Formula 1 2019 - General Discussion Thread

El_Duderino 09

Inviere wrote: »

chicorytip wrote: »

Nobody can seriously claim that this will not compromise his speed and overall performance.

Anyone remember the fduct days? Blasting up Eau Rouge with one hand on the steering wheel? He'll be fine.

True but nobody would recommend going around a hairpin with one hand on the wheel either.

It remains to be seen whether he'll be fine or not.

Cool_CM

Ted is back anyway

ayux4rj6zql2ph

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

True but nobody would recommend going around a hairpin with one hand on the wheel either.

It remains to be seen whether he'll be fine or not.

My thinking is that Kubica knows he hasn’t a hope in hell of being competitive like he was in his first career but is looking to leave F1 next time on his own terms. I think subject to funding it’s a 2 year contract he has with Williams and if he stays in for 2020 that will be it bar a miracle.

Monaco, Singapore, Azerbaijan are 3 circuits that will really test him as well.

Williams probably have a performance clause in the contract as well that if he’s languishing around the back of the field several seconds off his teammates pace then they can demote/sack him.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

eviltimeban wrote: »

It'd be great if Hamilton actually had to work for his championship this year...

Call me sour, but it would be even better if he didn’t win it.

One of the youngsters would do nicely like LeClerc or Verstappen. The Honda engine is incredibly reliable.

Inviere

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

True but nobody would recommend going around a hairpin with one hand on the wheel either.

Kubica won't be doing that though, he'll have one fully functional hand, and the other providing assistance. I'm not saying he'll be as good as he was, I'd be shocked if he was...but having knocked in hundreds of testing laps, possessing a Super License, and being faster than Stroll AND Sirotkin last year, I think he'll be at least competitive wherever the car allows him to fight.

It remains to be seen whether he'll be fine or not.

Monaco, Singapore, and Azerbaijan as Deckard posted above, will be his litmus test. On more traditional tracks, I expect him to be fine.

pjohnson

ppn wrote: »

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.why-mercedes-brought-such-a-heavily-revised-car-to-test-2.1LtnfYtp4oLgQVEXOCw4DH.html

Ah that makes sense. I havent been checking F1 site much recently.

Cool_CM

mickdw wrote: »

How do you get hold of paddock passes?
Can they be bought cheaply for testing?

50 quid here if you can get in background of sky coverage drinking a can of rich energy!

Got 2 cans of Rich Energy and in the background of Craig Slater's report, but not at the same time.

1:06 in with the tricolour in the tricolour in the back left

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11598703/f1-testing-day-three-second-test-ferrari-set-fastest-times-of-winter

Harika

Mitch Connor wrote: »

So, just how worried should Merc/Hamilton fans be? They don't seem to be anywhere near the pace of others. Sure, testing is testing but still.... Merc look mid pack at the moment.

Not at all, it is still time for Melbourne and also a long season where Mercedes out developed ferrari twice in the last years.

Jordan 199

Cool_CM wrote: »

Ted is back anyway

Did you bump into him?

mickdw

Cool_CM wrote: »

mickdw wrote: »

How do you get hold of paddock passes?
Can they be bought cheaply for testing?

50 quid here if you can get in background of sky coverage drinking a can of rich energy!

Got 2 cans of Rich Energy and in the background of Craig Slater's report, but not at the same time.

1:06 in with the tricolour in the tricolour in the back left

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11598703/f1-testing-day-three-second-test-ferrari-set-fastest-times-of-winter

Close but no c̶ ̶i̶ ̶g̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶ ̶ rich energy.

Cool_CM

Jordan 199 wrote: »

Did you bump into him?

We did, he was weirdly subdued and didn't look like he had a media accreditation, but could have been wrong. Met Paddy Lowe, Mattia Binotto and Charles LeClerc too - LeClerc was stopping for everybody on the paddock and a complete hero!

Rossi IRL

For anyone on the fence about signing up to Sky F1, price seems abit better now if you like Indycar.

https://twitter.com/SkySportsF1/status/1101414869184724993?s=19

recyclebin

So testing is coming to an end so its prediction time:
Ferrari look to be fastest followed by Mercedes. Then it's anyones for third. Red Bull don't look great.

Frank Bullitt

Looks close at the top between Ferrari and Merc. After that it's really tight, but who cares about the midfield?

Jordan 199

Gintonious wrote: »

Looks close at the top between Ferrari and Merc. After that it's really tight, but who cares about the midfield?

Midfield battle is going to be very interesting. Two teams I can see fighting for fifth so far are Racing Point and Haas.

muckwarrior

Jordan 199 wrote: »

Midfield battle is going to be very interesting. Two teams I can see fighting for fifth so far are Racing Point and Haas.

To me they look like they're behind Renault, McLaren and Toro Rosso.

