Alright when was that again.....?

[Kindly]

I actually love this track. It is my favourite to drive in F1 games.

 

[LeSunTzu]

Albon's 4th on the grid but less than 2 tenth on Gasly. He's not driving the Red Bull anywhere near to its potential.

 

[Enagee]

When Albon is high on the grid it means the car is working well..... Am hoping Perez wins the race though... Missing 2 races this year and still 4th in the standings he's done a good job this year.

 

[Slapped]

Who's Albon driving for next year?

Bugbear Entertainment perhaps.

 

[ZuneGuy]

I find it funny that Sky always manages to show Hamilton vs Verstappen lap differences. on screen - why? It's like they are so determined to pit these two drivers against one another. The way that they approach a race, or a lap for that matter is nothing alike.

 

[Antony Snook]

Please install sprinklers because we know it’s not going to rain.

Against the rules to put water artificially on track. But you may get a sand storm.

 

[Terry Rock]

 

[M-Bimmer]

But you may get a sand storm.

that would be a red flag

 

[Raikku]

Valtteri "The bat from Wuhan" Boitas is going to win this.

 

[fatal4you]

Paying the drivers those salaries is a drop in the bucket for what most teams make, both financially and from global exposure, not to mention boosting the big money machine that is F1. Pay them what they're worth. Some people get paid tons more for just sitting in a chair and/or and having a famous name. What they decide to do with that money afterwards is their own business.

I think you have an oversimplified understanding of motorsport. Motorsport in general is a big money waste for everyone involved with the exception of a few lucky ones like top to good F1 drivers.

However, in 2019 Merc F1 had reported a profit of 40 mil, benefiting a lot from winning the constructor's and driver's championship. If I assume running costs of 2019 are the same for 2021 and they also win both again. Then an increase of Lewis' salary by 60 mil will result in a 20 mil net loss for Merc F1. Let's see how that story develops. That salary increase is a little unusual at times where F1 teams income are somewhat reduced by COVID. Remember, the budget cap was propelled forward because of the current dire financial situation.

Personally I think it's good for Lewis (and everyone else) to earn a lot, but from a business perspective it doesn't make sense. All F1 alternative seats are filled and some good drivers are on the market + COVID. I would have totally low balled here as Merc F1 CEO.

 

[LeSunTzu]

If it didn't make sense business-wise, Mercedes would pay it. Those guys are businessmen, not blind F1 fans or tycoons using a team as a fancy way to spend their money. Hamilton is bringing them a huge plus in terms of brand image: excellence, performance, consistency, reliability, diversity, you name it.

Re the salary cap, as Hamilton said: it is not his problem, he will be retired by then. It's Verstappen, Leclerc or other young stars who will suffer from it. I think it is a very stupid move by F1 teams because the best drivers will always be in the best teams. Therefore the only teams who will save some cash thanks to the cap are the big ones. It won't level the grid at all.

 

[muzikant]

more important for this sport is that there is more competition. otherwise no one is looking and there is no budget at all

 

[Fat-Alfie]

That is the job of the other teams to achieve.

 

[Appie Kuipers]

2 stops seems to be the fastest, m-s-s.

 

[muzikant]

That is the job of the other teams to achieve.

Nope the FIA .. if they have changed the rules in 2014 Vettel was still wdc

 

[fatal4you]

If it didn't make sense business-wise, Mercedes would pay it. Those guys are businessmen, not blind F1 fans or tycoons using a team as a fancy way to spend their money. Hamilton is bringing them a huge plus in terms of brand image: excellence, performance, consistency, reliability, diversity, you name it.

Re the salary cap, as Hamilton said: it is not his problem, he will be retired by then. It's Verstappen, Leclerc or other young stars who will suffer from it. I think it is a very stupid move by F1 teams because the best drivers will always be in the best teams. Therefore the only teams who will save some cash thanks to the cap are the big ones. It won't level the grid at all.

As someone who worked most of his life for large corporations you would be surprised how many decisions don't make sense business-wise (a lot). Let's outsource our production, whoopsie, turns out the production process was to complex to outsource. Ah nevermind. We need this million-dollar software - it's the future of our business. Gets used once.

It's like you wrote "a huge plus in terms of brand image" - brand image being completely un-measurable in $ (except when it's done by phony marketing firms). Do you know or can image someone who bought a Merc because of Merc's success in F1?

 

[WPxNJ]

Do you know or can image someone who bought a Merc because of Merc's success in F1?

Has anyone purchased four new Pirelli's after watching current F1? You'd need two sets for a trip to the mall and back.

 

[bgil66]

wow the Haas looked like a bomb went off when it hit barrier, glad RG is ok

 

[Jim Layee]

That proper scared me, I grew up when F1 cars regularly burned and it took me right back . Shudder

 

[muzikant]

wow the Haas looked like a bomb went off when it hit barrier, glad RG is ok

Big one he have luck very luck