Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

Conservatory · 15-06-2018 06:48PM

Gintonious wrote: »

Apparently the Canadian GP had the lowest TV audience in years. No surprise there so.

I wonder if the tv figures dropped and sponsors dropped would the racing be better. Imagine it went back to people who put their hand in their own pocket and just raced on a budget with whatever volunteers they could get. Pit crews who were just friends of the family, no statisticians, people winging it with strategies, racers being individuals instead of corporate phrase repeaters.

Maybe I’m being silly but the drama would be beautiful to watch.

muckwarrior · 15-06-2018 08:55PM

skipper_G wrote: »

A migration was started under Bernie, he's the one who agreed Sky's exclusive contract

I know. Sure why wouldn't you take an immediate payout over the long term health of the sport when you're 197 years old!

Infoanon · 17-06-2018 03:23PM

muckwarrior wrote: »

The racing might not be stellar this year, but by far the biggest reason for declining audiences is the migration to pay tv.

All the flipside Moto GP has migrated to pay tv and has never been more popular primarily because the racing is good.

F1 has had poor racing for a number of years and overall the product is deteriorating hence the declining audiences

Conservatory · 17-06-2018 03:25PM

Infoanon wrote: »

All the flipside Moto GP has migrated to pay tv and has never been more popular primarily because the racing is good.

F1 has had poor racing for a number of years and overall the product is deteriorating hence the declining audiences

I’m one of the converts. I only watch f1 now to keep up with the drivers I like. When they go or retire I’ll probably stop watching altogether. I really getting into the moto gp though.

Harika · 17-06-2018 04:40PM

Infoanon wrote: »

All the flipside Moto GP has migrated to pay tv and has never been more popular primarily because the racing is good.

F1 has had poor racing for a number of years and overall the product is deteriorating hence the declining audiences

Moto gp has the online streaming service that is up and running since years. Good prices on and off track makes it competitive. Also it has the living legend rossi.

Frank Bullitt · 17-06-2018 05:02PM

flazio · 17-06-2018 07:13PM

No Fernando, last time an Irish man brought Toyota to F1, it didn't go well.

Frank Bullitt · 17-06-2018 08:26PM

Personally, I am delighted for Fernando. His stint in the night was amazing. He has proper speed in any category.

Harika · 18-06-2018 10:20AM

Rumour Time:
Force India asked for a cash advance, what is normal for one of the smaller teams, but this was blocked by their competition.

Hancook is in running to replace Pirelli for 2020. Pirelli is not interested in entering a competition here and F1 seems to prefer the one supplier model anyway

Hamilton is set to renew his contract this week

Andretti Autosport to enter F1 in 2021 as constructor, this makes sense as Indycar is struggling at home and cannot work out an expansion outside of North America, and fails to setup more races in Canada or one in Mexico what should be easy.

Copenhagen investigated to host a F1 race, but decided against it

The Rich Energy Takeover is said to be happening very soon, but also Andretti is now rumoured to take over Force India for 2019.

Charlie-Bravo · 18-06-2018 11:31AM

French GP this week - looking forward to something a little different with this re-newed entry.

And a nice poster by Renault for their home grand prix.

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35477084_2246338425393152_8334723533577912320_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=5dea71d88c416ce1bfdd469957807e4f&oe=5BB1E97A

Jordan 199 · 18-06-2018 11:55AM

^ They won their first race at Dijon in 1979 courtesy of Jean-Pierre Jabouille.

That race was best known for the battle between Rene Arnoux and Gilles Villeneuve.

Jordan 199 · 18-06-2018 06:25PM

Good article here.

PukkaStukka · 18-06-2018 06:57PM

More Paul Ricard trivia from personal memory

The 81 race marked Alain Prost's first career F1 win in a Renault

The 82 race marked a massive falling out between Arnoux and Prost after both had entered into back gentleman's agreement to allow Prost win as his championship position was far healthier. Mr Arnoux didn't yield when expected abd headed a 1-2 victory for the Régie. The fallout was reminiscent of Imola '89...

'83 was a Renault demonstration. A 1-2 victory, pole position and fastest lap for Prost leading home Eddie Cheever who was Arnoux's '83 replacement. A French driver in a French car with French tyres and fuel winning the French GP for the third year running.

84 was in Dijon but won by Lauda.

85 saw Piquet triumph on pirelli tyres that didn't go off in the tropical heat. There was a big scrap between Prost and Rosberg for 2nd with Prost taking Rosberg in a fantastic outbraking maneuver, only to loose the position back when his McLaren developed a late race misfire.

