Poll: Russian Grand Prix 2021, Sochi - Race 15

[el_dazza]

not that obviously

So what do you want from an F1 race it to be classed as a 7 or higher may I ask? Calling it a 1 essentially means it was a Monaco snoozefest where nothing happened, this was the polar opposite. Of course, you're entitled to your own opinion, but I just can't get my head around it.

 

[ChrisD.]

I'm a massive Lando fan, I also want Lewis to win his 8th title. The last 10 laps or so was such a rollercoaster of emotions I don't think I've had since Canada 2011. Absolutely devastated for Lando, but I'm sure he will bounce back and take his maiden win in the not too distant future.

 

[SoliD]

I'm a massive Lando fan, I also want Lewis to win his 8th title. The last 10 laps or so was such a rollercoaster of emotions I don't think I've had since Canada 2011. Absolutely devastated for Lando, but I'm sure he will bounce back and take his maiden win in the not too distant future.

Just rewatched it, absolute chaos those last few laps, luck definitely with Verstappen yesterday that so many teams ahead of him got the call wrong, and getting paste Sainz and Ricciardo in the pit stop somehow. Although up until it started raining the gap back from Hamilton for Max and Perez may have RBR worried even with Max having to come back though the field as they were a long way off. Mercedes probably hoping the covid situation in Mexico causes it to be called off!

 

[this_is_gav]

I'm not going to go too hard on Norris or McLaren. Mercedes have made some awful high-profile pit calls themselves, and Hamilton himself wanted to stay out, reluctantly coming in the second time they called him to the pits.

How many times have we heard commentators and pundits say "listen to the driver", "follow the conditions, not the radar", and so on? It's not an easy call and if it was then the sport would be pretty rubbish.

It's easy to say in hindsight that they should have pre-empted Hamilton stopping for the safety in the championship, or should have pitted the following lap and guaranteed second to extend their lead over Ferrari.

As Webber said on the C4 highlights, "he's been great, whatever happens from here".

Spoiler: Indycar spoiler

A day that went from great to dreadful to rock bottom for McLaren though, with the McLaren SP Indycar championship contender (o'Ward) being effectively eliminated on the first lap of the decider in Long Beach.

You get the feeling RBR have gone all in on this season and decided to worry about next years car, next year. Where Merc have not developed this years car much by normal standards and are hoping that comes to fruition next season

I'm not sure about that. Mercedes have clearly had the quicker car since the summer break (not conclusive evidence from Spa or Sochi, but they're historically strong at both every year), so Mercedes have either unlocked performance in the existing car or have been adding upgrades themselves.

Just rewatched it, absolute chaos those last few laps, luck definitely with Verstappen yesterday that so many teams ahead of him got the call wrong, and getting paste Sainz and Ricciardo in the pit stop somehow.

Or well done to Red Bull for getting it right. I expect Verstappen would have passed most of them anyway. He was easily the quickest car on the inters. Definitely a lucky break after switching to the mediums too early and getting stuck, but luck plays a part of winning most championships.

 

[Mr Jack]

Just rewatched it, absolute chaos those last few laps, luck definitely with Verstappen yesterday that so many teams ahead of him got the call wrong, and getting paste Sainz and Ricciardo in the pit stop somehow.

Looking at the lap-by-lap, I think Max passed Sainz and Ricciardo on his inlap. I'm not sure.

Also, massive shoutout to Kimi, whose call to switch to Inters leapt him from 15th to 8th. Not sure how he leaped Russell.

 

[chrismscotland]

Only just seen the last 10 laps after trying not to find out the result yesterday.
Gutted for Lando Norris but in those kind of changing conditions you can be a hero or a zero very very quickly; McLaren really should have insisted he came in if they had been looking at the weather radar.
He's had such an outstanding season though regardless.

 

[Jimbeam3678]

I'm not sure about that. Mercedes have clearly had the quicker car since the summer break (not conclusive evidence from Spa or Sochi, but they're historically strong at both every year), so Mercedes have either unlocked performance in the existing car or have been adding upgrades themselves.

Merc clearly have the best car? Based on what? At best I would say after Silverstone they have equal cars albeit strength in different areas. To say Merc clearly have the best car is not accurate for me

 

[steve45]

Yeah I feel both are pretty similar performance wise, with either having slight advantages on certain tracks. I do get the impression that the RB car it's slightly easier to live with (larger performance window). However, that may just be Max's driving that allows it to be the case.

I find it really frustrating that just as teams are finally getting to grips with the current formula, and performances are converging and racing is becoming much closer we are just about to go into a huge change in car rules and regs.

 

[englishpremier]

Yeah I feel both are pretty similar performance wise, with either having slight advantages on certain tracks. I do get the impression that the RB car it's slightly easier to live with (larger performance window). However, that may just be Max's driving that allows it to be the case.

I find it really frustrating that just as teams are finally getting to grips with the current formula, and performances are converging and racing is becoming much closer we are just about to go into a huge change in car rules and regs.

That always happens. You'd need rules to be the same for 15 years or similar otherwise.

