370 replies to this topic

[messy]

Spa had 44 laps, 2 major overtaking points each lap.
Brazil had 71+24 laps. 2 major overtaking points each lap.

To be clear, I think Max yesterday was a 10/10 performance. He didn’t put a foot wrong. But was it a performance for the ages? Nah, he had it easy after that first lap (which was exceptional). You can’t mark him down, he did everything he needed to perfectly, but Perez just moved over, albeit not quite as quickly as he wanted, and nobody else posed any threat. The only guy who might have (although it’s a stretch these days) started behind him. Hamilton, from my point of view, had to make slightly riskier calls, take a few more chances, and was up against stronger opposition not least Verstappen himself who was in full on Angry Max mode as he saw his title slipping away from him. Hamilton had to come up behind him and get past, knowing full well that the stakes were really high. Yes he had the sprint to start clawing those places back, but it’s harder to pass at Interlagos and he had more work to do in the first place.

Both 10/10 performances, but all-timers to compete with Estoril ‘85 etc? Not for me.

[thefinalapex]

Austin 2018 is a better and very underrated drive from Verstappen.

[EightGear]

The first lap onboard is very intriguing. Very patient, lifting before Eau Rouge to NOT he anywhere close to the train ahead, then a very asserted move down the inside at Les Combes. Then he very nearly got his front wing clipped by the Williams when trying to avoid Stroll.

It was a very nice combination of carefulness and aggressiveness.

[geralt]

Perfect weekend by Max, definitely one of the most dominant displays I've ever seen. His race was perfection, but to me his quali is what really stood out. He looked at least a second quicker than everyone else without even trying too hard.

[Werbank]

I think that Hamilton last year in Brazil enjoyed greater car advantage (it was insane) than Verstappen yesterday.

Anyway, I'll always rate a win from the 10th+ position on the grid as an exceptional one, so this one was exceptional.

Not may drivers really won from such positions and Verstappen did it already twice this year.

I remember the sensation Schumacher caused winning from 15th in 1995, also at Spa (truth be told, his car was not a dominant one).

Edited by Werbank, 29 August 2022 - 11:41.

[Lowgrip]

I think that Hamilton last year in Brazil enjoyed greater car advantage (it was insane) than Verstappen yesterday.
Anyway, I'll always rate a win from the 10th+ position on the grid as an exceptional one, so this one was exceptional.
Not may drivers really won from such positions and Verstappen did it already twice this year.
I remember the sensation Schumacher caused winning from 15th in 1995, also at Spa (truth be told, his car was not a dominant one).

And again.. Just in case many have forgotten but last year it was much much difficult to follow cars and it is also harder to overtake in Brazil that at Spa.

Brazil 2021 would have been easier for Hamilton had it happened this year. So the number of laps he needed to take P1 should not be hold against him.

Last year in Brazil despite the car superiority some drivers put up some fight with Hamilton. But this year at Spa with Verstappen? Zero.

Yesterday drive from Verstappen was easier than Brazil 2021 from Hamilton.

Edited by Lowgrip, 29 August 2022 - 11:52.

[Spillage]

The sprint race was key in 2021 though - without it Lewis would never have won the race.

[Werbank]

And again.. Just in case many have forgotten but last year it was much much difficult to follow cars on a track with harder overtaking spots.

Brazil 2021 would have been easier for Hamilton had it happened this year. So the number of laps he needed to take P1 should not be hold against him.

Last year in Brazil despite the car superiority some drivers put up some fight with Hamilton. But this year at Spa with Verstappen? Zero.

Yesterday drive from Verstappen was easier than Brazil 2021 from Hamilton.

 

Maybe. I mean, I have my opinion...

Last year it was harder to follow, that is true, but long long straight and DRS zone in Brazil made it relatively easy.

Both were good drives in superior machinery.

Edited by Werbank, 29 August 2022 - 11:57.

[Rediscoveryx]

Do we need to conclude which 10/10 drive was the best (of Brazil-21 and Belgium-22)?

 

Once "Hamilton vs Verstappen" is a component the discussion tends to lose all its meaning anyway.

