Formula 1

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Rachel Blackmore is 1.22 for the International award and Emma Raducanu is 1.17 for the main award. Can't see either of those changing whatever happens.

Raducanu? Nah! That would be plain stupid. Potentially great player, but achieved zip. Lewis Hamilton is on the verge history-making achievement. And I know this will irk some on here, but I think the guy is superb.

Achieved zip? She won the US Open as an 18 year old qualifier

You're admiration for Hamilton doesn't irk me. I couldn't care less if you have Hamilton jammys and matching duvet cover

I don't care who wins SPOTY but personally I prefer these awards to go to someone who can only really on their own body for what they've achieved. So tennis, golf, boxing etc.... 8 world titles would be an incredible achievement but lets be honest you could stick my granny in that car and I'd fancy her to have won a couple of world titles and she's been dead for 20 years

Apologies. She needs to do quite a lot more to match Lewis. F1 is an unforgiving environment. Driving the car is only one aspect IMO. Attracting sponsorship, managing/dominating very competent co-drivers, jumping from team to team at the right moment. I know a lot of people hate Lewis. But I don't. He is a superb sportsman. IMO.

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Interesting piece by Andrew Benson on the Beeb.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/59599804

And Benson discussing attitude to overtaking/aggression with Verstappen.

"Like [with] overtaking," Verstappen said. "If I have to touch, I'll touch. It's not like it always needs to be in the cleanest way. Let's say it like this - after my career, if I would have won five championships but I'm maybe not the most liked person, for me that doesn't matter, because at the end of the day, it's all about winning.

"And that maybe sounds arrogant, but I don't want to sound like that. I would do anything - or everything - to win. If it's a little bit, not dirty, but in a hard way, I will do it. I am not here to be the most-liked person."

And what's the line between hard and dirty in your head, I asked him?

"Dirty is like deliberately… I would refer to Schumacher turning into Damon and Villeneuve. Those two were I think crossing the line. But a hard fight, having a bit of a touch [is OK] - but of course out-braking, being on the edge. Not the other car is overtaking me, I'll just turn in and we both crash; that's a different mentality."

To me that's pretty clear. He will stick to the racing line regardless of whether another car is there alongside.
This is a modern phenomenon. In the past this kind of unwillingness to accomodate another driver alongside in a corner was impossible. To steer into another driver was potentially lethal to both drivers.
But now F1 drivers/teams seem to think contact is acceptable. I would suggest the Senna incident demonstrates that the physics of F1 are still potentially lethal and these guys should take that on board. But I suspect they'll be more motivated by the competition and the confidence in their carbon fibre halo shrouded cocoon.

[Trader Pat]

I know a lot of people hate Lewis. But I don't. He is a superb sportsman. IMO.

That's Twitter logic if ever I heard it. 'You don't like who I like so therefore you hate him' Not everything needs to be love and hate. I don't hate Hamilton anymore than I love Verstappen. I'd just rather Verstappen won the Championship for all kinds of reasons.

After watching both practice sessions today I think it's Hamilton's to lose anyway. What have they done to that track? It used to be one of the best on the calendar but they've removed half of the corners. They should have went the whole hog and turned it into an oval! It's much better suited to the Merc than the Red Bull now so not sure Verstappen can win this in a fair fight.

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I know a lot of people hate Lewis. But I don't. He is a superb sportsman. IMO.

That's Twitter logic if ever I heard it. 'You don't like who I like so therefore you hate him' Not everything needs to be love and hate. I don't hate Hamilton anymore than I love Verstappen. I'd just rather Verstappen won the Championship for all kinds of reasons.

After watching both practice sessions today I think it's Hamilton's to lose anyway. What have they done to that track? It used to be one of the best on the calendar but they've removed half of the corners. They should have went the whole hog and turned it into an oval! It's much better suited to the Merc than the Red Bull now so not sure Verstappen can win this in a fair fight.

The point I tried (and failed) to make is that Raducanu has hit one high.
And let's not diminish that. It was incredible. And I hope she soars from this base.
But Lewis has been successful for 12 years. In a sport that spits people out with alacrity. He is the real deal. Raducanu would do well to have a chat with Lewis about how to excel.

