F1 2020 - Corona Virus Edition

[Disco]

Teams & Drivers:

Mercedes
44 - Lewis Hamilton
77 - Valtteri Bottas

Ferrari
5 - Sebastian Vettel
16 - Charles Leclerc

Red Bull Honda
33 - Max Verstappen
23 - Alex Albon

Mclaren Renault
55 - Carlos Sainz
4 - Lando Norris

Renault
3 - Daniel Ricciardo
31 - Esteban Ocon

Toro Rosso Honda
10 - Pierre Gasly
26 - Daniil Kvyat

Racing Point Mercedes
11 - Sergio Perez
18 - Lance Stroll

Alfa Romeo Ferrari
7 - Kimi Raikkonen
99 - Antonio Giovinazzi

Haas Ferrari
8 - Romain Grosjean
20 - Kevin Magnussen

Williams Mercedes
63 - George Russell
6 - Nicholas Latifi


Calendar:
15/03 - Australia (Melbourne)
22/03 - Bahrain (Bahrain International)
05/04 - Vietnam (Hanoi)
19/04 - China (Shanghai)
03/05 - Netherlands (Zandvoort)
10/05 - Spain (Catalunya)
24/05 - Monaco (Monte Carlo)
07/06 - Azerbaijan (Baku)
14/06 - Canada (Montreal)
28/06 - France (Paul Ricard)
05/07 - Austria (A1 Ring)
19/07 - Great Britain (Silverstone)
02/08 - Hungary (Hungaroring)
30/08 - Belgium (Spa)
06/09 - Italy (Monza)
20/09 - Singapore (Marina Bay)
27/09 - Russia (Sochi)
11/10 - Japan (Suzuka)
25/10 - United States (Circuit of the Americas)
01/11 - Mexico (Hermanos Rodriguez)
15/11 - Brazil (Interlagos)
29/11 - Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

[Gray Fox]

I must have missed Ocon finally getting a drive. Though Haas can fuck off. I don't want another season of listening to both of their drivers whinging all year long.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I must have missed Ocon finally getting a drive. Though Haas can fuck off. I don't want another season of listening to both of their drivers whinging all year long.

It's worth it for the scenes of Gunther Steiner going mental on the Netflix doc.

When did we last have as samey a grid as this year? Two driver changes only, one of them at Williams where you could put Nicolas Cage in the car and get the same results as Nicolas Latifi will achieve.

[bruhnaldo]

We gonna have coronavirus in the OP all season and this shit is gonna be over by the end of March ffs

[SincereTheRebel]

Is Leclerc Ferrari #1?

[Clunge]

Gonna be a weird bridging season with the massive regs overhaul coming in 2021. I hope everyone becomes a bit more blasé and embraces their inner Kobayashi.

[Disco]

Is Leclerc Ferrari #1?

No official No1, it will be interesting to see who ends up fastest.

[niko_cee]

When does testing start?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Feb 19-21 and 26-28. I can't wait to see how much quicker Ferrari are this time. Mercedes are already sending out stories about their engine being a dud, like a sort of reverse Kim Jong-Un.

'Yeah, we won't have wheels until Montreal. Ferrari definitely have the upper hand.'

[7om]

That’s like when Hamilton comes on the radio on lap 3 saying his softs are fucked but he stays out til lap 30.

[Disco]

Take no notice of anything performance-wise until Q1 in Melbourne (apart from Williams being awful).

[Gray Fox]

This is the year of BIG WHEELS right?

[Jimmy Floyd]

'21 has the big wheels. The Haas was launched earlier if you want to see what a grey car looks like.

[John Arne]

The new Ferrari car is red.

[Disco]

China is off for now, may be rescheduled later in the year but good luck getting everyone to agree on a date.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Marchtember 30th.

They should replace it with Brands Hatch or some other unsafe throwback.

[Disco]

Run the reverse of an existing track on a Monday, Canada would work. It would be like Gran Turismo.

[SincereTheRebel]

I hear Imola is an OK track.

[Disco]

The new Ferrari car is red.

In similarly earth shattering news the new Merc is grey.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Run the reverse of an existing track on a Monday, Canada would work. It would be like Gran Turismo.

Reverse Baku please with an 8,000 mile run down into turn 1.

[Shindig]

It'll be Abu Dhabi twice. Coincidentally, I'm gonna make something of my youtube channel and lap around all the circuits in the games I own. Mainly because I only remember about a quarter of them. I'm starting with the Red Bull Ring because it's the only truly good track Tilke's given Formula 1.

