265 replies to this topic

[ARTGP]

It must be said: https://streamable.com/vfkk6r

"The Mexican Minister of Defense" - somebody on Reddit
"The Lion" - somebody on Reddit

There are so so many technical elements in this battle between Hamilton and Perez that allowed Verstappen to close a gap of 8 seconds to Hamilton during the second stint of the race. I thought it would be nice to have a brief conversation on it and whether Lewis's claim of "dangerous driving" was valid.

1) In the first joust Checo exits T5 and does a bit of a zig and a zag, nothing abhorrent. Lewis has DRS so he breezes past. For some reason, rather than cover the inside line once he cleared Perez, Lewis decided to go back to the racing line. I thought this was unusual. Usually the overtaker keeps the inside line to guard against the re-pass. Lewis's tires were more than fresh enough to compensate for the shallow line. Perez on his 20 lap old soft tires simply sends it down the inside to re-take the lead into T6.

Edited by ARTGP, 13 December 2021 - 06:13.

[ARTGP]

2) Lap 20, Exit of Turn 7. Another critical juncture in the battle. Checo had the shallow inside line into T5 so Lewis performed what we call an "over and under" maneuver. However, there was a critical landmark approaching. The DRS detection zone .  Lewis gets a great drive out of T7, comfortably cutting back under Perez. His launch looks tremendous with his fresher tires. In this moment, you hear Lewis lift the throttle and back out of it but it's too late and he's realized what he has done. He beat Checo to the second DRS detection point. Perhaps Checo slowed deliberately to allow this to happen, or perhaps Lewis simply got too good of a run and forgot where he was on the circuit. Checo took full advantage and opens his DRS flap. Lewis leaves the door open on the inside and Checo takes the invitation a second time.

Edited by ARTGP, 13 December 2021 - 05:54.

[ARTGP]

3) Sector 3. Tremendous. Perfect technical execution of the "one move" rule.

 

Turn 10,11,12:

Edited by ARTGP, 13 December 2021 - 05:54.

[ARTGP]

Turn 14, Lap 20, 1 clear move from the racing line to the inside line:

Edited by ARTGP, 13 December 2021 - 05:56.

[ARTGP]

Turn 16, Lap 20, 1 clear move from the racing line to the inside line:

Edited by ARTGP, 13 December 2021 - 05:54.

[ARTGP]

Turn 1-4, Lap 21:

Edited by ARTGP, 13 December 2021 - 05:56.

[ARTGP]

T5, Lap 21, A wild Verstappen appears:

Edited by ARTGP, 13 December 2021 - 05:54.

[jonpollak]

Vamos Checo !!
Jp

[Arska]

I still haven't realized which part of Perez's driving was dangerous there.

[goldenboy]

He earnt his paycheck there that's for damn sure.

[mclarensmps]

I still haven't realized which part of Perez's driving was dangerous there.

 

Absolutely none. He was brilliant. I wish he could it on a more regular basis. 

[warp]

Checo and Lewis gave a masterclass of clean, hard racing right there.

Vamos, Checo!!

[baddog]

Amazing bit of driving. I am not his biggest fan (lol) but this paid for all.

[MikeTekRacing]

Checo is brilliant in racing.

[AustinF1]

I still haven't realized which part of Perez's driving was dangerous there.

I haven't heard anyone who can discern it either ... but then "dangerous" is Lewis's go-to line just about anytime anyone races him hard, no matter how cleanly they do it. There was nothing even close to dangerous or unfair about the way Checo raced Lewis. 

[AustinF1]

It must be said:  https://streamable.com/vfkk6r

 

"The Mexican Minister of Defense" - somebody on Reddit

"The Lion" - somebody on Reddit

Checo is DOTD imho. "Checo is a Legend", as Max put it.

[AustinF1]

Checo and Lewis gave a masterclass of clean, hard racing right there.

Vamos, Checo!!

It really was a great battle, on both sides. Lewis's complaints were the only blemish, however expected.

[kumo7]

 Fantastico,... Great Checco!

 

At the same time, very puzzled as to why we do not see that at every signle race... For I know the answer,... save the tire,... 

[Rediscoveryx]

Yeah, this was something we’ve probably never seen executed as well before. The only similar thing I can remeber was Schumacher at Sepang in 1999, but he was never at such a car/tyre-disadvantage as Checo was here. Absolutely brilliant stuff.