86 and 87 were inter Williams affairs with Mansell triumphing quite convincingly over Piquet .

88 saw a brilliant scrap between Prost and Senna with Prost eventally overtaking the Brazilian at the end of the Mistral Straight to win as they approached lapped traffic.

89 started spectacularly with a startline shunt with Gugelmin in the Leyton House March being launched and sliding inverted off at turn one amid mayhem. Cue the restart and Senna snapped a driveshaft leaving Prost an uncontested victory

The last race at Ricard saw a near shock victory for Ivan Capelli in the Leyton House March. It would've happened too as the slippery shaped and tyre gentle car penned by one Adrian Newest got sick on the penultimate lap and ceeded victory to Prost in the Ferrari. Newey had already left the team by then enroute to Williams and the rest as they say was history.

I'm sure videos of the above races are on YouTube and are worth a look at to marvel at an age when real men raced properly and their skill often was the difference!

Mike Litoris · 18-06-2018 09:35PM

^^^^ Great post and great memory!

It was also the track Ronnie Peterson won his first GP on in 73.

Burkie1203 · 18-06-2018 10:30PM

https://twitter.com/andrewbensonf1/status/1008821707489062912?s=19

Harika · 19-06-2018 08:08AM

Yes officially confirmed on their facebook page now and homepage https://redbullracing.redbull.com/article/honda-power-2019

The Team is proud to announce that it has reached an agreement with Honda Motor Co Ltd to race with the Japanese manufacturer’s power units for the 2019 and 2020 Formula 1 seasons.

Team Principal Christian Horner said: “This multi-year agreement with Honda signals the start of an exciting new phase in Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s efforts to compete not just for grand prix wins but for what is always our goal – championship titles.

“We have always taken decisions such as this dispassionately and with only one criteria in mind – do we believe the outcome will allow us to compete at a higher level. After careful consideration and evaluation we are certain this partnership with Honda is the right direction for the Team.” He added: “We have been impressed by Honda’s commitment to F1, by the rapid steps they have made in recent times with our sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso, and by the scope of their ambition, which matches our own. We look forward to working with Honda in the coming years and to racing together in pursuit of F1’s biggest prizes.”

The Team will continue to race under the name of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.

Takahiro Hachigo, President & Representative Director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. said: “Having established a good relationship with Scuderia Toro Rosso, we have decided to extend our Formula 1 involvement to the other team in the Red Bull family, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, as from the 2019 season. Having two teams means we can access twice as much data as previously. We believe that working with both Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing will allow us to get closer to our goal of winning races and championships, building two strong partnerships. Discussions proceeded very quickly, thanks to Red Bull’s open and respectful attitude towards Honda, leading to a deal that is fair and equitable for all parties.”

Our partnership with Honda deepens Red Bull’s collaboration with the Japanese manufacturer, which in 2018 entered into a partnership with Scuderia Toro Rosso. Red Bull and Honda have already enjoyed success together in motorsport on both four and two wheels.

“Honda’s alignment with both Red Bull Formula 1 teams provides enormous potential,” Christian Horner said. “Honda will have access to a wealth of data from both outfits, with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing leading the way, and the opportunities for faster, more effective and more competitive development are doubled.”

With this announcement, the 2018 season brings to an end the Team’s 12-year relationship with current power unit supplier Renault.

The Team first used Renault power in 2007 and during F1’s V8 engine era the partnership yielded 47 grand prix victories and eight world championship titles (four Drivers’ and four Constructors’) between 2010 and 2013, and a further ten grand prix victories since then.

Commenting on the team’s time with Renault, Christian Horner added: “We would like to thank Renault for the past 12 years, a period during which we experienced some incredible moments together. We have sometimes had our differences but Renault has always worked tirelessly and to the best of its ability to provide us with a competitive power unit. That is still the case today and we would like to thank the Renault team, and particularly the guys in our garage at every race, for their unstinting commitment and we look forward to ending our partnership on a high come the end of this season. Our focus for the rest of this year is still very much on delivering the best results possible in the 2018 Championship and we wish Renault Sport all the best for the future.”

Two year deal so open for anything happening for 2021 and Aston Martin seems to be kept in the mix.

El_Duderino 09 · 19-06-2018 08:12AM

The missed apex podcast claims to have a reliable source who told them the following:

Red Bull and Honda signed an agreement for next year at the Monaco GP. The deal was subject to improvements in the Honda upgrade in Canada.

