F1 - 2018 season discussion

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Dave

Dave

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Jack Marlow said:
I didn't say you were.

7 points is 7 points. If they didn't give him the win, a DNF at Suzuka could mean he's only 18 points in the lead. With 5 races to go, there's room for 5 more DNFs. If you think that's insignificant then you surprise me. It aint over till it's over. The DWC and having only the second 5 x DWC in history in their stable is worth a heck of a lot to any team.
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I would agree and Toto made pretty much the same point after the race, saying the championship is far from decided and DNF’s or penalties could still significantly change the point situation.
 
caroper

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Jack Marlow said:
Any links to this theory? I heard they have solved their traction and wear issue on the tyres.
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There are two topics there, the Ferrari Power advantage and the Merc Tyre wear, On the latter they certainly seem to have sold that issue but the former has no concrete evidence that I can find, only speculation.

The theory I posted about was doing the rounds on Reddit but I didn't see any real proof other than comparative audio samples of Ferrari Exiting a corner before and after the mod. In the latter the turbo was at full belt as it left the corner.

Subsequent to posting I did come across this which follows a different theory:
Questions over Ferrari's loss of power

one crucial difference between the Ferrari power unit and that of its rivals is that it features two batteries for its energy storage system, and according to Auto Motor und Sport, since the FIA called on the Italian manufacturer to fit a second sensor the power advantage has 'disappeared'.
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I guess we will have to wait till after the season finale to get a definitive answer.
 
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Willie Trombone

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caroper said:
Subsequent to posting I did come across this which follows a different theory:
Questions over Ferrari's loss of power
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LOL, so they were being sneaky sneaky? I don't think it's so much a Ferrari loss of power, as much as a Merc increase in traction / driveability in the corners. Singapore seemed to prove that. If it were merely power, they wouldn't have beaten Redbull in Singapore IMO.

I know the teams can't give away secrets but it would be fab to be able to hear more about the tech.
 
thestaggy

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Jack Marlow said:
7 points is 7 points. If they didn't give him the win, a DNF at Suzuka could mean he's only 18 points in the lead. With 5 races to go, there's room for 5 more DNFs. If you think that's insignificant then you surprise me. It aint over till it's over. The DWC and having only the second 5 x DWC in history in their stable is worth a heck of a lot to any team.
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The Mercedes is the most reliable car on the grid and has been since the start of the hybrid era. At least of the Big Three.

Since 2013 (start of the hybrid-era), there have been 190 Grands Prix (95 GPs multiplied by two cars). In that span Mercedes has had 11 retirements, 6 of them involving Hamilton. Going back to Malaysia 2016 when his engine went, Hamilton has had one retirement in his last 41 starts.

Ferrari by comparison has had 24 retirements, 7 of them involving Vettel.

I highly doubt that the sky is suddenly going to fall in on Mercedes. The points advantage, even at 43, also means Mercedes don't have to take risks. Not saying a retirement can't or won't happen, but I highly doubt the're going to be pulling a Renault or Honda at this point and the odds point to a Ferrari retirement being more likely. They seem to be edgy over nothing and took the mick in Russia.
 
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Willie Trombone

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thestaggy said:
The Mercedes is the most reliable car on the grid and has been since the start of the hybrid era. At least of the Big Three.
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This years car is all that counts - it's the only one in the championship. I count 2x failures by Merc and 1 by Ferrari (Kimi) this year. Vettel has not had an engine fail yet.

I highly doubt that the sky is suddenly going to fall in on Mercedes. The points advantage, even at 43, also means Mercedes don't have to take risks. Not saying a retirement can't or won't happen, but I highly doubt the're going to be pulling a Renault or Honda at this point and the odds point to a Ferrari retirement being more likely. They seem to be edgy over nothing and took the mick in Russia.
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You think what has happened once this year already can't happen again? What about Kimi's 2x and Vettel's 1x retirement through contact - you think it couldn't happen to Hamilton? OK then.
Regardless, Wolff made the right decision for the team, end of. If it's in the rules, he would have been wrong to not do it whichever way you look at it. These engines are far from bulletproof. The only reason they are able to get through with so few retirements is they sometimes take a precaution penalty.
 
thestaggy

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Jack Marlow said:
This years car is all that counts - it's the only one in the championship. I count 2x failures by Merc and 1 by Ferrari (Kimi) this year. Vettel has not had an engine fail yet.