[276159]

The comment of Lewis shows whats wrong with current f1. Not blaming him at this specific, but the moment something happens, they are all on the radio complaining for a penalty.

This was almost Alonso, Hungary level of brilliance to help the team. It gave little hope back to everyone at home and gave RB the edge on VSC to make the decision what to do. Without this defence, Mercedes would have had a free pitstop under VSC

[AustinF1]

Yeah, this was something we’ve probably never seen executed as well before. The only similar thing I can remeber was Schumacher at Sepang in 1999, but he was never at such a car/tyre-disadvantage as Checo was here. Absolutely brilliant stuff.

Yeah a poster on a local board I frequent brought up this question about it:

 

Been watching F1 since 2010.  Has their been a teammate do anything close to that before with so much on the line?

 

Someone else might be able to remember an example, but I sure can't think of one off the top of my head. The way he just came back at Lewis over and over despite his tire disadvantage ... just outstanding. It was truly brilliant racing. I really think he spent most of the season coming to grips with that car. He really came on toward the end.

[Disgrace]

The comment of Lewis shows whats wrong with current f1. Not blaming him at this specific, but the moment something happens, they are all on the radio complaining for a penalty.

This was almost Alonso, Hungary level of brilliance to help the team. It gave little hope back to everyone at home and gave RB the edge on VSC to make the decision what to do. Without this defence, Mercedes would have had a free pitstop under VSC

 

Right. This team play in combination with Mercedes' fatally conservative approach won them the title just as much as the late safety car did. They needed both.

 

Perez had a somewhat underwhelming year, and this is reflected in the WCC loss, but he played his part in the WDC. A clear upgrade on what came before.

[absinthedude]

Great driving from both of them. Of course Checo wanted to make Lewis' life hard, within the rules and within what is considered "fair"...and he did just that. Never at any point doing anything unfair but making things as difficult for Lewis as he could. Was great to watch.

[kumo7]

Yup, the display was incredible. Fascnating, so much so that I kind of think that this will remain as long as the last lap...

Thanx you both, Lewis and Checco, thank you.

[Laptom]

Vamos Checo! Was indeed a great battle between the 2 and on the right time for Max. Great backup and team work.

[Stephane]

 Fantastico,... Great Checco!

 

At the same time, very puzzled as to why we do not see that at every signle race... For I know the answer,... save the tire,... 

Because not every defending driver wants to lose 8 seconds a lap. That would mean more places lost. Chose your battles, they say. Checo and RBR did not care a bit about his result today.

[masa90]

That battling was really good. Especially considering the tiredisadvantage.

Well done Checo.

[kumo7]

Because not every defending driver wants to lose 8 seconds a lap. That would mean more places lost. Chose your battles, they say. Checo and RBR did not care a bit about his result today.

 

I know,... by in tangling like this, he loses seonds off from his direct competitor.

 

Butall comes from the frame that everyone wants to become the WDC. Tonight could be the night the fans cheer Checo more than ,,...

I mean he made Max happen, the show does not exist without him.

Much like Brad Pitt for DeCaprio in Tarantino film, Pitt takes the center fold...

 

In a same logic I do believe that Formula 1 can cheer the number 2 much more, it can celebrate the skill, dedication .... Perhaps I am dreaming...

[MikeTekRacing]

Because not every defending driver wants to lose 8 seconds a lap. That would mean more places lost. Chose your battles, they say. Checo and RBR did not care a bit about his result today.

Most of those 8’sec were on purpose in sec 3

[Ferrim]

BTW, this showed that you can have a clean race against Lewis Hamilton.

Edited by Ferrim, 13 December 2021 - 08:15.

[MikeTekRacing]

BTW, this showed that you have a clean race again Lewis Hamilton.

Of couse you can
But this is not the evidence. He had all to lose from going over the line with Checo

[Jovanotti]

Did Checo intentionally slow down through the slow stuff or were the tyres actually that much over the cliff? Crazy how much time Max gained on them.
Great stuff Checo, you'd have never seen that from Albon/Gasly or Bottas a.k.a. the best teammate.

[Arundo]

After all Perez delivered, amazing defense nothing wrong with his defending yesterday.

I hope Perez can get closer to Max in 2022 and fight for the titles together. 

