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(@eddiebaby) Yeah, agree with all that. I think he's comfortable that this won't be 2016 again, the whole dynamic is different, but equally I think he knows that some measured aggression in the first two corners could have seen him 13 points ahead rather than one behind.
Finger boy has a whinge:
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel says Mercedes consistent success in Formula 1 is "boring".
The world champions have taken one-two finishes in the first four races of 2019 - after winning the past five drivers' and constructors' titles.
"Boring, isn't it?" Vettel said. "So boring. It's not just four races. It has been four years, more or less."
This is the guy whose technique with RedBull was to qualify first, blast out of DRS range and then just sit there with no fights against anyone (because he didn't win them.). Most boring and bland winner in history for four years. Cockwomble.
He’s right though isn’t he? Unless he’s saying his 4 years weren’t boring? You make it sound like he should’ve done something to be less good at his job of being fastest all the time.
That's sorr of what he's complaining about with Mercedes.
Most boring and bland winner in history for four years.
Jenson Button was right up there in the boring and predictable lists.
He’s right though isn’t he?
Dunno, some of the Hamilton vs Rosberg scraps were among the best I've watched. A team's dominance is hardly a measure of a dull season: 1988 being perhaps the most obvious illustration, when no-one could touch McLaren but the championship battle was titanic.
The irony in Vettel's comments is not merely that he spent the same amount of time, four years, in a dominant team.
It's the fact that the main challenge during his period of dominance came from one man in particular: Alonso, who was capable of wrestling a completely underwhelming Ferrari into a position to challenge for the championship for two of those years.
Vettel now has a Ferrari that's widely recognised to be faster in a straight line, and generally over a full lap, than the Mercedes, yet both this season and last he (with some help from the strategists, admittedly) has let them run away with it.
Jenson Button was right up there in the boring and predictable lists.
You're probably right, not the sort of driver you're going to get really excited about, but for me, coming from plum last to win in the rain was one of the greatest drives I've ever seen
coming from plum last to win in the rain was one of the greatest drives I’ve ever seen
He had to come through the pack twice after pittting after the collision with Hamilton. Didn't he have a drive through as well? No wonder BBC viewers voted it greatest F1 race ever.
Finger Boy blowing it under pressure on the last lap didn't hurt the viewing pleasure either...
I watched it from start to finish and even in the long waits for the rain to stop it was good TV with Jake and the lads filling time well enough.
And all free to air.
Wasn't that one of the first races that vettel lost it under pressure?
That race was amazing, and Button was almost always exceptional in changing wet conditions, but to be fair to the original comment his championship year wasn’t anything like as memorable.
Cant believe it was 25 years ago. I can still remember that day like it was yesterday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/48093513
Same - crazy, terrible weekend. And where the F have 25 years gone?
It was unbelievable just how many bad things happened that weekend—many of which, like the runaway wheel in the pits that injured several mechanics, have been overshadowed and forgotten.
I still wince whenever I see the marshals tipping Barrichello’s Jordan upright with no regard for potential injuries.
Can’t imagine how hollow the entire paddock must have felt when it was finally time to pack up and go home.
1994 was just a bad year all round 🙁
i totally forgot the GP was on for the Sunday, and when the interwebby spoiled it on BBC home page, i could not be bothered to chase down the poor C4 highlights show
FIA WEC at Spa this weekend i think - yum yum , you want to see overtaking watch this race!
Not the best race of the season and who at C4 thought it was a good idea to bring eddie jordan back for another season? He really is awful and never says anything relevant to useful
Merc's domination getting so boring that nobody even bothers to comment anymore?
The first corner was great, the Ferrari tactical decisions looked like a team torn over favouring fingerboy or letting their fast new driver through, and after the safety car it was a great couple of laps.
Being honest I like this season and the rivalry at Mercedes will I think produce some amazing races between the top two.
It's not just Merc being good, it's Ferrari not delivering on early season promise and having to factor LeClerc into race strategy rather than just leaving Kimi out to dry, it's RB only having one car in the game and still evolving with Honda, then everyone else hanging on for the scraps. So Merc are being flattered at the moment, but they've got the momentum. But Monaco has always been a challenge for Merc, so I'll be tuning in (to highlights grrrr) to see how it develops.
It was an OK watch yesterday - it's interesting that the article on the BBC from 'the secret aerodynamicist' hinted Ferrari might have backed themselves into a corner with their front wing-design while Mercedes should have more room for development as the season progresses.
Mercedes seem to be pipping Ferrari in almost every area at the moment (apart from perhaps outright engine power).
The body language is definitely changing between Bottas & Hamilton. After Bottas' win at Baku, they seem less like pals and more like adversaries.
It was great to see Max beat the two Ferrari's and get on the podium and I quite enjoyed the mid-field racing towards the end of the race as Grosjean started to go backwards.
Poor old Williams were nowhere again - I can't even recall seeing one of their cars on track and don't remember them getting a mention.
