São Paulo Grand Prix (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) | November 12-14, 2021

graniteharbor502 said:It is quite fascinating, isn't it? When the results are positive, everyone credits Lujo, but the moment things go sideways, suddenly it is all the fault of the car itself.🙂

So basically, when Max is winning, it's because of Max, but the second he isn't on top, the car is a total junker.

Jason Newman said:His engine is going to blow tomorrow.

Oh, absolutely. That's exactly why they swapped in a fresh engine—just so it can die right after a 24-lap sprint.👍

Jack Kelly5 said:I honestly just can't stop smiling thinking about the absolute beast of an alien that Alfa Romeo is turning into over the next year.

🤣

Lewis is such a class act, really. Honestly, I think he needs to get back into driving in those iconic Senna colors more often.🤦

Kyle Lopez2 said:It's more like pushing the engine straight to the redline.

He drove that thing flawlessly. You need a driver—or maybe two—who can actually tap into a car's full potential the way he did today. It makes you wonder why Sergio Perez isn't matching Max Verstappen's pace when they're sitting in the exact same machine. At some point, you have to admit it comes down to the person behind the wheel.

graniteharbor502 said:It becomes abundantly clear on this particular circuit just how much of a technical advantage the Mercedes-Benz car possesses when it comes to straight-line speed. As I have previously suggested, if one were piloting a machine of this caliber, securing a P6 finish during the sprint would be an effortless endeavor, wouldn't it? And once we transition into the main race, a podium finish seems almost guaranteed, perhaps even a victory if all the stars align perfectly.

If I may quote my own previous thoughts: Mercedes truly seems to exist in a league of its own. Meanwhile, Max managed once again to secure P2—nearly even touching P1. He is quite simply a phenomenal driver. 👍

Mercedes went all-in with Hamilton's power units. Personally, I doubt this setup will last more than a race or two before they hit a wall.

Impressive—you can really see how much ground Merc lost once those engine modes were scrapped last year.

Raymond Anderson4 said:He couldn't have taken the risk even if he wanted to. Valtteri Bottas managed his tires perfectly, and honestly, their top speed is at a level where Red Bull Racing just can't compete.

Maybe... we'll find out tomorrow.

Toto: “Forget that mask!” 🤣 🤣

James Harris34 said:So basically, when Max is winning, it's because of Max, but the second he isn't on top, the car is a total junker.

But isn't it true that Max is consistently at the top? If you look at the qualifying results, he hasn't fallen below third place once—well, if you don't count that situation in Russia where he had to sit out qualifying due to that penalty. It really is quite impressive, isn't it? Even in this current setup, he managed to fight his way ahead of a Mercedes-Benz.

It’s not just about that "stupid" gear synchronization issue anymore; now we're looking at medium tire degradation too. 🙏🙏🙏

Elizabeth Mendoza said:Lance Stroll needs to get his act together. He’s been pulling this exact same stunt with Vettel quite often lately.

Someone is going to come along and flatten him into a pancake if he keeps closing things down like this.

Basically, some idiot just completely trashed both his own and Vettel's race. 🤦
First, he screws over Vettel by triggering the SC, then once Vettel finally pits (way too late again—seriously, their strategy is a joke 🙂),
Stroll pulls a kid move by triggering the VSC, which helps everyone ahead of Vettel while he gets stuck behind an Alpine that sat on his tail the whole stint. 😵

Stroll, either hit a wall or find someone else to help, just stop sabotaging your teammate. 🤦

James Harris34 said:So basically, when Max is winning, it's because of Max, but the second he isn't on top, the car is a total junker.

That’s just what happens when you’ve got two heavy hitters running on Red Bull's tracks.

Jason Campbell70 said:It’s not just about that "stupid" gear synchronization issue anymore; now we're looking at medium tire degradation too. 🙏🙏🙏

What did he actually say? I caught what Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz were saying, but I missed his part entirely.

Raymond Anderson4 said:Red Bull Racing really needs to roll out some kind of upgrade. Even if it’s just a tenth of a second, they need to find something.

I can't say I'm feeling particularly optimistic about it.

wiredseal7 said:Mercedes went all-in with Hamilton's power units. Personally, I doubt this setup will last more than a race or two before they hit a wall.

Impressive—you can really see how much ground Merc lost once those engine modes were scrapped last year.

I just hope nobody blows an engine mid-race, because it would be nice if things stayed heated right up until the final race of the season.
👋

I mean, just seeing how Lewis Hamilton handled that... it was honestly terrifying... 🙏

Way to go, Max.
You truly gave it everything you had out there.

In my view, if Max gets an incredible start and sees a clean opening to make a move into Turn 1, he should go for it. But honestly, it might be better not to overextend. There isn't much track before that first corner anyway, so he likely won't lose second place regardless.
Sunday is what really matters here. Losing a single point tomorrow probably won't change the big picture.

Raymond Anderson4 said:He drove that thing flawlessly. You need a driver—or maybe two—who can actually tap into a car's full potential the way he did today. It makes you wonder why Sergio Perez isn't matching Max Verstappen's pace when they're sitting in the exact same machine. At some point, you have to admit it comes down to the person behind the wheel.

Indeed, having one or two elite drivers in a Mercedes-Benz 🙄
It would be quite an interesting spectacle to observe all those drivers who often find themselves undervalued while driving for Mercedes-Benz. One only needs to look back at last year's race in Bahrain to see that anyone can show flashes of brilliance when piloting that American powerhouse.