[bruhnaldo]

We should do some forum time trials :drool:

[Pepe]

I'm ready.

https://i.imgur.com/A7CVuwO.jpg

[Pepe]

I don't think that I have ever sim-driven the Red Bull Ring, incidentally.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I have the most recent F1 game, first for a decade or so. Austria is probably the easiest circuit on it. Apex turn 2 can be challenging but the rest is a cakewalk. Some of the new tracks (hi Baku) are a nightmare though.

Suzuka sector 1 remains the pinnacle. Could drive that all day.

[SincereTheRebel]

Suzuka sector 1
Monaco sector 3
Nurburgring sector 1
Imola sector 2
Interlagos sector 2

[Shindig]

Yeah, turn 2 is the one that gets me. Trying to put the power down always catches me out. The Tilkedromes are going to be a grind. They all just run together with the same features.

[Giggles]

I only ever l liked the old Hockenheim through the woods because I couldn’t crash.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Baku and Singapore are hell as you can crash at pretty much any corner.

I think the hardest turns on the calendar are turn 10 Bahrain (corkscrew left hander) and then the one over the bridge at Singapore where there's basically a blind braking point. I don't know how the F1 guys chuck it in there with such confidence.

[Disco]

I haven't played one since the PS1 days. There were no track limits (you braked maybe twice a lap in Melbourne) and knocking off the front wing improved handling, I assume they're much the same these days.

[niko_cee]

I remember the old Hockenheim on what was probably that era of game, foot to the floor into the forest and then just plough into all and sundry at the chicane. What brakes?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yeah back in the day I recall you could go from Acqua Minerale to Tamburello more or less flat on whatever game I had, gaining about 15 seconds a lap in the process.

[Shindig]

https://i.redd.it/vq4bfoo28o711.png

Horrifying.

[Disco]

I don't understand Silverstone since they built the new pits, it just won't go into my brain.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The 'Wellington Straight' does not exist and I defy anyone to prove that it does.

[Shindig]

I don't even know why they remodelled so much of it. Although it does seem at death's door every year.

[Disco]

It did make sense, the old pits were ropey enough that they started believing Bernie really would take it somewhere else.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It remains the only circuit in the country that's big/good enough for proper cars, which is a bit of a national disgrace given that we drive the whole sport.

[Shindig]

Wasn't Donnington trying to get there?

[Disco]

The artist formerly known as Toro Rosso is actually a bit of a looker.

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

[bruhnaldo]

Reminds me of one of those old BMW Williams

[Shindig]

Ah, I forgot they rebranded.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't care what it looks like, being called Alpha when there is already a team called Alfa is a disaster.

[Shindig]

That McLaren looks like a very Briatore-era Renault. In other news, I've totted up the tracks I own in some form and ... it's 163 strong. This includes ovals and historical variants that I feel are significant. Basically, any real world location across 19 games. Although, if I want to be consistent here, I should add rally stages.

[John Arne]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEY3Q43aE_c

Steiner :D "If he doesn't want to come back, he can fuck off, both of them".

[Gray Fox]

I see the new Williams couldn't decide what colour it wanted to be. It actually looks like a car that belongs in last place.

[Disco]

I think it just looks odd because they've actually got some sponsors this year.

[Shindig]

Footwork as fuck. Martini looked so good on that car.

[Disco]

Before you open the spoiler I want you to see if you can guess what former Minardi driver Tarso Marques does with his time these days.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am8hV5Al514

[Giggles]

I’d went with bullfighter.

[phonics]

I haven't clicked, I'm going... greengrocer.

edit: Nearly got it.

[Shindig]

Tarzo Marks. Deary me.

[Jimmy Floyd]

While we're digging up late 90s backmarkers: that Williams looks like it was designed purely to be driven by Ricardo Rosset.

[Disco]

90s backmarkers would probably be quicker. When I looked up Marques I saw he had three top 10 finishes in a Minardi which outstrips Williams over a similar period.

In other news I finally got round to watching some Drive to Survive, even in the first two episodes the running theme seems to be lolling at Grosjean which I highly approve of.

[Disco]

Oval racing and helicopters, not even once.

https://streamable.com/xgsxt

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't understand how, in the pre-safety era, everyone in oval races didn't just die within three or four races. Unless they did. I'll have to do some research.

[Disco]

28 according to Wiki, with no more than 7 in a single decade. And they weren't slow either, average speeds were up in the 180's by 1970.

My guess is stock cars of that era were inherently safer than an open wheel/cockpit prototype which was likely knocked up in a shed using twigs and papier mache rather than being hollowed from a block of Detroit steel.

[Pepe]

Yeah, those stock cars weigh a ton. Like cruising on a Lincoln Continental. I bet that most deaths were due to no Hans device. Many more ways to die in open wheelers.

