Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
just to clarify, I don't mean he'd ask him to just drive into Lewis but be in his ear about not letting him pass him and to hold even if he doesn't have the racing line etc hoping that can cause a racing incident and hamper LH's race
Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
Agreed they wouldn't do that, but this is where RB have more of an upper hand as Perez is 100% a pawn for Max. RB do not care about the constructors title, Karen pretty much admitted that. They'd go out of their way to lose it if it meant securing Max the drivers. At a track like Saudi, the field spread will not be as large as Brazil. Imagine Lewis in 1st with fastest lap, Max 2nd, Perez in 3rd, Bottas 4th with the McLarens / Fezzas not a million miles behind...Would they bring Checo in to steal fastest lap but lose a few positions? Absolutely I reckon.
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
Agreed they wouldn't do that, but this is where RB have more of an upper hand as Perez is 100% a pawn for Max. RB do not care about the constructors title, Karen pretty much admitted that. They'd go out of their way to lose it if it meant securing Max the drivers. At a track like Saudi, the field spread will not be as large as Brazil. Imagine Lewis in 1st with fastest lap, Max 2nd, Perez in 3rd, Bottas 4th with the McLarens / Fezzas not a million miles behind...Would they bring Checo in to steal fastest lap but lose a few positions? Absolutely I reckon.
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
Red Bull are a lot more ruthless with their drivers as well - If Perez doesn't do as he's told, (regardless of how ethical he feels it is) what are the chances of them threatening to replace him with Gasly or someone like Liam Lawson next season
Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
Agreed they wouldn't do that, but this is where RB have more of an upper hand as Perez is 100% a pawn for Max. RB do not care about the constructors title, Karen pretty much admitted that. They'd go out of their way to lose it if it meant securing Max the drivers. At a track like Saudi, the field spread will not be as large as Brazil. Imagine Lewis in 1st with fastest lap, Max 2nd, Perez in 3rd, Bottas 4th with the McLarens / Fezzas not a million miles behind...Would they bring Checo in to steal fastest lap but lose a few positions? Absolutely I reckon.
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
Red Bull are a lot more ruthless with their drivers as well - If Perez doesn't do as he's told, (regardless of how ethical he feels it is) what are the chances of them threatening to replace him with Gasly or someone like Liam Lawson next season
I assume Perez has a contract for next year? They could cancel it but it would cost them.
I doubt even RB would be comfortable with Checo broadcasting that he had his contract terminated because he refused to deliberately take Lewis out!
I have £5 on Max to win the title this year, BUT I'd actually like to see Lewis overtake (pun intended) Schmacher in the number of world championships held... I call that a win-win!
I have £5 on Max to win the title this year, BUT I'd actually like to see Lewis overtake (pun intended) Schmacher in the number of world championships held... I call that a win-win!
If Lewis doesn’t win it this season I would wager he would be a short price to win his 8th with the new car.
Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
Agreed they wouldn't do that, but this is where RB have more of an upper hand as Perez is 100% a pawn for Max. RB do not care about the constructors title, Karen pretty much admitted that. They'd go out of their way to lose it if it meant securing Max the drivers. At a track like Saudi, the field spread will not be as large as Brazil. Imagine Lewis in 1st with fastest lap, Max 2nd, Perez in 3rd, Bottas 4th with the McLarens / Fezzas not a million miles behind...Would they bring Checo in to steal fastest lap but lose a few positions? Absolutely I reckon.
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
Hmm interesting.
Whinger Spice is sort of right in that many people couldn’t give a shit which car wins, they care about which driver wins. However, try telling a Ferrari fan that. Back in Schumi’s glory days, they couldn’t care less which driver won as long as it was in a red car. What the whinger fails to point out is that his team is all about the Red Bull brand, while Mercedes is all about the Mercedes brand. Mercedes put more value on the constructors championship because it highlights the car’s superiority which improves the public image of the brand which sells more Mercedes cars. Red Bull view the drivers championship higher because the driver gets more all round coverage. Nobody thinks having the best racing car means Red Bull is the best energy drink.
As usual, Horner talks about his own opinion as if it’s a universal truth.
Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
Agreed they wouldn't do that, but this is where RB have more of an upper hand as Perez is 100% a pawn for Max. RB do not care about the constructors title, Karen pretty much admitted that. They'd go out of their way to lose it if it meant securing Max the drivers. At a track like Saudi, the field spread will not be as large as Brazil. Imagine Lewis in 1st with fastest lap, Max 2nd, Perez in 3rd, Bottas 4th with the McLarens / Fezzas not a million miles behind...Would they bring Checo in to steal fastest lap but lose a few positions? Absolutely I reckon.
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
Red Bull are a lot more ruthless with their drivers as well - If Perez doesn't do as he's told, (regardless of how ethical he feels it is) what are the chances of them threatening to replace him with Gasly or someone like Liam Lawson next season
Absolutely...If he didn't pit to steal a fastest lap from Hamilton even if it cost him a podium, I could see him going.
Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
Agreed they wouldn't do that, but this is where RB have more of an upper hand as Perez is 100% a pawn for Max. RB do not care about the constructors title, Karen pretty much admitted that. They'd go out of their way to lose it if it meant securing Max the drivers. At a track like Saudi, the field spread will not be as large as Brazil. Imagine Lewis in 1st with fastest lap, Max 2nd, Perez in 3rd, Bottas 4th with the McLarens / Fezzas not a million miles behind...Would they bring Checo in to steal fastest lap but lose a few positions? Absolutely I reckon.
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
Haven't Mercedes already done this a couple of times with Bottaa to get fastest lap?! They pit him twice in quick succession at Mexico with the sole intention of setting the fastest lap, not for an extra point for Mercedes, but specifically to take away the extra point from Max. At this stage of the season Bottas is also 100% a pawn for Hamilton
Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
Agreed they wouldn't do that, but this is where RB have more of an upper hand as Perez is 100% a pawn for Max. RB do not care about the constructors title, Karen pretty much admitted that. They'd go out of their way to lose it if it meant securing Max the drivers. At a track like Saudi, the field spread will not be as large as Brazil. Imagine Lewis in 1st with fastest lap, Max 2nd, Perez in 3rd, Bottas 4th with the McLarens / Fezzas not a million miles behind...Would they bring Checo in to steal fastest lap but lose a few positions? Absolutely I reckon.
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
Haven't Mercedes already done this a couple of times with Bottaa to get fastest lap?! They pit him twice in quick succession at Mexico with the sole intention of setting the fastest lap, not for an extra point for Mercedes, but specifically to take away the extra point from Max. At this stage of the season Bottas is also 100% a pawn for Hamilton
You may be right, but I think Bottas was already out of the points, so it was a net gain for the team. Happy to be corrected though.
Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
Agreed they wouldn't do that, but this is where RB have more of an upper hand as Perez is 100% a pawn for Max. RB do not care about the constructors title, Karen pretty much admitted that. They'd go out of their way to lose it if it meant securing Max the drivers. At a track like Saudi, the field spread will not be as large as Brazil. Imagine Lewis in 1st with fastest lap, Max 2nd, Perez in 3rd, Bottas 4th with the McLarens / Fezzas not a million miles behind...Would they bring Checo in to steal fastest lap but lose a few positions? Absolutely I reckon.
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
Haven't Mercedes already done this a couple of times with Bottaa to get fastest lap?! They pit him twice in quick succession at Mexico with the sole intention of setting the fastest lap, not for an extra point for Mercedes, but specifically to take away the extra point from Max. At this stage of the season Bottas is also 100% a pawn for Hamilton
Yes but it's never compromised his race / made him finish with less points and Mercedes wouldn't risk that. In Mexico he wasn't in the points at the time of the late pits and was never going to be.
Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
Agreed they wouldn't do that, but this is where RB have more of an upper hand as Perez is 100% a pawn for Max. RB do not care about the constructors title, Karen pretty much admitted that. They'd go out of their way to lose it if it meant securing Max the drivers. At a track like Saudi, the field spread will not be as large as Brazil. Imagine Lewis in 1st with fastest lap, Max 2nd, Perez in 3rd, Bottas 4th with the McLarens / Fezzas not a million miles behind...Would they bring Checo in to steal fastest lap but lose a few positions? Absolutely I reckon.