HighLine

Mercedes have another quick car. Puke.

Charlie-Bravo

I fancy Renault for best of the rest. Two great drivers, and I predict a podium for Hulk this year and a possible race win by Ricciardo during a special messed up weekend (like a sprinkling of rain on a track like Monaco).

I'm thinking that Verstappen still hasn't grown up enough and the risks taken won't pull off for him so much. Gasly will be kind to his engine but I don't think he'll have the speed just yet.

I'm thinking Renault will beat Red Bull this year.

Harika

HighLine wrote: »

Mercedes have another quick car. Puke.

There was not that much of a change to see a drastic shift. 2021 is the chance to fail but with all the resources of Mercedes it is very unlikely.

Frank Bullitt

Laps done in Pre-Season Testing 2019:

Mercedes: 1190
Ferrari: 997
Renault: 961
Toro Rosso: 934
Alfa: 922
McLaren: 873
Haas: 870
Red Bull: 835
Racing Point: 625
Williams: 567

ayux4rj6zql2ph

Gintonious wrote: »

Laps done in Pre-Season Testing 2019:

Mercedes: 1190
Ferrari: 997
Renault: 961
Toro Rosso: 934
Alfa: 922
McLaren: 873
Haas: 870
Red Bull: 835
Racing Point: 625
Williams: 567

When you consider how much time Williams missed they weren't too far behind Racing Point in terms of laps done.

Frank Bullitt

Peyton Lively Tiller wrote: »

When you consider how much time Williams missed they weren't too far behind Racing Point in terms of laps done.

Solid enough reliability throughout really. A few natural bugs that will happen with new cars, most of the time lost for Ferrari or RB were a result of crashes.

pjohnson

Karun Chandhoks twitter is well worth a glance at. Explains certain parts of the testing extremly well!

skipper_G

pjohnson wrote: »

Karun Chandhoks twitter is well worth a glance at. Explains certain parts of the testing extremly well!

Second that! I'm an avid follower, he's the best analyst around imo.

Inviere

pjohnson wrote: »

Karun Chandhoks twitter is well worth a glance at. Explains certain parts of the testing extremly well!

He’s a class act is Karun, he’s great in all aspects of F1 punditry...the pit lane, front and center, grid walks, commentary, he’s brilliant.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

Stick Chandok in the commentary box with Brundle. Sick of David Croft

Inviere

Peyton Lively Tiller wrote: »

Stick Chandok in the commentary box with Brundle. Sick of David Croft

I had the same thought, it’d be a dramatic improvement.

flazio

Initial schedule showing the Australian Grand Prix will be shown on Sky One as well as Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event

ppn

recyclebin wrote: »

So testing is coming to an end so its prediction time:
Ferrari look to be fastest followed by Mercedes. Then it's anyones for third. Red Bull don't look great.

Tyre-corrected, Red Bull are there or thereabouts with Ferrari and Merc.

mickdw

Looking at the entire grid, has it ever been so strong in the midfield.
Williams are at the back but considering the history etc I wouldn't call them also rans. After that it's so strong that it's impossible to put order on the field.
None of the midfield are struggling for cash this year or struggling to stay afloat and with the many tie ups with bigger teams, it looks very competitive all the way down.
With honda seeming to finally be getting there, it will only add strength also.

El_Duderino 09

Honda does seem to have sorted out the engine. Reliability is good so I presume they're confident they've cracked it. Wouldn't be surprised if Honda is better than Renault this year.

ayux4rj6zql2ph

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Honda does seem to have sorted out the engine. Reliability is good so I presume they're confident they've cracked it. Wouldn't be surprised if Honda is better than Renault this year.

I’m hoping and praying that Honda outdo Renault, in turn McLaren, it will be a two fingered gesture to the McLaren board.

Honda themselves said they weren’t ready in 2015.

The shackles came off with Toro Rosso and Red Bull look set to give Honda their first podiums of the current hybrid era.

Seeing a Sauber or even a Honda powered car on the podium will bring a great change.

Getting sick of hearing the same anthems every race.

TCP/IP

Peyton Lively Tiller wrote: »

I’m hoping and praying that Honda outdo Renault, in turn McLaren, it will be a two fingered gesture to the McLaren board.

Honda themselves said they weren’t ready in 2015.

The shackles came off with Toro Rosso and Red Bull look set to give Honda their first podiums of the current hybrid era.

Seeing a Sauber or even a Honda-powered car on the podium will bring a great change.

Getting sick of hearing the same anthems every race.

Totally agree would love to see Honda teams to crush Mclaren and that slimy twat Zak Brown he is the epitome of a typical American corporate twat all talk and no action and if there is action it seems to be always wrong. If McLaren is to survive in F1 as a top team that needs to happen this year.

