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

[Derek Smith]

Dr Z said:

Yes, we can look at the lap times. Vettel was pulling away from Raikkonen at around 3 tenths per lap in the 1st stint but never managed to dip in to the 1m21s, which is what Hamilton was doing from the off. Meanwhile Bottas was sitting fairly comfortably around 1.5s from Vettel which is within the undercut range and Vettel was driving faster and faster every lap wearing out his tyres. The RBs were also sitting at a similar gap behind Raikkonen. The Ferraris simply didn't have the pace.

Fearing an undercut at any moment, Ferrari pulled Vettel in, believing it's going to be a 2-stop race. When Bottas was behind Vettel after the first pitstop, again the same story from the first stint was repeated forcing Ferrari into a 2-stop and Merc decided to take track position and hope Bottas makes it to the end than stopping again and fall behind the RBs who were looking comfortable to do a 1-stop. Maybe Ferrari were fighting shadows but the fact is they couldn't live with the Merc cars' pace in the race.

Some onboards from the race:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05LvdB45hZ4

Includes Danny Ric's spin

Thanks for the reply.

[Derek Smith]

hairyben said:

its cool that this has been done, as it silences the tin foil hattery.

Subject to official confirmation.

[Graveworm]

Derek Smith said:

hairyben said:

its cool that this has been done, as it silences the tin foil hattery.

Subject to official confirmation.

https://www.eurosport.co.uk/formula-1/vettel-normal-tyres-even-worse-for-ferrari_sto6756904/story.shtml
https://twitter.com/andrewbensonf1/status/99644837...

[NRS]

Derek Smith said:

hairyben said:

its cool that this has been done, as it silences the tin foil hattery.

Subject to official confirmation.

But it's actually really obvious that the FIA got to Vettel and made him say this, so they can protect their boy Hamilton.

[Derek Smith]

NRS said:

Derek Smith said:

hairyben said:

its cool that this has been done, as it silences the tin foil hattery.

Subject to official confirmation.

But it's actually really obvious that the FIA got to Vettel and made him say this, so they can protect their boy Hamilton.

By 'subject to official confirmation' I meant from the silence of the TFH mob.

In Autosport this week there's an exasperated comment about the facts and the conspiracy theorists.