Author Topic: F1 thread (Read 26992 times)

squeezer · « **Reply #100 on:** December 08, 2016, 11:39:02 AM »

Quote from: kneescrubber on December 07, 2016, 07:35:49 PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Surtees

Wouldn't it be cool to see someone make that move again? I think Mike Hailwood was the last to give it a shot in F1 and I'm pretty sure they only gave him one season. Jeff Ward went from MX to Indycars and did well given his equipment.

Acadian's right that Vale would have had to jump earlier, but I think his tests showed he could have been competitive. Lorenzo had a good test with Williams earlier this year. If someone is actually going to try, though, I bet it would be Marquez. By the time he hits his mid-20s, there won't be many records left to break and nothing left to prove. Maybe he starts looking for a new challenge.

Back to Mercedes: The "we're in no hurry" stance tells me they're hoping to pry someone away from another team. Probably won't be Vettel -- you can't buy something from Ferrari unless they want to sell because they don't need the money. I can't see Red Bull letting either driver go, or even letting Sainz out of his contract, but they have a logjam in their junior program, so maybe. McLaren is a billion dollar business but they haven't had a title sponsor in years, so you have to figure the F1 team bleeds money like a severed artery. Maybe they'll sell Alonso. Perez and Wehrlein can be snagged any time since Merc supplies those teams with engines so expect one of them to be the fall back.

I think they should put Wehrlein there for a year in a trial by fire. If he doesn't do well, Alonso and Vettel are free after next season. If he does do well, they'll save a buttload of dough on their 2018 driver contracts. And either way, it helps them recruit to their junior program because they have an example of someone who graduated to the grown up team.

But, shockingly, the bastards haven't asked for my advice.

R Doug · « **Reply #101 on:** December 09, 2016, 04:13:24 PM »

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kneescrubber · « **Reply #102 on:** December 09, 2016, 05:20:45 PM »

squeezer · « **Reply #103 on:** December 10, 2016, 01:27:50 AM »

So out.

squeezer · « **Reply #104 on:** December 11, 2016, 01:32:11 PM »

BBC is saying that Mercedes has made Williams and offer on Bottas.

PatM · « **Reply #105 on:** January 23, 2017, 04:22:33 PM »

I just heard that Bernie Ecclestone is out. He has been fired by the new owners.

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ecclestone-confirms-chase-carey-has-replaced-him-as-ceo-of-f1-868019/

Blunder · « **Reply #106 on:** January 23, 2017, 06:00:38 PM »

Yup, the mean little hobbit is gone.

Here's an interesting take on how he made F1 relevant and how the digital age made him obsolete.

http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/how-bernie-ecclestone-saved-f1-and-made-everyone-hate-h-1791532151

R Doug · « **Reply #107 on:** January 24, 2017, 05:41:26 AM »

I believe the writing was on the wall once Liberty Media acquired the rights to F1. It's a new day in F1, how will it improve? That's yet to be seen.

thatguy · « **Reply #108 on:** January 24, 2017, 06:31:47 AM »

He may be out but not before stealing untold millions,perhaps billions from everyone he could. Good riddance.

Acadian Rider · « **Reply #109 on:** March 13, 2017, 02:54:12 PM »

Wow!!!

The cars are a lot faster this year. Kimi's best lap during testing in Barcelona was 3.366 seconds faster than Hamilton's pole lap last year.

The wider tires and other changes to the bodies are really making a difference.

It looks like the red team is going to have a fast car, at least for the start of the season. Go Kimi Go!

Here's a link to the final testing results.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/features/2017/3/pre-season-testing-2017---who-went-fastest-and-furthest-.html

Black Hills · « **Reply #110 on:** March 13, 2017, 04:27:20 PM »

that's crazy! the top 15+ in testing area all faster than the pole last year?? What all did they do to the cars?

R Doug · « **Reply #111 on:** March 13, 2017, 05:39:29 PM »

More aero and big old fat tires.

Drivers have commented on just how physical it is to take corners at speed this year. How's Eau Rouge going to be for them!?

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More info here...

