[Closed] The F1 Thread...

What have the Russians done to deserve special treatment

You play by their rules or it's the gulag for you.

Simple, and effective.

I was wondering if Lewis was going to shake Putins hand too. Not sure I could bring myself to. Paddy Lowe put his hand on Putins shoulder after the ceremony which had me thinking he's not going to like that and the russian interviewer was someone I thought would be at home on something like Running Man or Battle Royale.

I like that Claire Williams, Christian Horner and Toto Wolfe give so much time to being interviewed by the BBC.

Hamilton was the only one who kept his hat on during the Bianchi tribute. Bad manners from the Stevenage gangsta.

Hamilton was the only one who kept his hat on during the Bianchi tribute. Bad manners from the Stevenage gangsta.

That tractor saved marshalls* from being killed. Note how Lewis anchored on when the double yellows came on? Someone was doing 150mph+ into the Marshal/section.

*Two in recent times but people only care about F1 driver deaths.

Hamilton was the only one who kept his hat on during the Bianchi tribute

He's not dead.

Just watched it on iplayer. Boring boring race apart from a few overtakes. Nico seemed annoyed that he'd locked up but I don't think he'd have managed to outpace Lewis over the race distance anyway.

I like that Claire Williams, Christian Horner and Toto Wolfe give so much time to being interviewed by the BBC.

Didnt like that move Rossberg made on Bottas. Really showing his colours there, so childish, he clearly had the pace to pass him with ease, loads of laps left to make the move, no danger from behind and no chance of catching Lewis.

If Bottas hadn't been 110% on the ball that woulda been both their races over right there. Stoopid! Could see Bottas chatting to Lewis about it as they were getting their caps, in my mind the coneversation went ("Dude your team mates a nutter!" *Lewis looks over grudgingly at Rossberg* "You see the shit i gotta deal with!?!")

*Two in recent times but people only care about F1 driver deaths.

The last marshall killed was in 2013 at the Canadian GP. It wasn't really an F1 incident other than it occured during an F1 GP. The poor guy fell behind a tractor and got run over. It's very sad and as I remember the drivers all paid tribute to the marshall but as an indicator of the saftey of F1 as a sport it's about as relevant as someone getting run over in the car park.

The last one before that was 2001 in Austrailia when a wheel became detached from a car and went though an access whole in the safety fence. A marshal also died at the 2000 Monza race after being hit by a wheel after an accident. This had some fairly wide reaching impacts on F1 and lots of things changed based on this, wheel tethers for example.

The last death of a non driver at F1 before that was in 1981.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/03/04/f1-ten-years-fatality/

Nice bit of Daniel Ricardo riding his bike at Woburn

Note that in all the shots with wheels of the ground you didn't see Danny Ric!

Was a fairly dull race, really over by the second corner.

I'd say that Hamilton a stick on for the championship now though. Rosberg's bottle has well and truly crashed

Nico seemed annoyed that he'd locked up but I don't think he'd have managed to outpace Lewis over the race distance anyway.

I'm sure he knew that, which is probably why he locked up in an attempt to go for the tiniest of opportunities. Now he is behind, I think we're seeing the real difference between LH and NR - not so much in the genuine difference in pace, as in how they handle stress.

^^^ yeah, it was one of those moves that basically says outta my way or we both go off (EDIT - Rosberg's move on Bottas, I meant).

Rosberg definitely looks like he is on the back foot now. He seems to have no answer to Hamilton's pace in qualifying or in the race, and doesn't seem to cope with the pressure too well, either.
Short of mechanical gremlins, I struggle to see Rosberg clawing it back (although the ridiculous double points in the last race thing could cause a few headaches).

Loving Bottas in the Williams giving the Mercedes' boys at least a little something to think about.

I'm hoping that Button stays at McLaren for next yr (but can't see it happening to be honest - he seems in the wrong place mentally to carry on raving) and Honda bring a proper engine to the team so they can be closer to the action.

(although the ridiculous double points in the last race thing could cause a few headaches).

The problem with the double points in the last race isn't the difference between 1st and 2nd. That maybe creates some jeapody and keeps the title race alive for longer (which is a good thing unless the guy you support is in the lead!)

The issue is the penalty for a DNF could be a 50 point swing. That is huge and LH could lose the title despite him being the best driver by far which would seem unjust.

If I were LH I'd avoid leaving it to chance and emulate his hero Senna by taking them both off at the first corner.

