Formula 1 2014: General Discussion Thread

Myrddin · 29-08-2014 10:32am

Here's a whacky thought, what if every track had a short bypass of the main track itself, which worked out at a saving of about 2 or 3 seconds if taken...but it could only be used once in the race by each driver. Would that add in an extra element of strategy/excitement, or would you just find drivers covering each other off one after the other?

GarIT · 29-08-2014 10:55am

Myrddin wrote: »

Here's a whacky thought, what if every track had a short bypass of the main track itself, which worked out at a saving of about 2 or 3 seconds if taken...but it could only be used once in the race by each driver. Would that add in an extra element of strategy/excitement, or would you just find drivers covering each other off one after the other?

There would be no point. In F1 it is much better to be ahead of a car than behind, everyone would use it as early as possible.

Robbo · 29-08-2014 11:00am

Myrddin wrote: »

Here's a whacky thought, what if every track had a short bypass of the main track itself, which worked out at a saving of about 2 or 3 seconds if taken...but it could only be used once in the race by each driver. Would that add in an extra element of strategy/excitement, or would you just find drivers covering each other off one after the other?

Like the opposite of a joker lap in Rallycross?

T-Bird · 29-08-2014 12:31pm

What about a "Pot Luck" GP? At the start of a race weekend (Thursday evening), every driver has to run up to a bucket and pick out a number from it. This would then be the car they are to race in for that weekend. The drivers have their own universal car seats and steering wheels etc. They would have time to get used to the car on Friday and Saturday practice, qualifying and race will be as usual. Its a half jest idea but might be interesting and it might stop a lot of the Pre-Madonna stuff...

Jordan 199 · 29-08-2014 12:57pm

Mercedes F1 chiefs meeting Lewis and Nico today over what happened at Spa.

_rebelkid · 29-08-2014 1:16pm

Jordan 191 wrote: »

Mercedes F1 chiefs meeting Lewis and Nico today over what happened at Spa.

Here's the statement:

Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton met today in the boardroom of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS headquarters in Brackley to discuss the events of the Belgian Grand Prix. During this meeting, Nico acknowledged his responsibility for the contact that occurred on lap two of the Belgian Grand Prix and apologised for this error of judgement.

Mercedes-Benz remains committed to hard, fair racing because this is the right way to win world championships. It is good for the team, for the fans and for Formula One. Lewis and Nico understand and accept the team’s number one rule: there must be no contact between the team’s cars on track. It has been made clear that another such incident will not be tolerated. But Nico and Lewis are our drivers and we believe in them. They remain free to race for the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship.

SnowDrifts · 29-08-2014 1:16pm

Jordan 191 wrote: »

Mercedes F1 chiefs meeting Lewis and Nico today over what happened at Spa.

"Suitable disciplinary measures have been taken for the incident."

How I miss the old non PC days of F1.

Zcott · 29-08-2014 1:31pm

Hard to know what disciplinary measures they mean. A telling off? A fine? Forfeiting the right to choose who pits first?

KarlFitz01 · 29-08-2014 1:33pm

It's good that they are going to continue to let them race each other and not apply team orders. I was convinced they were going to apply team orders until Mercedes AMG had won the constructors championship.

Myrddin · 29-08-2014 1:39pm

Zcott wrote: »

Hard to know what disciplinary measures they mean. A telling off? A fine? Forfeiting the right to choose who pits first?

Swapping cars would be proper order

Gillespy · 29-08-2014 1:52pm

SnowDrifts wrote: »

How I miss the old non PC days of F1.

They didn't discipline Hamilton for going to the press like he did, they disciplined Rosberg for breaking their no. 1 rule. That's not political correctness gone mad.

SnowDrifts · 29-08-2014 1:58pm

Gillespy wrote: »

They didn't discipline Hamilton for going to the press like he did, they disciplined Rosberg for breaking their no. 1 rule. That's not political correctness gone mad.

I never said anything about Hamilton. F1 drivers make contact in a lot of close racing situations, just as Alonso did towards the end of the race. It's part of racing and "suitable disciplinary measures" are indeed PC bull IMO and were not required in this case.

SnowDrifts · 29-08-2014 2:11pm

OSI wrote: »

What's PC about it?

You don't think Ron Dennis ripped Senna and Prost a new one anytime they came together?

Absolutely and that's what should have happened in this case. Not a forced public apology and letting the world know that internal disciplinary measures have been taken.

SamAK · 29-08-2014 3:48pm

Ricciardo to take WDC in 2014?