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/technical/2016/1/future-vision---the-f1-car--2017-style.html

PatM · « **Reply #112 on:** March 13, 2017, 06:31:01 PM »

We know they'll all be faster but who will be the fastest is still an unknown. We know they didn't all use the same tires, soft, supersoft and ultrasoft, we don't know what suspension settings and mostly their fuel level.

It does look good for Ferrari but don't count Mercedes and the others out yet.

R Doug · « **Reply #113 on:** March 14, 2017, 01:54:02 PM »

Shame. I always enjoyed Force India's liveries in the past.

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/241849/1/force-india-in-the-pink-with-radical-livery-change.html

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Acadian Rider · « **Reply #114 on:** March 14, 2017, 03:08:58 PM »

It won't be hard to spot them on the track.

st2sam · « **Reply #115 on:** March 14, 2017, 03:23:36 PM »

Quote from: Black Hills on March 13, 2017, 04:27:20 PM

that's crazy! the top 15+ in testing area all faster than the pole last year??

Whoa, that is crazy!
How fast is too fast?

Who will be be surprised if a driver dies or is badly injured this year?
(not me)

squeezer · « **Reply #116 on:** March 14, 2017, 03:33:31 PM »

Quote from: R Doug on March 14, 2017, 01:54:02 PM

Shame. I always enjoyed Force India's liveries in the past.

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/241849/1/force-india-in-the-pink-with-radical-livery-change.html

That's hideous. But it might help people not notice how ugly the car is with that bumpy nose and boring shark fin. And I thought the last couple of years, they were one of the best looking cars on the grid.

By the way, my take on the new rules: I think the one that will matter most for fans is the standing start after safety car deployment. Even in cases where they have to start behind the safety car due to rain, when the safety car pulls in, the grid reforms for a standing start.

I've always loved the standing starts. Now we may get to see two or more per race.

Acadian Rider · « **Reply #117 on:** March 14, 2017, 03:50:14 PM »

I understood the standing start after a safety car only in cases of rain. I could be wrong.

squeezer · « **Reply #118 on:** March 14, 2017, 05:51:39 PM »

Quote from: Acadian Rider on March 14, 2017, 03:50:14 PM

I understood the standing start after a safety car only in cases of rain. I could be wrong.

Oops. I think you're right. I think I misunderstood the reports.

R Doug · « **Reply #119 on:** April 10, 2017, 02:05:56 PM »

How says there's no passing in F1.

Select the HD and full screen options, sit back, and enjoy.

This kid is the real deal.


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squeezer · « **Reply #120 on:** April 12, 2017, 07:30:19 AM »

Alonso is going to skip Monaco this year to race in the Indy 500.

I read that and thought it was some April 1 article I had missed. Confirmed it with other sources. Then had to decide if I should post it here or in Weird News.

Honda set it up for him. He'll be racing for Andretti. Alonso apparently wants it on his resume.

R Doug · « **Reply #121 on:** April 12, 2017, 08:28:05 AM »

From someone who would love this type of attention for American open wheel racing, I'm a big fan of this move.

When I first saw it on my newsfeed, I thought April 1st was a few weeks ago.

Big respect to Alonso, McLaren, and Honda for doing this.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2017/4/alonso-to-miss-monaco--race-in-indy-500.html

PatM · « **Reply #122 on:** April 12, 2017, 09:14:11 AM »

McLaren and Honda not going anywhere in F1 this year. I can see why Alonso agreed to do it.

R Doug · « **Reply #123 on:** April 12, 2017, 10:43:39 AM »

Quote from: PatM on April 12, 2017, 09:14:11 AM

McLaren and Honda not going anywhere in F1 this year. I can see why Alonso agreed to do it.

Did Alonso agree to it or did Honda/McLaren agree to it?

I read that Alonso wants to do it but it's really not clear who/what is pushing for this. Frankly, we may never know the full politics behind it.

squeezer · « **Reply #124 on:** April 12, 2017, 11:51:05 AM »

I read that Zak Brown was the guy who called IMS to see if they could put a deal together and handled the negotiations from the team end. That doesn't tell us if the original idea came from Alonso or Honda, though.

