Formula 1 2017: sponsored by Chase Carey's tache

[Giggles]

Missed that qualifying yesterday. Hamilton is such a petulant classless child when things aren't going his way.

[Gray Fox]

Lance Stroll to take himself and at least 1 other driver out of the race at turn 1.

[Disco]

First I've seen of this weekend, I'm almost ashamed to admit I'm looking forward to Indy more than the F1. :gs:

[Giggles]

Is the indy an oval?

[John Arne]

Missed that qualifying yesterday. Hamilton is such a petulant classless child when things aren't going his way.

Every interview I saw, he took it well. He was cheesed off with the yellow - but who wouldn't be?

[Disco]

Yes, when F1 went there they built a mickey mouse infield section which everyone hated, the yanks don't use it though as it involves sometimes turning right.

[Giggles]

Might give it a watch. UK channel​ or dodgy stream?

Definitely seen enough of this, it's mind numbing.

[Shindig]

Yes, when F1 went there they built a mickey mouse infield section which everyone hated, the yanks don't use it though as it involves sometimes turning right.

I'm not sure that's the whole story (it's a very spectator-driven sport so they woo at high speeds and the fact they can see it all from whatever seat they have) but I really enjoy the NASCAR lot going around actual circuits.

[Disco]

You know it's just possible that my post wasn't a full critique of the entirety of oval racing.

[Disco]

Might give it a watch. UK channel​ or dodgy stream?

Definitely seen enough of this, it's mind numbing.

I think it's on BT, I would think 4/5 this afternoon. I'll be using a stream or aceplayer depending on what I can find.

[Giggles]

I never noticed the bus lane before. Who the fuck gets a bus in Monte Carlo?

[Disco]

I wouldn't think there's an awful lot of parking, plus it'll probably cost about £80 a stop.

[Disco]

How can you have Pat Symonds critiquing race strategy and still keep a straight face? Are our memories really that short?

[John Arne]

Im flicking back and forth... has there been a genuine overtake yet?

[Disco]

Well Jenson did try one, not exactly successful.

[Shindig]

Lance Stroll to slam his breaks on and trigger another one, probably.

[Gray Fox]

I legitimately don't recall any on track overtake after the start.

Bring back re-fuelling and make them stop more.

[Lewis]

If 'Seb' beats 'Lewis' this year in basically equal cars, is he OFFICIALLY the better driver?

[Shindig]

Nah, just the better qualifier.

[Disco]

It would make him the better driver this year, that's all you can ever say without getting into personal preference. Also, the wider argument would require him learning how to overtake properly.

[Disco]

Wow, whatever Indy coverage I'm watching is so american I think I can feel my arteries furring up.

386bd184023343b6a6745dfff518be8a581212ce

[Disco]

And now there's a frankly bizarre advert for cancer medication. Actual cancer drugs being sold in the middle of a motor race, amazing.

[Giggles]

I forgot the ball was on TV here so I didn't get watching.

[Disco]

The grid line up was full length shots of the drivers all making jokes, CanyouhearthedrumsFernando looked like it was the most embarrassing moment of his life.

[Ian]

And now there's a frankly bizarre advert for cancer medication. Actual cancer drugs being sold in the middle of a motor race, amazing.

How will the doctor know what to prescribe you if you don't tell him!?

[Disco]

Alonso is leading but we missed it because we were watching adverts......for Indycar, which we're already watching.

[Giggles]

This is why American sports need stoppages, because they'll show the ads anyway.

[Disco]

It would appear to suffer from the same problem as the rest of america, anything that is higher/bigger/faster is automatically considered better. There have been a million passes so far (less than a quarter of the race gone) but there's no point in watching them as none of them mean anything. Favourite thing so far is someone asking a race engineer Yo, what's with all the math?!

[Shindig]

Well, that crash is the kind that took Zanardi's legs.

The state of your lottery, America. I dunno if this is national, state or what but it looks like a game show Lenny Bennett would host in the 80s.

[Disco]

Dixon is lucky to be alive, it doesn't look the safest place to have an accident.

[Giggles]

Suzi Perry is after fairly hefting up. She used to be a tight enough looking bit for her age.

[Shindig]

Every interview she did in MotoGP made me think she was laying down for every straight rider in the paddock. Also, I'm amazed these races ever finish.

[Disco]

We're not even half way through.

[Giggles]

This seems like the sort of thing you'd be safe enough turning on around now.

[Lewis]

I once tried to watch a full Le Mans and soon realised to just give it ten minutes every few hours.

[Disco]

Yeah, the first 150 laps of this were entirely pointless.

[Magic]

Is he still winning?

[Disco]

:lol:

Familiar end to a race for Nando.

[Giggles]

He did good, familiar ending though.

[Disco]

Jesus all these stoppages make it interminable to watch.

