Official 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix **SPOILERS**
Discussion
ch37 said:
That's a great summary. George was in a position to pass Valtteri on merit, that's significantly worse for Valtteri than whether he was to blame or not. Toto may well have thrown away a constructors to give Lewis a clean shot at #8 this season, I'm not sure that's really acceptable.
Thrown away constructors...!?I very much doubt it. For all his faults bottas does tend to qualify extremely well and as a result he more often than not takes a good points finish just behind Lewis.
If Toto had someone 'better'in that car I think it's unlikely Mercedes would have notched up so many consecutive WCC's
I too think that it is an indictment of F1 that Wolff thinks that Russell should not have gone for the overtake because he's a Merc driver. He's a racing driver primarily.
I think Wolff is right that it was a poor choice of spot.
There is that thought that Russell should have slowed a bit more for LH or moved onto the wet, and that is what really riled him. But he can't say so as the spin was down to LH.
Interesting times.
It's refreshing to see LH make an unforced error. He is human it seems.
I think Wolff is right that it was a poor choice of spot.
There is that thought that Russell should have slowed a bit more for LH or moved onto the wet, and that is what really riled him. But he can't say so as the spin was down to LH.
Interesting times.
It's refreshing to see LH make an unforced error. He is human it seems.
DanielSan said:
How did he screw Hamilton's race yesterday. If Russell hadn't kindly taken Bottas out Hamilton would've been a lap down after putting himself in the gravel with no easy way to get the lap back? If anything it did him a bit of a favour
You could argue George sent Lewis onto the damp part of the track while still driving pretty quick under blue flags in between 1st and 2nd while being lapped .... He certainly wasn’t being “compliant” (under blue flags)But I think that was OK. Still Lewis’s decision to pass there, on the damp part... Not George’s fault, but something to note... maybe.
DanielSan said:
How did he screw Hamilton's race yesterday. If Russell hadn't kindly taken Bottas out Hamilton would've been a lap down after putting himself in the gravel with no easy way to get the lap back? If anything it did him a bit of a favour
Yes, the field was so spread out by the half way point, that Lewis needed a safety car (or even better, the red flag) to get back in the race. He’d have likely finished sixth or seventh otherwise. Wolff would have been perfectly happy if Russell had overtaken Bottas without incident. He failed, Wolff is pissed off. Wolff will have also had an immediate view of Bottas's steering telemetry. He clearly thinks that he didn't do anything egregious.
Worse is Russell's response after the event. Adrenaline can explain some of it. But by the time he is in Parc Ferme talking to reporters, he ought to have wound his neck back in. That probably has been more of a black mark with Wolff than the accident itself.
Worse is Russell's response after the event. Adrenaline can explain some of it. But by the time he is in Parc Ferme talking to reporters, he ought to have wound his neck back in. That probably has been more of a black mark with Wolff than the accident itself.
Derek Smith said:
I too think that it is an indictment of F1 that Wolff thinks that Russell should not have gone for the overtake because he's a Merc driver. He's a racing driver primarily.
I think Wolff is right that it was a poor choice of spot.
There is that thought that Russell should have slowed a bit more for LH or moved onto the wet, and that is what really riled him. But he can't say so as the spin was down to LH.
Interesting times.
It's refreshing to see LH make an unforced error. He is human it seems.
When asked about ‘the Russell incident’ Lewis didn’t know what the reference was to. He didn’t consider other cars had played any part in his off.I think Wolff is right that it was a poor choice of spot.
There is that thought that Russell should have slowed a bit more for LH or moved onto the wet, and that is what really riled him. But he can't say so as the spin was down to LH.
Interesting times.
It's refreshing to see LH make an unforced error. He is human it seems.
HustleRussell said:
A lot being made of George not getting out of the way when being lapped, but the other driver involved didn’t even know how George could be criticised for it?
Yep. A few seem to have blamed GR for LH going off but looks like clutching at straws to me. LH just seemed to make a (albeit rare) clumsy mistake. Even breaking his wing seemed clumsy. It looked like it was still intact until he started trying to manoeuvre out of there and nudged the barrier. Maybe it was bust by then anyway but it was all very un-Lewis like. Gad-Westy said:
HustleRussell said:
A lot being made of George not getting out of the way when being lapped, but the other driver involved didn’t even know how George could be criticised for it?