You think what has happened once this year already can't happen again? What about Kimi's 2x and Vettel's 1x retirement through contact - you think it couldn't happen to Hamilton? OK then.
Regardless, Wolff made the right decision for the team, end of. If it's in the rules, he would have been wrong to not do it whichever way you look at it. These engines are far from bulletproof. The only reason they are able to get through with so few retirements is they sometimes take a precaution penalty.
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Hence I included contact and mechanical failures in the total amount of retirements. Merc still comes out ahead in the race-finishing stakes. The car has been more reliable over a sustained period of time and their drivers more composed, at least after Rosberg retired (no fratricide).

Of course Toto and Merc are content with their decision, but at the same time Toto is well aware of how it looks to everyone else and he admitted as much by saying that he's okay with being the bad guy for now. Everybody knows they pulled a screwjob on Bottas, including the man that orchestrated it

Anyway, pointless to continue this as nobody will change their opinion.
 
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thestaggy

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F1 2019: Williams 'intensively evaluating' driver line-up
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Williams are yet to make a decision about their driver line-up plans for 2019 with an announcement potentially delayed until the end of this season.

With 15 of the 20 seats for the 2019 grid already secured, both of the places at Williams are at present unoccupied.

But while Sergey Sirotkin is expected to be retained, Lance Stroll is a near-certainty to depart for Force India after his father led a consortium buy-out of the team.

We are going through an intensive evaluation process, we want to make good decisions going into 2019," Claire Williams told Sky F1. "We are not quite there yet."

George Russell, currently leading the F2 championship but tied to Mercedes, has been strongly linked to the team, while Esteban Ocon, poised to be replaced by Stroll at Force India, confirmed last week in Russia that he had held talks with Williams.

"We have a number of drivers on our list but l don't want to say who they are," added Williams. "There are a lot of opportunities out there."
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If Williams could somehow get Ocon in one of their cars that would be awesome. I have to agree with Christian Horner on this; Toto Wolff was whining that nobody wants to take Ocon but at the same time Mercedes are unwilling to help him out by ''buying'' him a seat in the same vane Red Bull and Ferrari make plans for their junior drivers. Williams need money, so do a deal and get Ocon in there. Either discount the engine supply or hand over some cash and keep the guy in F1.

Heck, do a deal and get them to take on both George Russell and Esteban Ocon. Bam, you've got yourself a ''B-team''.
 
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Willie Trombone

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thestaggy said:
The Mercedes is the most reliable car on the grid and has been since the start of the hybrid era. At least of the Big Three.
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thestaggy said:
Hence I included contact and mechanical failures in the total amount of retirements.
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What does that have to do with being the most reliable car?
Merc still comes out ahead in the race-finishing stakes. The car has been more reliable over a sustained period of time and their drivers more composed, at least after Rosberg retired (no fratricide).
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That's a funny thing to say after saying Bottas was shafted. Besides, I don't see any different at Ferrari, so I can't see how it affects anything.
 
caroper

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thestaggy said:
If Williams could somehow get Ocon in one of their cars that would be awesome. I have to agree with Christian Horner on this; Toto Wolff was whining that nobody wants to take Ocon but at the same time Mercedes are unwilling to help him out by ''buying'' him a seat in the same vane Red Bull and Ferrari make plans for their junior drivers. Williams need money, so do a deal and get Ocon in there. Either discount the engine supply or hand over some cash and keep the guy in F1.

Heck, do a deal and get them to take on both George Russell and Esteban Ocon. Bam, you've got yourself a ''B-team''.
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Toto had to sell his stake in Williams part of the Mercedes Deal so supplying them pay drivers may be seen as a conflict of interest or break some contract we are not aware of.
 
thestaggy

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caroper said:
Toto had to sell his stake in Williams part of the Mercedes Deal so supplying them pay drivers may be seen as a conflict of interest or break some contract we are not aware of.
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I think its more Toto being a tw@t about Ocon as he already said he wouldn't consider cutting ties, so he'd rather let him rot for a season because none of the other manufacturers will have him.

Not just Williams, they could help him stay at Force India as well, but that's likely not going to happen. The combination of technical benefits plus funding could be just as good as the money Perez brings. Daddy Stroll already said he would like to explore a Haas-Ferrari type relationship with Mercedes, so there is potential for a sweeter deal there that keeps Ocon in a good car.
 
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