Formula 1 2012: General Discussion Thread

_rebelkid

the culture of deference wrote: »

I doubt that SV had any tyre problem and the team were just trying to slow him down.

You're bang on. Horner confirmed it with the BBC on the F1 forum. They knew if they asked him normally he wouldn't slow down, but tell him that he might put himself out of the race, and his radio transmission says it all, "Seb: Saving the tyres, Saving the tyres. Rocky: Good Boy."

Andrew76

the culture of deference wrote: »

...
I dont know why the ferrari guys didnt let him by Alonso to have a shot at hassling MW.
...

I don't see how that would have ended with anything other than Alonso ending up with less than the 15 points he was guaranteed with Massa behind him.

Daniel S

Andrew76 wrote: »

I don't see how that would have ended with anything other than Alonso losing more than the 15 points he was guaranteed with Massa behind him.

Could have caused Webber to go on the defensive, allowing Alonso to catch up and potentially take P2.

Andrew76

Daniel S wrote: »

Could have caused Webber to go on the defensive, allowing Alonso to catch up and potentially take P2.

Maybe, or maybe he would've crashed trying to get past for the sake of 3 points when he had a guaranteed 15 with Massa behind him. Bag the 15 and live to fight another day was the safest (only?) option, I guess we'll never know.

Daniel S

Andrew76 wrote: »

Maybe, or maybe he would've crashed trying to get past for the sake of 3 points when he had a guaranteed 15 with Massa behind him. Bag the 15 and live to fight another day was the safest (only?) option, I guess we'll never know.

He could have gone ahead and taken out Webber. :pac:

Jordan 199

Massa given one year contract extension.

From Autosport:

Felipe Massa will stay at Ferrari for another season after the Italian squad confirmed a new deal for the Brazilian driver on Tuesday.

Massa's position alongside Fernando Alonso was in doubt for several months after a poor start to the season during which he struggled to even score points.

Before this year's Japanese Grand Prix, the Brazilian had last been on the podium in 2010 in Korea.

Massa, however, turned his form around and began to show the kind of competitiveness Ferrari wanted from him, a resurgence that has secured him a contract extension.

Myrddin

Delighted for him, he's been through an awful run of form & great to see him bounce back

frostie500

Jordan 191 wrote: »

Massa given one year contract extension.

From Autosport:

Yeah just after getting the release now. One year deal shows only a desire to take him to 2014 and the new regs when the Ferrari will be a plump drive and with the Vettel rumours emanating from Ferrari over the weekend....

I'd also say that Massa got the drive because if Ferrari were interested in someone like Hulkenberg (and lets assume they were) he would have baulked at a one year deal with no security.

Massa's been much more competitive since mid-season (from Silverstone he started to find his form) so he could be a very useful driver next season in tersm of collecting Constructors' points

Frank Bullitt

Logical decision really, if he keeps his form from the last few races, he could well factor in the title battle.

recyclebin

The whatwillkimidonext.com website now redirects to makiacloting.com with a weird video advertisement with Kimi in it.

Bit of an anti climax really.

Myrddin

recyclebin wrote: »

The whatwillkimidonext.com website now redirects to makiacloting.com with a weird video advertisement with Kimi in it.

Bit of an anti climax really.

Eugh, bloody corporate nonsense building hopes to be a bloody huge shock move for Kimi only to have bloody hopes bloody dashed.

the culture of deference

frostie500 wrote: »

Massa's been much more competitive since mid-season (from Silverstone he started to find his form) so he could be a very useful driver next season in tersm of collecting Constructors' points

What do you think changed in Massa since the year began. Its great news for him.

the culture of deference

Andrew76 wrote: »

I don't see how that would have ended with anything other than Alonso ending up with less than the 15 points he was guaranteed with Massa behind him.

Just so he could attack webber and maybe ruin his tyres, cause a mistake, etc
if it didnt work switch FA and FM back on the last lap.

Andrew76

the culture of deference wrote: »

What do you think changed in Massa since the year began. Its great news for him.

Maybe improvements to the car made it easier for him to extract more performance out of it. I get the impression Alonso is better at driving around problems.

