Bottas

[Mr_Thyroid]

The Moose said:

Gazzab said:

So are Bottas’ title hopes fading fast? He seems to be fast going back to last seasons mindset.

Yep. They gone...

I'm inclined to agree - but, just to put it into context - he has more points than Hamilton had at this stage last year, his 4th in Canada is better than Hamilton's 5th last year, he was on pole in Spain and if he'd got a better start he would've been odds-on to win, he was close to pole in Monaco and he only lost second because of Red Bull's dangerous pitstop tactics.

But this is a real test - can he maintain his drive and focus with the championship gap extending?

[Exige77]

Mr_Thyroid said:

The Moose said:

Gazzab said:

So are Bottas’ title hopes fading fast? He seems to be fast going back to last seasons mindset.

Yep. They gone...

I'm inclined to agree - but, just to put it into context - he has more points than Hamilton had at this stage last year, his 4th in Canada is better than Hamilton's 5th last year, he was on pole in Spain and if he'd got a better start he would've been odds-on to win, he was close to pole in Monaco and he only lost second because of Red Bull's dangerous pitstop tactics.

But this is a real test - can he maintain his drive and focus with the championship gap extending?

He doesn’t have to beat last years Lewis though, he has to beat this year’s.

Lewis started slow last year but just got better and better. He’s been consistent. It’s consistency where Valtteri suffers a bit.

He puts in the odd good performance but to beat Lewis he’s got to do it week in week out.

[Petrus1983]

I think VB is in a fortunate position whereby LH is close to breaking a lot of records in the Mercedes. I would keep him as a safe and fast enough back up.

[entropy]

Exige77 said:

He doesn’t have to beat last years Lewis though, he has to beat this year’s.

Lewis started slow last year but just got better and better. He’s been consistent. It’s consistency where Valtteri suffers a bit.

He puts in the odd good performance but to beat Lewis he’s got to do it week in week out.

So on his day he can beat Lewis which means Bottas is no.2 driver at best.

Merc are in a bit of a conundrum. Ocon is waiting in the wings and just how good is he? Good enough to beat Lewis more regularly and perhaps upset the applecart? Some how I don't think Toto wants to go there again otherwise Ocon would've be in the catbird seat whereas Christian Horner relishes having a problem with two top drivers.

[Mr Pointy]

entropy said:

Merc are in a bit of a conundrum. Ocon is waiting in the wings and just how good is he? Good enough to beat Lewis more regularly and perhaps upset the applecart? Some how I don't think Toto wants to go there again otherwise Ocon would've be in the catbird seat whereas Christian Horner relishes having a problem with two top drivers.

Christian Horner wishes he had two top drivers more like. Gasly's not long for the F1 world.

[slipstream 1985]

entropy said:

Exige77 said:

He doesn’t have to beat last years Lewis though, he has to beat this year’s.

Lewis started slow last year but just got better and better. He’s been consistent. It’s consistency where Valtteri suffers a bit.

He puts in the odd good performance but to beat Lewis he’s got to do it week in week out.

So on his day he can beat Lewis which means Bottas is no.2 driver at best.

Merc are in a bit of a conundrum. Ocon is waiting in the wings and just how good is he? Good enough to beat Lewis more regularly and perhaps upset the applecart? Some how I don't think Toto wants to go there again otherwise Ocon would've be in the catbird seat whereas Christian Horner relishes having a problem with two top drivers.

Merc are worried hamilton does a rosberg at the end of a season and leaves suddenly hence keeping an ocon on the books,

[parabolica]

entropy said:

Exige77 said:

He doesn’t have to beat last years Lewis though, he has to beat this year’s.

Lewis started slow last year but just got better and better. He’s been consistent. It’s consistency where Valtteri suffers a bit.

He puts in the odd good performance but to beat Lewis he’s got to do it week in week out.

So on his day he can beat Lewis which means Bottas is no.2 driver at best.

TBH put anyone in the second merc and alongside Lewis they will always be #2 (and I say this as a Bottas fan). Everyone reckons Ocon would knock the socks of Lewis if he got the chance when in reality, he's much more likely to perform like Charles currently is in the Ferrari or Gasly is in the RB.

