Formula 1 2019 - General Discussion Thread

El_Duderino 09 · 01-08-2019 01:17PM

PopePalpatine wrote: »

Maybe you need to show a blue passport to unlock the discount.

Lol. Maybe.

The bloke who's in charge of buying the tickets for my group is English and buying from England.

It seems there's no discount to be had, unfortunately

Darkglasses · 01-08-2019 02:06PM

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Ah. Mercedes and Ferrari didn't take part in the Netflix show "Drive to Survive". The reason is because they prefer to control their own PR. That meant the rest of the teams took part and didn't have control over the show. It created a good show which was interesting to non F1 fans.I had people in work who mentioned it to me as something they came across on Netflix and wanted to know more about F1. Christian horner wanted to retake some scenes because he was too candid, but Netflix told him "no". More interesting content was the result.

The show was such a success that Ferrari and Mercedes have agreed to take part and the fear is that they will exercise control over the show in exchange for taking part. This article is a demonstration that Lewis expects to have control over the image of him the show portrays.

That turns it from an interesting show which shown more than the usual PR pieces you see on Sky sports F1 or the team's websites.

That's what I'd be afraid of too. I'd rather leave them out and focus on the midfield if those were the options. I don't watch those hyper sanitized Sky programmes, not sure why I'd watch then on Netflix if it was the same style.

Jordan 199 · 01-08-2019 03:42PM

If Bottas wants to stay on at Mercedes, he will need to be flawless this weekend IMO. No mistakes.

meeeeh · 01-08-2019 03:42PM

Payton Low Corkscrew wrote: »

Is there any reason why the Hungaroring is such a staple of the F1 calendar? It was always the boring race (at least in the pre-DRS era). When races like Hockenheim are (most likely) being dropped it seems strange to me.

As mentioned above being first race behind the curtain is probably important. It also tends to be home race for Finnish fans. Budapest is a great city and the track is close enough. To tie this with another subject I was never to Silverstone and overpriced camping in the middle of nowhere never appealed to me. I'm one of those who show up at the track only for the race and possibly qualifying so races close to urban centres are great.

patmahe · 01-08-2019 03:51PM

Jordan 199 wrote: »

If Bottas wants to stay on at Mercedes, he will need to be flawless this weekend IMO. No mistakes.

While I don't disagree, I think if I was Mercedes I'd be keeping him. He is clearly number 2 there but keeps Lewis honest without making him lose his **** like he seemed to do with Rosberg (and could do again if Ocon ran him close), he gathers points most often coming home second to Lewis and they have won multiple constructors championships with him.

What would you gain vs the risk of putting Ocon into the car?

Burkie1203 · 01-08-2019 04:16PM

patmahe wrote: »

While I don't disagree, I think if I was Mercedes I'd be keeping him. He is clearly number 2 there but keeps Lewis honest without making him lose his **** like he seemed to do with Rosberg (and could do again if Ocon ran him close), he gathers points most often coming home second to Lewis and they have won multiple constructors championships with him.

What would you gain vs the risk of putting Ocon into the car?

Ocon wont hang around long then

Do Merc want to lose him

Toto cried last year because nobody would give Ocon a seat. Not even Toto

Inviere · 01-08-2019 04:29PM

patmahe wrote: »

While I don't disagree, I think if I was Mercedes I'd be keeping him. He is clearly number 2 there but keeps Lewis honest without making him lose his **** like he seemed to do with Rosberg (and could do again if Ocon ran him close), he gathers points most often coming home second to Lewis and they have won multiple constructors championships with him.

What would you gain vs the risk of putting Ocon into the car?

Agreed, I don't get the impression Bottas is going anywhere soon. He's doing exactly what he needs to be doing (Germany aside)....and Mercedes know all too well what it's like to manage two #1's.

chicorytip · 01-08-2019 04:48PM

patmahe wrote:

What would you gain vs the risk of putting Ocon into the car?

