F1 - General discussion and 2017

Stewart: Apart from Verstappen, F1 is boring

Formula 1 legend Jackie Stewart reckons that Formula 1 is missing excitement but thinks racing prodigy Max Verstappen could reignite the sport.

Stewart, who is a triple World Champion, said 2016 was a boring a year for Formula 1 fans and the sport lacks the necessary characters to make it enjoyable again.

While praising Verstappen, the Scot also added that Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen are probably the most popular figures in Formula 1 at the moment.

"Other than Verstappen's breakthrough, it was not a very interesting season," Stewart told Swiss newspaper Blick.

"Verstappen reminds me of the first races of Mario Andretti, Jochen Rindt and Francois Cevert. They managed to shake things up."

"Lewis Hamilton is a kind of modern hero, Vettel is a quiet hero. And Raikkonen is perhaps even more popular than those two, although he barely says anything or perhaps he's popular precisely because of it!

"F1 is missing excitement, incidents, failures and accidents. Don't get me wrong, nobody wants to see a driver crash but you want some excitement.

“In my day that was the case, but unfortunately many of my rivals paid the ultimate price for that."
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"Lewis Hamilton is a kind of modern hero, Vettel is a quiet hero. And Raikkonen is perhaps even more popular than those two, although he barely says anything or perhaps he's popular precisely because of it!
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:D And when he does ...:crylaugh:

[video=youtube;aDJohDZvIyQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDJohDZvIyQ[/video]

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McLaren dismisses Alonso Le Mans claim


McLaren has dismissed a report in the Spanish media that it will contest Le Mans next year with Fernando Alonso.
It is claimed that McLaren intends returning to Le Mans next year with a GTE Pro for Fernando Alonso.
Indeed, Executive Director, Zak Brown, is quoted as saying that McLaren will upgrade the 650S GT3 to be eligible for the La Sarthe race.

"We know the growing desire for Fernando to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans," he is quoted as saying by Motor y Racing. "We have a winning car in the 650S GT3, which will be adapted to suit the regulations of the ACO and thereby participate in the LM GTE Pro category.
"At Le Mans, GTs are notorious for being significantly slower than the LMP cars, which sometimes create safety issues," he is further quoted as saying. "However, our goal is to set a trend and present the first GT not to be a mobile chicane around La Sarthe."
In a further tease, race fans are offered the tantalising prospect of Alonso being joined by former teammate Jenson Button and Mark Webber, the recently retired (2015) WEC champion reported to have discussed the matter over dinner with the two-time world champion last week.
In the wake of Nico Hulkenberg's success at Le Mans in 2015, Alonso has made no secret of his desire to contest the classic event however, McLaren was quick to dismiss the story.
"The story is totally untrue, and Zak has never suggested any such thing," a McLaren spokesman told Pitpass.
Update: It has been pointed out that December 28 is the day of the Innocent Saints in Spain, which is celebrated in the UK on April 1.
However, while the story was clearly a ruse, it is best that it is cleared up before the 'usual suspects' began reporting it as fact.
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Zyraz said:
Stewart: Apart from Verstappen, F1 is boring



:D And when he does ...:crylaugh:

[video=youtube;aDJohDZvIyQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDJohDZvIyQ[/video]

Source
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This is the same guy who had a go at Hamilton for trying to influence his own championship at the end of the last race.
 
2017 DRIVER LINE-UPS

MERCEDES
Race drivers: Lewis Hamilton and TBC
Engines: Mercedes

RED BULL
Race drivers: Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen
Reserve driver: Pierre Gasly
Engines: TAG Heuer-badged Renault

FERRARI
Race drivers: Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen
Third driver: Antonio Giovinazzi
Engines: Ferrari

FORCE INDIA
Race drivers: Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon
Engines: Mercedes

WILLIAMS
Race drivers: Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll
Engines: Mercedes

MCLAREN
Race drivers: Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne
Reserve driver: Jenson Button
Engines: Honda

TORO ROSSO
Race drivers: Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat
Reserve driver: Pierre Gasly
Engines: Renault

HAAS
Race drivers: Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen
Engines: Ferrari

RENAULT
Race drivers: Nico Hulkenberg and Jolyon Palmer
Engines: Renault

SAUBER
Race drivers: Marcus Ericsson and TBC
Engines: Ferrari (2016 spec)

