F1 Aramco Gran Premio De España 2021 etc.

[PTRACER]

Bottom post of the previous page:

Really need Perez up there too. Not looking capable at the moment

Puts a new light on all the other 'failed' RB drivers

He's getting better, but I still feel like he was signed up to RBR based on ONE good performance (them being so desperate to get rid of Albon they would have taken anyone at that point).

Which one was that? Russia? Turkey? Nurburging? Bahrain 1, Bahrain 2?

Bahrain 2. Were those others really that good?

[DoubleFart]

4th in Russia and Nurby, 2nd in Turkey, on for 3rd when the engine failed at Bahrain 1.

He had a slow start, with a penalty putting him behind Stroll in one race, and missing 2 with COVID. That put him at a disadvantage as he didn't get the updates (which Stroll promptly destroyed week in, week out) and still thrashed Stroll.

[PTRACER]

Those kinds of results almost felt expected given he was driving a pink Mercedes.

[White six]

I think without Max the 2019 Merc could have looked like the 2nd best car last season. I like Perez and Bahrain was a great moment, but have never thought he looked special

[MonteCristo]

Again, doesn't make Lewis the greatest ever. Just means he's better than Bottas, which we've known and seen since 2017.

Can say he's the best of his generation though for the last 15 years. (Yes, yes, he hasn't had any other drivers to compare at Merc except Nico and Bottas, and neither are great. But all champions are enabled by their cars.)

He had a small overlap with Chin Snr at the twilight of his career. But regardless of how good or bad Michael was at the time, he didn't have the car to compare them.

The only lasting comparison, really, is against Vettel. And he's basically trashed his reputation more and more ever since Ricciardo arrived on the scene.

A bit depressing that Bottas has been a whipping boy for five years now though. Sigh.

[Everso Biggyballies]

Horner is saying that Perez needs to get himself more in the mix to stop giving Mercedes / Lewis options with strategy as they did last weekend.

If you look at the constructors points it is getting to be pretty much over. Ironically already Lewis has double Bottas points. Max more than double Perez.

1. Lewis HAMILTON 94
2. Max VERSTAPPEN 80
3. Valtteri BOTTAS 47
4. Lando NORRIS 41
5. Charles LECLERC 40
6. Sergio PEREZ 32

[DoubleFart]

Again, doesn't make Lewis the greatest ever. Just means he's better than Bottas, which we've known and seen since 2017.

Can say he's the best of his generation though for the last 15 years. (Yes, yes, he hasn't had any other drivers to compare at Merc except Nico and Bottas, and neither are great. But all champions are enabled by their cars.)

He had a small overlap with Chin Snr at the twilight of his career. But regardless of how good or bad Michael was at the time, he didn't have the car to compare them.

The only lasting comparison, really, is against Vettel. And he's basically trashed his reputation more and more ever since Ricciardo arrived on the scene.

A bit depressing that Bottas has been a whipping boy for five years now though. Sigh.

I don't believe he is though. I firmly believe that had Alonso been in the McLaren from 2008 and 2010-2012 then he may have won 1 or 2 titles, and I also believe that Alonso would have won EVERY title in the Merc if he'd been up against Rosberg and Bottas.

I'm not even an Alonso fan, but the point is out there - Alonso almost won titles in average cars, and could definitely have won in a better car.

[MonteCristo]

Again, doesn't make Lewis the greatest ever. Just means he's better than Bottas, which we've known and seen since 2017.

Can say he's the best of his generation though for the last 15 years. (Yes, yes, he hasn't had any other drivers to compare at Merc except Nico and Bottas, and neither are great. But all champions are enabled by their cars.)

He had a small overlap with Chin Snr at the twilight of his career. But regardless of how good or bad Michael was at the time, he didn't have the car to compare them.

The only lasting comparison, really, is against Vettel. And he's basically trashed his reputation more and more ever since Ricciardo arrived on the scene.

A bit depressing that Bottas has been a whipping boy for five years now though. Sigh.

I don't believe he is though. I firmly believe that had Alonso been in the McLaren from 2008 and 2010-2012 then he may have won 1 or 2 titles, and I also believe that Alonso would have won EVERY title in the Merc if he'd been up against Rosberg and Bottas.

