Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

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El_Duderino 09

Mercedes werent guaranteed to get Hamilton so they probably had some negotiations with Schumacher too as a backup in case Lewis didn't move. Mercedes was a bit of a disappointment up to that point. It was just before the engine changes and mercedes dominance b

chicorytip

muckwarrior wrote:

No, Alonso is number 1 in my mind. As much as I dislike him I think Hamilton is probably the second best on the grid, with Vettel, Ricciardo and Verstappen very close behind.

Vettel still has superior driving skills and outright pace compared to the rest. Verstappen, obviously, has the potential to become the greatest of all time. He could be the first driver to win ten world championships.

AMKC

chicorytip wrote: »

Vettel still has superior driving skills and outright pace compared to the rest. Verstappen, obviously, has the potential to become the greatest of all time. He could be the first driver to win ten world championships.

I have to disagree about Vettel having superior driving skills. If he had these then why did he mess up at Baku or even Singapour last year. Then there is the incident he had with Mark Webber in 2010 in Turkey when he crashed into him. Alonso is a far more complete driver. You would never see him make mistakes like that. I am not saying Vettel is a bad driver. He just sometime's does stupid things when there was no need for it.

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vectra

chicorytip wrote: »

Vettel still has superior driving skills and outright pace compared to the rest. Verstappen, obviously, has the potential to become the greatest of all time. He could be the first driver to win ten world championships.

I tend to agree with this.
I think Vettel would be walking away with every title if he were in that Merc.

supremenovice

The more I think about next years driver line-up, the more I think it stays the same.
Hamilton - loves Mercedes, is eager to stay with them, doesn't feel compelled to go to Ferrari at any stage of his career. Staying put.
Bottas - not at the same level as Rosberg was (its laughable that people suggested it was a like-for-like swap at the time) but that suits Hamilton down to the ground. Gets the odd win here and there to keep everyone happy. If he gets a win or two by the Summer break, then they will keep him.
Ricciardo - Has shown flashes of brilliance through the years (particularly in his first year at Red Bull) but overall has been outclassed by Verstappen in their two years as team-mates. Vettel was clearly rattled by him at Red Bull in 2014 and would veto any move to Ferrari. Ditto Hamilton - another competitive team-mate beside him would inevitably lead to more tensions that Wolff and Lauda could do without. What about Renault? Hard to know if they will take another step forward next year so its a risk. My best bet would be a one-year extension at Red Bull, with a view to take Vettel's seat at Ferrari in 2020 due to early retirement or sacking.
Verstappen - Locked in to 2020 at Red Bull so going nowhere. This might have been a mistake though due to the engine supplier being up in the air for next season.
Raikkonen - Zero wins vs Vettel's ten since they've been team-mates tells you a good deal of the story there. He hasn't put it up to Vettel in the way Rosberg did to Hamilton or Ricciardo does to Verstappen. However, its the Ferrari way to focus on one top driver only so perhaps one of his best strengths is that he is not going toe to toe with Vettel week after week. A wealth of experience, not threatened by Vettel and strange popularity with the fans will give him a good chance at staying for another year.
Vettel - Signed until the end of the 2020 season with Ferrari but this is his 12th season in F1 and for me, he looks like a man not enjoying it anymore despite putting in terrific performances. He's on the back foot in this Championship which would leave Ferrari 11 years without a Drivers Championship victory if he fails. Arrivabene might get the chop if that happens and they may give Vettel one more chance next season. Either way, I think he'll be gone from Ferrari after that and the smile and cheeky-chap persona could have disappeared with no appetite to continue in F1.

In essence, despite the rumors and huffing and puffing, I predict no changes for the Top 3 teams for the 2019 season.

mickdw

I don't know how you figure that ricciardo was outclassed by verstappen.
Ricciardo finished ahead both seasons and for me has been the better driver, more reliable while still being super exciting.

