Will Hamilton really miss the medium tyres he ‘pleaded’ for?

29 comments on “Will Hamilton really miss the medium tyres he ‘pleaded’ for?”

1. 

   David BR (@david-br)
   26th September 2020, 22:52

   Even if Bottas gets past Hamilton at the start, it’s difficult to imagine him staying there. Hamilton was over a half second faster on the same tyres: medium v. soft? No chance. Although he’s talked already about ‘nursing’ the tyres, we might actually see Hamilton set a fast pace and leave Bottas with the puzzle of how much of a gap he can afford to leave. Hamilton has been far better at combining speed and tyre preservation. This would be an ideal race to push Bottas to the limit. Could all be undone for Hamilton with an untimely SC cancelling out any gap he makes on the softs, but maybe worth the risk.
   1. 

      f12007v (@f1fan-2000)
      26th September 2020, 23:00

      if a sc comes out then its advantage to ham as he gets a free pitstop to get rid of softs.
   2. 

      Kribana (@krichelle)
      27th September 2020, 5:11

      Grab your popcorn. It is going to be an intense race of strategies. Bottas needs to get P2 at the start if he wants to win this race.
      1. 

         hamilz0rs
         27th September 2020, 10:01

         Bottas will never actually accomplish anything.
      2. 

         Dom (@3dom)
         27th September 2020, 10:07

         I think Bottas has a great chance of getting P1 at the start tbf @krichelle
         1. 

            Kribana (@krichelle)
            27th September 2020, 10:49

            @3dom

            I believe that too. I am also thinking that he deliberately wanted P3. Especially considering what Sainz just said. In the F2 race yesterday, Schumacher from P3 easily beat Ilott off the line. Over the last three years, we saw what the driver from P3 can do in the start. It will be easier to pick up the tow from Hamilton..
         2. 

            Ajaxn
            27th September 2020, 12:48

            Bottas??
2. 

   David (@djarvis)
   26th September 2020, 22:52

   George Russell’s Williams had the 5th quickest 1st sector, running a different set up to Latifi or just much quicker?
   1. 

      minnis (@minnis)
      27th September 2020, 0:17

      @djarvis I’ve not seen the lap but, looking at the data as seen on today’s roundup, it appears that he was slow at the start of the straight but was purple for the rest of the straight, implying that the exit of the previous corner was average but he had a pretty mega tow which then didnt affect him for the rest of the lap.
3. 

   jhg103 (@joshgeake)
   26th September 2020, 22:56

   We all know he’ll slaughter the rest of the grid tomorrow mainly down to his car advantage and appallingly weak teammate.

   Please stop entertaining the Lewis Hamilton drama show, it’s tiring.
   1. 

      LEMAYIAN (@lems)
      27th September 2020, 7:04

      I wonder what your point is exactly!
      1. 

         jhg103 (@joshgeake)
         27th September 2020, 8:11

         That he could win the GP on dead tyres from 1988, such is the car advantage.

         I mean, when was the last time Bottas beat him on merit? It doesn’t happen, partly because of talent but also partly because Mercedes doesn’t let it happen.
4. 

   NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
   26th September 2020, 23:01

   For a moment he seemed stuck at p15… Now that would be a fun race.
   1. 

      Esploratore (@esploratore)
      27th September 2020, 1:48

      Indeed, was kinda hoping for it cause in monza he “started” 19 seconds behind the penultimate (albon) and had half a race distance, by starting 15th, or even just 20th with a standing start he should be able to fight for the first positions with the car he has.
   2. 

      Ajaxn
      27th September 2020, 10:24

      Yeah, Ferrari aka vettel’s ‘crash’ could have derailed Hamilton’s progress to that 91st win. As it is that ‘crash’ shows a level of desperation which only belittle’s them as a team.

      I can just see their minds – ‘Hamilton hasn’t recorded a time, and he’s running out of time, how can we exploit that situation…’. Answer try and ‘red flag’ Q2.

      The fact that Hamilton, with all that added pressure, still managed to set a decent time (4th) is further testament to his skills as a driver.
      1. 

         melanos
         27th September 2020, 10:44

         Sure, not only Vettel’s crash yesterday was obviously deliberate, he has been practising it for the last three years so he could deliver it to perfection. That’s the secret behind all his apparently silly crashes these last few years.
5. 

