Good race. Merc strategy was excellent and HAM delivered.
BOT needs to work on his start, racecraft, etc. MAX is a force for sure, this track is perfect for Redbull though. McLaren midfield leaders it seems, Gasly useless as always.
Long break ahead, but Spa and Monza should be Ferrari territory.
Last edited by VĒmp; 08-04-2019 at 11:01 AM.
Great race by Lewis. He loves "hammer time". He and Max are in their own class, no one else even close IMO.
It's exciting times now that Max is mixing it up with Mercedes and Ferrari more consistently.
I'd love to see just about anyone else in the second Redbull other than Gasly. Literally anyone.
Also, how disheartening was it for Ferrari to see both Redbull and Mercedes pull a 10+ second gap by lap 3? Ferrari looked more suited to be racing in the 1.5 GP today with McLaren and CO.
Max vs Ham. Finally.
CARS
02.92 325is / 06.72 2002 / 02.91 XJ / 08.04 R53 JCW
One of the best races I've ever seen. It had it all: wheel to wheel battles throughout the field, including at the front, and a late aggressive strategy for the win that Lewis made work with great driving. I didn't think there was time to get to Max (a second per lap is a lot), and just catching him was never the point. Getting around him was going to be too hard. Germany was crazy, but Hungary was sublime.
And as for Gasly, I vote for Bottas to Red Bull and Ocon to Valteri's seat. Maybe Gasly can have Kubica's seat...
I don't mind Bottas, Leclerc messed up his race in Hungary, and really he is facing the best driver of this generation in HAM, and Merc WCC has not been threatened the past 2 years.
But if he were to be replaced, i'd prefer George Russell. Performed well in GP2/F2 and is driving the hell out of that crap Williams, even lapping Kubica in a race. Checo beat Ocon at Force India, and he is very volatile, would upset the Merc team dynamics.
Ricciardo to Merc.
Bottas to Renault.
Gasly to TR.
Kvyat to RB.
Ocon to Haas.
Magnussen to Williams.
CARS
02.92 325is / 06.72 2002 / 02.91 XJ / 08.04 R53 JCW
RIC has 2 year contract, so not available to anyone until 2021. Kvyat to RB would be good. His racing this year is excellent, him and Albon are doing great. Ocon to Renault i think, to replace Hulk who would probably end up at Haas. Magnussen and Grosjean should not be in F1.
That sounds feasible. Thought Ric was on a one year. No matter. Merc will keep Bottas. No drama wing man for Lewis.
CARS
02.92 325is / 06.72 2002 / 02.91 XJ / 08.04 R53 JCW
2020: Grosjean retires/gets dropped. Ocon to Haas. Gasly back to TR, Kvyat to RB. Kubica out.
2021: Vettel to Merc, Hamilton to Ferrari.
'14 Evora S - Chrome Orange/Ebony
'02 M5 - Carbon Black/Silverstone
'15 M235i xDrive - Mineral Grey/Black
Gotta hand it to Marko & Horner.
Albon promoted to Red Bull from SPA.
Gasly to return to Torro Rosso.
CARS
02.92 325is / 06.72 2002 / 02.91 XJ / 08.04 R53 JCW
Interesting. I thought if anything, Kvyat would be recalled. A lot of pressure on Albon, even MAX wasn't elevated to RB this fast.
I hope he cancels his vacation and is on the simulator everyday until Spa.
I wonder if this was Gasly's choice. Did they sit down with him and say look, this is killing your career. We could send you back to TR, let you reset where you had success, grow and gain experience, and maybe your career isn't totally ruined. What do you want to do?
CARS
02.92 325is / 06.72 2002 / 02.91 XJ / 08.04 R53 JCW
Kvyat did squander his opportunity when he got the RB seat in 2015. Yes, he did crack under pressure, was too inconsistent and did crash like Grosjean, hence his nickname torpedo. When he got demoted back to Toro Rosso, he still sucked, being replaced by Gasly towards the end of 2017.
I guess after his simulator work with Ferrari in 2018, he mustve got back into the good graces of Marko and picked up again. His performances this year have been as good or slightly better than Albon. But i guess Redbull have his data when in the top team and know what he can do, so they gave the kid Albon a chance.
I dont know if they have other drivers in the junior categories with enough points for an F1 superlicense.
I don't get it. Albon is a rookie. He's done ok, but nothing to write home about, and not better than Kvyat. Let's just say he does sliiiightly better than Gasly in that seat. Do they keep him on for 2020? If he does the same or worse, obviously they have their answer. I don't know, I still think Kvyat is a better choice. It's not 2017 anymore, he's clearly a more mature driver now.
'14 Evora S - Chrome Orange/Ebony
'02 M5 - Carbon Black/Silverstone
'15 M235i xDrive - Mineral Grey/Black
My guess is there is some perceived bad blood between Kvyat and Max, making them less than ideal team mates. Kvyat would be better off elsewhere IMO...
CARS
02.92 325is / 06.72 2002 / 02.91 XJ / 08.04 R53 JCW
Yup, Kvyat should look at other teams or another series, WEC, Formula E maybe. Maybe comrade Putin will swing some roubles his way. Marko will not elevate his ass
Kvyat to Renault?
CARS
02.92 325is / 06.72 2002 / 02.91 XJ / 08.04 R53 JCW
I think Renault would rather take a native like Ocon, even Gasly. Renault F1 is a failed enterprise really, wtf are they doing in F1 anyway? They are a constructor and can afford to pump in as much money as RB,Merc or Ferrari and truly compete.
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