[Official] Driver of the Grand Prix: Austrian Grand Prix 2017

[Born Racer]

Who do you think it is?

[Ospi]

Ricciardo for me, his laps to keep Hamilton at bay were mega when I was watching the timing, no one apart from those two was anywhere near that pace.

[stripedcat]

Bottas for me. Just on it all weekend. Took pole and lead the race and won it. Just in a class of his own - and resisted pressure from Vettel.

Special mention to Riccardio. Another good race for him - I bet Max wasn't happy.

[GT6]

Has to be valtteri top spot and pole position, can't do better than that

[bjohnsonsmith]

Bottas. Kept it together from start to finish.

[Aysedasi]

Grosjean - a great performance.

[TrapezeArtist]

It would be hard to deny Driver of the Grand Prix to someone who took pole, lead all the way (apart from the pit stops) and won the race. Add to that a lightning start and it has to be Valerie Bottas.

[FAS33]

Daniel Ricciardo cause he's Australian. And we Aussies rule the planet.

[Neil22]

Bottas, outstanding weekend.

[F1Guy]

Voted for my favourite driver of all time.

[Razzzor]

The problem with Bottas is that overall he was slower than Hamilton. While Hammy was complaining about tyres all the time and the commentary team playing it up all they can, he's still closing in on him every lap. If Hamilton didn't get stuck down the grid he may have beaten Bottas. Two Mercs separated by only 7.4s when one started 8th means there's no real standout performance there. In fact you'd probably give the better race performance to Hamilton. Bottas did the better qualifying.

I thought Ferrari didn't reach their potential. On the rare races that Lewis has troubles and has to take a technical penalty, Vettel needs to win. Not let Bottas beat him and finish only 5 seconds ahead of Dani. I guess Dani probably deserves DOTR for the front guys, but it's hard to know what pace Verstappen might have had as well because he seems to have run over several black cats.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

The problem with Bottas is that overall he was slower than Hamilton. While Hammy was complaining about tyres all the time and the commentary team playing it up all they can, he's still closing in on him every lap.

Bottas had trouble with tyres too don't forget - it's just he wasn't on the radio whinging about it every 2 minutes like Snoop Hammy Hamm.

DOTR a toss up between Ricciardo, Bottas and Grosjean for me. Grosjean gets the nod in the end because it's probably the only one he'll get all season.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

The problem with Bottas is that overall he was slower than Hamilton. While Hammy was complaining about tyres all the time and the commentary team playing it up all they can, he's still closing in on him every lap. If Hamilton didn't get stuck down the grid he may have beaten Bottas. Two Mercs separated by only 7.4s when one started 8th means there's no real standout performance there. In fact you'd probably give the better race performance to Hamilton. Bottas did the better qualifying.

I thought Ferrari didn't reach their potential. On the rare races that Lewis has troubles and has to take a technical penalty, Vettel needs to win. Not let Bottas beat him and finish only 5 seconds ahead of Dani. I guess Dani probably deserves DOTR for the front guys, but it's hard to know what pace Verstappen might have had as well because he seems to have run over several black cats.

Lewis thought he had the strongest race.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130642

[S griffin]

I'm voting for Ricciardo because he managed to get his car up there on merit and held off a charging Lewis at the end despite both drivers' tyres blistering badly

[bauble]

I rarely vote for a driver, as I rarely see anything of great merit, but that is a personal thing, however, one way of looking at it might be;

Prior to the race weekend what would you expect from each individual driver?

Hamilton or Vettel to win.

Bottas, Ricicardo, Raikkonnen, Verstappen on the podium.

Perez, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Massa, Sainz, in the top ten.

Kvyat, Stroll, Alonso (?), Magnusson, Grosjean honourable mention.

Van Dorne Palmer, Erricson, Werlhein bringing up the rear.

OK, just a rough guide I admit, but were Sainz to win that would be something special for instance.

So who in Austria exceed expectations?

From podium place to top step for Bottas was not particularly startling, was it?

Vettel second no great surprise .. and so on ...the one driver 'out of position' was Grosjean.

Hmm.... just a thought.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

Two Mercs separated by only 7.4s when one started 8th means there's no real standout performance there. In fact you'd probably give the better race performance to Hamilton. Bottas did the better qualifying.

The problem with this kind of reasoning is that we never know if Bottas was just going as fast as he needed to to keep Vettel off, or if he couldn't go any faster.

Maybe he could have finished 20 seconds in front if needed (if Vettel was quicker), maybe he couldn't.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

I thought Ferrari didn't reach their potential. On the rare races that Lewis has troubles and has to take a technical penalty, Vettel needs to win.

I don't really agree with this either. I think Ferrari was second-best all weekend long.
If they can't get VET-HAM-...., I'm sure Ferrari and Vettel rather have BOT-HAM-VET than HAM-BOT-VET or HAM-VET-BOT.
(*)

BOT-VET-(RIC)-HAM is even better. I think Ferrari will see this as more points gained instead of points lost (due to not winning).
Sure, a win would have been even better, but they will still be pretty happy with this result I reckon


(*) Just not *too* many times, or Bottas will get a factor, too.

[chillibowl]

Bottas for me.

surely he squarely in the WDC frame now and Merc really should be looking to announce a contract extension for him before he racks up any more wins and his price tag goes up even more!

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by bauble

.. and so on ...the one driver 'out of position' was Grosjean.

Hmm.... just a thought.

On this occasion, I take high pleasure from agreeing with you. It has to happen from time to time - law of averages......

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by gert

I don't really agree with this either. I think Ferrari was second-best all weekend long.
If they can't get VET-HAM-...., I'm sure Ferrari and Vettel rather have BOT-HAM-VET than HAM-BOT-VET or HAM-VET-BOT.
(*)

BOT-VET-(RIC)-HAM is even better. I think Ferrari will see this as more points gained instead of points lost (due to not winning).
Sure, a win would have been even better, but they will still be pretty happy with this result I reckon


(*) Just not *too* many times, or Bottas will get a factor, too.

Is the Hamvetbot the new driverless racing formula.....?

[Razzzor]

Originally Posted by gert

I don't really agree with this either. I think Ferrari was second-best all weekend long.
If they can't get VET-HAM-...., I'm sure Ferrari and Vettel rather have BOT-HAM-VET than HAM-BOT-VET or HAM-VET-BOT.
(*)

Yes I'm sure Ferrari would prefer Bottas ahead of Hamilton if they can't beat them.

The problem is Merc are finding their groove and by the end of the season, I believe, Ferrari won't be beating them at all anymore. So Ferrari need to absolutely maximise their first half season and get out enough points that finishing 3rd later isn't going to cost too much.

If Bottas keeps winning any race that Hamilton has any problems, he'll soon be part of the title fight.

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

Yes I'm sure Ferrari would prefer Bottas ahead of Hamilton if they can't beat them.

The problem is Merc are finding their groove and by the end of the season, I believe, Ferrari won't be beating them at all anymore. So Ferrari need to absolutely maximise their first half season and get out enough points that finishing 3rd later isn't going to cost too much.

If Bottas keeps winning any race that Hamilton has any problems, he'll soon be part of the title fight.

Well if Ham and Bot keep taking points of each other, Vet can only benefit. Far better to share the points between his rivals and keep on picking up his own. He has won a Championship that way, as did Alain Prost if I recall correctly.

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

On this occasion, I take high pleasure from agreeing with you. It has to happen from time to time - law of averages......

Please don't make a habit of it, I prefer to be the only one right all of the time.

[Aysedasi]

I'll do my best to keep myself in check!

[bauble]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I'll do my best to keep myself in check!

Thank you, you ae a gentleman.