Formula 1 2014: General Discussion Thread

ro_chez · 16-01-2014 7:54pm

Ron's back!

Maybe McLaren might actually get a podium next season!

Myrddin · 16-01-2014 7:59pm

ro_chez wrote: »

Ron's back!

Maybe McLaren might actually get a podium next season!

Is it a case of just semantics though, ha Dennis running the show from behind the scenes in recent times?

smellslikeshoes · 16-01-2014 9:48pm

http://au.eurosport.com/formula-1/nascar-s-haas-plans-new-f1-team_sto4092404/story.shtml

It's a crazy time to be setting up a new team from scratch when you could hold out for a team to get in trouble and buy it for a song.

Ghost Train · 16-01-2014 9:54pm

Did like Ron Dennis but also liked Whitmarsh, maybe Ron's a bit more intense and is what the team needs but could be the wrong time to make a major change.

Would be difficult to see Whitmarsh having any role with McLaren now? Maybe a few months off for him

16-01-2014 10:00pm

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

http://au.eurosport.com/formula-1/nascar-s-haas-plans-new-f1-team_sto4092404/story.shtml

It's a crazy time to be setting up a new team from scratch when you could hold out for a team to get in trouble and buy it for a song.

There probably won't be anything available "for a song", the licence is the main asset of each team. The FIA will have to agree to any name changes and take their bit off the top of any new organisations buying in however they do it, there won't be a cheap way in.

SamAK · 16-01-2014 10:00pm

Zcott wrote: »

Yeah...I prefer to watch live and with a decent video quality. Those two things only happen with a Sky subscription :-(

Yes, watching live is impossible without a subscription, but there is always a standard and high definition version uploaded. A guy on KAT called footy7 usually uploads a 720p 50fps version that is absolutely flawless!!

Only problems - it takes a few hours for the uploaders to render and process the recording, and then another while to upload it, and then another bit to let it spread around to other leechers/seeders so you get a decent download rate!

I've become used to watching qually on a sunday morning/afternoon, and then I have something to look forward to after college on monday evening! It does mean a total media blackout though, until you know the results :P

All part of being a dedicated racing fan!

Damn, i can't wait for the new season, only 56 days lads!!!!!!!

Bugatti · 16-01-2014 10:05pm

If Whitmarsh does leave the team now could Ross Brawn be lined up to take over as Team Principal?

Also I wonder how this will affect the possibly signing of Alonso in 2015? Anyone know if Fernando and Ron ever buried the hatchet?

SamAK · 16-01-2014 10:10pm

Myrddin wrote: »

Sky F1 - Expensive, & a channel you'll watch for a few days every month for ten months of the year only.

Yes, but Sky has Brundle!! For me, the best of the best for top-notch commentary!

And....ahem....I have a bit of a soft spot for Natalie Pinkham.

smellslikeshoes · 16-01-2014 10:12pm

Deleted User wrote: »

There probably won't be anything available "for a song", the licence is the main asset of each team. The FIA will have to agree to any name changes and take their bit off the top of any new organisations buying in however they do it, there won't be a cheap way in.

Buying out a failing team is still for a song relative to what will be involved in setting up a new team.

SnowDrifts · 16-01-2014 10:17pm

Bugatti wrote: »

Also I wonder how this will affect the possibly signing of Alonso in 2015? Anyone know if Fernando and Ron ever buried the hatchet?

Does anyone know what Alonso's physio had to do with the infamous pit incident? I remember Ron frog marching him from the pit lane.

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

Would be sad to see the back of Whitmarsh if he does go. He always seemed approachable and a likable guy unlike Dennis who just comes across as an arsehole.

Andrew76 · 16-01-2014 10:30pm

Ghost Train wrote: »

Did like Ron Dennis but also liked Whitmarsh, maybe Ron's a bit more intense and is what the team needs but could be the wrong time to make a major change.

Would be difficult to see Whitmarsh having any role with McLaren now? Maybe a few months off for him

I'm not sure, they haven't won a title in ages, now is as good a time as any to try something different. Whitmarsh seemed like a nice chap but was he too much of a friendly figure I wonder? Maybe he needed to sack a few aero people and poach from other teams.

Bugatti wrote: »

If Whitmarsh does leave the team now could Ross Brawn be lined up to take over as Team Principal?

Also I wonder how this will affect the possibly signing of Alonso in 2015? Anyone know if Fernando and Ron ever buried the hatchet?

Ross would be the perfect man for the job as long as he gets full control running the team, surprised if he doesn't still take that sabatical though.

This article mentioned Ron wouldn't have an issue with a return. I reckon if McClaren did away with the equal driver status philosophy he could be tempted back, that and building a better car might win them something again.

