The Official 2017 Brazilian Prix Thread **Spoilers**
Discussion
Vaud said:
I agree. My money would be on Ocon.
You know Ocon would have a go that's for sure.Perez tried to show him who was boss and look how that turned out.
Nice problem to have for Mercedes.
I still think Wehrlein "who is a Mercedes driver" should be given the chance of a better car.
Bottas to Williams
Ocon to Mercedes
Wehrlein to Force India or whatever they are going to be called.
Merc may get a taste for the No.2 Driver idea.
I hope they don’t btw.
It is, after all, what Ferrari have done for years.
Lots of reasons why it’s the best way to go racing as a team (if not the best type of racing to watch especially if you don’t like seeing people have to pull over for their teammate).
If Rosberg was still around it’s quite likely that Vettel would now have 5 WDC as the Mercs would have split more points and probably have knocked chunks out of each other as well.
I hope they don’t btw.
It is, after all, what Ferrari have done for years.
Lots of reasons why it’s the best way to go racing as a team (if not the best type of racing to watch especially if you don’t like seeing people have to pull over for their teammate).
If Rosberg was still around it’s quite likely that Vettel would now have 5 WDC as the Mercs would have split more points and probably have knocked chunks out of each other as well.
It's a peculiar and interesting problem for Mercedes to have, if I was in charge I've got to be honest and say I'd employ a number 2 while Ferrari have VET as their number 1.
Red Bull seem to have nailed their support on for VER so there is the real possibility of three teams next year going for it with two of them putting their weight behind one driver.
Where does that leave RIC? In all honesty I don't know, it looks like he has zero competition from any Toro Rosso driver but he's not exactly number 2 material is he? Would he be taken on by Mercedes as he seems to want?
In that case Mercedes would seem to have BOT, RIC, OCO and WEH all looking to grab their seat alongside HAM. They must have some idea that if they didn't have a number 2 this year they wouldn't have secured the WDC or at least might not have.
The key to everything is HAM's decision on when to leave in my opinion. If he's in it for the long hall a younger teammate/stick with BOT makes sense, if he's making noises about only one or two more seasons they should pounce on RIC and build around him.
Red Bull seem to have nailed their support on for VER so there is the real possibility of three teams next year going for it with two of them putting their weight behind one driver.
Where does that leave RIC? In all honesty I don't know, it looks like he has zero competition from any Toro Rosso driver but he's not exactly number 2 material is he? Would he be taken on by Mercedes as he seems to want?
In that case Mercedes would seem to have BOT, RIC, OCO and WEH all looking to grab their seat alongside HAM. They must have some idea that if they didn't have a number 2 this year they wouldn't have secured the WDC or at least might not have.
The key to everything is HAM's decision on when to leave in my opinion. If he's in it for the long hall a younger teammate/stick with BOT makes sense, if he's making noises about only one or two more seasons they should pounce on RIC and build around him.
Hamilton has never vetoed a strong teammate and I don’t think he’d be adverse to having Ricciardo in the other car. But it would be a tough season and probably hand WDC to Vettel.
(I don’t think we have seen a clean Head to Head with Verstappen and Ricciardo - reliability aside, I think Ricciardo is the better driver on Sundays).
(I don’t think we have seen a clean Head to Head with Verstappen and Ricciardo - reliability aside, I think Ricciardo is the better driver on Sundays).
NRS said:
Did they not give Hamilton another engine mode for using to try and overtake Kimi? So they can't have been at 100% everything before then, even if it was turned up somewhat.
Yes, but keep in mind that the whole thing evolves throughout the race and sometimes for one lap he'd get more of the ERS assist on to the DRS zones to attack and the next lap will have to harvest more. For the Kimi attack he was told to go to position 2 on the HPP rotary, which to my understanding relates to fuel mix for that little something extra through the whole lap.Something like +8 km/h to even his team mate (both in clear air) is just silly.