The issue is the penalty for a DNF could be a 50 point swing. That is huge and LH could lose the title despite him being the best driver by far which would seem unjust.

If I were LH I'd avoid leaving it to chance and emulate his hero Senna by taking them both off at the first corner.

If it goes to current form LH will be 31 points ahead by the time they get to Abu Dhabi. So a DNF could still wipe out LH's advantage. That would be desperately unfair

and Honda bring a proper engine to the team so they can be closer to the action.

They've got the best engine now. The engine isn't why they're struggling!

If I were LH I'd avoid leaving it to chance and emulate his hero Senna by taking them both off at the first corner.

Good point but I'm guess whoever is in the lead by then Merc will ensure the other has a gearbox issue to split them apart at least on the grid.

[i]I'm hoping that Button stays at McLaren for next yr [/i]

Nah he has to go ( as well as Magnussen) to make way for Vettel and Alonso

[i]They've got the best engine now.[/i]

They've got the best "customer version" engine now... Otherwise why change to Honda?

Good point but I'm guess whoever is in the lead by then Merc will ensure the other has a gearbox issue to split them apart at least on the grid.

Why, it's win win for Merc. They've already won the constructors and one of their drivers will deffinately win the drivers champ. The worst thing they can be seen to do is interfeer to prevent a fair fight.

They've got the best "customer version" engine now... Otherwise why change to Honda?

Exactly. Merc engines will always cost Mclaren money and always be slightly constrained as they are built to suit the Merc car and the Merc drivers. Honda may not be as good now but at least Mclaren have the ability to improve things rather than being hostages to fortune.

Pook - Member
Hamilton was the only one who kept his hat on during the Bianchi tribute
He's not dead.

No he's not but it is customary (and good manners) to remove headgear during the playing of a national anthem. All the other drivers did, Hamo did not.

He then pissed about with his hair instead of greeting Putin and his entourage of grandees. If this was a protest, it was a bit lame. Perhaps not racing in Russia at all would have shown a bit more spunk.

They've got the best engine now

But they'll have a better one next year.

He then pissed about with his hair instead of greeting Putin and his entourage of grandees. If this was a protest, it was a bit lame. Perhaps not racing in Russia at all would have shown a bit more spunk.

I imagine with the politics behind F1 Hamilton (knows) he'd have been focused on or lost his seat for some reason. So he'd have known its dodgy territory.

The slight was seen and delivered. You do realise not everyone has to do a Pussy Riot to have their insult driven home?

I was watching Lewis and noted the other drivers, everyone. Putin was literally in the centre of the room. Hamilton mucked about for longer than usual (and he does muck around taking his time of late). He seemed to be thinking(?) or lost in thought.

The delay (from the winner)- I was thinking ****, is he going to acknowledge Putin?! He did but was the last to IMO. That is what you call a [i]slight[/i].

Definition:

[i]an insult caused by a failure to show someone proper respect or attention.[/i]

Senna complained about the politics. Imagine a brand new/big new customer and market for everyones wares and one of the upstart drivers is rude to the new customer?

The issue is the penalty for a DNF could be a 50 point swing. That is huge and LH could lose the title despite him being the best driver by far which would seem unjust.

The double points thing is so daft that Hammie could win the next two races thus giving him 11 wins for the season and if he had a DNF in Abu Dubai Rosberg only need finish second to clinch the title.

In other words Rosberg could win the title with 4 wins against Hammie'a 11 - that just ain't right.

He seemed to be thinking

He's probably thinking "WTF do I have to do to nail this championship!?"

Rosberg has got to be the luckiest driver on the grid - to end up dead last in the only race I can think of where it's possible to run a entire race at a decent speed on one set of tyres. In any other race top 5 would have been a good comeback.

He'll end up a lucky F1 champion just like his dad.

In other words Rosberg could win the title with 4 wins against Hammie'a 11 - that just ain't right.

That could happen in any season.

Imagine if they were on different teams and HAM had built up a huge lead early on. But then ROS came back through consistency in the early rounds and better work by the team to provide a reliable car late in the season with ROS winning it at the death. That would be rightly seen as a very deserving victory by an underdog.

My point is that it isn't the fact that someone with very few wins can beat someone with lots that feels off about the situation. It's that one DNF can cause such a huge swing in the points.

Back in the days of points to 6th the difference between 1st and 2nd was 4 points and a so you could claw back a DNF in a max of 3 races. Now it's a 7 point difference so it takes up to 4 races to get back on even terms if your rival gains 25 points on you.

