Why no fastest lap attempt?

I believe that the official explanation was they did not want to risk the 10 points in hand for finishing 5th to gain a single point. A botched pitstop would jeopardize that result.

 

Yep. It was a risk assesment issue. Alot of things could happen during a pit stop so best to bring the cars home as they are.

 

Agreed.

Success rewards those who dare.

Bottas and his engineer went against team orders, and got one extra point that could be quite usefull at the end of the season.

Championships have been won with just one point, and one even with half-a-point if I'm right.

 

No pain, no gain !

 

Not only was the pit stop a risk, but so was the lap itself. God forbid he gets it wrong and crashes.

 

Then quit racing....forever. Bottas took over and showed what he could do. The entire program is risk based to begin with. Its race 1 - go and put on a race for the fans and let the drivers do their job. Gutless

 

I agree. They had 35+ seconds in hand. They could botch the stop and still have time to find a gap to put a fast lap in.

 

Cor Blimey !!!

I always thought that risk was inherent in motor racing.

It's a GP, not an Economy Run, FFS !!!

 

Leclerc had the fast lap, on hards, near the end. Then Bottas took it back, on well used mediums, even though the race was won and he had everything to lose. Leclerc might have been able to have another go on the hards but Seb was in the the way.

 

Kudos to Bottas for trying. The man of the race, IMO.

 

They drop it down and the clutch pops, wheel nut strips, etc.etc.
They’d be skewered alive by the press and fans for losing all those points on an ‘attempt’ to gain 1.
Must be a ton of first year Tifosi on here . The caning by Merc and a Can in race one was enough of an Italian tank synchromeshing into second for the time being

 

The answer is that they were significantly hampered by aero issues and underbody temperatures and were just trying to get the cars home for points.....
https://www.gptoday.net/en/news/f1/246012/technical-analysis-why-ferrari-could-not-solve-the-problem-in-melbourne?fbclid=IwAR0dz4ipC1r6dlGkJIXlxI5PJUcj7cLyKKpU1-xD4fLJcukSHvfk4qCHI4Y

 

From now on, that will be the dilemma faced by teams and drivers who are among the first 10 in a GP, and within a chance to bag the fastest lap extra point.

Will they play it safe like Ferrari did and just keep position, or will they risk everything as Bottas boldly decided to do ?

It will be interesting to Watch at least.

 

Hey I agree.. F1 has been about risk/tire/fuel/engine management for years now though. Just saying that was their reason, not that I would do the same thing...

 

Welcome to the Hybrid Era.

 

Significantly? If so why was Leclerc able to set a fastest lap in the latter stages of the race?

 

Since it’s an Ice specialty, wonder if there’s enough, suds in the Alfa to maintain his status as No. 1 among actives.

 

This. A bit of intrigue for 1 point.

 

The Italian press address and comment on the lack of the 1 point and Leclerc told to sit behind Vettel lol - https://www.planetf1.com/news/new-season-but-same-ol-criticism-of-ferrari/

 

Significantly enough that they knew early on during the weekend that they were not going to be able to utilize full power. Vettel should have been aware of this when he made his comment over the radio of "why are we so slow....?"
Additionally, a stationary car getting a fresh set of tires that is already running hot while down on power in order to go for fastest lap seems not a great gamble for one point, when you have to make that same engine last another 6 race weekends. They were not slow, but they were also not as quick as in Barcelona. So yes, they were significantly hampered, as it altered their decision making all weekend. Of course this all may be Monday morning quarterbacking for Italian media consumption to give reason for the lack of performance.....

 

Fortune favours the Bold.

 

I would have been happy if they had let Leclerc pass Vettel. Instead he gets the wingman title this year.

 

In my view, it's a pity that information wasn't posted in the thread "Why are we so slow " , because it gives good explanation as to why Ferrari wasn't able to repeat at Melbourne the form it had displayed at Barcelona during testing.

But thanks for posting anyway !

 

What? The Italian press and some tifosi daring to criticise Ferrari ?

I thought I was the only one doing that !

I certainly didn't coin the expression "spaghetti culture" !