They had the opportunity to pit him when his hard tyres started to go off after ~20 laps. He was clearly faster when he had healthy tyres so the strategy of leaving him out there in front and hoping for the best was found to be hopelessly optimistic. Stupid even in hindsight. Had they put him on the brand new soft rubber waiting for him with 10-15 laps to go I wouldn't have bet against him getting past MV or whoever was in front of him. The team threw it all away and Hamilton knows it, hence his increasingly frustrated radio calls.
ps Wasn't Perez amazing. Got his elbows out but drove very fairly and literally took one for the team.
Leaving Hamilton out there slithering around on 40 lap old knackered tyres was not clever, regardless of maintaining track position. Mercedes were given the opportunity to do the smart move twice and blew it twice. Then team even asked LH what tyre he wanted if there was a safety car so they can't say it was a surprise when there was one.
This was the right result on that basis alone. RB outthought Mercedes.
It’s a risky decision to upset Mercedes, as it’s entirely possible they could ‘throw their toys out of the pram’ and threaten to leave F1. MB bring a lot to F1, including their factory team, their development squad, and the engines they provide to others, etc.
I guess they will stay as they have ploughed so much $$$ into the 2022 regs car, but they really have nothing left to prove after dominating with 8 consecutive constructor’s championships. Who would step in to fill the gap if, on top of Honda (officially, if not entirely) leaving, Mercedes also withdrew from the sport? Is it time for a Ford Cosworth reboot?
I envisage a bit of politicking behind the scenes here, though I’d be surprised if any decisions are overturned. (I bet Masi has turned his phone off today).
It’s a risky decision to upset Mercedes, as it’s entirely possible they could ‘throw their toys out of the pram’ and threaten to leave F1. MB bring a lot to F1, including their factory team, their development squad, and the engines they provide to others, etc.
I guess they will stay as they have ploughed so much $$$ into the 2022 regs car, but they really have nothing left to prove after dominating with 8 consecutive constructor’s championships. Who would step in to fill the gap if, on top of Honda (officially, if not entirely) leaving, Mercedes also withdrew from the sport? Is it time for a Ford Cosworth reboot?
I envisage a bit of politicking behind the scenes here, though I’d be surprised if any decisions are overturned. (I bet Masi has turned his phone off today).
The only people that have threatened to take thier toys and go home is Red Bull. Ferrari has also threatened it periodically but no one takes them seriously as they make more money then any other team even if they come in last place. They have always had a sweetheart deal with F1.
This argument will go on forever, Lulu fans should accept the fact that MV drove the best lap of his entire career, and Max fans should accept that he was very fortunate to get that opportunity.
It would be easy to accept the result if they had been on comparable rubber, but turning an unassailable lead into a one lap shoot out heavily favouring one driver is hard to see as a fair battle.
