Nope - seems like they've decided it's too late for him to influence next years car now anyway, so they may as well wait.
On the subject of TV coverage, no highlights in the UK means that this long-time (since I was a kid!) viewer will be watching his last season of F1 this year. Very sad, but I won't pay for Sky and, frankly, F1's product isn't good enough to be worth paying for - it's not nearly as good as they think it is.
Shame as, for once, I quite enjoyed yesterday's race although, once again, it was all about tyres rather than actual on-track racing and when a driver really put his balls on the track in an overtake, he was penalised in such a way as to cost him two places in the race. Such a shame as Max deserved his podium.
5Live coverage is very good. And you can get on with something else while its on!
Looks as though Vandoorne and McLaren will be parting ways after Abu Dhabi and that Lando Norris will be his replacement for 2019.
when a driver really put his balls on the track in an overtake, he was penalised in such a way as to cost him two places in the race
Hamilton's move on Vettel was ballsy. Verstappen's was just him failing to understand how wide a car is—he could have made the same defence without drifting across those last few inches which left Bottas nowhere to go—and he dealt with the inevitable result like a child.
There was a marked difference in the post-race interviews between Max and everyone else, all of whom clearly recognise the difference between racing incidents and being a dick.
Looks like Ferrari have an interesting choice to make between LeClerc and Kimi - one of them apparently has a contract for next year.
Verstappen knows exactly how wide his car is and (again) moved in the braking zone. If not for a runoff area, he would’ve put Bottass in the wall. He was fairly penalised under the rules.
Would it be more exciting without those rules? Yes. Would it be more dangerous? Very much, yes!
Looks like Ferrari have an interesting choice to make between LeClerc and Kimi – one of them apparently has a contract for next year.
Keep both LeClerc and Kimi and let Seb have a year off to reset himself?
Highlights on official F1 app. £20 a year. I haven’t bought into it but there is a fair bit of content. Will that be available year?
On the dubious moves of some drivers, i’d Like to see a race from 20 odd years ago be judged by the same rules. How many would actually escape penalties?
Kimi gets his marching orders
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/raikkonen-to-step-down-ferrari-after-2018-f1-season/3174736/
How long until LeClerc is announced? What chance of Kimi at Williams?
Oh and re the official F1 stream, F1 TV Access is available in the UK for 20 quid but according to the list ( https://f1tv.formula1.com/en/content-schedule) all you get is archive content, not race replays.
Can't see Kimi at Williams if he just got a stake in Sauber as part of the deal (and they're one of the Ferrari B teams).
Williams need all the help they can get though.
Leclerc in at Ferrari, Kimi in at Sauber!
Guess it gives them a bit of an insurance policy, if LeClerc is crap (or actually if he's too good!) they can swap them back...
Sauber has confirmed Raikkonen for the 2019 season but the Finn wrote on his official Instagram account that it was a two-year deal.
He wrote: "Guess who's back?! Next two years with @sauberf1team ahead! Feels extremely good to go back where it all began!"
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/raikkonen-to-race-for-sauber-after-ferrari-exit/3174755/
So as much as I love Kimi, surely he can't think it's a good career move to go from a front runner to just making up the numbers?
PrinceJohnMember
So as much as I love Kimi, surely he can’t think it’s a good career move to go from a front runner to just making up the numbers?
Are there any seats available in front runners?
RedBull have Max and Gasly contracted
Merc both drivers until end of 19 I think
Renault - hulk till end of '19 and danny until end of '20
mclaren I think norris and Sainz are signed until 20.
From what I heard, Sauber are likely to become the unofficial ferrari B team as Haas haven't been playing ball
Some reports of him taking shares in Sauber too.
I wonder if his profile will allow Sauber to get rid of Eriksson without to much financial loss and give Giovinazzi another go at F1?
I like KR, but I think he should've just retired gracefully. There are lots of excellent young drivers trying to find drives and seeing ex-World Champions scrapping it out for 15th place is a bit sad. I'd rather see Ocon get a seat than Kimi.