El_Duderino 09

TCP/IP wrote: »

Totally agree would love to see Honda teams to crush Mclaren and that slimy twat Zak Brown he is the epitome of a typical American corporate twat all talk and no action and if there is action it seems to be always wrong. If McLaren is to survive in F1 as a top team that needs to happen this year.

Amazing to think McLaren had Mercedes engines and gave them up for a gamble on a works Honda engine. And now they're a Renault customer. What a terrible series of moves.

Can't blame them for wanting a works Honda deal but in hindsight they would have been so much better off doing nothing and staying with Mercedes.

pjohnson

Think one clear takeaway from pre season is Toro Rosso and Alfa Romeo have most definitely improved their cars on last years offerings.

TCP/IP

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Amazing to think McLaren had Mercedes engines and gave them up for a gamble on a works Honda engine. And now they're a Renault customer. What a terrible series of moves.

Can't blame them for wanting a works Honda deal but in hindsight they would have been so much better off doing nothing and staying with Mercedes.

McLaren will go the way of Williams in the future through terrible leadership will sit in the midfield for some years then become an irrelevant team like Williams. Christ this year they don’t even have a world champion in the team for god only knows how long.

pjohnson

TCP/IP wrote: »

McLaren will go the way of Williams in the future through terrible leadership will sit in the midfield for some years then become an irrelevant team like Williams. Christ this year they don’t even have a world champion in the team for god only knows how long.

02 - 06 possibly?
Raikonnen replaced Hakkinen while Coulthard remained (circa 02 after his debut at Sauber) then Montoya replaced Coulthard (when Red Bull joined in '05) and De La Rosa replaced Montoya when Montoya quit ('06). They then signed Alonso from Renault for 2007.

Jordan 199

Two weeks to go for the first race of the year. The petrol is starting to flow through my veins.

TCP/IP

To warm up for the new season I got an invite to a BMW M track day next Friday so I can indulge in the racing driver dream.

recyclebin

Peyton Lively Tiller wrote: »

I’m hoping and praying that Honda outdo Renault, in turn McLaren, it will be a two fingered gesture to the McLaren board.

Honda themselves said they weren’t ready in 2015.

The shackles came off with Toro Rosso and Red Bull look set to give Honda their first podiums of the current hybrid era.

Seeing a Sauber or even a Honda powered car on the podium will bring a great change.

Getting sick of hearing the same anthems every race.

So you want Red Bull to beat McLaren and get podiums with Honda. The same Red Bull who blamed Renault for everything even though they won 4 championships with them........

recyclebin

TCP/IP wrote: »

McLaren will go the way of Williams in the future through terrible leadership will sit in the midfield for some years then become an irrelevant team like Williams. Christ this year they don’t even have a world champion in the team for god only knows how long.

A lot of McLaren hate on the forum today. I don't think they will be too bad this year. The worst looks to be over.

Charlie-Bravo

I wouldn't mind McLaren doing well. Just not better than Renault.

Ok, just seeing if Instagram posts work on here like Twitter links...

https://www.instagram.com/p/BueSbIWoTzd/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=nqpwjd47ppn4

Edit: ok, maybe not.

TCP/IP

recyclebin wrote: »

A lot of McLaren hate on the forum today. I don't think they will be too bad this year. The worst looks to be over.

I personally just can’t warm to them as a racing team or as an automotive brand. To sterile and cold and to round it off that muppet Zalando Brown.

mickdw

I like McLaren. I liked Ron Dennis. Everyone seems to hate Ron but when you listen to some of the main guys who worked under him in early years and right to the end, it appears he is as straight as they come. Wants dedication but gave it everything himself too. He built that entire business which is a serious achievement. Lots of stories of Ron helping out staff financially when in trouble too.
I also liked Martin whitmarsh but Bouillier was a clown and the yank is a joke too.
Hoping they are rebuilding now.

pjohnson

Has Brown not gone upstairs with Gil de Ferran taking over the F1 team?

pjohnson

Williams mirror design and front suspension have apparently been rejected by the FIA so still need more design work in the next 13 days

TCP/IP

pjohnson wrote: »

Williams mirror design and front suspension have apparently been rejected by the FIA so still need more design work in the next 13 days

What a joke heads need to roll

mickdw

I wouldn't have that opinion. If you are not pushing the boundaries, you are doing it wrong. For all we know, they found some new trick suspension late and that was why they didn't make test days 1 & 2.

TCP/IP

mickdw wrote: »

I wouldn't have that opinion. If you are not pushing the boundaries, you are doing it wrong. For all we know, they found some new trick suspension late and that was why they didn't make test days 1 & 2.

We all know that is not true all Williams have found is how to come last again this Season.

mickdw

Fair enough but I doubt they managed to produce something ordinary that wouldnt meets the regs. There must have been a gain in it.