Poll: Japanese Grand Prix 2016, Suzuka - Race 17/21

[drunkenmaster]

I wouldn't say its a lottery, some car are certainly harder than others, Ferraris are brilliant of the line and mercs are the worst.
however its been hams weakest point, if what you say is true how has Ros adapted and usually keeps the place albeit the Ferraris and other are still clearly faster of the line.

hams had a bad season, for what ever reason and its hasn't just been reliability.
but some of ros moves have well been unsporting to say the least and has got of lightly. however he has done what's needed.

He's had some issues with the start, but that is mostly luck, the majority of the bad starts have been due to the car not the driver and Rosberg has had several bad starts himself but most were earlier in the season. There isn't much luck with it, just like Verstappen's bad start, the team knew there was an issue but couldn't do anything about it. If you get a clutch that isn't working great then without a gear box penalty you're going to have issues due to the way the starts work this year.


Had Hamilton's car not failed in Malaysia Hamilton would have gained what, 13 points over Rosberg, instead Rosberg gained 15 over Hamilton, that is a 28 point turn around in a SINGLE race. Aside from that he's had 4 races as a result of failed engine parts where he's qualified 10th or below, in which at least two he started from the back(I can't remember them all, you can qualify 10th but due to engine changes start from the back, he's qualified 10th twice and pretty much last twice, but that could be up to 4 starts from the back). In each of those races Rosberg was effectively guaranteed a points gain over Hamilton.

Now if you think about the races, China, Russia, Belgium, except for when Rosberg has punted Hamilton off in Spa, he's finished ahead of Rosberg in all races since being at Merc. They are very strong tracks for Hamilton.

Without reliability issues Hamilton would have a comfortable lead on Rosberg if not a commanding lead. If Rosberg had been fairly punished for Spa and Monaco in 2014 he probably wouldn't have gotten away without a harsh penalty for Spain nor an even harsher one again for Austria. The stewards found he pushed Hamilton off the track in Spain, they put the fault squarely on him, but Hamilton is taken out and Rosberg doesn't have any real negative effect. Had Hamilton gone through he'd have gained probably 7 points so Rosberg gained from doing what he did.

 

[Merlin5]

Can't see Lewis winning the WDC without a lot of luck on his side. 4 races left. One scenario is if Lewis wins all of the remaining grand prixs, and if Nico takes 2nd in all of those, the final tally would be 385 Nico to 380 Lewis. So Lewis needs to win all races now, plus he needs Nico to be in 3rd place at least a couple of times or a single DNF to be able to win the WDC.

 

[Cosimo]

Some happy drivers...

 

[Jase]

Was a little naughty, but I don't think it was penalty worthy on its own. Along with all of his other stupid moves, there should be a penalty. It will all end in tears at some point.

It's the way he races, the other drivers know it, Hamilton knew it on sunday which is why he was able to change so quickly. At the end of the day it's racing what he does is within the rules, if he chooses to ignore the unwritten rules then it's his choice. If they don't like it the rules need to change not him.

 

[Jase]

Can't see Lewis winning the WDC without a lot of luck on his side. 4 races left. One scenario is if Lewis wins all of the remaining grand prixs, and if Nico takes 2nd in all of those, the final tally would be 385 Nico to 380 Lewis. So Lewis needs to win all races now, plus he needs Nico to be in 3rd place at least a couple of times or a single DNF to be able to win the WDC.

I really hope he doesn't win it, he's a good driver but one of the worst sportsman on the grid with his constant crying and sulking. He deserves to loose it which may knock a bit of sense into him so he comes back with a different attitude next year.

 

[this_is_gav]

I really don't see a problem with Max's move today. It was a right hand corner so he was always going to go right, especially as he hasn't made a move along the straight bit. Bit naive of Lewis to think he could squeeze there from so far back.

The problem is that he moved under braking, not that he moved. You can't do that as you can cause aeroplane crashes. Hamilton ran wide as he had to come off the brakes slightly in order to steer around Max's car. You can see what the problem is here...

 

[KiNgPiN83]

The problem is that he moved under braking, not that he moved. You can't do that as you can cause aeroplane crashes. Hamilton ran wide as he had to come off the brakes slightly in order to steer around Max's car. You can see what the problem is here...

I think they are basically just waiting for that to happen.. I can't see anything else making MV change his way of defending.

With regards to the starts it hasn't just been Hamilton, its happened to others too.

Its horrible to comprehend but i think Nico will be the champion and we will have to look at his grinning mug some time soon.

 

[Jase]

The problem is that he moved under braking, not that he moved. You can't do that as you can cause aeroplane crashes. Hamilton ran wide as he had to come off the brakes slightly in order to steer around Max's car. You can see what the problem is here...

There was nothing wrong with his move though, they might not like it but there is nothing wrong with it.

 

[KiNgPiN83]

There was nothing wrong with his move though, they might not like it but there is nothing wrong with it.

I read on the BBC website yesterday that the whole not changing direction in a braking zone was more of a gentleman's agreement although i can almost guarantee that if someone does hit him when doing that he will get a penalty for causing a collision.

 

[el_dazza]

After the Italian GP, Hamilton said of Max: "He's a quick, fast driver, he's young and he's learning. He's 18 years of age and most of us were doing some silly **** when we were 18 years old. He has a grand prix (win) under his belt and he's an exceptional driver - that's all l see." This comment was made after he'd pulled a similar move on Raikkonen.

