F1 2018

[TJ]

Another year, another season of the best sport in the world.

[SimonR32]

Booked my tickets to Japan GP and dragging the missus along, anyone else thinking of going?

[crabman]

Was keen to get to Baku and Suzuka rounds. Baku clashes with a trip already booked to Europe and Suzuka with work. I am off for Singapore though so will probably look into that.

[TJ]

Booked my tickets to Japan GP and dragging the missus along, anyone else thinking of going?

Yup Mrs and I have discussed going this year.

[BLACK HULK]

Tickets all sorted for Monaco for me this year

[TJ]

Cant embed but season review

Part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdJ99METvCU

Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJwBz1rRS_U

[crabman]

Does Suzuka have a big 'camp out at the track crowd in motorhomes' like Motegi does for the MotoGP?

[anton]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/01/14/formula-one-post-it-note-maker-3m-clash-logo-redesign/

ahhhh didnt take long for 3M to realize they can make some money out of this

[TJ]

Neither F1 or 3M are shy of a penny to sort it

[TJ]

Kubca doesn't get the seat :(

[ALEX.]

Yeah saw that. At least he's got reserve duties so he might get a run when Stroll crashes in a FP session and can't race :)

[fourseven]

http://i.imgur.com/M8Ruwhr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/aqFcG6h.jpg


"Fashion"

[TJ]

As for real F1 news

https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/01/30/former-australian-gp-boss-ron-walker-dies/

Ron was instrumental in making Melbourne one of the best races going.

[ossie_21]

Grid girls no longer a part of F1. Big thanks to the PC snowflakes that have caused this sort of thing to happen. They claim it objectifies women, yet now there’s going to be a very limited presence of females in the sport

[TJ]

How will those women make a living now?

[dmanvan]

http://i.imgur.com/M8Ruwhr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/aqFcG6h.jpg


"Fashion"


their number one driver put the grid girls out of a job....... when he walks down the grid 'he is the candy' .................................................. .....:D ... :D

[dmanvan]

had to happen sooner or later........ at least apart from the tail end of the season times in WA are still palatable.....

https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/02/02/aussie-formula-1-fans-set-late-nights/

...

[TJ]

9.10pm for most races - can live with that.

[TJ]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DU-L2m5WAAUVc6l.jpg:large

5 years at Merc has been hard on the man!

[dmanvan]

lol how.... tired is he going to be now with all the later starts................ :D .... F1 just went daylight saving

[TJ]

Today's random stat

Here are the oldest driver in a season:



1950 Etancelin Philipe 53
1951 Etancelin Philipe 54
1952 Etancelin Philipe 55
1953 Legat Arthur 54
1954 Rosier Louis 48
1955 Chiron Louis 55
1956 Rosier Louis 50
1957 Fangio Juan-Manuel 46
1958 Fangio Juan-Manuel 47
1959 Fairman Jack 46
1960 Fairman Jack 47
1961 Fairman Jack 48
1962 Trintignant Maurice 44
1963 Trintignant Maurice 45
1964 Barth Edgar 46
1965 Raby Ian 44
1966 Brabham Jack 40
1967 Pease Al 45
1968 Love John 43
1969 Pease Al 47
1970 Love, John 45
1971 Love, John 46
1972 Love, John 47
1973 Graham Hill 44
1974 Graham Hill 45
1975 Graham Hill 46
1976 Brambilla, Vittorio 38
1977 Brambilla, Vittorio 39
1978 Brambilla, Vittorio 40
1979 Brambilla, Vittorio 41
1980 Brambilla, Vittorio 42
1981 Andretti, Mario 41
1982 Andretti, Mario 42
1983 Laffite, Jacques 39
1984 Laffite, Jacques 40
1985 Laffite, Jacques 41
1986 Laffite, Jacques 42
1987 Arnoux, René 39
1988 Arnoux, René 40
1989 Arnoux, René 41
1990 Piquet, Nelson 38
1991 Piquet, Nelson 39
1992 Mansell, Nigel 39
1993 Patrese, Riccardo 39
1994 Mansell, Nigel 41
1995 Mansell, Nigel 41
1996 Lavaggi, Giovanni 38
1997 Berger, Gerhard 38
1998 Hill, Damon 38
1999 Hill, Damon 39
2000 Alesi, Jean 36
2001 Alesi, Jean 37
2002 Irvine, Eddie 36
2003 Panis, Oliver 37
2004 Panis, Oliver 38
2005 Schumacher, Michael 36
2006 Schumacher, Michael 37
2007 Coulthard, David 36
2008 Coulthard, David 37
2009 Badoer, Luca 38
2010 Schumacher, Michael 41
2011 Schumacher, Michael 42
2012 Schumacher, Michael 43
2013 Webber, Mark 37
2014 Kimi Räikkönen 35
2015 Kimi Räikkönen 36
2016 Kimi Räikkönen 37
2017 Kimi Räikkönen 38
2018 Kimi Räikkönen 39

[dmanvan]

F1's latest cost cutting measure replace paid grid girls with child labour free grid kids....... no images post race available for sale by photographers anymore (unless on darknet)...

lewis et al will all be lining up to get one of these....

http://assets.justice.vic.gov.au/wwcc/resources/d238b03f-b2c6-45f6-baad-7b8d38bb9e28/wwc+card+-+dec+2016.jpg

---- what the heck !!!!

[crabman]

Just booked my accommodation for Singapore. Already pumped for Jumbo chilli crab and buckets of Tiger.

[Brockas]

Today's random stat

Here are the oldest driver in a season:
Trend isn't really surprising considering the cars are getting so much faster and require much quicker reflexes.

[crabman]

Does anyone know the method of booking Sing GP seats where you get to select the seats? I am thinking calling up the Sing based ticketing agent is the only way. Want to grab Connaught Grandstand seats but all the way over to one side if possible for views of turn 8 as well (I hear that's a thing).

[mr_rotary]

2018 Williams F1 launch - FW41

http://www.williamsf1.com/racing/news/2018/02/williams-martini-racing-launches-2018-season


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRBylo7xtZY

[TJ]

Looks decent
Really hope it performs.

[kris]

Williams looks the part!
How good would it be to see a team like this taste a world championship once again. Seems impossible these days.

[Gleeso]

New RBR testing livery looks good!

[Kaido]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWYsTfGX0AALYgt.jpg:large

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWYvu4PX4AAQxOR.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWYvjuFWAAAhHyI.jpg

[Damo 69]

Spa & Monaco line up for work roster, game on

[TJ]

The red Bull looks fantastic

[dmanvan]

The red Bull looks fantastic +1... they even implemented that chicken thing (wishbone) into it really well :D

[Kaido]

https://f1tcdn.net/gallery/var/resizes/2018/alfa-romeo-sauber-c37-launch/c37-008.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWec5I6WsAEAMHr?format=jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWedeeUWkAE2eyX?format=jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWefjKdXUAAFh28?format=jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWeeU85X4AESaX3?format=jpg

[Gleeso]

Has anyone previously subscribed to the GrandPrix+ E magazine? If so, was it worth the coin?
Joes blog can be quite good, so im assuming the same for the magazine.

[TJ]

https://d24ftq11lp1zg6.cloudfront.net/hrs.php/dir/Renault2018f1carreveal/image/00af8fcbe358a40a91794e796ef67c16-4

yellloooooow

[MadDocker]

Fuck the halo. Some of these liveries looks awesome but that piece of shit hanging over the cockpit really looks shithouse.

[djr81]

https://d24ftq11lp1zg6.cloudfront.net/hrs.php/dir/Renault2018f1carreveal/image/00af8fcbe358a40a91794e796ef67c16-4

yellloooooow

Yellow just from front on. Black in side profile. Should be all yellow. It's a yellow teapot after all.

[mr_rotary]

Ferrari 2018 - SF-71H

https://d24ftq11lp1zg6.cloudfront.net/hrs.php/dir/ferrarisf71h/image/12963bd0b6a1f9f8b2440efa649eaa2a-4

https://d24ftq11lp1zg6.cloudfront.net/hrs.php/dir/ferrarisf71h/image/4f0f246968ecfa01d1e17040ea94b781-4

https://d24ftq11lp1zg6.cloudfront.net/hrs.php/dir/ferrarisf71h/image/6e174be2c7813b553187c152cfd54c05-4

https://d24ftq11lp1zg6.cloudfront.net/hrs.php/dir/ferrarisf71h/image/c774d5e9ca70e6ad53188dfcf84a074d-4

[mr_rotary]

Mercedes W09 at Silverstone ahead of the official launch

https://d24ftq11lp1zg6.cloudfront.net/hrs.php/dir/mercedes2018launch/image/l_928e5e20a20f1f31a8a6fedcedf1ac31-4

https://d24ftq11lp1zg6.cloudfront.net/hrs.php/dir/mercedes2018launch/image/dad15d14a0351591eaf613822f988cd5-4

https://d24ftq11lp1zg6.cloudfront.net/hrs.php/dir/mercedes2018launch/image/l_cde82a306909182f4d8114366d36f04d-4

https://d24ftq11lp1zg6.cloudfront.net/hrs.php/dir/mercedes2018launch/image/l_d121ca845bf88a0fa8b509c5be701b5b-4

[Gleeso]

A few mixed opinions with McLaren livery, but I love it

https://1036981-static-assets-f1-production.s3.amazonaws.com/media/images/galleries/MCL33_Website1.jpg

https://1036981-static-assets-f1-production.s3.amazonaws.com/media/images/galleries/MCL33_Website3.jpg

[anton]

https://i.imgur.com/5sBhv6C.jpg

Mmmm
m

[ALEX.]

LOL @ halo being photoshopped out. Car looks fking great without it.

[TJ]

Funnily the only livery that I don't get excited over is the Merc one.

[TJ]

https://www.racefans.net/2018/02/23/fia-tweaks-rules-to-make-engine-customers-more-competitive/

very good.

[TJ]

Ouch Dan... Ouch.

http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/629560/For_me_Max_Verstappen_is_a_champion__Christian_Hor ner/



Red Bull should be able to take on Mercedes and Ferrari for the 2018 title.

That is the view of team boss Christian Horner, after his colleague Dr Helmut Marko this week played down Red Bull’s championship chances.

But as the temporary-liveried RB14 was revealed and shaken down on Monday, Horner said: “If we’ve learned the lessons of last year, and if reliability improves, then I see no reason why we shouldn’t be on par.”

Marko said this week that Red Bull’s great strength is its drivers, with Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo very closely matched.

Horner said a championship for Dutchman Verstappen is “only a matter of time”.

“Sebastian Vettel won four titles for us before he was 30. Lewis did his four and is only 32. For me, Max is a champion.

“You can see which drivers are outstanding and Max is certainly one of them,” Horner is quoted by Speed Week.

