[Official] Driver of the race: Spanish Grand Prix

[MagnetON]

Vettel, superb result from that far back.

[MagnetON]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

Even getting grumpy because he hadn't been given times for 2 consecutive laps, just ended up sounding childish.

I think the phrase used on the Ten-Tenths Towers couch was "Awwwww, someone is cranky, maybe he didn't get his nap!"

[mikuni]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

I haven't found the handling complaints, but here's some of the communications:

Engineer: "Lewis, zero to Nico last lap, gap 3.8."
Hamilton: "Where have you been the last few laps?"
Engineer: "Just letting you get through the traffic."

After this one I was waiting for the usual "Shh, just let me race man!"

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

Didn't he say at one point that the car was horrible and oversteering everywhere? And on the very next lap went 1s faster than Rosberg. Something along those lines anyway. When's the last time you heard a driver so rattled despite lapping at least one car from every single team bar RB. I think overall most of Hamilton's radio communication that they broadcast seemed tense. Even getting grumpy because he hadn't been given times for 2 consecutive laps, just ended up sounding childish.

I haven't found the handling complaints, but here's some of the communications:


Engineer: "The rear tyres are cool, we are not sure if we are over protecting them."
Hamilton: "No! I already have oversteer, I am not going to open up my diff and give myself more."

Engineer: "Lewis, zero to Nico last lap, gap 3.8."
Hamilton: "Where have you been the last few laps?"
Engineer: "Just letting you get through the traffic."

Engineer:" Three turns down the for next stop."
Hamilton: "No, not three, why are you doing that? I want the normal two."

Hamilton: "How was last lap? Was it too slow?"
Engineer: "No pace was good at the end of the stint."
Hamilton: "Then why did you bring me?"
Engineer: "We are keeping you on the optimum strategy. Gap to Nico four seconds."
Hamilton: "It used to be 5.2."

Hamilton: "How much time did I lose in the pit-stop?"
Engineer: "Nico lost more in traffic, don't worry about that now."

Well, I think you may have just discovered that LH is what is known as a 'racing driver'. You know, someone who's job it is to get round a track a set number of times, whilst doing it faster than anyone else. Contrary to popular belief, this is actually quite difficult and can lead to stressful situations, especially when there is another car containing a 'racing driver' just behind you.

[Mekola]

This time I voted Ricciardo since it's his first podium.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

Didn't he say at one point that the car was horrible and oversteering everywhere? And on the very next lap went 1s faster than Rosberg. Something along those lines anyway. When's the last time you heard a driver so rattled despite lapping at least one car from every single team bar RB. I think overall most of Hamilton's radio communication that they broadcast seemed tense. Even getting grumpy because he hadn't been given times for 2 consecutive laps, just ended up sounding childish.

I haven't found the handling complaints, but here's some of the communications:


Engineer: "The rear tyres are cool, we are not sure if we are over protecting them."
Hamilton: "No! I already have oversteer, I am not going to open up my diff and give myself more."

Engineer: "Lewis, zero to Nico last lap, gap 3.8."
Hamilton: "Where have you been the last few laps?"
Engineer: "Just letting you get through the traffic."

Engineer:" Three turns down the for next stop."
Hamilton: "No, not three, why are you doing that? I want the normal two."

Hamilton: "How was last lap? Was it too slow?"
Engineer: "No pace was good at the end of the stint."
Hamilton: "Then why did you bring me?"
Engineer: "We are keeping you on the optimum strategy. Gap to Nico four seconds."
Hamilton: "It used to be 5.2."

Hamilton: "How much time did I lose in the pit-stop?"
Engineer: "Nico lost more in traffic, don't worry about that now."

See, apart from the "how much time did I lose in the pits" question (which I felt a pointless thing to ask, because it couldn't be changed) I'm not sure what is so wrong here?

We know Lewis is quite sharp on the radio in tone, but that is about all you can say. And nobody cares and it doesn't matter.