I'm confused by the pre-race coverage on Sky last weekend. They categorically stated that it will most definitely be a Mercedes driver who wins the championship this year.

How do they know this? Is it now mathematically impossible for the Honey Badger to close the gap to Rosberg? Riccardio is 64 points adrift at the moment, but there are seven races left to run and 200 points on the table. As we've seen so far, the Mercs are undoubtedly the fastest team by a fair bit, but they are by no means untouchable.

I find it strange that Sky would even dare to guess who's going to win when we're barely past the halfway point of this season.

Charlie-Bravo · 29-08-2014 3:53pm

7 races left, it would take two wins for Ricciardo with Rosberg and Hamilton scoring none (-20 points) for him to have an impact. And if Hamilton and Rosberg take each other out in one of the races, that'll help him. I would regard Ricciardo as a dark horse if Rosberg and Hamilton touch on two more occasions!

Zcott · 29-08-2014 3:58pm

I would love to have read this entire thread as it is back in January. Would have been great reading!

Gillespy · 29-08-2014 4:08pm

Two seconds off the pace in a wet qualification, he shouldn't be winning the title. It's probably still a two horse race, the shenanigans at Mercedes and the fact Vettel isn't taking points off him is keeping him in the frame.

zombieHanalei · 29-08-2014 5:11pm

Ricciardo has had an excellent season, driver of the year for me.

But him winning the driver's championship would require a collapse of monumental proportions from both Rosberg and Hamilton combined with Ricciardo having to finish on the podium in every race winning at least 4 of them.

smellslikeshoes · 29-08-2014 6:10pm

Don't forget about double points at the last race, just needs to get within 50 points before the final race to be in with a mathematical chance, he is 64 points behind at the moment.

Mike Litoris · 29-08-2014 6:33pm

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

Don't forget about double points at the last race, just needs to get within 50 points before the final race to be in with a mathematical chance, he is 64 points behind at the moment.

Jesus, could you imagine he was something like 49 points behind going into the last race and Rosberg pulled a stunt like last Sundays but taking both Mercs out and he goes on to win.

Killinator · 30-08-2014 3:10am

Mike Litoris wrote: »

Jesus, could you imagine he was something like 49 points behind going into the last race and Rosberg pulled a stunt like last Sundays but taking both Mercs out and he goes on to win.

Instant p45 I should think:)

mighty magpie · 30-08-2014 5:54am

No ticket sales in here Please post them in the adverts if you want to sell them.

Oblomov · 30-08-2014 11:29am

Ther terrible thing, it was trial by media. As soon as Hamilton did his little boy lost act, blabbed about what was said in the meeting and then the Brit media got into the acy.. and then the inflammatory remarks from Eddie Jordan.... talking about war being declared,,,...

A total absolute nonsence.

The mosen methods of hyping any and all siruations is peurile and demeaning to the sport. The manipulation of the situation is sen as good publicity, building up the love/hate relationship to attract the piblic, literally beoasen the appeal and attract the non racing fans.

Toto Wolff handled the situation in the worst possible manner in nor ensuring that anything said in the meeting was kept confidential. His "outburst" immediately after the incedent was not good media management.

Even the leading question from Sky sport to Nico were completely biased.

But, credit where credit is due. hamilton has ensuded that Nico dare not block, hinder or in anyway shape or form get in his way.

Oblomov · 30-08-2014 12:45pm

Bleacher report:

Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes future may be in doubt after the Mercedes implosion at Spa.

Talks about a contract extension had previously been ongoing, but are now on hold. Officially it's to ensure there are no distractions during the title run-in, but has one fallen out of love with the other?

zombieHanalei · 30-08-2014 1:56pm

Trial by media I think not... Wolff and Lauda were pretty straight up about their unhappiness with Rosberg immediately after the race, there was no knee jerk reaction to media and fan displeasure after the race, they were already pissed with Nico and they were always going to take action regardless of any subsequent media furore.

Myrddin · 30-08-2014 2:27pm

Oblomov wrote: »

Toto Wolff handled the situation in the worst possible manner in nor ensuring that anything said in the meeting was kept confidential. His "outburst" immediately after the incedent was not good media management.

I thought hearing his true feelings about the incident was by far and away a welcome change from the norm. I enjoyed hearing someone's actual thoughts, as opposed to what a pr script writer thinks I should hear.

Oblomov · 30-08-2014 3:09pm

by Myrddin

I thought hearing his true feelings about the incident was by far and away a welcome change from the norm. I enjoyed hearing someone's actual thoughts, as opposed to what a pr script writer thinks I should hear.

Hamilton is the PR man's wet dream. Schooled and trained from the age of 12...