For Alonso to go in, somebody else had to go out, because they couldn't find a chassis/engine that wasn't already spoken for. Stefan Wilson, Justin's brother, is the guy who lost his seat (which was just announced a week or two ago). He's being praised by Honda for a selfless move, voluntarily giving up the seat to Alonso. I think a 2018 Indycar drive is the real payoff for him, though.

R Doug · « **Reply #125 on:** April 12, 2017, 06:54:32 PM »

^ this

The Key to Alonso's Indy deal... Stefan Wilson

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/139540-the-key-to-alonso-s-indy-deal-stefan-wilson

Acadian Rider · « **Reply #126 on:** April 13, 2017, 07:44:46 AM »

Quote from: PatM on April 12, 2017, 09:14:11 AM

McLaren and Honda not going anywhere in F1 this year. I can see why Alonso agreed to do it.

Yep, he must be getting fed up with Honda especially.

R Doug · « **Reply #127 on:** April 13, 2017, 08:48:28 AM »

At least Honda has winning engines in Indy Car.

squeezer · « **Reply #128 on:** April 13, 2017, 10:14:21 AM »

Quote from: R Doug on April 13, 2017, 08:48:28 AM

At least Honda has winning engines in Indy Car.

Maybe reliability problems, though. 3 out of 4 Andretti cars stopped on track at Long Beach last week (the 4th crashed out). Maybe we'll see Alonso in a lawn chair inside turn 4 at about lap 50.

Actually, what I'm really, really hoping for is that he doesn't find the wall.

R Doug · « **Reply #129 on:** April 13, 2017, 11:01:56 AM »

Quote from: squeezer on April 13, 2017, 10:14:21 AM

Maybe we'll see Alonso in a lawn chair inside turn 4 at about lap 50.

Like Brazil a few years back?

Quote from: squeezer on April 13, 2017, 10:14:21 AM

Actually, what I'm really, really hoping for is that he doesn't find the wall.

+ 1 We don't want anything like what happened in Melbourne 2016.

squeezer · « **Reply #130 on:** July 06, 2017, 10:50:44 AM »

Interesting comings and goings this week.

Ron Dennis has sold his remaining shares in McLaren and is now completely divorced from the company.

Ferrari just dumped the chief engineer of their engine project. That's a shock given their improvement this year. Rumor is the sacking came from Marchionne himself.

Kubica is getting another Renault test. I figured the first one was just a feel good exercise for everyone. Now it looks like he is mounting a serious comeback attempt.

Sainz said today that it's "very unlikely" he'll be back with Toro Rosso. He either graduates to the grown up team or looks elsewhere. I think it's a pretty good bet that Kvyat's run is ending, so maybe we'll see two new young drivers at Toro Rosso.

R Doug · « **Reply #131 on:** July 06, 2017, 03:02:06 PM »

There is a lot going on. I just want to see the interview with Seb and Lewis from today. Poor Kevin Magnussen was seated between them.

I haven't had a chance to watch yet.


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thatguy · « **Reply #132 on:** July 06, 2017, 08:15:19 PM »

Regarding Mr. Hamilton's comment about Vettel being dangerous I present Spain 2016.

http://youtu.be/gCzkaX2DL7w

Austria 2016

http://youtu.be/ixmGVL4dedI

There's more but I'm sure you get the drift.

R Doug · « **Reply #133 on:** July 07, 2017, 06:51:03 AM »

I'm not really a fan of either driver. I like Bottas for my driver in the top teams. Kimi is perianal favorite, but his days are numbered.

I'd like to see Max and Smiley have a better car under them.

And, two guys which I'd like to see on a good team would be the Hulkster and Checo. Both are excellent middle pack drivers.

thatguy · « **Reply #134 on:** July 07, 2017, 08:05:44 AM »

Alonso is the best active driver whether you like him or not. He shows that by wrangling an inferior car to places on the grid it does not belong. Even the top of the podium with the questionable F138 Ferrari. Got a feeling he'll be in IndyCar next year. And that will make the show worth watching.

squeezer · « **Reply #135 on:** July 07, 2017, 02:07:38 PM »

Hamilton just got nailed with a 5 place grid penalty for a gearbox change. My guess is that he'll start 6th, and that should up the entertainment value of the race -- even though I hate these grid penalties.

thatguy · « **Reply #136 on:** July 07, 2017, 10:00:44 PM »

Not a fan of Hamilton the man but Hamilton the driver can be downright entertaining. When suitably motivated watching him drive through the field is amazing.

