[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Merc were prepared for a possible protest in AD,they turned up with a lawyer.
Marko said ''One of the best paid lawyers in England. We take the best paid engineers to the race ourselves, to get the maximum out of the car'' who could show no understanding in the way Mercedes behaved after the race.

Yas Marina today : MAX and the 2022 18Inch Pirelli's

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by StatenEye

Yes the towed. Still, even Lewis said their PU was too fast for Merc.

Ah yes, the clearly superior Honda PU. But, let's make no mention of the fact RB was running way less wing (close to Monza spec, apparently) than Merc - hence their straight-line performance (for once..).

The amount of delusional, biased opinions in these threads is seriously frustrating, but it does also make for some comical reading, so keep it up I guess lol.

[M3WC]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

"Lap 1-Turn 6"

I still can't believe why this wasn't a penalty for HAM !

HAM took advantage by running off track by at least '50 meters !
5 sec. later HAM pulled a 2 sec. gap and he was gone...

Traditional gravel trap and his race would have been done.

I have read an article suggesting there should be virtual electronic gravel traps at the new tracks with these paved runoffs. Once you go in designated area car power is cut(or reduced) until you are out of virtual gravel trap. Less judgement calls for stewards.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

Nobody knew if the race would end under safety car or not. RB still made the gamble. MB did not for obvious reasons as it was extremely risky for them.

I think even if they knew the race would be restarted they would have opted to keep HAM in front on older tires. Trying to overtake max in this scenario, with how aggressive he is, would have been extremely risky. contact either puts lewis out, max out, or both of them out. and max wins 2/3 scenarios here.

Calling HAM in as race leader would have been excruciating. Not sure I would have had the stones to do it.

So, they understandably didn't punch that card. But then, to just beat the dead horse one more time, the race ending scenario Merc opted into and expected is what happened. No sympathy warranted. It's EXACTLY what Bono outlined to HAM on lap 55 long before all of the supposed controversy. After HAM had an intuitive moment of paranoia on lap 54 after bypassing the pits, Bono informed him what was coming -- race restart, with lapped cars through, you (HAM) have track position, VER is immediately behind on softs.

This incessant counterfactual whining (not from you) is just unreal to me. Guessing what set of race ending rules Merc were banking on... Merc's strategy decision was right there for anyone to hear.

Just my take, I think VER wins 1 of the 3 race ending scenarios, and it was the one that transpired.

If VER stays out on worn hards and takes the lead behind the safety car, don't think any amount of weaving or creative Verstappening could have kept HAM behind.

With VER also pitting and then racing from 2nd position on softs (equal tires), HAM had too much pace to catch and pass.

The pressure cooker would have been on Red Bull had HAM pitted. Another excruciating call on what to do, not for the faint of heart.

Can't believe people find Masi's decision to go racing more interesting than the strategy decisions and on track action that concluded this WDC. Once in a lifetime stuff.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

It glitters !

Ah I was waiting to see what the world champ trophy looks like,Max better get a more sturdy shelf.

[M5Rick]

[QUOTE=Artemis;28360784]Technically, also Red Bull had legal support: Helmut Marko has a law degree.

But he became a professional race driver. His race career ended abruptly with a permanent eye injury incurred on track: during a French Grand Prix in the early 70s a stone thrown up by Emerson Fittipaldi's Lotus pierced his helmet visor. Left eye blind ever since.

I was aware of Marko having a law degree but naturally he is not a current working lawyer as such.

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

Calling HAM in as race leader would have been excruciating. Not sure I would have had the stones to do it.

So, they understandably didn't punch that card. But then, to just beat the dead horse one more time, the race ending scenario Merc opted into and expected is what happened. No sympathy warranted. It's EXACTLY what Bono outlined to HAM on lap 55 long before all of the supposed controversy. After HAM had an intuitive moment of paranoia on lap 54 after bypassing the pits, Bono informed him what was coming -- race restart, with lapped cars through, you (HAM) have track position, VER is immediately behind on softs.

This incessant counterfactual whining (not from you) is just unreal to me. Guessing what set of race ending rules Merc were banking on... Merc's strategy decision was right there for anyone to hear.

Just my take, I think VER wins 1 of the 3 race ending scenarios, and it was the one that transpired.

