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Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

boardsuser1

Probably time to open a new thread for the 2018 season?

Silly season is still in full swing as we all know with Williams and Sauber not having confirmed their line ups as yet.

What are people's opinions on the Halo and Alfa Romeo for 2018?

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Joeface

Mclaren Changing Alonso engine again .
He are not getting any run at testing , 7 laps this morning is all he got.

Sainz has a gearbox problem as well so Only Redbull Renault running on track

Harika

muckwarrior wrote: »

Williams. Speculation of course, but one explanation for giving him so much track time is so that he's prepared when the time comes to step up to a race seat. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a performance clause in Sirotkin's contract that allowed him to be replaced if he's not performing come mid-season. That way it's a win-win for Williams. If he turns out to be shite they can drop him while keeping a sizeable chunk of his money.

It is not as easy as that, there are far more factors in play.
- F1, wants a Russian driver for the Russian GP and market
- Kubica needs to pay his life insurance payout back, when he is becoming a full time driver again. For that a half year contract won't be enough
- Williams is loosing Martini at the end of the year, that might give Kubica an offering if a sponsor is found who wants him in. Else the 30 Million might trump that.

muckwarrior

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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Williams. Speculation of course, but one explanation for giving him so much track time is so that he's prepared when the time comes to step up to a race seat. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a performance clause in Sirotkin's contract that allowed him to be replaced if he's not performing come mid-season. That way it's a win-win for Williams. If he turns out to be shite they can drop him while keeping a sizeable chunk of his money.

El_Duderino 09

Schorpio wrote: »

Just to add to this, I can't imagine Williams even particularly wanted the optics of Robert coming out of these tests looking quicker than his teammates. I know testing times are/can be meaningless - but right now it certainly looks (from an outsider's point of view) that Robert is the quickest

In that podcast with the Lotus team principle, he said he sent reserve driver Charles Pic on a glory run to set the fastest time of the test. It might cause more more problems between the drivers to allow one of them to set a fast lap and not the other.

The bottom line is that this is testing. You can read anything you want into individual times. I think everyone wants to think Kubica is fast and that's what they're reading. The fact is he tested extensively for 2 teams and neither team decided to use him. He's in the shop window for all the other teams for next year. Let's see if anyone employs him.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

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muckwarrior

Harika wrote: »

Gary Anderson explained it in the Autosport podcast that a "faster" tyre does not always equate to a faster car. Especially in Barcelona, when a car is understeering a quicker tyre might make it more understeering and so slower. It also could make it more neutral and so quicker. But that is what testing is for.

In theory perhaps, but all through testing the trend has been softer tyre = faster laps.

I also think it's a bit strange that Williams have given Kubica so much track time. No other team is giving their reserve driver almost as much track time as their race drivers. I won't be surprised if Kubica gets promoted half way through the season.

Harika

McLaren down again.

Harika

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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Gary Anderson explained it in the Autosport podcast that a "faster" tyre does not always equate to a faster car. Especially in Barcelona, when a car is understeering a quicker tyre might make it more understeering and so slower. It also could make it more neutral and so quicker. But that is what testing is for.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

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Harika

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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Sirotkin is in the morning, Kubica in the afternoon. Overall the race drivers might want to get some experience with the car themselves.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

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PopePalpatine

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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It can, IIRC each 10kg extra of fuel can cost about 0.4 seconds per lap, that's the main reason why you won't see the fastest lap set in the early stages of a race.

chicorytip

muckwarrior wrote:

Just what exactly do you think he would be incapable of doing in a race? He's physically capable of driving the car around the track faster than the 2 other guys in the prime of their health.

There are other factors such as reaction times and the sheer physical and mental stamina required to complete a full race distance in extremely warm(in the cockpit) conditions. Testing provides no proof whatsoever that a driver possesses these attributes.

PukkaStukka

Infoanon wrote: »

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Agree with both points, but in relation to the first, the fact that Ron and Ken got walloped in the first place was because they'reteams were found to be up to no good. There may have been ulterior motives that dictated the scale of punishment each got.

What 'no good' where Tyrell up to............the case against them fell apart with each alleged breach falling upon closer scrutiny.

Larrouse lost all their points back in the day on a very dodgy decision which just so happened to greatly help Ligier - Guy was good mates with Balestre...

Infoanon wrote: »

What 'no good' where Tyrell up to............the case against them fell apart with each alleged breach falling upon closer scrutiny.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrrell_Racing#1984_controversy

You can read it for yourself. The punishment hsnded down still stood.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

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muckwarrior

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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Stroll's tyre was one step faster.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

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muckwarrior

Prisoner 6753 wrote: »

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Stroll was on softer tyres than Kibica.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

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muckwarrior

It makes me wonder if there's dissent amongst the Williams ranks. Someone (Paddy?) who was pissed off that Kubica didn't get the seat so decided to put him in the car side-by-side with the other drivers to show it was a mistake.