I think Kimi will get the Sauber further up the grid than either of the current drivers.
Leclerc will learn a hell of a lot from having Vettel as a team mate - especially on car development.
I wonder if his profile will allow Sauber to get rid of Eriksson without to much financial loss and give Giovinazzi another go at F1?
Eriksson's backers pretty much own the team so he's going nowhere!
I think Kimi will get the Sauber further up the grid than either of the current drivers.
I think Ocon would outpace Kimi if they were teammates. Kimi's long past his prime, Ocon's still improving.
So as much as I love Kimi, surely he can’t think it’s a good career move to go from a front runner to just making up the numbers?
I suspect the choice wasn’t exactly his to make...
If Kimi has invested in Sauber then his presence may well bring on board other investors and advertisers so it would be financially sensible for him to drive for a year or two to help that process. After that, he might move to another role in the team.
Thumbs Up!
So, C4 get highlights for all races & the British race live. Sounds good to me.
Guarded welcome until we see the full deal. S'pose quali highlights is too much to ask for as well - and will the race highlights still be a few hours after the race, or at 2am on a Tuesday?
Still, nice to be a bit of common sense though.
Got to love Kimi being kimi....
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11491719/watch-kimi-raikkonen-being-kimi-raikkonen
Scroll down and watch the video.
That interview sums Kimi up really, not interested in anything else than driving. Personally I find that makes him a bit of a dull character, but can see how others love him.
Anyhow, what do we think of the 2021 concept that's been leaked?
I like the 18" rims and clean sidepods, not sure about the front end plates, mini shark fin or lack or the rear wing end plates. Halo looks better integrated but perhaps there will be an aero-screen type solution by then?
Also curious that this shows "Concept 2" what about concept 1, and 3, 4....
Looks too 'styled' for me. F1 cars should be function over form, not looking like some HotWheels toy. Do approve of the bigger rims though.
That C4 deal came out of nowhere didn't it! All the talk was of them ending this year, even in their broadcasts. I'll wait for the full details to come out on the presenting team etc as I have a feeling the amount of coverage won't justify them flying to every race, pity as I really like Karun's insights and Lee's interviews.
Yep C4 seemed to have accepted that it was all over but then it's back from the brink. I think Whisper films (DC's outfit who produce the C4 coverage) also supplies some other countries but can't find evidence of that now, and IIRC they were picking up FE coverage as well, so expect they'll keep some of the crew together - DC, Ben Edwards, Lee McKenzie & Karun would do fine for me.
Looks too ‘styled’ for me. F1 cars should be function over form, not looking like some HotWheels toy.
This'll have just been drawn up by some design house though, would expect things get more functional by the time anything is on a track
You mean loads of little aero winglets, steps in the nose etc. Newey will have a field day exploring all the areas he can use. Don't forget the regs tend to work to boxes as areas they permit development in, be good if they tweaked those to promote smooth curves too.
Halo looks better integrated but perhaps there will be an aero-screen type solution by then?
I doubt that will happen now - recent crashes have lead to comments from senior F1 types saying an aero screen of any sort wouldn't have coped with the loads that went through the Halo.
scattered thunderstorm forecast for the whole weekend... should make things interesting and no one likes Smash Crashstappen starting near the front on a wet track
Used to love F1 until it became dull and boring as hell.
That interview sums Kimi up really, not interested in anything else than driving. Personally I find that makes him a bit of a dull character, but can see how others love him.
Apparently ‘off stage’ he is the life and soul of any party and one of the funniest drivers on the grid. He just doesn’t care for all the media work.
My favourite Kimi moment was when he was asked why he chose number 7 for his car when they were allowed to pick. Was it his karting number, lucky number - whatever?
His answer. My car had number 7 last year and I couldn’t be bothered to change... 🙂
"Concept 1" for 2021 has been released too - looks like a less agressive wing option. Good to see that both have simple front wings with few elements, hope that is nailed down in the rules.