I'm not even an Alonso fan, but the point is out there - Alonso almost won titles in average cars, and could definitely have won in a better car.

If it wasn't for Alonso and Hamilton going head-to-head and him alllllmost losing to a rookie, I'd agree.

[DoubleFart]

I let that pass because of the amount of shit going on behind the scenes.

[Cheeveer]

that Mercedes were in trouble pre-season was the biggest piece of made-up narrative that F1 has been dealt with in a while

[MonteCristo]

that Mercedes were in trouble pre-season was the biggest piece of made-up narrative that F1 has been dealt with in a while

Not since... "Rain due in 10 minutes" .

[DoubleFart]

What about when Ferrari turned up and were half a second quicker in 2018 or 2019, and found themselves almost a second off at Melbourne?

[Cheeveer]

What about when Ferrari turned up and were half a second quicker in 2018 or 2019, and found themselves almost a second off at Melbourne?

That was fantastical too.

To my eyes, it is Verstappen who is doing the hard work, being aggressive and going out on a limb with his driving.

Hamilton is in cruise mode, because his car allows him to be.

Bottas is on borrowed time at Mercedes and probably knows it, so he has no carrot to chase.

Perez had one poor race, he'll be on Verstappen's tail soon enough. Is it already forgotten that he already has charging from the back to 4th, outqualified Verstappen, and played the spoiler card on Mercedes already this year? Gasly and Albon was never even close to doing that, yet the spin is already that Horner "desperately needs" Perez in fight with Mercedes. That 2nd RBR seat seems hellishly toxic.

It may be closer in 2021, but it already stinks Mercedes (read Hamilton) walk over.

[Ruslan]

It's 0.5-1s a lap faster, and I will not accept anybody saying he's having to work hard for victories other than round 1.

Yes, but is that because the Mercedes is 0.3 seconds faster and Hamilton is 0.2 seconds faster than Verstappen; or is it that the Mercedes is 0.7 seconds faster and Verstappen is 0.2 seconds faster than Hamilton?

[Everso Biggyballies]

It's 0.5-1s a lap faster, and I will not accept anybody saying he's having to work hard for victories other than round 1.

Yes, but is that because the Mercedes is 0.3 seconds faster and Hamilton is 0.2 seconds faster than Verstappen; or is it that the Mercedes is 0.7 seconds faster and Verstappen is 0.2 seconds faster than Hamilton?

Or is it as Mercedes believe, that Red Bull’s deficit in races is down to it suffering higher rear tyre degradation, a factor that may not be as important at all Formula 1 tracks as it has recently.

Andrew Shovlin, MB's Engineering Director had this to say

“We are still not really at a stage where we go in thinking we’ve got a better race car or we are better at looking after the tyres,” he explained.

“It is actually quite hard to say what it was [in the Spanish GP]. We were able to sit behind them and, when you are the lead car and someone can sit on your gearbox for a whole stint, it is not normally good news.

“But we are still in the stage of the year where we are collecting data across the different tracks. But it does look to be a bit of a trend that maybe we have got a slightly more neutral car.

“Theirs seems to be a bit harder on the rear tyres over a stint whereas we are using both axles quite well. But we will see with some more data whether that is really a feature of the car or just how we are setting it up.”

What seems undeniable though, is that Red Bull are a lot closer this year than last.

[Circuitmaster]

Horner is saying that Perez needs to get himself more in the mix to stop giving Mercedes / Lewis options with strategy as they did last weekend.

If you look at the constructors points it is getting to be pretty much over. Ironically already Lewis has double Bottas points. Max more than double Perez.

1. Lewis HAMILTON 94
2. Max VERSTAPPEN 80
3. Valtteri BOTTAS 47
4. Lando NORRIS 41
5. Charles LECLERC 40
6. Sergio PEREZ 32

I gotta say, while I'd put my money on Mercedes before Red Bull, I certainly wouldn't say that it's pretty much over. Especially as Sergio may still be settling in with his new team.

It'll be hard for Red Bull, but I wouldn't be surprised if Perez began to bring it to Bottas.