[Pepe]

You can buy your own, by the way:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym3xPnXWBMw

[Pepe]

Then again, there is also this:

https://www.tour-de-force.co.uk/tdf-1

[Pepe]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQ7AKsKWkAU00D5?format=jpg&name=small

:D

[Pepe]

Donned it, to be fair.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTnP2ZAekEw

[Disco]

Nice, I normally skip ahead until I can see cars moving, he clearly quite enjoyed saying 'Great American Race'.

[Shindig]

I've figured out who he reminds me of. Giant mitts.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dreamworks/images/8/82/Wensleydale.png/revision/latest/top-crop/width/360/height/360?cb=20120628224132

[phonics]

...He's got famously small hands. Half the republican primary was about how he had tiny hands and a small dick.

[Shindig]

He displays them so prominently, though. Like he's honking a pair in every speech.

[bruhnaldo]

500 was good but man I thought Ryan Newman died for a solid hour. Was furiously refreshing twitter for info, I just hope he's not Schumacher'd or worse.

[Shindig]

I don't approve of twitter's 'Dale saved him' sentiment. Dale hated the HANS device.

[bruhnaldo]

He sure did, but, it was mandated after Dale, so on some level I get it but...

You also have to take into account almost 90% of NASCAR fans are sentimental spiritual types who likely think Trump was sent to save America by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself, so.

[Disco]

I don't think the hans would have saved him from the worst part of the crash, the uprights/roll cage around the window did that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The main headline from testing is that Giovinazzi now has a ponytail.

[bruhnaldo]

They just posted Ryan Newman walking out of hospital with his daughters. Unbelievable.

[Giggles]

Seen someone tweet about him earlier (Ross Tucker I think) but I’ve no idea who he is.

[bruhnaldo]

Oh sure sorry we were talking a little about him a couple posts back.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEQDVvBOK3U

I'd start around :30 to get a full idea. This is the very last lap of the race.

I thought for sure he'd be dead or at least severely, severely injured. This man is walking out of the hospital 2 days later.

[Giggles]

Shit yeah you’d be lucky to still be intact at all after that.

[Gray Fox]

Seems Mercedes have brought some invention to their car this time around.

The driver can pull back on the steering wheel and by the looks of it, it straightens up the wheels.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Watching the video in sector 3 I'm pretty confident that LH will be equaling 'Michael' by the end of the year.

[Disco]

I feel a Direttiva Tecnica may be on the horizon.

I'm not sure if that system would help with straight line speed (and allow you to run higher drag) or just be easier on the tyres. Either way the other teams are going to be spitting feathers if it's on the grid in Melbourne.

[Gray Fox]

I'm no F1 engineer but if it narrows the car up and gives them less drag like I think it does. Combine that with being in a toe, they may have the answer to last seasons only problem, which was getting past the faster engine in the red car.

[Disco]

I think it just takes the toe/camber off the wheels, which should be easier on the tyres. How much of an aerodynamic difference it makes I have no idea.

[Pepe]

I'm not sure if that system would help with straight line speed (and allow you to run higher drag) or just be easier on the tyres.

If it allows to have zero toe on the straights and some toe out on the corners, which is what it seems to do, then it will help with both.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I would have thought it would make it easier for the driver to control tyre temps, as it would be more what you see is what you get from the steering input? Especially in Q3.

If it has any impact on exit speeds then you can basically kiss them goodbye into the distance.

[Pepe]

Probably just a trolling device.

[Gray Fox]

The new Mercedes wheel is banned from 2021 but they're good to use it this year. I expect much seethe if it gives them anything.

[bruhnaldo]

Direttiva Tecnica

Google wasn't helpful, what's this? Sorry.

[Pepe]

The new Mercedes wheel is banned from 2021 but they're good to use it this year. I expect much seethe if it gives them anything.

That seems... backwards.

[Lewis]

Aren't they teasing leaving the sport? It's probably not wanting to upset them.

[bruhnaldo]

I mean it could be a bit like reverse engineering the rules though. "Oh, so from 2021 we can't do... this, this, and this? Why didn't we ever think to do that before?"

[Gray Fox]

There is a regulation change coming for '21. I believe that specifically makes something akin to what they've done illegal.

For now I see it in a grey area. I don't think it will stay on the car for long without a big fight(from the red team especially) if it gives any kind of significant advantage.

[bruhnaldo]

So is this gonna be like the year Jenson Button won the title where Brawn/Mercedes just fuck everyone off for the first 8 weeks of the calendar because of their clever diffuser or w/e it was

[Disco]

The regs were changing anyway and the wording went from something like 'steering action must be via the wheel and fully in control of the driver' to something like '...via the rotational action of the wheel'

If the system gains them enough I would expect them to try and find a way to do the same thing within the context of the new wording.

