Can you agree in a lesser car, Hamilton continually locking up at the hairpin would have cost him big time? The car is so good, he could keep screwing up and recover over and over and over again.

I suspect Vettel was driving 100% and Hamilton was probably driving at much less as he did not need to push that hard. So yes, Vettel was on the ragged edge of that car.

All Hamilton had to do was get the hairpin right one time and he would be passing for the lead. I was honestly waiting for it to happen, except Hamilton kept messing up the hairpin and delaying the inevitable.

The hairpin was covered in marbles so I can see why he and a lot of others were locking up there- but I agree the only way by the Ferrari would have been in a corner. You should also consider what Hamilton did at Monaco a few weeks earlier- not one lockup on tires that were way past their sell by.

I think Vettel brought this on himself. While I sure don't like races decided by a penalty (and think they should have been told to switch positions and continue racing) the stewards are there to enforce the rules. They did- and they saw more than we did- and Vettel paid the price.

And this is far from the first time Vettel has choked when Hamilton was pushing him. It's almost a pattern. I'd love to see Ferrari return to winning form but I don't think Vettel is the guy. He can be very fast but his emotions clearly get the better of him.

I think Vettel is pushing way more out of that car than it really has. Hence his pushing past its limits while the Mercedes is out on a cruise.


I still think Mercedes were asked to turn down the cars and make this race interesting.

Vettel was 2.5 second ahead after the incident, Lewis asked for more power, he got a setting, he ran up on Vettel in half a lap. I am not buying Mercedes were being out raced that weekend. I think this was manufactured. It felt very Nascarish to me.

The commentators kept going on about how there is no way to appeal. But I think that only applies to the decision right there and then. According to the FIA:

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.vettels-canada-penalty-the-stewards-decision-in-full.LgUCvccAD1MrhGG6oYkZs.html

What I have read:

"The 2019 Sporting Regulations state that a time penalty, drive-through, stop-and-go, reprimand or grid drop cannot be appealed."

All in all I wished that either Vettel or Hamilton would had have won the race without any interference by the stewards.

But it is what it is. We all need to get over it.

I think that there are a number of drivers who could get more out of that car than Vettel. Riccardo and Verstappen to name two. It was much faster in the straights and all he had to do was make it wider in the corners.

But he went off.

Again.

If he really thinks he's the best all he needs to do is prove it. But he can't.

I'm pretty sure he'll retire at the end of this season. If he doesn't Ferrari should retire him.

Look at what Riccardo did to Bottas. In a freaking Renault. And Bottas was driving the same car as Hamilton has.

Vettel is a whining crybaby. F' him.

Paul Ricard
 

Fair is fair, maybe Hamilton should have rec'd a penalty for his off/ return to track
which surely forced Verstappen off track during FP2. IMO

And Vettel drives with his emotions...again.

Seriously. WTF? His car was good for 3rd on the grid.

And congrats to McLaren for clawing their way back!

I think the race will be a high-speed test session for Mercedes.

McLaren has been quietly getting the job done. Kudos to them.

I got the impression his spirit is broken, temporarily.

All it will take is a good spanking and a good cry and he'll be good as new. Or collapse.

I was really happy to see that too.

Vettle got married after the Canadian GP. Maybe that is why is was in such a bad mood today.

Not the best of honeymoons for sure......

Indycar qualifying was electric. This was not .

I personally think that Paul Ricard is the single worst circuit on the calendar. It looks like they put stripes in a giant parking lot. There is so much runoff that no move is challenging of dangerous. Bring back Magny Cours.

Well said! Boring race, unlikeable track. F1 needs a fix.

You are not wrong but I think it’s got more to do with the cars, the tires and the Mercedes domination. Last lap was good and that’s it.

On the track itself I disagree with you - I was lucky enough to drive this track 20y ago, and also Magny cours both in track days - for me Paul Ricard / le castellet is a fantastic track and much better than magny Cours. Then again at the time it had no chicanes and lots of ballsy corners.

I really think it’s the series - and it’s inability to create close racing - most races this year have been bores. I betcha this afternoons indy race will be 10x more action packed.