re: Formula 1 2021 Season Thread

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Worn tires can explain him braking early or not having the grip to accelerate fast out of a corner, but him taking that awful line into turn 5 and leaving so much room for Max to pass on the inside is not explainable by worn tires

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I think it is down to Lewis didn't think Max was closing fast enough to get him at turn 5. 6 & 9 are the real passing options 5 is a real maybe.

Here is Lewis going into turn 5 taking the racing line which makes sense if Max is not close enough but Max is always close enough in his mind. Max turned in directly toward the apex for an under move and with his tires made it stick. Lewis had to actually back off after the apex because Max had the corner and cut off his intended line. This is what left him a few meters short being able to make a decent pass attempt at 6.







The first part of the straight Max was weaving to break tow the settled in the final part of the straight into a defense of the inside line forcing Lewis the long way round 6.





Lewis was able to take a better line through 7&8 while max had to take a defensive line which gave Lewis a decent shot at the last passing opportunity at 9.

Lewis had closed pretty well on the exit of 8



Lewis got an excellent run down to 9 but again Max protected the inside



Going into 9 they were dead even with Lewis having more speed but Max having the inside



This time Max moved out at the very end and took a more traditional line to force Lewis wide and that was the end of Lewis' chances.



Max drove a near-perfect attacking then defending lap. Lewis' lack of defense into 5 might have worked for most other drivers who would have been planning to set up 6 and 9 but Max ain't that kinda driver. He is like Lewis was in his first couple of years, if there is a hole he will try to thread the needle. Had he defended the line into 5 he could have balked Max enough on the exit to prevent a pass in 6 and maybe done enough in 7 & 8 to prevent a real run into 9. My guess is even with perfect defense in 5-8 Max would have had a needle hole in 9 at best and there could have been fireworks. As it was the pass in 5 was textbook and the defence was too good.

Great explanation of the pass, I really think Max caught Lewis by surprise in turn 5, with Lewis not expecting him to go for it that early in the lap, and wait for the more established passing zones later in the lap. It also wouldn't have given Lewis a chance to come back at Max the later in the lap, but Max knew he had the tires and went for it.

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Ross Brawn has said Team Principles to Race Director is done. Radio calls won't be allowed.

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Boo, thats some of the best drama...

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Boo, thats some of the best drama...

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I figured they would at least remove them from air.

Seeing the how the negotiations and influencing works definitely wasn't good for the sport.

I think Lewis knew defending at T5 with his tires would be difficult, and was hoping he could make a move on Max further down the road with his straight line speed and the aid a tow (which he came close to doing).

Best reason I can think of for the lack of defense there, aside from a straight up error.

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Boo, thats some of the best drama...

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God dammit. I literally will not watch a race with anyone else in the room because I want to hear every detail that comes over audio.

The years where minimal radio contact was part of the regulations was the most miserable racing to watch.

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I really think Max caught Lewis by surprise in turn 5, with Lewis not expecting him to go for it that early in the lap, and wait for the more established passing zones later in the lap.

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Max was probably amped the frick up and Lewis was still recovering from being told about the lapped cars. I can't imagine the adrenaline going through Max at that moment. You could see it when he was coming through the hotel sector and he was gassing and breaking right next to Lewis.

By far it was the best entertainment of the weekend.

Also showed how great Charlie was to handle things.


That was also the source of "well, if you loosen the straps it is probably alright"

"I don't think you can really loosen them"

"I think that he is just loosening them"

"Nah, I'm unbuckling"

The argument was that drivers were afraid to express their opinions without getting fan backlash.

The seatbelt thing was because Seb had gotten in trouble for the ride back to the pits after, maybe Stroll hit him.

Charlie was giving a little lecture not to do it.

Then maybe Seb brought up Lewis unbuckling and waving to the fans was equally unsafe and no one says anything. The Charlie said Lewis was just loosening, and Lewis laughed that he was u buckling.

The Perez face was RoGro calling him out on cutting a turn.

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The argument was that drivers were afraid to express their opinions without getting fan backlash.

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Yep. They were afraid to bring up incidents or drivers because a big deal would be made about it. It is supposed to be a free area where they don't get dinged and can say what they like.