Oh, and despite what has been reported Merc aren't going anywhere and never were. Their F1 operation is almost zero cost and is of massive value over and above any outlay.

[Jimmy Floyd]

F1 off season is always the same. The only stories anyone will click on are *famous driver planning move* or *famous team threatens to leave sport*. So they just write those for the sake of it.

[Disco]

Google wasn't helpful, what's this? Sorry.

You needed Google Translate :D It's Italian for Technical Directive, I was inferring that the other teams (Ferrari mainly) would be complaining to the FIA until they issued a TD banning the new steering system.

[Disco]

F1 off season is always the same. The only stories anyone will click on are *famous driver planning move* or *famous team threatens to leave sport*. So they just write those for the sake of it.

It ended with someone ringing up their Chief Exec and getting lolled off the phone. Same with Hamilton and his contract, they asked him about all the rumours and talks only to find out they hadn't even started because he'd been on holiday. Off season shenanigans are yet to top the year loads of idiots bet on Renault to win the title after they topped a single days testing.

[bruhnaldo]

Lol oh my bad thanks bub.

[Shindig]

So the steering banned from 2021. I would love them to inverse rulings like that. It's a very 'well, if we can't have it, no-one can.' I want another double/blown diffuser land rush.

[Pepe]

Started watching the new Netflix season. I know everyone asked for more Gunther cursing, but the first two episodes are just that, and they are quite boring tbh. Hope if picks up soon.

[Disco]

I watched it yesterday and there are plenty of episodes with a different focus, they stay away from Haas after the first couple.

[phonics]

Watched the whole thing in two massive binge sessions. Really good stuff. Loved the Sainz 3rd place and Hulkenberg blowing the podium in Germany episodes.

They love showing that clip of Grosjean binning it into the wall warming up his tyres. I swear the production team think he’s a prick or something.

[Jimmy Floyd]

All 20 drivers are probably pricks. Magnussen has always struck me as a massive cunt. Raikkonen is a miserable so and so. Alonso used to be an absolute weapon.

Sainz and Norris seem nice. I'll get onto watching this in midweek, enjoyed the first series even though it wasn't really (at all) aimed at me.

[phonics]

I didn't like Magnussen before but he comes off terribly.

They try to make Ricciardo so likeable that I actively dislike him now.

edit: Oh and the Pierre Gasly redemption arc from Red Bull Bottle Job to Best Friends Death to Podium Finish is a great story, really well told.

[Disco]

I thought Gunther Steiner actually comes off quite badly at times, I know he's bantering in his second language but the bits where he's burying Grosjean in front of the whole team were pretty cringeworthy.

[phonics]

Agreed.

[John Arne]

Whatever happened to Ted Kravitz? He seems to have been persona non grata for a couple of years now.

[Disco]

He's been working for Sky, he does almost all of their pitlane coverage.

[John Arne]

He's been working for Sky, he does almost all of their pitlane coverage.

That's weird. Perhaps Fox Asia just cut all his segments - haven't seen him for ages.

[Shindig]

"Get after him, Ted!" still remains my favourite line of James Allen commentary.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There was a thing last winter whereby it looked like Sky were culling him, but they ended up not doing so. I don't think he was at every race last year.

[John Arne]

I just watched DTS Episode 4 where Merc screw up Germany.... that Sun journo is a right gimp - he thinks he's a gezza - fucking twonk.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just getting going on Drive to Survive. Despite Christian Horner being such a whiney snake, I do love his candid talking in this.

Ricciardo bores me. I'm not sure why. Love his driving but not his smiley crap.

[Pepe]

Ricciardo is shit. I am four episodes in, and it just hasn't been very good. The Mercedes in Germany episode was ok I guess.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've done two so far, I did like the second Haas one. They are such a bizarre collection of people that it just makes for good entertainment. From Gene Haas himself to Steiner (who I keep forgetting is somehow Italian), to the pair of knobhead drivers going around smashing doors in, to the little Japanese yes man bloke and then the Rich Energy clown, who must be the biggest whopper in the history of the sport outside Jean Pierre van Rossem.

I'd forgotten how much the fake commentator hits annoy me, but I guess they need to create NARRATIVE somehow.

[Pepe]

Disappointed that they didn't talk more about the scam that Rich Energy is. Would have been far more interesting.

[Disco]

I saw Storey referred to as 'Gandalf McBong' this week and it still makes me laugh, he got off extremely lightly in the show as did Mallya in the first series.


Disappointed that they didn't talk more about the scam that Rich Energy is. Would have been far more interesting.