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
Haven't Mercedes already done this a couple of times with Bottaa to get fastest lap?! They pit him twice in quick succession at Mexico with the sole intention of setting the fastest lap, not for an extra point for Mercedes, but specifically to take away the extra point from Max. At this stage of the season Bottas is also 100% a pawn for Hamilton
You may be right, but I think Bottas was already out of the points, so it was a net gain for the team. Happy to be corrected though.
Yeah that's what I meant, he was out of the points so it wasn't for Mercedes to gain more points, it was literally to take the point away from Max who had the fastest lap at the time. Bottas set the fastest lap on his last lap of the race in Mexico, having pit twice in quick succession. The first time he pit he came out a few seconds behind Verstappen, who slowed down, Bottas unlapped himself and then Max speed back up, giving Bottas blue flags and ruining his fastest lap attempt. Mercedes then instructed him to slow down further and then pit as they saw a window to put him back out in, with a clear bit of track, and that's when he made the attempt on the last lap of the race
I think as the season goes to the wire, if one point makes a difference, both Mercedes and Red Bull could sacrifice points for Bottas or Perez if it helped, say with a fastest lap, but that is different to taking a driver out deliberately.
Neither Bottas nor Perez are in the sport to do anything like this. They will do what they can legally to help their team and team mates though. I'm sure both are on big bonuses if their team win the constructers and individual titles.
Agreed they wouldn't do that, but this is where RB have more of an upper hand as Perez is 100% a pawn for Max. RB do not care about the constructors title, Karen pretty much admitted that. They'd go out of their way to lose it if it meant securing Max the drivers. At a track like Saudi, the field spread will not be as large as Brazil. Imagine Lewis in 1st with fastest lap, Max 2nd, Perez in 3rd, Bottas 4th with the McLarens / Fezzas not a million miles behind...Would they bring Checo in to steal fastest lap but lose a few positions? Absolutely I reckon.
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
Haven't Mercedes already done this a couple of times with Bottaa to get fastest lap?! They pit him twice in quick succession at Mexico with the sole intention of setting the fastest lap, not for an extra point for Mercedes, but specifically to take away the extra point from Max. At this stage of the season Bottas is also 100% a pawn for Hamilton
You may be right, but I think Bottas was already out of the points, so it was a net gain for the team. Happy to be corrected though.
Yeah that's what I meant, he was out of the points so it wasn't for Mercedes to gain more points, it was literally to take the point away from Max who had the fastest lap at the time. Bottas set the fastest lap on his last lap of the race in Mexico, having pit twice in quick succession. The first time he pit he came out a few seconds behind Verstappen, who slowed down, Bottas unlapped himself and then Max speed back up, giving Bottas blue flags and ruining his fastest lap attempt. Mercedes then instructed him to slow down further and then pit as they saw a window to put him back out in, with a clear bit of track, and that's when he made the attempt on the last lap of the race
Ah, ok. I think @cafcpolo ‘s point was that Red Bull might sacrifice the constructor’s championship in order to win the Driver’s title. Consider the theoretical: Race positions are: 1 Ham, 2 Ver, 3 Bot, 4 Per, and Hamilton has fastest lap. Three cars are close behind Perez. Verstappen needs to be within 7 of Hamilton to win the title, Red Bull need to be within 8 of Mercedes to win constructors. Do they drop Perez from 4th to 7th in order to nick the fastest lap? He’d lose 6 for position, gain 1 for fastest lap and Merc lose 1 for losing fastest lap, meaning they have a net loss of 4 in constructors and lose the title, but Verstappen crucially has a net gain of 1 on Hamilton and wins the drivers. This requires them sacrificing the constructors title for the drivers title and I think they would do it. But if you flip the teams and the scenario, I’m not so sure Mercedes would do it.
No judgement here, by the way, I just think the teams have slightly different priorities.
I think that they would do the same personally, I don't think they'd risk pissing off Hamilton to that extent, especially if they don't have the best car next season and he ends up stuck on 7 driver's titles. He's broken almost all of Schumi's records, he'll want to be the only man with an 8 next to his name, certainly,.
If Toto and Mercedes stand in the way of that for the WCC, I can't see that relationship continuing on, and then their best case scenario is that he retires instead of trying to beat them in a different car in 2023, and they pin all their hopes on Russell, but it would be a bit of crap end to their dominant run together if they chose that way
I think that they would do the same personally, I don't think they'd risk pissing off Hamilton to that extent, especially if they don't have the best car next season and he ends up stuck on 7 driver's titles. He's broken almost all of Schumi's records, he'll want to be the only man with an 8 next to his name, certainly,.