Firewalkwithme · 16-01-2014 10:49pm

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

http://au.eurosport.com/formula-1/nascar-s-haas-plans-new-f1-team_sto4092404/story.shtml

It's a crazy time to be setting up a new team from scratch when you could hold out for a team to get in trouble and buy it for a song.

So to replace HRT we could have HRD... with another crappy Dallara chassis.

IF this does happen and it's a BIG IF, I think it's a fairly safe bet to say this team will never score a point before it goes bust or gets bought up.

Firewalkwithme · 16-01-2014 11:45pm

With McLaren in need of a new sponsor, I can't help but wonder if whoever it is that is about to pony up the dough insisted on Ron being back in charge as a condition of their endorsement.

He may not be the most likeable person, but he knows how to get the job done and investors want a return at the end of the day, not a likeable character.

16-01-2014 11:47pm

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

Buying out a failing team is still for a song relative to what will be involved in setting up a new team.

If they have to take on all the debt and liabilities then it won't. If they want to wait so they can buy the licence and the company is dissolved they'll be waiting a while and will face competition which will push the price up to what they'd pay anyway. Even if someone was somehow able to negotiate to get it on the cheap the FIA aren't stupid enough to let that happen.

Ghost Train · 16-01-2014 11:51pm

Andrew76 wrote: »

I'm not sure, they haven't won a title in ages, now is as good a time as any to try something different. Whitmarsh seemed like a nice chap but was he too much of a friendly figure I wonder? Maybe he needed to sack a few aero people and poach from other teams.

It's just the most crazy time of the year for the teams, anything which throws the them off balance could ruin this season before it starts.

Hopefully the cars far enough along that the change works, I think they have been picking up aero engineers (McLaren grabbing Red Bull chief aerodynamicist Peter Prodromou (but not till 2015) & picked up a Ferrari aerodynamicist called Matteo Sansavini), bit of a game of musical chairs here

Frankie Lee · 17-01-2014 12:00am

Cartoon_Head wrote: »

With McLaren in need of a new sponsor, I can't help but wonder if whoever it is that is about to pony up the dough insisted on Ron being back in charge as a condition of their endorsement.

He may not be the most likeable person, but he knows how to get the job done and investors want a return at the end of the day, not a likeable character.

With Bahrain being the main shareholders I'd imagine their title sponsor will be coming from that region anyway.

Zcott · 17-01-2014 12:45am

Frankie Lee wrote: »

With Bahrain being the main shareholders I'd imagine their title sponsor will be coming from that region anyway.

I think it was expected to be Sony, actually.

Jordan 199 · 17-01-2014 12:57am

We will know tomorrow week who will be the new McLaren sponsor when they will unveil this years car.

smellslikeshoes · 17-01-2014 1:31am

Deleted User wrote: »

If they have to take on all the debt and liabilities then it won't. If they want to wait so they can buy the licence and the company is dissolved they'll be waiting a while and will face competition which will push the price up to what they'd pay anyway. Even if someone was somehow able to negotiate to get it on the cheap the FIA aren't stupid enough to let that happen.

I think you are talking about a team being liquidated and picking up the pieces, I'm talking about a buyout/rescue. If the team is worth saving the creditors would be given a serious haircut so the debt would be manageable. The deal would be done conditional upon the team receiving a FIA entry similar to how Peter Sauber retook BMW Sauber. It would be far far cheaper than starting a team from scratch.

Just look at the sort of losses Marussia has been making even now 4 years after joining F1, their most recent numbers gave them a loss of 70 million euro for the year. There's a reason why most of the current F1 teams have changed hands repeatedly over the years. It's because making an F1 team successful from scratch takes a metric **** ton of money and many years of developing facilities. The last time a team that was started from scratch got any reasonable amount of success was Toyota. They came into the sport with some of the deepest pockets of any team and still didn't win a GP in 10+ years and left with their tail between their legs.

17-01-2014 1:52am

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

I think you are talking about a team being liquidated and picking up the pieces, I'm talking about a buyout/rescue. If the team is worth saving the creditors would be given a serious haircut so the debt would be manageable. The deal would be done conditional upon the team receiving a FIA entry similar to how Peter Sauber retook BMW Sauber. It would be far far cheaper than starting a team from scratch.

Just look at the sort of losses Marussia has been making even now 4 years after joining F1, their most recent numbers gave them a loss of 70 million euro for the year. There's a reason why most of the current F1 teams have changed hands repeatedly over the years. It's because making an F1 team successful from scratch takes a metric **** ton of money and many years of developing facilities. The last time a team that was started from scratch got any reasonable amount of success was Toyota. They came into the sport with some of the deepest pockets of any team and still didn't win a GP in 10+ years and left with their tail between their legs.

BMW could absorb much of the loss though, which makes a big difference.

