I think Bottas could excel at Timed Trials
Discussion
I've often said this about Bottas.
He's at the absolute pinnacle of driving.
He's one of the best drivers in the world, and went to F1 on the back of a lower-formula career where he'd only known success.
When you read the keyboard warriors here and on Twitter talking about how "rubbish" he is, it really does bring home how little they understand about elite-level sport.
He would also be a fantastic asset to a LM team.
He's at the absolute pinnacle of driving.
He's one of the best drivers in the world, and went to F1 on the back of a lower-formula career where he'd only known success.
When you read the keyboard warriors here and on Twitter talking about how "rubbish" he is, it really does bring home how little they understand about elite-level sport.
He would also be a fantastic asset to a LM team.
Unlike Hamilton, I think Bottas just doesn't have the extra head-space needed to be able to adapt his driving to changing fuel levels, tyre grip and track evolution. He's mega fast over 1 lap when no in-lap adaptions are required, but just cant replicate that over 60+ laps. That's where Hamilton excels: he is able to constantly change his driving style.
skullcandy said:
Unlike Hamilton, I think Bottas just doesn't have the extra head-space needed to be able to adapt his driving to changing fuel levels, tyre grip and track evolution. He's mega fast over 1 lap when no in-lap adaptions are required, but just cant replicate that over 60+ laps. That's where Hamilton excels: he is able to constantly change his driving style.
But then how do you explain Bottas having won practically every championship he's ever contested prior to F1? Where he'd have to do all of those things?I just think the F1 circus is significantly more mentally taxing than anyone is giving it credit for, and that's what separates the winners from the rest. Look at Rosberg - he realised it, and he got out while the going was good.
C70R said:
skullcandy said:
Unlike Hamilton, I think Bottas just doesn't have the extra head-space needed to be able to adapt his driving to changing fuel levels, tyre grip and track evolution. He's mega fast over 1 lap when no in-lap adaptions are required, but just cant replicate that over 60+ laps. That's where Hamilton excels: he is able to constantly change his driving style.
But then how do you explain Bottas having won practically every championship he's ever contested prior to F1? Where he'd have to do all of those things?I just think the F1 circus is significantly more mentally taxing than anyone is giving it credit for, and that's what separates the winners from the rest. Look at Rosberg - he realised it, and he got out while the going was good.
He’d be awesome at WEC as others have said, He’s good managing the mechanicals and very fast over nearly two hours. I don’t think he’s happy at the limits of an F1 car, WEC have more stability and he’d be laughing. He’ll be quick next year but rather than have the best car, the Alfa will be the limiting factor
mick987 said:
He is very fast just has no race craft, cant overtake or defend.
That's just not true.He won numerous lower formula races without being on pole.
I wonder whether post-career might open him up to talk about how tough he found F1 mentally.
Coming from a background of success, and being in the strongest car on the grid, yet publicly 'failing' (with the associated social media derision) absolutely must have taken a huge mental toll.
dibbers006 said:
Hear me out.
This is a guy at the pinnacle of speed sport. Who can adjust, tweak and maintain some of the most demanding in-drive calculations, setups, and per-corner dialling of bias, load, power etc etc.
He can drive at ten tenths on an empty track, consistently, ever pushing himself with the ability to claw milliseconds of improvement lap after lap.
So he doesn't have the absolute elbows out, stroppy, tactical nouce of wheel to wheel demons. He isn't prepared to risk reward and tends to err towards finishing over a percentage move that could end in disaster.
He's a Richard Burns, a Tommi, not a Colin.
I could see him doing well in the world of Rally.
Not in the WRC he wouldn't. Talent is one thing, pace notes are another (and the changing grip levels) - and this is were most racing drivers struggle. Making them during the recce, making them safe and accurate. That's were Kubica, Kimi struggled......going off because their notes were too fast for the actual road at full on speed. Pace notes take a while to master,This is a guy at the pinnacle of speed sport. Who can adjust, tweak and maintain some of the most demanding in-drive calculations, setups, and per-corner dialling of bias, load, power etc etc.
He can drive at ten tenths on an empty track, consistently, ever pushing himself with the ability to claw milliseconds of improvement lap after lap.
