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Can’t remember if it was this thread or the old one where someone asked the same question
It was me..May have been on the 2021 thread
Failed to mention that (remembering this is just a thought experiment) I reckon Toto would want someone experienced in leading and winning races (and championships). In my little made up world, it would compliment the young hot shot coming through nicely
Nyck de Vries from their Formula-e team?
And the F1 test driver.
Get the Hulk back in a decent car.
Vettel has got to be the least value for money driver on the grid, hasn't he?
If they want an experienced driver then Bottas makes a lot more sense. If they want an experienced driver who is out of contract then maybe Hulk? Or even Grosjean?!?
Spookily good timing!
Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes driver to decide on F1 future after Abu Dhabi inquiry - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/59951382
Vettel has got to be the least value for money driver on the grid, hasn’t he?
I think he has suffered in toxic environments.
There is some kind of myth that has built up over the past 20 years or so that to be a success people/teams have to be assholes (I call call it the Armstrong effect). It has become a self fulfilling prophecy where those who "don't display the right attitude" get churned out of the programs.
Vettel never sat well in that world, he even became part of it at times and it twisted him around mentally. But I still think he is a very talented driver and in the right atmosphere with a competitive car could still win another world championship IMO.
Didn't he win his four world titles in arguably the most toxic team on the grid?
Didn’t he win his four world titles in arguably the most toxic team on the grid?
Golden boy was golden boy, much like Max is now.
It's probably a bit like how Ron treated Hakkinen and Coulthard.
Iirc, in a meeting discussing strategy, whilst talking to Hakkinen it was 'what are we doing' and with Coulthard, 'what are you doing'.
So he’s waiting for the results of an inquiry by the same people that kept the result of Ferrari’s cheating inquiry covered up!
Last we’ve seen of Lewis then! 🤣🤣
Vettel has got to be the least value for money driver on the grid, hasn’t he?
Probably Alonso or Ricciardo would be the current least value for money, but that's only because they make huge money, not because they aren't good drivers. Vettel reminds me of Damon Hill - very fast when the car is set up properly but not great at racing through the pack. Problem is, if you're fighting your way through the pack, the guy who put it on pole will be 30 seconds ahead by the time you've fought your way into clear air. If have a good car, Vettel will cruise home with the championship. If you have a difficult car, Alonso will give you podiums that nobody believed possible. Merc want championships, not podiums.
not great at racing through the pack
most overtakes in the 2021 season.
From the BBC link - But he has also said that there is a bigger problem for the FIA to solve than just finding a new race director.
"It's not only a decision to change the race director; the whole system of decision-making needs to be improved," Wolff said. "The race director is certainly under big pressure and some of that is due to our own faults."
Back when I was at university I wrote a semi-AI program containing the basic rules for a car race to try and predict pit stop strategy. It was quite simple but I 'played' each race of the year against it and where there were anomalies caused which the program didn't deal with, I added the correct rule to deal with them. I am pretty sure the current teams have stolen my idea 🙂
The same style program could be used to log the racing rules and then act as an automated Race Director reacting in real time and because it would have access to every car at all times the rules would be consistent from the back to the front of the grid. There could even be a live feed of the decisions and the rules that were used to apply them.
From BBC again - One major change expected as a result of Abu Dhabi is for team principals to no longer be allowed to contact the race director during a grand prix. Both Wolff and Red Bull's Christian Horner lobbied for actions that favoured their teams in the course of the race, as has become normal practice in recent seasons.
Response? Sorry Karen - Computer says No
most overtakes in the 2021 season.
But that just shows that he was at at the back when he shouldn't have been!
Does anyone on here go to the races? I've only every been to the European Grand Prix when it was at Donington in '93. I couldn't afford tickets for Sunday at the time so we went down for Qualifying on the Saturday and had a ball. I'd switched off over the last few years but my interest was renewed with Drive to Survive on Netflix. I've also been lucky enough to have a tour of the Renault factory at Enstone too has also upped my interest.
My son's 15 now and loves F1, he's a big Max fan. When I'd looked at the dates for Silverstone it would have meant taking him out of school so I've managed to book tickets, accommodation and the ferry for Spa in August instead. Any tips from folk that've been?
Been to Silverstone twice, would love to go to Spa but not got it organised yet
we are going to Silverstone this year, my girls are Lando fans (including the wife!) never been, really looking forward to it. We looked at Austria but the cost of accommodation killed that idea.
5 of us going to Spa this year. Expensive but not been to a race since Mansell dummied Piquet in 1987.
When I looked at Silverstone originally there seemed to be plenty of tickets left but when I had a check this morning all the grandstands are sold out. They're so pricey too! Grandstand (uncovered - eek!) tickets for the pair of us at Spa came to £450 for the weekend for me and the lad, that would have been the cost for my ticket for the British GP. Add the ferry and the accommodation plus fuel etc (we're staying about an hour from the circuit, over the border in Germany) and it still feels pricey but not outrageous in comparison. And it's Spa! Obviously hoping for less rain this year than 2020 🙂
We are going in the motorhome and staying on site, but even that is a fortune. Tickets for Eu Rouge Grandstand for the full weekend. Hope we actually get a race this year.
Does anyone on here go to the races?
