites said:
HustleRussell said:
The suggestion that the Mercedes is a second a lap quicker than the Red Bull is simply wrong.
I guess this is something we'll have to agree to disagree on. Whilst they generally don't try to put figures on it, every single post-race analysis I can find seems to agree the Mercedes was significantly faster than the Redbull in race trim.
I'm certainly not bemoaning anything. I think Mercedes had by far the best car and thoroughly deserved to win. I also think Verstappen and Redbull put together a masterful race in order to end up anywhere near Hamilton.
Edited by kambites on Monday 5th August 10:20
NRS said:
Wills2 said:
Max's new found maturity has I suspect, quite a lot to do with the fact he doesn't have anyone challenging him in the team anymore.
Although I liked "head butter" Max, always a bit of drama with him and the sport needs characters.
Probably helps, but he’s also 22? and so you mature a lot very quickly in the early 20’s, so not surprising. I think it was Palmer on the BBC who stated Max will be in another league, as previous drivers often peak around 30 due to a combination of body being slightly worse, but experience counts for more. Max will be at that experience level maybe around 25 or so, but with a younger and ‘better’ body before it slows as much. Although I liked "head butter" Max, always a bit of drama with him and the sport needs characters.
ELUSIVEJIM said:
kambites said:
HustleRussell said:
The suggestion that the Mercedes is a second a lap quicker than the Red Bull is simply wrong.
I guess this is something we'll have to agree to disagree on. Whilst they generally don't try to put figures on it, every single post-race analysis I can find seems to agree the Mercedes was significantly faster than the Redbull in race trim.
I'm certainly not bemoaning anything. I think Mercedes had by far the best car and thoroughly deserved to win. I also think Verstappen and Redbull put together a masterful race in order to end up anywhere near Hamilton.
Edited by kambites on Monday 5th August 10:20
After the first pitstop, Hamilton after running 6 laps longer came out behind Verstappen with just under a 6-second gap.
Within one lap that was halved.
IMO the Mercedes was in a different league in race trim.
M3ax said:
It’s because Hamilton is lucky to be in the best car with the best tires. What part of this don’t you understand? 
And lucky 81 times. Fantastic. Even a F1 back up driver or mechanic could jump into all his cars and win too.Heck there's ten on the grid that'd done it.
f
k meHighwayStar said:
Bo_apex said:
HighwayStar said:
Yep... hasn't actually got a clue what he's doing but somehow gets it over the line.
To be fair his engineer is always telling Lewis what to do 
He should certanly be paid the same, the results are very much a double act with Lewis.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
How come it's usually only HAM that can do this? Alex Wurz mentions it on BTG podcast this week, you need to heat up the front and rear tyres at completely different times or you cook them wrong, whatever he does he seems to be able to do better than everyone else.
A big difference seems to be the thinner-treaded tyres for 2019. This is why Ferrari and Red Bull wanted the 2018 tyres back.The Mercedes just seems to be able to switch these tyres on compared to previous years when they struggled.
However, Hamilton seems to be able to keep his tyres in a better condition to Bottas so their set up must also be making a difference.
ELUSIVEJIM said:
A big difference seems to be the thinner-treaded tyres for 2019. This is why Ferrari and Red Bull wanted the 2018 tyres back.
The Mercedes just seems to be able to switch these tyres on compared to previous years when they struggled.
However, Hamilton seems to be able to keep his tyres in a better condition to Bottas so their set up must also be making a difference.
Or driving style. Otherwise presumably Max is just doing better than Gasly due to setup too?The Mercedes just seems to be able to switch these tyres on compared to previous years when they struggled.
However, Hamilton seems to be able to keep his tyres in a better condition to Bottas so their set up must also be making a difference.
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