As the Russian GP weekend starts, all the teams have been on an edge. The competition has been intense and every once in a while, teams need to sit down and catch a breath. However, a very unusual tea party was spotted on the paddock and the internet couldn’t help but wonder what the conversation was like.
An image emerged of Christian Horner and Helmut Marko taking a break with Mattia Binotto. What is now being called the anti-Mercedes table; Twitter had a field day discussing what the conversation was about.
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Helmut chairing the regular ‘We hate Mercedes’ therapy group in Sochi. #F1 https://t.co/36mjZlTxvd
— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) September 24, 2021
Mercedesi devirme toplantısı https://t.co/SMvjxMs0pX
— Yağmur 🏁 (@yagmuryldrim_) September 24, 2021
Some made the image much more interesting with some creative script writing! From negotiating a win to a Red Bull engine in Ferrari, the conspiracies are endless!
Binotto:Look we ve just putted a new engine and we been working off our asses for that and there is no way we are gonna let Verstappen.I don't care about your championship thingy just like you didn't care about mine in 2019.We are fighting for 3rd that is what important for me rn
— Ecem (@Ecmmd) September 24, 2021
“Just let us win.” https://t.co/bqkX33mnBL
— Bryson Sullivan 🇺🇲 (@NaturalParadigm) September 24, 2021
Ferrari and Red Bull start Russian GP at the back
While the anti-Mercedes talks seem a bit of a stretch, both teams are likely to be worried about their starting position on Sunday. Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc start the Russian GP from the back of the grid. Both drivers take on new power units, leading to the penalty.
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Russian Grand Prix – Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia – September 24, 2021 Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in action during practice REUTERS/Anton Vaganov
Leclerc got to test out his new PU on Friday’s practice. Reflecting on the two sessions, Leclerc said, “it’s good to see that everything was working as expected, and now we’ve been focusing mostly on the race because from qualifying anyway we start last, so we’ve done a good job today by taking as much information as we could and [I’m] happy with our Friday.”
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via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Russian Grand Prix – Sochi Autodrom, Sochi, Russia – September 24, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in action during practice REUTERS/Anton Vaganov
Further, Verstappen will join the Monegasque at the back of the grid. After a P3 and P6 finish in the sessions, Verstappen explained the reason behind the new PU. “Not only the results. I said before that we’ll take everything into account, also with the weather for tomorrow. So we thought it would be best to take it here.”
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The experience wouldn’t be new for Verstappen, who faced a similar situation in Sochi in 2018. Both are excellent drivers; the race through the field wouldn’t be relatively difficult for the two. Whatever it is the boss-men were discussing, it will be an interesting Russian GP on Sunday!
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