I used to live at Syresham. (the next village along from Silverstone) It was relatively easy to exchange weekend parking for a spare ticket. We would routinely get leaflets dropped through the letterbox from transfer companies asking to borrow the driveway or the "resident pass" that you'd get from the cops. I think from about 94-'05 or so, I went every year never once actually bought a ticket.
lowey
Full Member
We are going in the motorhome and staying on site, but even that is a fortune. Tickets for Eu Rouge Grandstand for the full weekend. Hope we actually get a race this year.
Pricey tickets but the view should be awesome there and at least you've got a roof for when it starts to chuck it down....
Latest Masi development
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/michael-masi-not-named-on-fia-organisation-chart-for-january-2022/
Spa is a fabulous track with a lot of elevation changes = a lot of different viewpoints - worth scoping out on the early days to find a preferred spot if going on general admission. It’s a cliche but…..take waterproofs; when it’s wet it’s wet and it hangs around.
Main downside is the length of the lap means the number of times the cars pass is lower with some longer gaps in the action
Latest Masi development
That's a bit of a clumsy way to release that info!
https://twitter.com/Motorsport/status/1481551594684440577
https://twitter.com/cbignell11/status/1481569483428974594
I last went to Silverstone for the 1981 GP won by John Watson. There was a great atmosphere as the Renaults got sicker and sicker each lap until one by one they dropped out to huge roars from around the circuit leaving Watson to win.
Prior to that I'd only been to Silverstone once before and that was sitting in the stands watching Lola T70s thundering through the old Woodcote corner.
My only other GP was when my Dad took me to Brands Hatch for the 1968 GP. Oulton Park was my "local" circuit though still not exactly close and I still rate Oulton and Brands above Silverstone, though neither could host a GP now.
Spa? Best circuit in the world at the moment.
Are general admission tickets still available for F1 races? So you can walk the circuit.
If it's grandstand only seats I can't see the appeal. Just watching one or two corners all weekend would bore me senseless.
I'd probably go for Barcelona as a destination as it's a) likely to be warm and a race will happen! b) you could combine with a city/beach break. 🙂
Yes I think you can get GA tickets for all circuits, they're the only ones you can buy for Silverstone for this year as everything else is sold out.
We intend to see as much of Spa as we can on the Friday and Saturday but everything I've read suggests that it's a nightmare to find a spot and walk around on race day - too many folk jammed in deckchairs on the paths etc. So I think we'll be happy with our seats at Pouchon for the race.
In the scheme of things I'd love to be at the Canadian GP, love a street circuit. Just a bit more awkward to get there and it doesn't match up with school hols..... Barcelona is out for us for the same reason.
Does anyone remember the Birmingham Superprix? I went to the last one they ran, must have been '89 or '90. Touring cars were there, F2 and TVR Tuscans. Great racing and I seem to remember John Cleland having a punchup with someone after getting nerfed off. A bit more ballsy than Lewis and Max giving each other the Paddington Bear hard stares after they've cut each other up 😀
Seems the FIA have said the Abu Dhabi cover up investigation will produce its first outputs by 3rd Feb, with final ratification at the WMSC meeting on 18th March (the start of the Bahrain race weekend). First test is starting 23 Feb so if Lewis is waiting for the FIA's review before deciding on his future in F1 it'd mean Merc potentially have 2 or so weeks to publicly sort out a replacement, though I'm guessing they've already got someone on standby.
I'm guessing that the FIA plan will be to do the bare minimum to keep Lewis in the sport, but ultimately to keep Lewis in the sport
They just can’t say - ‘yeah, it all went tits-up’ - or they undermine Max’s championship and open themselves up to more ridicule.
They’ll do a deal behind the scenes as is the usual FIA way.
And Lewis will know what he’s doing already. He’ll be back otherwise it looks like he’s having a massive strop approaching Alonso realms of toy-out-of-pram antics! 🤣🤣
Hamilton will be racing this year. All the drivers following him will need full wets though if he doesn't dry his eyes.
Hamilton will be racing this year. All the drivers following him will need full wets though if he doesn’t dry his eyes.
I bet Red Bull and Max or for that matter any team/driver would be a bit miffed and very vocal with it.
As far as I'm aware Lewis has said nothing publicly, What do you want him to do?
I actually want Hamilton to walk away - the F1 Circus needs him more than he needs them. Just walk away, head high and let the shitshow implode.
Honestly thought Ben Dover would get the job tbh
Haha! That started my day with a chuckle 😃
Max should have 1* on his car with an explanation on the body work
Prost out at Alpine, Szsadasdasawdraqafnauer (sp?) and BWT in
Budkowski's departure is more interesting IMO - he was an FIA man, there was a bit of a kerfuffle when he took on a role with a team as he'd seen lots of sensitive info from all the teams. I'm wondering if he'll pop up in a new FIA role once the whitewash Abu Dhabi review is concluded.
Brands Hatch.
Looks like Brands Hatch to me
Definitely Brands Hatch.
My very first job was there at the 1985 European Grand Prix. Used to get to camp there in the forest inside the grand prix loop inside the ticket line, with a press pass, so none of that queuing at 6am to get a good spot to watch 🙂
So yes, Brands Hatch grand prix circuit rather than the Indy circuit, without a doubt.