I reckon 'demonstrating how dodgy F1 sponsors are' probably wasn't part of their brief, otherwise the series would have to be three times longer.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Has anyone yet found a can of Rich Energy or is it a total potemkin cover for some kind of weird Saudi money or something?

At least JPVR was printing his own dosh.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Disappointed that they didn't talk more about the scam that Rich Energy is. Would have been far more interesting.

It's all about promoting The Product so they're not going to go into great detail about how one of their 10 teams got hoodwinked by some preposterous twat with a rug on his face. I'm surprised they mentioned him at all.

[Disco]

It existed in some form but I don't know if it ever went on general sale.

[Pepe]

This one was lol: https://jalopnik.com/my-journey-to-find-rich-energy-at-the-indy-500-ends-wit-1835053553

[Pepe]

I reckon 'demonstrating how dodgy F1 sponsors are' probably wasn't part of their brief, otherwise the series would have to be three times longer.

And so much better. :drool:

[Disco]

It seems like they're still going and 'sponsoring' a Superbike team, a really gullible one presumably.

[Shindig]

They're running bikes at the TT this season.

[mugbull]

Ricciardo is just about the only seemingly good guy on the tour. Verstappen is a huge cunt, the Haas boys are idiots, Hamilton is a snide bitch "I've just never liked losing, it must be in my DNA". I like Sainz but he's boring

[Pepe]

Ricciardo is the biggest wanker. Guess it makes sense that you like him.

[mugbull]

Was about to say the same thing, but in the opposite direction. TTH disliking him is the least surprising thing ever

[bruhnaldo]

Right like what's so bad about Ricciardo lol

[bruhnaldo]

It's nice my favorite team has two of the most likable humans on Earth, though. I do like the matte orange scheme I've seen instead of the shiny bullshit they had before.

I just searched McLaren to see how things were going and saw this:


STATEMENT FROM McLAREN RACING

We, the undersigned teams, were surprised and shocked by the FIA’s statement of Friday 28 February regarding the conclusion of its investigation into the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Power Unit.

An international sporting regulator has the responsibility to act with the highest standards of governance, integrity and transparency.

After months of investigations that were undertaken by the FIA only following queries raised by other teams, we strongly object to the FIA reaching a confidential settlement agreement with Ferrari to conclude this matter.

Therefore, we hereby state publicly our shared commitment to pursue full and proper disclosure in this matter, to ensure that our sport treats all competitors fairly and equally. We do so on behalf of the fans, the participants and the stakeholders of Formula One.

In addition, we reserve our rights to seek legal redress, within the FIA’s due process and before the competent courts.

McLaren Racing Limited
Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Limited
Racing Point UK Limited
Red Bull Racing Limited
Renault Sport Racing Limited
Scuderia Alpha Tauri S.p.A.
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited

what did i miss? lol

[bruhnaldo]

At any rate I saw Kimi Raikkonen is the oldest guy on the grid (which may have already been the case but anyways) and I feel very old all of a sudden.

[mugbull]

Right like what's so bad about Ricciardo lol

It's because he's an outgoing, friendly, happy guy. Can't be having that here

[Jimmy Floyd]

He is very likeable, but the use of him in DTS is boring. Admittedly his 'storyline' in this season was very boring, whereas the year before it contained considerable DRAMA.

[mugbull]

I'm guessing that's also because he shows his cards openly. Everyone else is pretty guarded

[Pepe]

How did I just find this?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu45pUdfp60

[niko_cee]

Strangely compulsive viewing.

[Disco]

Mallard was robbed.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Nearly a massive bottle job by the winning marble there.

I really hope it's one bloke doing absolutely everything for it in his bedroom.

[mugbull]

I watch every video from that channel :cool:

[Pepe]

Found it after watching this, btw:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3hEfwmzgDI&feature=emb_title

[Disco]

I'm scraping the barrel now lads but check out the play by play guy on this for the weirdest Aussie accent I've ever heard.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDxWR147etc

Barry Butwell though :cool:

[Disco]

We gonna have coronavirus in the OP all season and this shit is gonna be over by the end of March ffs

This aged well. In at the ground floor I was.

[bruhnaldo]

Donned, king.

[phonics]

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen will be doing iRacing versions of the Australian Grand Prix instead :D

https://www.f1.cool/blog/2020/3/14/virtual-races-happening-in-place-of-australian-gp

[Pepe]

They've been donning it on iRacing for a while.

[Shindig]

"Jimmy Broadbent (eSports)" :D

They could've been nice to him and said karting.

[Gray Fox]

Monger to don them all.

[Pepe]

"Jimmy Broadbent (eSports)" :D

They could've been nice to him and said karting.

'Youtube star'

[Shindig]

The first time someone donates for Piquet to crash will be funny. The other times, not so much.
Pepe "Man in shed."