Alongside Mercedes and Ferrari, Red Bull will have another benchmark in 2018 after McLaren switched to use the same customer Renault engines.

Horner said: “McLaren is a great team and we look forward to racing against them.

“But we made great progress especially in the second half of last season and we hope to take that momentum into 2018.

“The rules are more or less the same, so there are many lessons we can draw from 2017 with the development of our new car.”

[TJ]

First car with an issue in 2018 testing.. McLaren

[anton]

https://www.facebook.com/Formula1/videos/989223791234603/

looks like something broke

[forde]

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/2/formula-1-to-launch-f1-tv-a-live-grand-prix-subscription-service.html

[MadDocker]

Foxtel can eat a fucking dick if I can get that.

[TJ]

Need something similar for V8's and yeah I am out

[dmanvan]

Need something similar for V8's and yeah I am out TJ I have been using the V8's one for years (US PO box address / vpn ) thanks for coming.....

will be doing the same with F1 one, although have to check countries avail for and relevant vpn etc....:D

[anton]

https://i.imgur.com/YJSNSNu.jpg

those arms

[TJ]

Sans halo, there is a lot of good looking cars this year

[anton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VilTdKZLpV0

[anton]

https://i.redd.it/1xnxbidblgj01.png

blown rear wing

[TJ]

http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/22651437/women-focus-easier-formula-e-f1-says-carmen-jorda

EL OH EL

She is on the women's body for the FIA LOL

[kris]

Ricciardo breaks the lap record on Hyper soft tyres with 1:18.047. Ham behind on Ultra softs 1:18.400,

With the ability to build on such a good platform season after season, I wonder how much performance Merc leave in the bank during testing.

https://scontent.fper3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/28870767_995787377244911_8630036178371827138_n.jpg ?oh=6b668199ff7cb3ff61f8c25023d2e23f&oe=5B39EC77

[TJ]

They all leave performance in the bank.

[kris]

I dunno, I think some of the teams will want to test at 100% so they can find the cracks appearing with reliability. Not all the time, but I could see them pumping out a qualifying run here and there to put the car under maximum stress.

[TJ]

Anyone else see the tremendous smoke show coming from the ferrari garage whenever they started their car, and noted all the Ferrari cars on track were pouring out breather smoke. Interesting with the whole oil burn saga from last year

[mr_rotary]

If anyone is going to the Melbourne Grand Prix round - Entertainment Card holders get 15% off tickets

[TJ]

https://scontent.fotp3-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/29136068_1744050662328637_2899104423743586304_o.jp g?oh=21c5022d2ec5274e83c60e2e7f85e8e1&oe=5B440390

[TJ]

Open in new tab to see some higher res rear ends - pretty much everyone doing something a little different.

[Kaido]

Anyone else see the tremendous smoke show coming from the ferrari garage whenever they started their car, and noted all the Ferrari cars on track were pouring out breather smoke. Interesting with the whole oil burn saga from last year

placement of the oil breather tank hose in the rear crash structure (under the rain light)

http://www.f1supernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/f1-barcelona-february-testing-2018-ferrari-sf71h-rear-1-678x381.jpg

[TJ]

Yeah I know that, but why are they burning so much oil.

[TJ]

There are no gentlemen in F1. Never have been. That’s what makes it so raw and engaging and why I dislike the current snowflake attitude of some towards F1. It’s about delivery and excellence, win or lose, dog eat dog. Deliver or move over. Fastest, fearless, gifted and great

Martin Brundle - Perfect!

[TJ]

Happy 58th birthday, Mr Senna.

F1 week!

[TJ]

https://imgr3.auto-motor-und-sport.de/Mercedes-GP-Australien-2018-Melbourne-Albert-Park-Donnerstag-22-3-2018-fotoshowBig-fdc2fa3f-1154503.jpg

That exhaust manifold!

[crabman]

That exhaust manifold!

Seen better on instagram


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tziQnjV31Kg

It's a shame they didn't get to do this after the gates had opened so people could see it. Sometimes don't understand demo's being kept under wraps away from the eyes of fans...

[TJ]

Would have struggled to get track time approved with the tight weekend schedule

[Evilteddy]

Would have struggled to get track time approved with the tight weekend schedule

Yet had to stop workers finishing fencing/barrier installs (which would have pushed their schedules out) to run the demo rather than just do it first thing Friday morning.

[TJ]

Yup I don't disagree but that was the logic I'd assume.

Merc looks scarily goooooooooooooooood on long runs in Fp2.

[TJ]

New graphics are good

[anton]

https://i.redd.it/mzjli45bojn01.png

so a new podcast and Ricciardo is the first one in the pink this season.

[TJ]

Big hit for Bottas

[TJ]

Wow.

[anton]

party mode indeed


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfZ94OPcUv4

[djr81]

That was pretty funny. Kimi just sitting there saying fk all. Gold.

[Gleeso]

That was pretty funny. Kimi just sitting there saying fk all. Gold.

There was a minute smirk from Kimi at the end

[munt]

Lewis: "im goin for it"

CH10: "QUICK THROW TO THE LONGEST AD BREAK WE HAVE"

[HANS YOLO]

Lewis: "im goin for it"

CH10: "QUICK THROW TO THE LONGEST AD BREAK WE HAVE"

fucking retarded to go to ad break with that few laps left

[SimonR32]

Lewis: "im goin for it"

CH10: "QUICK THROW TO THE LONGEST AD BREAK WE HAVE"

It was great, "I'm goin for it", nek minnit he falls off the track

[anton]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgvnOLYhO8T/?taken-by=f1

LOL

[djr81]

Did not realise this for RedBull:

"Taking the positives out of the weekend, it’s the first time in the hybrid era we have got two cars to the finish."

[TJ]

Did not realise this for RedBull:

"Taking the positives out of the weekend, it’s the first time in the hybrid era we have got two cars to the finish."

In Australia surely? Last two years they had a car not even start!

[kris]

Did not realise this for RedBull:

"Taking the positives out of the weekend, it’s the first time in the hybrid era we have got two cars to the finish."

2017 had both drivers finish 7 races http://grandprixrankings.com/compare/2017-f1/ricciardo-versus-verstappen/

[kris]

In Australia surely? Last two years they had a car not even start!

2014 Aus GP - SEB:dnf & RIC:dqf
2015 Aus GP - RIC:6th & KYV:dnf
2016 Aus GP - RIC:4th & KYV:dnf
2017 Aus GP - VER:5th & RIC:dnf

Yep, first time in Aus during hybrid era!. Never realised.

[TJ]

Fernando Alonso‏Verified account @alo_oficial 5h5 hours ago


To my dear fans. Thanks for your loyal support, through the good times and bad.

to show my appreciation. A free subscription to @Motorsport PRIME- all the best F1 videos, news and pictures, for free. Use the code ALONSO2018 https://www.motorsport.com/prime/promo/?code=ALONSO2018 …

[anton]

so 2021 meeting was today apparently F1 is saying accept the changes or leave approach. (budget cap of 150M restructring of payments to make it more fair and scrapping the MGU-H etc)
and heres the thing even if ferrari and mercedes do leave noone will really want to go with them redbull/mclaren etc will have less competition meaning they get the enjoy the f1 dominance etc

https://gfycat.com/VagueDapperCassowary

FLAMES

[TJ]

Intent of the 2021 stuff is great.

Implementation is the key

[Gleeso]

MAG with the sack-tap

https://gfycat.com/NervousInfiniteArcticseal

[djr81]

Can't quite believe just how shit the Williams have been in practice.

[beatle]

So not having a pc or laptop, what options is there for watching F1 live this year?
Have smart phone, smart tv, fetch and Xbox360. Is Foxtel now my only option without having to fork out for full blown Foxtel? Apparently the 2 week free trial on Foxtel now can be paused? So can watch the race, pause it til the next...

[Bomber]

Oh man, that broken leg of the Ferrari mechanic... owwwwww. And Iceman just Icemans it after 😐

[TJ]

So not having a pc or laptop, what options is there for watching F1 live this year?
Have smart phone, smart tv, fetch and Xbox360. Is Foxtel now my only option without having to fork out for full blown Foxtel? Apparently the 2 week free trial on Foxtel now can be paused? So can watch the race, pause it til the next...

Find someone with a spare foxtel go login or offer someone $10 a month to use theirs or something.

[TJ]

Both RBR failures seem to be non engine related either so Horner can't his anti renault drum.

Great race in the end. Feel for Kimi - being used as a pawn to help Vettel like usual and it fucks his race.

Can't help but think there would of been a number of others who would have thrown that Merc down the inside into T1....

And over the moon for TR.

[ALEX.]

^ Dan would've dived for sure... and probably the best in the field at pulling it off. I don't think the results from BOT in that chase look good – and he looks like he knows he should've at least had a better try somewhere or been even closer at the end.

Great to see GAS in 5th – of him personally and TR.

[TJ]

4th* :p

[siamak]

Lewis: "im goin for it"

CH10: "QUICK THROW TO THE LONGEST AD BREAK WE HAVE"

Try ace stream. Was streaming sky sports live flawlessly with no ad breaks.

[Wrexter]

i've also been using Ace stream

Download Aceplayer, stream links can be found if you search f1 streams on reddit.

Just got 44Mbs NBN so going to see how it handles streaming 1080 F1 streams this weekend.

[TJ]

Back to back weekends!

[munt]

I ended up re subbing for foxtel now as i watch alot of afl aswell.

[TJ]

https://twitter.com/SkySportsF1/status/984331891028312064

lol @ making Max look full tard

[kris]

https://twitter.com/SkySportsF1/status/984331891028312064

lol @ making Max look full tard

link didn't work TJ. taken down maybe?

[Gleeso]

Solid effort by the boys in red, I was truely hoping RAI could hold provisional pole but VET's form wasn't amiss.

Looking forward to the race!

[Gleeso]

Solid amount of sparks from Ricky-Bobby's first and only attempt in Q1:

https://gfycat.com/FatWelcomeIberianmidwifetoad

[Adr3naL1N]

crashtappen at it again, 3 races in a row now.

Could learn a thing or two from our danny boy.

[Bomber]

crashtappen at it again, 3 races in a row now.

Could learn a thing or two from our danny boy.

Wonder if Vettel will call him a dickhead now?? Haha

[Bomber]

Shoeyyyy incoming

[Adr3naL1N]

YES YES YES!! DANNY RIC!!!!!! AMAZING!!!

[MMM]

Nothing ruins a moment in sport more than playing a national anthem.

[dmanvan]

Shoeyyyy incoming

https://images.perthnow.com.au/publication/2F7083825E8A3F5DE180C1AE6691966B/1523781351150_413af2b7594883a1d98ba842d96ad8bd.jpe g?imwidth=668&impolicy=pn_v1

[TJ]

What a great race.

The way Ferrari treat Kimi is abhorrent.

