[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by minn19

You, Belgium, his team, family etc etc and a bunch of other rabid fans say he is better than Lewis. If he can't beat BOT, who can't get out of his own way lately/is mentally effed in the head.........and a young inexperienced kid (who no doubt has a ton of talent etc) in a very foreign car to him, that looks very bad for Max. At the very least it ends the he is better than Lewis argument right now nonsense.

Negative mate , are you serious ? It would be great for MAX !
As we know that a driver like Russell with still 0 points can take P1
And I'm 100% sure , MAX would be faster than Russell in the W11 ...
Russell got today a lot of issues with the Merc's down-shifts , he misjudged the Mercs trans shift-speed . But he took P1 anyway ..
That's how good the Merc W11 really is !
From what we saw today is : The Merc W11 is a killer machine and a GOAT "maker"

BOT ? C'mon !
BOT locked up continuously today . In the race it will be even worse .
Sakhir requires some driver skills , this outer circuit has longer straights with 4 very heavy brake zones .
BOT misjudged the braking zones continuously and his tyres got flat spots in no time .
The Sakhir "race" requires racecraft . I never saw BOT using racecraft ...
BOT can not perform under pressure . BOT isn't worth it , to get a Merc seat .
BOT must walk ASAP . Just like Albon .

[minn19]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Negative mate , are you serious ? It would be great for MAX !
As we know that a driver like Russell with still 0 points can take P1
And I'm 100% sure , MAX would be faster than Russell in the W11 ...
Russell got today a lot of issues with the Merc's down-shifts , he misjudged the Mercs trans shift-speed . But he took P1 anyway ..
That's how good the Merc W11 really is !
From what we saw today is : The Merc W11 is a killer machine and a GOAT "maker"

BOT ? C'mon !
BOT locked up continuously today . In the race it will be even worse .
Sakhir requires some driver skills , this outer circuit has longer straights with 4 very heavy brake zones .
BOT misjudged the braking zones continuously and his tyres got flat spots in no time .
The Sakhir "race" requires racecraft . I never saw BOT using racecraft ...
BOT can not perform under pressure . BOT isn't worth it , to get a Merc seat .
BOT must walk ASAP . Just like Albon .

Wut?

[Steeler]

deflect much?
VER has this weekend to show his stuff. EOM.

[yco]

things are looking great for Russel so far.. but for Lewis' contract part i dont think this will weaken Lewis' position since there are only 2 seats probably seat loss might happen on Bottas' side.. this weekend will be really interesting and realistically its just started..

and anyone noticed Russel's head is quite high in the car?

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by yco

things are looking great for Russel so far.. but for Lewis' contract part i dont think this will weaken Lewis' position since there are only 2 seats probably seat loss might happen on Bottas' side.. this weekend will be really interesting and realistically its just started..

and anyone noticed Russel's head is quite high in the car?

Maybe Mercedes will go for the cheaper option let's see how Russell gets on in Quali today

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by yco

things are looking great for Russel so far.. but for Lewis' contract part i dont think this will weaken Lewis' position since there are only 2 seats probably seat loss might happen on Bottas' side.. this weekend will be really interesting and realistically its just started..

and anyone noticed Russel's head is quite high in the car?

Mate . Russell is 1.85 meter tall ! This means the boy has long legs !
I'm taller . So ,I would have also issues to fit in HAM's tiny cockpit ...

BOT won't finish this race...(DNF)

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by dbarton62

deflect much?
VER has this weekend to show his stuff. EOM.

Mate . MAX shows "always" his stuff

[yco]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Mate . Russell is 1.85 meter tall ! This means the boy has long legs !
I'm taller . So ,I would have also issues to fit in HAM's tiny cockpit ...

yeah its obvious mate..

