Formula 1 2012: General Discussion Thread

Lewis to Mercedes <> is prob a smoke screen to get more money from McLaren.

Altho it makes a lot of sense if Schumi is retiring this year.

With the V6 turbo's coming in 2014(?), it makes a LOT of sense to sign with a Engine Manufacturer (Works team). Ferrari and Mercedes are the only true 'Works' teams left in F1.

After Alonso, (and maybe Princess Stampy Foot) LH is the best driver out there, he is easily as quick as Alonso and Vettel, its just the incidents/brain fades/ distractions that let him down.

On Raw Pace LH is top of the pile and STTTrrrreeeets ahead of Button. I reckon McLaren know this. Button is a "everything prefect" driver, ie when everything is perfectly set up, car has good pace and hes out in front he can dominate. Difficult to drive cars, balance not perfect, have to monster the car etc >> Lewis is yer man.

I can see Lewis going to RedBull when Webber retires, he would be a good fit.

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Reason(I reckon) his dad isnt managing anymore, him is that business relationship was too close, dad controlling things too much, wanted to have control over his own career etc.

He should get a proper manager > like Willi Weber etc. not the showbiz clowns he has now.

Frostie - some really good photos there (and great ones from the Indy 500 too back in Feb). I enjoy seeing these posted as I have an interest in photography. I'm jealous of you getting to do this job!

Trampas wrote: »

Is it just me or is paul di resta a bit overrated?

hear all this about bigger teams want him but i think there are better drivers on the grid.

might be just the british media building him up but never seems to delivery.

Yeah the British media big him up but I just don't see it.

frostie500 wrote: »

I find it pretty funny that di Resta was linked with the Merc drive for the whole year even though Hulkenberg has outperformed him at a lot of races this year and been more than a match for Paul. I think he's a good driver but he's yet to show me he's worthy of a top line drive

The reason he is linked with replacing Schumacher is he was in the Merc driver development program, they see something in him and have very much helped him to get where he is. Also, to be fair, he has had rotten luck too that can affect how his performances appear.

Saying the British media 'big him up' is a little unfair. You'll likely find a single mention of him in most print media race reports. The BBC, however, love him thanks to his close friendship with fellow Scots Lee MacKenzie and Coulthard.

Would be interesting to see him in a more consistent car to see how he races. No matter what happens those FI always seem to go backwards in the races.

I honestly don't see much hyping about di Resta. Now I don't read Autosport anymore, bar if someone links to an interesting article online, but it wouldn't surprise me if they do features on him as he's British and their target readership (whats left of it) is British. But doing a feature isn't the same as hyping.

He's also got an interesting story in going via DTM and because of that route to F1 there may be speculation as to how good he is to the top guys as there isn't the usual GP2 comparison (though he did beat Vettel in F3 in the same car). But speculating how good he is isn't hyping.

The only time I can say I find him being hyped is by MacKenzie & Coulthard on the BBC. How many times have I heard on the forum Coulthard say "and lets not forget about Paul di Resta".

Lol, monkey noises, gotta love the italians

Button got boo's I think on saturday.

Not nice from Tifosos, F1 fans are not football hooligans!

EnterNow wrote: »

I've come to accept it in Spain, but surely this w@nkology hasn't followed him to Italy purely because Alonso drives for Ferarri?

Nothing to do with Alonso, he drives for McLaren

Watched the race with rtl and the sound via a sky stream so couldnt hear the booing to clearly.
Bit idiotic.
Love it if lewis replaced massa in the ferrari next year, would really confuse them.
Sadly wont happen though.

Mercedes to test major upgrade package at Magny-Cours this week.

Mercedes will test a major upgrade to its car at Magny-Cours this week, AUTOSPORT can reveal, as it bids to end its season on a high.

After a recent spell where it has focused on improving its understanding of tyres rather than delivering updates, Mercedes plans to trial an all-new exhaust system as well as revised double-DRS during this week's Young Driver Test.

AUTOSPORT has learned that as well as continuing the evaluation of the Lotus-style double-DRS that it trialled in Belgium, the Mercedes W03 will feature its version of the Coanda-type exhaust that has been put to such good use by McLaren, Ferrari and Sauber this season.

Full article on Autosport.