[Giggles]

This is good shit though with so few laps to go.

[Serj]

Sato. :cool: Now there's a blast from the past.

[Disco]

This is good shit though with so few laps to go.

Agreed, the last 15 laps were great.

[John Arne]

Are American (or Indy Series) drivers that terrible that the likes of Chilton and Sato win races, and most astonishingly, Alonso can just rock up and almost pick up a win??

I imagine if one of those Yank drivers turned up to Spa in a Ferrari, they wouldn't stand a chance.

[Jimmy Floyd]

See also Scott Speed and Sebastien Bourdais. Indycar hasn't been competitive in that sense since the 1980s.

[Giggles]

I'd imagine there's far more money in F1 so the quality difference would naturally be there, wouldn't be anything surprising. It'd be like Cronaldo going to the SPL for a few weeks and people wondering is the quality poor there when he does well.

[John Arne]

I'd imagine there's far more money in F1 so the quality difference would naturally be there, wouldn't be anything surprising. It'd be like Cronaldo going to the SPL for a few weeks and people wondering is the quality poor there when he does well.

I don't think it's quite that comparable, given the massive differences in cars, tracks and driving style (though their are obvious similarities) - there's also the fact the many F1 drivers are pay drivers, so there isn't necessarily more money to be made in F1 (except for the top, top drivers). For example, the winner of the Indy500 picks up something like $2.8m, whereas, Pascal Wehrlein is rumoured to be picking up just $400k a year.

It is not more likely that Yank drivers are more insular, and therefore less likely to want to challenge elsewhere, and even leave Indy?

[Giggles]

Probably something in that too yeah. America is the world.

[Giggles]

Also, :face:

http://nypost.com/2017/05/28/sportswriter-slammed-for-racist-tweet-about-indy-500-winner/


http://static01.mediaite.com/med/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-28-at-7.53.13-PM-1-e1496015716613-650x400.jpg

[John Arne]

Jesus :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

The top American drivers these days all go into NASCAR for the easy money, and the less said about NASCAR the better.

[Shindig]

I imagine if one of those Yank drivers turned up to Spa in a Ferrari, they wouldn't stand a chance.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Jacques_Villeneuve_at_Mont-Tremblant_2010_01.jpg/220px-Jacques_Villeneuve_at_Mont-Tremblant_2010_01.jpg

1995 Indy 500 and Indy Car Champion. 1996 F1 World Drivers' Championship runner-up. 1997 F1 World Drivers' Champion.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Montoya doubled up as well. It's been utter garbage since the end of CART (2002) though and even in the 90s it was a bit ropey beyond a couple.

[John Arne]

1995 Indy 500 and Indy Car Champion. 1996 F1 World Drivers' Championship runner-up. 1997 F1 World Drivers' Champion.

That's a good shout. Though he did have a Formula 3 background.

[Shindig]

A few of them do, to be fair. Sato, Bourdais, Power, Kanaan, Zanardi, etc.

[Disco]

The standard has always been lower in Indycar because it's just a regional series, it's gotten worse in recent years because they buggered about with the rules to the point where it's no longer even a prototype series. There have been (as there always will be) good drivers who can occasionally make the crossover to F1 but there have been what, two who've ever come over and won a title? Bits of the race yesterday were good but you only have to look at the grid made up of failed F2 drivers and people in their late 40's to see what the standard is.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It was probably roughly parallel in the 50s and 60s, but then frankly it should have been as they had massive money and hadn't had their industries ravaged by war. And even then Jim Clark went over and pissed it.

[John Arne]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsjWzn7Ettg

Look at the size of the safety stewards :D

[Disco]

I think the new owners of F1 would be wise to look at this weekend and make sure it's as easy as possible for F1 drivers to go and do things like this.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They should let Kimi have the weekend off for the Finland Rally.

[Shindig]

Hulkenberg won Le Mans on his time off.

[Disco]

Lewis got a helmet for equalling Senna's pole position tally, which leaves him three behind Schumacher. What do you reckon he should get to commemorate that particular milestone? Answers on a postcard and a bonus point to anyone who matches my tremendously distasteful first thought.

[Giggles]

Lol vegetated German lol.

[Giggles]

And if it's 'Senna' and 'Schumacher' then it's 'Hamilton'. You're all at it you slags, enough's enough. He's not your mate down the road or anything.

[Disco]

Collaborator.

[Shindig]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy91BcB8pRQ

Toby Moody on commentary. Yay!

[Jimmy Floyd]

Anything in which Fabien Barthez qualifies ahead of Karun Chandhok gets my vote.

[Shindig]

Oh, I forgot about him! :D

[Disco]

Kamui :cool: What a guy.

Toby Moody is surprisingly ok when he's separated from Julian Ryder slobbering over everything.