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Admiral

Maybe Mercedes will go for the cheaper option let's see how Russell gets on in Quali today

Wolff has already said that Russell's performance won't impact on Hamilton contract talks.I just don't understand how the manager can just shell out pots of money to a driver when a keen younger driver can be started on a fraction of that .Wolff is not a good manager.
I would put it to Hamilton that Russell can be had for much less salary and offer an amount that is coinciding with the going rate seing how good the W11 is. Hamilton has so much money he doesn't know what to do with it.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Wolff has already said that Russell's performance won't impact on Hamilton contract talks.I just don't understand how the manager can just shell out pots of money to a driver when a keen younger driver can be started on a fraction of that .Wolff is not a good manager.
I would put it to Hamilton that Russell can be had for much less salary and offer an amount that is coinciding with the going rate seing how good the W11 is. Hamilton has so much money he doesn't know what to do with it.

Then you aren't serious about winning. When you are intent on winning, you leave nothing on the table. And human capital is always the most expensive part of the equation.

This is how you lead high performance teams...like Mercedes.

[_X]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Wolff has already said that Russell's performance won't impact on Hamilton contract talks.I just don't understand how the manager can just shell out pots of money to a driver when a keen younger driver can be started on a fraction of that .Wolff is not a good manager.
I would put it to Hamilton that Russell can be had for much less salary and offer an amount that is coinciding with the going rate seing how good the W11 is. Hamilton has so much money he doesn't know what to do with it.

You have to account for sponsorship dollars Hamilton brings in as well though right? I don’t believe it is as cut and dry and you make it seem. Most brands want to be tied to the most accomplished individual in a sport and most teams want to retain someone of that caliber for legacy of the organization in addition to belief current dominance will continue. In this case everyone from MB to HP, Petronas, Hilfiger, UBS, Crowdstrike, etc., would likely prefer to keep Hamilton in place. Bottas is another story.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by EdM5

Master stroke from Toto!
Georgie is doing great and his performance will surely weaken Lewis' position in the upcoming contract negotiations.

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

That's a fact ! Market value is very sensible ...

Originally Posted by Admiral

Maybe Mercedes will go for the cheaper option let's see how Russell gets on in Quali today

So how, exactly, is this looking thus far?

Surely, you guys realize that Friday FP practice Glory Runs mean nothing? FP3 is ALWAYS when things firm up a bit.

Lets look at our sit-rep:

One Lap on Friday RUS fastest over one lap in both FP1 and FP2.
RUS well over a 10th off on long-run pace on Friday.

FP3: RUS down in 7th and is 0.6 seconds off VER and 0.4 seconds off BOT.

I haven't seen long run data yet but I can't wait to see what it looks like.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Wolff has already said that Russell's performance won't impact on Hamilton contract talks.I just don't understand how the manager can just shell out pots of money to a driver when a keen younger driver can be started on a fraction of that .Wolff is not a good manager.
I would put it to Hamilton that Russell can be had for much less salary and offer an amount that is coinciding with the going rate seing how good the W11 is. Hamilton has so much money he doesn't know what to do with it.

Because they don't view F1 in isolation. HAM is a global superstar and good for business. My Merc dealer has his gear all over the parts department. From within Mercedes, they surely have data on his sales influence to certain audiences. Look at the current marketing absurdities from BMW/M trying to reach a younger audience. Lewis helps MB/AMG reach them on legit motorsport merit. And outside of being the most successful F1 driver of all time, appears to be everything they aspire to be -- vegan, social justice, environmental, etc.

MB sell 7,200 cars every day and gross $12M every hour. (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/08/stav...very-hour.html)

HAM's salary is peanuts.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by _X

You have to account for sponsorship dollars Hamilton brings in as well though right? I don’t believe it is as cut and dry and you make it seem. Most brands want to be tied to the most accomplished individual in a sport and most teams want to retain someone of that caliber for legacy of the organization in addition to belief current dominance will continue. In this case everyone from MB to HP, Petronas, Hilfiger, UBS, Crowdstrike, etc., would likely prefer to keep Hamilton in place. Bottas is another story.