On the circuit. It still looks to me like a Saudi lite scenario.
Not so sweepy to benefit Merc, not so twisty to benefit Red Bull.

[Trader Pat]

The point I tried (and failed) to make is that Raducanu has hit one high.
And let's not diminish that. It was incredible. And I hope she soars from this base.
But Lewis has been successful for 12 years. In a sport that spits people out with alacrity. He is the real deal. Raducanu would do well to have a chat with Lewis about how to excel.

For me winning a slam in tennis is a bigger achievement than cruising to a world title in a car half a second faster than all the other cars on the grid apart from your bunny teammate which is how Hamilton has won most of his titles. And the same could be said about Schumacher.

On the circuit. It still looks to me like a Saudi lite scenario.
Not so sweepy to benefit Merc, not so twisty to benefit Red Bull.

Its a high speed sweeping track now. They've removed most of the twisty bits and replaced them with long high speed sections. Merc are apparently going to use their Brazilian spec power unit. If Hamilton starts on pole and gets through the first lap this could be a procession.

I think Max will have to be very clever how he takes Lewis out if he doesn't want to be deducted points

[greenmark]

The point I tried (and failed) to make is that Raducanu has hit one high.
And let's not diminish that. It was incredible. And I hope she soars from this base.
But Lewis has been successful for 12 years. In a sport that spits people out with alacrity. He is the real deal. Raducanu would do well to have a chat with Lewis about how to excel.

For me winning a slam in tennis is a bigger achievement than cruising to a world title in a car half a second faster than all the other cars on the grid apart from your bunny teammate which is how Hamilton has won most of his titles. And the same could be said about Schumacher.

On the circuit. It still looks to me like a Saudi lite scenario.
Not so sweepy to benefit Merc, not so twisty to benefit Red Bull.

Its a high speed sweeping track now. They've removed most of the twisty bits and replaced them with long high speed sections. Merc are apparently going to use their Brazilian spec power unit. If Hamilton starts on pole and gets through the first lap this could be a procession.

I think Max will have to be very clever how he takes Lewis out if he doesn't want to be deducted points

Can't argue with any of that.
It's all subjective opinion.
I guess the things we would agree on would be we hope Raducanu will continue on up the curve. And Sunday will be a fair and proper scrap.

[Trader Pat]

Can't argue with any of that.
It's all subjective opinion.
I guess the things we would agree on would be we hope Raducanu will continue on up the curve. And Sunday will be a fair and proper scrap.

I think at this stage whoever wins will deserve it. I just hope Max doesn't do something completely mental and damage his rep beyond repair.

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Can't argue with any of that.
It's all subjective opinion.
I guess the things we would agree on would be we hope Raducanu will continue on up the curve. And Sunday will be a fair and proper scrap.

I think at this stage whoever wins will deserve it. I just hope Max doesn't do something completely mental and damage his rep beyond repair.

Yes. I think we forget this is life-defining for these people. It isn't money (they've all got a tonne of it). It's a place in history, so no wonder that they appear a bit obsessive. Hell, if I had a tenth of their talent I would pursue glory obsessively too.

[Trader Pat]

Red Bull played a blinder there!

[rhysc]

Think they struggle to make those tyres work.

Bottas... useless

[Trader Pat]

Yeah I'd still have Hamilton as slight favourite but he's surrounded on the grid by cars on soft tyres so he could get swallowed up. If he avoids any drama though he should be able to reign Verstappen in.

Should be a great watch though.

[Euler]

Not sure how Hamilton gave back anything there.

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Not sure how Hamilton gave back anything there.

Having seen it several times I agree with Brundle here. Lewis misjudged it. A Lewis fan might say Max lunged. Don't get why Lewis went in from a wide angle. Why not cover the inside and then run wide to the white line. Max outsmarted Lewis there and the Stewards have been generous to Lewis.
But this whole thing about at what point someone is ahead and therefore the 2nd driver should back out is quite vague.

[Euler]

I think Max was very smart, he knew Lewis couldn't collide so had to go wide. But Lewis forced the questions on the basis he didn't attempt to give back any gain.

[Euler]

Perez doing a job on Hamilton