F1 - General discussion and 2016 Season

[skyhawk]

I wish Hulkenberg could get a better drive next year. He is more/less like Alonso. Doesnt lose positions and gets the best out of the car.

I think Bottas is overrated because the car is the 2nd fastest. Imagine if Alonso or Button or Hulkenberg were in a Williams this year ? I really think it would be a 3 horse race to the title.

 

[Polish]

Don't quite agree with that rating on Hulkenberg.

Imo except for that Pole in Brazil 2010 he has not achieved much since, 5th year in F1 and no better than 9th overall standings.

Very average for me.

 

[thestaggy]

Don't quite agree with that rating on Hulkenberg.

Imo except for that Pole in Brazil 2010 he has not achieved much since, 5th year in F1 and no better than 9th overall standings.

Very average for me.

Considering the teams he has driven for and the fact that he is one of the prime reasons why Force India routinely punch above their weight (no teammate at Force India has outperformed him), that is a little harsh.

Since Barrichello beat him in his rookie season;
He has 80 points to Perez's 47 this year.
In 2013 he had 51 points to Gutierrez's 6.
In 2012 he had 63 points to di Resta's 46.

His average finishing position this year is 7.8 and he has finished in the points in 14 of the 16 Grands Prix he has finished. He'd be doing better than both Magnussen and Raikkonen in their respective cars

 

[thestaggy]

I wish Hulkenberg could get a better drive next year. He is more/less like Alonso. Doesnt lose positions and gets the best out of the car.

I think Bottas is overrated because the car is the 2nd fastest. Imagine if Alonso or Button or Hulkenberg were in a Williams this year ? I really think it would be a 3 horse race to the title.

I doubt the team as a whole is/was championship material. Rob Smedley, Williams' Head of Vehicle Performance, has himself said the team is not ready for a title push. In a recent interview, when Alonso's name was thrown in, he said a driver of Alonso's stature would put a lot of pressure on the team as they are not yet in the position to win races on a regular basis. Also, their pit stops and race tactics have been consistently poor. Their quickest stop in Brazil was a full second slower than Merc's fastest stop and often times they let one of their drivers stay out a little too long (usually Massa) and then said driver would get bottled up.

Could they have won a race or two? Yeah, probably, and Massa should've done that in Canada before he stuffed it up and tangled with Perez. If any of the drivers deserve criticism it would be Massa during the first half of the season. I think they could have and should have pushed Red Bull for second, but pushing for the title, nah, that is a little too much to ask.

 

[Polish]

Considering the teams he has driven for and the fact that he is one of the prime reasons why Force India routinely punch above their weight (no teammate at Force India has outperformed him), that is a little harsh.

Since Barrichello beat him in his rookie season;
He has 80 points to Perez's 47 this year.
In 2013 he had 51 points to Gutierrez's 6.
In 2012 he had 63 points to di Resta's 46.

His average finishing position this year is 7.8 and he has finished in the points in 14 of the 16 Grands Prix he has finished. He'd be doing better than both Magnussen and Raikkonen in their respective cars

Look not bad, he's just not impressed me, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Polish]

And then, to harp on another ship, what the hell is going on with Ross Brawn.

Imo. prob the most genius brain in F1, having catapulted multiple teams to fame and fortunes (Benetton, Ferrari, Brawn, Merc). I do not have all the answers but in hindsight I feel he was instrumental in the results Merc are reaping now.

To just disappear ? He’s done it before and came back with a Bang to win the championship with his own outfit.

Is he plotting it again ? I cannot imagine for a talent like that to be taking honest sabbaticals.

 

[Ho3n3r]

And then, to harp on another ship, what the hell is going on with Ross Brawn.

Imo. prob the most genius brain in F1, having catapulted multiple teams to fame and fortunes (Benetton, Ferrari, Brawn, Merc). I do not have all the answers but in hindsight I feel he was instrumental in the results Merc are reaping now.

To just disappear ? He’s done it before and came back with a Bang to win the championship with his own outfit.

Is he plotting it again ? I cannot imagine for a talent like that to be taking honest sabbaticals.

He's 60 - no shame in taking time off at that age. Some in F1 stay longer, depending on their motivation, but some don't.

