What a pole lap!

 

So, If Max looks like taking his recent points total to something like 85 out of the last 104 available, how many think Bottas will get the "Lewis is faster than you" call at some point.  

 

Mercedes must see the RBR driver as a growing threat for the drivers championship, and Valtierri is desperate to keep the job next year so he'll do as he's told.

Agree they won't want Max to get another 10 points nearer to Lewis. Team orders anyone.

I wonder?

 

Over to Toto:

 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/145197/verstappen-a-title-threat-after-recent-results--wolff

Away from the front, well done George Russel P16 on merit in the Williams.

13 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

Agree they won't want Max to get another 10 points nearer to Lewis. Team orders anyone.

He could get closer if he gets fastest lap as well. Hungary is a good track for the Red Bull chassis and it will be interesting to see how the Honda engine performs at Spa and Monza. 

1 hour ago, moley said:

He could get closer if he gets fastest lap as well. Hungary is a good track for the Red Bull chassis and it will be interesting to see how the Honda engine performs at Spa and Monza. 

Pretty sure they're planning a new engine at Monza so he'll be starting in grid slots 6 to 10. It'll need some mega power to get past all the Ferrari and Mercedes on that track.

Max has not had good starts in a few races. With overtaking not easy in Hungary he will need to get away cleanly today. 

Currently looks like Bottas will pick up just 2 points for 9th and 186 points whereas Max could move upto 2nd with 187 points. If Lewis gets fastest lap then he will have over 50 point lead in the Championship.

Get in there Lewis what a fantastic result. Max (no tyres) 2nd and Seb doing his team mate for 3rd and the podium but almost a minute behind the winner.

So Lewis ignored Horner repeatedly crowing" Max is the best driver now ", but when Nico Rosberg said "Max is the best driver"...BOOOM! Blue touch paper lit.

 

Great great drive, almost exactly like Schumacher's 19 qually laps on the trot at the same track to make a 1998 Ferrari strategy work. Although I don't think Schuey had to pass the McLaren on the track.

 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/145208/rosberg-five-reasons-verstappen-the-best-in-f1

 

 

Edited 4 August, 20196 yr by camelspyyder

Max has just found out that there is a big difference from being the hunter to being the hunted. Good call from Mercedes to pit a second time. Bottas is still 2nd in the Championship despite Max getting 2nd place+ 1 point for fastest lap.

2 minutes ago, moley said:

Max has just found out that there is a big difference from being the hunter to being the hunted. Good call from Mercedes to pit a second time. Bottas is still 2nd in the Championship despite Max getting 2nd place+ 1 point for fastest lap.

 

Recently questions have been asked if Mercedes has some perfomance in reserve, what with Hamilton doing fastest laps on 32 lap old rubber at previous races.

 

I think the answer was shown today to be Yes they do.

2 minutes ago, moley said:

Max has just found out that there is a big difference from being the hunter to being the hunted. Good call from Mercedes to pit a second time. Bottas is still 2nd in the Championship despite Max getting 2nd place+ 1 point for fastest lap.

At least Max was mature and even a shade humble in accepting Mercedes did a Red Bull on them with an inspired strategy call even Lewis was wondering after the 2nd pit stop whether he could close that gap down, never mind overtake him.

2 minutes ago, camelspyyder said:

So Lewis ignored Horner repeatedly crowing" Max is the best driver now ", but when Nico Rosberg said "Max is the best driver"...BOOOM! Blue touch paper lit.

 

Great great drive, just like Schuey's 19 qually laps on the trot at the same track to make a Ferrari strategy work.

 

 

Sounded like sour grapes from Horner on the radio to Max at the end when he said 'they rolled the dice and it worked out for them' In other words Mercedes out smarted Red Bull. 

4 minutes ago, camelspyyder said:

 

Recently questions have been asked if Mercedes has some perfomance in reserve, what with Hamilton doing fastest laps on 32 lap old rubber at previous races.

 

I think the answer was shown today to be Yes they do.

As a company Mercedes take the cautious approach and try to do just enough to win. This is probably because they don't want possible customers thinking their road car engines will blow up (Renault) or are inherently unreliable.

8 minutes ago, moley said:

Sounded like sour grapes from Horner on the radio to Max at the end when he said 'they rolled the dice and it worked out for them' In other words Mercedes out smarted Red Bull. 

 

He's good at sour grapes.

 

On another subject, is it a little strange Mercedes are being quite so public about their driver decisions for next year?

 

Repeatedly publicly announcing it's definitely Bottas or Ocon, could that be a smokescreen because they're signing somebody else?

Today's race also showed that Lewis and Max are streets ahead of the rest of the field. Vettel in 3rd place was over  a minute behind Hamilton, Ferrari will probably have a new team principle for next season. Bottas didn't cover himself in glory and needs a couple of good races to stay at Mercedes. Hamilton looked like his lead might be reduced today, but he is now 62 points ahead with  9 races left. 

15 minutes ago, moley said:

Today's race also showed that Lewis and Max are streets ahead of the rest of the field. Vettel in 3rd place was over  a minute behind Hamilton, Ferrari will probably have a new team principle for next season. Bottas didn't cover himself in glory and needs a couple of good races to stay at Mercedes. Hamilton looked like his lead might be reduced today, but he is now 62 points ahead with  9 races left. 

Yeah Lewis would need a couple of DNF's not to wrap up title number 6.

1 minute ago, shyVRS245 said:

Yeah Lewis would need a couple of DNF's not to wrap up title number 6.

Hamilton could probably afford to finish 2nd in every race and still pick up the title, but as he showed today that is not in his nature. He is only 10 wins behind Schumacher's record of 91 wins.

Another thoroughly enjoyable race but for completely different reasons to Germany. The last 4 races have all been very good and the season as a whole has been too (so far) which is slightly at odds with Hamilton cruising to his 6th title. The only thing we do know, though, is that Hamilton cannot surpass Schumacher's win total this year!

1 minute ago, tweenster said:

Another thoroughly enjoyable race but for completely different reasons to Germany. The last 4 races have all been very good and the season as a whole has been too (so far) which is slightly at odds with Hamilton cruising to his 6th title. The only thing we do know, though, is that Hamilton cannot surpass Schumacher's win total this year!

How many wins is that? Has he reached the low 80's?

3 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

How many wins is that? Has he reached the low 80's?

Schumacher 91 Hamilton 81

3 minutes ago, tweenster said:

Schumacher 91 Hamilton 81

Next season then he will match the 7 titles and beat his wins. Never thought anyone would match either record TBH.

3 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

How many wins is that? Has he reached the low 80's?

Hamilton is on 81 wins from 241 starts.

Schumacher 91 wins from 308 starts.

 

Hamilton 87 poles

Schumacher 68 poles 

1 minute ago, moley said:

Hamilton is on 81 wins from 241 starts.

Schumacher 91 wins from 308 starts.

 

Hamilton 87 poles

Schumacher 68 poles 

Bound to pick up those 11 required wins in the next 30 races if his current win ratio continues. This season 8 wins from 12 races.