Not keen on Concpet 3....
Some clearer images...
https://www.racefans.net/2018/09/14/f1-reveals-first-glimpse-of-new-look-cars-for-2021/
...I predict 2021 cars will be nothing like any of the above! 🙂
I predict 2021 cars will be nothing like any of the above!
Good find tmm. Of course they won't look like that, but at least it shows Brawn's team are looking at a nose to tail change for the whole package with a view to improving racing and keeping them looking fast. The 2009 update gave us pretty ugly cars, and last year's changes didn't consider racing, so overall it's a positive step.
you can imagine the meeting for those designs "can you make them more computer gamey?"
"I see no reason why we cannot have exciting-looking cars," said Brawn. "It frustrates me when a car in a video game looks better than the car that we are racing out on track.
"That is not to say we pay total homage to what will look great in a video game. It has to be a great racing car."
Above everything else though, Brawn was clear that the new cars had to allow drivers to be able to follow each other more closely, which would help improve the racing.
"The primary purpose is to produce raceable cars, cars that will battle in close proximity," he said.
from motorsport.com
I hadn't read that 🙂
And Ferrari fully behind the concept!... 🙂
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-underwhelming-concept-looks-like-old-champ-car/3176597/
Well that was pretty incredible, not just that lap but also the fact Andrew Bloody Benson didn't use the word imperious to describe it...
Can't believe nobody has a comment on Lewis in quali... Everyone given up on F1? I think today's start could be as 'interesting' as last year's.
Vettel and max fighting for the first corner could be interesting. As will the longevity of the hyper softs
Can’t believe nobody has a comment on Lewis in quali…
What's your comment on Lewis in quali?
Mostly looking forward to next season now.
Kimi in a sauber, ricciardo in a Renault, new drivers in the mclaren and red bull powered by Honda engines. Could really shake up the top end of the mid pack.
I've been weaning myself off F1 as I thought it would be my last season following it as I won't get Sky, so less posting and reading about it to soften the blow.
It was a massive lap by Hamilton, first in a while that's made me pause for a second at how fast it was! Today should be good or it will all be over in a lap or two, depends on what chaos Verstappen causes as he'll be hungry for a good result and doesn't have a championship to worry about.
+1 milky - Hamilton has most to lose off the start so expect he will be more careful than the other 2. What odds on them all crossing the start line again?
Wouldn’t be surprised if Hamilton makes an okish start, Vettel makes a slightly better start but gets caught behind Mad Max, and Bottas sweeps past the two of them and takes up station behind Hamilton.
What’s your comment on Lewis in quali?
Pretty incredible as it came from nowhere. Forget all the "Marina Bay is Mercedes' bogey track" stuff, he was so much faster than anything he did over the rest of the week end that it was almost freaky. I wonder how much of it was down to his slower outlap keeping the tyre temps a bit lower as some pundits seem to claim, but anyway it has set up a great run into the first corner (if they get that far).
Hamilton has most to lose off the start
Vettel has the most to lose, Max the least. Vettel really needs to win this race and the start is his best chance of getting ahead. LH won't care too much if Max gets ahead at the start, as long as he can keep ahead of Vettel. LH can afford to defend very assertively from Vettel because LH will benefit if they both crash out while Vettel really needs to score points here.
Fair point. I reckon it would be very hard for LH not to attack the first corner though even if the smart mice would be not to tussle with Max.
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">smart move, not mice!</span>
I wonder if Ferrari will try something different during he pit stop, and not tell the mechanics/driver/ tyre man and loose it for themselves again?
Well barring a massive error from Lewis, Ferrari have screwed up again with strategy!
Dunno, another safety car could shake it all up. Or a brief shower, but sebs got form there.
Barring any incidents Vettel will be lucky to finish higher than 5th! Ferrari really are shooting themselves in the foot right now.