To be fair the Spanish GP is pretty much a dull-fest every year. Teams just have too much data about the circuit.
Here's hoping Monaco brings Red Bull into the mix.
Thought it was an alright race TBH. Probably cos I went into it thinking it would just be a good opportunity for a kip.
Corker of a lap from Hamilton after the SC finished. Think DC said he put 2 seconds between him and Bottas.
Had to laugh at Grosjean's antics. Max seems to have got his head down, think he's third in the WDC at the moment.
IMHO i think Merc have a secret team order - looks to me like whoever is leading in the first lap then thats it for the race - because although no one seemed to mention it in the coverage (well the crap C4 coverage) why did merc pit Bottas when Hamilton had the big blister on the tyre, and bottas was cloasing at 1 second a lap - he could have stayed out while Hamilton pitted and stayed out with a 20+ second gap and probably win with some tyre management, or at worst, second which is where he was anyway. - although all of that would have been scuppered when the safety car came out, but Merc did not know that at the time of pitting Bottas.
Corker of a lap from Hamilton after the SC finished. Think DC said he put 2 seconds between him and Bottas.
I think it was more like 4 seconds. Both drivers with fresh tyres decided to go for the fastest lap point, so Hamilton got his tyres prepped up and went for it. Bottas hung back as much as he dared to get a gap behind Hamilton and then went and pulled back a lot of the time he'd lost. I think at that point they had decided which of the two was going to cross the finish line first as by hanging back to get clear air Bottas screwed his chances of catching Hamilton.
Bottas was pitted to cover off any undercut threat from Vestappen not to give the race to Hamilton (Hamilton wasn't driving to any secret team orders @ Baku chasing down Bottas) .
The first corner was great... and after the safety car it was a great couple of laps.
Hmmm.
Modified HAAS sponsor incoming when the rest of the Rich Energy snake oil evaporates.
Have we done 'Merc deliver F1 car to terminally ill child"?. I'm torn between it being an amazing gesture from Hamilton vs a great bit of PR. If it was genuinely pushed by Lewis then that's proper good.
Not a good day at the office
Ouchy - wasn't kidding when he said he lost the front aero.
so F1 looking at a Morocco race - just like the last throws of Bernies reign , Liberty are finding anyone and anywhere to host a race that will pull in some flippin great wadges of cash without having any history or (i assume) much local interest in the locals and the race.
it also seems C4 coverage now has to specifically state by the hosts that the F1 race is LIVE ON SKY F1 HD numerous times in all of their highlights coverage.
"World's Greatest Driver" fails to qualify for Indy...
https://www.racefans.net/2019/05/20/racefans-round-up-20-05-2/
First year of McLaren actually running the car, thinking they might have bitten off more than they realised?
The McLaren Racing team made wholesale changes to the No. 66 McLaren Racing Chevrolet with some assistance from some of the top teams in the NTT IndyCar Series paddock
The Mclaren entry this year was partnered / assisted by Carlin who are in their second ever year in Indycar and their fortunes at Indy were just as bad - they were the other two cars failing to qualify.
Last year with Andretti building and running the car there was far more engineering experience and seasoned drivers providing setup data etc whereas Carlin is running a rookie and Max Chilton who has not really got the best championship pedigree.
I think Mclaren's inexperience caught them out big time, maybe if they had a full season programme or even run from the start up to Indy they would have had a far easier time reacting to car rebuilds, engine changes and general setup.
Think I missed the Carlin link, not that it seemed to be helping. I knew they were no longer Andretti with a McLaren badge though
jamesy01
Member
Modified HASS livery incoming?…
Whyte 1 – Rich Energy 0
Peter Windsor did an interview with the bearded Rich Energy dude recently where he said something like "They're just some obscure mountain bike company, who's ever heard of them?".
Whyte apparently saw that and followed up with this tweet:
https://twitter.com/WhyteBikes/status/1129772100204601344
Better news for Carlin in Pau though, with Billy Monger taking his first win after being dead last.
expect alonso to be back in McLaren F1 this season then, seeing as they are stronger than last year (which is not that hard) and he's not going to be doing anymore WEC...?
expect alonso to be back in McLaren F1 this season
Really? I'd expect Alonso to part company with McLaren after the Indy fiasco...
Alonso will never be back in F1 - no big team would take him. His time in F1 has passed.
Alonso will never be back in F1 – no big team would take him. His time in F1 has passed.
I think you're probably right, but Ferrari must be looking at Vettel's performances over the last couple of years and wondering how things might have turned out if they had Alonso in that car.
I’d expect Alonso to part company with McLaren after the Indy fiasco…
I'd expect him to stay as long as McLaren say they'll keep funding goes at the 500. This attempt could show how real their appetite is
A man with Alonso's experience should know that you can't just turn up at Indy once a year and expect to win, especially with a new team. Those racing these cars week in week out will always come out on top.
But a man with Alonso's ego might think it possible