Yep. A few seem to have blamed GR for LH going off but looks like clutching at straws to me. LH just seemed to make a (albeit rare) clumsy mistake. Even breaking his wing seemed clumsy. It looked like it was still intact until he started trying to manoeuvre out of there and nudged the barrier. Maybe it was bust by then anyway but it was all very un-Lewis like. Toto saying George should have exercised caution due to the fact it was a Mercedes in front of him is poor form. Surely as his protégé he should want him to actually race and take the opportunities in front of him.
The crash actually played into Mercedes' hands as both cars would have been out of the points if George had passed cleanly. 19 points vs a probable half dozen is a great result for them considering both cars were in the gravel at one point.
The crash actually played into Mercedes' hands as both cars would have been out of the points if George had passed cleanly. 19 points vs a probable half dozen is a great result for them considering both cars were in the gravel at one point.
Leithen said:
Wolff would have been perfectly happy if Russell had overtaken Bottas without incident. He failed, Wolff is pissed off. Wolff will have also had an immediate view of Bottas's steering telemetry. He clearly thinks that he didn't do anything egregious.
Worse is Russell's response after the event. Adrenaline can explain some of it. But by the time he is in Parc Ferme talking to reporters, he ought to have wound his neck back in. That probably has been more of a black mark with Wolff than the accident itself.
George's comments about bottas after the event were very strong frankly unkind and unfair towards Bottas. I felt it was out for of character for George and also not at all in line with professionalism normally expected of Mercedes drivers - definitely a black mark for poor attitude! The actual event itself would have been quite forgettable (in n career terms) if he'd kept his trap shut afterwards.Worse is Russell's response after the event. Adrenaline can explain some of it. But by the time he is in Parc Ferme talking to reporters, he ought to have wound his neck back in. That probably has been more of a black mark with Wolff than the accident itself.
He's a young lad still though, plenty of time to learn and reflect.
swisstoni said:
When asked about ‘the Russell incident’ Lewis didn’t know what the reference was to. He didn’t consider other cars had played any part in his off.
Yes, Lewis said in the podium interview that he was a little impatient with the back markers, and simply misjudged how wet the track was offline when he was on the dry tyres. If George Russell genuinely thinks that that was a squeeze, given the amount of space Bottas actually left him, then heaven help him if he ever comes up against real racers like Verstappen & Hamilton.
He went down massively in my book yesterday, not only for not being able to manage his car positioning but more so for his reaction afterwards. He f
ked up & he's looking to blame everyone but himself. I haven't heard anyone attribute any blame to Bottas, other than for being so low down the order. As far as the shunt goes he did nothing wrong.
He went down massively in my book yesterday, not only for not being able to manage his car positioning but more so for his reaction afterwards. He f
ked up & he's looking to blame everyone but himself. I haven't heard anyone attribute any blame to Bottas, other than for being so low down the order. As far as the shunt goes he did nothing wrong. resolve10 said:
Toto saying George should have exercised caution due to the fact it was a Mercedes in front of him is poor form. Surely as his protégé he should want him to actually race and take the opportunities in front of him.
The crash actually played into Mercedes' hands as both cars would have been out of the points if George had passed cleanly. 19 points vs a probable half dozen is a great result for them considering both cars were in the gravel at one point.
+1The crash actually played into Mercedes' hands as both cars would have been out of the points if George had passed cleanly. 19 points vs a probable half dozen is a great result for them considering both cars were in the gravel at one point.
Toto should reward George. Big save for Lewis.
Bottas creating a mobile Mercedes chicane for a Williams is ridiculous and hilarious in equal measure.
George acted a dick, but most of the fastest guys do from time to time.
He's clearly fast, albeit inexperienced in many situations. And who can blame him? Wasting away in the Williams. Can't imagine he's had many opportunities to blast past someone for points.
Would like to see him in a better seat soon, its ridiculous he might have to sit there for a few more years potentially.
He's clearly fast, albeit inexperienced in many situations. And who can blame him? Wasting away in the Williams. Can't imagine he's had many opportunities to blast past someone for points.
Would like to see him in a better seat soon, its ridiculous he might have to sit there for a few more years potentially.