[Pepe]

He's definitely not in 'eSports' is he? I don't think that he participates in any of the legit leagues.

[Shindig]

Yeah, he participates in the special events (like the 12 hours of Sebring right this second) and Le Mans. He was in one of the leagues last season (wish I could remember which one) and then packed it in.

[Shindig]

Hold on. They're doing the race at Nurburgring? Does RF2 not have Albert Park?

[Pepe]

Lol. rFactor has everything. Maybe it was a prescheduled event, or maybe there is not a licensed version or something.

[Pepe]

Why is Broadbent in that group? :D

EDIT: Max donning it already.

[Pepe]

Beating Montoya. :cool:

[Pepe]

In third now. :drool:

Shocking camera work.

[Shindig]

Montoya seems only interested in beating his kid. :D

[phonics]

This one is just on a 'surprise' track. The Lando Norris one at 5:45 will be Australia.

[phonics]

They just announced they'll have a full race of all real racers. All sports should be doing this.

[Pepe]

Fifa matches would be lol.

[phonics]

Liverpool chucking the league because Saido Mane lost 3 points to Lewis Dunk. :drool:

[Pepe]

Verstappen qualified 9th. :harold:

[Pepe]

There is a Fifa mode where you control just one player, right? Could they do full 11v11s?

[phonics]

Verstappen from 9th to 21st in the first corner :D

[SincereTheRebel]

There is a Fifa mode where you control just one player, right? Could they do full 11v11s?

Pro Clubs. That would be lolz

[Pepe]

Verstappen just spun lol.

[Disco]

They should separate the irl drivers because the simmers should absolutely trounce them.

[Pepe]

They did in the qualifier. Rosenqvist is doing alright. Also, I have seen Verstappen and Norris win 24 hour events in iRacing.

[phonics]

They should separate the irl drivers because the simmers should absolutely trounce them.

They confirmed they're doing that next week.

[Pepe]

They should race on Skippies.

[Pepe]

The Nascar one should be good.

[Disco]

NASCAR will be utter chaos, you'll be lucky to get 10 laps under green in any one run.

[Jimmy Floyd]

F1 should mandate the 20 actual drivers to do a sim version of races. Wonder how long it will take to self-isolate Kimi for that one.

[Disco]

Having them all do a worse version of the real race seems like a missed opportunity, I want a GP on the moon or truck racing round the Nordschleife or something.

[Pepe]

I see Esteban Gutierrez in the lineup. He used to don me left and right when I did proper leagues ~15 years ago.

[Pepe]

Am I supposed to know who this WillNE person is?

[Pepe]

The lag. :face:

[Pepe]

The state of this shit. :happycry:

[Pepe]

Courtois within three seconds, not bad.

[Giggles]

What are you watching?

[Shindig]

I'm watching Jimmy Broadbent's stream.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG15bPFkx-I

[John Arne]

Courtois is chatting live with TRL during the race...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5JXnrKv_Vk

Or an overall TV director feed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG1cFm3dsaU

[Pepe]

Nascar one working for anyone?

[Giggles]

Nascar one working for anyone?

Nobody I’ve ever heard of anyway.

[Pepe]

This is pretty legit. If you were not paying attention you might think it is real. At least until the lag goes all Matrix on you.

[Giggles]

I can’t see a thing apart from some talking on any of the links above.

[Pepe]

Here:

https://www.twitch.tv/podiumesports

[Giggles]

That game has some graphics.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That looks visually amazing but I still don't understand why stock car racing exists.

[Pepe]

:D

Fwiw, I have given it a try (in iRacing) and it is actually quite fun the 10% of the time that you are not under yellow.

[Disco]

That looks visually amazing but I still don't understand why stock car racing exists.

To sell you things, everything else is secondary.

I want to know why, in an entirely digital format, they need to have caution periods longer than a lap or so.

[Pepe]

To sell you things, everything else is secondary.

I want to know why, in an entirely digital format, they need to have caution periods longer than a lap or so.

Pitting, lucky dog, etc.

[Shindig]

This shit is so professionally put together.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's in things like podcasts, esports and so on that you realise just how much money there is swilling around in America compared to over here. Thousands and thousands of dollars just waiting to be lavished upon you if you've got an audience and can sell to it. Here everything is done from bedrooms and sheds.

[phonics]

It's in things like podcasts, esports and so on that you realise just how much money there is swilling around in America compared to over here. Thousands and thousands of dollars just waiting to be lavished upon you if you've got an audience and can sell to it. Here everything is done from bedrooms and sheds.

There's loads of it in the UK too. There's loads of it everywhere. Europe and Asia are your big esports money makers not America.

