The F1 Thread

[Deutsch Wolf]

The Season hasn't been anything to shout about for a couple of reasons

1) Lewis has been pretty much issue free (can only think of the Pit stop call in Monaco and his DNF in Singapore) which has meant he has been able to show up Rosberg and outclass him
2) Teams behind the Mercs just haven't done a lot to recreate the Battle of the Rest, Red Bull went backwards, Williams seem to take a step forward then make calls that send them back 2 and the less said about NcLaren the better. Ferrari improved massively and sit 2nd with little to no challenge


There have still been moments throughout the season down in the back of the top 10 but if all you are interested in is the battle for 1st & 2nd place you will have been disappointed. But that has been like for years anyway. Before Lewis in the Merc it was Vettel for 4 years in the Red Bull and Schumacher in the Ferrari for a Million and One years.

Last 3 races are going to be interesting and I hope Vettel can take 2nd place and see how Nico reacts to that. In that car, finishing lower than 2nd in the Championship, after only a couple of DNF's, is an abject failure IMO.

Good points, I would also add that the season is hampered at the moment by the top two teams having substandard number two drivers relative to the standard of car. Nico is clearly not champion material and Kimi is well past it. So you're not getting a brilliant internal battle at Merc or Ferrari, you know before the weekend even starts that Lewis and Seb will nearly always come out on top, reliability permitting.

 

[Nando]

2010 was a cracking season. Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton, Webber and Button all won.

Vettel didn't lead the Championship until he crossed the line in Dubai.

2011 was awful.

2012 was eventful even if there wasn't much actual battling between Alonso and Vettel.

2013 was worse than anything in the Schumi years.

2014 was bang average.

2005 - 2009 was absolutely brilliant. Golden age of recent F1.

 

[Kenny]

Good points, I would also add that the season is hampered at the moment by the top two teams having substandard number two drivers relative to the standard of car. Nico is clearly not champion material and Kimi is well past it. So you're not getting a brilliant internal battle at Merc or Ferrari, you know before the weekend even starts that Lewis and Seb will nearly always come out on top, reliability permitting.

Last season masked the issue with Nico. Lewis had every issue possible leading up to the incident in Spa, so the Title going to the wire (stupid Double points clusterfuck) gave the impression he was closer to Lewis plus he was storming Qualifying.

This season, he has had 1 proper chance to lead the title race when Lewis had his bad day at Hungary but he managed to fuck that up by running into Danny R. Amazed Kimi got a new deal, apart from a few races he looks like he was just cruising the races. You won't really see a proper title challenger sat in the team as Seb though, as he will be Number 1, 2 & 3 driver.

Nico will be at Merc next season but if he loses out the same as this season he will be off to pastures new.

 

[Wombat del combate]

Amazed Kimi got a new deal.

The rally-style heft off the barriers yesterday was worth an extra year on its own IMO.

 

[Freddeno]

Would be interesting to see vettel and hamilton both with mercedes..more even battle

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

First practice in Mexico. Slightly damp track but at least they can get out and have a go for a few laps.

 

[Kenny]

First practice in Mexico. Slightly damp track but at least they can get out and have a go for a few laps.

No damp enough for Rosberg....his brakes are on fire

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Only the first practice, but credit to Verstappen, who was one of the few drivers to look comfortable on the track.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

He lost it a few times to be fair Frank.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

You are probably right Paddy. I just felt that Verstappen was prepared to push that little bit harder, and despite a couple of nervy moments I thought he looked pretty good.

 

[Kenny]

You are probably right Paddy. I just felt that Verstappen was prepared to push that little bit harder, and despite a couple of nervy moments I thought he looked pretty good.

Pushed it too much in P2 and had a fight with a wall. The wall won

 

[Kenny]

Sherlock Pirelli

"Grip levels are quite low. We deduce this from our data and the number of cars in the wall"

 

[Kenny]

Mercs & Red Bull really struggling with brakes over heating due to the high altitude...so they are both hacking bits of their cars off to increase the air flow over them

 

[Johnny75]

Should we take the same approach with Grant Holt?

 

[Kenny]

Should we take the same approach with Grant Holt?

Hack 3 months off his loan deal?

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Rosberg's day today. Hamilton not impressed with being called in by the team for tyres.

 

[Kenny]

Rosberg's day today. Hamilton not impressed with being called in by the team for tyres.

Bit like a relegated team pulling off a win against a Top 6 team...

On the tyres, until the Safety Car I agree with Lewis asking the questions about why (and the team lied to him over radio anyway). He would have been screwed for 15 laps though with Nico right on him with better tyres, so in hindsight Mercs called it right.

Not a great race really but what a brilliant atmosphere. The Baseball Ground part of the circuit is a stunning idea.

 

[Nando]

Red Bull will have re-branded Renault engines next season.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

They've rebadged it, you fool.

 

[Kenny]

Red Bull will have re-branded Renault engines next season.

Brilliant stuff "Your engines are shit, we are off. Mercedes give us your best engine NOW...what do you mean no! right, Ferrari engine now....bugger no again. Well we are not putting up with this shit and we will quit...whats that you say...a Renault engine without your badge on it? Ace, bring on the new season"