Bottas is damaged goods at this stage. He seems fragile mentally and lacks confidence. Ocon is overrated. Russell looks the part but Lewis may see him as a threat. Kubica might be available and would not make a bad number two at all. He may lack a little pace but would make far less costly mistakes than Bottas is prone to doing.

d8491prj5boyvg · 01-08-2019 07:47PM

meeeeh wrote: »

As mentioned above being first race behind the curtain is probably important. It also tends to be home race for Finnish fans. Budapest is a great city and the track is close enough. To tie this with another subject I was never to Silverstone and overpriced camping in the middle of nowhere never appealed to me. I'm one of those who show up at the track only for the race and possibly qualifying so races close to urban centres are great.

Cheers! Yeah, that makes more sense. It was always the dull race on the calendar and being the one before the summer break was the only reason to savour it. But it makes sense - one I'd take a trip to see to visit the city alright!

El_Duderino 09 · 01-08-2019 10:05PM

chicorytip wrote: »

Bottas is damaged goods at this stage. He seems fragile mentally and lacks confidence. Ocon is overrated. Russell looks the part but Lewis may see him as a threat. Kubica might be available and would not make a bad number two at all. He may lack a little pace but would make far less costly mistakes than Bottas is prone to doing.

Kubica would not make a bad no.2?!? Seriously? He's a poor no.2 to his rookie teammate. Getting hammered in every quali with an average deficit of over 0.4 seconds. Only beaten his teammate twice in races this year.

Nostalgia about how great kubica could have been without the crash can only carry him so far. I doubt it will cut any ice with Toto. His performances this year have been, by and large, a disaster. Sentimentality can bring it from an F to a D. But that's as good as it gets.

billybonkers · 01-08-2019 10:33PM

Looks like the Hamilton quote was blown out of proportion

https://twitter.com/f1broadcasting/status/1156965855101693953?s=19

skipper_G · 02-08-2019 10:38AM

Couple of pieces of news floating around, unsafe release will be penalised with time penalties rather than a fine
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-unsafe-release-time-penalties-leclerc/4505397/

And supposedly we're heading for 22 races next season with Spain set to get a 1 year extension
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/spanish-gp-2020-calendar-barcelona/4505380/

El_Duderino 09 · 02-08-2019 11:08AM

billybonkers wrote: »

Looks like the Hamilton quote was blown out of proportion

https://twitter.com/f1broadcasting/status/1156965855101693953?s=19

Are we to believe nexflix filmed him vomiting and that's what he means he won't let them show? Maybe they had a vom cam in the jax and that's what Hamilton is referring to.

Look, he said he plans to veto footage of himself because he only wants to be seen in sanitised PR mode. Now he sees that there's public backlash against vetoing things so he'll be in full PR mode talking about how he wants to be shown in totality with surgically placed and manicured warts and all.

As he says in his prepared, off the cuff comments after any mistake; "every time we fall is an opportunity to rise again". I think he came up with the sentiment cos he's real deep.

the_pen_turner · 02-08-2019 11:39AM

skipper_G wrote: »

Couple of pieces of news floating around, unsafe release will be penalised with time penalties rather than a fine
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-unsafe-release-time-penalties-leclerc/4505397/

And supposedly we're heading for 22 races next season with Spain set to get a 1 year extension
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/spanish-gp-2020-calendar-barcelona/4505380/

terrible idea.
your punishing the driver for the teams mistake

take away some constructers points instead would be a lot fairer

Inviere · 02-08-2019 11:46AM

Haven't unsafe releases traditionally been dealt with time penalties/drive-through's?

skipper_G · 02-08-2019 12:09PM

Inviere wrote: »

Haven't unsafe releases traditionally been dealt with time penalties/drive-through's?

I'm not so sure, my memory isn't what it was so I checked the penalties index on racefans.net and for most of the last few years unsafe releases were penalised by fines. But in most cases I figure these will be unsafe releases where a tyre isn't fitted correctly

weisses · 02-08-2019 01:55PM

Inviere wrote: »

Haven't unsafe releases traditionally been dealt with time penalties/drive-through's?