[Pebbles167]

Looks like he's getting divorced, feel sad for the guy

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailystar.co.uk/s...

Edited by Pebbles167 on Thursday 28th November 11:17

[Petrus1983]

Pebbles167 said:

Looks like he's getting divorced, feel sad for the guy

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailystar.co.uk/s...

Edited by Pebbles167 on Thursday 28th November 11:17

Ah - that’s st. And he’s starting from the back of the grid. The winter break can’t come soon enough for him.

[Deesee]

Petrus1983 said:

Pebbles167 said:

Looks like he's getting divorced, feel sad for the guy

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailystar.co.uk/s...

Edited by Pebbles167 on Thursday 28th November 11:17

Ah - that’s st. And he’s starting from the back of the grid. The winter break can’t come soon enough for him.

Lets hope he gets to keep his dog..

[Drew106]

Pebbles167 said:

Looks like he's getting divorced, feel sad for the guy

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailystar.co.uk/s...

Edited by Pebbles167 on Thursday 28th November 11:17

Yeah, that sucks.

He does get paid millions of pounds to drive the fastest racing cars on the planet, so I won't feel too bad.

It's hard not to like Bottas, seems like a nice bloke.

[Petrus1983]

He does get paid millions but he’s one of the drivers I see on the grid and really wonder if he’s enjoying it or not.

[sgtBerbatov]

I might offer Emila a shoulder to cry on, can't be too easy for her either. And I've no career to speak of so it wouldn't affect her if she decided to remarry.

[Pebbles167]

He seemed pretty upbeat in the beyond the grid podcast, saying how he likes the challenge etc. I believe as a competitor he's speaking the truth, but it's still got to be a bit of a knock seeing your team mate run away with the championship. He's considered by many to be a number 2 driver, which must be annoying, but at least Mercedes treat him well and don't screw him over occasionally like Ferrari did with Barrichello.

Probably good that there's only one race left this year. He can get back home and do some healing after the break up, then hopefully come back stronger next year.

[cuprabob]

Genuinely sorry to hear about his marriage. As said, he comes across as a nice bloke and one you would happily spend some time with over a coffee or a pint.

Looks asbthough he's starting from the back of the grid this weekend.

[Petrus1983]

cuprabob said:

Looks asbthough he's starting from the back of the grid this weekend.

Engine penalties.

[Gary29]

I feel bad for the guy or anyone else going through a divorce, however, it may just be the catalyst his F1 career needs.

Maybe it'll be a do or die season now he has nothing to lose or any distractions away from the track.

He might be worth a £10 punt on taking the championship in 2020 if luck goes his way and LH has a poor run of luck.

Conversely he could always be terrible and have no fight left in him after the divorce lawyers go to town on him.

[TheDeuce]

Gary29 said:

...Conversely he could always be terrible and have no fight left in him after the divorce lawyers go to town on him.

He's paid about £6.5m a year and it's almost impossible for him to spend his own money from the moment he leaves his home each time until he gets a chance to get back. He should scrape through

Indeed, always very sad to see an emotional investment fail though. I hope he does find racing a useful distraction as opposed to an additional stress.

[SturdyHSV]

Gary29 said:

I feel bad for the guy or anyone else going through a divorce, however, it may just be the catalyst his F1 career needs.

Maybe it'll be a do or die season now he has nothing to lose or any distractions away from the track.

Just to throw another 2 cents into the ring on this, not that LH's career particularly needed a catalyst in the same way, but after things ended with stsinger (and he doesn't appear to have had a female presence around for some time?) you could argue LH is certainly more focused and better than he used to be.

And although I'm sure the divorce is painful, ultimately there are probably a lot more of her than there are of him, he'll be fiiiiine.

[TheDeuce]

SturdyHSV said:

Just to throw another 2 cents into the ring on this, not that LH's career particularly needed a catalyst in the same way, but after things ended with stsinger (and he doesn't appear to have had a female presence around for some time?) you could argue LH is certainly more focused and better than he used to be.

And although I'm sure the divorce is painful, ultimately there are probably a lot more of her than there are of him, he'll be fiiiiine.

stsinger? I'm in no rush to date the woman (not a fan of celebrity, also, married.) but she can most definitely sing. Stunning singer in fact, when she's not doing pop stuff.