F1 Spoiler Alert

[ToraToraTora]

*** spoiler see below ***

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/55210939
Fairy tale not to be, what an uncharacteristic balls up by the merc team. Brilliant by Russell would have won had it not been for the errors by his team.

[ToraToraTora]

impressive despite: "Russell had two days to prepare for his drive in the Mercedes. The car did not fit him. He is five inches (14cm) taller than Hamilton, he had to wear boots that were one size too small to fit his size 11 feet in the cockpit and operate the pedals, he needed ice on bruises at the end of every day in the car, and he was using Hamilton's gear change and clutch paddles, which were too small for his fingers."

[douglas9401]

He did enough to show what the future holds and maybe even helped Mercedes save a few quid if Hamilton re-signs with them.

They have a quick driver in their back pocket if The Great One overplays his hand at negotiations.

[bhg481]

Interesting, isn't it. At the point in the season when Mercedes have won the constructors' championship and Hamilton has won the Drivers' championship, so nothing to lose. Hamilton is negotiating an outrageous new contract and a young blood comes along to drive Hamilton's car, a well-drilled pit team, loyal to Hamilton, choose that day to make a pig's ear of a tyre change and probably cost Russell the race.

[ToraToraTora]

it was a coke up, no reason for them to knobble Russell, they would have wanted to win the race.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Just wondering when the last time was that a driver, oh so nearly, won his first grand prix with a new team. My heart goes out to George and hope he gets the next race as well to prove it wasnt a flash in the pan.

[douglas9401]

Now Max Verstappen, there's a liability dressed up as a hero.

Mr Horner and the Herr Doktor need to have a word with themselves.

[sunny-dave]

I agree about Russell - very impressive and very unlucky - first with the pitballsup and then with the slow puncture when he was storming through the field. I too hope he gets another go next weekend.

Verstappen (for once) seemed to be an unlucky victim of the rashness of others - he was backing off to avoid a potential squeeze when he got collected by Leclerc - but I agree that he's underperforming his machinery at the moment - it's only the even worse showing of Albon that is making him look good. Now if Red Bull pick up Perez for next year ...

[bednobs]

itjust goes to show it's all about the car, and much less about the driver

[zebo]

How long will Merc keep Bottas? Get rid of him and pair Russell with Hamilton, when Hamilton retires in a couple of years they have a ready made successor.

[sunny-dave]

Bottas has got a contract for next year - I suspect that they'll let Russell have another year in the (hopefully improving) Williams and then pick him up in 2022.

[ToraToraTora]

Sunny Dave: "he was backing off to avoid a potential squeeze when he got collected by Leclerc " - look again MV's car is not actually touched.

[bhg481]

It seems I'm not the only one that thinks it was a remarkable coincidence:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9026117/When-Mercedes-wrong-tyres-Fans-claim-Lewis-Hamiltons-F1-team-sabotaged-stand-in.html