I understand the FIA are looking to add teams (which may be a smokescreen before they allow 3 cars per team) over the next while. If a team is bought then it'll cost the facilities plus the licence value plus wages. If there's something owed then that will transfer to the new company, unless it was maybe Mercedes in the situation (a la Honda). Shaving liabilities isn't straightforward and it wouldn't be in the FIA's interests to allow a new group to get in on the cheap, they could veto any attempt and tell them to apply through the "proper channels" like everyone else will be. What they might allow would be after a team goes bust the assets could be bought out and put through the "proper channels". Don't forget the FIA's limitless and arbitrary power over the entry process.

smellslikeshoes · 17-01-2014 2:05am

Deleted User wrote: »

BMW could absorb much of the loss though, which makes a big difference.

I understand the FIA are looking to add teams (which may be a smokescreen before they allow 3 cars per team) over the next while. If a team is bought then it'll cost the facilities plus the licence value plus wages. If there's something owed then that will transfer to the new company, unless it was maybe Mercedes in the situation (a la Honda). Shaving liabilities isn't straightforward and it wouldn't be in the FIA's interests to allow a new group to get in on the cheap, they could veto any attempt and tell them to apply through the "proper channels" like everyone else will be. What they might allow would be after a team goes bust the assets could be bought out and put through the "proper channels". Don't forget the FIA's limitless and arbitrary power over the entry process.

I think you have a skewed view of the entry process. It is in the FIA's interests to keep teams in F1 and not have teams disbanding. Also why would the FIA care about "teams getting in on the cheap"? The FIA doesn't get a big wad of cash to keep when a new team joins F1, it makes no difference to them if a team is a brand new outfit or a team that was bought out, the FIA get the same entry fee.

17-01-2014 2:30am

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

I think you have a skewed view of the entry process. It is in the FIA's interests to keep teams in F1 and not have teams disbanding. Also why would the FIA care about "teams getting in on the cheap"? The FIA doesn't get a big wad of cash to keep when a new team joins F1, it makes no difference to them if a team is a brand new outfit or a team that was bought out, the FIA get the same entry fee.

There'll be new teams coming in at the end of next year, that'll round things back up.
New teams are beneficial financially for the FIA. The new teams didn't get TV money for the first few years after they started (may have been prize money which admittedly wouldn't be as much :P ). That right there is a big saving if they get a new team rather than allow a change in registration.
The FIA make FIFA look like a fairly run and transparent organisation. How many million dollars extra do Ferrari get just for being Ferrari? Why weren't Stefan GP allowed in a few years ago after USF1 pulled out? Or even before that, since they bought up much of Toyota's IP?
If Lotus can limp through at least part of next season the FIA will let them go and get new teams in for '15. Odds are the Enstone facility and employees will mostly then be hired by a new team.

smellslikeshoes · 17-01-2014 2:43am

Deleted User wrote: »

There'll be new teams coming in at the end of next year, that'll round things back up.
New teams are beneficial financially for the FIA. The new teams didn't get TV money for the first few years after they started (may have been prize money which admittedly wouldn't be as much :P ). That right there is a big saving if they get a new team rather than allow a change in registration.
The FIA make FIFA look like a fairly run and transparent organisation. How many million dollars extra do Ferrari get just for being Ferrari? Why weren't Stefan GP allowed in a few years ago after USF1 pulled out? Or even before that, since they bought up much of Toyota's IP?
If Lotus can limp through at least part of next season the FIA will let them go and get new teams in for '15. Odds are the Enstone facility and employees will mostly then be hired by a new team.

You have mixed up the FIA which is a non profit organization solely for the licensing and arbitration of motorsport with the Formula one group which is the commercial rights holder.

Firewalkwithme · 17-01-2014 2:45am

Get a private room you two.... :rolleyes:

17-01-2014 2:52am

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

You have mixed up the FIA which is a non profit organization solely for the licensing and arbitration of motorsport with the Formula one group which is the commercial rights holder.

Which is the transparently-run one?

smellslikeshoes · 17-01-2014 2:54am

Deleted User wrote: »

Which is the transparently-run one?

17-01-2014 3:08am

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

Glad we finally agree :P

ZiabR · 17-01-2014 10:46am

Zcott wrote: »

I think it was expected to be Sony, actually.

Is there any truth to this? Sony?

Jordan 199 · 17-01-2014 3:56pm

Lotus back talking to Quantum.

Peanut Butter Jelly · 17-01-2014 4:13pm

So Lotus are basically that girl that everyone wants, that was originally going out with the douchebag Quantum, that she dumped because he cheated on her, and now Lotus wants to get back together with him because he has a rich daddy. can we get Jeremy Kyle in here to sort this shid out.

Max_Charger · 17-01-2014 4:23pm

Peanut Butter Jelly wrote: »

So Lotus are basically that girl that everyone wants, that was originally going out with the douchebag Quantum, that she dumped because he cheated on her, and now Lotus wants to get back together with him because he has a rich daddy. can we get Jeremy Kyle in here to sort this shid out.

