923 replies to this topic

[w1Y]

Will be hilarious if Verstappen jumps Bottas on the first lap.

I can easily see this happening. Both mercs having issues first lap and max ahead of both

[Burtros]

Mercedes are absolute unsporting clowns to try this, whether it works (very doubtful) or backfires (more likely).

Don't like it at all.

No doubt it’s unsporting but I don’t think either Red Bull or Mercedes really care anymore. The race to the bottom is on and has been for some time.

[anyeis]

You could slow down in the last sector and then push hard the last few corners

[keshav]

I don’t see the logic of moving Bottas back to compromise Verstappen. He could also compromise him from his original grid slot.

I don't understand too. Why would they do that? Can someone please explain the logic?

[ConsiderAndGo]

I don't understand too. Why would they do that? Can someone please explain the logic?

Logic? Dunno about that one.

Driving slower and cause a nice DRS train, stopping Verstappen from overtaking?? Bottas really needs Leclerc in between them, though.

Can see Leclerc nailing Bottas anyway off the start.

It really isn’t going to work.

Edited by ConsiderAndGo, 26 September 2021 - 09:49.

[Jordan44]

According to Andreas Haupt, there was a problem with the new engine he took last week

[Button4life]

The undercut will be very weak because there's almost no tyre wear around Sochi. The race might be decided after turn 2 for Hamilton. Especially if Ricciardo is able to get ahead of him at the start.

[BRK]

It's like Mercedes' tactics are being dictated by people on the internet. I swear I saw someone yesterday here suggesting in jest that Merc will shaft Bottas to block Verstappen.

[SilverArrow31]

Hey remember the flak Ferrari got for having Barichello move over for Michael before the finish line in Austria? This is new levels of pathetic.

That was so much worse! This matches Alonso and Massa at COTA... but not Austria

Edited by SilverArrow31, 26 September 2021 - 09:58.

[tagy22]

Has anyone even considered that Mercedes genuinely believe that Bottas wil need the new components at some point in this season and that it thus make perfect sense both for them and Bottas to take them at this race where Verstappen is starting from the back and Mercedes Bottas has shone before? It makes a thousand time more sense to play it like this rather than take the penalty in a later race where he will guaranteed start behind Verstappen.

 

This. I don't get all the unsporting talk, surely they want to take new engine parts anyway, and with Bottas poor qualifying and Verstappen at the back it makes sense to do it here.

[TomNokoe]

2 hours to go

race thread

[Kao18]

I realy didnt expect Mercedes would sink this low. I guess this move also shows they have zero interest in the wcc. Not losing the wdc to Max by any means possible seems to be their one and only interest.

[bananaSpanner]

I realy didnt expect Mercedes would sink this low. I guess this move also shows they have zero interest in the wcc. Not losing the wdc to Max by any means possible seems to be their one and only interest.

RB are just as bad - they dropped Perez out of the points just to steal 1 from Hamilton.

[KevD]

This. I don't get all the unsporting talk, surely they want to take new engine parts anyway, and with Bottas poor qualifying and Verstappen at the back it makes sense to do it here.

 

I admire your perseverence in defending Mercedes but they have already stated that this is purely a tactical move to screw Verstappen's race:

 

From the official F1-site: "A spokesperson from Mercedes confirmed that the decision to switch up Bottas’ power unit – which was also changed for the Italian Grand Prix two weeks ago, forcing Bottas to start from the back of the grid in Monza – was a tactical one, with Hamilton’s title rival Max Verstappen also starting at the back after taking on a fourth Honda power unit."

[ferrarista]

According to Andreas Haupt, there was a problem with the new engine he took last week

yes and the pigs can fly 😂

[KevD]

RB are just as bad - they dropped Perez out of the points just to steal 1 from Hamilton.

 

You really don't see the difference here? Bottas is fast enough for top three finishes and the occasional win. Also here in Russia he has been faster than Lewis in the dry. He is still very much fighting for third in the championship but Merc are cleary sabotaging his chances for personal success. Perez is a bystander this season. Too slow to be of any other use than to drive in the interest of the team. There is nothing else to gain for him. 

[smitten]

I admire your perseverence in defending Mercedes but they have already stated that this is purely a tactical move to screw Verstappen's race:

 

From the official F1-site: "A spokesperson from Mercedes confirmed that the decision to switch up Bottas’ power unit – which was also changed for the Italian Grand Prix two weeks ago, forcing Bottas to start from the back of the grid in Monza – was a tactical one, with Hamilton’s title rival Max Verstappen also starting at the back after taking on a fourth Honda power unit."

Screw Verstappen's race is one interpretation, but being able to do it and still keep yourself ahead of Verstappen seems like an okay tactical decision if you think that Bottas does/may need additional components. 

 

If we assume that Verstappen's car advantage continues this year, Mercedes won't have the opportunity again to take components and *still* be ahead of Verstappen on the grid.

[Roadhouse]

I wonder if McLaren and Williams got a message saying they really really need to replace their engines.

[tagy22]

I admire your perseverence in defending Mercedes but they have already stated that this is purely a tactical move to screw Verstappen's race:

 

From the official F1-site: "A spokesperson from Mercedes confirmed that the decision to switch up Bottas’ power unit – which was also changed for the Italian Grand Prix two weeks ago, forcing Bottas to start from the back of the grid in Monza – was a tactical one, with Hamilton’s title rival Max Verstappen also starting at the back after taking on a fourth Honda power unit."

 

Tactical yes, but that doesn't exclude them genuinely thinking they need new engine parts before the end of the season, so this would be be the best tactical time to do it.

 

If it turns out they are fine on engines and just wanted to put Bottas near Verstappen at the back of the grid then that would just be shooting themselves in the the foot imo.

[absinthedude]

No chance George or Lando will make it easy for Lewis, though they may well decide not to risk a crash they're going to race hard. Lando wants the win. George may have a Mercedes contract in his pocket but he still wants points in 2021. He's not going to give up either. 

[Hrco42]

Imagine the shitstorm if Bottas and Verstappen collide at the start

[smitten]

Imagine the shitstorm if Bottas and Verstappen collide at the start

I'd say if there's a collision, then Leclerc will be involved.

[B38]

One aspect of the Bottas move that strikes me as odd is that nobody can really assess how quick the Red Bull is in Russia. Perez's performance doesn't tell us much about the car's potential and Verstappen did nothing but some PU4 calibrating on Friday. So there is no way to know Mercedes has the pace to block a Red Bull. The Mercedes did look good on Friday, though.

It is also possible that the Mercedes is so much faster on this track that BOT will have a large gap on VER. We will see how things work out. Enjoy the race!

[Clatter]

Also more than 20 years ago, though BAR wasn't Tyrrell.

 

Didn't they race as Tyrell in 1998 before renaming?