- 28 May 14, 21:39#402830
Sagi, this is something I've already posted elsewhere in the ether( so apologies to anyone who may have read it elsewhere) it explains how I see the whole pitstop/ radio transmissions / strategy issues that went on at Monaco. I realise you struggle with Lewis and won't perhaps see things the same way but any way, this is what I think was going .....
My views on Lewis' radio comments, post race comments and pitstop strategies...........
First Lewis' post race comments. When asked about his radio calls, he explained the difference between Merc and McLaren. He wasn't comparing Merc unfavourably just saying they were different. At McLaren he and his strategist would make the call, at Merc a central strategist does it and the leading driver gets the first/ optimum call. Lewis stressed he was just saying they are different and he said the Merc strategist was excellent. Now put that in context with his first call after the safety car
"I knew we should have pitted straight away". ( thinking as he would have at McLaren , racer brain on)
" but I knew you wouldn't bring me in" ( recognition that he's in Merc now, it works differently.)
That's how I would interpret that comment rathe than petulance as has been suggested. It's just Lewis' thinking process being verbalised.
And his next comment
" I can't believe there's a safety car" again, simply Leiws verbalising his thoughts. He's not having a ago , just ruing the loss of his slight chance of overtaking Rosberg.
And Toto's comments: Toto was asked about Lewis' comments and why they didn't pit the lap before. He explained there was so much going on, to take into account, maybe they could have done, but Lewis wouldn't have been brought in before Nico. He was clear on that, first driver gets first pit call.
He was then asked what if Lewis made the decision to pit? He said the drivers don't make that decision at Mercedes, they wait to be called.
He was then asked , what if Lewis just came in? That doesn't happen, he reiterated.
So there you have it. Like it or not. The drivers do not make the call at Mercedes. I can see some merit to this, especially with two highly competitive and fairly closely matched drivers. These two are already suspicious of each other's actions. Mercedes have to be seen to be fair or the situation becomes unmanageable.
...To refer back to the article where Jenson commented about Lewis , the thing that most surprised me was his comment that mind games won't work on Lewis. He should know, I'm sure he tried them. People suggest that Lewis' weakness is his mental vulnerability, this suggests otherwise. Jenson says he just comes back stronger.
I don't know that "mental vulnerability" is how I'd describe Hamilton's state of mind; however, in Monaco,
I noticed that he did seem more preoccupied with looking for reasons why he wasn't ahead of Rosberg rather
than getting in front of Rosberg. Do you remember I mentioned it in the chatroom? He seemed to "need" to
know right then and there why he wasn't brought in earlier (after the SC was deployed). I did suggested that
he shouldn't worry about the ""what if"" in the heat of the moment and concentrate on what he need to do,
right then and there. YES! He does have the right to understand the rationalizations; but, that discussion
should be had after the race finished.
Just an observation and not a criticism!!
Sagi, this is something I've already posted elsewhere in the ether( so apologies to anyone who may have read it elsewhere) it explains how I see the whole pitstop/ radio transmissions / strategy issues that went on at Monaco. I realise you struggle with Lewis and won't perhaps see things the same way but any way, this is what I think was going .....
My views on Lewis' radio comments, post race comments and pitstop strategies...........
First Lewis' post race comments. When asked about his radio calls, he explained the difference between Merc and McLaren. He wasn't comparing Merc unfavourably just saying they were different. At McLaren he and his strategist would make the call, at Merc a central strategist does it and the leading driver gets the first/ optimum call. Lewis stressed he was just saying they are different and he said the Merc strategist was excellent. Now put that in context with his first call after the safety car
"I knew we should have pitted straight away". ( thinking as he would have at McLaren , racer brain on)
" but I knew you wouldn't bring me in" ( recognition that he's in Merc now, it works differently.)
That's how I would interpret that comment rathe than petulance as has been suggested. It's just Lewis' thinking process being verbalised.
And his next comment
" I can't believe there's a safety car" again, simply Leiws verbalising his thoughts. He's not having a ago , just ruing the loss of his slight chance of overtaking Rosberg.
And Toto's comments: Toto was asked about Lewis' comments and why they didn't pit the lap before. He explained there was so much going on, to take into account, maybe they could have done, but Lewis wouldn't have been brought in before Nico. He was clear on that, first driver gets first pit call.
He was then asked what if Lewis made the decision to pit? He said the drivers don't make that decision at Mercedes, they wait to be called.
He was then asked , what if Lewis just came in? That doesn't happen, he reiterated.
So there you have it. Like it or not. The drivers do not make the call at Mercedes. I can see some merit to this, especially with two highly competitive and fairly closely matched drivers. These two are already suspicious of each other's actions. Mercedes have to be seen to be fair or the situation becomes unmanageable.
You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
Abe Lincoln
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. Abe Lincoln
Abe Lincoln
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. Abe Lincoln
, it's about Lewis, and it's isn't particularly flattering, it's not particularly how I see it, but compare it to the drivel on our news page and you'll see the difference. One contains fact and information , the other is all made up . 