Plus, pitlane start means his car setup could be completely race-biased rather than in the middle of race & quali for every other car, not to mention the more favourable reverse tyre strategy. Suspect he took a lot out of his tyres catching up to Kimi, and not quick enough in S2 to be close in the corners prior to the long run to T1. The Ferrari seemed to be quicker through Ferradura (6), Pinheirinho (9) & Mergulho (12). Concentrate on a good exit out of Juncao and bob's your uncle.
Would have been interesting if he had got past Kimi. Would Merc have asked Bottas to move over?
Dr Z said:
Plus, pitlane start means his car setup could be completely race-biased rather than in the middle of race & quali for every other car, not to mention the more favourable reverse tyre strategy. Suspect he took a lot out of his tyres catching up to Kimi, and not quick enough in S2 to be close in the corners prior to the long run to T1. The Ferrari seemed to be quicker through Ferradura (6), Pinheirinho (9) & Mergulho (12). Concentrate on a good exit out of Juncao and bob's your uncle.
Would have been interesting if he had got past Kimi. Would Merc have asked Bottas to move over?
I forgot the benefit of the pitlane start. Would have been interesting if he had got past Kimi. Would Merc have asked Bottas to move over?
I think if LH had got past Kimi with, say, 10 laps to go then passing Bottas to attack Vettel would have made sense in the battle for second in the WDC. The points difference would have been reduced and there was always the chance of a bit of a battle, which would slow Vettel and make him vulnerable to Bottas. If he'd got past then would Hamilton have let his team mate through? He's done it before.
My assumption is that all options would have been discussed pre race.
te.glazbagun said:
Agreed. Though I was surprised to find Hill, in his book, felt JV the more enjoyable team mate than Coulthard who was the young up and comer then.
It's easy enough to fall out with a colleague, especially one who is in competition with you. Hill had the measure of Villeneuve. Coulthard, though, didn't know when he was beaten.Johnny Herbert didn't get on with Schumacher and Fastish Eddie did. Senna, evidently, got on well with Berger and not with that French bloke. I've seen Berger close up and he didn't impress me with his attitude. Prost though seems to be a pleasant chap on all the videos I've seen.
It seems that if you can outperform your team mate, you like them. You never can tell though.
Dr.Z, just as expected
Hard to imagine Mercedes being right on it from the start of 2018 with such a huge fundamental change in philosophy, then again they proved me wrong this season...
Hard to imagine Mercedes being right on it from the start of 2018 with such a huge fundamental change in philosophy, then again they proved me wrong this season...
HustleRussell said:
Dr.Z, just as expected
Hard to imagine Mercedes being right on it from the start of 2018 with such a huge fundamental change in philosophy, then again they proved me wrong this season...
Agree, this is a very interesting development for 2018. The pre-season test is going to be telling.Hard to imagine Mercedes being right on it from the start of 2018 with such a huge fundamental change in philosophy, then again they proved me wrong this season...
I expect they'll lose a lot of performance at the start compared to where they are now as the baseline is established to develop the aero package, then claw it back as the season develops, while RBR & Ferrari fight in the early part of the season. Max or Dan's 1st WDC? Would be good!
Hope Merc don't nail it straight away, and more importantly, hope throwing lots of money at it won't be the answer.
Dr Z said:
HustleRussell said:
Dr.Z, just as expected
Hard to imagine Mercedes being right on it from the start of 2018 with such a huge fundamental change in philosophy, then again they proved me wrong this season...
Agree, this is a very interesting development for 2018. The pre-season test is going to be telling.Hard to imagine Mercedes being right on it from the start of 2018 with such a huge fundamental change in philosophy, then again they proved me wrong this season...
I expect they'll lose a lot of performance at the start compared to where they are now as the baseline is established to develop the aero package, then claw it back as the season develops, while RBR & Ferrari fight in the early part of the season. Max or Dan's 1st WDC? Would be good!
Hope Merc don't nail it straight away, and more importantly, hope throwing lots of money at it won't be the answer.
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