The official Formula One and General Motorsport Thread for the 2020 season!

[Victor Mildew]

Hamilton just dropping Bottas like he's at warp speed

[captain red dog]

Bottas is a pure no 2. If Mick Schumacher makes an impression in F1 next season, Merc could pinch him from Ferrari for 2022.

[Captain Kinopio]

Bottas is a pure no 2. If Mick Schumacher makes an impression in F1 next season, Merc could pinch him from Ferrari for 2022.

Nah, I’d rather someone who’s shown they deserve it in F1 for a couple of seasons get it over someone because of who their Daddy is.

[captain red dog]

Bottas is a pure no 2. If Mick Schumacher makes an impression in F1 next season, Merc could pinch him from Ferrari for 2022.

Nah, I’d rather someone who’s shown they deserve it in F1 for a couple of seasons get it over someone because of who their Daddy is.

He won the 2018 F3 championship and is currently leading the F2 championship. The guy has earned a spot in F1.

[captain red dog]

Is it still against the rules to make a political protest on the podium?

[Imrahil]

With such a superior car, all you want is a number 2 though. If they were closer to Red Bull/RP/etc, then the argument changes - since Bottas would start losing them points maybe.

That said, I do think Bottas is better than many no2's in the past in F1 (he's won 8 races ahead of Lewis). He's just up against one of the best racing drivers of all time.

[Captain Kinopio]

Bottas is a pure no 2. If Mick Schumacher makes an impression in F1 next season, Merc could pinch him from Ferrari for 2022.

Nah, I’d rather someone who’s shown they deserve it in F1 for a couple of seasons get it over someone because of who their Daddy is.

He won the 2018 F3 championship and is currently leading the F2 championship. The guy has earned a spot in F1.

I don't doubt that but so has almost everyone else in F1. I'd much rather give it to Russell or Gasly, Riccardo even.

As said above though, I don't see any incentive upon Mercedes to change Bottas.

[Memento Mori]

Is it still against the rules to make a political protest on the podium?

I don't think wanting murderers arrested is a political statement.

[captain red dog]

Bottas is a pure no 2. If Mick Schumacher makes an impression in F1 next season, Merc could pinch him from Ferrari for 2022.

Nah, I’d rather someone who’s shown they deserve it in F1 for a couple of seasons get it over someone because of who their Daddy is.

He won the 2018 F3 championship and is currently leading the F2 championship. The guy has earned a spot in F1.

I don't doubt that but so has almost everyone else in F1. I'd much rather give it to Russell or Gasly, Riccardo even.

As said above though, I don't see any incentive upon Mercedes to change Bottas.

Gasly is tied to Red Bull, Riccardo is tied to Mclaren. 2022, Mercedes will be looking for change as Hamilton will be looking to retire and let's face it, Bottas isn't going to be lead driver for them. Gasly hasn't shown the form for a top team to get behind him.

Any one of the Formula 2 drivers will be leading the pack chasing for one of those seats. Schumacher would come with an awful lot of sponsorship backing and is currently showing really good form. It's not a case of getting a drive based on his dad's name. F1 doesn't work like that anymore, there is too much money involved.

[captain red dog]

Is it still against the rules to make a political protest on the podium?

I don't think wanting murderers arrested is a political statement.

I support his statement, it's curiously late though and I wonder if he has bizarrely only just heard of it. But it is a political statement and that sort of thing was banned a long time ago and Turkey got in big trouble just for having a representative of "Turkish Northern Cyprus" on the podium one year.

[Captain Kinopio]

Bottas is a pure no 2. If Mick Schumacher makes an impression in F1 next season, Merc could pinch him from Ferrari for 2022.

Nah, I’d rather someone who’s shown they deserve it in F1 for a couple of seasons get it over someone because of who their Daddy is.

He won the 2018 F3 championship and is currently leading the F2 championship. The guy has earned a spot in F1.

I don't doubt that but so has almost everyone else in F1. I'd much rather give it to Russell or Gasly, Riccardo even.

As said above though, I don't see any incentive upon Mercedes to change Bottas.

Gasly is tied to Red Bull, Riccardo is tied to Mclaren. 2022, Mercedes will be looking for change as Hamilton will be looking to retire and let's face it, Bottas isn't going to be lead driver for them. Gasly hasn't shown the form for a top team to get behind him.

Any one of the Formula 2 drivers will be leading the pack chasing for one of those seats. Schumacher would come with an awful lot of sponsorship backing and is currently showing really good form. It's not a case of getting a drive based on his dad's name. F1 doesn't work like that anymore, there is too much money involved.

Errr Stroll.

[Cuttooth]

Is it still against the rules to make a political protest on the podium?

I don't think wanting murderers arrested is a political statement.

I support his statement, it's curiously late though and I wonder if he has bizarrely only just heard of it. But it is a political statement and that sort of thing was banned a long time ago and Turkey got in big trouble just for having a representative of "Turkish Northern Cyprus" on the podium one year.

How is it a late statement if they still haven't been arrested?

[captain red dog]

Is it still against the rules to make a political protest on the podium?

I don't think wanting murderers arrested is a political statement.

I support his statement, it's curiously late though and I wonder if he has bizarrely only just heard of it. But it is a political statement and that sort of thing was banned a long time ago and Turkey got in big trouble just for having a representative of "Turkish Northern Cyprus" on the podium one year.

How is it a late statement if they still haven't been arrested?

Well he hasn't said anything about it and it's been 6 months. Generally pressure needs to be applied a bit quicker than that if there is any chance of something being done about it.

It also puts F1 in a pretty sticky position as they race in Russia next, and with the Navalny assassination attempt still recent, they kind of at least need to acknowledge it. This is why of all sports, F1 needs to try and remain neutral if they want to race in rogue states.

[Cuttooth]

Is it still against the rules to make a political protest on the podium?

I don't think wanting murderers arrested is a political statement.

I support his statement, it's curiously late though and I wonder if he has bizarrely only just heard of it. But it is a political statement and that sort of thing was banned a long time ago and Turkey got in big trouble just for having a representative of "Turkish Northern Cyprus" on the podium one year.

How is it a late statement if they still haven't been arrested?

Well he hasn't said anything about it and it's been 6 months. Generally pressure needs to be applied a bit quicker than that if there is any chance of something being done about it.

It also puts F1 in a pretty sticky position as they race in Russia next, and with the Navalny assassination attempt still recent, they kind of at least need to acknowledge it. This is why of all sports, F1 needs to try and remain neutral if they want to race in rogue states.

From June.

twitter.com/LewisHamilton/status/1271124302579019777

[captain red dog]

OK fair play, I stand corrected!

[Vermilion]

Great race, really enjoyed that.

Hope F1 will visit Mugello again, those fast corners out the back of the circuit are mighty.

[Robbo-92]

That was wonderfully bonkers glad for Albon and gutted for Ricciardo

Double point finish for Ferrari too

[captain red dog]

The FIA are investigating Hamiltons podium protest according to the BBC. I genuinely hope he isn't punished for it, but the FIA really need to clarify that no protests are allowed on the podium. Especially as they visit a rogue state next when they go to Sochi. I get F1 campaigning for human rights, but it isn't a good look at all when they do business with Russia and China.

[Vermilion]

If anyone in F1 has anything negative to say about Russia, they should probably make sure to take their own tea set.

[captain red dog]

If anyone in F1 has anything negative to say about Russia, they should probably make sure to take their own tea set.

Yes but they really shouldn't be racing there, or in China. I hope Mclaren are at least allowed to race with the pride flag on board in Sochi.