[GreenThing]

I don’t think Ferrari are favouring LeClerc, but I do think that the car suits his style more that Vettel. That along with a ‘can’t be arsed’ attitude of a driver that has been sacked.

Today's race, case in point. Great drive to P4 for Leclerc, meanwhile Seb needlessly spins when trying to overtake someone. Again. He was good 7 years ago but since mid-2017 he has been a liability.

What a drive from Max though. He's come on so much in the past 2 years.

Yes, Vettel seems to have more or less checked out already, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him quietly shuffling off even before the end of the season. Maybe Hulkenberg could do some temping?!

Great race by Verstappen, and good to see the tyre/temp combination throwing up something of an unexpected result. More of a blip in the Mercedes season-long procession, though, I suspect. After all, they still finished comfortably in second and third.

End of an era - WIlliams bought out by an American investment firm. Let's hope it helps to turn their fortunes around.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/53860010

The investment firm had probably been waiting for all ten teams to sign the Concorde Agreement a couple of days earlier, which will even out the financial playing field somewhat.

After a near-three month hiatus on this thread... Lewis Hamilton duly takes his place in history and equals Michael Schumacher's all-time record of seven world championships, having already surpassed the record of 91 wins and just about everything else besides.

I'm sure that a new contract is a formality and, with major regs changes put back by a year (so no significant upheavals of the kind that did for Red Bull and paved the way for this period of Mercedes dominance), Hamilton must already be odds-on favourite to make it eight next year.

[Alan Turing]

That was a driving masterclass today, on one set of tyres.

Simply the best.

Mercedes tried to get Hamilton to change tyres in the last few laps, but he was having none of it. He had a 25 second lead, and actually increased his lead on the wrong tyres to go on and win the race.

I am looking forward to the rule changes to see how much of his success is down to Hamilton's genius, and how much is due to Mercedes's dominance.

[GreenThing]

Lewis is one of a bunch who has the talent to become the GOAT. I think the biggest advantage comes with the experience he has coupled with the length of time with the same team.

Mercedes seem so strong tactically as they look around to see what is going on around them instead of just focusing on themselves. Would they have kept Lewis out on bald tyres is Stroll hadn’t struggled on new tyres after his pitstop? Probably not.

Would they have kept Lewis out on bald tyres is Stroll hadn’t struggled on new tyres after his pitstop? Probably not.

They told him to come in and change, but he told them no.

[GreenThing]

Would they have kept Lewis out on bald tyres is Stroll hadn’t struggled on new tyres after his pitstop? Probably not.

They told him to come in and change, but he told them no.

I was meaning earlier in the race when his tyres were wearing down to slicks. The team did suggest changing tyres a few laps from the end but that was a precaution as there was a threat of rain and any water on the track at that stage would have resulted in Lewis in the wall.

Ok, apologies!!

Its funny because the haters were laughing on Saturday saying how the rain levels the playing field and that Hamilton was nowhere (funny in itself given that this was the first wet qualifying session where Hamilton DIDN'T take pole since USA 2015).

Sunday was a case study in wet weather dominance. Even despite being stuck behind Vettel for ages, he still won the race by an absolute postcode. He's the best driver in the field and I just can't fathom why so many people don't get it. I think Max could be a match for him in the dry just about. But no one can match him in the wet.

Is he the greatest of all time? I don't know - too many unknown variables. But is he one of the all time greats? Absolutely without doubt.

[Ponty]

Its funny because the haters were laughing on Saturday saying how the rain levels the playing field and that Hamilton was nowhere (funny in itself given that this was the first wet qualifying session where Hamilton DIDN'T take pole since USA 2015).

Sunday was a case study in wet weather dominance. Even despite being stuck behind Vettel for ages, he still won the race by an absolute postcode. He's the best driver in the field and I just can't fathom why so many people don't get it. I think Max could be a match for him in the dry just about. But no one can match him in the wet.

Is he the greatest of all time? I don't know - too many unknown variables. But is he one of the all time greats? Absolutely without doubt.