Edited by Arundo, 13 December 2021 - 07:13.

[MikeTekRacing]

Did Checo intentionally slow down through the slow stuff or were the tyres actually that much over the cliff? Crazy how much time Max gained on them.
Great stuff Checo, you'd have never seen that from Albon/Gasly or Bottas a.k.a. the best teammate.

Yes he did. He was crawling in S3

[AvranaKern]

It was really embarrassing to hear Toto complaining to Masi about this being dangerous driving.

[Eff1]

I also thought it was an outstanding bit of driving. Clean and precise. Well executed. 

I've seen team-mates "hold-up" the competition before - examples such as Malaysia 99, France 98, but with such a big tyre delta it was very impressive.

 

Do not underestimate the impact this had - those 8s could potentially have opened up the options to Hamilton/Merc during the VSC or SC. Perez doing this meant they were cornered into staying out in case of an eventual VSC/SC.

[AustinF1]

It was really embarrassing to hear Toto complaining to Masi about this being dangerous driving.

Toto, and Lewis.

[jpm2019]

Great fight. This track is pretty decent now.

 

Checo did very well. However he has been dead slow and useless most of the season. Don't forget that. 

[prty]

If Perez hadn't done that, Hamilton would have had enough gap to have a free pit stop and therefore change tyres during the SC.

[AustinF1]

Great fight. This track is pretty decent now.

 

Checo did very well. However he has been dead slow and useless most of the season. Don't forget that. 

He's really come on of late. I think he was just coming to grips with a very difficult car to master, esp compared to Max, as we've seen with other #2s at RBR.

[PayasYouRace]

It was some of the best wheel to wheel racing in Abu Dhabi. Perez should be proud of that.

Mercedes seem to have this worrying trend of crying “dangerous” whenever someone gets the better of them.

[Gareth]

Amazing driving from Checo. Made the difference (in combo with the safety cars) for the WDC. Take that time loss away, and Lewis gets to pit as well as Max.

Max owes Checo a pint, for sure!

[oli4]

I still haven't realized which part of Perez's driving was dangerous there.

Hamilton always whines and complains 

[goldenboy]

I thought it was a little bit rude when Perez asked after he finally pitted what the plan was, and his RE said something like "whatever will help Max" in a really dismissive way.

 

He seemed to come to his senses though and ever so generously tell Checo what his strategy now was...

[Clrnc]

Top class thread from ARTGP. Great effort, thanks mate. 

 

Checo did everything perfectly from a defensive racing POV. He was super super smart in knowing where to concede and where to attack. Even his biggest fan wouldn't have saw the re-pass coming given Merc huge advantage and his exit was compromised. 

 

A bit like Brazil, where he had no rights to fight Lewis spicy engine and he still re-passed. Pure Lion. One of the best car-to-car racers out there, always hard but clean.

 

I do wonder though, for the last move on the lap where Lewis finally passed, could he have gone even more aggressive (super super aggressive given Lewis half covered the inside) and dive down the inside instead of the outside? If he did that Max might have DRS on Lewis to pass 

[AustinF1]

I thought it was a little bit rude when Perez asked after he finally pitted what the plan was, and his RE said something like "whatever will help Max" in a really dismissive way.

 

He seemed to come to his senses though and ever so generously tell Checo what his strategy now was...

I could be wrong, but I heard that as "We're working out whatever will help Max".

[Lotusse7en]

So why did Lewis not do a Perez for that last lap ? 

[Ali_G]

It’s one thing for Hamilton and Toto to say it was dangerous. They were trying to get into Masi’s head.

A lot of people on the main thread on here also thought it was dangerous. I’m not sure what they thinking racing is. Checo was fantastic in those few laps yesterday.

[Clrnc]

So why did Lewis not do a Perez for that last lap ? 

He would have, had Max not unexpectedly attacked right at the start of the straights. Nobody saw that coming, it wasn't a place to pass. 

 

I believe Lewis saved all his batteries and would have done what Perez did to him. 

[Ferrim]

Of couse you can
But this is not the evidence. He had all to lose from going over the line with Checo

My God, the post you answered to was terrible from my part (or my autocorrector). Well done for correctly guessing what I meant: "BTW, this showed that you can have a clean race against Lewis Hamilton."

Yes, he had all to lose and was very conservative, but then Hamilton tends to drive conservatively these days.