Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

Here we go

https://youtu.be/1rKaFuz4K3I

Joeface wrote: »

Autosport posted yesterdays speed traps

If you believe that's the actual order of top speed then I've a bridge to sell you.

Listening to a fascinating Missed Apex podcast at the moment. The guest is former Lotus team principle. He's discussing the way customer teams operate during winter testing.

For example, his team had a contract for X engines per season. If they wanted an extra testing engine it was an additional £750,000. So the customer teams often sat in the garage while works teams did race simulations. The works teams even allocated measured amounts of fuel to ensure the team's only did the agreed amount of testing.

He also spoke about this year's rule where all customer teams have access to all the engine modes. The engine was controlled by a team of Mercedes people who sat in the customer garage and told the team what to do with the engine. The engines are far too complex for team to argue so they just do as they're told.

The most important thing for the engine supplier is reliability rather than outright speed so they're always inclined to run customer team's engines within safe levels. But they're often inclined to run the works team engine to the limit for outright speed.

Really interesting listen.

mickdw wrote: »

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Here we go

https://youtu.be/1rKaFuz4K3I

I don't know what else he could say really.
He was steeped in that culture and the campaign and leaflet referred to was very much of its time.

That leaflet could've had a big bearing on his libel trial had it been available. It'll be interesting if the verdict is appealed now that it was found. Irrespective, I found Max's usual calm demeanour conspicuously absent during that interview especially when hit with the hard questions. I felt the best he could do was chide the interviewer for having the temerity to ask him the awkward stuff in the first place.

this is hilarious: https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2018/03/06/new-private-eye-cover-funny-hurts/

This years arms race will be around this area and the blown win that Renault seem to have a good gauge on. This looks mad.

Vettel produces second-fastest time of winter
Sebastian Vettel goes purple in the first sector on his latest lap...

And goes even faster to a 1:18.079


1:17 incoming

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Well, if someone really wanted to settle scores with McLaren, they could've booted them straight out like they did with Tyrell. What the admitted to doing was clearly far worse than what Ken's eponymous outfit did.

Bernie was not a fan of Rons - by fining McLaren 100m the long term effect would be Ron losing his job.
With Tyrell, Ken Tyrell was blocking new rules regarding fuel and engines - to take out Ken meant taking out Tyrell.

Balestre - now he was a controversial character with an interesting background. Trying to give Prost an advantage at Suzuka is only the tip of the iceberg !

Ferrari Customers seem to have brought it to day , K-Mag running second 1m18.360 and Erricsson 5th 1m19.244 .......
and Vettels 1m17..

1 Vettel Ferrari 1m17.644s
2 Magnussen Haas 1m18.360s
3 Hulkenberg Renault 1m18.675s
4 Vandoorne McLaren 1m18.855s
5 Ericsson Sauber 1m19.244s
6 Gasly Toro Rosso 1m19.358s
7 Bottas Mercedes 1m19.532s
8 Kubica Williams 1m19.629s
9 Verstappen Red Bull 1m19.842s
10 Perez Force India 1m19.901s

Infoanon wrote: »

PukkaStukka wrote: »

Well, if someone really wanted to settle scores with McLaren, they could've booted them straight out like they did with Tyrell. What the admitted to doing was clearly far worse than what Ken's eponymous outfit did.

Bernie was not a fan of Rons - by fining McLaren 100m the long term effect would be Ron losing his job.
With Tyrell, Ken Tyrell was blocking new rules regarding fuel and engines - to take out Ken meant taking out Tyrell.

Balestre - now he was a controversial character with an interesting background. Trying to give Prost an advantage at Suzuka is only the tip of the iceberg !

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.

Emphatically agree with the sentiments about Balestre. And whilst (justifiable) criticism is made of Suzuka, what is overlooked is the blatant favouritism shown to Senna by Honda when Prost was his team mate. It did not go unnoticed that Senna was 2secs faster in qualifying in Monza 89 when the differential up to then was far closer. Senna blew up in that race and prost's reaction was to state that perhaps senna had too much power. At the same race, Prost handed his winners trophy to the crowd which pi$$ed Dennis off even further. I don't condone what Balestre did but his actions need to be seen in the context of what others were up to too as they were no saints either.

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.

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...

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.

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.