What a fantastic topsy turvy qualifying that was. Hamilton delivering when it counts, Max overcooking it when it counts. Best outcome for the sporting spectacle as it makes the final Sunday winner takes all show down in Abu Dhabi more likely.
Absolutely loved that. Max definitely tried pushing too hard and you've got to have nerves of steel around that track. Hopefully Bottas can keep Verstappen behind him tomorrow!
Absolutely loved that. Max definitely tried pushing too hardand you've got to have nerves of steel around that track. Hopefully Bottas can keep Verstappen behind him tomorrow!
Bottas might yet get a penalty for impeding Raikkonen.
So we might even get Hamilton and Verstappen on the front row tomorrow.
Of course Max could be even further back if he has to replace the Gearbox
It looks like Red Bull put everything into track position and Verstappen was pushing at the very limit. He probably could have stopped pushing in the third sector but that isn't realistic however whilst unfortunate, I don't think it was a shock he hit the wall. Had he made it, it would have been the lap of the season without doubt.
The big questions are around the damage to Verstappen's car and whether set up was compromised for qualifying and track position. It would be a surprise if there were no more surprises. F1 has been brilliant this year. Simply brilliant.
Absolutely loved that. Max definitely tried pushing too hardand you've got to have nerves of steel around that track. Hopefully Bottas can keep Verstappen behind him tomorrow!
Bottas might yet get a penalty for impeding Raikkonen.
So we might even get Hamilton and Verstappen on the front row tomorrow.
Of course Max could be even further back if he has to replace the Gearbox
Maybe but Alfa certainly will not appeal to the stewards as Bottas will be their driver next season.
It would be incredibly fortunate if the gearbox wasn't damaged. The rear crash structure is integrated into the gearbox and it's designed to break on impact. To compound that the rear wheels are directly mounted to it via the driveshafts, so any significant impact on the rear wheels is quite likely to break the gearbox. No mention of it being broken so we have to wait and see.
It would be incredibly fortunate if the gearbox wasn't damaged. The rear crash structure is integrated into the gearbox and it's designed to break on impact. To compound that the rear wheels are directly mounted to it via the driveshafts, so any significant impact on the rear wheels is quite likely to break the gearbox. No mention of it being broken so we have to wait and see.
The wheels/drive shafts didn’t look like they were unscathed. To me it looked like the took the full impact. Hopefully red bull will take the risk of not stripping it all out tonight and come a cropper on the warm up lap. I hate anything from that product, from the vile fizzy drink to the stupid soap box challenge to the stupid skydiving stunts to the winey spice prat on pit wall.
Ferrari took a risk with LeClerc earlier in the season but they could afford to and ultimately he couldn't race due to the gearbox. Seeing as there are two RedBull drivers in front of him and one behind him if Verstappen takes a five place grid penalty, I think they might opt for a change. A failure and the title has gone and Ferrari didn't pick up on LeClerc's damage and must have done a lot of tests. Although I think he was on pole so I understand why they risked it. It is a tough one for Red Bull.
I think they'll take the penalty. Max showed he was quickest in the field, so they'll be confident that he'll fairly quickly be back up behind the 2 Mercs. The risk of an undetected failure ending their race is a nightmare scenario that they can't allow to happen.
It is going to be a tough call for them. Unless the issue is clear cut of course. If they don't take the penalty, the gearbox has to last the final race or there will be a grid penalty there!
Yeah it’s an easy call imo. Because Verstappen has points in hand, if I’ve done my maths correctly, 5th or higher for Verstappen, which he would recover to easily, means, assuming Hamilton wins, that he would still just have to win at the final race to seal the title. It changes almost nothing as that’s the basically same scenario as if Hamilton wins and Verstappen finishes second, if you assume Hamilton and Verstappen are likely to finish first and second in Abu Dhabi. They could still win the race from 3rd, maybe not from 8th, but the sensible strategy for the hunted is to be more conservative. It’d be different if it was Hamilton in Verstappen’s position as he needs to beat Verstappen to maintain a decent chance of winning the title in Abu Dhabi.
To be honest, if they’re not changing it out, I expect it’ll be fine. As has already been said, it seems too much of a gamble if you’re not confident of the gearbox doing ok. The thing is, if they’ve got this wrong, and the gearbox fails, they’ll have all but handed the title to Hamilton, as not only will they get a dnf here, they’ll also get a grid penalty next week as they won’t have a choice but to swap the gearbox out then.
Wouldnt be a great way to win it, and would be a shame for the fans, but I think Hamilton would take it gratefully.
They must be very confident that the gearbox is undamaged, the risk can reward just doesn’t balance out otherwise. Hopefully they’ve dropped a bollock and it disintegrates on lap 3.
Comments
😎
He was absolutely flying on that lap. Would’ve taken p1 easily. Hahahahahaha that has made my weekend.
Still piss funny though. 😎
So we might even get Hamilton and Verstappen on the front row tomorrow.
Of course Max could be even further back if he has to replace the Gearbox
The big questions are around the damage to Verstappen's car and whether set up was compromised for qualifying and track position. It would be a surprise if there were no more surprises. F1 has been brilliant this year. Simply brilliant.
Well done Hamilton, true champion.
I hate anything from that product, from the vile fizzy drink to the stupid soap box challenge to the stupid skydiving stunts to the winey spice prat on pit wall.
would a new gearbox get them a win - probably not
would a new gearbox prevent a possible NDF - possibly yeah
no brainer for me that they take the penalty
The thing is, if they’ve got this wrong, and the gearbox fails, they’ll have all but handed the title to Hamilton, as not only will they get a dnf here, they’ll also get a grid penalty next week as they won’t have a choice but to swap the gearbox out then.
Wouldnt be a great way to win it, and would be a shame for the fans, but I think Hamilton would take it gratefully.