Formula 1 2019 - General Discussion Thread

Rossi IRL · 10-05-2019 02:25PM

Silverstone, Monaco, Spa, Monza and Sao Paolo were the tracks I could never see being lost.

1 gone from that already.

Only going to get worse.

Jordan 199 · 10-05-2019 04:40PM

Craig Scarborough has very good technical articles over on racefans.net

Infoanon · 10-05-2019 05:23PM

Rossi IRL wrote: »

Silverstone, Monaco, Spa, Monza and Sao Paolo were the tracks I could never see being lost.

1 gone from that already.

Only going to get worse.

Only one of those circuits is safe.

Drivers waxing lyrically on how narrow Zandvoort is...........so no overtaking then. Wonder how it compares to Austria where the circuit is even narrow for the bikes.

patmahe · 10-05-2019 05:41PM

I'm slowly drifting away from F1 too to be honest having been fanatical about it in the late 90s. I resent having to pay to watch a sport I have supported for over 20 years, where the only reason the sport is so awash with money is because fans tune in and watch.

The sky deal has really killed off my interest, I watch the highlights on channel4 now, but to be honest it can be dull, which is some achievement considering its the best cars in the world being raced by the best drivers in the world. I spend a lot of the races now playing with my phone waiting for the strategies to play out or someone to make a mistake to break the monotony.

I think F1 has forgotten what it is and what makes it great. It's an extreme sport, it should be more fire and brimstone and ripping tyres to shreds and less about tactics and minding power units while being coached lap after lap by a guy with a laptop. I want a fleet of Gilles Villeneuves or Jean Alesis, I want cars slithering an moving about, I want the driver to be able to be the difference.

I know I'm unlikely to get that, but if I don't I'll probably switch off the TV on a Sunday and go and do something else and I bet I'm not the only one.

sunnysoutheast · 10-05-2019 07:58PM

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Joe Saward reckons it's a gonner already. Zandvort near Amsterdam is almost definitely in. He reckons that more will also be lost in the near future because they want races in New York, London and Miami - destination cities. Silverstone is a risk, As soon as red bull stop paying for the GP in Austria, its gone too.

I was talking about this with my brother today. We were at Zandvoort for DTM a couple of years ago. Without major investment it's difficult to see how you could run F1 there. The track is much shorter than it used to be. Paddock was tiny and we spent much of our time in the "racing club" which was like something out of the 1950s.

I was genuinely surprised when the idea was suggested.

chicorytip · 10-05-2019 09:13PM

patmahe wrote:

I think F1 has forgotten what it is and what makes it great. It's an extreme sport, it should be more fire and brimstone and ripping tyres to shreds and less about tactics and minding power units while being coached lap after lap by a guy with a laptop. I want a fleet of Gilles Villeneuves or Jean Alesis, I want cars slithering an moving about, I want the driver to be able to be the difference.

I think the sport still has an element of unpredictability that makes for an entertaining spectacle most of the time. Drivers are human beings who make mistakes despite all of the technological assistance available to them. The biggest problem is the lack of overall competition within the championship. The big three - who are the only teams capable of winning races - have their respective "reserve" teams who along with McLaren and Renault make a crowded midfield of also rans. Liberty needs to attract some of the major motor manufacturers such as Ford, BMW and Toyota as well as Lamborghini and Porsche to enter the sport as full works teams in order to upset the current status quo. You need a situation where at least half of the teams competing are capable of winning.

tigerboon · 10-05-2019 11:24PM

Rossi IRL wrote: »

Silverstone, Monaco, Spa, Monza and Sao Paolo were the tracks I could never see being lost.

1 gone from that already.

Only going to get worse.

Only going to get better more like....bigger wheels in 2 years time

PopePalpatine · 11-05-2019 03:49PM

Can't wait until the cars are rolling on 24s, shure Pirelli need the research for all the Karens in their SUVs.

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 12-05-2019 11:39AM

https://grandpx.news/latifi-could-replace-kubica-at-williams-report/

The first rumours that Robert Kubica could be ousted by Williams have emerged.

pjohnson · 12-05-2019 12:08PM

Peyton Lively Tiller wrote: »

https://grandpx.news/latifi-could-replace-kubica-at-williams-report/

Wonder why Latifi didnt just outbid Kubica earlier.

skipper_G · 12-05-2019 12:24PM

pjohnson wrote: »

Wonder why Latifi didnt just outbid Kubica earlier.

Would Kubica leaving affect Orlen?

I assume the payment of sponsorship money is contingent on Kubica's continuing presence in the race seat. Can't see them replacing him mid season, all depends on the contracts anyway. Any ambiguity could lead to legal actions, and they are always expensive. Can Williams afford that? Doubtful

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 12-05-2019 12:31PM

pjohnson wrote: »

Wonder why Latifi didnt just outbid Kubica earlier.