[Lewis]

Other than 'Jackie Chan DC Racing' being a thing (and leading for a bit), this Le Mans reads like the least interesting edition ever, so that is probably another one for the regulated out of existence bin.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Everyone has retired except one of the Porsches, right?

I've never really got Le Mans. It is to pointless cars what the America's Cup is to pointless boats.

[Lewis]

Yes. Toyota should have walked a 1-2, and probably a 1-2-3, but all of their cars have blown up/caught fire, and there is only one left battling away in tenth or something. Expect mass suicides before the end of the day.

[Lewis]

lol the Corvette got a puncture on the last lap and let the plucky Aston Martin in.

[Lewis]

'A Chinese team with Jackie Chan. They're certainly going to be kung fu fighting over the coming days.'

It's a good job only sad acts are watching this mate.

[bruhnaldo]

I may be a sad act but I thought the last bit between the Corvette and the Aston was pretty interesting.

I thought Jordan Taylor (Corvette) played it perfectly. He almost seemingly left the door "open" for the Aston then hit the sling-shot out of the corner to get back in front.

Of course, the two had a bit of a collision and that cut the tire smfh.

Was really hoping for Jordan to come thru for the W :(

[Lewis]

I missed them incidentally donning the Ford GT as well. Ford should really have gone all out this year, since the 1966 car was British, but they insist on that.

[Disco]

Azerbaijan once again staking a claim for the most ridiculous grid anthem of the year, not only that but the music is out of step with the lady lip syncing along. Someone is getting liquidated for that.

[Gray Fox]

I'd like to be a fly on the wall for that force india debrief.

[Disco]

Surely you don't get away with deliberately ramming another driver, black flag the dickhead.

[Gray Fox]

Also Vettel just wheel bumped Hamilton out of rage. He's SEETHING.

[Giggles]

Both need to be DQ'd for that. Hamilton will get off though.

[Disco]

That's what I mean. The FI thing was down to Ocon.

[Disco]

Both need to be DQ'd for that. Hamilton will get off though.

Like on the road, the person behind is responsible for keeping the gap. Vettel misjudged where Hamilton would slow down to allow the SC to pull away then went mental about his own mistake.

[John Arne]

Hamilton didn't change speed - whilst Vettel accelerated. I cant see how you can blame Hamilton for that.

Also, the FIA have allowed Vettel to change his front wing during a red flag stoppage (without losing his position) - even though he caused the incident - how is that allowed?

[Giggles]

Hamilton didn't change speed - whilst Vettel accelerated. I cant see how you can blame Hamilton for that.

Also, the FIA have allowed Vettel to change his front wing during a red flag stoppage (without losing his position) - even though he caused the incident - how is that allowed?

Mercedes were working on their car also.

[John Arne]

Mercedes were working on their car also.

I thought the rule (as the commentator explained it) - is that certain work is allowed - however, changing the front wing is not (without a penalty). Strange.

[Giggles]

Like on the road, the person behind is responsible for keeping the gap. Vettel misjudged where Hamilton would slow down to allow the SC to pull away then went mental about his own mistake.

He might as well have been a Lithuanian looking for a whiplash claim.

[John Arne]

And to be fair - the commentators could be wrong.

[Disco]

He might as well have been a Lithuanian looking for a whiplash claim.

I don't know what that means.

I think you can change loose/damaged bodywork if the stewards think it could be dangerous, which is why Vettel changed his front wing.

[John Arne]

Alonso complaining about the lack of power in every radio message is a bit boring. Does he think that his mechanic isn't aware of that?

[Disco]

Of course not, but it's his only sensible public outlet other than outright slating the team in the press.

[John Arne]

Yeah, it's still boring.

Well played, Stroll - that was awesome.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Stupid race at a stupid track, which Force India should have won and probably with a 1-2.

[Gray Fox]

Needs more races like that. It's like Monaco, but you know, good and with overtaking.

Austria should be much more straight forward, which will be a shame.

[niko_cee]

Seemed a bit odd that Vettel was allowed to damage Hamiton's car, and then have a run at him (what a pleb), and yet was allowed to repair the damage he did to his own car without penalty under the red flag (whereas Hamilton could have no such remedy as good luck replacing the back end of the car in the pit lane). Quite convenient how the penalty panned out in the end as well. Quite a fun race.

[Gray Fox]

If Vettel gets another one of those before Silverstone, he's due a 1 race ban. In reality there's only Austria so Hamilton should go full on troll mode and get a rise out of him.

[Shindig]

I'm amazed he didn't get a DQ for it. Driving up to him and turning into him like tit.

[Disco]

Seemed a bit odd that Vettel was allowed to damage Hamiton's car, and then have a run at him (what a pleb), and yet was allowed to repair the damage he did to his own car without penalty under the red flag (whereas Hamilton could have no such remedy as good luck replacing the back end of the car in the pit lane). Quite convenient how the penalty panned out in the end as well. Quite a fun race.