But, hey, whatever turns you on. The truth about his deprivation in that one room in Stevenage does not stand examination.

Three appearances on Blue Peter, suited and booted at 12 and attending Autosport functions, .... LOL

Myrddin · 30-08-2014 3:50pm

Oblomov wrote: »

Hamilton is the PR man's wet dream

We must be watching different sports...

mickdw · 30-08-2014 4:15pm

Oblomov wrote: »

Hamilton is the PR man's wet dream. Schooled and trained from the age of 12...

But, hey, whatever turns you on. The truth about his deprivation in that one room in Stevenage does not stand examination.

Three appearances on Blue Peter, suited and booted at 12 and attending Autosport functions, .... LOL

Schooled and trained since 12 but at all times shoots his mouth off before thinking. I'd call him a publicity machine but a PR nightmare.

Oblomov · 30-08-2014 7:01pm

Lewis Hamilton's statement:

Today we came together as a team and discussed our differences. Nico and I accept that we have both made mistakes and I feel it would be wrong to point fingers and say which one is worse than the other. What’s important is how we rise as a team from these situations. We win and we lose together and, as a team, we will emerge stronger.

There is a deep foundation that still exists for me and Nico to work from, in spite of our difficult times and differences. We have the greatest team, the strongest group of individuals who have worked their hands to the bone to give us the best car you see us racing today. It’s important that we never forget that and give them the results they deserve. Today, Toto and Paddy told us clearly how we must race against each other from now on in a fair and respectful manner.

The fans want to see a clean fight until the end of the season and that’s what we want to give them. It’s going to be a tough road from here but Championships have been won from much further back than I am now. And I promise you that I will be giving everything and more to win this for my team, for my family and for my fans.

Written by Lewis? or prompted?

Gillespy · 30-08-2014 7:07pm

It was written by the same person who wrote Rosberg's one.

Myrddin · 30-08-2014 7:08pm

Oblomov wrote: »

Written by Lewis? or prompted?

Hamilton in PR terms can be a walking disaster. He's not exempt from the PR game, as your quote demonstrates...but if you wanna talk about PR robots, have a look at his team mate.

Cookie_Monster · 31-08-2014 11:46am

SamAK wrote: »

How do they know this? Is it now mathematically impossible for the Honey Badger to close the gap to Rosberg? Riccardio is 64 points adrift at the moment, but there are seven races left to run and 200 points on the table. As we've seen so far, the Mercs are undoubtedly the fastest team by a fair bit, but they are by no means untouchable.

Honey badger? :rolleyes:
let's get things straight, Nick Cummins is the honey badger cos he's mental and just doesn't give a ****. Ricciardo is a big smiley, goofy guy and in no way deserves such a nick name.

SamAK wrote: »

I find it strange that Sky would even dare to guess who's going to win when we're barely past the halfway point of this season.

it's all just part of the game they play to sell TV

Cookie_Monster · 31-08-2014 11:48am

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/blog/alan-henry/double-points-or-quits/

interest piece on some of the stupid terms throw around in F1 and it's total lack of touch with the average punter.
Speedwing FTW

Tea 1000 · 01-09-2014 11:25am

Myrddin wrote: »

Hamilton in PR terms can be a walking disaster. He's not exempt from the PR game, as your quote demonstrates...but if you wanna talk about PR robots, have a look at his team mate.

PR Robot or someone who respects the folk who pay his wage? I have more respect for the robot than the slack-jaw.

Gillespy · 01-09-2014 11:25am

What a stupid article. Considering how exciting this season is why is he even bothering with such nonsense. F1 doesn't need an overhaul. If terms like DRS, primes and options are confusing how will the average person follow his convoluted suggestions. Qualifying and the race itself are as straightforward as could be. Interesting he brings cricket into it, yeah it's played in three formats and the fundamentals are the same but it's like comparing different series in motorsport each one is so different.

Sterling Archer · 01-09-2014 11:44am

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/blog/alan-henry/double-points-or-quits/

interest piece on some of the stupid terms throw around in F1 and it's total lack of touch with the average punter.
Speedwing FTW

Bitta craic

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/heritage/which-f1-driver-are-you/

Myrddin · 01-09-2014 4:17pm

Tea 1000 wrote: »

PR Robot or someone who respects the folk who pay his wage? I have more respect for the robot than the slack-jaw.

