Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

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Harika wrote: »

Rumour time
Markelov might buy into sirotkin seat at Williams for the expanse of Sirotkin.
Sirotkin is trying to get to torro rosso with his sponsorship money, but kyvat might be the blocker here as two Russian drivers.
Russell and kubica are in the run for the second Williams cockpit with kubica bringing more money to the table than Mercedes can give discount
Ocon might sit out 2019 as test driver for not force India or Mercedes.
Expect perez confirmation at the Mexican gp
Hondas New engine that was tested in Fp1 in Russia is worth half a second in laptime and if that is true they might progress to the best of the rest in suzuka when the engine is used in race and qualifying.

Pardon the pun here, but who's your money on for the second Williams seat? What are the odds of Mercedes coming back to offer a bigger discount now that their young driver program is turning into a shambles?

Harika

Addyson Gray Glue wrote: »

Pardon the pun here, but who's your money on for the second Williams seat? What are the odds of Mercedes coming back to offer a bigger discount now that their young driver program is turning into a shambles?

Williams are loosing their main sponsor, and no replacement in sight, and one pay driver with deep pockets. So cash will be king, except they pull a fairy sponsor out of the woods. Sirotkin was out spending kubica last yearwho found now more money.
They have the real kubica data to know about his speed, but Russell looks promising for the years to come. From a money perspective it will be Markelov kubica sirotkin Russell, from the best for the team Russell, sirotkin, kubica, Markelov.
I don't think two new drivers make sense for them. Maybe a solution of Markelov kubica with Russell as third driver in some free practices.

recyclebin

Ocon would be a lot less riskier than any of those options if Mercedes stumped up the cash. Having said that I would like to see Kubica back.

Frank Bullitt

vectra wrote: »

You hope,
Don't forget there are plenty of fast drivers out there with more experience.

I hope? There are indeed more drivers that Ferrari could have gone with, but they have gone with who they see the best fit for the team, a fast driver who is getting great results in a car that shouldn't be.

Pretty sure they have picked well.

vectra

Gintonious wrote: »

I hope? There are indeed more drivers that Ferrari could have gone with, but they have gone with who they see the best fit for the team, a fast driver who is getting great results in a car that shouldn't be.

Pretty sure they have picked well.

Why shouldn't he?
That car is half a Ferrari at the very least.

Charlie-Bravo

So Ferrari livery is changing this weekend, and from the info it's to do with a Philip Morris product of some sort, and likely to be an e-cigarette thing. So we'll see a sponsor's product on the rear wing and other prominent areas this weekend which will be a change to this years look. I'd prefer it blank rather than that stuff advertised.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

astrofluff wrote: »

So Ferrari livery is changing this weekend, and from the info it's to do with a Philip Morris product of some sort, and likely to be an e-cigarette thing. So we'll see a sponsor's product on the rear wing and other prominent areas this weekend which will be a change to this years look. I'd prefer it blank rather than that stuff advertised.

Doesn’t contravene the tobacco ban 2005 then so these might spring up.

LollipopJimmy

Addyson Gray Glue wrote: »

Doesn’t contravene the tobacco ban 2005 then so these might spring up.

The tobacco companies were printing money in the 80's and 90's and a lot of this was poured into advertising, independent teams like Jordan benefited from it, if advertising e-fags brings money for the smaller teams then I'm all for it. How long do you think Williams will be able to continue being at the back of the grid with no sponsor and no prize money?

ayux4rj6zql2ph

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

The tobacco companies were printing money in the 80's and 90's and a lot of this was poured into advertising, independent teams like Jordan benefited from it, if advertising e-fags brings money for the smaller teams then I'm all for it. How long do you think Williams will be able to continue being at the back of the grid with no sponsor and no prize money?

Funny that Williams and tobacco companies are in the one sentence.

In 2000 they were the first F1 team to ditch tobacco sponsorship and carried branding for NiQuitin.

If they secure that kind of sponsorship now the money is well needed.

Frank Bullitt

vectra wrote: »

Why shouldn't he?
That car is half a Ferrari at the very least.

Really? What half is that?

I see it has nothing to do with his skills of course, and I am sure you will use that reasoning then for next year if Kimi does as well as Leclerc.

flazio

Maybe the deal for Mercedes-Benz engines in the Williams is already done
If there was any negotiating still to be done Ocon would be a perfect bargain chip. Read in your best Arnie voice. "We'll give you engines for cheaper if you give Estaban a seat for next year, we'll even pay him for you."

Frank Bullitt

So would could we have Ocon and Kubica at Williams? Or will the Russian money speak loudly on this?

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Gintonious wrote: »

So would could we have Ocon and Kubica at Williams? Or will the Russian money speak loudly on this?

Putin has his Russian back in F1 in the form of Kvyat, the torpedo himself. Sirokin isn't on his list of priorities for Russia 2019 I would now imagine.

Ocon & Kubica with Russell as test driver would be good.

