Could It Be?

[Ken4155]

After his facile win in yesterday's Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton is now just 8 points behind Max Verstappen in the tightest championship for many a year. If Hamilton was to win the penultimate race in Saudi Arabia, while setting the fastest lap, and Verstappen was to finish 2nd, both would enter the last Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi on level points. That could set things up for a very tasty finale.

[andy-hughes]

Exciting times.

[New Judge]

I always chuckle when it is suggested that any F1 victory was easy. To drive an F1 car at all takes a great deal of skill and is physically demanding; only a few drivers manage to do so competitively. To drive one on the limit for an hour and a half or more, adhering to all the regulations, handling pit stops, managing tyres, dealing with strategy whilst managing to keep everybody else behind you is something only a very few can master with any regularity. There is nothing facile about any Formula One win.

Yes, an exciting season. It would be a shame if the Championship is decided by the points awarded in the race that never was in Spa.

[ToraToraTora]

why is it "Facile" - he ran the race that was in front of him, what would have need to happen for it to be non facile?

[ToraToraTora]

Stick to the gee gees me old china, you clearly have no idea about motor racing.

[Hopkirk]

He's got by far the fastest car, from what I hear.

[piggynose]

16.35..That's you put in yr place NJ

[Mozz71]

Depends how you interpret the race's ease. Was it easy because he was unchallenged and didn't have to use much effort? No. Was it easy because everything went to plan and there were few, if any unforseen circumstances involved in the race? Yes, it really was. It went about as well as he could have wished.

[andy-hughes]

As Clive James would have said - Mr Hamilton won by driving as slowly as possible.

[Ken4155]

Perhaps the word 'facile' was ill advised. What i meant was that the race went without a hitch; no overtaking needed to be done, no skullduggery to be avoided and Hamilton won by 30 seconds - doesn't sound a lot but it's quite a distance in Grand Prix.
I probably know as much about F1 as you do, TTT.

[Spicerack]

What a difference a track makes. Red Bull totally dominate on some, Hamilton on others. (even Bottas finishes on the odd one)

[Hopkirk]

Controversial view

F1 should be cancelled because it is contributing to climate change.

(puts on tin helmet and hides)

[ToraToraTora]

"I probably know as much about F1 as you do, TTT. " - you have demonstrated you don't.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Re Hopkirk, with a name like yours you would think you would be pro motorsport. The simple fact is F1 is leading the way to more efficient less polluting cars, they expect to be using sustainable fuels completely before long.

[New Judge]

//He's got by far the fastest car, from what I hear.//

On some tracks that's true. On others it's not. However, Valtteri Bottas has an identical car. He started the race from sixth on the grid and dropped to eleventh after two or three corners. He was running third before his unfortunate puncture but was a very distant third.

[douglas9401]

To be fair to Bottas he's just getting used to the speeds he'll be achieving next year as this season winds down.

[Hopkirk]

It's not just the cars with a carbon footprint. I used to be involved with air cargo, and I have seen the enormous amounts of kit they fly to these far flung races.

[douglas9401]

Satsumas and cucumbers too.

[Ken4155]

Reading between the lines, i'd say that Lewis thought it was 'easy-peasy-Batman-squeezy'. Dare i say it, almost facile :-))
https://f1i.com/news/425879-hamilton-straightforward-win-in-qatar-pretty-lonely.html

[New Judge]

"Straightforward", Ken. Not the same as "easy."

[Ken4155]

Straightforward; "Adjective. Uncomplicated and easy to do or understand."
A few synonyms for any other would be pedants; "simple, easy, effortless, unexacting, routine."