The F1 Thread

[Carrotdude]

Honda are still an absolute joke, looks like another wasted season for Mclaren and Alonso.

 

[The Bear]

I'm guessing McLaren have been poring over the small print in their 10 year contract.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Can't understand how they're getting it so wrong in a third year. They do fine in sportscar racing too.

 

[Nando]

And that's another Honda engine gone. Laughable.

Ferrari are massively quick.

 

[Carrotdude]

Really interested to see how close they are in Australia. I seem to remember Ferrari being quick in testing last year too

 

[Nando]

This is beyond embarrassing now for Mclaren. Getting towards 2015 again.

 

[Johnny75]

This is beyond embarrassing now for Mclaren. Getting towards 2015 again.

Could they pull out?

 

[Nando]

God knows.

The whole thing is a mess. They have no title sponsorship and that isn't going to change with this sort of performance.

They made a big deal of their new deal with BP, but there's very limited exposure on the car compared to the new Renault, so you'd envisage that BP are primarily focused that way rather than at Woking. McLaren admitted they'd initially lose performance after Mobil ditched them for Red Bull too but given their pitiful lack of running (and no long runs at all), they've probably not even been able to assess that impact and provide feedback to BP for improvements.

Who's going to offer them an engine if Honda pull out? Ferrari wouldn't go near it given their road car competition, Mercedes would be doubtful after McLaren ditched them last time and I'm sure any deal with Renault would get vetoed by Red Bull.

McLaren don't build their own engines for their road cars either, so that's not an option.

A gargantuan mess.

 

[The Bear]

Comparison from last year.

You can see how much later Kimi could brake into turn 1. It's going to be harder to overtake this year.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Softer tyres will have helped a bit

 

[Nando]

Vomit.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

 

[Carrotdude]

At least it'll be easy to identify

 

[Tredman]

Job done for whichever ad exec came up with it, it's all over the intenet and BWT are much better known - I've worked in the water industry on and off for over 10 years and up till today had never even heard of them.

 

[Carrotdude]

The first Grand Prix of the season is one of my favourite weekends of the year, can't wait to see how they all measure up on Saturday.

 

[Nando]

Indeed.

Absolutely love Melbourne as a track too.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Hamilton has said that Ferrari are the team to watch out for this year. Is he correct, or just being a little mischievous?

 

[Kenny]

Hamilton has said that Ferrari are the team to watch out for this year. Is he correct, or just being a little mischievous?

To be honest he won't fully know until the race has finished on Sunday. They looked good in testing, so his view will very taken from what little data is out there for Mercedes to look at.

I think Hamilton would happily take a full on battle with Red Bull and Ferrari over the battle he had with Nico for 3 years.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

To be honest he won't fully know until the race has finished on Sunday. They looked good in testing, so his view will very taken from what little data is out there for Mercedes to look at.

I think Hamilton would happily take a full on battle with Red Bull and Ferrari over the battle he had with Nico for 3 years.

I know that some people do not like Ferrari, but personally I think it would be great to see them again competing at the front of the field.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I think the whole thing depends on the level to which Mercedes might have been sandbagging.

If they haven't then I think we could have an absolute belter of a battle