[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

In the last races , Ferrari got actually an outstanding launch at the start grid .
Even SEB showed amazing stuff in his first lap ..

But 3-4 laps further in the race , they lose it completely ..
Think today , LeCrash will be fast at the start .

The little oval lap from 54 sec. will be a mess !
The race is 87 laps . That's just crazy !

Yeah Lecr could be dangerous at the start, he backed out of Q3 to save his tyres.
Russell may move to block Max at the start (probably will) and the red idiot may ruin things quite easily..knowing how he's been taking the piz' with Seb.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

if Albon is let go...
You would think that a talented driver like Perez who brings with him a large amount of sponsorship would be a shoe in .
OTOH Verstappen wouldn't want a successful team mate who would threaten his dominant position in the team.
If Perez doesn't get the drive then it is likely that Verstappen had got his way.

This. Team Verstappen doesn't want anything to do with PER. They will do anything to keep a competent driver out of the seat because it will expose the car and VER.

They should take the plunge. PER delivers.

AND they would be PER and VER on the timing and scoring screens. That is gold.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

I don't know... I think Max is looking for a scrap. And believes that if he can get another RB actually racing at the front of the pack, he'll better challenge the Mercs and best his teammate more often than not.

Wasn't Max who stopped the RIC vs. VER show.

RIC isn't a fool. They don't call him the Smiling Assassin for nothing. He could see that the political winds were tilted towards VER then went completely against RIC at the end. VER didn't put RIC away. Darth Marko and reliability did.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

This. Team Verstappen doesn't want anything to do with PER. They will do anything to keep a competent driver out of the seat because it will expose the car and VER.

They should take the plunge. PER delivers.

AND they would be PER and VER on the timing and scoring screens. That is gold.

Why do we think Team Verstappen doesn't want an intrateam battle? based on what?

Not his fault RIC moved on and RB mgt keeps bringing in personalities that can't cope.

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

RIC isn't a fool. They don't call him the Smiling Assassin for nothing. He could see that the political winds were tilted towards VER then went completely against RIC at the end. VER didn't put RIC away. Darth Marko and reliability did.

Indeed the first two years of Ric vrs Ver and it was Ricciardo who was clearly dominant.
Which sees any claim of Verstappen greatness fall at the first test.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

RIC isn't a fool. They don't call him the Smiling Assassin for nothing. He could see that the political winds were tilted towards VER then went completely against RIC at the end. VER didn't put RIC away. Darth Marko and reliability did.

I agree . But "Darth" Marko ?
My friend ,Sadly Darth Vader (David Prowse) died from the damn COVID !
The dark force lost it from COVID => https://deadline.com/2020/11/david-p...rs-1234623134/
"May the force be with him"

MAX always says : It doesn't matters who my teammate is ..I just push the car beyond the limits .
But currently we can "not" built a RB race strategy while my teammate is running 40 + sec. behind the facts in the front.
On the other hand : MAX and Nico the Hulk are good friends . Nico's mom is Dutch , by this is Nico also speaking Dutch .
Of course these circumstances are also in the game . But It's for sure Marko and Horner are having the last word as usual .
Horner said yesterday : If Albon has to leave RB . He will not run in the '21 season .
Think yesterday , Albon lost it completely . And today he will be nowhere..
As we know , 51 % of the Red Bull shares are "Thai" . Otherwise ....................

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

Why do we think Team Verstappen doesn't want an intrateam battle? based on what?

Not his fault RIC moved on and RB mgt keeps bringing in personalities that can't cope.

He's had 2 chances to race against HAM at Merc and turned them down. That is why.

Edit: Think about your last sentence. It is, 100%, the fault of the management team.

[M5Rick]

One things that may be for sure is that 51% of Thai shares may keep Albon on and put him on a harder programme by Horner to get used to the foibles of the RB16 going on to the next one.
Hulk is competent but RB needs finance and sponsors, where's Hulk going to get a massive sponsor.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

He's had 2 chances to race against HAM at Merc and turned them down. That is why.

Edit: Think about your last sentence. It is, 100%, the fault of the management team.

Positive . But why ? There were negotiations between MAX , Jos and Toto .
Of course ,Toto saw what MAX can do in the slower car ...
As we know : Jos Verstappen , MAX's dad is good friends with Toto (still today)
BUT !!!

MAX wasn't happy with Toto's proposals and notes in his Merc contract ..
Contained in the contract :
1- HAM remains "Always" the first driver of the team , no matter what the circumstances are !
2- If necessary : Always let him pass in the race !

By the circumstances MAX replied with : "No thank you" !
I race to win races ...As much as possible .

That's why Toto said 2 weeks ago : Don't want "The War Of The Worlds" in my team !
With Nico (Rosberg) with got a "Star Wars" !

[SenorFunkyPants]

[///M Power-Belgium]

BOOM !!!

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Positive . But why ? There were negotiations between MAX , Jos and Toto .
Of course ,Toto saw what MAX can do in the slower car ...
As we know : Jos Verstappen , MAX's dad is good friends with Toto (still today)
BUT !!!

MAX wasn't happy with Toto's proposals and notes in his Merc contract ..
Contained in the contract :
1- HAM remains "Always" the first driver of the team , no matter what the circumstances are !
2- If necessary : Always let him pass in the race !

By the circumstances MAX replied with : "No thank you" !
I race to win races ...As much as possible .

That's why Toto said 2 weeks ago : Don't want "The War Of The Worlds" in my team !
With Nico (Rosberg) with got a "Star Wars" !

My friend, this isn't true. We both know it.
Cheers-mk

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

My friend, this isn't true. We both know it.
Cheers-mk

I know more my friend ..
That's how Bottas contract looks like as well.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

I know more my friend ..
That's how Bottas contract looks like as well.

He's is rubbish so far in this race...

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

He's is rubbish so far in this race...

RUS in for hards . He just said over the radio : "Power issues" ?!?! (not sure)
Would be too bad for RUS !!! Damn ...
Hope he can win this race !

BOT in ...RUS back on P1

Bad luck for MAX . Dammit !!!

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

RUS in for hards . He just said over the radio : "Power issues" ?!?! (not sure)
Would be too bad for RUS !!! Damn ...
Hope he can win this race !

BOT in ...RUS back on P1

Bad luck for MAX . Dammit !!!

Very true. Go PER!!!

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Very true. Go PER!!!

RUS and BOT both flat tyre ?!?! WTF ?
MAX would have get it today...Easily !

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

RUS and BOT both flat tyre ?!?! WTF ?
MAX would have get it today...Easily !

Very easily...

Edit: Maybe not very easily. Perez was at the end of the pack and came back for a win. Huge achievement!

[SenorFunkyPants]

What an exciting race.
Super pleased for Perez and his first win.
Disappointed for Russell but his reputation as one of the best drivers is looking rosy.
Disappointed that Leclerc was far too optimistic on his move to get past Verstappen.
Not especially surprised to see Verstappen drive into the crash barrier..did he not think that staying on the power while off the track was not the best of ideas?
And what to say about the Merc pitcrew...jeez what a shambles.