Wtaf is perez doing today? Trying to lose a seat for next year?
by the looks of it Perez has already lost it. I reckon Ocon to stay
I'm not certain that FI could afford to pay Perez all the money they owe him.
Bottas is going to lose his seat at this rate.
I’m not certain that FI could afford to pay Perez all the money they owe him.
It was Perez that forced the old FI into administration. The new FI don’t owe him that much 🙂
Super weekend from LH. That pole lap yesterday was off the scale. Assuming the car holds up I think he is now is such form as to be essentially unbeatable to the WC.
Perez did the administration thing at the request of the team to prevent them being locked out of races..
Anyway, Vettel and Ferrari clearly doing a great job of throwing this championship away. They're going to need to be perfect to get it back now
it's probably going to come down to reliability now and having to re-use older spec engines or taking penalties on a track you think you can overtake easily and get back in the top 5 (lewis probably has enough of a lead now for that option not to hurt him to much as it has benefits in the races following the penalty)
Really disappointing race following LH's lap of the season qualifier. As a racing fan I want to see cars and drivers on the limit from lights out to chequered flag, the tyre managing strategy for the first 15 or so laps was an insult to the spectators that have paid to watch the pinnacle of motorsport. The most exciting bit of the race was whether max would get out the pits in front of vettel, once he did vettel gave up and settled for 3rd, really was very disappointing.
What do folks think of the new 'winners podium'. I think Lewis was sat in the car for so long because he was trying to come up with a way of getting off the horrible thing.
The most exciting bit of the race was whether max would get out the pits in front of vettel,
I dunno. Bottas trying to get past Hulkenberg was the pinnacle for me, riveting stuff. And the battle for 17th place was awesome too.
Everyone given up on F1?
After 40-odd years of watching it I'm getting close. That was DULL. I can't recall ever fast forwarding through a race before.
LOL - Alonso - the wrong time wrong place master!...
https://www.racefans.net/2018/09/18/another-burned-bridge-could-drive-alonso-nascar/
Don't agree with this:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/45558975
One of the things I hate about the coverage of other sports like football is the constant betting adverts, especially on Sky.
With you there milky - I noticed the autosport live text feed has betting ads on it already. Come on liberty, forget all the frills and sort out the racing and access, then get fancy. New winners podiums, crap f1 apps and in play betting don't address your core product or market. It's like amazon putting glitter on the box but still delivering the wrong item.
Giovanazzi in at Sauber and Ericsson has been demoted to third driver - that must hurt!...
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/giovinazzi-to-partner-raikkonen-at-sauber-in-2019/3183233/
Ouch, bet Ericsson thought the money men would keep his seat for him, but maybe with more Ferrari cooperation they figure they can get more prize money by hiring a better talent. Tho anyone know if Giovanazzi brings any funding with him?
Joe Saward reporting that the Miami GP has been booted into the long grass too.
Ferrari actually have a claim on on Sauber seat so in reality, Giovanazzi is replacing Leclerc and it's Raikkonen replacing Ericsson - a straight scandi swap - it just wasn't announced that way.
Good result for Sauber though - a potentially really strong driver pairing.
Hmmm.
Hmmm
Is that in response to Mercs team orders?
Not particularly entertaining I admit and even LH didn’t like it - you could see he was genuinely uncomfortable- but it was the right call.
I think the issue is most fans view it as an individual driver battle when in fact it is a team sport. No one bats an eyelid when a cycling team orders their no1 rider be protected etc and in essence F1 is no different.
Do feel for Bottas though. He deserved the win but then he isn’t in a position to win the championship.
what is it with these Finnish guys keep getting the dirty end of the stick !
Well at least its public now, much better than before when everyone "pretended" there were no team orders.
It's different at this stage of the season though isn't it? Bottas isn't a title contender and Hamilton is. My problem with team orders is when there aren't equal opportunities for each driver to win the championship. There were at the beginning. Bottas dropped out of the running. Now all the eggs are in the Hamilton basket.