Formula 1 2019 - General Discussion Thread

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Not so sure. He hinted at the last race that a return could be on the cards

He has hinted he'll be back so many times. Every now and then he drops info that red bull asked for him. it looks desperate TBH. It's not because he doesn't want to come back, it's because the top teams don't need him and the baggage he carries. He causes war at every team he goes to. The team boss tends to lose their job. I wouldn't touch him as a team boss unless i planned to move soon.

Not so sure. He hinted at the last race that a return could be on the cards

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

So this will probably mean Vettel back to Red Bull.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Hamilton give Ferrari a go before the end of his career and maybe Alonso @ Merc for a couple of years

I'd be surprised by either of those moves but Alonso is gone. In recent times we've seen drives come back from retirement and it doesn't go well. Alonso is getting older, not faster.

He left F1 because he couldn't get a drive he wanted and the teams he wanted, didn't want him. If he comes back it would be primarily a publicity stunt and nobody really wants that.

Alonso is gone from F1. he was great and now he's gone

muckwarrior wrote: »

What?

The progression with the Honda engine. Vettel's days in Ferrari are numbered anyway and i can't imagine Vettel would continue in the sport unless he had a realistic chance of winning races

muckwarrior

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

So this will probably mean Vettel back to Red Bull.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Hamilton give Ferrari a go before the end of his career and maybe Alonso @ Merc for a couple of years

What?

So this will probably mean Vettel back to Red Bull.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Hamilton give Ferrari a go before the end of his career and maybe Alonso @ Merc for a couple of years

flexcon

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Cheers for that. Looks like things are pretty close. 10bhp isn't a lot and it's much smaller than the gap in the past. 2014 gaps were massive.

Honda and Renault still significantly behind but doing reasonably well. Honda's trajectory over the last couple of years is great. If they could maintain it, they could be close to merc and ferrari next year. What are the chances they can maintain it?

I happen to be a big Honda Fan over the past few years since I joined the forums and started reading some articles and pieces on the "Bad Mclaren" years. I am a huge Alonso fan but even I had to question the public damming of Honda towards the end.

But, to your question about Honda -
Spec4 they have now is supposedly a match for Mercedes efficiency in the race. They can run the engine Hard, really hard for laps on end and it doesn't go pop. Its thermal efficiency is so good they can run in extreme heat and lower Air pressure than the others. Their venture with their Jet engine department seems to have fixed their troubled MGU-H part. With this, their energy recovery is now incredible. A Match for Mercedes.

Peak power still eludes though however on the test bench the current Spec4 has the ability to match Ferrari by year-end.

Next year is seriously going to be promising.
I remember an interview with the boss and he even mentions being "Surprised" at how Hard they can run the Spec3 and 4 without issues.

flexcon wrote: »

I don't have enough to time quote certain Journalist pieces, but here is a great website F1technical that has a mix of Fans, engineeers and even F1 staff.

The consensus there is the following::

Qualifyin Peak Power
Ferrari (990hp)
Mercedes (-10hp)
Renault (-20hp)
Honda (25hp)

Race overall efficency:

Mercedes
Ferrari
Honda
Renault

Cheers for that. Looks like things are pretty close. 10bhp isn't a lot and it's much smaller than the gap in the past. 2014 gaps were massive.

Honda and Renault still significantly behind but doing reasonably well. Honda's trajectory over the last couple of years is great. If they could maintain it, they could be close to merc and ferrari next year. What are the chances they can maintain it?

deafroadrunner wrote: »

Honda is red bull

Apologies, was reading that all wrong!!!

deafroadrunner

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Did you leave Red Bull out purposely

Honda is red bull

flexcon wrote: »

I don't have enough to time quote certain Journalist pieces, but here is a great website F1technical that has a mix of Fans, engineeers and even F1 staff.

The consensus there is the following::

Qualifyin Peak Power
Ferrari (990hp)
Mercedes (-10hp)
Renault (-20hp)
Honda (25hp)

Race overall efficency:

Mercedes
Ferrari
Honda
Renault

Did you leave Red Bull out purposely

flexcon

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Question about engines: Renault had their best recent result at monza, ferrari doing well on power circuits (they sen to have a low do enforce philosophy in general which hurts them elsewhere) Honda holding its own and capable of winking races when circumstances are right, and or course Mercedes doing a grand job.

What's the difference between engines now? Have the closed up to the point that it doesn't make much difference or is there still a clear pecking order?

I don't have enough to time quote certain Journalist pieces, but here is a great website F1technical that has a mix of Fans, engineeers and even F1 staff.

The consensus there is the following::

Qualifyin Peak Power
Ferrari (990hp)
Mercedes (-10hp)
Renault (-20hp)
Honda (25hp)

Race overall efficency:

Mercedes
Ferrari
Honda
Renault

Question about engines: Renault had their best recent result at monza, ferrari doing well on power circuits (they sen to have a low do enforce philosophy in general which hurts them elsewhere) Honda holding its own and capable of winking races when circumstances are right, and or course Mercedes doing a grand job.

What's the difference between engines now? Have the closed up to the point that it doesn't make much difference or is there still a clear pecking order?

Frank Bullitt

Remember watching that crash at the start a few years ago, couldn't figure out how Ferrari would do that, still can't.

Hopefully Max doesn't get pancaked by them this year.

AMKC wrote: »

For a minute there I thought it was going to say Audi were going to buy the Williams F1 team.

I’d love it if that were the case, can’t see it happening after the VW emissions scandal though

AMKC

Cork Trucker wrote: »

https://www.autosport.com/dtm/news/146033/audi-admits-to-dtm-talks-with-kubica-management

For a minute there I thought it was going to say Audi were going to buy the Williams F1 team.

mickdw wrote: »

In Williams current position, one thing they don't want, from cost point of view is someone who might crash the car every weekend. At least we know Kubica tends to finish the races, as does Russell of course.

True. In the current position, the car is so bad that they're guaranteed last place in the Constructors. So this year it n as jes sense to face the drivers with the biggest sponsorship rather than driving talent. But you're absolutely right that the drivers need to keep costs down.

If Williams is expecting another terrible season next year, then they would be better to go with the biggest pay drivers again. But if they're expecting another season as the worst team by a distance, they might have to consider whether they can continue in the sport.

mickdw

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I'll take your word for it. But he could hardly be worse and Kubica is also a pay driver with the Polish oil money.

In Williams current position, one thing they don't want, from cost point of view is someone who might crash the car every weekend. At least we know Kubica tends to finish the races, as does Russell of course.

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

I'll take your word for it. But he could hardly be worse and Kubica is also a pay driver with the Polish oil money.

I agree, pretty much like for like.

Cork Trucker wrote: »

I don't see Latifi being any better other than from a financial aspect

I'll take your word for it. But he could hardly be worse and Kubica is also a pay driver with the Polish oil money.

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Good for him. I'd guess that DTM involves lots of arm movement too but if they think he could drive a DTM car well, then I'd wish him the best of luck and it opens a seat for a faster f1 driver.

I don't see Latifi being any better other than from a financial aspect

Cork Trucker wrote: »

https://www.autosport.com/dtm/news/146033/audi-admits-to-dtm-talks-with-kubica-management

Good for him. I'd guess that DTM involves lots of arm movement too but if they think he could drive a DTM car well, then I'd wish him the best of luck and it opens a seat for a faster f1 driver.