Bottas says he’s still improving in every area

36 comments on “Bottas says he’s still improving in every area”

1. 

   Strontium (@strontium)
   11th May 2017, 0:13

   Those kerbs look like they could launch a car. I’m not sure if they’re expecting us to be happy about this. That flat astroturf which causes a loss of grip is obviously not the best solution, but is easily better than kerbs which launch cars, ruin suspension, or otherwise act as a deterrent without even doing much.

   F1 posted a video of the 1991 race here, and it was all grass. Why not bring that back instead? At least a strip around the edge would do it
   1. 

      Strontium (@strontium)
      11th May 2017, 0:17

      Just to add to that, that’s a sharp corner on the chicane kerb, so I won’t be surprised when tyres get cut open. Furthermore this could make the difference for us comparing 2015 and testing lap times to proper 2017 lap times.

      Have they resurfaced parts of the track? The area around turn 10 looks new, although it could just be the contrast between the tarmac and the repainted kerbs.
      1. 

         ARD
         11th May 2017, 7:07

         It’s all about taking just enough risk…
         There is enough space to have your car launched and come to a halt safely, but it will cost your race. I rather see a car racing on track, than cutting corners all the time without being punished by a flat tyre or retirement. Or worse: being penalized (after the race).
      2. 

         BasCB (@bascb)
         11th May 2017, 8:20

         When a driver (will it be Vettel abusing this the most again?) constantly goes over those, yes, I can see how it would not be good for their tyres @strontium. So, isn’t the idea then that this should deter them from overly using them, i.e. getting outside of the track limits on almost every lap?
         1. 

            Unicron (@unicron2002)
            11th May 2017, 8:52

            @strontium I’ve been moaning about tarmac run off areas, astroturf, lack of gravel and grass for years…. and I like the new kerbs :) Sochi Turn 2 is one of the worst for all of the above, but this year those long yellow kerbs running alongside the red and white kerbs worked absolutely brilliantly, it seemed to cure the problem of running off the track overnight. So I’m all in favour of these. It looks like Charlie Whiting and the FIA are happy to see these put in in ‘problem areas’ if done so safely. Dare they put them in at the exit of Copse? Probably not, shame. 2m wide strip of real life grass please!
            1. 

               Shaun Robinson (@)
               11th May 2017, 9:03

               I think the fact that drivers respected the track limits more at Sochi was in part due to what you mentioned about the kerbs, but also because Charlie handed out some penalties early on. Nothing stops a driver running wide and gaining time than a 5s penalty added onto your race!
   2. 

      petebaldwin (@)
      11th May 2017, 12:32

      They won’t cut tyres because drivers will try to avoid them instead of deliberately driving over them every lap.
   3. 

      Robbie (@robbie)
      11th May 2017, 12:58

      @strontium “I’m not sure if they’re expecting us to be happy about this.”

      I’m sure they’re not even thinking about ‘us’ and rightly so. I’m sure they don’t care if it affects a comparison of lap times to 2015. And I doubt they have installed car launchers and tire openers.
2. 

   Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
   11th May 2017, 3:52

   I agree with COTD. Numbers have always served the purpose of identification, personal numbers bring strength to that function. Names on cars have been always been a neat detail, not something meant to be seen at 200mph. In the mid to late 60’s all cars sported large numbers with many cars sporting the drivers names in big bold letters, that trend then evolved to stylized lettering, I’d say by then teams had realised the function of the names on the cars.
   1. 

      beneboy (@beneboy)
      11th May 2017, 11:00

      @peartree
      I used to like the David/Mika/Kimi that McLaren used to put on the sidepods in countries where they couldn’t use the tobacco sponsor decals. They were huge and looked great.
3. 

   Iestyn Davies (@fastiesty)
   11th May 2017, 4:50

   The German GP will want an improved deal to stay on the calendar no doubt, but Liberty are already looking for a second and third race in the USA, starting from 2019.

   Germany might need Baku and any other races to fall off the calendar to retain a space for 2019 and beyond, but Liberty know it is a safe pair of hands at Hockenheim should they need it.
4. 

   sumedh
   11th May 2017, 5:04

   @COTD: Why do football (and most other sports) jerseys have a number as well as a name then?
   1. 

