TURKISH GRAND PRIX - SMOOTH RUNNINGS FOR VALTTERI BOTTAS, AT HAMILTON WENT INTO SAFE-RUNNINGS MODE!

 

A Mushroom

A Very Big Congratulations to Valtteri Bottas and Team Mercedes, and to Max Verstappen and Team Red Bull, and to Carlos Sainz and Team Ferrari, for making it to P. 1, P.2 and P.3, at the end of the 2021 Formula 1 Season's Turkish Grand Prix.

Yes, it was the case that Hamilton was not on the Podium at the end of what was, indeed, a very exciting and enjoyable race. With the elements and the fortuitousness of the gods seemingly playing no significant role. 

Thereby allowing the racers to chance their luck, as it were, with some of them extending the number of laps they suffered their trusty tyres to go. 

A situation which made it rather difficult for Hamilton, as he challenged with the good race position he was in, but the uncertainty of maintaining it.  

If he did not heed the call of his Team to come in and change his tyres, rather than doing his own thing by staying out and pressing on. In the uncertain hope that they would not explode and bring his day's endeavours to ruin. 

Rather than enabling him to retain his then position of P.3, at the point when his Team made their first call for him to pit and change tyres. 

And he, Hamilton, responded by declining the offer. But, only to seemingly amiably accept the second offer/request to pit, later. 

Or face the risk of finding himself stranded and going backwards during the closing laps. As was the fate of the hapless Lando Norris in the previous race.

It was certainly not an easy call for either Hamilton nor his Team. 

Neither can this be an easy dilemma for any racer or their team. As they are confronted with one of the most testing of challenges. 

That of, do we make the call, and do I heed the call, when the position that I am now in, is such an advantageous one? 

Of course, the real issue is not so much about the position the racer is now in, but rather the position he can be reliably predicted to be in, at the end of the race. 

And that is not something which a racer or his team can leave simply to their feelings about their current position. 

It requires a decision which is based on an accurate computation of all the relevant racing factors which much come together to place racer X in position Y or above, at the end of the race. 

Tenby South Beach, Wales.

It is the work of the collective endeavours of the racer and his team.

Which is why Hamilton - who should have been mindful of  Norris' fate at the Russian Grand Prix - did the right thing by pitting when his Team made the second call. 

And why he should have avoided being petulant, when doing so, resulted in him losing more places than he and his Team would have wanted, but which could not have been helped under the circumstances.

It is better to play it safe, Hamilton, when you are trying to win a Championship, and not risk sacrificing by fighting too hard to place yourself in P.2 or P.3, against the odds.

But all is reasonably well at present, with the race leaving Lewis only 6 points adrift. The Championship can still be won by either of the main contenders. 

For now, the accolade belongs to Valtteri Bottas, as he move towards completing his final year as a key racer in Team Mercedes.

Pembroke Castle, Wales.