[anton]

What a great race.

The way Ferrari treat Kimi is abhorrent.

Id love to see kimi just park the car and go eat an icecream at least once more before he retires

[Sebdullah]

Was definitely a good race, strong echoes of Baku & Dan dominating on re-start from last year

[djr81]

What a great race.

The way Ferrari treat Kimi is abhorrent.

I will confess to not being upset when Max ran into Vettel, seeing how Kimi gained from it after Ferrari had screwed his race on the off chance it would help Vettel.

[Missile]

I am a Dan fan but this is one for the ages. From nearly not qualifying through to the race win. It will be talked about for years to come.
It was funny to hear the language of the (Sky) commentary team with regard to Max. They were clearly frustrated with his late race performance. With a level head Max should have easily got the win.
Ferrari completely cooked this weekend. From the strongest car/setup to poor tactics and strategy.

[Gleeso]

https://i.imgur.com/zwlgBNX.jpg

[crabman]

I don't get it.... Wait, Reddit informed me. Flogging dead horse spec meme.

[Gleeso]

Yes

[TJ]

Was going to suggest the motogp crowd saying well done to Baku for not fucking the track by grinding it haha

[Gleeso]

The McLaren P1 is a fucking cool car, I also never realised how funny Mika is.

The dude is always taking-the-piss but in a hilarious manner.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/40oSH-ABYow" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[djr81]

Is it just me or is Mika Hakkinen starting to look a lot like Kevin Rudd?

[anton]

https://streamable.com/8z0gh

man

[Adr3naL1N]

max max max. tsk tsk tsk.

[ALEX.]

Man. Baku... earning itself a reputation as one of the great races of the calendar. That one had it all!

Gutted for BOT after he earned his position in first and then had it taken away through something that was nobody's fault.

Gutted for RIC after some solid racing.
Two moves from VER as usual...

[TJ]

What.

A.

Race.

Insanity at the start, and the finish.

Poor Bottas. Drive a fantastic race. The tyres again are just fucking insane - going most of the race on SS, which were easily faster than the new softs which simply couldn't warm up.

Max will never learn. I can imagine how hard Red Bull came down on them both for them to come out with the media answers they did.

[waxdass]

I think that firstly, Max isn't aloud to move left to right like that defensively.
Secondly, Dan was going in waaaayy too hot - no way he could have made that turn without T-Boning Max (if he gave him space) - Max would not have hindered, resulting in a crash anyway.

crazy race. Since Melb - it has literally just been getting better and better and better...

[TJ]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Db9cPYrX4AE4yRQ.jpg

Gutted.

[Gleeso]

I think that firstly, Max isn't aloud to move left to right like that defensively.
Secondly, Dan was going in waaaayy too hot - no way he could have made that turn without T-Boning Max

If Max hadn't gone to cut him off a second time, RIC would have had clear air, the aerodynamics would have kicked back in and the move would have been made.

RBR should have released Dan to try stick moves up the field, had Dan not been able to progress, simply switch back.

[kris]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Db9cPYrX4AE4yRQ.jpg

Gutted.

Faaarrrrkkkk... Right in the feels.

[TJ]

Even better.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Db9bEMEX4AAmt0O.jpg:large

[dmanvan]

Dan tops his partner in the race... then gets a bit of receiver action from F1........................................

https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/05/01/formula-1-trademarks-shoey/

https://media3.speedcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/AP-1VC8TENYD1W11_hires_jpeg_24bit_rgb_news-800x521.jpg

[Greg Rust]

Shoeys have been part of Hash House Harrier running clubs since the 70’s. Get new shoes. Drink a beer from them.

[Kaido]

First images of proposed Miami Formula 1 circuit layout revealed

https://d2d0b2rxqzh1q5.cloudfront.net/sv/1.67/dir/4a6/image/4a601712186664b9075f40377ff68483.jpg

[djr81]

Looks like a formula E layout.

[anton]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dc2Wpz0W4AUg5Ap.jpg
WHOA

[TJ]

And Ferrari mounting mirrors off the halo.. hideous.

[Missile]

And Ferrari mounting mirrors off the halo.. hideous.

agree

https://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/latest/technical/2018/5/tech-insight--ferrari-to-trial-radical-halo-mounted-mirrors-in-s/_jcr_content/featureContent/manual_gallery/image2.img.1920.medium.jpg/1525953412250.jpg

https://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/latest/technical/2018/5/tech-insight--ferrari-to-trial-radical-halo-mounted-mirrors-in-s/_jcr_content/featureContent/manual_gallery/image1.img.1920.medium.jpg/1525950062564.jpg

https://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/latest/technical/2018/5/tech-insight--ferrari-to-trial-radical-halo-mounted-mirrors-in-s/_jcr_content/featureContent/manual_gallery/image3.img.1920.medium.jpg/1525962483725.jpg

[ALEX.]

F1 TV launch: $4.50/month or $37.80/year (works out to about $1.80 per race).

Appears that in Oz we may not have access to F1 TV PRO, which is the option that has the races live.
So essentially we pay to watch an 'archived' race result god knows how many days (or weeks) after the actual race? Grrrrr.

[TJ]

Any country with a pay tv deal doesn't get pro.

Just use a VPN.

[djr81]

Kubica to run FP1 for Williams in Spain. Also their chief designer, Ed Wood, just quit. Personal reasons...

Wonder whose upgrades will actually work.

[dmanvan]

this link lists countries and what acces they get... https://f1tv.formula1.com/en/content-schedule

I'll use my US address if needed and vpn, currently showing i have access to buy pro... see if payment goes through and accepted...... :o Now....


just have to make sure i remember to reset vpn and logon like i do with v8's ...

[Wrexter]

this link lists countries and what acces they get... https://f1tv.formula1.com/en/content-schedule

I'll use my US address if needed and vpn, currently showing i have access to buy pro... see if payment goes through and accepted...... :o Now....


just have to make sure i remember to reset vpn and logon like i do with v8's ...

Keen to see how you go.

Anyways to stream to the Tv to watch? (besides using a laptop).

[TJ]

Surely casting off your phone?

[Kaido]

Any country with a pay tv deal doesn't get pro.

Just use a VPN.

Be careful using VPN, the policy states if they catch you using VPN they ban your account and do not give you any refund. Apparently alot of the main VPN won't work

[Kaido]

F1 TV launch: $4.50/month or $37.80/year (works out to about $1.80 per race).

Appears that in Oz we may not have access to F1 TV PRO, which is the option that has the races live.
So essentially we pay to watch an 'archived' race result god knows how many days (or weeks) after the actual race? Grrrrr.

I think we will get it in 2020 when the foxtel deal ends

[Sensible]

And Ferrari mounting mirrors off the halo.. hideous.

Didn’t know that the Halo could get any uglier

Thankfully the FIA have said no more and it is gone for Monaco

[TJ]

Typical boring as shit Barca race.

Grojean with another fuck up - after Baku I am sure he is flavour of the month.

[waxdass]

They need to ban racing at tracks where they test all off season at (barca).

[TJ]

Testing or not, track has been impossible to pass on for the most.

[dmanvan]

http://syriamsa.com/english/motor-racing-mercedes-find-bug-that-robbed-hamilton-of-victory/



lol... this gets better... the worldwide conspiro

[fourseven]

https://i.imgur.com/JOpmSiP.jpg

[TJ]

From autosport plus

During the Honda years, everyone at McLaren seemed to believe that all of its problems were down to the engine and that once it had changed to Renault things would be different.

But it was clear from 2015-17 that there were also problems on the chassis side, and now the engine change has been made it's become very obvious some shortcomings remain.

Some asked why I was so critical of McLaren during the Honda period, and those clear shortcomings were the reason - after all, it's a team I worked for during my career so I want to see it perform as it should.

The car is a better package than it was, but again McLaren has its problems and is still not as quick as it should be on the straights.

You have to ask if it is making a mistake in not balancing up the demands of the chassis with that of the engine.

This raises some questions about the decision making and the objectives set technically, because there is nowhere to hide when running the same engine package as Red Bull and the Renault works team. And it is clear that the start of this season has led McLaren to take a long, hard look at itself.

Zak Brown, who recently became the F1 team's CEO, talks about the need for accountability in the technical department. Sorting this can't fail to improve its development path, and if there wasn't already accountability in all departments then the company is not very well-run.



McLaren has long since believed that a 'flat' structure, with Tim Goss (recently departed as part of a restructure), Peter Prodromou and Matt Morris at the top, is better than a pyramid structure. But that will never work.

You do need someone to steer the ship, to be accountable and to ensure all the resources - both financial and people - are used to the maximum. And they need to be strong enough to make the decisions that ensure the company has that direction. More importantly, they need to be strong enough to hold up their hands if they are going in the wrong direction and the development path needs to be altered.

It's positive that McLaren seems to be moving in this direction, even if it has taken too long. But getting a new structure in place is no easy task. There are few people out there with the vision, the skills and the experience to qualify as a technical director or a chief technical officer.

Yes, there are new people coming up who might be able to do that, but McLaren cannot afford to take a risk on an unknown in the situation it is in.

If there wasn't already accountability in all departments then the company is not very well-run
This means it could take a while to get the right person in, which is a problem given McLaren still wants to close on the frontrunners even while going through this.

Another thing that is holding back McLaren is that its equipment is not quite as state of the art as it was a decade ago.

The McLaren Technology Centre was built around its windtunnnel, which is now a bit outdated. That's why McLaren uses the Toyota Motorsport windtunnel in Germany.

The current F1 cars have very high levels of downforce, and with the outwash front wing endplates it's vital that the windtunnel's internal cross section is big enough not to influence the airflow. Trying to make small developments of these components that are trying to influence the airflow outside of the tyres will be impossible if the windtunnel isn't right in this aspect.



The driver-in-the-loop simulator is good, but it's just not as cutting edge as some of its rivals even though McLaren was once the pioneer in this area. These things can lead you down the wrong path very easily.

McLaren is fortunate in that it has some very wealthy shareholders, but they didn't get rich by not knowing how to look after their cash. Their pockets are only so deep, so business plans must be in place to show there is a road to recovery, otherwise enthusiasm may just diminish - especially given the financial implications of the split with Honda and taking on Renault engines.

With a major change in the technical regulations due for 2021, perhaps it does make sense for McLaren to prioritise investing time into getting its structure in place in preparation for that challenge. Given the aerodynamic rules are being modified a little next year in an attempt to improve overtaking, the team of people researching that change needs to be in place very soon.

But you don't create and hone a new car out of a block of modelling foam, you start from a concept and that concept needs to have the development potential built into it and the confidence that research time will bring rewards in terms of lap time.