But in the final race 7 races worth of beating your rival into second place can be wiped out by a single DNF. Thats more than a 3rd of the season. It's just not right.

In other words Rosberg could win the title with 4 wins against Hammie'a 11

Rosbergs dad won the championship with 1 win in the season.

There is merit in consistently bagging points.

Nah he has to go ( as well as Magnussen) to make way for Vettel and Alonso

Vettel and Alonso going to Mclaren!

Do we have a source

I thought Vettel was off to Ferrari

It's the silly season. It's just as likely to be Bruno Senna and Damon Hill

My prediction:

Vettel > Ferrari
Alonso > McLaren
Button > retirement, possibly the BBC
Magnussen > mid-grid team somewhere
Grosjean > Mclaren

I thought Vettel was off to Ferrari

Christian Horner has said he's off to Ferrari - Vettel and Ferrari haven't said a thing!

Silliest Silly Season I've ever known.

if you were Vettel, after the season you've had and looking down the pit lane at the season Ferrari have had...would you be in a massive rush to join them?

The Honda motor is supposed to be pretty bloody impressive already, and remember Maclaren would have feeding them info all season from what's regarded as the best engine on the grid, and that's not going to be Ferrrari or Renault

The Honda motor is supposed to be pretty bloody impressive already

I thought it was a bag of crap. Down on power and too high fuel consumption.

Things may have changed since I heard that though.

I have it on pretty good authority that both Vettel and Alonso have been flown into Farnborough, which by coincidence isn't that far from Woking.

Dunno, they're both in the market for a new team, they'd be foolish not to talk to Maclaren. Are they going to drive for them? dunno, Alonso maybe, both? seems remote doesn't it?

Is Mclaren a dream ticket?

On current form I think they'll want Claire's number...

It'll be a good bet for 2016. Maybe the second half of 2015 too.

I reckon Alonso is looking for a WDC in 2016 then retiring.

Not looking great, but then we weren't really expecting any good news, and as he says it's a miracle he's alive

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29610752

On current form I think they'll want Claire's number...

They're not the only ones 😉

Given the roll hoop being ripped off, I think it's fair to say that there must have been a massive deceleration which obviously ties in with the stated injury. I sincerely hope that it works out ok but reading up on the injury, it doesn't look very hopeful 🙁

Ted Kravitz on Sky had a great bit on Alonso's future. He bluntly said that Alonso had left every team on bad terms, except Renault. Now they've rebranded as Lotus, with the Merc engine next year, he could be off there.
To be the big cheese at Alonso-Lotus with lots of Santander stickers on the sides.

Eek.

Comedy joke of the year. Funny, thank you. Its called 'silly season' not stupid season.

But leaving a team on bad terms isn't necessarily a bad thing if the relationship has delivered up to then. While some teams don't feel they need to have that stress (Red Bull) others quite like that type of character. Much as Ron and Fernando didn't work out well I still reckon Ron would admire him and they're two of the sort of people that would put that aside if it meant winning.

Didn't we do that Ron is no longer that directly involved anyway? McLaren certainly looks like a very feasible place for him - and he's never been in the Merc team (in any previous incarnation).

Alosno leaving teams on bad terms. Isn't that how its supposed to be, if your team is glad you left that's not a good sign is it. You want them to be a bit hacked off no ?

Hamilton situation is going to be interesting. Mercedes have already said they think he's overpaid. Rosberg would win the title in this car no matter which other team Hamilton drove for.

That's a great theory but only works so long as you have huge superiority. On that basis, they could have a half decent pay driver and still have won this year.

Mind you, I agree to some extent that Hamilton has caused his own problems at times this year (poor qualifying in particular) which I don't reckon a Senna or Schumacher would have had and as such his value may well have been diminished as much as Rosberg's has been improved.

Ted Kravitz on Sky had a great bit on Alonso's future. He bluntly said that Alonso had left every team on bad terms, except Renault. Now they've rebranded as Lotus, with the Merc engine next year, he could be off there.
To be the big cheese at Alonso-Lotus with lots of Santander stickers on the sides.

But...........

The only info Alonso has given out is that he will not be in a Mercedes powered car in 2015

[quote=nemesis ]Mind you, I agree to some extent that Hamilton has caused his own problems at times this year (poor qualifying in particular) which I don't reckon a Senna or Schumacher would have had and as such his value may well have been diminished as much as Rosberg's has been improved.