Would Kubica leaving affect Orlen?

skipper_G wrote: »

I assume the payment of sponsorship money is contingent on Kubica's continuing presence in the race seat. Can't see them replacing him mid season, all depends on the contracts anyway. Any ambiguity could lead to legal actions, and they are always expensive. Can Williams afford that? Doubtful

Does Latifi even hold a super licence? conflicting reports saying yes and no.

I reckon Williams can't afford to play hardball too much, Kubica has a 2 year contract but it seems possible if not likely that the second year will be bought out,if that happens will he end up on the grid elsewhere? who knows. It can't have just been solely down to money that he got back on the grid, both Renault and Williams, especially the latter were able to gather extensive information on him.

Infoanon · 12-05-2019 04:18PM

Peyton Lively Tiller wrote: »

https://grandpx.news/latifi-could-replace-kubica-at-williams-report/

The first rumours that Robert Kubica could be ousted by Williams have emerged.

Not the first rumours by a long way - ad early as Barcelona testing certain individuals have been pedalling this story.

Some in F1 believe that a driver with a disability (their term not mine) should not be competing in F1.

Kubica has a 2 year contract, wouldn't matter who is driving the Williams is the slowest car on the grid.

galwayllm · 12-05-2019 04:55PM

F1.... What's the point of it now?

You literally don't have to watch to know the results ....

The sport has turned into a joke...

Shame, it was brilliant for a time.

Inquitus · 12-05-2019 08:03PM

galwayllm wrote: »

F1.... What's the point of it now?

You literally don't have to watch to know the results ....

The sport has turned into a joke...

Shame, it was brilliant for a time.

It's gone through periods like this over the years many times and survived, we may have to wait for the sweeping 2021 rule changes to see the playing field leveled again, but its just the way of this sports swings and roundabouts.

12-05-2019 08:13PM

Inquitus wrote: »

It's gone through periods like this over the years many times and survived, we may have to wait for the sweeping 2021 rule changes to see the playing field leveled again, but its just the way of this sports swings and roundabouts.

Power units will probably be the same. They seem intent on continuing to push the rules in a direction that's causing many of the issues.

quokula · 12-05-2019 10:58PM

Inquitus wrote: »

It's gone through periods like this over the years many times and survived, we may have to wait for the sweeping 2021 rule changes to see the playing field leveled again, but its just the way of this sports swings and roundabouts.

It's never gone through anything close to this in its history. In terms of number of years of dominance in a row, number of front row lock-outs, number of wins, the Mercedes hybrid era is completely unprecedented statistically.

Ferrari in the early 2000s comes close but really it was only two years, 2002 and 2004, that were anything like what Mercedes are doing for the sixth year in a row. Similar can be said of late 80s McLaren, early 90s Williams, you'd get a year or two of one team on top but never anything like this. More recently, when Red Bull won four titles in a row, there were actually regularly 4 or 5 different teams able to compete for wins and championships regularly went down to the wire.

It may recover if they get the new rules right, but I wouldn't underplay how dire the sport is right now.

By the way for about as long as I can remember these kinds of complaints have always come up after the Spanish GP because it's regularly the worst on the calendar. And I would always be the first to say wait for Montreal, things will pick up there. But honestly, having waited six years for things to pick up, I don't think it's happening anymore.

chicorytip · 13-05-2019 12:00AM

Infoanon wrote:

Kubica has a 2 year contract, wouldn't matter who is driving the Williams is the slowest car on the grid.

He would not have been awarded a two year deal had there been serious doubts about his ability to drive competitively as opposed to just driving. They have all the data from testing to inform them in that regard. He needs to complete a full season before being judged.

mickdw · 13-05-2019 12:22AM

I'm a big fan of kubica but it is a bit disheartening to see him end up continuously behind Russell.
If he wants a career this time, he is going to have to show something.

Joeface · 13-05-2019 09:12AM

Kubica will probably get his full season , but it wont have been worth it for him. What a terrible car . I do not believe they have a rescue plan of any shape and Changing drivers isnt going to fix that .

Lots of talk about Gasly not lasting the season as well. I dont think that change will happen either . He has improved in the car at each race , and will be consist getting points for RB all season so he will not be demoted. I don't think Red Bull toro Rosso will make that mistake again and I would say Dani K would refuse to go up . Albon maybe the same.

SharpshooterTom · 13-05-2019 09:19AM

Hamilton is set to go down as the greatest F1 driver of all time.

He'll pass Schumacher with ease, most wins, most poles, most titles.

There will be no argument that he is the GOAT, the British press wont have it any other way.

pjohnson · 13-05-2019 12:08PM

I think Ferrari need to look at how Zak Brown restructured McLaren and take that lead.

Nic_Col · 13-05-2019 01:03PM

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Hamilton is set to go down as the greatest F1 driver of all time.

He'll pass Schumacher with ease, most wins, most poles, most titles.

There will be no argument that he is the GOAT, the British press wont have it any other way.

