[Official] Bahrain Grand Prix 2021: Grand Prix Weekend Thread - Round 1 of 23

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Greem

It'll be a good fight, that's for sure.

fingers crossed.....

[Greem]

I have a feeling that Hamilton's experience is going to win out here. He knows *exactly* where to be quick and where he doesn't need to be, corner by corner.

It's fascinating.

(and then Hamilton runs wide)

[bjohnsonsmith]

Lewis runs wide.

[Greem]

Oh dear, Max. Great racing *but* overtaking off the track?

Ah - very honourable, giving the place back. So we go again.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Wow!

[chillibowl]

Generous give back imo.

[chillibowl]

Or was he ordered to give the spot back?

[crmalcolm]

Verstappen now looking scrappy..

[Greem]

Jeebus. I couldn't hold my breath a moment longer.

That was one of the best F1 races I've seen in *ages*.

[chillibowl]

Well that was fun!

[bjohnsonsmith]

First blood to Lewis.

[ascarracinguk]

THATS WHY YOU EMPLOY HAMILTON!!! Get in!

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Greem

Jeebus. I couldn't hold my breath a moment longer.

That was one of the best F1 races I've seen in *ages*.

Totally.

A great start to the budget cap era?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Apparently Race Control said Max should give the place back.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Apparently Race Control said Max should give the place back.

Yeah.

Would have liked to see him take the penalty and try to pull out that 5s rather then give the place back but thats hindsight.

Very mature drive from Max.

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

THATS WHY YOU EMPLOY HAMILTON!!! Get in!

This. Just this.

Sent from my AC2003 using Tapatalk

[FIRE]

Great race.

[Moneyseeker]

Not a LH fan but a great and truly champions drive. I think the RBR strategy let Max down today, how many time s do we hear about keeping track positiion and they simply left him too much to do IMO. As Brundle said in comm, it is also risky to rely on a strategy at the first race of the year, that leaves 2 or 3 laps of the race to pass another car when the possiblity of cars retiring near the end of the race can bring out a safety car.

All bodes well for the season though.

[ascarracinguk]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Not a LH fan but a great and truly champions drive. I think the RBR strategy let Max down today, how many time s do we hear about keeping track positiion and they simply left him too much to do IMO. As Brundle said in comm, it is also risky to rely on a strategy at the first race of the year, that leaves 2 or 3 laps of the race to pass another car when the possiblity of cars retiring near the end of the race can bring out a safety car.

All bodes well for the season though.

As Horner said, they didn’t believe hamilton could go that far on the tyre...no one did, they were just outfoxed by great strategy and a driver

[Knowlesy]

What a race.

The kids will need to do better than that to beat the champ I am afraid.

[Richard C]

I was wanting Max and Honda to win today (and frankly start the end of the Mercedes era). But this win was down to one person doing it just right. And that was Lewis.

I have to mention. During the recon lap. My son said... Mazepin will crash out first lap. I said... That is too typical of a prediction for him. I think he will settle down and make it through at least the first lap.

Mazepin's crash had the look of a classic red mist moment where you are thinking... I am being passed! I must try harder! And then buries the throttle and spins out.

Richard

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by ascarracinguk

As Horner said, they didn’t believe hamilton could go that far on the tyre...no one did, they were just outfoxed by great strategy and a driver

I think sometimes the strategists should let the drivers push the tyres more and in Perez RBR have a driver who can manage and extend tyre life better than anyone so they will get some feedback from him.

Unless the tyre is going to be in danger of failing, I think sometimes leave them out, the very top drivers will compensate and use their racecraft to manage gaps and make it hard to pass them.

Look at Hamilton last year at Silvestone, he got the win there on three wheels more or less, but pitting him for an extra stop would have meant no chance of a win.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

I was wanting Max and Honda to win today (and frankly start the end of the Mercedes era). But this win was down to one person doing it just right. And that was Lewis.

I have to mention. During the recon lap. My son said... Mazepin will crash out first lap. I said... That is too typical of a prediction for him. I think he will settle down and make it through at least the first lap.

Mazepin's crash had the look of a classic red mist moment where you are thinking... I am being passed! I must try harder! And then buries the throttle and spins out.

Richard

He was wild in F2 and also had some post race questionable aggression. I worry that rather than calm down he will get even more frustrated and wild as the season goes on. I bet no driver wants to be near him on the grid...!

[EastonNeston]

I wonder if there are any performance clauses in Mazapin's contract with Haas?
His performance levels this weekend, taking into account the level of the car, suggest the F1 is currently a level too high for him.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by EastonNeston

I wonder if there are any performance clauses in Mazapin's contract with Haas?
His performance levels this weekend, taking into account the level of the car, suggest the F1 is currently a level too high for him.

Generally if your (family) money is paying for the team to be on the grid, you don't include clauses in your own contract that may be difficult to achieve.