If Toto and Mercedes stand in the way of that for the WCC, I can't see that relationship continuing on, and then their best case scenario is that he retires instead of trying to beat them in a different car in 2023, and they pin all their hopes on Russell, but it would be a bit of crap end to their dominant run together if they chose that way
Yeah, you may well be right. It’s highly hypothetical anyway and, although Horner has made his views clear, it may well be that Toto agrees and feels the same. You’re also right that the team needs to weigh up everything including the relationship with their star driver, so yeah, good point.
I do actually agree with Horner on the ‘what’s more important’ question, I just don’t think all of the teams feel the same. It can’t be denied that he was right to say that everyone remembers the Championship Winning Driver. You need to be a bit more of a nerd to ID the winning constructors over the years. 🤓
Interesting to see if the stewards do anything about verstappen not turning the corner last week with Hamilton. Looks like they’re taking a view tomorrow of the onboard footage. I think he’ll be penalised with this new camera angle. If not it will make for some aggressive and potentially dangerous defending by others. Either way it’s getting exciting towards the end!
I think Mercedes and Lewis will be trying to break several records before the new regulations come in next season:
Mercedes to win all the championships in the hybrid era; Lewis to win an 8 WDC Lewis to equal Schuhmacher’s record of 5 WDCs in a row.
I’m pretty sure that the teams (engineers, mechanics, etc. both trackside and back at the factories) are very concentrated on the constructor’s title. Their bonuses are based on winning the constructor’s title not the WDC.
I think that they would do the same personally, I don't think they'd risk pissing off Hamilton to that extent, especially if they don't have the best car next season and he ends up stuck on 7 driver's titles. He's broken almost all of Schumi's records, he'll want to be the only man with an 8 next to his name, certainly,.
If Toto and Mercedes stand in the way of that for the WCC, I can't see that relationship continuing on, and then their best case scenario is that he retires instead of trying to beat them in a different car in 2023, and they pin all their hopes on Russell, but it would be a bit of crap end to their dominant run together if they chose that way
Yeah, you may well be right. It’s highly hypothetical anyway and, although Horner has made his views clear, it may well be that Toto agrees and feels the same. You’re also right that the team needs to weigh up everything including the relationship with their star driver, so yeah, good point.
I do actually agree with Horner on the ‘what’s more important’ question, I just don’t think all of the teams feel the same. It can’t be denied that he was right to say that everyone remembers the Championship Winning Driver. You need to be a bit more of a nerd to ID the winning constructors over the years. 🤓
The two tend to go hand in hand these days. In the last 30 years we've only had 3 drivers win the WDC who weren't driving for the team that won the constructors championship (Schumacher in 94, Hakkinen in 99 and Hamilton in 08).
I think that they would do the same personally, I don't think they'd risk pissing off Hamilton to that extent, especially if they don't have the best car next season and he ends up stuck on 7 driver's titles. He's broken almost all of Schumi's records, he'll want to be the only man with an 8 next to his name, certainly,.
If Toto and Mercedes stand in the way of that for the WCC, I can't see that relationship continuing on, and then their best case scenario is that he retires instead of trying to beat them in a different car in 2023, and they pin all their hopes on Russell, but it would be a bit of crap end to their dominant run together if they chose that way
Yeah, you may well be right. It’s highly hypothetical anyway and, although Horner has made his views clear, it may well be that Toto agrees and feels the same. You’re also right that the team needs to weigh up everything including the relationship with their star driver, so yeah, good point.
I do actually agree with Horner on the ‘what’s more important’ question, I just don’t think all of the teams feel the same. It can’t be denied that he was right to say that everyone remembers the Championship Winning Driver. You need to be a bit more of a nerd to ID the winning constructors over the years. 🤓
The two tend to go hand in hand these days. In the last 30 years we've only had 3 drivers win the WDC who weren't driving for the team that won the constructors championship (Schumacher in 94, Hakkinen in 99 and Hamilton in 08).