Have you been watching the same season? Most of his problems have come from unreliability, which isn't really his fault - when given the opportunity to race without any problems he's been better 90% of the time.

If you're suggesting his problems stem from poor qualifying, then let's look at the facts. We can presumably first of all rule out the races he got pole, which leaves:
Bahrain - won the race anyway
Monaco - we all know why he didn't get pole there
Canada - would probably have gone on to win, car failed
Austria - made a mistake, got 2nd in the race
Britain - won anyway
Germany - car failed in qualifying, had a brilliant drive for 3rd
Hungary - car failed in qualifying, had a brilliant race
Belgium - we all know why he didn't win there
Japan - won anyway

I make that a grand total of one race where he made a mistake, qualified poorly and lost out because of it, and he still came 2nd there.

Hamilton is on fire at the minute - really showing the world what he showed back in 2007/08

Massive respect to Toto Wolff for letting his drivers race this year

We certainly didn't see such exciting seasons during the Red Bull or Ferrari dominant years.....

I'm am massive F1 fan but didn't bother watching the last 9 races of last season which Vettel won without breaking a sweat

This has been a fantastic season with loads of ups and downs and we Brits should proud that we've got a passionate racer with an incredible gift fighting his own mistakes, unreliability and a pretty ruthless team mate

We've also seen the resurgence of Williams, Bottas' talent, 3 fantastic wins by Riccardo (thrashing a 4 time World Champion 🙂 ), tragedy in Japan 🙁 and a Championship going down to the wire

2014 is a vintage - no matter if you like Hamilton or his attitude - this is the best season since Ross Brawn pulled a blinder in 2009

And he is the man who deserves the most credit for Mercedes winning the WCC

Bring on the next 3 races 🙂

I have it on pretty good authority that both Vettel and Alonso have been flown into Farnborough, which by coincidence isn't that far from Woking.

Hmmm. Just stumbled across Rush while scanning the endless channels in my American hotel room

I have to say, after Jules' accident, it's a damn sight more serious a film than I remembered 🙁

Vettel has signed with Ferrari.

Alonso has two choices really, sit it out for a year or get shafted by Ron,

Arguably the best driver in the world has shot himself in the foot.

Vettel has signed with Ferrari.

Have I missed something?

I know it looks like a dead cert, but there hasn't been an official announcement yet....

and in other news
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29622051

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says Jenson Button is not racing for a place in the 2015 team despite uncertainly over next season's line-up.
Boullier said he will name the 2015 pairing before the end of the season with the futures of drivers Button, 34, and Kevin Magnussen under threat.
Button produced his best performances of the season in the last two races.
"We don't need him to deliver an extra job on track to - let's say - save his job," Boullier said.
"We know the value of Jenson and we know he is a world champion-class driver and he has been a world champion already."

It would be a shame to see him go!

We've also seen the resurgence of Williams

Call me a cynic but going back a few years when Bernie fell out with the big teams over the concorde/breakaway attempt he said he wanted to see lesser teams come through. BANG Redbull were dominant and consistent.

williams who have been nowhere really for years now suddenly starting to find form with ok drivers? I sniff something.

Glue, probably.

Williams have been at it a long time. They do get things right occasionally.

hora - you might want to read up on the significant changes Williams have made over the last two years before looking for conspiracy theories.

williams who have been nowhere really for years now suddenly starting to find form with ok drivers? I sniff something.

I'd try getting your nose looked at TBH 🙂

hora - Member

Call me a cynic but going back a few years when Bernie fell out with the big teams over the concorde/breakaway attempt he said he wanted to see lesser teams come through. BANG Redbull were dominant and consistent.

williams who have been nowhere really for years now suddenly starting to find form with ok drivers? I sniff something.

I don't think there's much mystery TBH. Their car has the best engine, they have an excellent gearbox whcih allows very tight packaging at the rear of the car, Clare Williams seems a good leader and finally Pat Symonds joined in 2013.

Also I think Bottas is better than average, Massa too is handy in the right conditions though I wouldn't put him in the top tier.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112188

They have taken the decision to make a step change and invested a lot of money last year into the team to halt the decline. It seems to have worked.

Mutter grumble, bloody gits in the right. Hates thems we do' taking the precious being right away from us.