McLaren is not the ground-breaking, standard-setting team it once was. It has to be considered just another team and it has no God-given right to success. You have to work on it, and take a few punches on the chin. But most teams go through this kind of challenge at one time or another and it's how you handle those blows that makes the difference. Every punch cannot force you to change how you work, or else you will never get up there.



Change for change's sake is not positive. It's like a dam with a hole in it - you don't knock it down completely and start again because your new one will probably have a hole somewhere else. So it's about plugging the holes until you fix the leak, that way you will move forward.

It's positive that McLaren has realised there were weaknesses beyond Honda and that it is addressing them. What matters now is that the decisions made on the technical structure are the right ones. If they are, then McLaren can start making progress towards the front again. If not, it could end up going round in circles.

The problem started earlier than the Honda years, and a look back to the years since McLaren's last championship success with Lewis Hamilton in 2008 tracks that decline.

McLaren has shown over the years it is not very good with new, up and coming drivers. It's not a team to go to to learn your trade
Below, I've taken the team's constructors' championship position and, to compensate for the fact the points system changed, presented points scored as a percentage of the maximum. So, if McLaren had finished one-two in every race, that would be a 100% points score.

In 1988, McLaren won 15 out of 16 races, with a points return of 78%. A decade later, in 1998, it won nine out of 16 races with a points return of 61%. That shows how dominant the team was at times during the Ron Dennis era. But during those two particular seasons, it had great individual technical leadership in Gordon Murray and then Adrian Newey. The stats for the last decade are very different.

2008
2nd in constructors' championship
Points: 47%

This was not a bad season, with Hamilton winning the drivers' championship (just) and McLaren second in the constructors' championship. The team was very driven at this point and didn't hang around on making decisions, such as replacing Fernando Alonso - who should have been its championship shot in 2007 had new boy Hamilton not turned up and shocked them all.



2009
3rd in constructors' championship
Points: 23%

McLaren missed the boat with the comprehensive aerodynamic rule change of 2009. Yes, the double diffuser introduced by Brawn, Williams and Toyota at the start of the season compounded its problems, but there were lots of other details McLaren missed. This showed that even then there wasn't anyone forward-thinking enough in the technical department.

During this period, McLaren earned the handle of being one of the best teams at in-season development. That's a positive, but it is all relative to the start point. If it is near the front of the field, then that development will take you right into the mix. If not, no matter how good you are at improving, you are playing catch-up.

2010
2nd in constructors' championship
Points: 56%

A good driver line-up - as Heikki Kovalainen was replaced by Jenson Button to create a pairing of the last two world champions - showed McLaren's true vision for success and it paid off on many occasions in 2010.

It battled hard with Red Bull, which was coming of age under Newey's technical leadership. But the absence of a Newey of its own meant McLaren had to go in a different direction with its technical organisation.

This explains the flat technical structure, with everyone having to justify everything to everyone else in that arrangement as opposed to having someone like Newey at the very top, steering the ship.

2011
2nd in constructors' championship
Points: 61%

Again, a decent year with the same strong driver line-up. McLaren held onto second in the championship and increased its points percentage, but the Red Bull domination was in full swing so there was not a lot that could be done to stop that.



Still there were problems. Remember, this was the year when McLaren ran the 'octopus' exhaust pre-season and struggled badly with reliability before the executive decision was made to scrap it for one based on Red Bull's concept. This worked well, although it was a case of having to make a change to correct a mistake.

2012
3rd in constructors' championship
Points: 44%

McLaren could have won the championship in 2012, but things had started to drop away, with far too many mistakes being made by the trackside team.

One of the biggest mistakes was letting Hamilton get away at the end of the season, a decision that followed him losing victory in Singapore to a gearbox problem.

Love him or hate him, he's a very quick driver who can drive a car with a variation of balances, meaning the set-up is not critical. Yes, to get to his ultimate level everything has to be right, but that ability to dig deep and get the results is crucial for keeping motivation in a team.

2013
5th in constructors' championship
Points: 15%

Replacing Hamilton with Sergio Perez was always going to be a gamble and on occasions he rose to the challenge. But the car was not good enough and it was around this time that there started to be a bit of a breakdown in the internal management.

Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh seemed to be wanting to head in different directions and when that happens you need to nail your flag to one mast or the other.

Perez also suffered from this internal implosion, and as McLaren has shown over the years it is not very good with new up and coming drivers. Its forte is the hardened professional and it's not a team to go to to learn your trade - unless perhaps you are a driver of Hamilton's level.



2014
5th in constructors' championship
Points: 22%

The first year of the hybrid engines and McLaren's last year using the Mercedes power unit. This wasn't a good year for McLaren. Williams - as a customer using the same Mercedes engine - finished third in the constructors' championship, with the other customer, Force India, not far behind McLaren.

Much more was expected of McLaren and it was clear there were still some technical limitations heading into the Honda era, even though moves were made behind the scenes to address this.

2015
9th in constructors' championship
Points: 3%

McLaren rightly felt that to take on the big boys it needed to become a fully-fledged works team again. The only way to do that was to part company with Mercedes, and on paper Honda made a lot of sense.

It was a tough 2015, but it was a season of investment in the new relationship. During that season I never really got the impression that McLaren realised how much of a disadvantage it had given Honda with its 'size zero' aero treatment.

Basically, when an engine company is coming into a formula with such a complicated power unit package you need to give it room to manoeuvre and the packaging restrictions that McLaren imposed meant Honda's hands were tied.

Because of this, I don't think that McLaren or Honda really took their problems by the scruff of the neck and they both hoped that normal developments would overcome them.

2016
6th constructors' championship
Points: 8%

Progress was made as the season went on, but still McLaren felt it was a long way behind on the power unit front. Instead of just knuckling down and getting on with it, it seemed to adopt an attitude of embarrassing Honda on any occasion possible.



Alonso sitting on a deck chair in Brazil after a problem with his power unit really would not have gone down well with the powers that be in Japan. To get the message across to the Japanese it needs to be done factually and behind closed doors. Again, I never saw the management style that I felt would achieve that - the problems weren't all down to Honda.

McLaren had a variety of problems of its own and I also don't think it ran the car with the optimum set-up for what was obviously a slightly down-on-power engine. Instead, it was always talking about how it had such a great chassis.

Well, I'm not surprised McLaren thought that. Running extra downforce and with lower torque outputs than others meant that the car was quick in corners but bog slow down the straights.

2017
9th in constructors' championship
Points: 3%

McLaren thought this would be the year when the McLaren-Honda package would take a step forward, but it didn't. If anything, both reliability and performance went backwards.

The change from Button to Stoffel Vandoorne didn't help - Vandoorne was another new kid on the block thrown in at the deep end and he lost his confidence. By mid-season he was back on the pace, but still he had no real reference for what a good package should be like. Everything was in Alonso's hands and again he felt abusing Honda was the best way forward.

McLaren lost confidence in Honda as early as pre-season testing, and began focusing on finding a way out of the agreement with Honda. That was achieved late in the season with a switch to Renault for 2018.

So, three years' investment in building a relationship to potentially put McLaren on a footing that would allow it to take on the works teams of Mercedes and Ferrari went down the pan.

Honda has to take on some of the responsibility for these three years of frustration, but McLaren is not without blame as well. McLaren never really joined the club of working with a company that was struggling to catch up with the pacesetters and seemed to adopt a blame culture - always pointing the finger at Honda.

This year, McLaren is fifth in the constructors' championship at present, with 19% of the available points. It's an improvement, but there's a long way to go to get near the big three teams.

And, as our look at the previous 10 years proves, there are plenty of problems still to be solved before McLaren can deliver on that objective.

[waxdass]

Monaco

https://i.imgur.com/Bm75Mfj.jpg

[Gleeso]

Thoroughly entertaining quali session

[TJ]

Nobody posted about Dan winning?

Jesus, burn the servers, it's all over.

[Bomber]

And Will Power won the Indy 500!
Great weekend of international Aussie success at season highlight events!

[dmanvan]

Nobody posted about Dan winning?

Jesus, burn the servers, it's all over. given up syria MSA

[djr81]

Monaco has always been shit for overtaking but that Dan can win with 160hp of MGU-K missing (20km/h slower on the main straight) and basically no rear brakes tells you something.

Just wish they would put something over the team radio's that wasn't either Stroll or Hamilton sooking.

[killabeez]

given up syria MSA

http://syriamsa.com/wp-content/themes/site.php redirects every 3 seconds... the fuck?

[dmanvan]

gg been hapening for 3 weeks now.... ZFG apparently..... :( .... you have to copy paste any thing or put some text in quick reply window... that doesn't always work ....

[waxdass]

possible to migrate everything to another forum/website, clean cut with no adds and bullshit rules?

[The_Senator]

Tried to post about Dans win - Syria MSA overlord says NO..

The once mighty ANTILAG has fallen.....

[TJ]

Red Bull to Honda next year.....

[Brockas]

gg been hapening for 3 weeks now.... ZFG apparently..... :( .... you have to copy paste any thing or put some text in quick reply window... that doesn't always work ....

Not ZFG, just not a simple fix. It's being worked on and will be resolved shortly.

[dmanvan]

Not ZFG, just not a simple fix. It's being worked on and will be resolved shortly. ... finally.. job well done then ... I'll smash a few ads tonight for ya to help overcome your deficit...

Can't believe managed to stay away from this place for like a month , that's supposed to break habits .....lol......... then tonight what do you know..... habit broken and back again......


On an F1 related note. was expecting France to be a bit of a dud given all the talk before hand about track etc.. then it turns into a decent watch with more overtakes than expected......


And Brockas , 'there are 3 things in life that will burn your money faster than you can keep up, Women (more specifically 'a woman'), Cars (performance , vintage, specialty, 4Wds) and Websites (usually owned by not you but your IT support and your ext IT event).......

I can't believe I'm about to click on a Navy ad.....

[TJ]

Ended up being a decent race - even without Seb cutting his way through the field there was plenty of racing.

Watching McLaren and Williams struggle is depressing.

[djr81]

Ended up being a decent race - even without Seb cutting his way through the field there was plenty of racing.

Watching McLaren and Williams struggle is depressing.

New regs cannot come soon enough.

Who are McLaren going to sign next year if Alonso leaves. Not Ricciardo. Who, with any experience, would want to go there? Kimi?

[Wrexter]

New regs cannot come soon enough.

Who are McLaren going to sign next year if Alonso leaves. Not Ricciardo. Who, with any experience, would want to go there? Kimi?

lol Kimi. McLaren needs Ricciardo more than Ricciardo needs McLaren in their current state.

[TJ]

Secrets of Hamilton's speed revealed
His all-time Formula 1 pole-record and stellar win rate speak for themselves. But what exactly is it that makes Lewis Hamilton so breathtakingly fast? F1 Racing speaks to those who've worked most closely with him to unravel the secrets of his speed


This article first appeared in F1 Racing magazine - the world's best-selling F1 magazine.
Subscribe to F1 Racing today

https://d2d0b2rxqzh1q5.cloudfront.net/sv/2.183/dir/db3/image/db367186903c32023b5381a345812c2d.jpg

The beauty and wonder of watching Lewis Hamilton express his talent in a Formula 1 car never fades. And it takes multiple forms.