MANOR
Race drivers: TBC and TBC
Engines: Mercedes
 
Yorkie said:
2017 DRIVER LINE-UPS

MERCEDES
Race drivers: Lewis Hamilton and TBC
Engines: Mercedes

RED BULL
Race drivers: Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen
Reserve driver: Pierre Gasly
Engines: TAG Heuer-badged Renault

FERRARI
Race drivers: Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen
Third driver: Antonio Giovinazzi
Engines: Ferrari

FORCE INDIA
Race drivers: Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon
Engines: Mercedes

WILLIAMS
Race drivers: Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll
Engines: Mercedes

MCLAREN
Race drivers: Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne
Reserve driver: Jenson Button
Engines: Honda

TORO ROSSO
Race drivers: Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat
Reserve driver: Pierre Gasly
Engines: Renault

HAAS
Race drivers: Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen
Engines: Ferrari

RENAULT
Race drivers: Nico Hulkenberg and Jolyon Palmer
Engines: Renault

SAUBER
Race drivers: Marcus Ericsson and TBC
Engines: Ferrari (2016 spec)

MANOR
Race drivers: TBC and TBC
Engines: Mercedes
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Well, let's not count the proverbial chickens yet, hmm...
 
Horner sees future in F1 for Gasly

1022.6666666666666x767__origin__0x0_Pierre_Gasly-700x367.jpg
Despite being overlooked for a race seat in 2017, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has no doubt that Pierre Gasly will be in Formula 1.

Gasly was vocal about his frustrations about not being given a race seat with Toro Rosso, with the Faenza-based outfit deciding to retain Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat.

Horner, though, believes the GP2 Champion has all the credentials to enter the sport as he is deeply admired within the Red Bull fold.

"Gasly has done a great job this year," Horner said.

"It was good to see him win the GP2 championship. He has done important work for us and development work for us this year.

"There is not a seat available for him in F1 at the moment but he is the most senior member of the junior team, and is being retained by us because we rate him extremely highly.

“So whatever the future holds for him, F1 can still very much be part of that future."
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Webber backs Ricciardo for F1 title challenge

1022.6666666666666x767__origin__0x0_Daniel_Ricciardo_and_Mark_Webber_boot-700x367.jpg

Mark Webber has tipped Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo to “vie for the championship” next season in Formula 1.

Ricciardo finished last season in third position behind the Mercedes duo of Nico Rosberg – who won the title – and Lewis Hamilton.

And Webber is backing Ricciardo to go a couple of steps further this campaign and mount a serious bid for the championship.

“Daniel was probably the most consistent driver in the field this year and he’s absolutely world class, in that top three drivers,” Webber told The Age.

“He’s in a position to go again next year and certainly vie for the championship if Red Bull can get the car together because Nico [Rosberg] is virtually impossible to replace in the short term at Mercedes.”

Rosberg’s shock retirement following his championship victory could throw the door open for another driver to compete with Hamilton.

“I’m really happy for [Rosberg]. Things just line up in your life and he’s decided his time is now,” Webber added.

“Nico and Lewis [Hamilton] drove each other to be better, but now they won’t have that all-star line-up. Lewis is brilliant and absolutely ruthless, but this will shake up the F1 market.”
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Sauber agrees Wehrlein deal for F1 2017

Sauber has reached agreement for Pascal Wehrlein to line up alongside Marcus Ericsson this year, sources have revealed, paving the way for Valtteri Bottas to take the vacant seat at Mercedes.

After weeks of speculation about who would replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes – with Wehrlein and Bottas the clear favourites from the start – it appears that the final steps are now being made to get everything signed off formally.

Although Wehrlein had been a contender for the Mercedes seat, it is understood that his lack of experience meant the team felt he was too much or a risk to be promoted to its works team just yet – especially going up against a driver as tough as Lewis Hamilton.

According to sources with good knowledge of the situation, Mercedes has instead now agreed terms with Sauber for it to take its junior driver Wehrlein for 2017. The final details of the contract are still to be finalised, but that should be done in the next few days.

Mercedes has settled on landing Bottas – whose exit from Williams has now been assured, with Felipe Massa having agreed to delay his retirement by another season to ensure that the Grove-based team has an experienced driver on hand alongside rookie Lance Stroll.

The announcements of Bottas, Wehrlein and Massa may well be co-ordinated to ensure that no teams risks being left in an awkward position.

The confirmation of the plans for Mercedes, Sauber and Williams means that the only vacancies left on the grid are now at Manor, which is currently in takeover talks with interested investors.

Esteban Gutierrez is a front-runner for one of the seats, while Felipe Nasr and Rio Haryanto have also been linked with the outfit.
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Bottas in Brackley visit?

