The F1 Thread

[Nando]

All set for an absolute bore of a season. The advantage Mercedes has is beyond a joke.

It's bigger than the Schumi years and the sports following was seriously hit back then. With even the traditionally stable midtable teams really struggling financially, the continual upheaval of the regulations, the prick running the show who couldn't give a toss about the fans I can see dark times ahead for the sport.

Bring back 2005-2010 which was superb viewing.

 

[The Bear]

I'm fine with it as long as it's a decent battle between the two Mercs for the title. Ferrari coming good again is a bonus too.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Unfortunately I think Lewis completely did Nico last season mentally. Really don't see it being as close this year barring reliability issues.

 

[PuntsWolf]

I don't see why Mercedes have such a big advantage? Why can't someone at Ferrari make a decent car?

 

[Carrotdude]

I did wonder if there had been some kind of rule bending by Mercedes like the double diffuser thing of a couple of years ago but I haven't read anything to that effect.

Nando - have the rules/regs changed much this year compared to last? Thought it was much more stable so it's strange the gap has got bigger.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

I did wonder if there had been some kind of rule bending by Mercedes like the double diffuser thing of a couple of years ago but I haven't read anything to that effect.

Nando - have the rules/regs changed much this year compared to last? Thought it was much more stable so it's strange the gap has got bigger.

They had such a massive engine last year though that it's probably meant they could focus so much more of their time this winter on other aspects of the car whilst other teams have probably had to still pile loads of time and effort into getting the engine somewhere close to what Mercedes have that the rest of the car has suffered.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Mercedes knew about last year's rule changes and wrote off two seasons before to ensure they were easily the best new type engine. The other manufacturers just can't catch up the gap, and Mercedes engine customers don't get quite such a good unit as the works car.

 

[Carrotdude]

I still don't think the season will necessarily be boring, the fight between Williams, Ferrari and Red Bull should be entertaining and I'm intrigued to see what the hell Mclaren do now

 

[Law's Bus]

Like any season, there will be dull races. Didn't help that just 11 cars finished.

Probably would have been a bit more interesting if Bottas was fit, Kimi wasn't let down and Renault learnt how to improve an engine, rather than make it worse.

Or if it was possible to get Susie Wolff in the Williams starting from the pitlane. That would have at least been interesting to see.

No idea why I got up at 5am though...

 

[Carrotdude]

Obviously I think we'd all like the gap to be smaller between merc and the rest - even Rosberg said it'd be better if they weren't so dominant - but I can't help but laugh at red bull for now threatening to quit because mercedes are too good. They had a car completely better than everyone else's for 3/4 seasons in a row and with more questionable methods. Didn't see them complaining then!

 

[Kenny]

When Red Bull were dominating with Vettel, Horner was forever speaking to the media saying it was up to everyone else to find a way to catch up with them. Well, now its your turn Chrissy Boy.

Should probably direct their anger 100% at Renault. They gave them a poor engine last year and have gone away and come back with an even worse one this year.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

I remember their being talk this time last season that Red Bull had still made the best car out there, in terms of chassis and aero, and that with a bit of help on the engine side they'd soon be back amongst it but then it turned out the gulf between engines was far too much to overcome.

 

[Nando]

Their angst is more to do with the FIA continually banning their aero technology (double diffusers, flexi-wing etc) once all the others had failed to replicate them to the same extent, whilst now coming up with a system that pretty much ensures that the Mercs are going to be untouchable for the foreseeable future.

What we have now is that the fundamental determiner of outright performance is the engine. If your engine doesn't deliver it's game over. The McLaren's are so slow because the Honda's are absolutely miles away through the speed traps, even though their traction out of the corners looked encouraging. They were 17kph off the Merc engines at Melbourne where top speed isn't imperative. If they take that to China/Malaysia the deficit will be even more pronounced.

When you have one engine supplier with such an advantage and it's combined with the homologation and token process, there's very little that can be done to bridge the gap. It's akin to the FIA locking down team's ability to improve their aero packages after the final test when aero was the dominant factor.

The V8's all used to be pretty equal performance wise even if there were disparities in top speed and traction. The Merc's dominance is so great that they can put extra wing onto their cars to give them greater downforce levels and still top the speed traps. Fair play to them, they've done an unbelievable job, but it's going to be boring as hell for a long time if it continues.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I'd do away with restrictions on power units and allow unlimited testing, I don't see how either regulation is doing anything other than stymie development.

 

[Nando]

I'd say there's no chance of that as it stands. The smaller teams can barely finances themselves now with the burdens of these new engines. Force India have performed admirably for a good while now but could only get their new car to the final test because of cost restrictions.

Of course, there's process of thought that if you can't afford it, then get out. I think we'll lose all the smaller teams before too long and we'll be left with Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Renault and possibly Audi/VW and they'll all run a privateer, junior team ala Toro Rosso. I wouldn't be dead against that, but it would be a shame to see the demise of Sauber and Force India.

 

[Carrotdude]

Maybe they should come to some agreement where all teams use the same engine and then it's down to who uses it best/makes the best package for it. Probably wouldn't happen as it goes against the history of the sport.

 

[Law's Bus]

Funny how Red Bull didn't complain when tyres got changed to suit the half way through a season and was immediately followed by Red Bull winning by miles for the rest if the year.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I'd say there's no chance of that as it stands. The smaller teams can barely finances themselves now with the burdens of these new engines. Force India have performed admirably for a good while now but could only get their new car to the final test because of cost restrictions.

Of course, there's process of thought that if you can't afford it, then get out. I think we'll lose all the smaller teams before too long and we'll be left with Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Renault and possibly Audi/VW and they'll all run a privateer, junior team ala Toro Rosso. I wouldn't be dead against that, but it would be a shame to see the demise of Sauber and Force India.

Obviously everyone would be better off if hundreds of millions of pounds didn't bleed out of the sport every year to go into CVC's pockets for doing absolutely nothing.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

I'd say there's no chance of that as it stands. The smaller teams can barely finances themselves now with the burdens of these new engines. Force India have performed admirably for a good while now but could only get their new car to the final test because of cost restrictions.

Of course, there's process of thought that if you can't afford it, then get out. I think we'll lose all the smaller teams before too long and we'll be left with Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Renault and possibly Audi/VW and they'll all run a privateer, junior team ala Toro Rosso. I wouldn't be dead against that, but it would be a shame to see the demise of Sauber and Force India.

I hope you are wrong, but sadly I think the smaller teams are now finding it increasingly difficult to get their cars on the grid. It is a shame it has come to this, and I think F1 will be the worse for it if we are left with just an exclusive club.

 

[Kenny]

Sundays race of 15 drivers and no action shows the possible future. Although the Mercs dominated last season, the racing behind them was great to watch