Mind you, the final Toro Rosso seat could yet go to Kubica based on rumours, I'm not a fan at all of Wehrlein.

Frank Bullitt

What about Markelov? Doesn't his father have massive pockets?

Burkie1203

Williams evaluating options. Presume that means calculating the budget befire announcing drivers.

Martini going, no sign of new sponsors, Stroll off to RPFI. That's a lot of money going

donspeekinglesh

Gintonious wrote: »

What about Markelov? Doesn't his father have massive pockets?

He's busy at the moment: https://www.autosport.com/f2/news/139120/f1-hopeful-markelov-father-placed-in-custody

It seems Mercedes don't give that much of a discount for the engines, so deep pockets will win out.

skipper_G

Gintonious wrote: »

What about Markelov? Doesn't his father have massive pockets?

Markelov's father was arrested on bribery charges, guessing that's a spanner in the works

Charlie-Bravo

Artem Markelov's father was arrested after the race on Sunday on corruption charges. I'm not sure exactly what for, some bribery with a minister. Anyhow, his railway contracting company has funded Artem's racing career. He's also a Renault development driver so I don't think he'll be going for a Merc-powered team. His options are really only with Renault going forward. I like the guy, good Racer.

Maybe you're thinking of Mazepin who I'm not a fan of, and not a fan of his daddy (the one kicking up a fuss over the administration of Force India)!! Lovely amount of money floating about with all these fathers!!

GarIT

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Williams evaluating options. Presume that means calculating the budget befire announcing drivers.

Martini going, no sign of new sponsors, Stroll off to RPFI. That's a lot of money going

Stroll isn't confirmed. The sale of Force India's assets to Racing Point hasn't been concluded and may be reversed. Mazepin's father has taken a case against the administrators and Racing Point stating he wasn't given a fair chance to buy the team and they turned down a better deal from him.

Stroll offered to buy the team, Mazepin offered more money just for the assets (without the debts) and was told no, they will not be selling the assets alone. Then they concluded they couldn't sell the team as a whole so they sold the assets to Stroll and co.

The courts could decide Mazepin has the right to buy FI.

skipper_G

GarIT wrote: »

Stroll isn't confirmed. The sale of Force India's assets to Racing Point hasn't been concluded and may be reversed. Mazepin's father has taken a case against the administrators and Racing Point stating he wasn't given a fair chance to buy the team and they turned down a better deal from him.

Stroll offered to buy the team, Mazepin offered more money just for the assets (without the debts) and was told no, they will not be selling the assets alone. Then they concluded they couldn't sell the team as a whole so they sold the assets to Stroll and co.

The courts could decide Mazepin has the right to buy FI.

That’s not accurate, the sale of the assets is done and dusted. The new company structure is already in place. Mazepin's firm are seeking legal action against the administrators only. Not the team.

GarIT

skipper_G wrote: »

That’s not accurate, the sale of the assets is done and dusted. The new company structure is already in place. Mazepin's firm are seeking legal action against the administrators only. Not the team.

I very well could be wrong but I'm sure I read it somewhere.

skipper_G

GarIT wrote: »

I very well could be wrong but I'm sure I read it somewhere.

Article on motorsport.com here about it
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/force-india-administrators-respond-to-uralkali-legal-action/3184417/?nrt=54

ELM327

Gintonious wrote: »

Really? What half is that?

I see it has nothing to do with his skills of course, and I am sure you will use that reasoning then for next year if Kimi does as well as Leclerc.

The second half.
"Sauber Ferrari"

Cookie_Monster

No more live F1 in NZ, sky refused to pay the price liberty is demanding for next season onwards. Granted most races are at 1 or 2 am so audience numbers aren't great, only alternate will be F1 Facebook highlights from 6am Monday morning.
Interesting to see if it will happen anywhere else...

Jordan 199

Charlie-Bravo

Well, that's not really different. So Mission Winnow? Do I need to know what it means?

vectra

Gintonious wrote: »

Really? What half is that?

Wipers ~ Indicators ~ Door locks.
Unless I am completely mistaken? :rolleyes:

ELM327

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

No more live F1 in NZ, sky refused to pay the price liberty is demanding for next season onwards. Granted most races are at 1 or 2 am so audience numbers aren't great, only alternate will be F1 Facebook highlights from 6am Monday morning.
Interesting to see if it will happen anywhere else...

I suppose if that happened here I'd be looking at my VPN options to use the new live online streaming service.

PopePalpatine

astrofluff wrote: »

Well, that's not really different. So Mission Winnow? Do I need to know what it means?

It means Philip Morris are so vewwy, vewwy sowwy for causing hundreds of millions of cases of lung cancer. :rolleyes:

ELM327

PopePalpatine wrote: »

It means Philip Morris are so vewwy, vewwy sowwy for causing hundreds of millions of cases of lung cancer. :rolleyes:

Pretty much:

"We’re building our future on smoke-free products and electronic devices that are a much better consumer choice than continuing to smoke cigarettes."