Didn't Bottas pit on the lap before the accident? Perhaps the Merc isn't as good as other cars at warming the tyres quickly hence why Bottas was so slow?
Having watched a replay I think there was a painted line on the circuit which caused Russell to spin the back wheels up and then subsequently drop the car.
Having watched a replay I think there was a painted line on the circuit which caused Russell to spin the back wheels up and then subsequently drop the car.
Mr_Thyroid said:
I like George. He comes across as a smart guy. But his argument that Valteri should care less about P9 that him is pretty daft.
Not sure he meant it like that. The bigger picture is that this race would have been a race to forget for VB, pootling around the top 10 when in theory he should be on the podium. On the other hand GR finishing in P9 would've offered Williams a big payday but inconsequential to the factory Merc in the grand scheme of things.
swisstoni said:
Derek Smith said:
I too think that it is an indictment of F1 that Wolff thinks that Russell should not have gone for the overtake because he's a Merc driver. He's a racing driver primarily.
I think Wolff is right that it was a poor choice of spot.
There is that thought that Russell should have slowed a bit more for LH or moved onto the wet, and that is what really riled him. But he can't say so as the spin was down to LH.
Interesting times.
It's refreshing to see LH make an unforced error. He is human it seems.
When asked about ‘the Russell incident’ Lewis didn’t know what the reference was to. He didn’t consider other cars had played any part in his off.I think Wolff is right that it was a poor choice of spot.
There is that thought that Russell should have slowed a bit more for LH or moved onto the wet, and that is what really riled him. But he can't say so as the spin was down to LH.
Interesting times.
It's refreshing to see LH make an unforced error. He is human it seems.
In any case, LH and LN seem to get on quite well, and LH isn't one to lash out with criticisms of other drivers unless they are well deserved.
A bloke with Hamilton's abilities should not have put himself into a position where a damp patch could take him out of the race.
Flanders. said:
Didn't Bottas pit on the lap before the accident? Perhaps the Merc isn't as good as other cars at warming the tyres quickly hence why Bottas was so slow?
Having watched a replay I think there was a painted line on the circuit which caused Russell to spin the back wheels up and then subsequently drop the car.
That is exactly the Mercs issue, they have confirmed that they have issues getting the tyre temps up.Having watched a replay I think there was a painted line on the circuit which caused Russell to spin the back wheels up and then subsequently drop the car.
Details of their struggles here: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.how-the...
Muzzer79 said:
This.
Regarding George, I think he was technically correct that Bottas jinked into him a little, but he really shouldn't have been there if it was that tight in respect to the dry line.
He undoubtedly has huge talent and he'll learn. It's easier to make a fast driver crash less than it is to make a driver who never crashes fast.
Lando is the one really impressing me at the moment - that's two great races from him this year and he's third in the championship, making Ricciardo (who, to be fair, is still acclimatising) look a little ordinary.
Before the season I said give Ricciardo 5 or 6 races to bed in before judging him against Norris, because it took him about that to settle and gain the upper hand at Renault. I didn't think Norris would be a huge threat for him ultimately. However, saying that, Norris this year is looking fantastic, and Ricciardo, despite being new, is indeed so far looking rather ordinary in that car.Regarding George, I think he was technically correct that Bottas jinked into him a little, but he really shouldn't have been there if it was that tight in respect to the dry line.
He undoubtedly has huge talent and he'll learn. It's easier to make a fast driver crash less than it is to make a driver who never crashes fast.
Lando is the one really impressing me at the moment - that's two great races from him this year and he's third in the championship, making Ricciardo (who, to be fair, is still acclimatising) look a little ordinary.
I'll give him time but meanwhile Sainz has been doing alright against Le Clerc, Perez has been impressing (well, up and down really) in what at least used to be a tricky Red Bull - he's making a few bad judgements and having some rotten luck but he's showing more potential than Gasly or Albon ever really showed - and he's still saying he needs to learn the car so we can expect more from him as he settles.
For me jury is still out for Ricciardo but despite my expectation that he needs time to get comfy in the car (or get the car comfy for him) I'm still underwhelmed by his performance in the McLaren so far. I expected a stronger start from him.
But Lando is definitely standing out right now, and I really like him as a character so he's one of the drivers I enjoy seeing do well.
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