What some people forget, is that being Number 2 in a top team is generally far more rewarding that being Number One among the minnows. Not only you get a better car and more money, but you get more chances to have podium places, the occasional win, perhaps some poles and fastest laps too. More than half the field (if not 3/4) have no hope of that. Of course you have to forfait some personal ambition and be a team player. Some may have laughed at Irvine, Barichello, Massa in the past, or Bottas now, but they built a career and made money by accepting some team rules.
Irvine simply lacked the extra speed to compete with Schumacher on a relentless basis. He has stated so himself. Herbert said the same.
No one had, or has, Schumacher speed! Forza Schumi Forza Ferrari..... the only racing team and car marque that matters. Italia forever It’s easier to apologise than it is to ask permission
I agree with everything except the first sentence. A real racer would want to fight, not just support.
Earlier in the season, Bottas had more fight in him and was engaged competing for the win. Now he's more content playing second fiddle with the large points gap to Hamilton.
I’d rather be a #2 at Ferrari than a #1 at Alfa that’s for damn sure! God bless Kimi, but if he had a choice I’m sure he would’ve stayed at Ferrari as a #2. Bottas works well with a volatile and mentally fragile Hamilton, his role has his team purposes and he’s paid well for his role. Is he good enough to be world champion? Definitively no.
I think some drivers who arrive in F1 find their limitations before long. They may have been the best of their class in F2 or F3, and even won championships, but in F1, they are confronted with the very best. Only a few can expect to match the leaders immediatly like Piquet did, or Schumacher, or Alonso, even Hamilton, Verstappen, or Leclerc, etc .... For others, it's hard graft to keep up, and the brutal reality hits them: they will never be the best. But they can still make a career in F1 and work for a team rather than for personal ambition. An intelligent man accepts his limitations and make them work to his advantage. A Number 2 in a top team can earn a good living, and collect some rewards.
Oops. Clint Eastwood arrived in the thread ‘a good man always knows his limitations’ Forza Ferrari..... the only racing team and car marque that matters. Italia forever It’s easier to apologise than it is to ask permission
I've never seen Bottas make a move that floored me. He's been playing the hold em back game for so long, I forget he's there's every weekend. I've seen others him compared to KIMI, but I don't see it.
Exactly. Rubens never admitted it, but he knew it. How many times were Irvine or Rubens genuinely faster throughout a weekend than MSC and asked to cede position? I can count those on one hand yet the media has created this narrative that MSC's teammates moved over for him all the time. Patently false.
That’s because Schumacher has class, something totally lacking in the little ballerina! Forza Ferrari..... the only racing team and car marque that matters. Italia forever It’s easier to apologise than it is to ask permission
As I see it, Valtteri is very fast. However he doesn’t seem to have two things that stand out in Lewis. The first is what can be called that ‘winning is the only thing’ instinct. He seems content to be a #2. I don’t think Lewis would. (Which isn’t to say that I agree with his expression of that drive - but it is there nonetheless) He also doesn’t seem to have that ability to pull a fast lap out when he needs it. Lewis - whatever his faults - always seems to be able to find that huge lap during qualifying. That, more than Ferrari’s speed, is what struck me most about Saturday’s qualifying. Lewis, seemingly out of nowhere, picked up the better part of half a second to pip Seb for 2nd. I don’t see - or at least can’t remember - Bottas being able to find that extra few tenths when it counts most.
4 pole positions for Bottas this season isn't chump change. IMO Bottas' issue isn't qualifying, it's closing the victory on Sunday. He seems to lack that killer instinct to finish on top of the podium. In his post-race interviews, Bottas often seems resigned, some may say content, with his 2nd or 3rd place finishes.
He had to face reality, LH is better. He can be very fast but like with Massa / FA, something's missing.
Disagree about Alonso but agree with the rest of your statement. This is Bottas facing and accepting reality.
He might be « crap » but i find it funny for ppl to criticize whilst they have never raced at that level and don’t know the kinda of conditionning needed to even drive the car... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
+1 I suspect that Bottas is contractually bound to yield/not challenge Lewis. He is following team orders, banking a fat paycheck and picking up the odd win along the way.
