F1 2022 thread - see post 1 for rules

Big fan of Seb. Couldn't quite do it at Ferrari, but was a top driver before that. Seems an all round decent lad.

Didn't like Seb all that much in his early RB days but he really become a huge fan favourite in recent years. He'll be missed.

Looks out the window

You don't think these things are an issue??

Will miss Seb on the grid, have always had time for him.

If I was sky I’d definitely be looking to have him on race weekends, possibly as a replacement for Rosberg and his box room. He’s a man who wouldn’t care at all about the politics of giving his opinion on anything.

Very sad news about Vettel. He’s had a few fantastic drives in a terrible Aston that have showed he’s still got it - I dare say Ferrari would be in a much stronger position in the championship right now if he was still there.

People forget how great Vettel was - he managed to dominate during an era when the cars were more competitive than at any other point in the sport’s history and multiple different teams had hardware capable of winning any given race. He never had a car that was fast enough for his teammate to come second, yet he scored 4 world championships.

He and Alonso were head and shoulders above the rest of their generation, but both fell victim to the hybrid Formula putting huge gaps between the teams and taking driver skill out of the equation, and also to Ferrari’s habit of hiring the fastest guy on the grid, providing them with a poor car and unrealistic expectations, then blaming the driver for it when they don’t quite manage to drive the wheels off the thing to beat much faster cars like Schumacher could.

I’m still quite shocked as Vettel is relatively young and had a lot more to give. Definitely feels like the end of one era and the start of another with the next generation like Verstappen and Leclerc looking set to dominate for the next few years now.

He’s a true student of the sport, with knowledge and interest in the history that goes way beyond most drivers. I wonder if we’ll see him take up a team or FIA role or if he’ll just move on to maybe invest time in the causes he’s interested in.

As for Aston Martin, they’ve already got the slowest car on the grid currently and this strikes me as a major vote of no confidence from Vettel. We’ve already seen the likes of Szafnauer leave and lots of negative stories have circulated about Stroll’s running of the team earlier in the season so I’m not sure it’s a very desirable seat for next year, albeit a well funded one.

I could see Aston Martin getting a driver from another team on a "loan" deal. Either Danny Ric loaned from McLaren or Nick De Vries loaned from Mercedes-Benz.

A few outsiders to consider might be Stoffel Vandoorne, Romain Grosjean or Nico Hulkenberg.

Or maybe Stroll senior will turn AM into Team Canada and bring in Latifi 🍁😁

Fair play to Vettel, he was given a great car and took it to the top four times. I really liked him when he was first winning, as I do any new winners in the sport. It just got a bit tiring year in year out, things would always go his way, and he would always be in P1 and scarper off into the distance. Saying that, when you look at the points, it was a lot closer than that. Alonso got very close to winning twice.

Multi 21 and "the finger" put a lot of people off him, and we've more or less had a run of two drivers winning the titles since 2010 (Rosberg not withstanding). In 2014 I wanted anyone but him to win. Saying that, any time I saw him on TV away from F1 he came across as really sound and funny. Similar to his recent TV appearance talking about climate, he can really hold his own and he's very honest. His charm allows him to say things that might otherwise be difficult to hear.

The new era with Max and Charles and Carlos is great; it's mad to think Vettel is an elder statesman as to me he's still a "new" driver. But I guess he just ran out of energy, his mind was more focused on the issues close to his heart, unlike Alonso who seemingly still has the fire and energy (and performance).

If he was to remain in or come back to F1, he might act as some kind of green advisor or spokesman. I can't seem him being a pundit and flying to all the races, that would go against his agenda.

Poor Mick will be distraught

What do you see out the window that is wildly different from any time in your living memory?

Everyone can have an opinion and I'm aware that Seb is doing abit re the sustainable fuel running the mansell red 5 car etc but he is still an F1 driver travelling the world pissing fuel up in the air for pleasure.

Nothing against that. I'd be an F1 driver if I could be but I wouldn't go around lecturing on climate change while doing it.

Hamilton another clown ferrying his dog alone in his private jet (until he got rid ) now lecturing on climate change. You couldn't make it up.

To be fair, he's acknowledged quite publicly that he's a hypocrite but he has a platform and fair play to him for using it for good, rather than trying to shill nft's or some nonsense like that.

• Very sad news about Vettel.
• 
  
• Jeez the way you are going on you would swear Vettel had died.
• Also next time please do not right such a long post it make replying to it a bastard.
• He’s had a few fantastic drives in a terrible Aston that have showed he’s still got it - I dare say Ferrari would be in a much stronger position in the championship right now if he was still there.

I too think so.

• People forget how great Vettel was - he managed to dominate during an era when the cars were more competitive than at any other point in the sport’s history and multiple different teams had hardware capable of winning any given race. He never had a car that was fast enough for his teammate to come second, yet he scored 4 world championships.

That is Rubbish. Webber came second many times and even won sometimes.

• He and Alonso were head and shoulders above the rest of their generation, but both fell victim to the hybrid Formula putting huge gaps between the teams and taking driver skill out of the equation, and also to Ferrari’s habit of hiring the fastest guy on the grid, providing them with a poor car and unrealistic expectations, then blaming the driver for it when they don’t quite manage to drive the wheels off the thing to beat much faster cars like Schumacher could.
• I’m still quite shocked as Vettel is relatively young and had a lot more to give. Definitely feels like the end of one era and the start of another with the next generation like Verstappen and Leclerc looking set to dominate for the next few years now.
• He’s a true student of the sport, with knowledge and interest in the history that goes way beyond most drivers. I wonder if we’ll see him take up a team or FIA role or if he’ll just move on to maybe invest time in the causes he’s interested in.
• As for Aston Martin, they’ve already got the slowest car on the grid currently and this strikes me as a major vote of no confidence from Vettel. We’ve already seen the likes of Szafnauer leave and lots of negative stories have circulated about Stroll’s running of the team earlier in the season so I’m not sure it’s a very desirable seat for next year, albeit a well funded one.
• 
  

• 
  
•   Jeez the way you are going on you would swear Vettel had died.
• I actually thought at first sh it has something happened to Vettel now since his announcement on reading the start of your post at first
• Also next time please do not write such a long post it make replying to it a bastard.
• He’s had a few fantastic drives in a terrible Aston that have showed he’s still got it - I dare say Ferrari would be in a much stronger position in the championship right now if he was still there.
• I too think so.
• People forget how great Vettel was - he managed to dominate during an era when the cars were more competitive than at any other point in the sport’s history and multiple different teams had hardware capable of winning any given race. He never had a car that was fast enough for his teammate to come second, yet he scored 4 world championships.

That is Rubbish. Webber came second many times and even won sometimes.

I didn't like Red Bull Seb, but really warmed to him when he moved to Ferrari and matured a bit. It's a huge shame that he didn't get a 5th World Championship in a Ferrari. Will miss him a lot on the grid.

Making very little sense in the process 😂

Besf of luck to Vettel. I have to confess, I enjoyed watching him in the Red Bull winning those WDCs. He was and still is a top class driver. He always seemed like a decent guy too.

I'll miss him on the grid.