Yes, he went a second faster than Rosberg the next lap (if indeed it was the very next lap, these transmissions are time delayed) after his oversteer complaint. Well, maybe they changed a setting, maybe Rosberg had traffic or backed off to cool the tyres for a lap?

Does it matter?

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

We know Lewis is quite sharp on the radio in tone, but that is about all you can say. And nobody cares and it doesn't matter.

So, there you are, doing 200mph whilst steering, avoiding backmarkers, managing the DRS, altering diff and brake balance and all the other stuff a modern F1 driver need to do. And people expect them to talk calmly on the radio?

Are the people who think drivers should behave like robots the same ones who are so against all the technology in the cars, making the drivers more like robots?

[Greem]

Vettel. Storming drive. The RB is starting to look like a decent foil to the Mercs, but has a way to go yet.

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I was going to give it to Maldonado for trying to diminish the field as usual! but I think Hammy deserves it for another good drive from the front.

I was going to go with Maldonado for his superb comedy efforts on both Saturday and Sunday. In the end though I went for Vettel - good recovery.

[numbersix]

I suspect what "Driver of the Race" actually means is very subjective.

Most exciting to watch? Arguably Maldonardo! Certainly on the first lap or so.

Best come-back? Must be Vettel.

Best for exceeding expectations? The rookie, Ricciardo, quietly ends up nearly half a minute in front of the 'great' four-times world champion in the same car, yet again. Do I see a future champion? I think so.

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by JamesH

Well, I think you may have just discovered that LH is what is known as a 'racing driver'. You know, someone who's job it is to get round a track a set number of times, whilst doing it faster than anyone else. Contrary to popular belief, this is actually quite difficult and can lead to stressful situations, especially when there is another car containing a 'racing driver' just behind you.

Agreed. If there had been pit-to-car radio when I was racing, I think it might have required a full-time bleep-man before considering broadcasting it. Either that, or it would have been totally silent because I wouldn't have had sufficient brain capacity left over for communication. Modern F1 broadcasting lets us into the secret world of some quite remarkable people. I don't think we should judge them by the standards of we ordinary mortals.

[Zico]

Originally Posted by TrapezeArtist

Agreed. If there had been pit-to-car radio when I was racing, I think it might have required a full-time bleep-man before considering broadcasting it. Either that, or it would have been totally silent because I wouldn't have had sufficient brain capacity left over for communication. Modern F1 broadcasting lets us into the secret world of some quite remarkable people. I don't think we should judge them by the standards of we ordinary mortals.

Are the current crop of F1 drivers really that remarkable in having to/being able to multitask? It could be argued that they are all just a bunch of over hyped prima donnas with rich daddies and good connections.

Statistically there is a much larger chance that the true aliens (Sennas of the world) that come to F1 once in a lifetime are all just ordinary mortal forum members on here, like you and I... for whatever reason, we just never got the chance!

[Neil22]

Vettel was outstanding and all three on the podium weren't half bad.

[FAS33]

Originally Posted by Razzzor

Didn't he say at one point that the car was horrible and oversteering everywhere? And on the very next lap went 1s faster than Rosberg. Something along those lines anyway. When's the last time you heard a driver so rattled despite lapping at least one car from every single team bar RB. I think overall most of Hamilton's radio communication that they broadcast seemed tense. Even getting grumpy because he hadn't been given times for 2 consecutive laps, just ended up sounding childish.

I haven't found the handling complaints, but here's some of the communications:


Engineer: "The rear tyres are cool, we are not sure if we are over protecting them."
Hamilton: "No! I already have oversteer, I am not going to open up my diff and give myself more."

Engineer: "Lewis, zero to Nico last lap, gap 3.8."
Hamilton: "Where have you been the last few laps?"
Engineer: "Just letting you get through the traffic."

Engineer:" Three turns down the for next stop."
Hamilton: "No, not three, why are you doing that? I want the normal two."