Acadian Rider · « **Reply #137 on:** July 08, 2017, 12:53:38 PM »

Quote from: squeezer on July 07, 2017, 02:07:38 PM

Hamilton just got nailed with a 5 place grid penalty for a gearbox change. My guess is that he'll start 6th, and that should up the entertainment value of the race -- even though I hate these grid penalties.

Turns out that he will start from P8. Qualified on slower tires so that he can run longer tomorrow.

I hear you on the penalties. Maybe they should take points away from the teams instead of giving a grid penalty to the drivers. That would allow the drivers to start where they actually qualified. On the other hand, it make for a more exciting race when a faster car is forced to come through the field.

R Doug · « **Reply #138 on:** July 30, 2017, 06:10:28 PM »

Summer break time!

What are your thoughts on last few races? One thing apepars to be certain, the new F1 ownership is allowing the drivers to be themselves.

Quotes from today's interviews:

Seb: "There's no bullshit with Kimi and we respect one another."

Kimi: "What is that Sauber doing? He needs to keep to that reporting stuff." -- on Di Resta filling in for an ill Massa

and my favorite from the week, Kevin Magnessen to the Hulkster


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R Doug · « **Reply #139 on:** July 30, 2017, 06:14:15 PM »

Oh yeah, did anyone catch Alonso doing a living meme in parc ferme during the podium ceremonies?

edit: found a pic of it.

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Acadian Rider · « **Reply #140 on:** July 31, 2017, 07:28:45 AM »

Alonso was in a good mood yesterday. McLaren finally had a track that suits their cars better where lack of power was not as much of an issue as it is on some of the other tracks.

I am a fan of Kimi but I thought that he was too harsh on Di Resta yesterday. The Hungaroring has to be the worst track to get out of the way with all the turns and marbles and Di Resta had not even tested or driven a 2017 car before the qualifying session of Saturday.

I like the Hulkster and I felt bad for him yesterday. Had it not been for the grid penalty, he would have scored some good points.

squeezer · « **Reply #141 on:** July 31, 2017, 12:19:48 PM »

I was hoping we'd see more of a three team battle in Hungary, and we might have if Max hadn't taken out the Red Bull team on the first lap. We'll have to wait a few weeks to see if that Friday speed they had was real.

On the first half: Man, how nice to see teams battle again rather than just teammates. Ferrari vs. Mercedes -- classic. The championship goes to whoever wins the development arms race. And the midfield battle has been superb.

kneescrubber · « **Reply #142 on:** January 31, 2018, 11:12:15 AM »

No more grid girls.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/1/formula-1-to-stop-using-grid-girls-.html

R Doug · « **Reply #143 on:** January 31, 2018, 01:58:19 PM »

Quote from: kneescrubber on January 31, 2018, 11:12:15 AM

No more grid girls.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/1/formula-1-to-stop-using-grid-girls-.html

I was just getting ready to start a new thread in Pit Row ponding the question, "how long until MotoGP gives up the same practice for umbrella girls?"

Let's face it, I'm surprised the use of umbrella girls have not changed over the years.

squeezer · « **Reply #144 on:** January 31, 2018, 03:36:13 PM »

I think it's time. Every time I try to introduce a newbie to fun of watching racing, it comes up. "What's up with that?" And I have no good explanation.

melville · « **Reply #145 on:** January 31, 2018, 11:39:50 PM »

Quote from: squeezer on January 31, 2018, 03:36:13 PM

I think it's time. Every time I try to introduce a newbie to fun of watching racing, it comes up. "What's up with that?" And I have no good explanation.