I had a sneaking suspicion at the time that they may have given him the stop/go when it became apparent that Lewis would have to stop. The timing is almost certainly coincidence but the new regime probably won't be so comfortable with a German in a red car ramming people and going on to win a race.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I had a sneaking suspicion at the time that they may have given him the stop/go when it became apparent that Lewis would have to stop. The timing is almost certainly coincidence but the new regime probably won't be so comfortable with a German in a red car ramming people and going on to win a race.

Sneaking suspicion? Absolutely blatant it was, and I say this as a Hamilton sympathiser, before his headrest came off they were saying it would be looked at after the race.

[Disco]

I heard it said on commentary but didn't see a message from the stewards, I doubt they'd be quite that quick off the mark.

[John Arne]

The more I see the Vettel incident, the more I think he should have been DQ'd - although I don't actually think he meant to ram him - he put himself alongside Hamilton and clearly turned into him (accidently or deliberately). Do that in any other race or situation and it's an immediate black flag.

Regarding the stewards investigating after the race - the commentators on my feed certainly believed that the incident was broken into 2 incidents;
- the rear shunting, to be investigated after the race
- the side-swipe that was penalised during the race

But yeah - it wasn't clear at all. I'm pretty certain that I saw a stewards message about the investigation happening after the race.

[John Arne]

Also, is it all possible that the headrest was unhatched either of the two times that Vettel smashed into Hamilton? I'm guessing not, given that it's kinda designed exactly not to do that, right?

[niko_cee]

He would have had to have taken the headrest off when the race was red flagged so some numpty just forgot to clip it on when they restarted. Unless, I suppose, it was somehow broken but this wasn't revealed until the car was up to race pace (so they unwittingly put a damaged one back on). That would be an interesting development, although wildly unlikely seeing as, as you say, I'd imagine it's designed to survive more than a mild rear-ending.

[John Arne]

Oh shit yeah, I forgot that the red flag happened in-between both incidents.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm not sure about the black flag, when do you ever see black flags? The only one I can remember was Schumacher getting one at Silverstone '94 when he refused to stop for a penalty.

[niko_cee]

Didn't he also get one for overtaking on the formation lap? That rings a bell.

[John Arne]

Schumacher chat reminded my of this old beauty...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6CamQ3fn64

I mean just look at the on-board.... blatantly just drives the car forward, even when he recovered the initial "lock up".

[Jimmy Floyd]

Didn't he also get one for overtaking on the formation lap? That rings a bell.

That was the same one. Got a stop-go penalty for it, failed to come in, was black flagged, and then failed to come in for that either. Finished second to Our Damon, but ended up being disqualified and I think even had a race ban which resulted in some JJ Lehto and/or Nicola Larini based madness, as things did in the 90s.

[SincereTheRebel]

How long has haas and roman been in q3 of qualifying?

[John Arne]

This presenter bloke is a massive clown.

[Shindig]

The MotoGP catch-up continues with France. Started with the Moto3 lot and .... I'm amazed nobody is dead. Seriously. So many riders being tagged and collected. Good set of races. Objectively the most watchable sport.

[John Arne]

Vettel is such a snivelling cunt.

Bottas' start looked fine to me.

Kvyat :face:

[John Arne]

Ricciardo on starting from the back, "I'm going to merk some fools tomorrow" :D

[Disco]

Was Lewis just a half a second faster than everyone else or did something happen?

[Gray Fox]

It was just Lewis more than anything. He was a full second ahead of everyone after Q2 as well.

[niko_cee]

I'm sure the Ferrari operatives are on the case to get him demoted for blocking Grosjean. Presumaly Haas were bunged something (do they use Ferrari engines?) to not bother trying another lap when he had about 8 minutes to do so.

[Gray Fox]

No further action. Presumably he apologised and that was punishment enough.

[Disco]

Difference between Verstappen and Kvyat: the first makes a mistake and puts it right but going round the outside of Vettel on one of the longest corners on the track, the other gets annoyed and takes out his teammate.

[Gray Fox]

P45 incoming for Kvyat.

[Disco]

What's happened to Brundle, they said he'd been taken ill.

[Gray Fox]

Hopefully he hasn't done a Jerry Lawler.

[Disco]

Just found this as an alternative to the (now behind a paywall) live timing site. https://f1.tfeed.net/live

[Shindig]

Give that Max Verstappen a championship winning car and he will win the championship.

.... yes. Anyone in a championship winning car is likely to win a championship. Stick to telling us about pit stops.

[Disco]

This is hilarious.

[Gray Fox]

Well that all kicked off at the end. :D

[Shindig]

Happy for that. Lewis being brought back into contention should be good, providing his car doesn't bin itself. Bottas is bringing it home as well, these days.

