Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

El_Duderino 09

Jordan 199 wrote: »

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

But would Renault keep him at this point, he's an anonymous mid field driver who adds nothing special

He's seventh in the championship standings at the moment, behind the drivers in the top three teams. He's doing a good job IMO.

He’s a very safe pair of hands. Out performing Sainz is being written off as Sainz being slower than expected. He’s currently the ‘best of the rest’ in the championship. Hard to argue with that.

He was originally billed as the lead driver at Renault but Ric has to be the lead driver now. I wonder. If he’s been in contact with red bull

mickdw

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

He’s a very safe pair of hands. Out performing Sainz is being written off as Sainz being slower than expected. He’s currently the ‘best of the rest’ in the championship. Hard to argue with that.

He was originally billed as the lead driver at Renault but Ric has to be the lead driver now. I wonder. If he’s been in contact with red bull

Hulk is very quick but he has to be missing something given the record he has re lack of podium finishes.
Sainz is super quick and regardless of this year's head to head, I feel he is a better prospect to win a championship in future.

El_Duderino 09

mickdw wrote: »

Hulk is very quick but he has to be missing something given the record he has re lack of podium finishes.
Sainz is super quick and regardless of this year's head to head, I feel he is a better prospect to win a championship in future.

True. I suspect he’s missing the killer instinct.

He’s also never got himself into a top car. I think he'd make an excellent no.2 driver at a top team. Similar to Bottas.

Harika

mickdw wrote: »

Hulk is very quick but he has to be missing something given the record he has re lack of podium finishes.
Sainz is super quick and regardless of this year's head to head, I feel he is a better prospect to win a championship in future.

Hulk also struggles to constantly beat his team mates, who contrary to him achieve podiums. He is reliant but besides his pole in 2010 and the stupid crash in Brasil 2012 on track to podium has not excelled.

eviltimeban

What was more of a waste of a WDC's career, Alonso's time at McLaren, or Villeneuve's time at BAR?

meeeeh

eviltimeban wrote: »

What was more of a waste of a WDC's career, Alonso's time at McLaren, or Villeneuve's time at BAR?

Alonso at McLaren, he is much better driver.

ELM327

meeeeh wrote: »

Alonso at McLaren, he is much better driver.

+1
Villeneuve was an incidental champion, brought about by being in the best car and having a mediocre teammate.
He lost to Hill, who, while a upper mid card level of driver, is not in the schumacher, alonso, senna realms.

Hulkenberg is an excellent driver and with a couple of good breaks would be in the absolute top tier. When he came in his weight was an issue. Even something small like that sets a path. He was unlucky with timing with Mercedes/Renault. I remember him from his pre-F1 days (drive from the back at Norrisring, laptimes were under a minute (only a few corners)in drying conditions and he was 2+ laps faster than everyone else. There are few drivers I remember from the lower tiers and he caught my eye more than anyone else.

eviltimeban

ELM327 wrote: »

+1
Villeneuve was an incidental champion, brought about by being in the best car and having a mediocre teammate.
He lost to Hill, who, while a upper mid card level of driver, is not in the schumacher, alonso, senna realms.

I agree Alonso is the better driver, however Villeneuve came hot from the US in 1996, he'd won the Indy 500 and was a very promising driver.

You could argue that Hill's win was somewhat engineered but Villeneuve came very close. And he did beat Schumacher - wasn't JV the only driver that Schumacher said he really feared?

Beyond all that though, his move to BAR in 99 was a disaster - he never recovered. Similar to Alonso moving to McLaren. There were rumours of JV to McLaren in 2000 / 2001 I think it was, as he was driving very well and getting more out of the crappy BAR than was expected. If he'd made that move, who knows.

Inviere

Deleted User wrote: »

Hulkenberg is an excellent driver and with a couple of good breaks would be in the absolute top tier.

I agree, the kid has talent. It's why when I heard Daniel was to join Renault, my first thought was how Nico would compare against him. I personally don't think there's a gulf between them, and can see Nico doing very very well.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

eviltimeban wrote: »

I agree Alonso is the better driver, however Villeneuve came hot from the US in 1996, he'd won the Indy 500 and was a very promising driver.

