F1 2016 (Bound to contain spoilers!)

That Bahrain vid up there ^^^^^^^^

Wasn’t LH on shagged/slower tyres whilst NR was on fresher/faster tyres in the last battle?

Just employ 2 german drivers then.

No, no. no.

You need a German, and a fast one. If the german is winning, keep it that way by nobbling the other. If Danni Ricc is closing then deploy both to keep the team well ahead.

I don’t honestly believe this is what is happening, but if it was it’s the obvious motivation.

I don’t buy the whole ‘German driver winning is best’ stuff. If Rosberg wins the WDC then they sell more cars in Germany. If Hamilton wins they sell more cars in the UK and, more importantly, the US. He has a much higher profile in the wealthy young market that buys expensive cars, hanging out with other stars and appearing at fashion events for example. This makes the cars appear ‘cool’ and fashionable, Rosberg probably appeals more to their traditional market of middle-aged golfers.

As long as Merc have a winning car with WDC driver in it then they’re happy. Having 2 WDC drivers may be better but it could also cause internal problems.

Does anyone know why Mercedes swapped the mechanic teams over?

I don’t for a second believe Mercedes would screw things up for Hamilton but I can very well believe Bernie is pulling some strings somewhere. It’s in F1’s interests to keep the title race as interesting and alive as possible so I’m sure he’s had influence in results in some form.

Bernie influences results through an unequal allocation of money.

Can you imagine the joy of one side of the garage knowing they are moving over to Hamiltons side and the other moving to Rosbergs.

One side had won 2 championships with Hamitlon and now possibly winning a third whilst the other side must be kicking themselves if Hamilton doesnt win it this year.

Does anyone know why Mercedes swapped the mechanic teams over?

for equity in the teams of mechanics – so they don’t bias one driver over the other, they swap every year or two.

Why would a German car manufacturer want a German to be World Champ? It’s a complete mystery.

I reckon that a lot of people at Mercedes would like to see a German champ in a German (ish) car – all other things being equal, and that’s the bit for me that makes it very hard to believe Hamilton is being deliberately nobbled. I just can’t see that they would prefer their target audience seeing their engines blow up to Hamilton beating Rosberg.

No one is deliberately knobbling Hamilton and most definitely not Mercedes. As above if Merc didn’t want him to win they would have refused his salary demands last year and LH would now be running around in 3-6th in an inferior car. Mercedes is a global business, what’s important is they win constructors and championship and keep pishing the brand forward as sporty rather than dull old mans car.

LH has a massive ego (fair enough he is a sport where that’s not uncommon) and being beaten by his team mate in the same car is in his mind “not possible”, so it must be a conspiracy.

igm agrees with Jamba shocker.

He’s right you know.

Mercedes to enter Formula E…

Mercedes takes up an option to enter Formula E

Saw that Muffin Man, given the likely direction of road car development it makes a lot of sense. Also FE already seems to have more interest from a younger audience than F1 so is good for marketing. Don’t think FE is big enough to take them away from F1 yet, but given the uncertainties post 2020 its a good backup plan.

Bernie refuted reports that he was seen tipping a bag of sugar into the fuel tank of a Merc.

He also later denied claims that he’s a “knob”.

Coulthard on the possibility of sabotage.[/url]

He also later denied claims that he’s a “knob”.

You can’t believe everything he says.

“Yer big-ends gone mate – gonna cost ‘ya!”…

Mercedes: Lewis’ engine suffered a big-end bearing failure

Ban phones from drivers press conferences. Pretty disrespectful from Lewis.

Just employ 2 german drivers then.

They tried that. One was too old and kept crashing into shit, one was just shit.

Pretty disrespectful from Lewis

Really? Utter over-reaction from old fart journo’s is how I read it.

The language might be a bit near the knuckle but that’s all; the rest is in good fun. Much more so than Kimi’s bored monotone.

Ban phones from drivers press conferences. Pretty disrespectful from Lewis.

When you see what he was messaging it’s hard fo see it as anything other than massively distespectful. Just another press conference and he couldn’t be bothered with it.

…and Liberty Media want to engage with younger F1 fans. Even my daughter follows Lewis on Snapchat and often shows me things he’s posted.