Moto3 in Mugello was nuts. 20 bikes running for the win. Great stuff.

[Gray Fox]

1 point and another of Hamiltons favoured tracks next. He probably should be ahead going into the break. But then again he was at this point last season.

[John Arne]

Di Resta in for Massa with about 2 hours until qualifying :)

[John Arne]

Kvyat, having spun, returning back onto the track right in front of speeding Perez. He really is a fucking idiot.

[Disco]

Not too shabby from Di Resta considering the circumstances. He at least avoided Badoer levels of humiliation.

[John Arne]

Yeah, he did well - and got faster with basically every lap he did.

[Gray Fox]

Not sure if anyones watching. Ferrari have firmly set the stall out here.

Vettel has a car problem and has had Kimi on a piece of string behind him almost all of the race, but they're refusing to let him by to get the win.

Hamilton who was behind Bottas similarly has been allowed to pass on the proviso he gives the pace back should he not do it.

[Giggles]

Not sure if anyones watching. Ferrari have firmly set the stall out here.

Vettel has a car problem and has had Kimi on a piece of string behind him almost all of the race, but they're refusing to let him by to get the win.

Hamilton who was behind Bottas similarly has been allowed to pass on the proviso he gives the pace back should he not do it.

Yeah, Ferrari always wrong. Everyone else always right.

[Gray Fox]

Turns out Ferrari were right. Pretty boring to see though.

[Giggles]

They're clearly ruining the sport by not letting 'lewis' romp to the title. The cunts.

[Disco]

On a different track they would both have been passed, then again it wasn't a different track so probably the right call. I wonder if it would have been any different had Hamilton been able to communicate properly prior to the first stop.

Also lol at anyone expecting Ferrari to let their second driver through, has that ever happened when it actually mattered?

[John Arne]

Giggles :D

[Giggles]

Giggles :D

Every race Ferrari have any success in it's the same shite here.

[Disco]

Ferrari should be out in front of everyone else, they have a built in advantage.

[Gray Fox]

It would have been just as boring if Mercedes and Ferrari had swapped places.

[niko_cee]

How does the Hungarian Grand Prix keep going? Does their government plough loads of cash into it? It's hardly a glamour race, and it's the shittest circuit perhaps ever conceived outside of the brain of Herman Tilke. It's not like it even has any meaningful history. I can sort of understand the other central European shite (Austria) due to the sponsorship, but who gives a fuck about the Magyars?

[Disco]

I like it, it has some actual history. I think it has a place on the calendar too, as much as Monaco, Canada etc.

[Shindig]

They hold quite a few races there and it's always going to be well supported from Germans, Austrians and Finns.

[John Arne]

Every race Ferrari have any success in it's the same shite here.

What shite? I'm not being flippant - I genuinely want to know which comments you think are so outrageously biased against Ferrari?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Hungary was brought in by Bernie late 80s as one of his first acts (iirc) to symbolise the fall, or impending fall, of the iron curtain and the economic opportunities he imagined might follow.

Not liking Ferrari is perfectly legitimate, they're a bunch of preening tossers and always have been since the old man was happy to let all their drivers die in the 50s.

[Clunge]

Kind of like Hungary because it's still a proper(ish) circuit, even if all the gravel has gone to be replaced by run-offs.

[Shindig]

Someone at the Beeb is having a laugh. They've swapped Alonso and Hamilton's grid spots. It have my heart a flutter.

[John Arne]

Alonso crying into his helmet makes me so happy.

[Gray Fox]

I don't think Hamilton will get away with not stopping again here. Vettel just needs to stay in his mirrors and he should be in for a win.

[SincereTheRebel]

I turned my head when the pink cars went through the corners up the hill. I thought there was gonna be a big accident.

[Disco]

Fucking idiots, the first lap should have been warning enough.

[Gray Fox]

That Force India debrief should be televised :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

I thought Ocon had his share of the blame as well, pair of absolute morons.

Have Mercedes borked this?

[Gray Fox]

I think Mercedes have chucked this. At least go onto the super softs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There's something about Les Combes, what a fucking electric defence that was by Hamilton.

[Disco]

They don't have any more sets of SS to use, and you'd back Hamilton to defend a lead 9 times out of 10.

ON the FI thing, I thought Ocon was silly to put his car into that gap but Lord Brundle is blaming Perez '100%' so what do I know.

[John Arne]

I missed a few laps - did Alonso have a problem or did he just give up and quit because "waaa waaa my car isn't very fast"?

[Disco]

He asked if there was any chance of rain then retired the car citing a 'loss of power'.

[Clunge]

50/50 Ocon vs Perez for me.

Ocon had every right to go for it and was given no room by Perez which was utterly stupid.