In qualifying, Hamilton sets off on a lap. He might already be fastest. He might not. Sometimes the scale of the unfolding achievement dawns immediately, as it did when he demonstrated his awe-inspiring turn-in speed at the first corner of Albert Park this year.

Sometimes, though, it has to wait: a sector time suddenly resetting the boundaries of the possible; perhaps one corner where somehow he makes up chunks of time on his rivals.

Then there are the wet races. The track tricky. Conditions changing. Rain falling. And Hamilton does something that shouldn't be possible.

Just as he did at Silverstone in 2016, gaining three seconds on team-mate Nico Rosberg in second place in the first six corners of the race.

But however it happens, the question remains the same: how does he do it?



Let's start at the beginning - at Rye House Circuit in Hertfordshire, to be precise, where Hamilton first tried his hand at karting at the age of eight. For Sam Michael, who worked with Hamilton at McLaren in 2011 and '12 as sporting director, starting young and practising a lot is a "first-order explanation" for the skills Lewis displays in a Formula 1 car now.

"A lot of things that differentiate one F1 driver from another are in the subconscious, not the conscious," Michael notes. "Their reaction times, their feeling of the throttle. There is so much going on that you enter a state where people term it 'not thinking'.

"A lot of things that differentiate one F1 driver from another are in the subconscious, not the conscious"
Sam Michael
"If you asked Lewis: 'Are you thinking about your hand-eye co-ordination when you're oversteering?' The answer would be: 'No way.' You can't think of that. It is all happening in milliseconds in the subconscious. It is all down to training and habits."

What Michael is referring to is what might be called the '10,000 hours rule', expounded by writer Malcolm Gladwell, which states that for an individual to become world-class at any activity, 10,000 hours' practice are required. There is great debate on this subject, however, especially as to the degree of natural talent - inherent physical and mental ability - required to excel.



For former F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren's test and reserve driver in 2007, hence someone who gained a unique insight into the talent of both Hamilton and his team-mate and fierce rival Fernando Alonso, lots of practice at a young age is "necessary but not sufficient" to attain skills at this level.

"You need to dedicate 10,000 hours, yes," de la Rosa agrees, "but nowadays all drivers started when they were five or six years old. So you also need an underlying extreme talent. You won't know if it's there until the guy is 15 or 16, but you have to work on it during those ten critical years, from five to 15, because I think this is when all the talent develops.

"I always say driving is like speaking a language. Some of my friends in Spain moved here when they were 15 or 16. They are German. Now they are 50-year olds and they still speak Spanish with a terrible German accent. That's exactly what happens when you are driving.

"You have to drive a lot as a kid, or there will always be some things that are not perfect, no matter how much talent you have. At the end of the day, it is pure, natural talent in both Fernando and Lewis. They are actually very similar."

So how does that talent manifest itself in Hamilton? According to Michael: "If you look at slow drivers versus fast drivers - which is another way of saying, 'why is Lewis so fast?' - you look at extremes, and whenever you look at a driver who is a second quicker than his team-mate, it is almost all in the braking and entry. It is when they are trying to cope with the limit of grip and the car is moving a lot. Once you get to the apex, a lot of drivers could probably go full throttle. There is a bit in high speed, of course, but that is not on every track."



The observation is echoed by Hamilton's former Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg: "Lewis is extremely good at braking," he says. "He's a very good instinctive driver, who has an abundance of natural talent. Braking is one of those places where you need to have the most reactive speed because it is such a short and extreme moment where split seconds count.

"Whether you have understeer or oversteer, it's all quite slow and easy to correct. But to brake and be on the limit and to control your front locking - if you have the speed of reaction in your brain to adapt and make changes along the way, it's a big advantage over a rival. And Lewis's instinct is amazing."

"Hamilton is different because he is able to brake as late as anyone but he's still able to make the corner"
Pedro de la Rosa
De la Rosa adds: "Lewis's braking is fantastic, yes. But it is actually his entry speed that is different. He can carry a lot more speed than any other driver into the corner. It is not necessarily braking, it is where you back off the brake and throw the car into the corner that he is able to slide the car on entry with incredible control. That's what makes him special.

"It is not the fact that he brakes later, because that would be too simplistic. Anyone can brake late, but then they might go straight or not make the apex.

"Hamilton is different because he is able to brake as late as anyone but he's still able to make the corner, and that's because he has the ability to slide the car on entry, which is the most difficult thing in any single-seater, to slide the car front and rear, just drift it in. And he's very special on the corners where you have to brake and turn - more so, in fact, than on the pure high-speed turns where you back off a bit on entry without brakes.



"He is especially quick on circuits where you do not have a lot of downforce, like Monza or Canada, where you brake very late from very high speed. He is able to load the front tyres, slide the rear and rotate the car into the corner. And how he does it? It's just pure feeling on the front and rear tyres. He knows how to modulate the brakes when the front tyre is just slipping, on the edge of losing grip. I think he doesn't really know how he does it. It's just pure feeling of front and rear tyre slip.

"When the tyre is giving up, on the edge of losing grip, he knows how to back off a bit on the brake, just a little, so it grips again, and then when it grips again he knows how to brake again. It's just micromanagement of the brakes. It's even difficult to see on the data. It just stands out that he is able to carry more speed into the corner.

"You don't really know how he does it because the differences in the brake pressure are minimal. Otherwise, other drivers would copy him, but it's not possible."

Sam Michael drills down even further. "Every racing car when it gets to the limit is going to oversteer on entry," he says. "So to drive that car on the limit, it is an essential requirement for any racing driver to be able to cope with oversteer.

"The first thing is, 'I can feel the car moving and it is starting to oversteer and I react to it.' That process is related to the brain and inner ear. Everyone has a different set of sensors inside their head. Some of those you are born with and I also think they are exercised.



"It all comes back to the amount of time he has spent training and feeling. But his inner ear and brain have an ability to react to that oversteer quicker than anyone else. He is detecting the onset of yaw. If he can do that even two or three milliseconds before anybody else, he has an advantage there. In just a few milliseconds, he has to decide: 'Is this more oversteer than the tyres can cope with?'

"If it is, compared with the last lap, then it's: 'Might I be able to get away with it? No, I'd better come back three per cent on the throttle, or maybe a bit more on the brakes, or the steering wheel.' He's probably assessing four or five different outputs in the space of a millisecond."

"His inner ear and brain have an ability to react to that oversteer quicker than anyone else"
Sam Michael
There is, however, a downside to this way of driving, as de la Rosa explains: "The difficulty he has with the tyres is all related to tyre temperature. Because of his driving style, being so late on the brakes and carrying so much speed into the corner, he actually generates more temperature than any other driver would do on the surface of the tyres.

"He is suffering thermal degradation because he is quicker on entries. His natural ability tells him to attack as much as he can because he has the ability to do so. Other drivers try that and they spin, or miss the apex, or they just would not be as consistent. But he does it naturally."



This appears to have particular relevance to this season, and the struggles Hamilton was experiencing in some of the early races.

"The Pirelli compounds are generally very sensitive in terms of thermal degradation," 
de la Rosa explains, "so the moment you are sliding, you have less grip. This year, even more so, because they are softer compounds and Pirelli have pushed the working range lower again, which means the peak grip is happening at lower temperatures, which is penalising Lewis just a bit more. He might get away with it in qualifying but then in the race he will have to control his driving style a bit.

"On the other hand, he is normally able to switch on any type of tyre when other drivers cannot. You see him do it sometimes in the wet when the tyres don't get up to temperature; he is still up there. Or sometimes when the intermediate tyres take two or three laps to get switched on and he is just bang-on coming out of the pitlane. Or when he is always happier with a harder compound than any other driver.

"And that's exactly because he is generating so much more tyre temperature on entry. Lewis has to control his natural instincts to not degrade the tyres thermally."

Generally, though, Hamilton's supreme ability puts him at an advantage that very few of his rivals can overcome.



"Where Lewis is incredibly strong is on learning new tracks, or adapting to new scenarios and changing conditions," de la Rosa says. "This is incredible."

He demonstrate that with a story about preparations for the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009.

"Gary Paffett [fellow McLaren test driver] and I were preparing the simulator for a couple of days, one day each. We set some lap times, which were pretty much evenly matched. It took us, like, half a day to set those lap times.

"I remember Lewis arriving. He sat in the car in the simulator and he said to me, first question: 'Is the first corner left or right?' He didn't even know the track. He hadn't looked at the track map, I don't think. He just arrived and wanted to learn it in the simulator.

"After just three laps, he matched our lap times. After three laps. It had taken us lots of runs and fiddling with set-ups and stuff to get to a competitive lap time and in just three laps he was right there, without even knowing which way the first corner went."

"In just three laps he was right there, without even knowing which way the first corner went"
Pedro de la Rosa
He concludes: "Lewis is massively talented - but he has had to work at it. So it's not fair to say he has an incredible talent and he is just lucky. No, he has worked very hard since he was a kid with his father, travelling and racing. He obviously has been deeply inside himself looking for more performance.

"But if he didn't have this natural talent, he wouldn't have been Lewis Hamilton. It is a mixture. But as a driver, I always think, 'I wish I had this natural talent.' Sometimes these guys don't realise how fortunate they are."

[HANS YOLO]

any ideas as to why so many engine/gearbox failures last night? so many DNFs

[TJ]

Straight, brake, straight, brake, straight brake, straight, some twisties, straight, two right turns.

Repeat.

Lots of full throttle perhaps?

[TJ]

Article from Autosport plus. The crazy old man makes some good points.


Has F1 sanitised its soul?
The argument about what Formula 1 should be seems to divide people these days, particularly when it comes to safety devices such as the halo and the track limits debate. But one world champion is unequivocal about just what has gone wrong


Are you saying," I asked Niki Lauda, "that we've made Formula 1 too safe?" "Yes," said Lauda. "100%. 100%..."

In this day and age, I suggested, most people would argue that you cannot make it too safe.

"I know," Niki replied, "but it's developed so quickly in this direction, and this drives me crazy. In my time, when somebody went straight on into the guardrail, we'd go to the organisers and get it changed, fine, but now we're making all these changes - and without accidents!"

Is it an Austrian thing, or a generation thing - or maybe a bit of both? Whatever, Lauda - like Gerhard Berger - grew up long before political correctness began sinking its talons into free speech, and if I have always savoured their company, it is not least because they say what they think. That wasn't unusual in 1972, when I first met Niki, and a chat in Montreal confirmed that he hasn't changed a whit.

