Neal H

I think the European Commission’s approach to the whole trade negotiation post Brexit has been about scaring existing EU states into not considering their own exit referendums, rather than trying to achieve a fair and equitable agreement with the U.K. and they have used the Northern Ireland ‘problem’ as a political ploy as they know how sensitive it is for the U.K. I think this sums up the European Commission - they can’t sell the benefits of staying so resort to trying to scare other member states into not leaving. If the EU had been just about free trade and freedom of movement, I would never have voted leave, but it isn’t, it’s about political union and becoming a federal state, a project that I genuinely believe is doomed due to the many varied languages and cultural differences in Europe. If the EU was genuinely reformed, I would vote to rejoin.

If you can afford to stay in a nice hotel why would you stay in a tent? I just don’t get it.

The benefits so far are that the economic chaos and catastrophe promised by the Remain supporting politicians and business leaders has not materialised. It appears that we can survive, prosper and decide our own future after all.

The stewards said they “noted with some concern certain allegations” made by Red Bull. I wonder precisely what Red Bull alleged?

I think Hamilton decided to lay down a marker that he’s not always going to back down when Max turns in on him. About time! Max has built a reputation on being uncompromising - you win some, you lose some. Brush yourself down and move onto the next one.

I’ve always been a supporter of Bottas. I think he’s genuinely quick on single lap pace and has been the perfect team player in helping Merc win multiple championships. He’s also finished second in the last two drivers championships and Merc can’t ask more than that. However, I do think it’s now time for Russell to replace him for 2022. Hamilton is in the twilight of his career and Merc will need a new number one driver in a couple of years and that clearly isn’t Bottas. They need to test Russell alongside Hamilton for a couple of seasons to see if he’s really up to the task or not. It’s one thing making a good impression with a mid-grid team but quite another to become a regular winner for a top team. Bottas was brilliant at Williams before he got the Merc drive in 2017. As for Max, well he’s just superb and is going to be hard to beat in a competitive car, even for Hamilton.

The government is forcing us to buy electric vehicles by banning ICE vehicles. This is all the proof you need that the tech isn’t there yet. New tech should be able to sell itself, we should WANT to buy it because it gives us something better than we already have. Hopefully in 10 years time it will have evolved enough to make us want it. What we are being offered now is inferior to what we have already at approximately double the price.

Fantastic looking car. Best in class to drive. Evora was both of these in spades. Almost nobody bought one though. Why is Emira going to succeed when Evora failed? Is it a case that if you keep doing the same thing, you’ll keep getting the same result? I’ve owned more Lotus than I can shake a stick at (including two Evora’s). I love them. I get them. Friends who have been out in them think they’re great, but then buy the Porsche anyway (because they’re also great). I think Lotus Marketing strategy is going to have to be more revolutionary than their car design if they want to sell in the numbers they’re suggesting. They have to somehow change the perception of Lotus to the non-enthusiast. Porsche - High quality German precision engineering. Lotus - One step up from a kit car. I know it’s not fair, but it is reality.

The racer instinct took over. See the gap, go for it… He’d have pulled it off if it wasn’t for that inadvertent switch press while swerving around Perez.

Monaco qualifying is fun to watch though! Perhaps they should leave it at that.

Will it be your first Lotus?

Hamilton is doing to Red Bull what he did to Ferrari in 2017 & 2018. I’m not convinced the Merc is a quicker race car than the Red Bull, Bottas can’t get close to Verstappen and while he may not be in Hamilton’s league (or Verstappen’s) he is a very quick driver by any other measure. The difference is Hamilton, and I still don’t think he gets all the credit he deserves. If he has the best car, he just runs away with it. If he doesn’t have the best car he stays in the fight. It’s his ability to manage his tyres better than everyone else, whilst lapping more quickly than everyone else that sets him apart.

In England, why do we even care?

He’s already said he plans to be around next season. 100 wins is the next target. Extraordinary driver.