Conservatory

I’d say vettel riciardo the top 2.
Honorable mention for checo he always finds a few milliseconds over his teammates even though his teammates are always hyped up and billed as the next big thing.
Replaced at Maclaran by a fella who was good on the simulator. He seems to get nothing but bad press from the English commentators.
I think the car is 95% of it these days though. I look at the teammates racing most years because they are in nearly the same car in most teams.
How grosjean keeps getting let out on the track I can’t understand but there are a lot of below par drivers in the smaller teams the last year or two. Way more than usual.

mickdw

Grosjean is super fast when everything goes right.
His action the last day where he decided to give it full beans mid spin - from outside looked almost suicidal. From on board it looked even worse.
He deserves a few races holiday for that in my opinion.

Faugheen

I don't know how some people can't have Hamilton in the same conversation as Alonso or Vettel.

The three of them are top tier. Hamilton and Alonso have been team-mates and there was nothing between them when they were (not to mention Hamilton was a rookie). Is that not a fair barometer?

I think a lot of people look at the personalities before the skill. I mean, Vettel hit Hamilton at slow pace in Baku last year, twice, but is seen as been a much more skilled driver?

I don't think you can win 4 titles and not be considered one of the best on the grid.

Conservatory

mickdw wrote: »

Grosjean is super fast when everything goes right.
His action the last day where he decided to give it full beans mid spin - from outside looked almost suicidal. From on board it looked even worse.
He deserves a few races holiday for that in my opinion.

If you told me his real job is to signal the time for the safety car to come out I’d believe you.

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muckwarrior

chicorytip wrote: »

Vettel still has superior driving skills and outright pace compared to the rest. Verstappen, obviously, has the potential to become the greatest of all time. He could be the first driver to win ten world championships.

I don't agree. You could argue that Vettel is on a par with the best, but I don't see anything to suggest that he's better than all the rest. I'd actually love to see him and Hamilton in the same car. I reckon it'd be very close, but if I had to bet, my money would be on Hamilton over the course of a season.

vectra

muckwarrior wrote: »

I don't agree. You could argue that Vettel is on a par with the best, but I don't see anything to suggest that he's better than all the rest. I'd actually love to see him and Hamilton in the same car. I reckon it'd be very close, but if I had to bet, my money would be on Hamilton over the course of a season.

The only fair way to sort that is to put them both in the same team as you said. But a Neutral team to them both so they have zero previous experience with the team.

Stick them both in Renault for next season and see how that goes.

Conservatory

vectra wrote: »

The only fair way to sort that is to put them both in the same team as you said. But a Neutral team to them both so they have zero previous experience with the team.

Stick them both in Renault for next season and see how that goes.

You don’t happen to own Renault do you?

vectra

Conservatory wrote: »

You don’t happen to own Renault do you?

I wish :pac:

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vectra

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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I was giving them some hope of racing :P

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vectra

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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:pac::pac::pac:

Jordan 199

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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No thanks

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AMKC

I say put them both in the Mclaren for next season. Alonso is probably going to retire anyway and Vandoore could be the reserve and test driver for a year. Problem solved. We would get to know which of the three is the best driver then soon enough.

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Mike Litoris

https://badgergp.com/2018-will-final-year-f1-lee-mckenzie-chats-badger/


Sad, she's head and shoulders over anything Sky's got. I wonder what will happen to the rest of the team.

elperello

Mike Litoris wrote: »

https://badgergp.com/2018-will-final-year-f1-lee-mckenzie-chats-badger/


Sad, she's head and shoulders over anything Sky's got. I wonder what will happen to the rest of the team.

A pity to lose her.
Rest of team to be scattered to the four winds.
"You don't know what you've got till it's gone".

Harika

elperello wrote: »

A pity to lose her.
Rest of team to be scattered to the four winds.
"You don't know what you've got till it's gone".

I am wondering if Sky keeps the world wide stream, as there is a lot of backlash on them in social media or Americans are not happy with the UK chaps. On the other side, not sure if Edwards and DC would be better for that market.

eviltimeban

I wouldn't mind if they got rid of everyone except Brundle. Saying that, he shouldn't be main commentator. I do remember the year he did it with DC was pretty good though.

vectra

eviltimeban wrote: »

I wouldn't mind if they got rid of everyone except Brundle. Saying that, he shouldn't be main commentator. I do remember the year he did it with DC was pretty good though.

I wouldn't mind if the kept everyone except Burndle
That guys head is so far up Hamiltons H#@e he hasnt a clue what's going on around him.
He is painful to listen to.