Like everything it's personal tastes really. I like the people I watch on tv to be real, & I'll take the good with the bad, rather than someone who worries they might deviate from their script by being honest. The first & last words from Lewis are usually the fans & his mechanics, I like that, what can I say

Shane_ef wrote: »

Bitta craic

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/heritage/which-f1-driver-are-you/

Alain Prost

mickdw · 01-09-2014 4:35pm

Myrddin wrote: »

Like everything it's personal tastes really. I like the people I watch on tv to be real, & I'll take the good with the bad, rather than someone who worries they might deviate from their script by being honest. The first & last words from Lewis are usually the fans & his mechanics, I like that, what can I say

I think that's his attempt to be a team man. It seems to be the only thing he can remember to keep pumping out amid all his media f ups.
His real feeling on his mechanics comes out mid race when things don't quite go right. He plays the blame game straight away. Stuff like asking over the radio who made the decision to stop at a certain point or I can't believe you brought me in etc.

Tea 1000 · 01-09-2014 5:05pm

Myrddin wrote: »

Like everything it's personal tastes really. I like the people I watch on tv to be real, & I'll take the good with the bad, rather than someone who worries they might deviate from their script by being honest. The first & last words from Lewis are usually the fans & his mechanics, I like that, what can I say

This:

mickdw wrote: »

I think that's his attempt to be a team man. It seems to be the only thing he can remember to keep pumping out amid all his media f ups.
His real feeling on his mechanics comes out mid race when things don't quite go right. He plays the blame game straight away. Stuff like asking over the radio who made the decision to stop at a certain point or I can't believe you brought me in etc.

I'd agree with Myrddin if I thought it was genuine, but I don't believe it is. Which is the main basis behind me not liking him. No one knows for sure, but sure opinions based on observations is all we fans at the low end have!!

Tea 1000 · 01-09-2014 5:12pm

Myrddin wrote: »

Alain Prost

I got Ayrton Senna... no wonder we can't see eye-to-eye!

thirteen. · 01-09-2014 5:13pm

I got Hunt.

SamAK · 01-09-2014 6:47pm

Ahem, this is what deliberate crashing looks like. Imagine if Rosberg and Hamilton started doing this. Then we'd have a sh1t-storm.

ScumLord · 01-09-2014 7:46pm

SamAK wrote: »

Ahem, this is what deliberate crashing looks like. Imagine if Rosberg and Hamilton started doing this. Then we'd have a sh1t-storm.

They can get away with that kind of stuff with those cars though. The only reason F1 isn't a contact style of racing is because the car explodes if it touches anything.

Myrddin · 01-09-2014 8:11pm

mickdw wrote: »

I think that's his attempt to be a team man. It seems to be the only thing he can remember to keep pumping out amid all his media f ups.
His real feeling on his mechanics comes out mid race when things don't quite go right. He plays the blame game straight away. Stuff like asking over the radio who made the decision to stop at a certain point or I can't believe you brought me in etc.

Fair points, but not altogether how I see it. F1 drivers are competitive animals (well except Chilton maybe :pac:), & I'd allow for a lot of 'heat of the moment' type stuff when a driver is mid race, more so when fighting for a title. Yes he can berate the team somewhat, I always find that's frustration directed at the strategist though, & not the mechanics that look after his car. I'm not convinced he plays a lot of games when it comes to blame, more often than not I find he's overly hard on himself, & not the team. But yeah, case in point is this...at least we're talking about him, at least there's debate there, & at least if you love him or hate him...there's never a dull moment. That's why I like him, I like when personality shines through over a need to protect brand image, or corporate policy. People who are rigid about those things (politicians for example almost always give pre-written scripted, white noise type replies to questions), are just uninteresting & bland to me. I've no interest in hearing what a PR officer thinks should be said, I want to hear emotion & real feelings, be they good or bad.

Tea 1000 wrote: »

I got Ayrton Senna... no wonder we can't see eye-to-eye!

Oooh, that's it...you & me, Suzuka, turn 1...now!

Ghost Train · 01-09-2014 9:23pm

slightly annoying quiz

I got ALAIN PROST

Autosport · 01-09-2014 9:36pm

I got Alain Prost But I'm female

christy c · 01-09-2014 11:05pm

Funny stuff from Max Verstappen, video at the bottom of article

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/9451596/Verstappen-crashes-during-demo-run

mickdw · 01-09-2014 11:54pm

I don't know how he managed that.

ZiabR · 02-09-2014 9:10am

mickdw wrote: »

I don't know how he managed that.

Combination of two things I would say. Embarrassed that he need to be pushed in the first place and then to make up for it, sunk the boot and there was no heat in the brakes. Car would not stop and into the barrier he went...

He is to young for F1 I think.

Formula 1 2014: General Discussion Thread

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