By the same token though, if Ocon had just bedn patient a few more corners, he's have nailed him on the straight.

Either way, it all conspired to allow Ricciardo to do another bitchin' over take and become hero of the day again.

[Gray Fox]

Great defending from Hamilton at the re-start. Track position just seemed too important after that. As cited by the cards being switched in Raikkonen and Bottas and the same situation occuring.

[niko_cee]

So Lewis Hamilton has written a poem about Princess Diana? I dread to click.

[Disco]

Fucking hell.

Giggles, go to town mate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I take it all back. Forza Ferrari.

[SincereTheRebel]

These F1 drivers are so soft. There is a little rain at monza. and they are on the radio claiming its too dangerous. You earn all these fame. These are the conditions that separate the men from the boys.

[Disco]

Or the living from the dead.

[Shindig]

Hmmm .... field's split on tires. Could mix this grid up.

Ocon starting from third. Ferraris a row back.

[Disco]

You know you're having a bad day when it's raining and Felipe Massa still beats you. Also, is Lance Stroll actually decent? It's so hard to tell but that's the third or fourth time he's looked like the real deal.

[John Arne]

Surely this is going to be a Hamilton procession, unless Vettel overtakes the Willaims and Force India by the end of the 2 lap or so. In fact, even if he does, I don't think he will keep up with Hamilton.

[Shindig]

Max is getting to be a bit of a crash magnet.

[Disco]

Alonso appears to be having a nervous breakdown.

[Shindig]

Renault engines next year, man. He'll be fine.

[John Arne]

Alonso still asking "where is Palmer". He is such an unlikeable twat.

Ricciardo however :wub: :wub:

[John Arne]

I was reminded of the Prost-Heidfeld Formula E incident earlier.... I still cant believe that Prost only got a 10 grid penalty for it... the guy should have been banned from all motor racing for 2 years..


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

[Shindig]

Venturi driver Heidfield welcomed Prost's apology, adding that he accepted his rival would not "drive anybody off on purpose".

He checked his mirrors three times. Pre-meditated.

[John Arne]

Exactly... checked his mirrors... waited... then literally swerved into him at high speed. Unbelievable (Jeff).

[phonics]

Not the topic of conversation but what the fuck are those tracks. I've seen wider roads in Naples. You couldn't over-take each other on scooters on that shit.

[Shindig]

It's a series heavy on the street circuits. Not great when you consider how wide the cars are. Street circuits are very spectator-friendly but tend to do little for the drivers.

[phonics]

There's street circuits and then there's barriers either side of the cars like a cattle farm.

[SincereTheRebel]

That crash is savage.

[Disco]

FIA stewards really don't like punishing drivers for deliberately ramming someone do they.

[Disco]

This is interesting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/41265779

More fuel for the rumour that they're planning to pull out altogether.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sounds like Renault are dumping them more than the other way round. By then they will have their works team, McLaren as customers... maybe two is enough for them.

Puts old Seb under pressure, as Ferrari are going to want one of those Red Bull drivers to replace Kimi, or at least they should do.

[SincereTheRebel]

Ferrari dont like young drivers. They are like the chelsea of f1

[Disco]

Rather tellingly Kimi just signed his new deal about a week before Vettel confirmed an extension to his. Looks like they're happy to mollify him with a clear number 2 even if it does harm their Constructor points. I suppose that doesn't really matter so much when you get given £100m extra just for kicks, I wonder where they'd have to finish in the CC to end up with less prize money than the winners. Is it even possible?

The formula is far more engine centric than it's been for years and RB really don't like it, there are huge penalties for leaving before 2020 so they may well run the operation down or sell part of it to a manufacturer to help cut costs even further. They already have a pre-existing relationship with Aston who could see F1 as an attractive prospect if Liberty make it all a bit more sensible. All speculation of course, but you don't sell as many fizzy drinks from a midfield team in a sport that is seen as less edgy than other things Austrian billionaires could spend their money on.

[bruhnaldo]

McLaren will never be good again will they

[Disco]

It's been said a few times over the last few years but their chassis is supposed to be one of the best on the grid, although I'm not sure how you're supposed to tell. Williams are the ones I worry about, they need an over 25 in one of their cars (because sponsors) and there aren't a lot of options on the grid that aren't Jolyon Palmer. Then again I suppose Willy are now the posters boys for 'I'm here because my dad was good/rich'

[Jimmy Floyd]

McLaren will be good again (or top 10 runners, at least) once they bin off these disastrous Japanese motors.

Over 25 drivers are hard to come by when people are constantly getting sent to tin tops at 23 because the next 20 year old has shown up. Very few solid grand prix drivers around in the way there used to be - Checo Perez and Grosjean the closest things to it.

[Disco]

They've kept their personnel even after a few years of abject failure, so the signs are decent for a revival.