[img] [/img]

"We don't need him to deliver an extra job on track to - let's say - save his job," Boullier said.
"We know the value of Jenson and we know he is a world champion-class driver and he has been a world champion already."

This could mean that they have already decided that Button will be driving next year.

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/button-worried-about-rookie-magnussen-s-future/

Or it could mean that they know full well that JB is a great driver and that his performances aren't a determining factor in who will drive for them next year - rather it's down to whether Alonso and McL can come to contractual terms. I expect that Alonso would reckon he'd have the measure of JB but equally McL are unlikely to give him No 1 status and history says that he'd prefer to be in that situation with someone like KM rather than JB who would be more of a challenge come races (just ask LH).

I can't see Ron getting rid of a good driver that they are contracted to pay (but that doesn't mean he will drive) just to keep Alonso happy. Alonso isn't in a good position to negotiate so it might not matter that he doesn't want Button.

I can't see Ron getting rid of a good driver that they are contracted to pay

Both McL drivers are out of contract at the end of this year, aren't they?

Jenson is. I don't know about KM but he's not going to be expensive either way.

What about Kimi?

Another year at Ferrari (assuming they feel he's still motivated) and then retirement - I can't see them wanting to get rid of both drivers at the same time.

No, Ron said that they both have contracts but all that does is give the team options. This says to me that they are both in contract and they will be paid even if they end up not driving.

[quote=mikewsmith ]That would be McLaren probably saying that if required Button will be leaving at the end of the season even if he outruns Magnussen

I thought much the same reading that, though clearly I Ache's interpretation could also be correct, and Jenson's comments in that article do seem to support that theory to some extent (though he's clearly not ruling out the possibility of his own retirement).

@hora - that is exactly how I've always visualised you.

No, Ron said that they both have contracts but all that does is give the team options. This says to me that they are both in contract and they will be paid even if they end up not driving.

RD has gone on record and said he has no one signed for 2015

"We do not have a contract with any driver at this moment in time. It isn't our priority," Dennis said. "Of course we talk and do all the things you'd expect us to do, but at this moment in time we do not have contracts that we have activated - because clearly we have driver contracts at the moment [with existing drivers].

maybe McLaren are hedging their bets of Bernies latest controversial rule change being that cars must be driverless or remote control F1 Drones.

I'm pretty sure in the sky interview RD said that the drivers have contracts but that doesn't mean they will drive but it gives him options. I can't find a transcript of it at the moment.

[quote=nemesis ]his <LH's> value may well have been diminished as much as Rosberg's has been improved.

I never did this previously as I wanted to check facts. Given in his career at Mercedes he spent a few years beating MS before finishing quite close to LH last year (closer than he would be this year had mechanicals for LH not helped), it's hard to see how this year has helped NR's reputation, nor how it has diminished that of LH. I'm not sure how many people at the start of the season were expecting LH to be so utterly dominant when they were in a position to race on equal terms - it is now clear that even if NR does luck his way to a WC, he's only really a number 2 driver.

Rosberg has had to rely on random events to take any points at all off Hamilton.

Rosberg is a very good driver but Hamilton is at another level, it's only marginal but all differences in performance in F1 are marginal, there isn't any way that Rosberg's stock has gone up this year or Hamilton's down.
He gets paid way more than Rosberg for a very good reason, if the 2 of them were suddenly on the market, I believe Rosberg would struggle for a top seat and Hamilton would have teams breaking contracts to place him in their car.

I'm pretty sure in the sky interview RD said that the drivers have contracts but that doesn't mean they will drive but it gives him options.

I thought Jenson's contract ran out at the end of this season, and Kevin was on a one year deal for this season only. McLaren may have an option on both of them for next year, but I bet they'll be free to let either of them go with no penalty.

Ron said he had contract options for next year; not actual signed drivers.

[url= http://www.planet-f1.com/driver/3373/9502588/Ron-Alonso-to-McLaren-not-a-done-deal ]Clunk[/url]

An option will normally cost the team some money somewhere. No driver is going to give the team a right to block them signing for another team but no compulsion to give them a contract for free.

Ferrari have confirmed Alonso is going, hardly a surprise but at least everyone knows for sure one way or another.

On a more speculative note: The delay in Alonso announcing his move to McL is rumoured to be because Mercedes are negotiating with Hamilton and Alonso is being used as a bargaining chip with the pay-off of a Mercedes drive if Hamilton won't accept the deal.

BUT WHERE??!!? I CAN'T STAND THE TENSION!!!!