Mate .The Merc W11 is the key . Without the W11 , where would HAM be ?
As for the other teams the W11 is the "Pandora's Box"

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

Because they don't view F1 in isolation. HAM is a global superstar and good for business. My Merc dealer has his gear all over the parts department. From within Mercedes, they surely have data on his sales influence to certain audiences. Look at the current marketing absurdities from BMW/M trying to reach a younger audience. Lewis helps MB/AMG reach them on legit motorsport merit. And outside of being the most successful F1 driver of all time, appears to be everything they aspire to be -- vegan, social justice, environmental, etc.

MB sell 7,200 cars every day and gross $12M every hour. (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/08/stav...very-hour.html)

HAM's salary is peanuts.

Fantastic post.

If I remember correctly, Mercedes age demographic has lowered by 12 or so years since he has been a Formula One headliner with the largest declination in the Works Mercedes years. HAM has more social media followers than the AMG team and all other drivers by a large margin. Even the poison dwarf, Bernie, recognized that HAM is bigger than the sport and is a great ambassador for Formula One and he is helping them to penetrate their target market: The United States of America.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Mate .The Merc W11 is the key . Without the W11 , where would HAM be ?
As for the other teams the W11 is the "Pandora's Box"

Wrong, my friend.

HAM has been number one in social media since his McLaren Days.

Congratulations to VER on his FP3 results. Grid spots are set in the next hour and points awarded tomorrow. We shall see!!

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

So how, exactly, is this looking thus far?

Surely, you guys realize that Friday FP practice Glory Runs mean nothing? FP3 is ALWAYS when things firm up a bit.

Lets look at our sit-rep:

One Lap on Friday RUS fastest over one lap in both FP1 and FP2.
RUS well over a 10th off on long-run pace on Friday.

FP3: RUS down in 7th and is 0.6 seconds off VER and 0.4 seconds off BOT.

I haven't seen long run data yet but I can't wait to see what it looks like.

My friend , as I said FP's and QF doesn't mean much on this track .
The "RACE" on this circuit requires racecraft and a lot of luck on the winner's side.
Will be a mess ...

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

My friend , as I said FP's and QF doesn't mean much on this track .
The "RACE" on this circuit requires racecraft and a lot of luck on the winner's side.
Will be a mess ...

This. 100 percent This.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Wrong, my friend.

HAM has been number one in social media since his McLaren Days.

Congratulations to VER on his FP3 results. Grid spots are set in the next hour and points awarded tomorrow. We shall see!!

Don't see why ? Because the W11 and HAM are one ..
But without the W11 ? That would be completely otherwise..

Thank you for VER (MAX) my friend But as I said , it doesn't mean much on this crazy track .
MAX already said that today ...
It will be all about racecraft and luck ..to win this race .

MAX was coming closer in the last races . He and RB cut in the Merc's gap .
On the other hand : BOT and Albon ....No good !

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

Because they don't view F1 in isolation. HAM is a global superstar and good for business. My Merc dealer has his gear all over the parts department. From within Mercedes, they surely have data on his sales influence to certain audiences. Look at the current marketing absurdities from BMW/M trying to reach a younger audience. Lewis helps MB/AMG reach them on legit motorsport merit. And outside of being the most successful F1 driver of all time, appears to be everything they aspire to be -- vegan, social justice, environmental, etc.

MB sell 7,200 cars every day and gross $12M every hour. (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/08/stav...very-hour.html)

HAM's salary is peanuts.

Quoting again for emphasis. Social Media Power...Lewis Hamilton on Instagram

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

My friend , as I said FP's and QF doesn't mean much on this track .
The "RACE" on this circuit requires racecraft and a lot of luck on the winner's side.
Will be a mess ...

Originally Posted by MKSixer

This. 100 percent This.

Of course my friend . A lap from 54 sec. is like a "Close Combat" !

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Quoting again for emphasis. Social Media Power...Lewis Hamilton on Instagram

Right. And MB know his stardom and reach won't conclude when he stops driving. Lewis is a superstar, indefinite marketing gold. He's not going to go quietly like a Seb, who probably tinkers somewhere in his garage.

His brand ambassadorship and impact could potentially grow once he's not so focused on F1. MB would be nuts to sever the connection, almost no matter the price.