You could argue that Hill's win was somewhat engineered but Villeneuve came very close. And he did beat Schumacher - wasn't JV the only driver that Schumacher said he really feared?

Beyond all that though, his move to BAR in 99 was a disaster - he never recovered. Similar to Alonso moving to McLaren. There were rumours of JV to McLaren in 2000 / 2001 I think it was, as he was driving very well and getting more out of the crappy BAR than was expected. If he'd made that move, who knows.

I thought that was Hakkinen?

Inviere

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

I thought that was Hakkinen?

So did I

ayux4rj6zql2ph

http://www.espn.com/racing/news/story?series=6&id=2639387

Many F1 insiders believe Hakkinen was about the only driver Schumacher truly feared and respected.

meeeeh

I think JV was fast driver who never really lived for racing. With Schumacher (and other top champions) you get the feeling it was their obsession, JV was a rich kid who was having fun. He was good but not dedicated or intense enough to be great.

Joeseph Balls

vectra wrote: »

True
But according to stories Kimi could be 41 by the time he retires.
That give Alonso another 4 years.

Alonso won't settle for no2 seat like Kimi.

@Prisoner
I'm aware of Schumacher age.
Alonso wants to win, he won't come back to sit in a mid range team, the top teams won't want him either

ayux4rj6zql2ph

Joeseph Balls wrote: »

Alonso won't settle for no2 seat like Kimi.

@Prisoner
I'm aware of Schumacher age.
Alonso wants to win, he won't come back to sit in a mid range team, the top teams won't want him either

Alonso is done with F1, realistically he was after leaving Ferrari.

Everyone knew Honda would have the problems they did, those engines are hugely complicated compared to the V12's of the 80's

Jordan 199

I never knew Alonso tested for Jaguar until now:

Inviere

https://twitter.com/ESPNF1/status/1029637597012877317

cherryghost

As much as I like Sainz, Vandoorne and Sainz as a combination is quite meh

Harika

So Gasly to RedBull next and rumours say that Vandoorne could be out already for Spa and replaced with Ocon, who is replaced by Stroll at FI.
Or is Kimi surprising us all and becomes an ice cream vendor at Malibu Beach?

Inviere

cherryghost wrote: »

As much as I like Sainz, Vandoorne and Sainz as a combination is quite meh

I'm the same, no real sense of intrigue there for me. That said, you could put any driver you like in that team and it'd fail to generate interest...the team have such a long road ahead of them that I fear it'll be a long time before anything exciting happens with the word McLaren in it.

Harika

On some different side note. Schumacher moving to Majorca. No update on his actual health status but at least fit enough to be moved.

eviltimeban

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

http://www.espn.com/racing/news/story?series=6&id=2639387

Fair enough. I thought it was something to do with his outside line overtaking move in Estoril in '96.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

eviltimeban wrote: »

Fair enough. I thought it was something to do with his outside line overtaking move in Estoril in '96.

Villeneuve said he was going to overtake someone around the outside of that corner, Schumacher branded it dangerous and stupid I think.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

Jordan 199 wrote: »

I never knew Alonso tested for Jaguar until now:

I actually remember that test and Lauda also tested the Jaguar the year before I think.

g1983d

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

Everyone knew Honda would have the problems they did, those engines are hugely complicated compared to the V12's of the 80's

I don't think Ron Dennis did, he described the Honda engine like a piece or jewellery.
Turns out it was as useful as jewellery as powering an F1 car

vectra

Joeseph Balls wrote: »

Alonso won't settle for no2 seat like Kimi.

Where did I even suggest that he would ?

Joeseph Balls

vectra wrote: »

Where did I even suggest that he would ?

It was in reply to the bit about Kimi. Alonso won't race as a number 2 nor will he come back to sit mid field so Kimi and his age is irrelevant.

Must have took you up wrong so.

vectra

Joeseph Balls wrote: »

It was in reply to the bit about Kimi. Alonso won't race as a number 2 nor will he come back to sit mid field so Kimi and his age is irrelevant.

Must have took you up wrong so.

But nobody suggested Alonso might come back as a number 2 driver.
Your reply makes no sense.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

OSI wrote: »

Carlos Sainz confirmed as McLaren driver.

Gasly to Red Bull all but confirmed then