The F1 thread

stickyfiddle · September 2013

fretmeister said:

What's happened to planetf1?

Seems to have disappeared!

Their forum's still working. Maybe they're merging with Musicradar?

chillidoggy · September 2013

I wonder if Ferrari has bought all the Lotus bits to disable the opposition?

Fretwired · September 2013

Interesting - Massa is talking to McLaren and Lotus. Hulk's going to Lotus so that leaves McLaren.

Fretwired · September 2013

Well I never saw that coming - Alonso's talking to McLaren about replacing Perez. Button's only being kept on for one year so he's not a happy man.

fretmeister · September 2013

Fretwired said:

Well I never saw that coming - Alonso's talking to McLaren about replacing Perez. Button's only being kept on for one year so he's not a happy man.

I saw the reports, but to be fair it was a reporter that asked MW and MW said of course any team would consider him. That is not the same as actively trying to get him. No way in hell will Ferrari let him go with a good shot at the constructors title next year.

Fretwired · September 2013

fretmeister said:

Fretwired said:

Well I never saw that coming - Alonso's talking to McLaren about replacing Perez. Button's only being kept on for one year so he's not a happy man.

I saw the reports, but to be fair it was a reporter that asked MW and MW said of course any team would consider him. That is not the same as actively trying to get him. No way in hell will Ferrari let him go with a good shot at the constructors title next year.

You make a valid point but I don't think the merry go round has stopped yet.

This is the BBC's take - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula-one/24171278

McLaren also have some major Middle Eastern businessmen who can offer Alonso and attractive package. Stranger things have happened. Alonso to McLaren and Button to Ferrari? Unlikely .... :-)

chillidoggy · September 2013

According to the report, Alonso's salary would be paid by Santander, so it looks like money's not a stumbling block if he chose to go to McLaren. So would he displace JB or Perez? Interesting.

Fretwired · September 2013

chillidoggy said:

According to the report, Alonso's salary would be paid by Santander, so it looks like money's not a stumbling block if he chose to go to McLaren. So would he displace JB or Perez? Interesting.

Perez has been told his contract won't be automatically renewed for 2014. Button's safe unless he decides to jump ship.

chillidoggy · September 2013

Hmm. I'm not sure Button's as safe as you say. That said, he is a more consistent points scorer than the Mexican, but he's more expensive. I've not seen any announcement confirming his contract for next year, unless I missed something?

And Alonso has repeated his desire to remain at Ferrari, but I still reckon there's an outside chance he could go to McLaren.

Ianpdq · September 2013

chillidoggy said:

Hmm. I'm not sure Button's as safe as you say. That said, he is a more consistent points scorer than the Mexican, but he's more expensive. I've not seen any announcement confirming his contract for next year, unless I missed something?

And Alonso has repeated his desire to remain at Ferrari, but I still reckon there's an outside chance he could go to McLaren.

Button announce his contract for next year on facebook and Whitmarsh did not denigh it in an interview on practice two

chillidoggy · September 2013

So it's all about whether McLaren decide to keep Perez, or decide to make a pass at Alonso. I still reckon Massa's wiped down, unless he's got a shedload is sponsorship money, of course.

Ianpdq · September 2013

Bloody Vettel on pole again

chillidoggy · September 2013

Depressing, isn't it. I've kind of written this year off, and looking forward to next!

On the plus side I get to watch the race at 8am tomorrow, before you lot!

fretmeister · September 2013

It's on at 1pm UK tile. Live.

chillidoggy · September 2013

Not here it isn't!

Fretwired · September 2013

If Mark Webber didn't have bad luck he'd have no luck ... I wonder if 'finger boy' sabotages his car.

Ianpdq · September 2013

Yes can't wait for next year and poor Mark now a 10 place grid penalty for getting a lift back from Alonso no justice

chillidoggy · September 2013

The 10-place grid penalty decision was pathetic, totally pathetic. I bet he can't wait to see the back of the sport.

Fretwired · September 2013

Ianpdq said:

Yes can't wait for next year and poor Mark now a 10 place grid penalty for getting a lift back from Alonso no justice

I think he got a 10 place grid penalty for getting his third reprimand from the stewards - Alson was also reprimanded but doesn't get a penalty as its his first of the year. It's the new points based system to penalise drivers. To be fair Alonso shouldn't have stopped in the middle of the track - has been off line then Rosberg and Hamilton wouldn't had to take avoiding action.

chillidoggy · September 2013

I'm still wondering if Ferrari are busy buying up the Lotus opposition. They've got their best driver, aero guy etc....

And I'm standing by my assertion that Massa's finished in F1. But in true F1 style, that is to be decided!

Van_Hayden · September 2013

I think massa will get a back of the field drive. His experience could be just what some teams need. Can't help thinking something is still brewing at McLaren.

chillidoggy · September 2013

Well, lets hope Titmarsh is getting the order of the boot, and big Ron is moseying back into town.

Fretwired · September 2013

chillidoggy said:

Well, lets hope Titmarsh is getting the order of the boot, and big Ron is moseying back into town.

@chillidoggy I think you could be on the money and leading by a nose into the last furlong .. :-)

chillidoggy · September 2013

Yeah, well it's not not the first time I've been wrong...........

Fretwired · September 2013

chillidoggy said:

Yeah, well it's not not the first time I've been wrong...........

@chillidoggy I think you could be right. There's something going on at McLaren ... none of the quotes in Singapore about next year's driver line-up were made by Whitmarsh and there's still no date for making an announcement. Apparently Whitmarsh is a clever guy so maybe he's being relocated to a job on the road car programme to make way for the return of Big Ron. The team have hired a couple of hot shot new young drivers - they're probably a year or two away from an F1 drive. And whilst Alonso has said he wants to stay at Ferrari its well known that he's pissed off with the team. It maybe Alonso doesn't want to be in a team run by Whitmarsh. And then there's Ross Brawn who is surplus to requirements at Mercedes but still has one more top job left in him .....

Ianpdq · September 2013

Yes bring back Big Ron, Ross Brawn would be good too I am fed up with this Red Bull dominance

fretmeister · September 2013

The dominance is down to Adrian Newey.

Whereever he goes the car wins.

I don't know what he's earning, but I do know that Ferrari offered him £10m per season to join them. He turned it down.

Ianpdq · September 2013

We must try to stop people buying Red Bull then

Van_Hayden · September 2013

fretmeister;41602" said:
The dominance is down to Adrian Newey.

Whereever he goes the car wins.

I don't know what he's earning, but I do know that Ferrari offered him £10m per season to join them. He turned it down.

He does have a remarkable record - but Mclaren and Newey failed, he only designed two of their championship winning cars despite something like 9 years there fighting Schumacher and Ferrari (admittedly a hard package to beat). He's only been dominant at Williams and Red Bull, so the team plays a part.

Lift the testing ban. That's what must happen IMHO. The costs will go up but it would give teams chance to develop properly. If they want to limit costs have more races in Europe and ditch fly always to places where the stands are empty.

stickyfiddle · September 2013

Newey is a large part of the answer, but let's not forget that Vettel is a demon driver these days, however much I'd love to believe it was just the car. 4 championships on the bounce is not just the car considering he's blown Webber into the weeds for all but the first title.

Their strategy is simple - set the car up entirely for qualifying, get on pole, then pull 3 seconds clear in the first lap. Every then has to drive mega-hard on shitty tyres to catch you which is basically impossible. That's also why people claim Vettel can't overtake- it's because when he *is* behind someone his car is still on quali setup, and not prime overtaking spec, so he struggles to get passed compared with the Mercs. Quite how the other teams haven't grasped that's the RB plan I have no idea.

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