The F1 thread

Fretwired

Analysis of Hamilton's win in Hungry suggests the new tyre compound now favours the Mercedes team. Vettel could be a worried man .. interesting analysis on the BBC website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23529385

stickyfiddle

I'd really like it if Ham won the title this year. Or Alonso, or Kimi, or Rosberg or Massa or Webber or Jenson... Am I missing anyone? Nope. Don't think so..

chillidoggy

Dream on, Sticky. I reckon Vettel's your man this time around, although we could see a cracking end to the season if those mentioned start creeping up on him, and snapping at this heels. Hopefully the title decider at the last race of the year.

thumpingrug

I really cant see Mercedes gaining enough at this stage to take on Red Bull.  That said, Hamilton drove a superb race and fully deserved the win.

stickyfiddle

It's certainly Vettel's to lose, and I wouldn't bet against him at this stage, but stranger things have happened. 

And we do have a lot of circuits coming up that have been good to Lewis in the past- Spa, USA, Abu Dhabi, Brazil. If Ham can win those it'll be a close fight at the end of the year, assuming he gets good points on the others. The main thing is stopping Vettel romping off into the distance in the first 5 laps without cooking that Merc's tyres, and it looks like they've at least made inroads in achieving that. Hamilton has the legs on Vettel on the straights, so you can see Seb getting stuck again as he did behind Jenson in Hungary. 

I'm just spitballing, clearly, but I'd love to see anything but another easy Vettel title.

Fretwired

Vettel was unhappy with Button ... Hamilton got past pretty quickly whilst Vettel was stuck behind him for 15 laps. Button off to Mercedes to rejoin Hamilton and Brawn? Stranger things have happened ...

chillidoggy

I just hope if Vettel does win the title it goes to the wire. I hate it when it's all wrapped up several races before, but we've been pretty lucky on that score over the last few years, so here's hoping. I didn't notice any difference in coverage, considering cameramen were supposed to be banned from the pit lane......

stickyfiddle

chillidoggy said:

I just hope if Vettel does win the title it goes to the wire. I hate it when it's all wrapped up several races before, but we've been pretty lucky on that score over the last few years, so here's hoping. I didn't notice any difference in coverage, considering cameramen were supposed to be banned from the pit lane......

The angles were different- only from the pitwall or the remote camera on the overhead gantries. I'm hoping they'll put in new gantries to give us the old angle back for next season, but it's not a huge deal if not.

Fretwired

Anyone see Webber on Top Gear tonight? He obviously hates Seb with a passion. The look on his face when he beat Seb's time in the 'reasonably priced car' segment was priceless. Something else to factor into the mix.

stickyfiddle

Haven't seen it yet but that's excellent news. I'll watch at lunchtime

Just been watching this great interview with Mika Hakkinen. I really wish he hadn't retired so young

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNCXOznFI_8

stickyfiddle

(Duplicate post)

chillidoggy

The Top Gear thing with Webber was good to watch, and he comes over as such a likeable bloke. I guess he's got nothing to lose now he knows he's off to Porsche, and he'll be taking every possible opportunity to beat Vettel he can.

 

I forgot it was him who flipped over in the Merc at Le Mans, that must have been an awful experience!

stickyfiddle

Finnish paper reporting Kimi has re-signed with Ferrari..

http://www.iltasanomat.fi/formula1/art-1288589111747.html

chillidoggy

Full marks, Sticky! I didn't know you could read Finnish!

 

 

stickyfiddle

chillidoggy said:

Full marks, Sticky! I didn't know you could read Finnish!

 

I can't! But google can

Fretwired

Could be something to do with the dire financial situation at Lotus ... http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/109230

I bet Alonso won't be pleased ....

Van_Hayden

That's going to be interesting. Kimi is brilliant - in & out of the car.

As for this year I don't want to see the wonky German finger again please. Would like to see webber grab a few victories for the road. Although I can't help but think he's missed his vocation as a pilot, thinking of Le Mans and Valencia...

chillidoggy

Well, having just translated the Finnish report, it's not entirely clear to me Kimi's going to Ferrari, but then there's usually no smoke without fire, so we will see, eh?

But I agree Lotus is deep in the financial shite, and I'd like to see Mark Webber crash into Vettel. Any circuit will do, I'm not fussed.

thumpingrug

chillidoggy said:

 and I'd like to see Mark Webber crash into Vettel. Any circuit will do, I'm not fussed.

All of them, will do fine for me.

Van_Hayden

So how about the empty Red Bull seat - Riccardo? Or have they had enough of Aussies??

holnrew

Mark Webber is incredibly good looking, is a nice bloke I'd enjoy a beer with and he's a great driver. What a cunt.

stickyfiddle

http://thejudge13.com/2013/08/14/daily-f1-news-and-comment-wednesday-14th-august-2013/

The Judge pretty much confirms the Kimi/Ferrari deal. He's very rarely wrong, and alludes to this being the pending announcement he called a couple of weeks ago.

So.. Alonso to stay? Or go to RB or even back to Enstone AGAIN with Lotus? I can't see him wanting to stay at Maranello if Kimi's there. The only way he'd settle for a WC for a teammate is if it was in the undisputed best car, ie The Newey Car, surely?

chillidoggy

It's all very interesting as per usual! I can't see Alonso wanting Kimi fighting with him, so if he does end up at Ferrari, I reckon he'll move to Red Bull. Maybe there'll be some other interesting moves along with it. I reckon Ricciardo will go to Red Bull, though.

Fretwired

I can't see where Alonso would go. A move to Red Bull would be nuts as Sebastian 'Finger' Vettel is firmly ensconced as the number one and Lotus are in serious financial trouble [probably why Kimi jumped ship]. Everything may hinge on Button [there are rumours another major team is about to change its line-up]. If he moves to Ferrari or Red Bull then Alonso could go back to McLaren [unlikely in my opinion as I think they'll struggle next year without 100% support from Mercedes] but who knows.

I think Alonso will stay put for 2014 to see which of the big teams copes best with the new regulations before making a decision.

chillidoggy

Yeah, but Alonso with Kimi? I'd pay to see that!

holnrew

Kimi can't compete with Alonso.

Fretwired

Kimi is NOT going to Ferrari ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23700586

Heartfeltdawn

Alonso with Kimi would be hilarious. Can't see anyone other than Ricciardo at Red Bull right now. Vettel needs a submissive teammate. Alonso at RB would be like throwing Paisley and Gerry Adams into a caravan holiday together. 

chillidoggy

Trouble is, as soon as you read reports that driver X is categorically NOT going to team Y, then you know it's probably going to happen!

Heartfeltdawn

Fretwired said:

Kimi is NOT going to Ferrari ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23700586

Uh huh, just like they denied in May that they wanted James Allison. Lo and behold, he starts working there on September 1st. 

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/07/ferrari-name-allison-as-chassis-technical-director/

Van_Hayden

And that's before we even start talking about how the beeb missed the opening at Porsche for webber in April 2012....