Jordan 199

Pastor Maldonado behind the wheel of Damon Hill's 1996 championship winning Williams Renault FW18:

duke916

EnterNow wrote: »

Delighted for him, he's been through an awful run of form & great to see him bounce back

Do ya think he's bouncing back or has someone gven him a sudden 'temporary' shot in the arm so to speak? ..as a last gasp.

Reckon he's being used as a seat filler until next year when vettel comes in. Nobody else on the grid that would suit ferrari thats available at this time so why not stick with someone who knows the car instead of having to bed them in for a season. He has good ability but there are a few new comers in F1 now pushing him down the pecking order. DiResta, Grojean (despite his errors) and Perez all learning quickly. As for Maldonado, complete retard. Wouldnt give the guy a seat on a bus if it was full.

duke916

Daniel S wrote: »

Could have caused Webber to go on the defensive, allowing Alonso to catch up and potentially take P2.

was thinking this during the race. i remember massa radioing in and telling them he was quicker than alonso at that stage of the race. webber was only a few seconds ahead. ferrari could have unleashed massa onto webber, fought, taken time to defend etc thus allowing alonso to catch up quicker. webber would have worn some of his tyres and perhaps fallen back a little making the last few laps more interesting. anyhoo yeah, alonso might have had something to say about letting massa by, but it would have paid off imo.

EvilMonkey

the culture of deference wrote: »

What do you think changed in Massa since the year began. Its great news for him.

I would guess he has known his drive was secure for the last few races and the pressure has been off.

Max_Charger

EvilMonkey wrote: »

I would guess he has known his drive was secure for the last few races and the pressure has been off.

I reckon he's known since the Italian GP, I remember him in the drivers press conference with Lewis, while all the heat was on Lewis that weekend with the Merc rumors, they eventually asked Feilpe about his future and his body language said it all, completely laid back almost to the point of not caring.

Rascasse

Jordan 191 wrote: »

Pastor Maldonado behind the wheel of Damon Hill's 1996 championship winning Williams Renault FW18:

Saw that on twitter this morning and was frankly surprised they would trust a piece of their history to him. They also had an FW08 (I think) out today. Pastor wasn't allowed near that one!

Speaking of the FW18; Damon has been chosen to drive the RB6 at the Circuit de Catalunya at the final of the Formula Renault 3.5 season on Sunday. Interesting they chose him, doesn't Coulthard usually get those gigs? Maybe he's busy.

http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Article/hill-red-bull-show-car-021243271212199

Jordan 199

Rascasse wrote: »

Saw that on twitter this morning and was frankly surprised they would trust a piece of their history to him. They also had an FW08 (I think) out today. Pastor wasn't allowed near that one!

You're right about the FWO8. Bruno Senna and Valtteri Bottas were driving it.

Bruno Senna:



Valtteri Bottas:



Bottas's fellow Finn, Keke Rosberg drove the #6 Williams FW08 too, back in '82.

Jordan 199

I have to say I'm fond of those wheels on the FW08.

Also those turquoise coloured side skirts attached to the sidepods would move up and down depending on a tracks surface to stop air from escaping at the sides for maximum ground effect.

Also, the FW08 powered Keke to the 1982 world championship.

Myrddin

Look at the width of the rear tyres on the FW08.....monsters :cool:

cherryghost

Beautiful aren't they? And my, I'd almost forgotten how wonderful the William's livery looked like.

Frank Bullitt

The FW18 was a serious motor, loved it.

Jordan 199

Would have been nice if Williams let the 6 wheeled FW08D run yesterday:

antodeco

Jordan 191 wrote: »

Pastor Maldonado behind the wheel of Damon Hill's 1996 championship winning Williams Renault FW18:

http://f1news.cz/pictures/photo/2012/10/17/1350488393-hdd.jpg

http://f1.imgci.com/PICTURES/CMS/16500/16507.jpg

Is it just me or does his head and helmet look photoshopped in?

Myrddin

antodeco wrote: »

Is it just me or does his head and helmet look photoshopped in?

I thought the same thing when I seen it, just looks off for some reason

Myrddin

Jordan 191 wrote: »

Would have been nice if Williams let the 6 wheeled FW08D run yesterday:

Was there any logic behind that thing? What was the reason for 6 wheels??

SilverScreen

EnterNow wrote: »

Was there any logic behind that thing? What was the reason for 6 wheels??

It allowed them to have longer ground-effect skirts and more downforce as a result.