Fastest lap: Max Verstappen
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2021 Spanish Grand Prix
- Two reasons why Catalunya may not predict the championship – at least this year
- McLaren to keep “drip-feeding” updates onto 2021 car
- Working group tackling F1’s track limits problem
- ‘We’ll discuss what went wrong’: Hamilton and Verstappen team radio transcript analysis
- 2021 Spanish Grand Prix Star Performers
Jere (@jerejj)
9th May 2021, 15:43
Red Bull should’ve envisioned the possible or even likely 2019 Hungary repeat and bring Max in the next lap when he just about had the pit gap.
SadF1fan
9th May 2021, 15:45
Did Max still have Medium tires? Coz i didn’t think he did.
The only other opportunity was to pit immediately after Bottas and hunt down Lewis on new softs.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
9th May 2021, 15:47
@jerejj
They didn’t have the pace to do it. The only way they could have prevented a repeat of 2019 Hungary was by having Perez in Lewis’s way.
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
9th May 2021, 15:54
@jerejj Redbull were very aware imo that Mercedes would likely attempt this, but there was no way for them to cover it. If they pitted the lap after then they most likely get undercut anyway. If they pitted preemptively then I don’t think Max had the pace to catch and pass Lewis who could’ve stayed out on a one stopper. It’s just very hard to win whatever you do if you don’t have the pace. There was also the additional complication of Bottas who would have held up Verstappen if he was the first to jump onto the 2 stopper. I think what they did was their best chance to win, it just wasn’t enough.
AJ (@asleepatthewheel)
9th May 2021, 16:40
They had only an extra pair of softs remaining. Mercedes had an extra pair of mediums. Whether or not Max pitted right after Lewis’ 2nd stop wouldn’t have made any difference to the end result.
Barend Versteeg
9th May 2021, 22:26
Red Bull should not have answered HAM’s 2nd pitstop immediately, NOR should they have gambled to continue on the yellow mediums based on a 1-stopper. They should have pitted him with approx. 21 rounds to go. VER’s pace on the red softs was phenomenal and he proved that in his 3rd stint. Because the car would have become much lighter in round 45>66, the red softs would easily have survived that 3rd stint because they kept their pace the first stint too with a much heavier car. In other words, Red Bull made the wrong call AGAIN by ASSUMING Bottas would be hard to overtake. But VER would have overtaken BOT just as easy as HAM overtook VER in the final phase of the race.
JL (@j-l)
9th May 2021, 15:44
It was fun while it lasted but championship is certainly over in my books. Hopefully Max can keep it interesting.
Jay
9th May 2021, 15:52
Red bull is just about fast enough to cause a few upset wins on Merc bad days.
LB (@burden93)
9th May 2021, 15:52
Spain is usually a Mercedes track, let’s see what happens in Monaco. If Merc win there then I agree but Red Bull could well fight back
RandomMallard (@)
9th May 2021, 15:57
I agree @burden93. Monaco is make or break for Red Bull’s championship. It has suited their car well a few times in recent years. They need to win that to have any chance of taking the driver’s.
Todfod (@todfod)
9th May 2021, 17:47
Not only a win. They need a one two finish. Unfortunately, I just don’t see Perez up to the challenge.
melanos
10th May 2021, 1:49
An untimely red flag killed the championship
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
9th May 2021, 15:44
Red Bull caught out here in Catalunya. Did not have a second car in play. Did not factor in another stop from Mercedes. Did not have a good pit stop. Did not have the pace.
S
9th May 2021, 15:48
Did not have the tyre life in the car.
When you’re stuck behind someone in this situation, the best thing you can do is the opposite – saw it coming a mile away.
Ivan B (@njoydesign)
9th May 2021, 15:47
Can hate the Merc and Ham for dominating the sport for so long all I want, but hell today was quite a showing as to why it is so. An incredible car, perfect driving, quick strategic thinking. This was a very good race.
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
9th May 2021, 15:57
Yep. Same thoughts here.
A very well oiled machine. Perfect execution. Credit where it’s due. Well done to Merc.
mystic one (@mysticus)
9th May 2021, 15:51
Fun fact: 44 Ham, 33 Ver = 77 Bottas :)
RandomMallard (@)
9th May 2021, 15:58
Ah yes the factor of 11 is a brilliant thing!
Marc Hamon
9th May 2021, 16:17
If 11 was a factor today then 33 wouldvr won not 44😁😁😁
mystic one (@mysticus)
9th May 2021, 17:34
ah, another fact:
11 per, 33 ver = 44 Hamilton
Todfod (@todfod)
9th May 2021, 17:49
@mysticus
Aah.. Also P1 + P2 = P3
Dom (@3dom)
9th May 2021, 16:02
Verstappen and Red Bull seem to have the pace over 1 lap but Merc and Ham seem to be faster in the races
RandomMallard (@)
9th May 2021, 16:05
It appears the RB likes the softer tires, and the Merc prefers the harder ones. With the next few races (perhaps with the exception of Turkey but I’m unsure) looking like a softer range, it may swing back in RB’s favour a bit.
Pat
9th May 2021, 16:12
Hamilton still has the power whenever he needs it. Look at how the McLaren ‘s with new Merc engine can stay in front of Perez on the straights.
Pat
9th May 2021, 16:08
Perez getting stuck behind a McLaren yet again. I thought the Honda engine was better then the Mercedes engine this year. Guess I was wrong.
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
9th May 2021, 16:16
In another track perhaps, where there are more DRS zones, it would have been easier.
DaveW (@dmw)
9th May 2021, 17:10
Bottas, man. Just so slow compared to Hamilton. Then he decided to race Hamilton for p2 when Hamilton caught him like he was on a bike. Then he couldn’t get into verstappens pit window to protect the flap point.
Todfod (@todfod)
9th May 2021, 17:57
@dmw
This season is the downfall of Bottas. I mean everybody was excited about Bottas 2.0 in 2019… Then the following updates were just miserable. Then another race win comes across for Bottas and everyone goes crazy about Bottas version 3.1.6 being absolutely awesome. Just for him to fail again and again. Honestly, he’s better than Lewis in maybe 3 or 4 race weekends in an entire season. And he doesn’t even win all of the weekends he’s better at.
The guy’s ego has taken a beating and I’m sure it’s not easy to admit that someone else is so much better a driver in the same equipment. This season he’s finally just gotten frustrated enough to realise that even if all the stars align perfectly for him… There’s still no way he could beat Lewis.
His antics today are a clear sign that either he’s had enough and will leave the team.. Or Mercedes might want to fill that 2nd seat with a driver who’s actually capable of fighting Max Ina slower car.
Roger
9th May 2021, 19:21
Why did Mercedes throw away the fastest lap for Lewis by bringing in Vallteri thus giving Red Bull a gap to pit again and for them to take it?
They did this last week and only track a limits infringement by Red Bull prevented them from giving away a point to Red Bull for no good reason.
Totally wasted opportunity to have extended Lewis’ championship lead by 2 points.