      F1Junky
      11th May 2017, 7:46

      Numbers are easier to read for infringements. Are more visible from a distance.
   2. 

      ECWDanSelby (@ecwdanselby)
      11th May 2017, 9:34

      Quicker and easier for the referees to note down a number for bookings/red cards.
   3. 

      Fukobayashi (@)
      11th May 2017, 9:38

      I was surprised at all the fuss and negativity yesterday over what is essentially swapping a bit of corporate branding for driver identification and i’m still surprised that more negativity has made COTD. For those who know every driver number and helmet design great, fantastic, super pleased for you. For those who don’t, they have the 3 letter acronym, can we move on?
      1. 

         F1Junky
         11th May 2017, 11:14

         @offdutyrockstar

         Not sure if you are referring to my post. I like the 3 letter names. I was pointing out that in team sports players/drivers have numbers for easy identification due to similar names. Two characters at base 10 are easier to read than names. Also easier to read at an angle. Having driver names is good for us fans. For officiating not so good.
   4. 

      MazdaChris (@mazdachris)
      11th May 2017, 10:12

      Because two players might potentially have the same name?
      1. 

         Sundar Srinivas Harish
         11th May 2017, 12:19

         @mazdachris MSC and RSC for the Schumi brothers, VER and VES (until this year) for Vergne and Verstappen – there’s always a way.
   5. 

      Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
      11th May 2017, 12:48

      Because numbers are easier to produce, more familiar to grassroots fans (therefore traditional) and, as F1Junky says, easier for match officials. Names are easier to link with faces, more familiar to fans of specific players and easier for casual fans too. They complement each other, and I expect it will be the same in F1.
5. 

   My Left Eye (@blik)
   11th May 2017, 7:08

   Bet Lewis never thought he’d have to study his team mate’s data for answers. Bet he’s also checking if he still has any of those pesky Rosberg mechanics in his side of the garage ;-)
   1. 

      Anthony
      11th May 2017, 12:23

      Whatever happened with that? Did he swap back to his old mechanics this year? Or did he stick with his “new” mechanics – who really must have felt a bit insulted at times…. mmmmmmm….
   2. 

      Robbie (@robbie)
      11th May 2017, 13:40

      Bet LH has always studied his teammates’ data when they’ve bested him in a sector, or a lap. As part of a team, they would share data and try to help LH to achieve the same or better times if his teammate has found something before he has to progress the car(s) and therefore the team, and keep them both ahead of the competition. They’d be foolish not to. They’re a team after all.
6. 

   Jeanrien (@jeanrien)
   11th May 2017, 7:23

   Looking at the first few races of the season make me wonder if most of us didn’t make mistake while judging Bottas and Massa at Williams. We were all too wary that they did good but not great while both their start to the season have been great given the circumstances…

   I am pretty sure they pushed each other in a calm way to very good performer. The Williams way.
7. 

   F1Junky
   11th May 2017, 8:10

   Step 1: Tear up hosting contracts for next year.

   Step 2: Offer the hosting track at least 2/3 or less previous fees.

   Step 3: Find billionaires’ who want to own new teams. Millionaires’ can’t afford to keep a team, the world has gotten expensive.

   Step 4: Contests for fans and potential new fans. Examples: Online F1 racing that is probably ranked, Engineering as in use existing rules to design a car. A race management game for developing race strategy. All should be ranked with yearly prizes.
8. 

   caci99 (@)
   11th May 2017, 8:55

   What’s wrong having numbers and names on the cars? It is easier to identify who is who and faster. There are a lot more than you think that could not identify the driver from the TV screen by just looking at the car. Not everybody memorizes numbers, helmet colors, t-cam colors or what else is used for identification.
9. 

   Tony Mansell
   11th May 2017, 9:30

   Get the tracks back to what they were and the Germans might just turn up. They used to turn up in droves to camp and drink in the forest section, now Hockenheim is like that grate (sic) other German track, Nurborering, now a green hell for different reasons.