Schorpio

mickdw wrote: »

If kubica is clearly quicker than others every time he drives the car, something will have to give. It's alright having one pay driver but how can any team seriously go about developing a car when the drivers cant consistently get the lap time out of it.
kubica would have to be signed for next year if he continually proves quick. I don't know how you can have the likes of paddy Lowe there pushing development and then put a slow driver in it. It doesn't add up, cash or no cash.
flavio Briatori said about building winning teams at Bennetton and Renault that putting a driver in the car that you know is getting the best out of it was the key. No excuses then from Engineers or anyone else.
Would Engineers stay late every night to improve the Williams car if the management have a faster driver that they won't use? I doubt it.

Just to add to this, I can't imagine Williams even particularly wanted the optics of Robert coming out of these tests looking quicker than his teammates. I know testing times are/can be meaningless - but right now it certainly looks (from an outsider's point of view) that Robert is the quickest.

The overall feeling amongst fans was always that Williams' sole reason for not choosing Robert was the money that the other two bring in. Williams have always denied that - so you'd think they would want the other two to back that up now and at least look quicker than Robert. I know I would had I made that decision.

Just to add my own two cents into the mix - do I think Sergy deserves his seat? Yes. Do I think Lance does? Not a hope.

mickdw

If kubica is clearly quicker than others every time he drives the car, something will have to give. It's alright having one pay driver but how can any team seriously go about developing a car when the drivers cant consistently get the lap time out of it.
kubica would have to be signed for next year if he continually proves quick. I don't know how you can have the likes of paddy Lowe there pushing development and then put a slow driver in it. It doesn't add up, cash or no cash.
flavio Briatori said about building winning teams at Bennetton and Renault that putting a driver in the car that you know is getting the best out of it was the key. No excuses then from Engineers or anyone else.
Would Engineers stay late every night to improve the Williams car if the management have a faster driver that they won't use? I doubt it.

muckwarrior

chicorytip wrote: »

This is a test situation where he is driving alone around an empty track.The big unanswered question is - how would he perform in the close combat of a race situation?.

Just what exactly do you think he would be incapable of doing in a race? He's physically capable of driving the car around the track faster than the 2 other guys in the prime of their health.

Williams have clearly decided that giving him that opportunity would pose too great a risk

Lol. Yeah, that was definitely the motivation behind the decision alright.

chicorytip

Harika wrote:

Or better, how would they score if the testing environment was reversed. Same tyres and fuel load?

Infoanon wrote:

Pose too great a risk - really ! Williams have decided they need the megabucks from Russia.

Megabucks or not, Williams are likely to remain a mid-ranking team regardless of who drives for them. Kubica is a remarkable character. F1 cars have no power steering so it's astounding that he is still even capable of driving at his current level given the nature of his injury.

Infoanon

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Agree with both points, but in relation to the first, the fact that Ron and Ken got walloped in the first place was because they'reteams were found to be up to no good. There may have been ulterior motives that dictated the scale of punishment each got.

What 'no good' where Tyrell up to............the case against them fell apart with each alleged breach falling upon closer scrutiny.

Larrouse lost all their points back in the day on a very dodgy decision which just so happened to greatly help Ligier - Guy was good mates with Balestre...

Infoanon

chicorytip wrote: »

This is a test situation where he is driving alone around an empty track.The big unanswered question is - how would he perform in the close combat of a race situation? Williams have clearly decided that giving him that opportunity would pose too great a risk.

Pose too great a risk - really ! Williams have decided they need the megabucks from Russia.

Now - what if the UK decide to take action against Russia over the events of the last few days- Boris has already referenced the World Cup but what if he decides to take action that affects F1.........

[Deleted User]

Infoanon wrote: »

if Mercedes stop sand bagging the 1.16s will start coming in.

1.15 maybe. If they have another 30k on the straights it's well do-able. I know in F1 teams love to keep their cards close to their chests but Merc should really just do a few mad laps, all the other teams' heads will go down massively.

Harika

chicorytip wrote: »

This is a test situation where he is driving alone around an empty track.The big unanswered question is - how would he perform in the close combat of a race situation? Williams have clearly decided that giving him that opportunity would pose too great a risk.

Or better, how would they score if the testing environment was reversed. Same tyres and fuel load?

chicorytip

muckwarrior wrote:

Kubica again making a mockery of Williams' claim that Sirotkin is the faster driver.

This is a test situation where he is driving alone around an empty track.The big unanswered question is - how would he perform in the close combat of a race situation? Williams have clearly decided that giving him that opportunity would pose too great a risk.

billybonkers

Vettel produces another ultra-quick lap on the hypersofts to deliver a 1:17.182