   RP (@slotopen)
   27th September 2020, 0:00

   I’m wondering if he’ll deliberately offer Verstappen a better tow. Verstappen has fallen far enough behind in the WDC that he isn’t really a threat.

   Plus his team will employ all strategy options to pass Verstappen. if Bottas gets ahead of him the team might not allow some strategies.

   It’s the only problem with letting Verstappen have a good toe is the possibility of a collision with him on the first lap.
   1. 

      Rockgod (@rockgod)
      27th September 2020, 1:15

      That’ll take strategy to a while another level and it’s not convoluted either like Ferrari had last year.
6. 

   minnis (@minnis)
   27th September 2020, 0:22

   Frankly, I cant see why the soft tyres are such a big disadvantage for the top runners. If Max or Bottas jumps him at the start (less likely due to the soft tyre advantage to begin with) and is still ahead at the pit stop, as soon as Hamilton pits he will either get the undercut and regain the lead, or the leader will pit the following lap to cover and then there will be no advantage to starting on the mediums.
7. 

   slowmo (@slowmo)
   27th September 2020, 1:09

   If I was Hamilton I’d be tempted to sprint off if leading after the first corner. Try and get a 5+ second gap by lap 10 then if the traffic looks okay switch to a 2 stop.
   1. 

      Simba Wa Nyika
      27th September 2020, 3:12

      Most likely traffic will still be bunched up at lap 10.
8. 

   Jere (@jerejj)
   27th September 2020, 6:33

   Does Verstappen have a hope of beating the Mercedes drivers? – Not on pure pace
   Who will take the all-important lead at the start? – HAM.
9. 

   JohnH (@johnrkh)
   27th September 2020, 8:35

   I think the RBs and Renaults are pretty good on tyres so Bottas may be in the firing line particularly from Verstappen. When was the last time Hamilton Verstappen Sainz or Ricciardo mucked up a start Bottas on the other hand…
   Hamilton would seem to have the pace (as usual) to open up a pit stop sized gap. So given RB are excellent at the strategy wars I wouldn’t be surprised to see Verstappen on the second step.
   1. 

      David Bondo
      27th September 2020, 9:06

      Low tyre wear on this circuit.
10. 

    Mashiat (@mashiat)
    27th September 2020, 10:18

    Here is my prediction for the start: Hamilton gets off the line well, while Bottas and Verstappen have similar starts. Hamilton then stays to the left of the the track, giving Bottas a tow and edging him ahead of Verstappen, before Hamilton moves to protect the inside line for turn 2. Order after turn 2 will be Hamilton, Bottas, Perez, Verstappen.
    1. 

       Ajaxn
       27th September 2020, 10:29

       Or Hamilton’s allows Verstappen to get ahead then he slips stream Verstappen to retake the position. As long as he keeps Bottas behind Hamilton won’t mind what Verstappen does. Worst case, Hamilton is 4th into the second corner.
11. 

    Ajaxn
    27th September 2020, 10:37

    Btw, has there been any footage of Mercedes actually using their DAS system in a race, e.g. To heat up their tires after a restart, etc?

    If that system is still incorporated, you’d think we would have seen examples of it, particularly in Q2 when Hamilton’s needed to warm up his tires, and his team were insisting he starts on the Fasts, because the Mediums wouldn’t reach temperature in time.
12. 

    F1 in Figures (@f1infigures)
    27th September 2020, 11:06

    It seems Bottas didn’t string his best sector times together. He only lost a chunk of time in the final sector compared to Hamilton, but not 6 tenths.
    As for the start, the speed-trap figures may be useful. Last time at Mugello Bottas seemed vulnerable at the restarts as he had a slightly lower top speed. I believe Hamilton has the highest top speed, which, in combination with his softer tires, give him a decent chance to retain the lead. Verstappen, on the other hand, is almost guaranteed to lose places at the start.
    If Hamilton retains the lead, he’ll nurse his tires in the first ten laps or so. If Bottas jumps to the lead, he might force Hamilton to take too much out of his tires, which could be interesting, or extremely boring if Hamilton takes it easy and allows him to build a decent gap.
13. 

    Zann (@zann)
    27th September 2020, 11:36

    Slowest formation lap in history coming up!

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