The changes seem to be a step in the right direction. Supposedly a car following closely behind currently loses 50% of its downforce. The new regulations should reduce that to 20-30%. The regulations should also see a big improvement from the Pirelli tyres with a wider operation window and more consistent degradation.

 

[Muska]

I'd loved to know why some people have voted the race a 1 or a 2. What exactly do you want as entertainment if that race didn't provide it @LeMson @UTmaniac ?

Without further context being offered, I tend to presume these are used more as a protest vote about the result of the race, rather than the quality of the racing.

There are always one or two, one even being caught out when they didn't realise you could see who has voted what, when they tried to question the reasons for someone giving such a differing score!

 

[Jimbeam3678]

I miss Stiggy in these threads

 

[MissChief]

Without further context being offered, I tend to presume these are used more as a protest vote about the result of the race, rather than the quality of the racing.

There are always one or two, one even being caught out when they didn't realise you could see who has voted what, when they tried to question the reasons for someone giving such a differing score!

basically there's one, who's name I forget, who always votes 1 if Ferrari don't win and 10 if Ferrari do.

 

[Stumble Bum]

There are always one or two, one even being caught out when they didn't realise you could see who has voted what, when they tried to question the reasons for someone giving such a differing score!

Ahh yes, the Rubberduck classic

 

[jaybee]

I voted 9. Can't ask for much more in a race - apart from Maxident Crashstappen to hit someone other than Lewis, writing the car off followed by Karen Horner and Marko crying about it.
I think Lewis has actually been a bit unlucky with the weather dropping points at Hungary, Spa and then with Max lucking out at this one. It tends to even out over the course of a season and I know Max has been unlucky with is blow out and accidents too. I guess overall it's about even. Mercedes will be hurting underneath it all as this should have always been a Merc 1,2. But...Bottas. He's showing why he's being dropped frankly. Was stuck in 14th for ages. Let max through practically. No fight in him or raw pace. Lucked out placing higher than Perez in the end. Should have got George in early to try to seal the constructors at least. This is still Redbull's champ to lose. They have the better package for most tracks.

 

[Mr Jack]

I went for a 7. The rain added entertainment and chaos at the end, but it was all a bit luck of the draw to me. Before that, the race was more tactically interesting that we usually see from Sochi but still not the most riveting affair.

Lewis drove a great race after fluffing his start. I was frustrated at his failure to pass early, but it was clear as things panned out that he'd decided to protect his tyres and go long. It was a solid strategy, but I doubt he'd have got the win without the rain. Max drove a fantastic race, but was very lucky with how the rain panned out to propel him from the low points to the podium. Lando had a great weekend, right up to the last few laps: painful for him, but still an impressive performance overall. Kimi showed there's life in the old dog yet, once again excelling in tricky conditions.

Russell continues to perform vastly above where his machinery should put him. He may even pass Tsunoda in the points before the end of the season at this race.

Bottas and Perez both had poor weekends.

 

[Milkyway]

Good solid 7 from me...

As a McLaren fan, having fun at the moment,
Entertaining race... toe curling for the last few laps, got that gut feeling it wasn’t going to end well.
I predicted that the front three would roar off...but in reality, knew GR would struggle.
Sorry not a LH fan... even in his McLaren days.
To me... it’s just numbers.

 

[bayo000]

I don't blame Bottas for his performance yesterday, he obviously wasn't in a happy place going into the race. He had new engine fitted in Italy and now again which ruined his race. He also had his qualy ruined waiting for Lewis' wing to be fixed and then the team decided to drop him further down the grid to help Lewis. Merc said he can finish 5th and he did, I don't think anyone expected Max to try the overtake when he did so it's hard to say if he would have made it harder once Max got a bit closer.

 

[UTmaniac]

I'd loved to know why some people have voted the race a 1 or a 2. What exactly do you want as entertainment if that race didn't provide it @LeMson @UTmaniac ?

Because <10 laps of lottery rain racing at the end doesn't make a race great. It was pretty dull until some in the top 10 decided to risk staying out on slicks instead of pitting, which caught them out in the end and gifted Max second and Lewis the win.

 

[el_dazza]

basically there's one, who's name I forget, who always votes 1 if Ferrari don't win and 10 if Ferrari do.

@ThestigGT999

 

[Scam]

Let max through practically.

I really like Bottas, but as someone said above he's about as useful as a chocolate teapot when putting him in a place to try and slow Max down. If I was watching that pass on mute and didn't know it was Bottas being passed, I'd honestly have thought it was a back marker moving out of the way for him! Utterly ridiculous, to the point that I'm sure he did it on purpose to spite the team. Which is super disappointing after all the talk of helping Lewis to get the 8th etc.

Because <10 laps of lottery rain racing at the end doesn't make a race great. It was pretty dull until some in the top 10 decided to risk staying out on slicks instead of pitting, which caught them out in the end and gifted Max second and Lewis the win.

I think you were watching a different race What about the championship contender starting plum last and racing up the field, what about all the midfield racing that was going on? There was some great back and forths that I can't remember the details but I'm sure Leclerc, Ricciardo and Alonso were providing some great entertainment. Didn't Alonso pass Verstappen back at one point? My memory is shot to pieces lol...