F1 2014 thread

[Polish]

There were at least 5 in the last lap on one person
Poor Bottas had the worst finish ever.
The excitement was mostly the last quarter IMO... wondering whether Hamilton was going to fluff it or make it. The final result was no indication of how it could have gone IMO. Safety car would have scuppered his race, as would a puncture or a bad lap after those tyres hit the cliff. Then you weren't following Hamilton I imagine.

No, and i wasn't overly impressed with the transmission. It was all over the place without proper flow.

So much build up, ah well.

 

[thestaggy]

I fell asleep for about 20 - 25 laps in the middle there. Horrific race, horrific race track. After the highs of Monza and Spa you get one of these opulent races in a parking lot.

 

[Polish]

Not even the SC brightened up the race.

 

[Polish]

McLaren questions Red Bull radio messages

Eric Boullier thinks Red Bull used outlawed coded messages during the Singapore Grand Prix to help Daniel Ricciardo finish on the podium.

The FIA banned radio communications relating to driver performance in the build up to Singapore, but allowed help to continue for technical, reliability or safety reasons. Concerns were immediately raised about teams using coded messages to find a way around the rule, something FIA race director Charlie Whiting admitted would be difficult to police.

While managing a battery issue and holding off Fernando Alonso for third, Ricciardo was told by Red Bull: "Avoiding exit kerbs may help the problem with the car." F1 teams had been told messages relating to kerb contact are now prohibited and Boullier believes Red Bull was falling foul of that.

When asked about the differences in dealing with a race from the pit wall with the new limits on radio, Boullier said: "Nothing, but it makes us more busy listening to the others to see they are not doing anything like Red Bull did twice on Ricciardo. I think it was coded, yes. It is up to the FIA to investigate, so it is not for me to say anything but it was a strange message. Once would have been OK, but twice or three times is a bit strange."

But Christian Horner says Red Bull cleared the messages with Whiting and does not believe it breached any part of the new radio regulations.

"It wouldn't have made life easier, that's for sure," said Horner about Ricciardo's chances of finishing on the podium if radio communication had been unrestricted. "We spoke to Charlie, we told him that he's got some reliability issues and that was why he was told to keep off the kerbs because that was causing damage to the battery for instance. Its finding that balance with this radio stuff.

http://en.espnf1.com

Not sure if this kind of 'messaging espionage' is really helping the sport.

 

[HapticSimian]

McLaren questions Red Bull radio messages



http://en.espnf1.com

Not sure if this kind of 'messaging espionage' is really helping the sport.

Personally I think it's bloody daft. If you want to let them race 'unaided' then, at the very least, give them tyres that'll last a normal stint and enough fuel to finish the f'ng race. Bring back refuelling and can DRS while we're at it.

Too much resource management and not enough racing going on. Still, happy Britney got screwed for a change.

 

[Bryn]

I fell asleep for about 20 - 25 laps in the middle there. Horrific race, horrific race track. After the highs of Monza and Spa you get one of these opulent races in a parking lot.

Don't know what you were expecting. Singapore has a crap track. Doesn't even look like it's F1 standard.

 

[chromedome]

I fell asleep for about 20 - 25 laps in the middle there. Horrific race, horrific race track. After the highs of Monza and Spa you get one of these opulent races in a parking lot.

Have to agree, been watching all sorts of racing on telly lately from street outlaws to 250cc carting,modified saloons,etc and it's brilliant on the edge of your seat stuff,was really looking forward to the Gp only to be letdown once again..the lack of engine noise and processional driving is really starting to irk me.

 

[thestaggy]

Have to agree, been watching all sorts of racing on telly lately from street outlaws to 250cc carting,modified saloons,etc and it's brilliant on the edge of your seat stuff,was really looking forward to the Gp only to be letdown once again..the lack of engine noise and processional driving is really starting to irk me.

For me I have gotten over the noise, but I will never get over the new breed of racetracks. They have no heart.

 

[thestaggy]

Too much resource management and not enough racing going on.

+1

F1 is now about who can go the fastest while going as slow as possible. Does that make sense? No? Exactly.

 

[Polish]

F1 is now about who can go the fastest while going as slow as possible. Does that make sense? No? Exactly.

This made me laugh, very true though.

 

[Willie Trombone]

For me I have gotten over the noise, but I will never get over the new breed of racetracks. They have no heart.

+100
All designed to make both driving and racing harder...
AND BRING BACK THE GRAVEL TRAPS ALREADY!

 

[Polish]

Sochi Autodrom officially opened in Russia

The Sochi Autodrom, venue for next month's inaugural 2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix, was officially opened on Saturday, with a host of leading Russian government and motorsport figures in in attendance.

A spectacular demonstration of racing machinery was the main event, with Vitaly Petrov - the first Russian to compete in Formula One racing - joined by 2013 German Formula Three runner-up Artem Markelov and a number of other stars from the Russian racing world.

Russian Premier Minister Dmitry Medvedev and Dmitry Kozak, deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, also visited the new 5.853-kilometre circuit, which will stage the 16th round of the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship on October 10-12.

"I am glad to report that the first ever Formula One race track in Russia has now officially opened and very soon our country will host the inaugural 2014 Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix at this amazing venue," said race promoter Sergey Vorobyev.

