Very relieved to see Yuki with a solid quali, especially after they announced his return next year. Would have been tough to see Lawson outqualifying Yuki after that.

I like Piastri, he’s been really killing it last 5-6 races

Feel bad for Seargant, given his damages over the season and overall performance, could see him being replaced

SC on first corner

I can see Perez getting a penalty

George and Lewis decided to say forget strategy and just race each other for this GP

Mercedes WutFace

If they wanted to finish 5-6 they should have left Hamilton in the back, he could fight off Sainz better. Either that or do the swap sooner, and not when LeClerc was over 5 seconds ahead.

Tough position though either way

Love Sainz on the radio EleGiggle

Russell was too slow imo. If they kept Lewis behind they would have lost both positions. It did look like Sainz was dropping off on the final lap, but I didn't think Lewis would have been able to hold off for that long while being slowed down.

WTF is Perez doing? Actively driving himself out of the seat. And I'd think Sargeant is done. Williams would be better off with Mick or DeVries or if they can, woo Lawson over.

Yep fucking Perez with another dive bomb at a hairpin this race taking out another car.

Great drive for Piastri.

Russell overestimating his driving again thinking he could go for a one-stop. Decision probably tanked Merc's results.

The way Sainz passed Russel when they eventually swapped places, would agree with Evo that Sainz probably would have taken both spots, maybe even at the same time if they had tried to keep Russel ahead and Hamilton behind getting DRS

Was pretty funny listening to them go back and forth trying to say that and then Sainz realizing what they were trying to do lol

I'm not a Stroll hater, but heh

Rich

I don't hate Stroll, but I do think that objectively he's one of the worst drivers on the grid and he's holding back Aston Martin. He's had 5 seasons now, he's not showing any massive improvements in skill.

However, if him driving is what keeps Daddy Stroll's money funneling into the team and sport, then so be it.

Saw this on reddit. It's a long shot that Sargeant will be on the grid next year

https://i.imgur.com/pk6jfGx.png

It’s kind of amazing more people don’t have serious crashes

Kind of crazy how big the split in damages between the two drivers are for RB and AMR, considering none of them are rookies.

it's lance's own money - he doesn't care. and he sucks.

Checo is having some kind of a breakdown.

Can Williams make a play for Lawson? I know their american backers want an american driver, but Logan sucks too.

From what I've read the rumor is Lawson signed as 3rd driver in 2024 with a guaranteed drive in 2025. In my opinion it makes much more sense to stay in the RB family.

Rich

I think if given the choice between staying with RB or going to Williams, I would go to Williams and be Albon's teammate.

Williams seems to be on an upswing in terms of their car and feel that they are less cutthroat than RB, also less of a backlog of drivers.

That is, assuming Williams was even an option for Lawson.

does it? until Max retires they're all just scrapping over number 2. We only see what the media feeds us, but it also seems like a shitty atmosphere to work in.

Maybe it's a good deal tho. Guaranteed seat 2025? If they don't have one, maybe you make a move w some cash in your pocket.

I think Williams would be sweet though - and it's a proven pathway towards Merc. Lewis won't race forever.

Williams with Vowles at the helm is a pretty good place to be but fighting for podiums is always going to be better than fighting for points.

Who knows if the Williams seat is even on offer, its just the only seat that doesn't have a confirmed contract for 2024.

If Lawson is confident (they all are VERY confident in themselves); perhaps he sees himself next to Max in 2026. It looks to me like Perez could be out anytime, best guess is they move Danny up (Yuki just isn't there) and Liam could have an eye on that seat after a year with AT.

But who fucking knows, if one driver (such as alonso) moves at the top it could all go sideways.

Rich

Yea RB is in a bit of a tough spot

Do you want to give that top car to a rookie which would probably be a good arrangement for max, or do you want another half ass mid range drive to maintain some points, albeit Checo hasn’t really been doing that even

lol - he's second on the world championship, which is defacto number 1 when you simply treat the entire championship as 19 drivers + autopilot Max

Checo is blowing it for sure, but he'll prob still finish at the top.

Danny Ric left RB for this exact reason. I just don't see the motivation to go work for a company that makes it publicly clear that your job title is Chief Fluffer

I don't understand this line of thinking that the team plays favorites. Lets say Lawson makes his way to RB next to Max and Lawson is faster and wins a DWC. Is he now the favorite? The faster of the two drivers will, of course, get more say in aspects of the team, such as direction of balance of a car, AS THEY SHOULD.

Look back at previous team/driver dominance, the winning driver NEEDS a solid 2nd. It isn't favoritism its performance.

Rich

nobody in this generation of drivers will be faster than Max at this time - no matter what car they are in. he's in his absolute prime - RB is his team.

if you want to be the number 2 team driver, that's fine. Checo took that deal - even if he told himself differently. Valteri took that deal for years too. Danny Ric saw that deal and at the time nope'd right out of there because of it.

if you want to be the number 1 team driver, you've got a better shot at it at 9 other teams.

the next driver that will be better than Max is probably 12 years old right now, lives in a sim - and he's probably already in the RB pipeline.

incoming sports cliche: Generational Talent. is Liam Lawson one? I doubt it. In some bizarro world where it was me, I'd be more stoked to go drive for another team - especially one with Williams history.

I agree with most of what you said, but where I think RB is different is that there is clearly something built into the car's design that is perfect for Max but difficult for every other driver.

I don't have actual data but anecdotally, I recall other teams with an elite number 1 driver to have a lot of 1-2 finishes. Think about how many times you saw the following combos regularly finish 1-2:

Hamilton/Bottas
Hamilton/Rosberg
M Schumacher/R Schumacher
Vettel/Webber

But with Max, there's always been a wider gap in performance between him and his teammate.

So you're right, if you sign up as a number 2, there are some concessions you'll have to make. But this current RB situation is one I think is unique for different reasons due to the nature of their car being harder for anyone to drive besides Max.

Yes I think you're right, Newey and RB have made a car that fits Max's specific style VERY well. He is able to exploit a VERY small window that the car has and it is VERY fast within that window.

Because he's able to exploit that trait, it allows the team to develop down that path further. This is very similar to the perfect storm of Vettel's dominance with the blown floor.

The team will be more likely to follow a development path that allows the faster driver to win rather than compromising for the slower of the two.

Rich