So he doesn't have the absolute elbows out, stroppy, tactical nouce of wheel to wheel demons. He isn't prepared to risk reward and tends to err towards finishing over a percentage move that could end in disaster.
He's a Richard Burns, a Tommi, not a Colin.
I could see him doing well in the world of Rally.
He'll be fine on club/national events, but on top tier events, I'm not so sure.
mick987 said:
He is very fast just has no race craft, cant overtake or defend.
It amazes me the absolute s
te that some people manage to regurgitate. Bottas is the second driver to the undeniable G.O.A.T.At the Italian Gand Prix, Bottas went from last to third, so I assume that there were no other cars on track?
Maybe look at his performances in an uncompetitive Williams, before saying he cannot overtake. British Grand Prix 2014, qualified 14th, finished 2nd.
In the Williams, Bottas finished 4th and 5th in the F1 championship, beating Felipe Massa both times.
andyA700 said:
It amazes me the absolute ste that some people manage to regurgitate. Bottas is the second driver to the undeniable G.O.A.T.
At the Italian Gand Prix, Bottas went from last to third, so I assume that there were no other cars on track?
Maybe look at his performances in an uncompetitive Williams, before saying he cannot overtake. British Grand Prix 2014, qualified 14th, finished 2nd.
In the Williams, Bottas finished 4th and 5th in the F1 championship, beating Felipe Massa both times.
Bottas does seem to attract more than his fair share of opprobrium in the comments, but being 1% short of the GOAT is really not a bad achievement. The last guy who genuinely challenged Lewis, broke himself mentally in the process and had to walk away. He has his good and bad days, same as anyone else doing their job, but he is succeeding in his primary task of outscoring Perez, despite losing what was a likely 3rd last weekend for reasons beyond his control. te that some people manage to regurgitate. Bottas is the second driver to the undeniable G.O.A.T.At the Italian Gand Prix, Bottas went from last to third, so I assume that there were no other cars on track?
Maybe look at his performances in an uncompetitive Williams, before saying he cannot overtake. British Grand Prix 2014, qualified 14th, finished 2nd.
In the Williams, Bottas finished 4th and 5th in the F1 championship, beating Felipe Massa both times.
He’ll probably do a few years at Sauber, will be a great mentour to Zhou and the whole team next season, and as others have said will have no problem getting a drive in an LMP1 car if he so desires in the future.
eps said:
Schermerhorn said:
Take the pressure away from him and he'll thrive and show peak performance.
Next year he'll probably destroy that Zhou geezer as well.
I hope this happens, although I thought Vettel would show a clean pair of heels to Stroll and he hasn't.Next year he'll probably destroy that Zhou geezer as well.
I think Ferrari took his spirit away and he never recovered his confidence.
Schermerhorn said:
eps said:
Schermerhorn said:
Take the pressure away from him and he'll thrive and show peak performance.
Next year he'll probably destroy that Zhou geezer as well.
I hope this happens, although I thought Vettel would show a clean pair of heels to Stroll and he hasn't.Next year he'll probably destroy that Zhou geezer as well.
I think Ferrari took his spirit away and he never recovered his confidence.
Personally I dont think hes top tier, but hes 98/99%
In my view he SHOULD have won a race in that 2014 Williams, he had many opportunities but his ultimate racecraft and tyre management (and maybe mental toughness) lets him down. Having said that we know from Rosberg how you have to fight to have the chance to fight LH at Mercedes so maybe he's just not able to sustain his FU mentality all season because they wear him down.
Ultimately no good being blinding over a lap if your style and set up kills the tyres 30% faster than your team mate which is what it appears on the face of it.
In my view he SHOULD have won a race in that 2014 Williams, he had many opportunities but his ultimate racecraft and tyre management (and maybe mental toughness) lets him down. Having said that we know from Rosberg how you have to fight to have the chance to fight LH at Mercedes so maybe he's just not able to sustain his FU mentality all season because they wear him down.
Ultimately no good being blinding over a lap if your style and set up kills the tyres 30% faster than your team mate which is what it appears on the face of it.
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