If VER stays out on worn hards and takes the lead behind the safety car, don't think any amount of weaving or creative Verstappening could have kept HAM behind.

With VER also pitting and then racing from 2nd position on softs (equal tires), HAM had too much pace to catch and pass.

The pressure cooker would have been on Red Bull had HAM pitted. Another excruciating call on what to do, not for the faint of heart.

Can't believe people find Masi's decision to go racing more interesting than the strategy decisions and on track action that concluded this WDC. Once in a lifetime stuff.

Let's say this one more time. ALL TEAMS AGREED TO GO RACING IN THIS SCENARIO AS LAID OUT BEFORE THE RACE. They all agreed to it, but only when MB realized that doing so might cost them the race they changed course and said 'leave the safety car out', when only minutes before Toto begged 'don't bring out a safety car'. It's like they want it both ways, in both scenarios...flip flopping to whatever makes the most sense for them at the time.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

ECCLESTONE: MAX WON FAIR AND SQUARE, MERCEDES BAD LOSERS

https://www.grandprix247.com/2021/12...bi-grand-prix/

Mercedes doesn't have to change the 44...Maybe they can change that POS black livery back to the POS silver livery

It always got me in the '16 campaign that Ham wore a white helmet and Ros had a black one with the number 6 (The Prisoner) on his car.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by M3WC

Traditional gravel trap and his race would have been done.

I have read an article suggesting there should be virtual electronic gravel traps at the new tracks with these paved runoffs. Once you go in designated area car power is cut(or reduced) until you are out of virtual gravel trap. Less judgement calls for stewards.

Now I like this idea!!! Kinda the same as a gravel trap without the worries of getting stuck and bringing out a safety car.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Yas Marina today : MAX and the 2022 18Inch Pirelli's

For sure a harder ride with those 18's,at least Max could take it easy now letting de Vries go for it.

[Autobacs]

Originally Posted by tsk94

Lol. One instance where Perez is remotely close to Max over a race and you're using it as an example? What about the majority of the season where that wasn't the case..

I'm definitely no Lewis fan, and was happy to see someone win it other then him, and Max certainly deserved it after his performance over the season. But as Bartledoo mentioned, I'm also in the appreciate both camp. Both Max and Lewis are exceptional talents, Senna and Schumacher level, one just has more accolades then the other at the moment. Bottas and Perez are both excellent drivers, but neither is near the level of their teammates, and that's a FACT.

Exactly why I won a Max vs Perez US$100 bet 3 or so races ago

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Yas Marina today : MAX and the 2022 18Inch Pirelli's

And much larger brake set up and beefier suspension next season!

[GuidoK]

Jolyon Palmer's analysis:

[FormulaMMM]

Lewis Hamilton Cursing for a long time (BEEEEEEEEP), after being told he can't make a pitstop

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by StatenEye

A biased opinion in sport??? Omg i never what have thought. Be quiet.

I'm good.

If anyone should be quiet, it's you. But, your room temperature IQ posts bring too much comedic value to ask you to stop. So please, keep going

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by tsk94

I'm good.

If anyone should be quiet, it's you. But, your room temperature IQ posts bring too much comedic value to ask you to stop. So please, keep going

I literally play in this arena because it’s good practice for dealing with some of the attorneys I must argue with regularly for work, all while keeping a smile on my face.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

"Lap 1-Turn 6"

I still can't believe why this wasn't a penalty for HAM !

HAM took advantage by running off track by at least '50 meters !
5 sec. later HAM pulled a 2 sec. gap and he was gone...

In the end though it came about for luck starved Max, you heard the saying 'what goes around, comes around' and it was an excruciatingly long time coming for Max but like the bus you think will never come it turned up late..better late than never my friend.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

*****

20 wins now for Max and now the only way is up. I hope Adrian is up to coming up with a genius formula for the 18 inch wheel sprung tub, he's getting on and those bike accidents are a worry.

[Maresca]

I still didn't understand why Mercedes complained but whatever, it was a cool race

[M5Rick]

Everyone at RBR and Honda is high on emotion.

[Artemis]

Final lap - Other angles from the stands:

This footage remains the best:

[M5Rick]

The latest in is that Mercedes has failed to turn up for a pre-presentation ceremony to hand over the World Champion trophy.