The F1 Thread

[Nando]

Gasly in for Kvyat for "the next Grand Prixs".

 

[Carrotdude]

Probably all except Austin as that clashes with a race he has to do in Japan. Good audition for a seat next year, who's next in line for the other seat?

 

[jlo]

Nobuharu Matsushita is the name being banded about, a Honda supported driver. And guess who has Honda engines next year

Personally I hope Toro Rosso give a youngster with a bit more promise a chance. Fear they might be at the very back next year otherwise. Or if no-one else takes a punt on Kubica...

 

[Nando]

They'll be at the back regardless I imagine.

Galeal is another on the rumour mill, who has huge funding behind him too. Red Bull supposedly want them to meet their own costs, so a pay driver is likely to partner Gasly next year.

 

[Johnny75]

They'll be at the back regardless I imagine.

Galeal is another on the rumour mill, who has huge funding behind him too. Red Bull supposedly want them to meet their own costs, so a pay driver is likely to partner Gasly next year.

I guess this is why I can't get on with F1 in the modern era. Paying to drive takes elements of competition away from the sport and devalues it IMO.

 

[Law's Bus]

I guess this is why I can't get on with F1 in the modern era. Paying to drive takes elements of competition away from the sport and devalues it IMO.

'Twas always thus.

Niki Lauda, for example, paid for his first F1 drives through sponsorship.

 

[Carrotdude]

It'd be nice if the new engine regs make F1 more appealing to people who want to get involved and we get a couple of new teams, I feel like it's needed to give more chances to promising young drivers.

 

[The Bear]

Both Porsche and Aston Martin are interested if the engine regs suit them.

 

[Carrotdude]

Yeah that's the thing, I hope they do. Would be great to have more cars on the grid and if they could even it out a bit too. At the moment the gap is widening between the top and bottom teams which is a shame. I know there has always been a gap but 4/5 seconds a lap these days is too much

 

[Nando]

Aston don't even build engines for their road cars, so I struggle to see how they could start delivering competitive engines at this level.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

They won't be - they will be sponsorship partner to Red Bull, same as Infiniti were when Vettel was all conquering

 

[Tredman]

I think Infiniti / Nissan are part owned by Renault. The seems more like the current 'Tag Heuer' Engine they have.

 

[Nando]

They won't be - they will be sponsorship partner to Red Bull, same as Infiniti were when Vettel was all conquering

For now, yes. They've been pretty clear they'd be interested from 2021if the engine technology gets dumbed down somewhat, but it'd be a hell of a risk for anybody to tie up with them when they've got no track record whatsoever of engine development.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Vettel out in Q1.

He will start from the back of the grid.

 

[Freddeno]

..and Hamilton wins the championship

 

[AndyWolves]

Vettel lost his turbo

 

[Kenny]

..and Hamilton wins the championship

This was the track that ended his title chances last season - Leading the race, Rosberg down the field and about to take the lead on points and bang his engine went and with it his head for the next race in Japan. He now just needs to concentrate on beating Vettel for the next 5 races, doesn't have to win (that will be hard, as he always wants to race like in Singapore when they were telling him to control his pace and he did 2 or 3 fastest laps instead)

His Quali today was supreme. That Merc looked shit yesterday and Bottas has put it where it looked like it deserved and Lewis has dragged something extra out of it.

 

[AndyWolves]

About time vettel had some shitty luck

 

[Freddeno]

like the blown up tyre some races ago in the final laps

 

[Freddeno]

would be nice to see them compete both in the same team