I'm a fan of the guy but I'd clarify the above by saying he is set to go down as *statistically* the greatest driver of all time. But even at that, in terms of percentages Fangio is untouchable. Over 50% poles and podiums, just under 50% wins and fastest laps from 52 races and just 8 seasons. Almost all achieved in his 40's.

Imagine his potential numbers if the F1 WDC was created ten years earlier in 1940 instead of 1950 and if the seasons were 21 races long? That man was obviously an absolute beast of his era.

eviltimeban · 13-05-2019 01:21PM

Most successful doesn't necessarily mean "greatest". On paper, yes. But he's no Senna, or Schumacher, or even Alonso - those drivers took F1 to a new level.

Adamocovic · 13-05-2019 02:07PM

eviltimeban wrote: »

Most successful doesn't necessarily mean "greatest". On paper, yes. But he's no Senna, or Schumacher, or even Alonso - those drivers took F1 to a new level.

Think you're a bit harsh on Hamilton, but maybe it's just down to personal opinion. I'm far from his biggest fan (although he has won me over a bit recently) but if Alonso is one of those drivers I think it's harsh to say on "on paper, yes."

Lewis entered the sport pitted against an in form Alonso as his teammate, back to back defending WC, and was able to match him during the year in his rookie season.

There have been some criticisms to areas of Lewis' driving but he is no doubt in my mind one of the greatest drivers, people will argue he's ran away with it in an overpowered car but he's always been a great driver and is now taking full advantage of his situation.

Can't argue with his speed. Like I said some areas I'm not a fan of his but his speed and talent are sublime. There's a reason he hasn't finished a single season without winning a race yet.

Despite not being a Hamilton fan I find it strange how so many people argue against the idea (and some seem to hate it) of him being one of the greatest drivers there's been. If he wasn't a cocky person (I actually think he's improved) with the English media fawning over him for the majority of his career I reckon he'd have much less F1 fans arguing against the fact

EDIT: Sorry misread your post :pac: thought it was about the idea that only on paper he would be "one of the greatests" not "the greatest". I can understand the debates. Hard to call one driver the greatest of all time in different cars in different times. Hamilton is up there though as one of the greatest and I do believe he brought something different to the table and raised the level too though.

eviltimeban · 13-05-2019 03:21PM

Don't get me wrong, he's fairly phenomenal. But he's also been in a dominant team for the last number of years, and only one won WDC in a different team.

It's like Vettel when he was enjoying his run of four - was he the best? It's showing now as he's struggling in the Ferrari that he probably wasn't. He was just good in that team and had little competition.

Alonso, while the results on paper don't bear this out, is considered one of the greatest, and the greatest of his generation. He's nowhere near the results of Senna or Schumacher (or Hamilton) but his fame and popularity are on a different level to any of the drivers around today (Kimi comes close, but he's only one once).

ayux4rj6zql2ph · 13-05-2019 03:27PM

One must also wonder what would have happened if Schumacher had taken the offer of a contract extension with Mercedes how Hamilton's career would have gone. I think it was Schumacher's reluctance to commit to the team that led to Brawn and Lauda going after Hamilton and it would irk Ron Dennis. Would Vettel be a 10 time champion by now if the 2.4 V8's stayed god only knows to be honest.

Inviere · 13-05-2019 03:55PM

eviltimeban wrote: »

But he's also been in a dominant team for the last number of years

All multiple world champions have had that claim though, Red Bull were very strong (arguably dominant for two of their four winning seasons), Ferrari, McLaren, Williams...if you're going to detract from Lewis because of what team he's in, it'd only be fair to do the same to some of the other greats.

and only one won WDC in a different team.

How many different teams has Alonso and Vettel won for? It's been seen as a 'next-level' thing to do, win a WDC with more than one team, and Lewis has achieved that.

Lewis came into F1 in his rookie year, stuck it to his teammate (considered the best of his generation), got the measure of him, and lost out on winning the title by a single point. Yes he came into F1 to a front running team, but not many rookies come through the ranks and get the measure of much more seasoned team mates in their first year. I personally think 2007's results do a lot to show just how talented Lewis is, possibly more so than his WDC's.

There is no 'greatest ever', too many things change - cars, rules, tracks, styles, technology, etc. There are only 'the greats'. To compare them is meaningless. One thing is very certain though, Lewis Hamilton is in the discussion with Schumacher, Senna, and Alonso, as prodigious, generational talents that don't come around too often. To deny that, I feel says more about a persons bias than anything else.

Frank Bullitt · 13-05-2019 05:38PM

Hamilton has to be up there with the best, I just really wish he would have some more proper championship battles like 2008 to go along with it. He is literally out in front on his own these days.

PukkaStukka · 13-05-2019 07:15PM

Oh dear. It looks like Ferrari's problem is down to a fundamental design issue

https://www.essentiallysports.com/scuderia-ferrari-admit-that-they-made-a-mistake-in-their-concept/

Formula 1 2019 - General Discussion Thread

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