Models' union. F1 finally broke the contract.

squeezer · « **Reply #146 on:** February 01, 2018, 12:43:20 AM »

Finally looked up this year's television schedule. Only two grands prix -- U.S. and Mexico -- will be on broadcast TV (ABC). Everything else is on ESPN and ESPN2. Bummer for me. I won't get to see much again this year unless some live streaming option pops up.

It feels like return to '80s, when F1 was on ESPN & ESPN2 while those networks were on the way up and they realized rabid F1 fans would be willing to pay for cable subscriptions just to get it. Now that they're shrinking again, it's baaaaaack. And it did get me to subscribe the first time around. This time, though, I don't feel like uncutting the cable.

Acadian Rider · « **Reply #147 on:** February 01, 2018, 11:11:38 AM »

The grid girls story made the National News on CBC last night. I was really surprised to see that. Last time anything F1 made the National news in Canada was when Stroll signed with Williams last year.

Here in Canada we get to see all the F1 races on TSN. They get the Sky Sport feed that gives us a lot of coverage on race weekends.

On qualifying day we get a 1hr show / preview prior to the start of the Quali, the Quali and then another show post quali with many interviews etc...

On race day we get two pre-race shows, one is 30 minutes and another one is 1hr. After the race there are at least 1 hr of post race interviews, comments etc... Sky Sports get to interview all the major players including team principles and drivers. For example we get to see Toto Wolf and Christian Horner interviewed every race weekend. Those two are very accommodating and they even speak to Horner during the races sometimes. Others such as Maurizio Arrivabene needs to get his arm twisted before he says anything.

The bottom line for F1 fans in Canada is that we get a lot of coverage.

We also get the NASCAR stuff but I don't pay any attention to it.

R Doug · « **Reply #148 on:** February 01, 2018, 11:21:49 AM »

Quote from: squeezer on February 01, 2018, 12:43:20 AM

Finally looked up this year's television schedule. Only two grands prix -- U.S. and Mexico -- will be on broadcast TV (ABC). Everything else is on ESPN and ESPN2. Bummer for me. I won't get to see much again this year unless some live streaming option pops up.

It feels like return to '80s, when F1 was on ESPN & ESPN2 while those networks were on the way up and they realized rabid F1 fans would be willing to pay for cable subscriptions just to get it. Now that they're shrinking again, it's baaaaaack. And it did get me to subscribe the first time around. This time, though, I don't feel like uncutting the cable.

Bummer, is there streaming service available for F1 as there is in MotoGP?

R Doug · « **Reply #149 on:** February 01, 2018, 11:26:21 AM »

Quote from: Acadian Rider on February 01, 2018, 11:11:38 AM

The grid girls story made the National News on CBC last night. I was really surprised to see that. Last time anything F1 made the National news in Canada was when Stroll signed with Williams last year.

Here in Canada we get to see all the F1 races on TSN. They get the Sky Sport feed that gives us a lot of coverage on race weekends.

On qualifying day we get a 1hr show / preview prior to the start of the Quali, the Quali and then another show post quali with many interviews etc...

On race day we get two pre-race shows, one is 30 minutes and another one is 1hr. After the race there are at least 1 hr of post race interviews, comments etc... Sky Sports get to interview all the major players including team principles and drivers. For example we get to see Toto Wolf and Christian Horner interviewed every race weekend. Those two are very accommodating and they even speak to Horner during the races sometimes. Others such as Maurizio Arrivabene needs to get his arm twisted before he says anything.

The bottom line for F1 fans in Canada is that we get a lot of coverage.

We also get the NASCAR stuff but I don't pay any attention to it.

I would give up certain body parts to have Sky's coverage of F1.

When Fox Sports covered F1 here in the States, we would get Friday practice, Saturday Quali, and Sunday's race with a 30 minute pre-race show. They had one man with "boots on the ground" at each race and the studio team was based in Charlotte, NC.

I need to look up what I can expect with the ABC/ESPN (i.e. Disney) family. Will they cover practice and quali? I love watching the knock out qualifying sessions. And, I would play the Friday practice session in the background on Friday evenings to catch up on F1 news. What else are you going to talk about to cover an entire practice session?