Formula 1 2018: General Discussion Thread

Addyson Gray Glue wrote: »

If he wins this year I reckon he will reel that in. Also he is now on win number 69, 22 shy of Schumacher who got win number 91 aged 37 at China 2006, that one will fall as well unless the Mercedes car falls off a cliff in performance terms.

Its still a big ask.
He might not win a race next year. You cannot be sure. He may not be in the right place come next run change after that. You just don't know when you have won your last race in f1.


If someone told Alonso back in the middle of 2013 that he had won his last race, he would have laughed.

Faugheen wrote: »

I was just going to say.

Martin Brundle made a great point earlier on about Vettel and Hamilton’s radio communications.

Vettel always tries to dictate the strategy from his cockpit, and he always seems to hang his team out to dry when they don’t want to go with him. It says to me that Vettel doesn’t really trust the team, and you could tell it was the same at Red Bull as well.

Hamilton on the other hand absolutely tears into his team if something goes wrong, which people call him a prick and an arsehole for, but his reactions tell me that he puts his full faith in what his team are doing to help him win.

Even today when he was out at the front. He’s telling Bonno that something doesn’t feel right with the rears. Bonno tells him everything looks ok and keep going as you were. A few laps later Hamilton gets the yips again and Bonno mentions that the tyres are a bit cool but it won’t affect wear, putting him completely at ease.

I know today is a shocking example, but Vettel not trusting the team behind him will continue to hold him back. Hamilton knows how to play the long game, Vettel doesn’t.

In fairness, Ferrari's pit wall has a lot to answer for - their strategy calls have been abysmal, in races and qualifying, since after Melbourne (and that one might have been just a strike of luck). They've managed to mess up really basic stuff that even the most clueless of the spectators would get immediately - for example yesterday, when they pitted Vettel knowing he'd end up behind Perez. A Merc engined car whose only saving grace are good traction and straight line speed, on a twisty narrow track without long straights.



A number of papers in Italy ran a very interesting story after Hockenheim - apparently, the pit wall kept feeding Sebastian information about Hamilton's comeback, without him asking. Basically a "push along" which, they conclude, might have been a contributing factor in the race-ending crash.



This obviously comes from the classic "somebody inside Maranello told us" but, considering how panicky and "always a step behind the game" Ferrari's strategy team have been, doesn't sound implausible at all...

Also i think it's wishful thinking but really want Vettel to close the gap to Lewis. I want a last race decider, but it's looking like Lewis will walk it.

For all the talk about Ferrari having the faster car Mercedes seem to be getting the better of them. Redbull not far off too.

mickdw wrote: »

Ya the big rule change will be the decider in hamiltons outright win total.
Still, a slightly stronger Ferrari next season could win a majority of races.

As the engine seems to stay the same, Hamilton and Mercedes might be lucky beyond 2021. Overall the field will just get closer as the engine development will reach it's limit and the improvements will be marginal. Then aerodynamics and driver will be more important again. And if you see that Ferrari has the best car and they are blowing it by driver and tactic errors, it is imaginable that Hamilton will crack both Schumacher records.

g1983d wrote: »

A lot of drivers are pay drivers though, if not by the money they pay then by the money their sponsorship brings.
Remember Alonso going to Ferrari, a lot of that was down to the cash Santander handed over to Ferrari

There seems to be 2 routes into F1, pay up or get picked up very young by a big team and brought through the ranks like red bull

I'd say the two Driving Championships probably helped Alonso earn the seat aswell tbh.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/45558975

In-play F1 betting, eh?

Ah they are making a fool of Kvyat. Hartley should never have been there ahead of him anyway.

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

He said himself he doesn't want a return while he's fighting for championships in FE

He said he was open to come back, but not in a back marker team. He would have taken a RedBull Cockpit but not the ToroRosso.

On the rumour side it seems that Ferrari might block Giovanazzis move to Sauber as they need an experienced simulator driver, what might now we cemented by Kyvats move.
It is also rumoured that Alonso won't get a Honda engine in Indycar and instead has to look at NASCAR for 2019 as the Honda chief is the same who is responsible for F1 and he hasn't forgotten.
But yeah Kyvat moves makes no sense and makes RedBull look like idiots that destroy one driver, drag him along, drop him only to take him on again. Also Kyvat to go back into the same meat grinder. On the other hand he might bring Ferrari engine data to Hondas help.

Harika wrote: »

He said he was open to come back, but not in a back marker team. He would have taken a RedBull Cockpit but not the ToroRosso.

On the rumour side it seems that Ferrari might block Giovanazzis move to Sauber as they need an experienced simulator driver, what might now we cemented by Kyvats move.
It is also rumoured that Alonso won't get a Honda engine in Indycar and instead has to look at NASCAR for 2019 as the Honda chief is the same who is responsible for F1 and he hasn't forgotten.
But yeah Kyvat moves makes no sense and makes RedBull look like idiots that destroy one driver, drag him along, drop him only to take him on again. Also Kyvat to go back into the same meat grinder. On the other hand he might bring Ferrari engine data to Hondas help.

I saw on reddit someone joking this is also why they want Wehrlein to get both Ferrari AND Merc engine data :pac:

Harika wrote: »

He said he was open to come back, but not in a back marker team. He would have taken a RedBull Cockpit but not the ToroRosso.

Yes but I was responding to somebody who suggested he should be in TR instead of Kyvat. He wouldn't be any better than any of the drivers in the top four teams.

There are far better options out there than Kubica too for TR if they are going outside their own development program

Mercedes again complaining about Ocon not getting a seat. If they are that desperate why not just send Bottas to Williams and give Ocon the second Mercedes seat.

pjohnson wrote: »

Mercedes again complaining about Ocon not getting a seat. If they are that desperate why not just send Bottas to Williams and give Ocon the second Mercedes seat.

If they were smart about it, give Williams a discount on engines in return for a race seat. Williams don't have to spend as much of their budget on the engine and Merc get to keep a talented driver on the grid. Win-win in that regard.