Max in Monaco ... cost him the podium .... Im sure he would have happily have paid the 5k fine

chicorytip · 02-08-2019 05:10PM

El_Duderino 09 wrote:

Nostalgia about how great kubica could have been without the crash can only carry him so far. I doubt it will cut any ice with Toto. His performances this year have been, by and large, a disaster. Sentimentality can bring it from an F to a D. But that's as good as it gets.

El_Duderino 09 wrote:

Kubica would not make a bad no.2?!? Seriously? He's a poor no.2 to his rookie teammate. Getting hammered in every quali with an average deficit of over 0.4 seconds. Only beaten his teammate twice in races this year.

There are greater differences in performance between team mates elsewhere on the grid. Red Bull and Racing Point. I think, given the nature of his disability, Kubica's performances have been far from disastrous. What were people expecting him to do? Save Williams on his own? The car is rubbish! Nominating him for Merc is not as daft a proposition as it seems. He would have a much better car, has proven he can still drive and makes few errors. Bottas has become a huge liability for the team now. His head is gone completely.

Harika · 02-08-2019 05:42PM

chicorytip wrote: »

There are greater differences in performance between team mates elsewhere on the grid. Red Bull and Racing Point. I think, given the nature of his disability, Kubica's performances have been far from disastrous. What were people expecting him to do? Save Williams on his own? The car is rubbish! Nominating him for Merc is not as daft a proposition as it seems. He would have a much better car, has proven he can still drive and makes few errors. Bottas has become a huge liability for the team now. His head is gone completely.

The tainted glasses are strong. First it was that he only needs a chance to shine, now it moves to just give him the best cockpit, he will do great as number 2.
Bottas won two races this year and is second in the driver championship. Hardly signs of a liability

skipper_G · 02-08-2019 05:42PM

chicorytip wrote: »

There are greater differences in performance between team mates elsewhere on the grid. Red Bull and Racing Point. I think, given the nature of his disability, Kubica's performances have been far from disastrous. What were people expecting him to do? Save Williams on his own? The car is rubbish! Nominating him for Merc is not as daft a proposition as it seems. He would have a much better car, has proven he can still drive and makes few errors. Bottas has become a huge liability for the team now. His head is gone completely.

You really think the possibility of a pay driver joining the reigning 5 times constructors champions is not daft? I'm sorry but you're wrong, it's never going to happen. It's not a possibility, not even remotely.

chicorytip · 02-08-2019 07:46PM

skipper_G wrote:

You really think the possibility of a pay driver joining the reigning 5 times constructors champions is not daft? I'm sorry but you're wrong, it's never going to happen. It's not a possibility, not even remotely.

It would be interesting to see how he would do. Of course, it's not going to happen. Bottas has not done enough to justify being retained. If he were a Red Bull driver he would have been replaced half way through last season.

TCP/IP · 02-08-2019 07:56PM

I have to laugh at this Kubica is taking up a seat and should not be in F1 it’s an embarrassment that he is. People talking about him been in a Merc are delusional.

El_Duderino 09 · 02-08-2019 07:59PM

chicorytip wrote: »

There are greater differences in performance between team mates elsewhere on the grid. Red Bull and Racing Point. I think, given the nature of his disability, Kubica's performances have been far from disastrous. What were people expecting him to do? Save Williams on his own? The car is rubbish! Nominating him for Merc is not as daft a proposition as it seems. He would have a much better car, has proven he can still drive and makes few errors. Bottas has become a huge liability for the team now. His head is gone completely.

The gap is not much bigger in other teams when nostalgia is removed. He’s the only comparable gap in quali is gasley to max (a driver in the top few on the grid). The severity of his disability can’t be taken into consideration when looking at how fast the IS. We can only look at his results which have been way, way way slower than his rookie teammate.