If Max wins the WDC I bloody hope they take the constructors title as well...Not sure I could sit and watch the aftermath of "Max won the title in the slower car, what a driver".
I think that they would do the same personally, I don't think they'd risk pissing off Hamilton to that extent, especially if they don't have the best car next season and he ends up stuck on 7 driver's titles. He's broken almost all of Schumi's records, he'll want to be the only man with an 8 next to his name, certainly,.
If Toto and Mercedes stand in the way of that for the WCC, I can't see that relationship continuing on, and then their best case scenario is that he retires instead of trying to beat them in a different car in 2023, and they pin all their hopes on Russell, but it would be a bit of crap end to their dominant run together if they chose that way
Yeah, you may well be right. It’s highly hypothetical anyway and, although Horner has made his views clear, it may well be that Toto agrees and feels the same. You’re also right that the team needs to weigh up everything including the relationship with their star driver, so yeah, good point.
I do actually agree with Horner on the ‘what’s more important’ question, I just don’t think all of the teams feel the same. It can’t be denied that he was right to say that everyone remembers the Championship Winning Driver. You need to be a bit more of a nerd to ID the winning constructors over the years. 🤓
The two tend to go hand in hand these days. In the last 30 years we've only had 3 drivers win the WDC who weren't driving for the team that won the constructors championship (Schumacher in 94, Hakkinen in 99 and Hamilton in 08).
If Max wins the WDC I bloody hope they take the constructors title as well...Not sure I could sit and watch the aftermath of "Max won the title in the slower car, what a driver".
On the other side of that, I’d really like Hamilton to win so everyone who always says “he only wins because he’s got the best car” * can stick it up their arse.
*Despite the fact that, as @Rizzo points out, he maybe didn’t have the best car in ‘08 😎
I think that they would do the same personally, I don't think they'd risk pissing off Hamilton to that extent, especially if they don't have the best car next season and he ends up stuck on 7 driver's titles. He's broken almost all of Schumi's records, he'll want to be the only man with an 8 next to his name, certainly,.
If Toto and Mercedes stand in the way of that for the WCC, I can't see that relationship continuing on, and then their best case scenario is that he retires instead of trying to beat them in a different car in 2023, and they pin all their hopes on Russell, but it would be a bit of crap end to their dominant run together if they chose that way
Yeah, you may well be right. It’s highly hypothetical anyway and, although Horner has made his views clear, it may well be that Toto agrees and feels the same. You’re also right that the team needs to weigh up everything including the relationship with their star driver, so yeah, good point.
I do actually agree with Horner on the ‘what’s more important’ question, I just don’t think all of the teams feel the same. It can’t be denied that he was right to say that everyone remembers the Championship Winning Driver. You need to be a bit more of a nerd to ID the winning constructors over the years. 🤓
The two tend to go hand in hand these days. In the last 30 years we've only had 3 drivers win the WDC who weren't driving for the team that won the constructors championship (Schumacher in 94, Hakkinen in 99 and Hamilton in 08).
If Max wins the WDC I bloody hope they take the constructors title as well...Not sure I could sit and watch the aftermath of "Max won the title in the slower car, what a driver".
On the other side of that, I’d really like Hamilton to win so everyone who always says “he only wins because he’s got the best car” * can stick it up their arse.
*Despite the fact that, as @Rizzo points out, he maybe didn’t have the best car in ‘08 😎
He definitely didn’t have the outright best car in the battle v Vettel and Ferrari. They were cheating with a bent engine! Think it was 2018-19 or so.
I think that they would do the same personally, I don't think they'd risk pissing off Hamilton to that extent, especially if they don't have the best car next season and he ends up stuck on 7 driver's titles. He's broken almost all of Schumi's records, he'll want to be the only man with an 8 next to his name, certainly,.
If Toto and Mercedes stand in the way of that for the WCC, I can't see that relationship continuing on, and then their best case scenario is that he retires instead of trying to beat them in a different car in 2023, and they pin all their hopes on Russell, but it would be a bit of crap end to their dominant run together if they chose that way
Yeah, you may well be right. It’s highly hypothetical anyway and, although Horner has made his views clear, it may well be that Toto agrees and feels the same. You’re also right that the team needs to weigh up everything including the relationship with their star driver, so yeah, good point.
