The F1 thread

boogieman

Must admit I don’t get all the excitement over Monaco. Sure it’s a glamorous location (probably great if you’re watching from a big fuck off yacht) and has the heritage, but by god it’s boring for the casual fan like me. I struggled through the “highlights”, such as they were, I don’t think I could’ve stayed awake for the actual live race. One of those circuits where it really needs a crash to liven things up. Maybe it would’ve been slightly more exciting if LeClerc had been able to drive. 

TimmyO

stickyfiddle said:

I generally agree, but not sure I buy that for modern races at Monaco. Lack of excitement doesn't equal excitement imo! There was literally only one non-pitstop overtake the entire race, between 2 Haases on lap 1. And the other "will he, won't he?" moments weren't really valid as we all knew he wouldn't in all cases. 

I don't want to get rid of it as it's one of the absolute jewels in the motor racing calendar (or at least it should be). I'm just praying the new cars mean we'll get better racing next year. 

No, but lack of excitement doesn’t mean boring - that’s my point 

stickyfiddle

TimmyO said:

No, but lack of excitement doesn’t mean boring - that’s my point 

But surely it does - that’s the point. Lack of overtakes doesn’t equal “no excitement” as I completely agree you can have a race with almost no overtakes that’s actually really exciting; if there are drivers going flat out and hustling and trying but failing to makes passes that can still be great. 

But that ain’t the race we had yesterday. 

Cols

Christ, what a dull race.  Just watching the repeats was a chore, so my heart goes out to those of you who had to suffer the full length race.

That’s Monaco sometimes.  Its very nature - tight and twisty, zero runoff - normally introduces unpredictability.  This year there was little of that.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a boring Monaco, but I wouldn’t change it.  Not that you could.

chillidoggy

Mazepin managed to keep it on the track, that’s how boring it was.

fretmeister

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-wolff-valtteri-bottas-wheel-nut/

Toto saying Bottas partly to blame for the wheel nut - not being exactly on his pit markers. "Forced" the wheelman to put the gun on at an angle.

Funny how the other 3 wheelmen managed it then.

I'm wondering if the decision has already been made... blaming a leaving team member for the benefit of the shareholders.

Cols

fretmeister said:

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-wolff-valtteri-bottas-wheel-nut/

Toto saying Bottas partly to blame for the wheel nut - not being exactly on his pit markers. "Forced" the wheelman to put the gun on at an angle.

Funny how the other 3 wheelmen managed it then.

I'm wondering if the decision has already been made... blaming a leaving team member for the benefit of the shareholders.

That’s ridiculous.  Drivers marginally miss their markers all the time, and the end result is that the pit crew has to shuffle up a bit to change the wheels - means a longer stop, which is on the driver’s head.  I’m endlessnessly impressed by how they manage to come screaming in at 70 mph and plant it within a few inches.

If the party line is that the driver has to be millimetre-perfect in order for the wheel nut guy to do his job properly, I think you need a new wheel nut guy.

chillidoggy

And a new wheel nut.

Cols

Have they actually managed to get the wheel nut off yet?

chillidoggy

KwikFit would have butchered it off by now, and also charged for an air conditioning service.

Cols

If they’d taken on some unemployed teenagers from Liverpool they’d have got all four wheels off in no time.  

Unfortunately they’d also have resprayed it and sold it to Red Bull for a case of Stella, a bag of weed and some pictures of Ginger Spice in the shower.

Dontgiveupyourdayjob

More schedule changes on the way?

https://twitter.com/wtf1official/status/1397140049708343299

Fretwired

fretmeister said:

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-wolff-valtteri-bottas-wheel-nut/

Toto saying Bottas partly to blame for the wheel nut - not being exactly on his pit markers. "Forced" the wheelman to put the gun on at an angle.

Funny how the other 3 wheelmen managed it then.

I'm wondering if the decision has already been made... blaming a leaving team member for the benefit of the shareholders.

Could be, but I think it is more to do with Wolff slapping down an underperforming Bottas whom he thinks is acting like a Prima Donna with his comments and criticisms about the team .. Hamilton quickly said that he and the team would talk behind closed doors about his issues.

I still think Bottas could be in a Mercedes next year - for Wolff it's a dream team so long as Hamilton performs.

thumpingrug

fretmeister said:

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-wolff-valtteri-bottas-wheel-nut/

Toto saying Bottas partly to blame for the wheel nut - not being exactly on his pit markers. "Forced" the wheelman to put the gun on at an angle.

Funny how the other 3 wheelmen managed it then.

I'm wondering if the decision has already been made... blaming a leaving team member for the benefit of the shareholders.

Im a Mercedes fan, but Toto turning on Valtteri like that is harsh to say the least.

fretmeister

Cols said:

Have they actually managed to get the wheel nut off yet?

No.

They said they would have to cut it off at the factory!

Nitefly

fretmeister said:

Cols said:

Have they actually managed to get the wheel nut off yet?

No.

They said they would have to cut it off at the factory!

Where's @markr76 when we need him?! 

Cols

Nitefly said:

fretmeister said:

Cols said:

Have they actually managed to get the wheel nut off yet?

No.

They said they would have to cut it off at the factory!

Where's @markr76 when we need him?! 

He’s in a spot of bother with Mercedes HR.

Apparently there was a bit of a misunderstanding when Toto handed him a hacksaw and told him to cut one of Valtteri’s nuts off…

GoldenEraGuitars

I wonder if there’s any truth in this or if this is just fake news BS.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gpblog.com/en/amp/85268/f1-commentator-russell-signs-for-two-years-with-mercedes-as-bottas-replacement.html

chillidoggy

GoldenEraGuitars said:

I wonder if there’s any truth in this or if this is just fake news BS.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gpblog.com/en/amp/85268/f1-commentator-russell-signs-for-two-years-with-mercedes-as-bottas-replacement.html

I reckon it'll happen sooner or later. Unless Eddie Jordan said it, in which case it's bollocks.

fretmeister

chillidoggy said:

GoldenEraGuitars said:

I wonder if there’s any truth in this or if this is just fake news BS.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gpblog.com/en/amp/85268/f1-commentator-russell-signs-for-two-years-with-mercedes-as-bottas-replacement.html

I reckon it'll happen sooner or later. Unless Eddie Jordan said it, in which case it's bollocks.

I've seen other stories this week about Russell planning his move to live in Monaco...

He doesn't need to do that on a Williams salary.