[Jimmy Floyd]

There is many multitudes more in America. The fact that the college sport system exists is the best example. Millions and millions of dollars per year poured into uni kids playing sport of whom 5-10% will go on to be pros.

[Pepe]

Even high school sports attract money in some states. Then there are cheerleader competitions, etc.

[phonics]

You're really just talking about something you're not particularly knowledgeable on here.

The biggest DotA broadcaster is BeyondTheSummit based in Sweden. The biggest competition organizer is ESL, based in Germany. The biggest gamer on youtube is PewDiePie, based in Sweden. etc. etc. etc.

[Pepe]

Kligerman. :face:

Another one I used to race with. We were even in the same Skippies team.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You're really just talking about something you're not particularly knowledgeable on here.

The biggest DotA broadcaster is BeyondTheSummit based in Sweden. The biggest competition organizer is ESL, based in Germany. The biggest gamer on youtube is PewDiePie, based in Sweden. etc. etc. etc.

Yeah and is it all Swedish money that goes into it?

[phonics]

It's mostly subscribers so it's global.

[Luca]

Pretty sure China takes the cake by many orders of magnitude, followed by the US, in gross terms. Per capita I'd imagine Europe is up there.

[John Arne]

You're really just talking about something you're not particularly knowledgeable on here.

The biggest DotA broadcaster is BeyondTheSummit based in Sweden. The biggest competition organizer is ESL, based in Germany. The biggest gamer on youtube is PewDiePie, based in Sweden. etc. etc. etc.

You're really just talking about something you're not particularly knowledgeable on here. :D

PewDiePie in based in England, famously living in Brighton for a long time. Also, I wouldn't describe him as a 'gamer' in the truest sense - more of an entertainer.
Isn't Dota massive in S.Korea? Or is that another game?

[Shindig]

Yeah, PewDiePie pivoted away from the gaming screeching to become more of a talking head. I think DoTA's big in China whereas League of Legends is Korea's jam. It used to be Starcraft. I could be wrong, though. Asian money powers more of it and it tends to feed back into prize pools via Valve or Riot.

[Disco]

1240978182603448320

Nicki Thiim :cool:

[Shindig]

Jimmy Broadbent to take him out on lap 1.

[phonics]

The official F1 YouTube channel are playing a qualifying + 50% race with only F1 drivers involved. Mercendes said they’re trying to send the gear to Hamilton and Bottas now. Seems like they’ve seen Lando hitting the top of twitch.

However, I did see something about them trying to make it fair for the bigger names, in The true spirit of F1, they’ll be allowed to use driving assists etc.

[Pepe]

Surely, they are all on simulators continuously, right?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Surely all the F1 drivers would be at least reasonably good at it? Not in comparison to the sim guys, but in comparison to Lando?

[Disco]

Probably not instantly, it is still a game and therefore has its own tricks and foibles that won't transfer from the track. Plus the grip model is different enough from real life that you have to get used to how it behaves.

[Disco]

Found a channel that has some full races from 2008, it's surprisingly archaic in places for something that seems such a short time ago and you get some gems from the commentary. During Spa James Allen (or is it Blundell?) tells us that 'Pat Simmons has thrown a curveball with Nelson Piquet's strategy'. Not for the first time that season mate.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I love watching the 80s races. An overlooked era is '82-'84, which had messy world championships no one really wanted to win, and eccentric cars that loved going pop.

This is probably the best/oddest finish to a race ever:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36kKcf-fQcE

[Pepe]

When/where can I watch the sim races?

[Shindig]

I'll follow that up with my favourite start.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hxVZvG897U

[Disco]

When/where can I watch the sim races?

https://www.youtube.com/user/nismotv2013

It will also be streamed by some of the drivers.

[Pepe]

:thbup:

[Giggles]

I would say I don’t understand how people can watch someone playing a computer game, but I’m about to watch a man fixing an old hand saw so carry on.

[Pepe]

When it comes to car racing it is pretty much the same thing, although I generally agree. There's fuck all to do today though.

[Pepe]

What happens to the real drivers only thing?

[phonics]

That's tomorrow.

[Lewis]

I watched that not very good documentary about Steve McQueen and his Le Mans film, and I found that the iPlayer also has this (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p05bxkyd/tuesday-documentary-24-hours-at-le-mans) baffling artefact covering Alain de Cadenet and Guy Edwards at the 1981 race. It's worth a watch out of morbid curiosity if anything.

[Disco]

What happens to the real drivers only thing?

Whatever your equivalent of 8pm GMT is, presumably on the F1 YT channel.