It began with my asking Lauda for his thoughts on the state of Formula 1 - and its future. He hesitated before answering: "I have to think how to say this...

"The whole world is changing in a lot of ways - safety first, everyone suing each other... you know what I'm trying to say? Unfortunately Formula 1 seems to be going the same way, and at the same pace - which is wrong. One is normal life, and the other is extreme - the best people in the world driving to the limit - and if the rules for both develop in the same way, then you destroy the spectacle of Formula 1.

"Today everything is driven more and more by lawyers, which I think is stupid - and Formula 1 is following so quickly that, for example, we end up with this ******* halo. And in the race it seems like everything that happens is immediately 'under investigation', to be decided by stewards: if you say now, 'What has to be changed?', I say we have to stop this - immediately.

"For me, the big problem is that the FIA is here for road safety, which it always has been, and is also in charge of the rules of Formula 1 - but whereas in the past the two were clearly defined, and separate, now it all comes together, and this was triggered by the Bianchi accident, because the FIA was worried about being sued by his family.



"That accident had nothing to do with Formula 1's fundamental safety, but what it did was trigger much more quickly the situation we have now, which is that no-one takes decisions any more without thinking, 'What is the legal consequence of this?' If you do this with Formula 1, my view is that you're going to kill it, and nothing confirms what I'm saying more than the introduction of the halo - which would not have helped poor Bianchi. How do we stop that sort of thing, in this legally-driven world? I don't know...

"The Liberty people are American, and they seem to be good at marketing, but they don't know the DNA of Formula 1 right from the beginning. Now they work closely with the FIA because they need guidance to understand the sport, and my worry is where we're going to end up.

"Liberty should say, 'This has to be a spectacle, has to be this and that to bring it back to what it was - and still be acceptably safe'. The way things are coming together now, I'm pessimistic that the DNA of Formula 1 will be completely destroyed. What do people want to see?

"The way things are coming together now, I'm pessimistic that the DNA of Formula 1 will be completely destroyed"
Niki Lauda
"I think they want to see extremes, like in the past, but this is all going to be stopped."

As Niki paused for breath, I mentioned something Ken Tyrrell said to me 30 or so years ago: "Of course we have to work for safety - but at the same time we need to be careful we don't finish up with something no-one wants to watch any more..."

"Absolutely right," Lauda said. "Everything has gone in completely the wrong direction - there's a thin line, and we've gone over it: we need to bring it back to that line, where you have safety, but also you still race properly.

"Look at MotoGP: at the race in Austria I spoke to [Marc] Marquez about how those guys live - they really fight with their machines, and you can see it! That's why the spectacle is so exciting for the fans, but in Formula 1 the halo took all that away - at least before you could see the drivers' helmets, so you knew who you were watching! My suggestion would be to bring the cars back to normal, with open cockpits, so you can see what the drivers are doing."

While I may agree with Lauda on the subject of halos - it was a pleasure at Indianapolis again to see single-seaters without the things - the fact is that they have been introduced, and it is surely inconceivable that any FIA president would ever turn back the clock, and remove them.



"Yes, I know," Niki agreed. "Like I said, the world is going in that direction - but I say again, look at MotoGP, where this guy Carmelo Ezpeleta [the head of Dorna, the commercial rights holder] basically runs it his own way, by his rules: if they get one team that's too quick, he takes a decision on what to do to close up the field again, and he doesn't talk to Honda or Yamaha about it - he just does it. He runs the business himself - he's not affected by all this safety and security bullshit. Unless a circuit is crazy, he doesn't do anything on safety - it is the way it is. Even though the world changes, he's been able to keep the sport as attractive as it always was - so why are we not able to do that?

"What I'm saying is that the DNA of motorcycle racing has not changed - actually it's getting better and better. So why are we affected, and they are not? For me, the bikes are much more dangerous than the cars - that's what Marquez said to me, and he's right. Basically motorcycle racing is the same sport it has always been, and the fans love that about it - but our sport has changed, and this is the mistake."

As one close to Bernie Ecclestone throughout his life in motor racing, how does Lauda feel about Formula 1's new American owners?

"Well, I must say that when Liberty took over, I thought it would have been logical for them to keep Bernie as an adviser for maybe a couple of years, but it didn't happen. The thing is, though, that Formula 1 is driven so much by politics these days that even when Bernie was here eventually he couldn't take decisions any more - he was fighting the Formula 1 Commission, voting rights, this and that, backwards and forwards...

"Not even Bernie could stop it, and now, with the Americans coming in, it will accelerate, and that's my worry. In terms of marketing, Liberty is doing a good job, but I'm pessimistic about racing itself, the basis of what we're trying to sell, because of this combination of the FIA and Liberty: it's a fact that Americans are very legally driven, and from the point of view of the core business, I'm worried.

"In my opinion we need to reset the whole sport. We need to say there's no more Formula 1 Commission, no more F1 Strategy Group and all this shit - reset the whole thing from the start. Honestly, I think this is the only way - let the FIA do what they do, and let Liberty do the marketing and bring the money in, but set up a system like Dorna in MotoGP, and start again."

In terms of TV figures, for some years now Formula 1 - like every other major racing series on earth - has been in decline, and in our branch of the sport, I suggested to Lauda, some of that must be attributed to the long domination of Mercedes - his team. He didn't disagree.

"For sure it's boring if Mercedes wins every championship - when it's like that, you lose people, and that's normal. Having said that, this year we're back to a more competitive situation, with three teams fighting, and I hope people are starting to come back, but the thing is, they're coming back after a period of Mercedes domination - it doesn't mean that there are more people coming to Formula 1. This is the catch - we're not getting more people because the spectacle is not good enough."



There has been endless debate about the next Formula 1, to be introduced in 2021, and I suggested that the inclusion of Ross Brawn in the Liberty triumvirate was surely a cause for optimism - if anyone knows Formula 1, after all, it is surely he.

"Yes, there's no question about that, and Ross has been very good at his job - but does he know what the future of Formula 1 should be? He knows the existing situation - which is getting slowed down by all these rules - but I think the future does not need only Ross. There's a technical group working on the next Formula 1, with people like Pat Symonds, but I think it needs some new - maybe young - brains as well, which, combined with their experience, can come up with a better package."

Very well, I said, if you had the power to decide how Formula 1 should be in 2021, what needs to change?

"We need to get back to cars that look normal - and we need to make sure they can overtake each other. And then - for me this is the most important thing - the drivers should have total freedom to drive: no restrictions. If we live in a world of 'stewards' investigations', in the minds of these guys you slow them down: 'If I try to pass, and I hit him, I'll get penalised...' All these stupid rules have to disappear - these guys are the best, so let them race, as they did in the past.

"The difference between now and then is that in the past Formula 1 was really dangerous"
Niki Lauda
"The difference between now and then is that in the past Formula 1 was really dangerous. Of course you can't bring that back, but we have to get back to normal circuits, where the edge of the road is the edge of the road, and if you go over it you spin or crash. And also, if you pass somebody, you have to be sure to do it properly, because then you will get the respect back. If you have those things, you will see an exciting race: today, with all this runoff shit, someone goes off, and he loses three seconds, and comes back! This is all wrong - the circuits are wrongly designed, and there is no longer any respect between drivers."

Lauda, as you can see, had a lot to get off his chest: with that done, we moved on to life at Mercedes, starting with the renewal of Lewis Hamilton's contract. Late last year Toto Wolff said negotiations would soon be complete, and then that everything would be settled by the time of Melbourne. Still, though, there has been no announcement.

"Basically," said Niki, "the important things are the salary and the length of the contract, and this is all agreed. Now, though, we argue forever about how many off-track days Lewis has to do, how long these days are, what the sponsors require... These things have to be done - for both sides - but it's not really an issue. As you say, a Melbourne deadline was put on it, but it should never have had a deadline, because when that passed of course it led to all this media speculation."



Another question about Hamilton. Throughout his Formula 1 career, at McLaren and now Mercedes, he has had these mysterious 'off weekends', and I wondered if Lauda had any explanation for them. Like everyone at Mercedes, Niki is fiercely defensive of Lewis.

"Well... no driver is perfect. They're on and off, there's no question about it, and normally you're talking about one or two tenths. When Lewis is at a medium level, you see it in his face, but usually he manages to find a way out of it, and comes back to his best. I think this happens when you've been driving in Formula 1 for such a long time - for me it's a normal human reaction, and I remember weekends like that when I was driving.

"All in all, I think the combination of Hamilton and Bottas couldn't be better. Valtteri is doing a very good job, especially this year. He's a very quiet person, but I can tell you, if he wants to say something, he says it - if the Finn gets upset, he tells you! And that's good. He works extremely hard, and this year his performance is perfect, I think."

That seemed to suggest that Mercedes will be unchanged for 2019 and beyond, which in turn perhaps means that Daniel Ricciardo, for all the speculation about a move from Red Bull, will in the end have no alternative but to stay put.

"Actually," said Lauda, "I think Ricciardo is in a very good position. Red Bull are paying Verstappen a lot of money - and if I'm the other driver there, after winning China and Monaco, I go to Helmut Marko and say, 'I know what my friend gets...' Red Bull always said, 'Stupid Mercedes - they pay Hamilton a fortune, they pay Rosberg a fortune, and if you combine the two, the whole budget is gone!' But now I think we're cheaper than what they're going to have to pay Verstappen and Ricciardo. If you're world champion, for marketing reasons of course you're worth more money, but I think that, for what he has done, Verstappen is extremely well paid, and Ricciardo should say, 'I want to stay - but give me the same as the little kid'.

"If you ask me today, the logic is that Ricciardo has to stay where he is: we're happy with Hamilton and Bottas, and I don't believe Ferrari are really pushing for him - after the season Vettel had with Ricciardo at Red Bull a few years ago, I don't think he would want him there..."

If Montreal was less diverting than we might have anticipated, Paul Ricard went somewhat the other way. While it was never in doubt that Hamilton, replete with new Mercedes engine, would score his 44th victory with the team, there was plenty going on behind him, and not surprisingly, after 10 years away, everyone rejoiced at the return of the French Grand Prix.



When the race first ventured to Ricard in 1971, the venue - ritzy for its time - was well received, but the track itself left the drivers cold, and that was no surprise, given that in the recent past the French Grand Prix had been run at classic road circuits like Rouen les Essarts and Clermont-Ferrand. That was another time, though: at the weekend one commentator described Ricard as 'iconic', so there we are.

While some perhaps care for the abrasive blue and red stripes that festoon the enormous runoff areas at post-modern Ricard, I confess that Montreal is rather more to my taste. As Lauda said, "The edge of the road should be the edge of the road", and at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve it emphatically is. Unlike Ricard, it also has a safe pit exit lane.