Hamilton: "How was last lap? Was it too slow?"
Engineer: "No pace was good at the end of the stint."
Hamilton: "Then why did you bring me?"
Engineer: "We are keeping you on the optimum strategy. Gap to Nico four seconds."
Hamilton: "It used to be 5.2."

Hamilton: "How much time did I lose in the pit-stop?"
Engineer: "Nico lost more in traffic, don't worry about that now."

Hamilton, da whinging pom

I love how the commentators defended him all the time

Vettel should be the DOTR

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by FAS33

Hamilton, da whinging pom

I love how the commentators defended him all the time

Vettel should be the DOTR

Agreed about Vettel, but ref. the whinging Pom. Would that be the whinging Pom who beat everyone else fair and square, including that roo botherer Ricciardo (by 50 seconds)?

If whinging makes him drive that fast, fair dinkum on him.

Although anyone who thinks that radio traffic between driver and pits counts as whining, really has no idea.

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by Zico

Are the current crop of F1 drivers really that remarkable in having to/being able to multitask? It could be argued that they are all just a bunch of over hyped prima donnas with rich daddies and good connections.

Statistically there is a much larger chance that the true aliens (Sennas of the world) that come to F1 once in a lifetime are all just ordinary mortal forum members on here, like you and I... for whatever reason, we just never got the chance!

Yes. They are quite remarkable. You only have to look at Maldonado to see how good the rest are. He's had every opportunity and keep making a right pigs ear of it.

Although I would agree, there is probably an even faster driver out there than the current (and past), drivers, who has never had a chance to drive a race car. It's not me, I've raced, and was OK, but the really good people were really good.

[FAS33]

Originally Posted by JamesH

Agreed about Vettel, but ref. the whinging Pom. Would that be the whinging Pom who beat everyone else fair and square

yes, that's the one.

[chillibowl]

i went for LH.

SV had a great drive but on a day dominated by teammate battles i needed him to beat his in order to get my DOTR vote.

[Born Racer]

Between Grosjean and Bottas for me. Plumped for the Lotus driver in the end to even up the numbers a bit and because he was driving a Lotus, which is not as good as the Williams yet.

It's good to see the Vettel appreciation. I would've liked to have seen him somehow finish ahead of his team-mate, though, to have given him DOTR, personally.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

It's good to see the Vettel appreciation. I would've liked to have seen him somehow finish ahead of his team-mate, though, to have given him DOTR, personally.

Vettel was on a fuel economy run from fairly early on in the race!

So had no chance of chasing down his team mate.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by wnut

Vettel was on a fuel economy run from fairly early on in the race!

So had no chance of chasing down his team mate.

fair point and even if SV had caught up i imagine DR, who wasnt really challenged, would have had more fuel available to him during the closing stages...to me that just points to how DR had his car in a better position than his team mate all race thus making DR's race the better of the two.

anyways this thread is very subjective and im not really sure if i should take take quali performance into account or base it on who makes up the most spots during the race, or other criteria?

surely driver of the race is different than driver of the weekend. in truth when i voted for LH i probably had driver of the weekend in mind.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by wnut

Vettel was on a fuel economy run from fairly early on in the race!

So had no chance of chasing down his team mate.

Why was Vettel on a a fuel economy run?

[LesterForbes]

Vettel driver of the Spanish GP for me. A champions drive.

[mikuni]

If Vettel has stuffed his qualifying putting him back in the pack then making up the places it wouldn't have been as special, granted.

However, his poor position was due to not making Q3 due to a gearbox failure and a subsequent penalty for having the gearbox replaced. It's hardly his fault, though I guess some people would argue it is indirectly his fault for being rough on the car.

Vettel was put back in the pack through a situation that was outside of his control. He made up around 15 places (I forget already exactly how many) and gained ground on his team mate at certain times during the race, if not passing him. I'm not a huge Vettel fan, but if you can't see why many have voted for him you are more one eyed than the rest of us.

[Born Racer]

I don't understand the comments with regards to Vettel and fuel economy.