So basically, praising it when it's done to someone else but complains when it's done to him..

I think Max is a superb talent but he does need to be careful. While it's.not written that what he's doing is wrong, all it takes is for one person with slightly slower reactions and you're in for a whopping accident.

 

[Deleted member 651465]

He called it silly ****, but obviously didn't care that much because it wasn't him

The fact that he's having so many near misses tells me he's due for a big accident. Hopefully it isn't deadly and doesn't ruin the WDC title run. I mean, imagine if he cuts Nicola up and crashes... the world would implode.

 

[el_dazza]

I think if he cuts ANYONE up and causes a major accident he's going to be on the end of colossal slap. I don't care who it is, I don't particularly want anyone flying through the air at high speed.

 

[smr]

The papers aren't holding back today are they?

'Increasingly prone to conducting himself in the manner of a man who believes he is some sort of riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, more often than not his attempts to appear brooding and inscrutable come across as the childishness of a paranoid brat.'

'It is a testament to Hamilton's apparently bottomless reserves of childishness that he somehow contrived to emerge from what should have been a relatively amusing wheeze looking utterly charmless,' writes Barry Glendenning. - The Guardian.

 

[KiNgPiN83]

I'm sure he's crying into his multiple world championships, money and super models this morning. Haha!

He doesn't help himself though with some/a lot of the things he does but at the same time do we want a grid full of droids that don't really do or say anything?

 

[Darryl_1983]

I find it strange that everyone is on Max's back about his defending... bearing in mind that when Rosberg runs someone off the track it the driver behind that is at fault.

How may ex racing drivers put the blame on the crash at barcelona on Hamilton? I don't really see the difference.

If Rosberg wins the championship by just a few points then I think Hamilton can feel that the car/engines have let him down this year.

If Rosberg carries on out perform hamilton or at least equaling him until the end of the season, Then I don't think many can argue that he doesn't deserve it, even given the engine problems Hamilton has had.

Hoping next year the Ferrari's and Redbull's will be all over Merc. The championship is pretty boring with two drivers from the same team winning every week.

 

[el_dazza]

I'm sure he's crying into his multiple world championships, money and super models this morning. Haha!

He doesn't help himself though with some/a lot of the things he does but at the same time do we want a grid full of droids that don't really do or say anything?

Jenson Button's pretty good with the media, doesn't act like a plonker, pretty laid back and he's been a world champion. Hamilton really has the air of 'I deserve this" about him, almost like the world owes him something. He really does seem to take for granted what he's been given and act spoiled with it.

 

[KiNgPiN83]

Jenson Button's pretty good with the media, doesn't act like a plonker, pretty laid back and he's been a world champion. Hamilton really has the air of 'I deserve this" about him, almost like the world owes him something. He really does seem to take for granted what he's been given and act spoiled with it.

You're right with Jenson, but the difference is when Jenson was in his apparent playboy days social media wasn't a thing. The thing is they won't report about the good things and charity stuff he posts on SM, just the bad. But again the whole snapgate and ensuing walk out was entirely his making.

Your last line is a trait among many drivers though. They grow up in a world where they are centre of the universe with everything done for them so its hardly surprising. Much like Rosberg never being able to say when he did wrong or messed up although i was impressed with the interview he did with Brundle a few races back. There was definitely a bit more humility from him.

Hopefully RB and Ferrari get there act together next year as Riciardo would make a great champion and face of F1. More smiley podiums FTW.

 

[bayo000]

The problem is that he moved under braking, not that he moved. You can't do that as you can cause aeroplane crashes. Hamilton ran wide as he had to come off the brakes slightly in order to steer around Max's car. You can see what the problem is here...

But every driver "moves under braking" otherwise you never make some corners.

And no I don't see a problem with what happened yesterday. Lewis pulled a risky move hoping Max will leave the door open and it didn't work.

Hopefully RB and Ferrari get there act together next year as Riciardo would make a great champion and face of F1. More smiley podiums FTW.

Loved his comments yesterday that he's going on diet to loose 5kgs so he can enjoy local cuisine in Texas

 

[deuse]

So max has now been told what he can and can not do.

"No action will be taken against Verstappen for what he did in Japan, but it is likely he will have been told explicitly where the FIA draws the line between what is and is not acceptable"

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/verstappen-questioned-by-whiting-over-hamilton-defence-836526/

If true I think that's fair. Lets see what he does at the next race.

 

[KiNgPiN83]

But every driver "moves under braking" otherwise you never make some corners.

And no I don't see a problem with what happened yesterday. Lewis pulled a risky move hoping Max will leave the door open and it didn't work.



Loved his comments yesterday that he's going on diet to loose 5kgs so he can enjoy local cuisine in Texas

I think the problem isn't just the moving under braking but the whole waiting for the car behind to pick a side and moving to it that irks the other drivers. Although in my mind to combat that maybe the driver behind should pick the side they want sooner and then in effect move twice to take it. I.e. want to go to the right, go left first and then go back to the right to overtake. However that may not work at 100+mph and when you take into account racing lines for corners that the driver in front can move back to...

Just 5kgs? I'd have to lose way more i think.