Remember when Max lapped Lewis this year, I do. It was great
Pretty much what we've been saying from 2014 thru 2020 when Lewis had a 150pts to 200 lead in the middle of season-->"Smooth Sailing!!!" But the eras are completely different from 2014 thru 2020 and 2022. The rules and regulations have more parity amongst the teams for 2022. Thank-you Sir Lewis Hamilton Image Unavailable, Please Login Hamilton expects “smooth sailing” for Verstappen with “massive” points lead In brief “Massive gaps” are now making Verstappen title “smooth sailing” – Hamilton Lewis Hamilton said that Ferrari’s woes at the French Grand Prix had handed Max Verstappen an “obviously pretty huge” title lead. “I’m gutted for Charles, who’s been doing a great job, as has Carlos,” said Hamilton following Leclerc’s crash during yesterday’s race. “It’s not easy though, having that pace and that performance and maintaining it. “It’s a tough job and I feel for the whole team because I know what that can feel like. But they’re a great team, and they’ll continue to keep their heads down.” Verstappen now leads Leclerc by 63 points in the championship. Hamilton said it was a “massive gap” at this stage in the season. “So that’s pretty smooth sailing in that space, generally. “But a lot still can go wrong up ahead so I would just advise them just to continue to push.” https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/25/racefans-round-up-25-07-5/
How nice if ham to relate to Ferrari for having a fast car. Almost like a fast car doesn’t matter who’s driving it?
It obviously does, because the best and fastest car finds its self closer to thrid than first in the constructors and the whole team struggles to finish a race distance.
They are trying to hide the reality of Ferrari throwing another championship down the pan with the fastest and best car. Redbull pulling away, best car and only challanger to first cant finish a race, Got more chance of finishing the season 3rd than first in the constuctors..
There is no doubt about that. Leclerc was comfortably sailing to a win at Ricard, and managed to throw it away. Driver's error or "stuck throttle", it doesn't matter what reason they invoke from their panoply of excuses, in the end, Ferrari snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Horner specified in the press that Mercedes is inching closer. Possibly but only in race trim. Qualy is still very much RB vs Ferrari. Perez is weak there for RedBull. That allows Mercedes a glimpse of row 2.
Difficult to say, very track dependant. For sure they have made progress but what would have been the real gap with a close fight betwenn Charles and Max until the end ? 25-30 seconds ?
I think 15 or more second with no safety cars etc. Mercedes are no overt threat to Ferrari or RedBull in terms of pace for wins. Thanks for the circuit pictures over the weekend.
Thanks. My pleasure ! Just as a reminder gap between Hamilton and Leclerc was already 11s when Charles crashed..
I am not saying that Mercedes is capable of fighting for a win yet, but at least they won't be lapped.
I was commenting on Mercedes being lapped early in the season, not on their chance of fighting for a win, which I think is nil.
Did you watch the quali and races? Mercedes is the 3rd best car, that's right BUT it is 0.7s to 1s slower in race pace! Drivers are doing an amazing job bringing that car into top 3.
I think the bigger glaring issue is the call for Sainz to go in to the pits when he's making a pass for position???? It was so amateurish and public. And then to literally throw away 3rd. Leclerc... well he's been through an emotional up and down, some of his own making others of Ferrari - mostly Ferrari. I'm not sure what the Off throttle means - if it could not because it was jammed, or if he knew he had to stay with it and lifted inducing over steer... clearly he knew the situation. I do respect him for a young kid - he's got a wise head. I just hope Ferrari don't burn him out like tons of other promising drivers.
The Sainz "cock-up" happens when people have their nose on a screen, instead of watching the race. Leclerc can't have too many "Vettel moments", if he wants to stay a credible contender. He needs to keep his emotions in check.
Watched them both. As you say, the Merc is the 3rd best car. So with 2 of the top 2 cars out, the Merc's outperformed a sleeping Perez. 1 by making a better start (and, credit where it's due, keeping behind the RBR), the other by an FIA mistake in sending out the VSC ending message twice to Perez Race pace: Image Unavailable, Please Login
You guys are exhausting..."love fest"...show a post, FROM ME, where I proclaim ANY of the silly, overly dramatic crap YOU just wrote. It's also funny that you don't understand, in the least, that part of racing...is finishing.