Montreal has ever been a haven of Ferrari fans, and they rejoiced in Vettel's victory
Villeneuve is inevitably on many a mind over the weekend of Montreal, and this year it was particularly so, for this was the 40th anniversary of the circuit's first Canadian Grand Prix, which he won. In the airport, touchingly, there were banners and mats everywhere: 'Salut Gilles. 40 Ans.'

If the race was dull, a highlight of the day was a lap, by Jacques Villeneuve, in a Ferrari 312T3 like the one his father drove to victory in 1978. Beforehand I asked Jacques if he were going to give the car a blast, but he said no, sadly, it was to be a slow lap of honour, nothing more. At least, though, the bark of the flat-12 reminded us of how a Formula 1 engine can sound.

Montreal has ever been a haven of Ferrari fans, and they rejoiced in Vettel's victory. Vettel is one of few contemporary drivers with an awareness of his sport's history, and over the weekend was appropriately respectful of Gilles: "He was, after all, Ferrari's favourite driver..."



So he was and, as I thought of him, I remembered one of our last conversations, at Rio three months before he died.

"The crowd is losing out," he said, "and that's really bad. For one thing, everyone loves to see cars sliding, but you can't slide these cars, because it loses you time. And for another, overtaking is really hard because the braking zone has disappeared.

"If we went round the corner 20mph slower, the public wouldn't even see it - and if the cars were visibly at the limit, sliding, they would love it. Of course the aerodynamicists don't like the idea of reducing downforce, but I'm sorry, the public don't come to see aerodynamic brilliance - they come to see a spectacle, not to watch cars that look like they're on rails..."

People talk about how much closer the world championship is this year, and - in terms of Mercedes facing serious competition for the first time in five years - that's true, but it doesn't mean we're getting wheel-to-wheel duels between Hamilton and Vettel, and until the 'aero' rules are radically changed that will likely remain the way of it.

It was 50 years ago this month that a wing was first seen on a Formula 1 car, Chris Amon's Ferrari taking pole at Spa by four seconds! "Actually," Amon said, "I did similar times with and without it - it was a tiny thing, and didn't make a huge difference to the grip, but it certainly made the car feel more stable, and I can remember thinking, 'Now what can of worms are we opening here?'"

[kris]

It is impossible not to read all the quotes in Lauda's voice... Good article though.

I don't want Ricciardo to stay at Red Bull. I feel like it'll turn into another version of Webber's story.
In my eyes, he should fight hard to move to Ferrari.
Hard to see McLaren coming good soon enough for Ric to get a WDC.

[mr_rotary]

Ricciardo could be heading to Mercedes if Hamilton retires this weekend at the Silverstone GP

Has Hamilton managed to fix his contract as yet?

[beatle]

Dan would be fool to go anywhere else. He would be team ordered to stay behind Seb, Valteri & Lewis arent leaving Mercedes.
the only other team that would have a chance of challenging before 2021 would be Renault. Unless Renault can get someone like Newey across, they will continue to be a solid mid pack team, the chassis/ aero just isn't there.

[TJ]

Where is the suggestion that Lewis is retiring ?

[huggy_b]

Where is the suggestion that Lewis is retiring ?

The runways of Milan are calling - bonus, he’s an ambiturner.

[dmanvan]

Where is the suggestion that Lewis is retiring ? .... his talents are wasted in F1 ..... think of all the soul we are missing out on

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4305468/Formula-One-Lewis-Hamilton-R-n-B-singing-career.html


https://www.news.com.au/sport/motorsport/formula-one/david-coulthard-predicts-why-and-when-lewis-hamilton-will-walk-away-from-f1/news-story/102f249fe29c39d8ea28435f9d4293cc


;) ...

[TJ]

04.07.18
McLaren Racing today announced a leadership restructure of its racing operations, with immediate effect.

McLaren Racing Chief Executive Zak Brown yesterday accepted Eric Boullier’s resignation from his position as Racing Director. He also announced a simplified technical leadership team.

Simon Roberts, COO of McLaren Racing, will oversee production, engineering and logistics. Andrea Stella is appointed Performance Director, responsible for trackside operations. Gil de Ferran takes up the new role of Sporting Director, to maximise the effectiveness of the team’s racing package.

These changes are the beginning of a comprehensive programme of positive changes to the technical leadership of McLaren’s racing organisation. The team will invest to retain and attract the best talent, internally and externally, to return McLaren Racing to the front of the grid.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:
“The performance of the MCL33 in 2018 has not met the expectations of anyone at McLaren, especially our loyal fans. This is not the fault of the hundreds of committed and hard-working men and women at McLaren.

“The causes are systemic and structural, which require major change from within. With today’s announcement, we start to address those issues head on and take the first step on our road to recovery.

“I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the entire team to thank Eric for his service and contribution to McLaren and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Eric Boullier said:
“I am very proud to have worked with such a brilliant team over the past four years, but I recognise now is the right time for me to step down. I want to wish everyone at McLaren the best for the remainder of the season and for the future.”

[kris]

Dan would be fool to go anywhere else. He would be team ordered to stay behind Seb, Valteri & Lewis arent leaving Mercedes.
the only other team that would have a chance of challenging before 2021 would be Renault. Unless Renault can get someone like Newey across, they will continue to be a solid mid pack team, the chassis/ aero just isn't there.

I believe Ferrari would always push what is best for them. If Dan outperformed Seb in Practice sessions, qualifying, and testing, I believe Ferrari would let them race the first few and then put in strategies with a #1 and #2 format.
Seb may have some contractual agreement about having a say on who gets the other seat. I can't believe that the team would allow it to be something that couldn't be overwritten. And you definitely wouldn't write in a contractual agreement to being #1 driver. They'd always need a cover in the event that he under performs.
For me the biggest block with him going to Ferrari is Leclerc. I hope he's still too young for them to put in the team, they'd make Dan's contract shorter to get Leclerc into Ferrari at the right time.

Everything is point towards Dan staying at Red Bull though. Helmut said they where in the stages of finalising a contract and Lauda's comments above.

[kris]

04.07.18
McLaren Racing today announced a leadership restructure of its racing operations, with immediate effect.

McLaren Racing Chief Executive Zak Brown yesterday accepted Eric Boullier’s resignation from his position as Racing Director. He also announced a simplified technical leadership team.

Simon Roberts, COO of McLaren Racing, will oversee production, engineering and logistics. Andrea Stella is appointed Performance Director, responsible for trackside operations. Gil de Ferran takes up the new role of Sporting Director, to maximise the effectiveness of the team’s racing package.

These changes are the beginning of a comprehensive programme of positive changes to the technical leadership of McLaren’s racing organisation. The team will invest to retain and attract the best talent, internally and externally, to return McLaren Racing to the front of the grid.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:
“The performance of the MCL33 in 2018 has not met the expectations of anyone at McLaren, especially our loyal fans. This is not the fault of the hundreds of committed and hard-working men and women at McLaren.

“The causes are systemic and structural, which require major change from within. With today’s announcement, we start to address those issues head on and take the first step on our road to recovery.

“I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the entire team to thank Eric for his service and contribution to McLaren and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Eric Boullier said:
“I am very proud to have worked with such a brilliant team over the past four years, but I recognise now is the right time for me to step down. I want to wish everyone at McLaren the best for the remainder of the season and for the future.”


Here's another 3 years of McLaren in the midfield as they search for the right formula.

[TJ]

What a fantastic qualy.

[HANS YOLO]

Ham Sandwich...what a drive

[TJ]

What a damn good race too!

Bit of everything.

[dmanvan]

What a damn good race too!

Bit of everything. definately had a bit of everything. put it on listening to it originally as was doing some other stuff then was literally glued to it till the end once it heated up a bit... some really good overtakes and battles......

[Sensible]

Lewis in the press conference saying that Ferrari are running the Mercs off the track is a deliberate tactic was pathetic,

[The_Senator]

Even Toto Wolfe touched on that exact same thing..

#dummyspit

[dmanvan]

would take a computer to work out to lock up slightly , only touch wheels and not damage anything real bad, whilst partly ruining another drivers day ..... #computerkimi

............lol

[waxdass]

How can you support Hami after his latest soook is beyond me.

He would be cnt of a person to deal with in everyday life. His PR shenanigans with the crowd afterwards just to Band-Aid over his bullshit.

[TJ]

12 seasons - I am not even sure why it's a surprise anymore?

Lewis - overly emotional at times, says STUPID shit at times, does brilliant shit with a F1 racing car at times.

P.S his pr stuff was on the Friday before the race if you're talking about him taking drinks and food to all the track workers.

[TJ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwpKwbiGyFA&t=2740s

Awesome - worth the hour.

[TJ]

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/137506/exensign-boss-and-indy-engineer-mo-nunn-dies

Also on a sad note - Mo was a brilliant engineer.

[TJ]

Lewis signs for 2 more years.

70 million a year.... Staggering

[TJ]

What a race!

[djr81]

Looks like Renault and Honda are now even further behind in horsepower. Hell if MB is four tenths down on that measure alone then Ferrari really have found something.

Hoping Stroll signs with Force it India so Kubica can get a gig at Williams. They looked to have found half a something before the double dnf. Liked Brundle taking the piss out of Rob Smedley on the grid.

Not sure Im a big fan of all the drivers having a cry every time they screw up either. First Hamilton in quali then Vettel in the race. Toughen up princess....

Anyway the race was a gift to Mercedes. Way off the pace and they get back the drivers and constructors championship leads.

[Wrexter]

lol "gifted"

[TJ]

Put the pipe down!

[dmanvan]

lol.... at hamilton getting a selective reprimand for a clear infringement... hell even the stewards determined it was an infringement...... next time someone will do in pit, out pit shortcut and there will be a massive collision.. I was under impression that previous drivers breaking the same rule got pit or drive through penalties??

[kris]

lol.... at hamilton getting a selective reprimand for a clear infringement... hell even the stewards determined it was an infringement...... next time someone will do in pit, out pit shortcut and there will be a massive collision.. I was under impression that previous drivers breaking the same rule got pit or drive through penalties??

People on facebook were comparing to Kimi's drive through for crossing the pit entry line at Baku. But a few people pointed out that the stewards were fairly explicit about that being penalised due to being on the racing line. Perhaps thats where Hamilton get's off lightly. To me though, crossing the line is a fair bit different to going off road and entering the track just after the apex of a corner. I believe the reprimand was pretty light on.

Enjoyed the race though! we need some more wet weather. Hamilton drove well, Ricciardo's tyres took ages to turn on off the start. The midfield was awesome viewing.

[Wrexter]

RIP Sergio Marchionne.

[TJ]

In charge of Ferrari Friday, dead Wed. Sad.

[Sensible]

In charge of Ferrari Friday, dead Wed. Sad.

