Poll: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2021, Imola - Race 2/23

Mr Jack · 19 Apr 2021 at 18:25

CaptainRAVE said:
Indeed, a VERY different line to his own social media posts and media interview quotes all yesterday afternoon, even after he had time to cool down and review the footage. If it is indeed his own wording, then it shows why you should always sleep before sending that email to your boss

That is his own social media post :confused:

You can see as the day went by yesterday that he was steadily moderating what he was saying. This doesn't seem particularly out of keeping with what he was saying before. Russell is one of the most open drivers with all his social media and streaming stuff, and while he's certainly someone who manages a smooth exterior most of the time I don't think it's really fair to claim that he's being overruled by some PR team.

Mr Jack · 19 Apr 2021 at 18:26

Nice discussion of the Russell-Bottas incident from Driver61:

englishpremier · 19 Apr 2021 at 18:27

CaptainRAVE said:
Seems like he’s a real piece of work when not being reigned in by his PR crew.

In some ways I get his frustration, but that behaviour, and some of these mistakes, could put his Mercedes seat in jeopardy if he isn’t careful. Doesn’t matter what I think, but I highly doubt Mercedes’ sponsors or board will look favourably on yesterday.

Plenty of drivers have acted poorly in the moment, but few go as far as he did yesterday. Outbursts are one thing, physical contact is another.

What for one little incident. Now Pascal Wehrlein seemed more like a piece of work than Russell.

I don't see why everyone is upset about it. It adds to the sport. Makes it more fun to watch.

CaptainRAVE · 19 Apr 2021 at 18:30

Mr Jack said:
That is his own social media post You can see as the day went by yesterday that he was steadily moderating what he was saying. This doesn't seem particularly out of keeping with what he was saying before. Russell is one of the most open drivers with all his social media and streaming stuff, and while he's certainly someone who manages a smooth exterior most of the time I don't think it's really fair to claim that he's being overruled by some PR team.

Sorry, it’s standard PR damage limitation. As a minimum Toto has directed him.

Ninco! · 19 Apr 2021 at 18:41

Bottas is not a dangerous driver and always very fair. Russell was desperate to get past Bottas as its great for his MB ambition. Ended up in a shunt. Realising this; use the age old race driver tactic of pinning all the blame on the other guy.

Now in hindsight and probably a rollicking, issued an apology. The slap was not really malicious, you see far worse conduct in other sport!

Enjoyed the race. If only Hamilton had moved to the inside from the start line and blocked Verstappen (who drove very well).

Great to see Norris do so well - where did that performance come from?!

Mr Jack · 19 Apr 2021 at 18:43

The fastest laps for the race are kinda interesting. Mick's best lap was faster than Ricciardo (!).

CaptainRAVE · 19 Apr 2021 at 18:46

Ninco! said:
Enjoyed the race. If only Hamilton had moved to the inside from the start line and blocked Verstappen (who drove very well). Great to see Norris do so well - where did that performance come from?!

Indeed, we know which red bull he’ll cover next time. There’ll be at least one race where Hamilton and max take each other out.

SoliD · 19 Apr 2021 at 20:05

CaptainRAVE said:
Indeed, we know which red bull he’ll cover next time. There’ll be at least one race where Hamilton and max take each other out.

Can see it being like 2018 after the Azerbaijan clash, it's definitely going to be a good season. Battles throughout and a much closer pack mean there has been something going on all the way through the races so far.

rubberduck · 19 Apr 2021 at 22:32

pacegod said:
I'll regret this, but why?

He made a schoolboy error that should have ended his afternoon but because he has the best car can just tootle back up to 2nd place

Kautya · 19 Apr 2021 at 22:36

CaptainRAVE said:
Indeed, we know which red bull he’ll cover next time. There’ll be at least one race where Hamilton and max take each other out.

I almost thought when he went over the sausages that he would collect Max as he wouldnt have control over the car as much.

Ryan-3 · 19 Apr 2021 at 22:44

Christ. The lad makes an unnecessarily desperate bid to launch past a hopeless driver in the car he should be in and everyone starts branding his driving like he's Mazepin. Emotions run high in the heat of the moment and that's that. You'd think he'd followed it up by storming down the pitlane heading for the Merc garage...

englishpremier · 19 Apr 2021 at 22:49

Ryan-3 said:
Christ. The lad makes an unnecessarily desperate bid to launch past a hopeless driver in the car he should be in and everyone starts branding his driving like he's Mazepin. Emotions run high in the heat of the moment and that's that. You'd think he'd followed it up by storming down the pitlane heading for the Merc garage...

Yep, sounds like a lot on here want a boring sterile F1 with no controversy, arguments, grudges, and gamesmanship. Can't imagine how they coped with F1 in the 80s/90s. Personally I love all that stuff. The more controversial the more entertaining it is, same as any sport.

Mr Jack · 19 Apr 2021 at 22:49

rubberduck said:
He made a schoolboy error that should have ended his afternoon but because he has the best car can just tootle back up to 2nd place

Bottas, in that same car, qualified 8th, and had fallen back to 9th - despite Gasly's tyre choice putting him down the order - by the time he had the crash. No doubt that Merc is a fine car but without Lewis driving it, it doesn't cut through the field like that.

Ryan-3 · 19 Apr 2021 at 22:53

englishpremier said:
Yep, sounds like a lot on here want a boring sterile F1 with no controversy, arguments, grudges, and gamesmanship. Can't imagine how they coped with F1 in the 80s/90s. Personally I love all that stuff. The more controversial the more entertaining it is, same as any sport.

Exactly. The battles and the rivalry are what made the sport back then. Half the time the racing was nowhere near as close as people remember it being. Yes, there's often a fine line but racing drivers need to race. These guys are meant to be like rockstars. Not sterile marketing objects.

Russell cut through the field in his Merc last year whilst filling in for Lewis. Nico did too. It's just Valtteri who struggles.

KiNgPiN83 · 20 Apr 2021 at 09:25

Mr Jack said:
The fastest laps for the race are kinda interesting. Mick's best lap was faster than Ricciardo (!).

Its nice to see Mercedes claiming both fastest and slowest.. LOL

Deleted member 651465 · 20 Apr 2021 at 10:03

I like Russell and I don't even care that he slapped Bottas... he's only made himself look a bit of a plank, so he only has himself to blame if he feels judged for that.

jaybee · 20 Apr 2021 at 10:26

rubberduck said:
He made a schoolboy error that should have ended his afternoon but because he has the best car can just tootle back up to 2nd place

I note that Bottas was unable to tootle on up to third behind him during that phase of the grand prix in the best car as well. Funny that.

jonneymendoza · 20 Apr 2021 at 10:36

jaybee said:
I note that Bottas was unable to tootle on up to third behind him during that phase of the grand prix in the best car as well. Funny that.

And red bull have the best car now

pacegod · 20 Apr 2021 at 16:34

rubberduck said:
He made a schoolboy error that should have ended his afternoon but because he has the best car can just tootle back up to 2nd place

As bonkers a reason as I thought it'd be.

MooMoo444 · 20 Apr 2021 at 17:23

Schoolboy error

how many schoolboys are driving F1 cars in the wet these days? Curriculum really has changed.

Poll: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2021, Imola - Race 2/23

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