The notion of his getting a merc seat is no more ridiculous than, Stroll or Grosjean getting the seat. But nobody is even suggesting any of them seriously get the seat because they’re not good enough based on their performance.

Inviere · 02-08-2019 08:00PM

TCP/IP wrote: »

People talking about him been in a Merc are delusional.

+1

Robert, as much as I was wrong to think otherwise, has been comprehensively beaten by Russel at every turn. It's weird, because there was a 2018 Williams test where he blew Stroll & someone else away afair.

Bottas is going nowhere, he's 2nd in the constructors championship, isn't hampering Lewis' title efforts, and is regularly collecting podiums for Mercedes. How anyone thinks that's not precisely what Merc want him to do, is beyond me.

Cork Trucker · 02-08-2019 08:12PM

Inviere wrote: »

+1

Robert, as much as I was wrong to think otherwise, has been comprehensively beaten by Russel at every turn. It's weird, because there was a 2018 Williams test where he blew Stroll & Sirotkin away afair.

Bottas is going nowhere, he's 2nd in the constructors championship, isn't hampering Lewis' title efforts, and is regularly collecting podiums for Mercedes. How anyone thinks that's not precisely what Merc want him to do, is beyond me.

Fixed that for you

El_Duderino 09 · 02-08-2019 10:06PM

Inviere wrote: »

+1

Robert, as much as I was wrong to think otherwise, has been comprehensively beaten by Russel at every turn. It's weird, because there was a 2018 Williams test where he blew Stroll & someone else away afair.

I’ve seen that quoted numerous times
But I’m yet to see a credible source for it. I think it’s more of an urban legend which people were happy to believe. Does anyone remember pre season where any team that hired Kubica would get loads or airtime due to fan interest and good will, and they would be flooded with Sponsorship offers?

Kubica was a driver who might have had potential before his accident. Now he’s not a driver with great potential and he doesn’t have cariama or results to spin it into a great story

As mentioned above, he’s been outshining a rookie. That’s the last nail in the coffin. I imagine hes a sound man, but that not the point.

Faugheen · 03-08-2019 11:22AM

People who are trying to suggest Kubica's performances have been anything more than what it is are in complete denial.

It's proper fingers in the ears 'la la la' type stuff.

El_Duderino 09 · 03-08-2019 11:46AM

Faugheen wrote: »

People who are trying to suggest Kubica's performances have been anything more than what it is are in complete denial.

It's proper fingers in the ears 'la la la' type stuff.

It is lalala stuff. But I'm sure both you and I would be delighted if kubica was nailing it and pushing for a more competitive drive next year.

Truth is he's not a good driver now. All the good will and wishful thinking in the world makes no difference to that. Likewise his, now legendary, potential to be multiple world champion, is being called into question. The reality just doesn't stack up.

It's interesting to see how much wishful thinking can interfere with people's assessment of a driver. The notion that he could be in contention for the e Mercedes drive is absolute fantasy stuff.

Cork Trucker · 03-08-2019 11:47AM

Faugheen wrote: »

People who are trying to suggest Kubica's performances have been anything more than what it is are in complete denial.

It's proper fingers in the ears 'la la la' type stuff.

Give him a test in a Mercedes like Russell got, then we’ll know for sure what the gap is

Cork Trucker · 03-08-2019 11:56AM

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

It is lalala stuff. But I'm sure both you and I would be delighted if kubica was nailing it and pushing for a more competitive drive next year.

Truth is he's not a good driver now. All the good will and wishful thinking in the world makes no difference to that. Likewise his, now legendary, potential to be multiple world champion, is being called into question. The reality just doesn't stack up.

It's interesting to see how much wishful thinking can interfere with people's assessment of a driver. The notion that he could be in contention for the e Mercedes drive is absolute fantasy stuff.

The Williams of today is the Minardi of their time. i strongly believe that you could put both Vettel and Hamilton into their cars and they couldn't get anymore from them. If Kubica is on the 2020 grid it won't be with Williams.

Formula 1 2019 - General Discussion Thread

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