[Lewis]

There were rumours the other day that Porsche will buy out the Red Bull team (but keep them as a sponsor) and be ready for 2021.

[Disco]

That's the way it would happen but it probably needs Liberty to set out how the new deal for 2020 will work before any manufacturers commit.

[Lewis]

I don't know why they would bother, but if they did you would expect them to run everything as a proper works team straight out of Stuttgart. They aren't really the sort to build the engines and out-source the rest.

[Disco]

Historically it's been far better to buy an existing team, convincing people who know what they're doing to move to Stuttgart to start from scratch would be a bit mental. Especially these days when there's Sauber, Force India, Toro Rosso, and maybe even Red Bull who would be available to buy.

[Lewis]

That would make sense, but all the stories I have read implied that they would just re-brand the stationary in Milton Keynes.

[Disco]

That's all anyone ever does. Ferrari, WIlliams, and McLaren are the only ones who are the same team they started as.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The current Mercedes incarnation I think you can just about trace back to Ken Tyrrell.

[Disco]

Tyrell - BAR - Honda - Brawn - Mercedes

[Lewis]

That is part of why I don't see what they (or the wider Volkswagenreich) would get from it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The same thing Mercedes get from putting their stickers on at Brackley: prestige and brand prominence.

[Disco]

It's basically a way to get advertising out of R&D that you would be doing anyway. Hence why people like BMW, Toyota, Honda etc walked away when it was an aero formula with engine technology from last century. Now the engines etc are more relevant (and it's not being run by a mental octogenarian) they're slowly coming back because they see a return on the money they put in.

[Lewis]

Porsche could never race again and they would still be the greatest brand in motorsport, and the research and development side would appear to be covered by them (and others) piling into Formula E at the expense of the mega expensive Le Mans programmes they were running. There is less scope for engine development through Formula 1 where they are concerned.

[Disco]

As Jimmy said, prestige and prominence. Nobody watches Formula E, or Le Mans for that matter.

[Lewis]

Yeah, that goes for Mercedes, whose motorsport record was previously synonymous with Nazi backing and killing spectators, but Porsche don't need it.

[Disco]

They do if they want anyone to see what they're doing, F1 offers exponentially more exposure.

[Gray Fox]

A fair bit happened today.

McLaren have dropped Honda for 2018 and moved to Renault

Toro Rosso have switched to Honda engines, which has apparently always been the plan. However the senior team wanted to stay with Renault. But all their bitching has caused Renault to pull the plug. The only solution is Honda or a new engine partner to F1.

Toro Rosso have announced Sainz is going to Renault for 2018 "on loan."

But you imagine now that Ricciardo and Verstappen will both be looking at moving away to a non-Honda powered team. Given we already know they are thinking of pulling the plug altogether, this certainly wont help.

[Disco]

It's all part of the same (supposed) phased withdrawal, Honda will inevitably be cheaper to offset the fact that they're still very obviously developing their engine. Where Ricciardo and Verstappen go is anyone's guess, will one or both fancy waiting it out to see who might be running the new team (Horner and Newey staying on might be a big factor)? Decent teams looking for a lead driver might include McLaren if they get their shit together, Ferrari are out while Vettel is there as I suspect would be Mercedes.

[bruhnaldo]

So what is McLaren the focus of Renault now? I thought they were starting up a works team again? Sorry I guess I can just google this information.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think Hamilton would take one of those as his team mate, even if in Max's case it would result in an almighty toy-throwing exercise on both sides.

[Disco]

It's the other way around, Mclaren wanted Renault engines but you're only allowed to supply three teams so Toro Rosso (who are basically up for sale so happy to take a cheaper deal with Honda) had to be dropped. McLaren are supposed to be developing their own engine in time for the new regs (whatever they are) but that's been a story for about a decade so who knows how much truth there is to it.

[Disco]

I think Hamilton would take one of those as his team mate, even if in Max's case it would result in an almighty toy-throwing exercise on both sides.

I thought that too, but I think management would be happier with the current line up. Bottas is good enough to score decent points but isn't likely to be close enough to Hamilton to give the kind of issues they've had in recent years. I suppose you could look at Verstappen as a long term replacement for Hamilton but you're asking for a few years of inter-team ructions.

[Shindig]

It's the other way around, Mclaren wanted Renault engines but you're only allowed to supply three teams so Toro Rosso (who are basically up for sale so happy to take a cheaper deal with Honda) had to be dropped. McLaren are supposed to be developing their own engine in time for the new regs (whatever they are) but that's been a story for about a decade so who knows how much truth there is to it.

There's probably still 300 Ford Cosworths stuck in the back of a Silverstone garage. Use them.

[Lewis]

Coventry Climax is long defunct. Honda could probably have had the branding for a fiver.