"I would like to take this opportunity to invite all guests to enjoy the incredible atmosphere of a Formula One race weekend and more importantly to come and support our own Russian F1 driver: Daniil Kvyat, in whose honour we have renamed the T4 tribune. So, please come to support this talented young driver and spend an excellent autumn weekend with us - F1 style!"

The opening of the Sochi Autodrom - which features 18 corners and winds through the Sochi Olympic park - formed part of the XIII International Investment Forum 'Sochi - 2014'.

formula1.com

Excellent stuff, cannot wait.

 

[Kompete]

Indeed... now we just need two starts from last place or the pitlane for Rosberg and they're 'even' on their luck lol.

Best result of the season for Vettel. Was Ricciardo having trouble with his car today?

Yup, that sounds about right. Happy that Toto finally woke up to the reliability issues after he's favourite's title hopes is in jeopardy. Shenanigans we can tolerate, but relability...nooooo

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/29304753

Mercedes say they are determined to prevent the drivers' World Championship being decided by poor reliability.
Lewis Hamilton took the points lead for the first time since May by winning the Singapore Grand Prix, from which team-mate and rival Nico Rosberg retired.
It was the team's fourth mechanical retirement of the year.
"We don't want to have the spin that the championship was decided because one car let the driver down," said Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Yup, that sounds about right. Happy that Toto finally woke up to the reliability issues after he's favourite's title hopes is in jeopardy. Shenanigans we can tolerate, but relability...nooooo

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/29304753

Funny that Hamilton's reliability wasn't such an issue lol.
K, I'll leave the tinfoil hat at the door.

 

[vinodh]

Strange how the reliability issue for Merc was the other way around earlier in the season...
On a separate note, endurance racing has been in F1 for a season or two now and it is boring. Literally fall asleep boring. However, every now and then, due to rain, Maldonado, or other acts of God, we have a really awesome race. Here's hoping that Suzuka is a cracker.

 

[satanboy]

Vergne: ‘Incredible’ Singapore sixth showcases potential


Jean-Eric Vergne hopes his superb sixth-place finish in Sunday’s 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix will help secure his Formula One future beyond the end of the 2014 season.

Vergne was left without a drive for next year after Red Bull elected to promote Max Verstappen to a full-time Toro Rosso seat alongside Daniil Kvyat. Vergne, however, believes his strong Marina Bay result - achieved despite two five-second time penalties - should convince rival F1 teams of his ultimate potential.

“I am extremely happy, especially the way we took sixth place with the two penalties - amazing,” the Frenchman said after the Grand Prix.

“Ten seconds is a lot in the race - I really had to go and take those positions in the last laps and pull away as much as possible. Having to overtake so many cars was a lot of fun. To finish sixth was incredible.

“When you have a good car, that’s when you need to show yourself, and that’s hopefully what I have done. I think I showed my potential - I did everything I could. Let’s see if it might change things.”

Vergne also pointed to his strong record against Daniel Ricciardo when the pair were team mates at Toro Rosso as another measure of his credentials, particularly given Ricciardo’s breakthrough season in the Red Bull this year.

“When you see what Daniel is doing in a good car, winning races - I can do the same,” he added.

“When you are motivated and really want a result, that is what you do - I have shown this in the past, but when you overtake for 13th position they don’t put it on TV. That’s what I do at the back of the grid; when I have a good car like [on Sunday in Singapore] that’s what I do. But I need a good car to show myself, and to have people trust in me.

“I cross my fingers to keep a seat next year, and in a good team; I really hope so. We have an update for Japan, so I think it is good for me - the end of the season is where I need to push for next year.”

Vergne currently lies 13th in the driver standings, with 19 points, 11 ahead of rookie team mate Kvyat. He finished the 2013 campaign in 15th, directly behind then-team mate Ricciardo.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/9/16395.html

 

[Polish]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/9/16395.html

It seems for some reason they are promoting Kvyat despite credentials. Maybe he comes with more money.

He may find a drive among some tailenders, reserve driver option at a stronger team may also be an option.

 

[Polish]

Schumacher's son Mick eyes F1 career

Michael Schumacher's 15-year-old son Mick wants to follow in his father's famous footsteps and be a Formula One world champion after being crowned World Karting Vice-Champion.

The youngster competed under the name Mick Junior - having previously used the surname Betsch, maiden name of mother Corinna - as he finished second in the KF-Junior category in Essay, France last weekend. Mick had won four heats en route to the final event and after the race stated his desire to forge a trail into Formula One.

"Of course I am proud of such an important result, but it is also clear that it is my goal to be world champion," Mick said after the race. "This is only the beginning of my career."

http://en.espnf1.com

Now this bittersweet headline made me smile. This would be extraordinary and so welcome, a family of F1 greats, if he could match the old mans talents.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Strange how the reliability issue for Merc was the other way around earlier in the season...
On a separate note, endurance racing has been in F1 for a season or two now and it is boring. Literally fall asleep boring. However, every now and then, due to rain, Maldonado, or other acts of God, we have a really awesome race. Here's hoping that Suzuka is a cracker.

That's one track I want to see in person. That and Magny-Cours.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Suzuka never fails to disappoint. I can't wait to see these cars going through 130R flat out! Only this and Interlagos as the 'old school' tracks left on the calendar