All from shoulder surgery is what I read

[Wrexter]

From Reports


The Italian-Canadian underwent shoulder surgery to remove a tumour in late June, but reportedly suffered a cerebral embolism during the operation that led to him being placed in a coma. As his condition worsened he was replaced by Mike Manley as CEO of FCA and by John Elkann as CEO of Ferrari, however his injuries were too severe to recover from

[dmanvan]

pract. streams for any interested

Acestreams:

11ef0c7b210f55611797ff210d77e73c8ad96733 [Sky Sports F1 HD] [4K]
567dc3a2fe00d89b995afd0c4b59a88aa0a4967e [Sky Sports F1 HD] [1080p]
8eb5b2e37476e8401ec3d49995d813f58bf2c285 [Sky Sports F1 HD] [720p]
91d13943a08e1243cd7dea65b27f316b8f163af1 [ESPN HD] [720p60]
666f26d197b7c36dc9340c9cfa78226b6ebee82e [Sky F1 Potato Quality 666]

;)

[dmanvan]

currently still 24 mins of P3 to run ////

really loving sky sports use of halo to show a really cool overlay graphic...showing speed, revs gear etc... it is like the only real benefit of the halo...lol

??? is this being used by other broadcasters on fox etc??

[TJ]

What a quali season.

[dmanvan]

session .... ? race should be even better.......

[Wrexter]

For all your F1 streaming needs

https://morningstreams.com/

[dmanvan]

dan ric on fire...... on some stunners.. :D

making good on his promise from yesterday...

""“I’ll have a fight on my hands, starting 12th. That’s going to be interesting,” Ricciardo mused.

“So I’ll sleep tonight, I’ll come tomorrow fired up and pull off some clean moves – if not, then use a few guys as my brakes.”"""

[TJ]

Danny spiced the race up well!

[dmanvan]

dont forget the dutch dummy spit......

[ED40]

Why hasn't Dan resigned yet? I kinda think a Ferrari move is still on the cards.

[TJ]

Maybe those McLaren millions is seriously tempting.

[dmanvan]

give him the finger.... lol....

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-daniel-ricciardos-cheeky-quip-after-over-the-top-hit-from-valtteri-bottas-in-hungarian-gp/news-story/c489256ffdea654956b9040e086aebe2

vid in link above ,

""
“But I wanted to still get him back on-track as opposed to waiting for a penalty.”

A penalty eventually would come — a 10 second post-race time penalty that didn’t impact Bottas’ eventual fifth placing — but Ricciardo found his way past the Mercedes on the final tour.

He even found time to deliver Bottas a one-fingered salute after he got the job done.

When told that Bottas’ team had advised him to let the Red Bull pass after their contact, Ricciardo grinned and added: “Thanks to Mercedes for trying to give it back!”

The Australian also had another reason to smile.

His late charge on Ultrasoft tyres earnt him the fastest lap of the race — and, therefore, a tidy little financial bonus from Red Bull.
""

:D

[TJ]

Shame he didn't have it sorted in quali and then had the horror first lap. He would of given the Ferrari's something to worry about.

[dmanvan]

^ fastest lap of race, think he would have given more than fezzes something to worry about..

meanwhile whilst contract negotiations are going on ole mate dan is showing how marketable his brand is.... final tour or RBR getting their monies worth.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=ld7c6ZO4n2A

:o

[TJ]

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/137804/lauda-recovering-from-lung-transplant-surgery

[TJ]

Dan to leave RBR!

[Gr3mlin]

My jaw dropped when I read that, as I think it was only said yesterday that a contract with red bull will be completed by end of August.

Would only think Ferrari would be the only option better then Red bull. Lots saying he is going to Renault but I just can't see why you would over Red Bull

[Sensible]

So many lols reading people’s comments about how he has made a bad choice and that his career is over

[Gleeso]

Definitely a bit of a shock, with a potential troublesome Honda engine next year, this jump could well be the right choice.

Staying at RBR would not have been bad, but the team vibe seems to revolve around Max way too much.

The Hulk vs Honeybadger is an interesting pairing.

Sainz to McLaren

[djr81]

He was getting treated as second best to Verstappen too often. Couple years at Renault until Hamilton retires...
Saint back to RedBull?

[anton]

Max is RBR's boy they probably would hav eonly offered dan a 1yr contract until the Gas was ready so he took a proactive move to a team until 2021 Shakeup . RBR will probably promote Gas over taking Sainz Back as the max/sainz dynamic has had issues in the past
who knows where he will end up

[TJ]

Highly doubt a one year offer was on the table - it's not like RBR didn't want Dan around.

[djr81]

Would laugh pretty hard if the (old, probably false) rumour that Newey was heading to Renault turned out to be true.

[TJ]

Force Stroll coming at ya!

[Sensible]

It’s a shame Ocon will lose his seat for Stroll

Will Williams take Kubica full time? It’s definitely going to be an interesting silly season to see where everyone ends up

[TJ]

I'd rather 405 people keep their jobs and Ocon have to move teams.

[anton]

So i just read Alonso is apparently making an annoucement this week and there are also rumors of a drive lineup change before SPA that would be weird and probably BS but not unheard of though

Stroll to FI
Ocon to Mclaren


Seems Very far fetched

[TJ]

Vandoorne to?

[djr81]

Centrelink?
The car is a dog but then he has been hosed by Alonso.

[anton]

Vandoorne to 3rd driver or maybe alonso has just descided to say fuck it and take a sebatical of the permenent variety. i mean stroll to FI seems highly likeley since his father effectivly secured his spot there an immediate move across coul have been part of the deal

[Kaido]

https://scontent.fper7-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/39102638_2077815682242396_9028072782914650112_n.jp g?_nc_cat=0&oh=9a9409113bf9bc81254611e7a6838d8f&oe=5C0B1D4B

https://www.mclaren.com/formula1/team/fernando-alonso/mclaren-confirms-fernando-alonso-decision/


McLAREN CONFIRMS FERNANDO ALONSO DECISION
Fernando will not race in Formula 1 in 2019

McLaren Racing today confirms that double F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso will not race in Formula 1 in 2019.

Fernando, who turned 37 in July, is competing in his 17th F1 season, his fifth with McLaren, and has amassed 32 wins, 22 pole positions and 97 podiums to date. Beyond his two titles – in 2005 he became the then-youngest world champion in F1 history – Fernando has been championship runner-up three times.

Zak Brown, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Racing, commented:
“Fernando is not only an outstanding ambassador for McLaren but also for Formula 1. His 17 years in the sport, as arguably the pre-eminent driver of his generation and undoubtedly an F1 great, have added another layer to Formula 1’s rich history.

“There is a time for everyone to make a change and Fernando has decided the end of this season to be his. We respect his decision, even if we believe he is in the finest form of his career. Our open dialogue with Fernando has meant we could plan for this eventuality.

“While evaluating his future during the past months, Fernando’s competitiveness has been undimmed. He has continued to perform at the highest level throughout, as we know he will do in the remaining nine races of this year’s championship.

“I know that the entire team joins me in paying tribute to Fernando’s enormous contribution to McLaren; he is a legend both for the championship and for the team. Fernando is an important part of our story and will join an illustrious line of McLaren drivers. On behalf of Shaikh Mohammed, Mansour and our entire board, we wish Fernando every success in the future.”

Fernando Alonso commented:
“After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it’s time for me to make a change and move on. I have enjoyed every single minute of those incredible seasons and I cannot thank enough the people who have contributed to make them all so special.

“There are still several grands prix to go this season, and I will take part in them with more commitment and passion than ever.

“Let’s see what the future brings; new exciting challenges are around the corner. I’m having one of the happiest times ever in my life but I need to go on exploring new adventures.

“I want to thank everyone at McLaren. My heart is with the team forever. I know they will come back stronger and better in the future and it could be the right moment for me to be back in the series; that would make me really happy. I have built so many great relationships with many fantastic people at McLaren, and they have given me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and race in other categories. I feel I am a more complete driver now than ever.

“I made this decision some months ago and it was a firm one. Nevertheless, I would like to sincerely thank Chase Carey and Liberty Media for the efforts made to change my mind and everyone who has contacted me during this time.

“Finally, I would also like to thank my former teams, team-mates, competitors, colleagues, partners, journalists and everyone I have worked with in my F1 career. And, especially, my fans all over the world. I am quite sure our paths will cross again in the future.”

[TJ]

Adios - if only he played the politics of F1 as well as he drove.

[Sensible]

If anyone is ever in Spain I highly recommend going to Alonso’s Museum in Oviedo, was everything from his first karts al the way through to the Indy 500 car

I was there the week after the LeMans win and the trophy was already on display and I’ve read that the Toyota will be there after the Endro season finishes

[LostInTheWoods]

If anyone is ever in Spain I highly recommend going to Alonso’s Museum in Oviedo, was everything from his first karts al the way through to the Indy 500 car

I was there the week after the LeMans win and the trophy was already on display and I’ve read that the Toyota will be there after the Endro season finishes

Man I wish I knew that when I was there.

[TJ]

Likewise but alas

[Sensible]

And musical chairs continues
Sainz to MacLaren

[anton]

https://www.mclaren.com/formula1/inside-the-mtc/carlos-sainz-race-mclaren-2019/

done and dusted..

i was actually thinking if sainz didnt get something sorted RBR would swap him and ricciardo asap 1. because it reduces ricciardo taking 2019 with him. 2. it would have allowed RBR to have a test run of sainz and verstappen to see how it went before making a descision
so i wonder where ocon or perez is going to go

[Sensible]

[url]
so i wonder where ocon or perez is going to go

Never actually thought that is could be Sergio that goes but with the Stroll money do FI need the Mexicash?

Ocon is a Merc driver so thinking along that line he is safer than Perez

[TJ]

Gasly to RBR

[dmanvan]

Given that RBR is third by a margin... would they entertain the idea of getting verst. some honda time..... in the last part of the year. in ToroRosso. Was thinking given some of their comments in the media about them thinking Dan was staying and then being blindsided with him going that they may demote him to TR for the rest of the season but given that they are going to use Honda next year would make more sense for their next years drivers to get some practice blowing up engines...:D...

[TJ]

Why - they would have already tested it in the sim ?

[dmanvan]

Why - they would have already tested it in the sim ? well steak knives are out over at RBR .... Dan def going to have to watch his back in the Spa.... if they could test everything in a sim they'd just race in a sim as well..... :D


https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/f1/red-bull-turns-on-wa-formula-one-ace-daniel-ricciardo-ng-b88936125z

[TheChad]

Dan has retired 1/3 of his races this year.
I don't think anyone in an RBR needs to sit in a Honda powered car to know what blowing up a motor feels like.

[dmanvan]

or they are like saving themselves.... for the honour ..... Arigatou gozaimasu ......

[TJ]

https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article13142980.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200/0_Formula-One-F1-Belgian-Grand-Prix.jpg