 

[skyhawk]

Its amazing what one can do with a fast car and at the same time disheartening seeing one wasting it.
Who knew Riccardo is that fast? At STR he was 50-50 with Vergne. And if Vernge gets promoted to RedBull i know it would be 50-50 again. Its hard to judge Massa s perfomance this yr because of his so many DNFs this year but i think for a man who lost a wc by 1 point he can do better. NO wait a min he was totally outclassed by Alonso in 4 seasons.

 

[caroper]

Being out classed by Alonso is nothing to be ashamed of, but failing to learn from him whilst a teammate is unforgivable.

 

[thestaggy]

For Massa I think his accident in 2009 took a lot out of him for a while and then being the confirmed #2 didn't help in his attempts to regain form and his confidence.

 

[caroper]

The ever controversial Bernie Ecclestone claims that F1 doesn't need young fans as they don't have the money to buy sponsors products. http://www.pitpass.com/52964/Ecclestone-F1-doesnt-need-young-fans

"I'd rather get to the 70-year-old guy who's got plenty of cash," he insisted. "So, there's no point trying to reach these kids because they won't buy any of the products here and if marketers are aiming at this audience, then maybe they should advertise with Disney."

Obviously no long term vision for the sport, but then he probably expects f1 to die with him.

 

[kaaskop]

The ever controversial Bernie Ecclestone claims that F1 doesn't need young fans as they don't have the money to buy sponsors products. http://www.pitpass.com/52964/Ecclestone-F1-doesnt-need-young-fans

"I'd rather get to the 70-year-old guy who's got plenty of cash," he insisted. "So, there's no point trying to reach these kids because they won't buy any of the products here and if marketers are aiming at this audience, then maybe they should advertise with Disney."

Obviously no long term vision for the sport, but then he probably expects f1 to die with him.

There is so much we could say, such as how many 70-year-olds drink Red Bull, but if Bernie really sees F1 and its fans this way what's the point?

Lol.

Bernie is the Mugabe of of sport.

 

[skyhawk]

Why dont the multi millionaire owners of small teams like Force India's Vijay Mallay , Gerard Lopez of Lotus and Peter Sauber of Sauber pool their resources together and form a 2nd tier F1 that encourages flat out racing and reduces the gap between competitors by using ... 1) same power unit 2) 25 races a season the last 3 being over 3 consecutive weekends.

 

[caroper]

Why dont the multi millionaire owners of small teams like Force India's Vijay Mallay , Gerard Lopez of Lotus and Peter Sauber of Sauber pool their resources together and form a 2nd tier F1 that encourages flat out racing and reduces the gap between competitors by using ... 1) same power unit 2) 25 races a season the last 3 being over 3 consecutive weekends.

Is that not what A1 was meant to be, or GP2?
F1 is what it is, or at least what it used to be, what we call f1 today is not a sport any longer it is a business.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Is that not what A1 was meant to be, or GP2?
F1 is what it is, or at least what it used to be, what we call f1 today is not a sport any longer it is a business.

All sports are a business...

Haha but Bernie is on good form today, old man has lost the plot completely now. Just can't see people putting up with it much more, think he'll "retire" within the next year.

 

[Willie Trombone]

With the room they have over the opposition, I'm calling the race like this;

Rosberg charges away to win while Lewis nurses his car home, not taking risks and doing enough to ensure the guy in 3rd doesn't threaten him.

I reckon he has to go for broke, he doesn't know how else to race and would probably lose concentration of he coasted.

 

[Polish]

Both need to drive hard.

Rosberg must win, that's it.

Lewis must do as best as he can, one slip of whatever can set him back a place too far. Nobody can escape a flat, or what about a safety car.

I think even the pit crews are getting a moerse drilling.

 

[Bryn]

Both need to drive hard.

Rosberg must win, that's it.

Lewis must do as best as he can, one slip of whatever can set him back a place too far. Nobody can escape a flat, or what about a safety car.

I think even the pit crews are getting a moerse drilling.

They certainly don't want a repeat of Raikkonen's change in Brazil if things are tight between Lewis and Nico. And why do you say Rosberg must win? He's won 5 races this season to Hamilton's 10. I don't particularly care what happens as long as Lewis takes the championship.

 

[vinodh]

McLaren-Honda:

 

[caroper]

It must be slow. It says SAP all over it, the most inefficient and badly designed DBMS I have ever been unfortunate enough to encounter