Max Verstappen

Splitting the Mercedes occasionally has been the main point of interest this season.

When Mercedes quit F1 the championship will become far more interesting.

 

When ?

 

Possibly 2023, so 3 more years of cakewalk championships.

 

Source ?

 

Yes exactly. Technically if Mercedes wasn't here this year wouldn't be that exciting either, as Max would be running away with it because there's no challenge, but last few years if there was no Mercedes the battle between red bull and Ferrari would've been nothing short of fantastic, last year especially a high point.

 

Ah, those pesky Mercedes !!!

 

Congrats to them, the W11 is a piece of art.
But recognize that a little suspense on Sunday afternoon would not displease you, even if you are a fan of natural selection.

 

I pretty clearly stated that the battle for the lead will not be exciting this year (in fact, non existent) if the Mercedes wasn't there.

 

Just a couple of paddock whispers.

Would make sense after reg changes and 10 years of dominance will probably be enough damage to the sport.

It's been good for Merc marketing but FE makes more sense for their future street car marketing.

 

Presumably if Mercedes withdrew, Bottas would be back at Williams and Hamilton struggling in the other Red Bull which suffers aero problems.

 

Not sure Hamilton would be in the other Red Bull. Mclaren most likely back then.

 

Norris is a stronger racer than Bottas

 

Bottas was undefeated as team mate his first 4 years in F1, can't say the same for Lando, and I'm a Lando fan.

 

I like Lando a lot (he's probably my favorite driver in the field) but I don't think he has it in him to be the top tier. I hope I'm wrong but his radio interactions with the team and race craft from time to time make me think I'm not. He's definitely no Max.

 

In not so many words, you know nothing and just speculate.

 

Mercedes have seriously damaged the sport, it was good for their image, but on the other hand, those inside f.1 know that their victories were bought rather than won, these last years will soon be forgotten by true fans, as a dark age were money and political influence rulled over the sport, in the end, both team and driver are litle mote than hollow winners, and they will never be compared to what Mclaren, Willimas or Ferrari achieved in their dominant years.

 

Your assumption is incorrect.
I enjoyed a lunch with Honda execs this summer.
It surprises me what one can learn after desert.

Neither Honda or Mercedes need F1.
FE is far more relevant.

 

Massa was never the same after suffering that missile strike which fractured his head

 

No manufacturer needs F1 from a commercial point of view.
FE may look more relevant but it's hardly prestigious: who remembers the winner? the last champion?

 

True, no matter what he says, he clearly lost consistency and that edge he had....in 2008, first half 2009 he was clearly the best drive rout there.

 

Agree he was absolutely destroyed by Alonso as a teammate.

 

True, but Lando loss to Sainz his rookie year. A lot of good drivers beat their team mate their rookie year, Leclerc, Verstappen, Bottas etc. I see no reason to put Lando above Bottas at this stage. Maybe in the future.

 

That's why it was a short sighted mistake by F1 to suck upto the wishes of manufacturers with their road car agendas, especially Mercedes.

F1 is a stronger sport when it has zero relevance to road cars and concentrates on being a sporting spectacle with racing teams that exist to race.


Formula E is the correct platform for street R&D by manufacturers. I don't watch it though, because it's as dull as ditch water.

 

"True, but Lando loss to Sainz his rookie year". Excuse me, how many years Sainz was already in F1?? Your parameter is not fair in the least.

I put Lando clearly above Bottas based on his entire career: karting world champion, F3 champion as rookie, second in F2 as rookie just behind Russell. And this year he is rocking in F1.

 

Correct – as some of us have posted – F1 is luxury and means nothing for sales. Most people are not F1 fans, or aware, in depth of F1 and it’s issues.