Pick the Podium - F-1 - Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix, LoSail International Circuit, Doha, Qatar, November 2021

[Retroram52]

The third race of the Big Three in November movers to Qatar this weekend to see if Hamilton can re-take the lead. Hamilton's new ICE approach is really an interesting idea because he and the Merc is so dominating, he can can overcome any penalty assessed by FIA like he did this past race in Brazil. There are only Saudia Arabia and Abhu Dhabi remaining and the championship fight may come down to the very last race as there are only 14 points separating Hamilton from Verstappen. We shall how this plays out this weekend.

 

[Retroram52]

Doesn't look like much will be done about the Verstappen blocking/overdriving in the corner of Hamilton in Brazil. I think Hamilton and Merc will employ the new ICE strategy in the remain races to win the 8th championship because it is a strategy that has Verstappen backed into a corner. We shall see.

‘I thought it was fair, hard racing’ – Verstappen not expecting penalty for defence from Hamilton in Brazil | Formula 1®

Max Verstappen has doubled down on his Lap 48 manoeuvre on Lewis Hamilton from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last weekend, saying he’d do exactly the same move again if put in that situation.

www.formula1.com

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Stewards to give the verdict tomorrow.

Fuck Max and his excuses. Schumi II.

Juan Pablo Montoya says from the video we now see that there is no way Max intended to make the corner.

He was prepared to take out Lewis if that's how it ended up.

A lot of pundits seem to think nothing will come of it.

But something should come of it and it should have come during the race.

Only somebody with less than 2 active brain cells would think otherwise.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

The lap he pushes Lewis wide he enters the corner about 30 kph faster than the previous lap on the proper line.

 

[Retroram52]

Well, Lewis kicked his butt anyways and he'll probably do it again in the last three races.

 

[Retroram52]

Verstappen leads the Mercs of Bottas and Hamilton in FP-1. Methinks this is the beginning of an interesting weekend.

 

[Retroram52]

The gripe submitted by Mercedes to FIA' stewards has been DENIED. Onward we go. I suspect this decision will provide fodder for Hamilton to just drive the daylights out of his car and force the issue on the track.

Hamilton insists he’s focusing on his driving after Mercedes ‘Right of Review’ request is denied in Qatar | Formula 1®

Lewis Hamilton endured an underwhelming start to running at the first ever Qatar Grand Prix weekend, finishing fourth in Free Practice 2 as Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas topped the times – while he also watched as Mercedes’ ‘Right of Review’ request was denied by the stewards on Friday.

www.formula1.com

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Of course it was.

Max Rittenhouse can do no wrong.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Score marks Red Bull is whining about.

 

[Retroram52]

Whiney European little bitches.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Call me gobsmacked.

Did you see the RBs wing waggling today?

 

[Retroram52]

Yep and the Mercs took advantage in practice finishing 1-2 over Verstappen, Gasly, and Perez.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

Hamilton
Verstappen
Bottas
Gasley

 

[forty_three]

HAM
BOT
VER
PER

These are total guesses. I am out of town and haven't watched any of it.

 

[Retroram52]

Hamilton is on tear on this brand new track in the heat. Lots of room to fly around like a madman and Hamilton is just opening-up huge leads like a boss and some of his earlier work years ago. The Mercs have figured-out their problems and power deficiencies and they have the RBs on the ropes.

I'll go with Hamilton, Verstappen, Bottas, and Gasley.

 

[ckhokie]

HAM
VER
BOT
NOR

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Hamilton
Bottas
Verstappen
Sainz

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Rittenhouse, Bottas and Sainz to see stewards over ignoring yellow flags from Gasly's tire blowout.

3 place grid penalties? Lewis got one last year I think?

 

[Retroram52]

Bottas gets a three-grid penalty for ignoring yellows and Verstappen gets a five-grid penalty. I guess ole Max is getting some of his craziness applied to him after the latest Hamilton-Verstappen dust-up.

 

[Retroram52]

Verstappen gets to fourth after the start, but Bottas falls to 11th.