I do actually agree with Horner on the ‘what’s more important’ question, I just don’t think all of the teams feel the same. It can’t be denied that he was right to say that everyone remembers the Championship Winning Driver. You need to be a bit more of a nerd to ID the winning constructors over the years. 🤓
The two tend to go hand in hand these days. In the last 30 years we've only had 3 drivers win the WDC who weren't driving for the team that won the constructors championship (Schumacher in 94, Hakkinen in 99 and Hamilton in 08).
If Max wins the WDC I bloody hope they take the constructors title as well...Not sure I could sit and watch the aftermath of "Max won the title in the slower car, what a driver".
Max has had the best car this season. If he wins the driver's championship but Mercedes win the constructors then despite what whinger ginger may say it wouldn't mean he had won in the slowest car. If that happens then it is more about Valteri being a better driver than Checko (as much as I love Perez) and/or Mercedes giving more support to their second driver than Red Bull do.
My advice to Hamilton would be to get in front of Verstappen with Bottas' help then take him out in the last race. I wouldn't be surprised if Verstappen does it actually and if that happens the stewards will need to take some of the blame.
At the time though, Verstappen should have just been told to give the place back so the big issue is really with the stewarding as Hamilton eventually won the race.
The Stewards have rejected Mercedes appeal to review the incident between Hamilton / Verstappen from last week
Seems that Toto and Christian were on Press duties together today.
Even the former has admitted that Mercedes didnt actually expect to be given the right to review, and just wanted to create discussion around it - They naturally now consider that objective successful.
I wonder whether this sets a dangerous precedent for the remaining races. Deep down Max will know 100% he has got away with one. Would not be at all surprised if he does it again and the outcome is both drivers retired.
Comments
Flip the scenario, would the Mercs? Highly doubt it.
I doubt even RB would be comfortable with Checo broadcasting that he had his contract terminated because he refused to deliberately take Lewis out!
However, try telling a Ferrari fan that. Back in Schumi’s glory days, they couldn’t care less which driver won as long as it was in a red car.
What the whinger fails to point out is that his team is all about the Red Bull brand, while Mercedes is all about the Mercedes brand. Mercedes put more value on the constructors championship because it highlights the car’s superiority which improves the public image of the brand which sells more Mercedes cars. Red Bull view the drivers championship higher because the driver gets more all round coverage. Nobody thinks having the best racing car means Red Bull is the best energy drink.
As usual, Horner talks about his own opinion as if it’s a universal truth.
Consider the theoretical:
Race positions are: 1 Ham, 2 Ver, 3 Bot, 4 Per, and Hamilton has fastest lap. Three cars are close behind Perez. Verstappen needs to be within 7 of Hamilton to win the title, Red Bull need to be within 8 of Mercedes to win constructors.
Do they drop Perez from 4th to 7th in order to nick the fastest lap? He’d lose 6 for position, gain 1 for fastest lap and Merc lose 1 for losing fastest lap, meaning they have a net loss of 4 in constructors and lose the title, but Verstappen crucially has a net gain of 1 on Hamilton and wins the drivers.
This requires them sacrificing the constructors title for the drivers title and I think they would do it. But if you flip the teams and the scenario, I’m not so sure Mercedes would do it.
No judgement here, by the way, I just think the teams have slightly different priorities.
If Toto and Mercedes stand in the way of that for the WCC, I can't see that relationship continuing on, and then their best case scenario is that he retires instead of trying to beat them in a different car in 2023, and they pin all their hopes on Russell, but it would be a bit of crap end to their dominant run together if they chose that way
Mercedes to win all the championships in the hybrid era;
Lewis to win an 8 WDC
Lewis to equal Schuhmacher’s record of 5 WDCs in a row.
I’m pretty sure that the teams (engineers, mechanics, etc. both trackside and back at the factories) are very concentrated on the constructor’s title. Their bonuses are based on winning the constructor’s title not the WDC.
*Despite the fact that, as @Rizzo points out, he maybe didn’t have the best car in ‘08 😎
At the time though, Verstappen should have just been told to give the place back so the big issue is really with the stewarding as Hamilton eventually won the race.
Even the former has admitted that Mercedes didnt actually expect to be given the right to review, and just wanted to create discussion around it - They naturally now consider that objective successful.