So red bull will take the Canada data home and analyse it to measure the improvement and overall package.

The second part of the story was that the Honda is now equal to the Renault which suggests the deal will go ahead. But it didn’t go into any detail on whether they meant ICE HP or overall speed or drivability etc.

It would be a kick in the teeth for Renault to announce the Honda deal at the French GP. But I think Renault would be happy to be shot of RB.

I’d treat it as an interesting rumour for now. The Missed Apex lads were talking about how they want to build a reputation for having inside information and this was coming from a good source.

It’s worth keeping an eye on at least.

19-06-2018 08:23AM

BBC are reporting it now

Red Bull to switch from Renault to Honda for 2019 season - http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/44530950

rock22 · 19-06-2018 09:16AM

And it is also on the formula 1 website
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/6/red-bull-and-honda-agree-two-year-engine-deal-.html

Spudman_20000 · 19-06-2018 09:16AM

Doubt Ricciardo will hang around for Honda engines next year.

Frank Bullitt · 19-06-2018 09:47AM

Ricciardo to Renault and Sainz to RB...I started typing this as a joke but actually, makes sense?

flazio · 19-06-2018 09:50AM

Hulkenberg and Ricciardo as teammates. I like.

ELM327 · 19-06-2018 09:57AM

Ricciardo won't move to Renault, that's a step down.
He'll stay put IMO unless one of the bigger 2 come offering.

Jordan 199 · 19-06-2018 10:00AM

ELM327 wrote: »

Ricciardo won't move to Renault, that's a step down.
He'll stay put IMO unless one of the bigger 2 come offering.

I think he will end up at Ferrari.

ELM327 · 19-06-2018 10:02AM

Jordan 199 wrote: »

I think he will end up at Ferrari.

Other than the past with Vettel I'd be fairly sure with that outlook too.

I think Hamilton moves to Ferrari and Ricciardo to Mercedes is possible

Harika · 19-06-2018 10:05AM

Jordan 199 wrote: »

I think he will end up at Ferrari.

As long as Hamilton or Kimi won't retire or make a shock move, Ferrari and Mercedes will keep their lineup. At the end, Kimi is bringing in points and not challenging Vettel too much. Bottas the same. The teams are in harmony and this is wanted.

Frank Bullitt · 19-06-2018 10:05AM

Jordan 199 wrote: »

I think he will end up at Ferrari.

Word from the pit lane is that the 2 bosses in Ferrari aren't a fan of his joker attitude etc, and him being in the team might disturb Vettel as well.

I don't see him staying with RB myself, and actually Renault isn't a bad idea. It might be a step back this year, but Renault have improved each year since the new PU's were introduced.

They are also a works team as well, so its not a stretch. Sainz is also only on loan to Renault from RB, he is pretty fast and improving. So it maybe a case of them wanting him back, and he wont want to go near TR.

Overall though, Ricciardo hasn't got much in the way of choices. Merc are happy with Bottas, Ferrari have a solid hierarchy now with clear No.1 and No.2 drivers, after RB its Renault, McLaren and FI. If Alonso heads off he might land in that seat.

flazio · 19-06-2018 10:07AM

It'll be an interesting test of Vettels power at Ferrari because I'm sure he'd be keen to block the teammate who beat him in his last year at Red Bull becoming his teammate again. Might even be the end of Vettel at Ferrari if the deal goes through.

Frank Bullitt · 19-06-2018 10:13AM

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11405832/analysiswhy-have-red-bull-switched-to-honda

Some insights from Ted Kravitz, interesting read.

AMKC · 19-06-2018 12:03PM

I think it's a brave move from Red Bull if it is true but also that it had to be done and was there only real option as the relationship with Renault had gone sour because of the way Red Bull treated Renault. I think Renault will be very happy to not have to supply Red Bull anymore.

As for who should drive. If Kimi did retire at the end of the year I think Daniel Ricciardo to Ferrari alongside Vettel would shake things up a bit at Ferrari but also make it more interesting for the fans and be better for the team as well. Pierre Gasly could then go to Red Bull has he would have experience driving a car with the Honda engine that would be very valuable to the team so they could get off to a good start. Not sure who would replace Pierre Gasly at Toro Rosso do.

I do however also like the idea of Daniel Ricciardo at Renault. Think he could could bring a lot to that team including motivation to do even better and get to the front of the grid.

Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

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