The F1 thread

chillidoggy

I strongly suspect that if Mateschitz thought Horner was “shit at the job”, he’d have been shown the door ages ago. The fact he remains in post speaks volumes for his perceived capabilities.

sinbaadi

I do also think that the weakness of the FIA has snowballed this stuff.  They are influenced by the noise, the complainers, the powerful.  Stewards are inconsistent at best, and biased at worst.  

They could have shut down Horner and RBR, but now Horner sees and takes every opportunity to exert some influence, and is constantly at one extreme of "that's not fair!!" or the other, either aggressively defensive or attacking, which is much like Max's attitude on track (again, allowed to get this far by stewards and FIA).

axisus

I don't know why, but I'm just not very interested in Hamilton. Maybe it's my general disinterest in F1 for many years now, but back in the day I loved James Hunt, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, I soooo wanted them to win. I honestly don't care who is World champ, it's just a case of may the best man win. 

Fretwired

sinbaadi said:

I do also think that the weakness of the FIA has snowballed this stuff.  They are influenced by the noise, the complainers, the powerful.  Stewards are inconsistent at best, and biased at worst.  

The stewards in Brazil included ex-Red Bull and Torro Rosso driver Vitantonio Liuzzi who was the driver steward. Whilst there's no evidence he was biased in favour of Max Verstappen and Red Bull it doesn't look good on social media which thrives on conspiracy theories.  The FIA should perhaps consider not using people with close links to the leading teams as stewards.

And prior to Sunday's race, we saw Marco and Tost having a chat and Marco and Gassly having a chat. Then this happened - read some of the comments:

Paul_C

axisus said:

I don't know why, but I'm just not very interested in Hamilton. Maybe it's my general disinterest in F1 for many years now, but back in the day I loved James Hunt, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, I soooo wanted them to win. I honestly don't care who is World champ, it's just a case of may the best man win. 

While I thought my comment was funny, on reflection I've decided to remove it. 

Emiel

Alpha Tauri is Red Bulls satellite team, of course they aren’t going to trouble Verstappen. Just like it’s said that Wolff has used Aston Martin and McLaren before to file a protest against rival teams. There are millions at stake and teams will do anything in their power to weaken others. F1 has so many restrictions regarding the design of these cars that everything that seems different is immediately suspicious. The media is all to eager to exploit all the discussions. Same with the ongoing debate round track limits. I often wish we’d go back to having gravel traps instead of these huge tarmac run-off areas. That will kill a lot of the constant debate of who’s in the right and who’s in the wrong.

TimmyO

I'd have loved it if instead of his "spicy engine" comment Toto had said "we'll get out our bendiest wing for the next race" with a wink to camera 

DesVegas

I'm just going to leave this here, go Kimi!!

dazzajl

DesVegas said:

I'm just going to leave this here, go Kimi!!

I love how it’s just not possible to caricature Kimi. That’s just him.   

TimmyO

DesVegas said:

I'm just going to leave this here, go Kimi!!

Haha like it 

boogieman

axisus said:

I don't know why, but I'm just not very interested in Hamilton. Maybe it's my general disinterest in F1 for many years now, but back in the day I loved James Hunt, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, I soooo wanted them to win. I honestly don't care who is World champ, it's just a case of may the best man win. 

He’s the consummate professional and therefore very selective and thoughtful about what he says to the media. I think that makes him come across as a bit vapid and too eager to say the right thing. He’s undoubtedly a superb driver, probably the best I’ll ever see in my lifetime, but he doesn’t seem to have much character beyond being Mr Nice. Mansell and especially Hunt could, and did, say what they liked, but they lived in a totally different era for F1.

I’d like to hear what Hamilton really thinks about Max and his antics, without all the media filtering getting in his way. 

fretmeister

boogieman said:

axisus said:

I don't know why, but I'm just not very interested in Hamilton. Maybe it's my general disinterest in F1 for many years now, but back in the day I loved James Hunt, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, I soooo wanted them to win. I honestly don't care who is World champ, it's just a case of may the best man win. 

He’s the consummate professional and therefore very selective and thoughtful about what he says to the media. I think that makes him come across as a bit vapid and too eager to say the right thing. He’s undoubtedly a superb driver, probably the best I’ll ever see in my lifetime, but he doesn’t seem to have much character beyond being Mr Nice. Mansell and especially Hunt could, and did, say what they liked, but they lived in a totally different era for F1.

I’d like to hear what Hamilton really thinks about Max and his antics, without all the media filtering getting in his way. 

The interview he gives the day after retirement could be interesting!

But then again he's bound to be a brand ambassador for something and will still have to behave.

But I really want to see "You want to know who the biggest *** ***** ** **** ** *** in F1 is, well I can do better than that - I'll rank them in order...."

skullfunkerry

fretmeister said:

boogieman said:

axisus said:

I don't know why, but I'm just not very interested in Hamilton. Maybe it's my general disinterest in F1 for many years now, but back in the day I loved James Hunt, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, I soooo wanted them to win. I honestly don't care who is World champ, it's just a case of may the best man win. 

He’s the consummate professional and therefore very selective and thoughtful about what he says to the media. I think that makes him come across as a bit vapid and too eager to say the right thing. He’s undoubtedly a superb driver, probably the best I’ll ever see in my lifetime, but he doesn’t seem to have much character beyond being Mr Nice. Mansell and especially Hunt could, and did, say what they liked, but they lived in a totally different era for F1.

I’d like to hear what Hamilton really thinks about Max and his antics, without all the media filtering getting in his way. 

The interview he gives the day after retirement could be interesting!

But then again he's bound to be a brand ambassador for something and will still have to behave.

But I really want to see "You want to know who the biggest *** ***** ** **** ** *** in F1 is, well I can do better than that - I'll rank them in order...."

Of all the current crop of F1 drivers, I'd say keep an eye out for Kimi Raikkonen or Kevin Magnussen's autobiographies

Or Max for that matter: I can't imagine him being very diplomatic in a post-career autobiography.

poopot

So….

who is going to take the title this season?

How d’you bet?

sweepy

poopot said:

So….

who is going to take the title this season?

How d’you bet?

Lewis has the momentum 

DesVegas

Yep. I'm going for Lewis too. I hope Max does it but can't stop thinking it'll be Lew

Teetonetal

Honestly, no idea, but I hope it is Hamilton. I just don't like the verstappen / red bull combo.

Majorscale

It will come down to Abu Dhabi…. Lewis will lead, Max will deliberately take him out and claim the title…

goldtop

One DNF pretty much kills off LH's chances, and with RB's morals and LH's need to push harder than ever, I don't like the probabilities.

Boromedic

I'm hoping Lewis takes the title after RBs shenanigans since Silverstone really (although they have been dicks for a while before that!).

I wouldn't put a dirty trick past them either, but I've been wondering if RB are managing an engine or two trying to avoid a penalty, hence the loss of pace perhaps? It's going to be a fascinating last two races either way, both circuits suit the Mercedes a bit more too.