Will Lewis win a race in 2022?

[Niponeoff]

Could this be the first year Lewis doesn't win?

Any tracks left where the mercedes might do well?

[GiantCardboardPlato]

I think very sadly the answer is going to be yes. What a shame.

[parabolica]

Niponeoff said:

Could this be the first year Lewis doesn't win?

Any tracks left where the mercedes might do well?

On pure pace? No. They need a race with changeable conditions imo; yesterday was a perfect opportunity but even had Lewis not tapped the wall, I suspect Charles and Checo would have been far too fast for him. I still think he'll manage it at some point, just needs the right combo of chaos.

[Jasandjules]

I doubt it. Sadly.

Unless there is a massive crash at the start that he avoids and is able to somehow cruise ahead - but those Ferraris and Red Bulls have such speed it is unreal..

[SmoothCriminal]

No.

Which is a huge shame.

[Chamon_Lee]

Na

[davidd]

Red Bull get chucked out of the championship, Ferrari do some great strategy moves.... then perhaps. Alas I think not.

[GiantCardboardPlato]

At least if he doesn’t win a race he’ll still have last years championship to make up for it.

[Sandpit Steve]

I do wonder if Mercedes might target one of the final races, perhaps Brazil, with a new PU, introduced earlier, specifically only for one weekend and turned up to the max?

I’ve never been a fan of teams using the reliability penalties tactically, but Mercedes played a blinder with Lewis last season, and if ever there was a time to do it again, it would be now. Look for a penalty in USA or Mexico.

[Jasandjules]

Sandpit Steve said:

I do wonder if Mercedes might target one of the final races, perhaps Brazil, with a new PU, introduced earlier, specifically only for one weekend and turned up to the max?

The problem seems to be (I may be wrong) the car is just so draggy AND the PU is not up to the Red Bull either. So even if turned up to the Max (so to speak) I am not sure it will have the power of the RB - just look at how it overtakes even without DRS, goes like a rocket.

[Mr Tidy]

I can't see Lewis getting a win this season.

Sadly I think his last shot at an 8th title was last year, but Masi had other ideas - or more likely had no idea!

[nordboy]

I don't see it either. Mercedes seem to have improved quite a lot from the start of the season and now a solid 3rd best car. But Ferrari and especially the RB are still quite a way ahead.

Both Ham and Rus seem to be maximising the potential of the car though. Sport can have a strange way of producing some weird results sometimes though, and that's what Merc may be hoping for?

[Stig]

Mr Tidy said:

I can't see Lewis getting a win this season.

Sadly I think his last shot at an 8th title was last year, but Masi had other ideas - or more likely had no idea!

Bear in mind that Masi was Domenicali's puppet....

[mat205125]

I think that Mercedes will (or at least should) have a plan in place to enable this to happen.

As suggested by another poster on the cost cap topic, the best chance to Mercedes to make this happen, would be to target a round like Brazil, where the track could suit the Mercedes as much as possible, and take an engine penalty at the round beforehand (but not use it in the race), to give Lewis a brand new motor that need only last one weekend, and which can be run as hard as they like, with only fuel consumption to worry about.

Unless they take this type of strategy with a new engine this weekend, to blast at COTA, I'm expecting / predicting a penalty to be taken in Mexico in readiness for full-spicy-party-mode in Brazil

[paulguitar]

mat205125 said:

Unless they take this type of strategy with a new engine this weekend, to blast at COTA, I'm expecting / predicting a penalty to be taken in Mexico in readiness for full-spicy-party-mode in Brazil

They don't get to do 'party mode' anymore, I don't think?

[mat205125]

Sandpit Steve said:

I do wonder if Mercedes might target one of the final races, perhaps Brazil, with a new PU, introduced earlier, specifically only for one weekend and turned up to the max?

I’ve never been a fan of teams using the reliability penalties tactically, but Mercedes played a blinder with Lewis last season, and if ever there was a time to do it again, it would be now. Look for a penalty in USA or Mexico.

Just posted this, and remember now that it was probably your sentiment that I was regurgitating.

Do you reckon Willian Hill will take a bet from us for an accumulator???

- PU penalty in Mexico (10 to 1)
- Victory in Brazil (60 to 1)

.... gotta be worth a tenner!!

[mat205125]

paulguitar said:

mat205125 said:

Unless they take this type of strategy with a new engine this weekend, to blast at COTA, I'm expecting / predicting a penalty to be taken in Mexico in readiness for full-spicy-party-mode in Brazil

They don't get to do 'party mode' anymore, I don't think?

Not in the traditional sense, however they can run a setting that pushes the engine harder throughout the race than others can, as their engine need only last a shorter lifespan compared to others who are trying to preserve their existing equipment.

Its what they did to great effect towards the end of last year.

[Sandpit Steve]

mat205125 said:

Sandpit Steve said:

I do wonder if Mercedes might target one of the final races, perhaps Brazil, with a new PU, introduced earlier, specifically only for one weekend and turned up to the max?

I’ve never been a fan of teams using the reliability penalties tactically, but Mercedes played a blinder with Lewis last season, and if ever there was a time to do it again, it would be now. Look for a penalty in USA or Mexico.

Just posted this, and remember now that it was probably your sentiment that I was regurgitating.

Do you reckon Willian Hill will take a bet from us for an accumulator???

- PU penalty in Mexico (10 to 1)
- Victory in Brazil (60 to 1)

.... gotta be worth a tenner!!

If you can get that as an accumulator, then definitely.

A thinking bookie would call the two events ‘related contingencies’ and refuse the bet. The 60/1 in Brazil stands on its own as well, it’s the obvious place to try what they did so well last season.

[anonymous-user]

Not on pure pace. The only way I can see him winning a race is by luck, a safety car after all the front runners have pitted, changeable conditions and being on the right tyre at the right time, full engine replacement for both Red Bulls and Ferraris so they start at the back, or some sort of mass crash and unreliability issues that wipe out the most of the Ferrari and Red Bull cars.

I just cannot see him winning a race where Verstappen, Leclerc and Perez all finish.

[Zetec-S]

Joey Deacon said:

Not on pure pace. The only way I can see him winning a race is by luck, a safety car after all the front runners have pitted, changeable conditions and being on the right tyre at the right time, full engine replacement for both Red Bulls and Ferraris so they start at the back, or some sort of mass crash and unreliability issues that wipe out the most of the Ferrari and Red Bull cars.

I just cannot see him winning a race where Verstappen, Leclerc and Perez all finish.

Agreed. Only real chance I see is a wet race in Brazil with plenty of incidents and safety cars.