A couple of reliable media outlets are claiming that Valtteri Bottas visited Mercedes Brackley HQ before the Christmas holiday, thereby suggesting that the Finn is poised to partner Lewis Hamilton next season.

While nothing is being said by any of those involved, Bottas is said to have tried the cockpit of the team's 2017 contender and held initial talks with the engineers scheduled to work on the second car - assuming they aren't moved to Hamilton's in the meantime.

Only a day ago, Motorsport.com quoted Bottas as saying that the 2017 cars feel a lot faster, especially in corners.

"It is quite a lot faster in the corners, I like it," he is quoted as saying. "Higher corner speeds are always nice, and more traction, grip and downforce is good. It comes with less speed on the straights, but it doesn't really matter... it feels okay."

One can only assume he was talking about the Mercedes.
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http://www.pitpass.com/58107/Bottas-in-Brackley-visit
 
Polish said:
Yeah I'd say it's a done deal.
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Issue is, this is F1. Nothing is a done deal until it was leaked by multiple sources, then denied by the team in question, and then confirmed by the same team two days later.
 
Reports – Wehrlein joins Sauber

Mercedes development driver Pascal Wehrlein has reached an agreement with Sauber and will race alongside Marcuss Ericsson ahead of the new season.

With the German youngster joining the Swiss outfit, it is looking more likely that Valtteri Bottas will be the one to take Nico Rosberg’s seat at Mercedes as he and Wehrlein were the two front-runners.

The development is expected to be announced in the coming days.

In conjunction with the Wehrlein to Sauber confirmation, it is also expected that Bottas to Mercedes and Felipe Massa to remain at Williams to also be announced.

There only race seats available on the grid is at Manor Racing, with Rio Haryanto, Felipe Nasr and Esteban Gutierrez being linked with the British outfit.
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What does it take to become a F1 Driver?

It’s not easy to become an F1 driver, some say that it’s harder becoming an F1 driver than it is becoming a professional boxer or footballer.

Despite them only driving, in truth, they are some of the fittest people in the sporting world and on top of that, F1 drivers need high intelligence to match the split-second reactions speeds and cunning situations. Formula 1 drivers are in a highly competitive sport that requires a great deal of talent and commitment if you are to have any hope of success. Reaching the top takes years of experience and a good deal of financial investment, but it’s not exactly impossible.

Commitment

F1 drivers have been driving from an early age; most kids go on the go-karting circuiting hoping one day it will transform into a F1 grid. Unfortunately, only a hand full actually make it to the F1 grid and for those who are fully committed to the cause work hard and will literally not stop in reaching their goals. A fine example of young and hardworking drivers comes out of the Red Bull garage and he goes by the name of Max Verstappen. This young lad hasn’t stopped in regards to reaching his goals and his simply becoming stronger and stronger. It’s not impossible in becoming a F1 driver but you must be willing to commit your life to the sport.

Adaptability

This sport can be unpredictably dangerous, so being able to adapt is a necessary if you are make in as a F1 driver. Drivers must be able to adapt, simple as that. Not only on the court but throughout their lives too, drivers are required to travel all around the world and they have to adjust to different time zones, climates and new cultures. So you must able to adjust on the race grid and around the world if you want to be the best.

Nutrition

Like any athlete, what you eat and drink is key to optimal performance. It’s rather interesting that drivers have specially tailored diets that have been set out for them by their own personal trainers. The three areas to focus on when it comes to nutrition is: pre-race, during and post-race, at the end of the day F1 is an endurance sport, so by identifying key foods is what makes or breaks an F1 driver.

Cardiovascular Strength

It is vital for all drivers that they have highly efficient cardiovascular systems preventing them from suffering with fatigue during any point in the Grand Prix. In training they do a mixture of endurance and high intensity workouts with varying heart rat zones so that they are equipped with the changeable physical demands when driving in a number of different climates.

So as you can see, making it as an F1 driver doesn’t consist of just being a good driver, there are other elements to take into account if you want to make it in the big leagues and if you are to make it the big leagues its now more competitive than ever as we saw the recent F1 championship go down to the wire with Hamilton and Rosberg (teammates) battling out with each other to be crowned F1 champion.

But with Rosberg now retiring, who will partner Hamilton as they try to continue the Mercedes dominance? More information and a range of odds can be located on the best deal casinos website. Can Hamilton bounce back and win the title next season? Or can the young Verstappen push the other drivers in the new season? If you know, then put a bet down!
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