 

The partisan troops are too entrenched to admit that there might be instances when the other guy's weekend actually was as impressive, if not more impressive than the one that their own driver produced.

 

So if that possibility is off the table then there really is no point to the discussion.

Edited by Rediscoveryx, 29 August 2022 - 12:01.

[lewislorenzo]

I think that Hamilton last year in Brazil enjoyed greater car advantage (it was insane) than Verstappen yesterday.
Anyway, I'll always rate a win from the 10th+ position on the grid as an exceptional one, so this one was exceptional.
Not may drivers really won from such positions and Verstappen did it already twice this year.
I remember the sensation Schumacher caused winning from 15th in 1995, also at Spa (truth be told, his car was not a dominant one).

Max was pole by 8 tenths in Spa…Lewis was on pole by 0.3

RB this weekend was way faster

[Heyli]

Max was pole by 8 tenths in Spa…Lewis was on pole by 0.3

RB this weekend was way faster

Those numbers are not only pretty meaningless, they are also wrong... 

 

Lewis was on pole by ,438 (on a laptime of about 1.08)

Max was on pole by  ,632 (on a laptime of about 1.43,6)

Edited by Heyli, 29 August 2022 - 14:12.

[Casey]

Max had a new engine with better components , last year Mercedes introduced the spicy engine , a rocket that only had to last a couple of races .

They both did DRS flyby's on the straights and left no chance in hell for the competition .

 

I call it a draw and although spectacular to see a bit overhyped in both cases .

Edited by Casey, 29 August 2022 - 14:39.

[jjcale]

LH crashed out first lap ... would have been interesting to see what would have happened if he got to show his race pace.... MV would probably win but would it be a complete walkover for MV like yesterday was? .... not sure. .... and that would put a different spin on things. 

 

And bear in mind that LH has been the form driver, other than MV, for the previous few races ... so in reality he is MV's closest competition .... so its hard to rate yesterday as the closest competitor took himself out on the first lap.  

[P123]

Those numbers are not only pretty meaningless, they are also wrong... 

 

Lewis was on pole by ,438 (on a laptime of about 1.08)

Max was on pole by  ,632 (on a laptime of about 1.43,6)

 

Max didn't do a second run in Q3 at Spa, plus Lewis's car was DQ'd, so any comparison is tricky.  Both comfortable advantages.

[absinthedude]

Max was *on it* all weekend for sure, and it's one impressive weekend that will stand out in memory. He had the car for it, but I don't wish to take anything away from him. As impressive as any weekend Mansell had in 1992, for example. 

 

We can never quantify "the greatest ever" so the best we can do is pick a handful of racers' weekends that were memorable for perfect or near perfect performance from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon. Yesterday was one of them. Max lever looked like finishing anywhere lower than 1st, even starting 14th with a penalty. 

[jpm2019]

most impressive thing was that Max was just ON it from lap 1 on friday. 

 

 

No other driver drove below 1.50 on their first flying lap. 

 

Max did 1.47,5.

 

Crazy stuff

Edited by jpm2019, 29 August 2022 - 15:32.

[Sterzo]

Greatest ever? Don't know, don't care.

 

A great drive? Yes, fantastic, wonderful to watch.

[Paa]

The first lap onboard is very intriguing. Very patient, lifting before Eau Rouge to NOT he anywhere close to the train ahead, then a very asserted move down the inside at Les Combes. Then he very nearly got his front wing clipped by the Williams when trying to avoid Stroll.

It was a very nice combination of carefulness and aggressiveness.

 

Anybody has a link for the onboard of Verstappen's first lap?

[George Costanza]

Michael Schumacher 2000 Japanese Grand Prix IMHO.

[messy]

I remember watching Suzuka 2000 qualifying and Schumacher and Hakkinen were incredible, visibly quicker than everyone else. The way he withstood such a titanic challenge from Mika and worked his way ahead was immense that day, with a sprinkling of rain too. Shame about the veering off the line, but an incredible weekend from both those guys.

Edited by messy, 29 August 2022 - 16:06.

[GentlemanDriver091]

Anybody has a link for the onboard of Verstappen's first lap?

http://twitter.com/F...276437833490432