   Austria is also a cake walk with just one old school corner…that we weren’t allowed to stand at due to ‘safety reasons’. Tec pro barriers and the inherent safety of todays cars should mean we can have those banzai corners back. Once they realize its not lap speed but change of direction at speed that is needed we may get our f1 back. Theres a reason Copse through Maggots and Becketts is legendary, and its not because they can now shave 2.3 seconds off the total lap time.
   1. 

      Josh
      11th May 2017, 9:56

      I agree with the comment about direction change being important. I mean, I can somewhat tell the cars are faster but what thrills me is seeing these guys fly through an S section and take it to the limit.
10. 

    Fukobayashi (@)
    11th May 2017, 9:42

    Regarding the Torro Rosso article, I assume Sainz is talking about a cornering speed advantage relative to the big teams and not relative to the actual 2015 and 2016 car which is how it sounds? Otherwise they have really fluffed this years regulations!
11. 

    Dom (@3dom)
    11th May 2017, 13:30

    Bottas certainly sounds like he taking the correct approach. It’s still early days in terms of defining his season, but his drive in Russia (and particularly his first stint when he was pulling away) was very impressive. What will be interesting now is, if Bottas continues to perform strongly towards he front end of the grid, will that mean that other front running/manufacturer teams, such as Ferrari and Renault (if they continue their upward trend) will be more willing to take a punt on giving a short term contract to other promising drivers that have previously been overlooked, like Grosjean and Perez?
    1. 

       Robbie (@robbie)
       11th May 2017, 13:48

       I take your point but at the same time I think F1 teams have known for years that drivers are coloured by their cars. There’s always simply been only a handful of seats at a time available in the top 3 teams’ cars. Put most of the drivers on the grid in a top three car and everyone knows they’ll have much better odds of success. Sure there’s still the ones that stand out, but anyway as the stats have borne out time and time again almost always the WDC winner had the WCC car to do it in. VB is a great example of someone who just needed the car. Yet, if he ends up actually fighting for the WDC as the season winds down be it with LH or SV or both, his real test will be that of handling the pressure of fighting for a WDC of which LH and SV have proven themselves capable.
    2. 

       Balue (@balue)
       11th May 2017, 22:44

       @3dom Good point, but I believe Ferrari doesn’t look for ‘upsetters’, more than good, experienced sidekicks, just as Mercedes did this year (management said they didn’t believe he could win like he has), so generally one just can’t tell with talent. Some just don’t seem to flourish in the spotlights like Fisichella etc, but opposite for others and Bottas is obviously one of those. Something great to watch though.
12. 

    magon4 (@magon4)
    11th May 2017, 15:52

    No comments on Dan kind of attacking Max there? Thought that was interesting and spot on.
    1. 

       Baron
       11th May 2017, 22:18

       Spot on except for the fact the Verstappen rule has already been revoked again. Meaning Verstappen was right not to listen in the first place and can now say the regulations allow it. Not to mention the fact that some of the drivers who criticized Max are now happy that rule is gone again.

       Also, it’s a bit hypocritical for Ricciardo to say this. Too many times he just dives up someones inside, completely misses any part of the apex, doesnt allow his opponent to turn in (blocking is illegal, but he gets away with it everytime) and pats himself on the back rather euphorically for such a ‘great overtake’. Very rarely do we see Ricciardo do a clean overtake (without DRS).
       Verstappen on the other hand, dives up someones inside and makes the apex, allows his opponent room but uses clever positioning to either overtake immediately or setup an overtake a corner or two later.

       I’d say Ricciardo should listen to Verstappen. Maybe he’ll finally win an action of the year award too.
    2. 

       Baron
       11th May 2017, 22:25

       Also, it comes across to me as Ricciardo trying some mind games on Verstappen as he’s struggling to stay with Max on race pace.
       I guess his euphoria of qualifying ahead of Max has been diminished by the fact that Max is ahead at turn 2 every time anyway. Kind of makes the whole Saturday seem a little redundant probably.
13. 

    Ian Laidler (@)
    12th May 2017, 2:15

    I am a big Seb and Ham fan and to see them racing is great … but they need to look in their mirrors, there is another super-Finn on their gearbox.
14. 

    Agen Judi BandarQ 2017
    25th July 2017, 1:36

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