[Disco]

They can have it if they can pronounce it.

[Lewis]

'Lads, just pay the fi...'
*suicides*

[Disco]

Can you hear the drums Alonso is driving the dick off that McLaren.

[Shindig]

Vandorne as well. When they announced the split, did they immediately slap new engines in?

[Disco]

No, the track just favours chassis over engine, hence the front of the grid looking like it does.

[Lewis]

They do if they want anyone to see what they're doing, F1 offers exponentially more exposure.

Facebook has just informed me that the 'BOSS for Mercedes-Benz collection is here, as worn by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas drivers' (including black leather jackets, as worn by their previous Mercedes-driving customers), so maybe Porsche want a bit of that.

[Disco]

Yet another fashion war they've won.

[Lewis]

Sorry, I should have posted the link (http://www.hugoboss.com/uk/boss-men-mercedes-benz-looks/) in case anyone wants a thousand quid Mercedes-branded leather jacket. I saw Lewis 'Lewis' Hamilton at their HYPERCAR (which looks crap) launch the other day and thought that he looked like a wally these days.

https://s26.postimg.org/lu9teb9wp/Untitled.png

:gs:

[Jimmy Floyd]

Alain Prost was just giving Sky his 'thoughts', not sure what rock he has crawled out from to be the chief barb-spitter for Renault but jesus he must be even more of a corrupt shithead than Niki Lauda.

Sounded like he wanted to fire Jolyon Palmer asap as well.

[Disco]

Palmer is already gone, they wanted Sainz to take over mid season but I don't think TR would allow it. Palmer to Williams in the most undeserved promotion ever?

[Jimmy Floyd]

I mean it sounded like he wanted to walk over to the grid and haul him out of the car right now.

Why don't Williams go and get Di Resta back from Sky or something. In fact Brundle's probably still quicker than Palmer.

[SincereTheRebel]

Wet night race

[Disco]

Wow, is it actually raining in Singapore? I've been waiting years for this, it could be utter carnage.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Shitting it down and they're all moaning about visibility on the parade lap. Come on Charlie, don't bottle it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

:roflol:

[Disco]

:lol:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm blaming Vettel for that. Idiotic move across.

[Gray Fox]

Wow.

[Disco]

I'm blaming Vettel for that. Idiotic move across.

Looks like it, of the three he was the only one making a move across the track. He'll find a way to blame someone else though.

[Disco]

Be nice to see Ricciardo win this.

[Gray Fox]

Hamilton just needs to make sure of a finish here. Let the Bull have the win and stroll it home in 2nd, unless he's much much faster.

Both Ferraris at fault for that for me.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd be doing the same if I were Hamilton, all sorts of dangers out here, get that car home in 2nd or even 3rd. He is godlike in the wet though so he may have the pace.

Was Vettel fucked from the first incident or did he bin it Massa style on his own?

[Disco]

Kimi did nothing wrong, Vettel moved across (legitimately) to cover Verstappen but just didn't know how little space there was or that his teammate was there. Vettel technically at fault but it was unfortunate more than anything.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This has Monaco '96 written all over it. Palmer to win.

[Gray Fox]

Looks like Vettels was a car problem. He's spun it on a straight from what I saw.

[SincereTheRebel]

Fluid from the max collision was pouring out the middle of vettels car. They claim it probably caused his spin

[Gray Fox]

This is waiting for someone(Grosjean) to massively bin it and cause the red flag.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Some absolutely classic French strategic might there.

[John Arne]

Bloody hell. The first time I miss the start of a GP, and all hell breaks loose.

[Disco]

Going back to the Williams drive, on this evidence literally anyone with a pulse and a licence would be an improvement.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Wet races were never his strong point, but he's gone full René Arnoux here.

[Shindig]

On Motorbike news, Ana Carrasco became the first woman to win a World Championship race. Supersport 300. Sounds like something worth a watch seeing as the winning margin was 0.053 seconds.

[Giggles]

Hamilton gets handed a lead and the piece of cunt hasn't stopped moaning since.

[niko_cee]

My first thought when I came home and saw Hamilton was leading was how happy you'd be at such events.

With that banker gone hopefully the red menace can fuck off for another year.

[Gray Fox]

It's not over yet.

The one thing going for Hamilton is the swap he did at Hungary. You may well see him calling back that favour before the season is out.

[Giggles]

It's not over yet.

The one thing going for Hamilton is the swap he did at Hungary. You may well see him calling back that favour before the season is out.

The season was over after the race before this one.

[phonics]

The one time I wanted to watch the highlights the things on Channel 4...

Do they still do a package or no?

[niko_cee]

Just seen the start.

lol

[Gray Fox]

The one time I wanted to watch the highlights the things on Channel 4...

Do they still do a package or no?

They had the whole race live. Highlights will be on late at night probably.