[Official] Russian Grand Prix 2021: Grand Prix Weekend Thread - Round 15 of 22

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Adam43

this is a radical theory, but Bottas gets a new PU because he needed one. How’s a good a time as any considering he didn’t manage to qualifying up front. Better than doing it when you’ve put it on pole.

Oh Adam, do stop bringing sanity into the conversation. It just doesn't work

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Greem

Oh Adam, do stop bringing sanity into the conversation. It just doesn't work

No, disgraceful approach..... Shouldn't be allowed anywhere near an internet discussion forum.....

[chillibowl]

Alonso lol!

[tux]

No one ever seems to defend?

[chillibowl]

Sainz doing a good job keeping Norris behind him though.

good battle.

[Greem]

Great pass on Sainz by Norris.

Red Bull and Mercedes seem all at sea strategically though. I'm very confused as to what they're up to!

Rooting for Norris though. He's having a great drive.

[chillibowl]

wow turning into a classic ending!

[chillibowl]

man they are gutsy to not pit for inters!

[Greem]

Good lord. I can hardly breathe.

[Greem]

Oh, Lando

[fieldodreams79]

Well that was fun. Gutted for Norris.

[chillibowl]

a huge risk to take but my admiration for the kid has gone up tremendously.

small consolation though.

[Greem]

What a fabulous race.

I feel stupendously disappointed and sorry for Lando. What a way to lose your first win

[dcp2685]

What a race. Sorry for Lando. Think he would have pulled it out, but glad Max got P2.

[bathurst77]

merc won that race for lewis and mclaren lost it for lando with the tyre calls at the end. They should have forced lando to box

but max from last to 2nd in those conditions was a drive to remember
did i mention how f1 is just a big snore fest these days, so boring

[greentrumpet]

Lando deserved that but it's a tough game, he really doesn't have a face for poker!

[bjohnsonsmith]

I missed the race and just catching the end of highlights on C4.

Congrats to Lewis on his 100th GP win; amazing. Got to feel sorry for Nozza. It was a gamble and unfortunately it didn't come off bur we've seen what he is capable of this weekend. That first win can't be far off.

Verstappen's second place is impressive.

[Adam43]

Max and the team made the right call at the right time and grabbed second. It was good, but I’m not seeing it as great. Needed that to achieve anything of note.

Hamilton and also Bottas benefitted too. Credit to them too, but both, especially Bottas, needed it to achieve their result.

[steve_r]

Usually late rain brings about a mix up in the result, but this time the rain meant that we ended up with the same 1st 2 that we have done almost all season.

Norris drove so well, but of course with hindsight his team should have insisted that he pitted, but we could see what they were trying to do.

Great race.

[Taxi645]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Max and the team made the right call at the right time and grabbed second. It was good, but I’m not seeing it as great. Needed that to achieve anything of note.

Agreed, Verstappen at one point was 3s behind Hamilton and then still had the hard compound advantage. To then finish 53s behind....

Verstappen still seams to miss the patience to sit tight even jf it's behind a slightly slower car, preserve your tyres and wait till you can convert your compound advantage to better tyres at the end of the race.

What's the use of sacrificing your compound advantage, then pit for new ones too early and then get stuck again and waisting a fresh set?

[Aysedasi]

Absolutely gutted for Lando. Heart allowed to rule head.... If McLaren had forced him in the same time as Lewis, who knows.....

[gert]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Absolutely gutted for Lando. Heart allowed to rule head.... If McLaren had forced him in the same time as Lewis, who knows.....

Probably Hamilton would have won and Norris would have taken second?
I think Hamilton/Mercedes just has more of an edge on Norris/McLaren in the wet.

But 2nd would have been Lando's given Max finished > 50s behind.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

merc won that race for lewis and mclaren lost it for lando with the tyre calls at the end. They should have forced lando to box

Yes, I am so disappointed for Lando, but to be fair he did seem to have a big part in the decision to stay out. But every other aspect of his weekend was just brilliant so he has to have gone even higher in everyone's estimation.

Mention should also be made of George Russell's brilliant qualifying, which far exceeded his previous giant-killing performances. He was hanging on pretty well in the early laps too, but it all came unstitched when he pitted early.

[TrapezeArtist]

Anyone know why C4 was broadcasting from Milton Keynes? Have they upset the Russkies and couldn't get visas?

[Tourer]

There was something happening every lap of that race - wow, non-stop action and plenty of nail-biting too.

The final result really does show (again) that F1 is a team sport - using slicks on a damp track, Lando was able to edge away from Lewis and both wanted to stay out to settle it but good call by the Mercedes bunker. We also saw a number of slow pit stops (I honestly can't remember so many in one race for quite some time) which had big impacts, again showing the team aspect of the sport.

So disappointed for Lando - it was his weekend - qualified well, out in front during the race and when his chaser got close, banged in a fastest lap to make a point - had it all under control until the heavy rain shower out the back - no question in my mind that his time WILL come.