Every time he’s been handed a chance to take advantage, there’s been a mistake from Lewis or the team. I’m still backing Max for the title.
Eh?So another ‘tactical foul’coming up from Mercedes perhaps
Bottas engine change - grid drop to 17th
I think you are likely to be right and you know what... it wouldn't be a bad thing for the sport. I know it's fashionable to slag Max off in the UK, but aside from one or two over exuberances on the track this year he has been stellar and clearly has Lewis rattled. Maybe Lewis losing his crown this year would see him come back extra motivated next season... that might be worth it for all of us fans. I also think the 100th victory thing is playing on his mind... he mentioned it again yesterday saying he is chilled and it will come when it comes... but I sense that is not really the case.
Anyway today I would love to see Lando win the race... it would be sort of typical as McLaren haven't won for so long and then get two consecutive victories In fact any of the top three winning would be brilliant for the sport. Looking forward to it.
To hold Max up? Doubt it, Max will probably pass him & a few others by the time they get to the first corner!Bottas engine change - grid drop to 17th
To hold Max up? Doubt it, Max will probably pass him & a few others by the time they get to the first corner![/QUOTE
It is so - Wolff confirmed it from what I’ve read
I doubt it's the 100th race win thing, most likely he was asked the question then the answer is reported as a statement without a prompt - standard journalism. He can't rattle Max mentally and he's been trying from early on in the season and gives the impression that Lewis is more worried than the other way round which I think is the case. Lewis has been really strong in the 2nd half of the season the last few years but I've not seeing this time, as said before, too many mistakes especially when Max or his team have screwed up.
Someone mentioned that maybe Lewis is still suffering from long COVID, who knows? These top athletes need to at 100%, lose a few and maybe that opens the door for the odd mistake here or there. It could just be that he's past his very best. Only Lewis and those closest to him will have the answer on that one.
So he needs a new engine in Monza and another the next race in Sotsji, it just shows how reliable the Mercedes engine isBottas engine change - grid drop to 17th
I don't really buy the long Covid thing, he was as sharp as a nail for the first few races (bar the off in the wet, but that can happen to anybody) and it's only when Max has started to be able to apply intense pressure he has started to exhibit 'weaknesses'. I'm a massive Lewis fan, but I do think he is not on top of his game right now for whatever reasons and it's a shame.
I’m sure many people are feeling the after effects of covid but I don’t put his mistakes down to this personally.Having had Covid, I can assure you, Covid does some long term damage. Maybe not 'Long Covid' in its entirety but if definitely affects many many things for a long time afterwards. It especially affects stress tolerance and perception which lingers and lingers and an unrelenting fatigue after exertion. Obviously Lewis being an ultra athlete, it dosent show as extreme as it does in a mere mortal like myself but there is definitely something in there that is affecting him. At this level, I imagine it may only take a drop in physical functioning of a single percent to lose the edge and for others to maintain their percent and overtake.
We only had to look at him at the podium at Hungary to show he was just not well, and I feel this has definitely continued for him and will be contributing to the situation.
I’m sure many people are feeling the after effects of covid but I don’t put his mistakes down to this personally.
Maybe if he came out and said he is really suffering we would know for sure.
Sorry to hear you are suffering mate.
Well if he is suffering post covid it just goes to show what a tremendous competitor he is.Thanks dude.
I don't think his sponsors would want to hear anything like that if it's not seriously enough to prevent him from racing and the FIA may just remove him entirely if he says he is sick.
We may never know, but seeing him on the podium looking pretty much how I do on a daily basis made me wonder!
(Obviously age is even more a consideration post Covid so that could also be contributing)
But he decided that he wanted to stay out - of course, so did Hamilton, but fortunately for him his team knew better. Highly entertaining race, with a bit of rain to liven things up.Great race
What a shame for Lando