^^^^Grumpy Old Farts! 😀

Just another press conference and he couldn’t be bothered with it.

About time someone showed F1 journos the respect they deserve. Mandatory press briefings are a complete dull-fest of cliched comments from the drivers/managers/footballers, at least Lewis gave them something to actually write about.

They really are dreadful, given that everything has to be approved by marketing types why not just wait for a press release from them!
Same questions every week and just how dull are the majority of the drivers?

Whilst off sick earlier in the week, I managed to catch some BSB and WSB races, proper racing that was.

The horror! “Massively disrespectful” Really? He’s just farting about.

That’s right up there with weeing on the cenotaph.

Off with his head!

They tried that. One was too old and kept crashing into shit, one was just shit.

Roflcopter.

Snapchatgate gets a bit more serious!…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/37583862

And is Kimi slowly becoming star driver of the season? Quietly getting on with the job and showing that Vettel is no driving god. And Vettel getting a gentle boot up the backside from his boss as well.

It’s dull to watch and Seconbergs driving is a cure for insomnia. They always muck about in press conferences.

And is Kimi slowly becoming star driver of the season?

It is definitely good to see him driving well again! It was always a bit tortuous to see him lagging so far behind…

Only slightly odd immature chebends and peados use snapchat above the age of 14.

Is LH the Michael Jackson of F1 – grew up in the spotlight to his long term detriment.

LH is clearly under the impression he is important. And cool.

Haterz gonna hate.

He’s won three world titles and countless pole’s and races.

He’s not barged, used illegal methods countless times and ‘win at any cost’ yet he’s scorned at because he treats the question time as a distraction like all the recent ones have. Would you prefer corporate Nico or he’s own man Lewis? Even the others come out of their stifled shells when Lewis hoofs about.

Kimi literally couldn’t even be arsed’ with the questions. He hates it. Yet he’s seen as ‘cool’ as he’s ‘a man of few words to the media’. Can’t win.

Haterz gonna hate.

How perceptive.

Yup, not a fan.

It just goes to show those who do incredible things are not necessarily nice people. The trouble with F1 for many years is that the people involved take it so seriously and think merely being part of the bandwagon makes their opinions matter outside their bubble.
Well, I for one am not impressed with the whole circus. My opinion, and I am aware not a universally held one but there it is.
I don’t rate him as a person, but as a driver….

Hamilton heading for a one man crusade against the media.. his odd behaviour seems up there with Tyson Fury / Justin Beiber. I cant help think that his behaviour is aimed at the team with a slight tit for tat. I wont do my media commitments if you dont sort out the car for me. I wont try if you dont.

This season has definitely had its moments. Especially the rise of Verstappen and the fall of Vettel ( although the signs were there when he was at red bull v Danny Ric). The introduction of the Shoey, U turns on Qualifying, Radio bans and engine penalties that span to the next country. BTW where has the fuel flow meter gone and the fuel used graphics?

Going on the LH slo-mo falling out with Mercedes (and they’re higher powers) and Vettels lack of motivation at Ferrari, I would not be surprised to see LH In a red car and V in a silver arrow come 2018.

The introduction of the Shoey

Shoey?

The Australian chap that lowers the tone by drinking out of his shoe.

And you thought eating Macdonalds was bad for you

Ricciardo is my favourite driver. Excellent at what he does and comes across as very likeable too. He makes Verstappen look a bit Theresa May to be honest! There’s going to be some tough battles between the two of them in the future I think…

Hamilton heading for a one man crusade against the media.. his odd behaviour seems up there with Tyson Fury / Justin Beiber. I cant help think that his behaviour is aimed at the team with a slight tit for tat. I wont do my media commitments if you dont sort out the car for me. I wont try if you dont.

I’ve been watching him big up/thank his team/crew on Instagram all week. And being 0.013 off pole isnt trying eh? Lewis is a winner, he’s pissed off his emotions are coming out yet he know he’s needs to support them. Being jealous or annoyed at his flash lifestyle isn’t a reason to post once sided comments.

Lewis is no where as conceited as Beiber, or as stupid as Fury.