[Pepe]

:thbup:

[Disco]

Things I have learned from re-watching some of 2008 (GB, Hungary, Brazil, & Spa so far):

- Nick 'Quick Nick' Heidfeld was nothing of the sort and was deservedly binned.
- Despite Anthony Hamilton carrying his son through the last part of the season, Lewis putting professional distance between them may have been the second best decision he made in his career.
- Massa was embarrassingly bad at several points, Silverstone is one of the worst performances by a title contender I've ever seen.
- Brazil was mental right from the first lap and still managed to double down on the craziness in the last 5. Hamilton choked badly (again) and was extremely fortunate to have the weather drop the title in his lap.
- Grooved tires were the shittest move the sport has ever made.
- Sky coverage is immeasurably better than anything ITV ever did, I begin to wonder if Mark Blundell ever actually drove in F1 and James 'How will this affect Hamilton' Allen must have been watching different races at some points.
- David Coulthard seemingly completed less than 20 laps of his farewell season.
- Refueling was crap.

[Shindig]

I'll always go to back for Massa as one of the most improved drivers I've seen over their career. He never banished it completely, though.

[Disco]

Oh, and lastly:

- Are we sure the Ferrari Raikkonen wasn't a doppelganger? Worlds apart from the guy who donned everyone senseless at Suzuka that time.

[Shindig]

There's been some conspiracy and scuttlebutt about that season. Namely the Ferrari management were already after Alonso / a returning Schumacher. All the upgrades went to Massa, etc.

[Gray Fox]

2008 was one of the last times we had Brazil as the finale, no?

I can only think of 3 memorable moments from Abu Dhabi being so. Alonso SEETHING that Petrov wouldn't let him pass. Hamilton slowing the race down to walking pace only for no one behind him to want to do any overtaking and then the reverse, were Rosberg was pushing his dying car around the track hoping for Hamilton to break down.
We've had no properly good finish or drama there really.

[SincereTheRebel]

Havve they renamed the last turn at Brazil Glock corner yet?

[Shindig]

No because he passed him the corner prior. And it already has a name.

[Gray Fox]

I think they'd rather have burned him at the stake.

It was all set up perfectly for Massa. To be crowed the first Brazilian Drivers Champion since Senna, at the Brazil GP and by winning it and as a local lad as well.

Then Glock happened. Fair to say they don't like him there.

[Shindig]

Glock can't control the weather.

[Gray Fox]

Try telling that to the always reasonable people of Brazil.

[Disco]

The Glock-spiracy is amazing in that it's more mental than the last lap of that race.

[Pepe]

That still has a bunch of 'youtubers' and whatnot.

[John Arne]

Looks like F1 have copyright striked TRL and Delatraz during the race and took their stream down :face:

[Giggles]

Such fucking wankery.

[Disco]

Ian Poulter is streaming with his own Ferraris in the background.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Good old Poults, he genuinely has the self-awareness of a cardboard box.

[igor_balis]

What's gonna be the most fun stream of this and can someone provide linkage cheers xxxx

[Shindig]

I'm sticking with Jimmy Broadbent because trouble finds him.

[Gray Fox]

Is this the one on Sky Sports Mix?

[Giggles]

Is this the one on Sky Sports Mix?

Someone put up when this is on.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Johnny Herbert's on it? :D

[Gray Fox]

Someone put up when this is on.

Programme just started now.

[Pepe]

Wait, is there a different race?

EDIT: Lol, I'm a bit late to the party here.

[Disco]

I enjoyed that one, although half the grid have no idea what they're doing. And now Jimmy Broadbent is on the front page of the BBC Sport site, what a time we live in.

[Shindig]

The start was something else. Johnny Herbert should know better.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was watching it on Broadbent's stream and the whole first half of the race seemed to be a series of mental multi-car crashes which he somehow avoided.

Mixed up grids like that are better entertainment than the times I've seen a full grid of top sim racers drive, as the latter are just too good and don't make mistakes.

[Disco]

There is that I suppose, although Herbert was never going to take it seriously. I did wonder how he turned up in the top four suddenly.

[phonics]

Who is Jimmy Broadbent, is he just a streamer?

[Jimmy Floyd]

There is that I suppose, although Herbert was never going to take it seriously. I did wonder how he turned up in the top four suddenly.

He probably pitted a lap too early or else could have been 3rd.

Turn 10 around there gives me nightmares every time, the apex is about an inch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Who is Jimmy Broadbent, is he just a streamer?

Yes. I don't think he's particularly good in the grand scheme of things but is thoroughly engaging/entertaining.

[Disco]

He probably pitted a lap too early or else could have been 3rd.

Turn 10 around there gives me nightmares every time, the apex is about an inch.

I don't think I've ever driven it, currently trying to get to grips with Bathurst which I am terrible at.