That, or Lotus just found out she's pregnant.

ZiabR · 17-01-2014 7:44pm

Peanut Butter Jelly wrote: »

So Lotus are basically that girl that everyone wants, that was originally going out with the douchebag Quantum, that she dumped because he cheated on her, and now Lotus wants to get back together with him because he has a rich daddy. can we get Jeremy Kyle in here to sort this shid out.

Something like that it would seem. Can't believe they are even talking again.

Zcott · 17-01-2014 8:41pm

logik wrote: »

Is there any truth to this? Sony?

https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/ruminations-on-mclarens-title-sponsor/

SamAK · 17-01-2014 9:41pm

logik wrote: »

Can't believe they are even talking again.

On a somewhat related note, how about Hamilton and Nicole?

http://www.independent.ie/woman/nicole-scherzinger-seriously-considering-moving-to-monaco-with-lewis-hamilton-29926140.html

Fcuk off Scherzinger, and let the man concentrate on winning another title!

Brian_Zeluz · 18-01-2014 2:35am

McLaren to launch their team kit on the 20th, surely we'll see the title sponsor then?

https://twitter.com/McLarenF1/status/424216373967863808

SamAK · 18-01-2014 2:40am

Brian_Zeluz wrote: »

McLaren to launch their team kit on the 20th, surely we'll see the title sponsor then?

Sony...?:pac:

mclaren2014new%23sonyplaystation.jpg

:cool:

Zcott · 18-01-2014 11:30am

Nice mockup, looks well.

Ghost Train · 18-01-2014 12:52pm

I'd say they'll want move away from existing look back towards old honda look

Maybe more orange than red for the sony bits and bit less white than above :pac:

Killinator · 18-01-2014 1:54pm

If it's Sony surely it'll have some blue thrown in

SamAK · 18-01-2014 2:48pm

Yeah if it was me, I'd be scrapping the shiny silver and going for something new, or returning to the legendary red/white! But they were sponsored by Marlboro back then...

Peanut Butter Jelly · 18-01-2014 3:11pm

Well the chrome livery means that the car's cooling is naturally better, so don't be surprised to see it stick around with red hot turbos.

SamAK · 18-01-2014 3:12pm

Peanut Butter Jelly wrote: »

Well the chrome livery means that the car's cooling is naturally better, so don't be surprised to see it stick around with red hot turbos.

I thought white would be a better choice? Especially at races in hotter climates!

Peanut Butter Jelly · 18-01-2014 3:15pm

SamAK wrote: »

I thought white would be a better choice? Especially at races in hotter climates!

The shinier something is, the better it radiates heat. The radiators in your house aren't chrome because chromium is too expensive to use it, hence why they're painted white.

Jordan 199 · 18-01-2014 3:57pm

Car launch dates so far:

McLaren: 24th of January.

Ferrari: 25th of January.

Sauber: 26th of January.

Toro Rosso: 27th of January.

Mercedes: 28th of January.

Caterham: 28th of January.

Red Bull: 28th of January.

Car launches for five days in a row, woohoo!

ZiabR · 20-01-2014 10:33am

If it is Sony and McLaren moves to Honda in 2015, how will that work out for the livery.

_rebelkid · 20-01-2014 11:32am

Lotus bailed out by Saxo Bank.

ZiabR · 20-01-2014 12:58pm

So talk with Quantum are broken again. How they managed to get a bank on broad is beyond me but it can only be good news for Lotus.

shamelessidiot · 20-01-2014 2:11pm

_rebelkid wrote: »

Lotus bailed out by Saxo Bank.

Wouldn't go as far as to say "bailed out":

Although limited in scope, the one-year deal is a boost for a Lotus outfit which had financial problems last season despite finishing fourth in the constructors' standings. Saxo Bank will use the Lotus team name in its marketing and also be able to host clients at Formula One races as a sponsor. "This is a modest step in because we always like to test things out first," said Lars Seier Christenesen, Saxo Bank co-CEO. "If it works, we'll step it up," he added.

Bugatti · 20-01-2014 2:18pm

logik wrote: »

If it is Sony and McLaren moves to Honda in 2015, how will that work out for the livery.

I reckon the livery we see this year will be the livery McLaren use when Honda arrive. Remember when Mercedes came on board in the mid 90's the team didnt change their colours for them. They only changed to silver and black when West replaced Marboro. Also Im sure if McLaren want to incorporate Honda colours they'll do it this year. If they want to change for silver/chrome they wont be too concerned about how Mercedes feels about it. Thats what I think anyways!

KarlFitz01 · 20-01-2014 2:39pm

Three videos of Kimi's first few days back in Ferrari.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K1yBcyavRw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkk8pYQm59Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apJOmYh7IkI

Formula 1 2014: General Discussion Thread

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