The F1 thread

stickyfiddle

What might be some comfort is that this guy's VP is Robert Reid, who was Richard Burns' codriver in WRC. Always seemed a good chap with his head screwed on. Time will tell, I suppose. 

Boromedic

stickyfiddle said:

What might be some comfort is that this guy's VP is Robert Reid, who was Richard Burns' codriver in WRC. Always seemed a good chap with his head screwed on. Time will tell, I suppose. 

Hopefully Mike, you know how these things are!

skullfunkerry

Cols said:

Maybe he’ll be given some bullshit “public service” punishment, like Max got after he tried to deck Ocon at the Brazilian GP?

I actually think that would be worse, and more demeaning, than a fine.

danishbacon

The FIA can’t win this one. They risk pushing out one of the most successful drivers in history, at a height of his career who draws a massive audience and £££. Community service? What are they going to do, make him do it? What’s he got to lose?

The whole ordeal, season, end, new leadership, stewarding has been laid bare for all to see. 

CoolCat

I have been following F1 for many, many, years however, in a lot of ways the sport for me has lost a lot of its appeal. It has become far too political and sterile with its tombs of regulations. The ending of this years drivers championship was a major let-down. Both Lewis and Max lost out - with Lewis a potential 8th WDC and Max with the fallout surrounding his maiden WDC even though he did nothing wrong. The FIA, in particular the Race Director, messed up big time in my book. I'm hoping next years championship will be better.

Cols

skullfunkerry said:

Cols said:

Maybe he’ll be given some bullshit “public service” punishment, like Max got after he tried to deck Ocon at the Brazilian GP?

I actually think that would be worse, and more demeaning, than a fine.

Sadly, ‘FIA public service’ is not cleaning out post-race bogs at Silverstone or anything like that.

Max completed his ‘public service’ by attending the FIA International Stewards Programme in Geneva.  I’m sure he participated fully, and certainly didn’t spend the two days picking his nose and updating his Instagram status.

mrkb

Max Moseleys FIA "Public Service" was a totally different thing!

goldtop

Insider PoV from a Mercedes deep-throat: https://www.autoracing.com.br/exclusivo-dude-o-titulo-foi-tirado-de-nos/

(Portuguese, but translates pretty well in Chrome.)

Most interesting bit: Mercedes considered taking the FIA to court (a real court), but decided not to do that, despite the legal opinion being that the case would be a no-brainer. Reason: Mercedes would be excluded from all FIA events until the case was fully played out. (I presume they would also have to have gone through the FIA appeal first, too.)

Obviously the maxim is 'not cutting off your nose to spite your face'. Perfectly sensible from a business PoV, even if it leaves a lot of people feeling hard done by.

Cols

Here’s a thought experiment.  Lewis is obviously unhappy and disillusioned with how the season ended, and Wolff has said he “could not guarantee if Hamilton would continue to race in F1”.

I think this is just a spot of sabre-rattling by Merc, but if Hamilton does decide to hang up his helmet who would the team slot in?  Vandoorne’s the reserve driver, but I reckon the team would be looking for a higher profile driver.

stickyfiddle

Cols said:

Here’s a thought experiment.  Lewis is obviously unhappy and disillusioned with how the season ended, and Wolff has said he “could not guarantee if Hamilton would continue to race in F1”.

I think this is just a spot of sabre-rattling by Merc, but if Hamilton does decide to hang up his helmet who would the team slot in?  Vandoorne’s the reserve driver, but I reckon the team would be looking for a higher profile driver.

It wouldn't surprise me if they looked at DeVries. I doubt they'd want to pay any money to another team to break a contract, though I guess some drivers might be happy to pay that fee themselves to get in a Merc

Emiel

Get Alonso in that Merc please!

Cols

Emiel said:

Get Alonso in that Merc please!

I’d love to see Alonso in the Merc, but his bridges are well and truly burned there.  The Daimler Benz board still holds him personally responsible for the $100MM fine resulting from the 2007 season.

Cols

stickyfiddle said:

Cols said:

Here’s a thought experiment.  Lewis is obviously unhappy and disillusioned with how the season ended, and Wolff has said he “could not guarantee if Hamilton would continue to race in F1”.

I think this is just a spot of sabre-rattling by Merc, but if Hamilton does decide to hang up his helmet who would the team slot in?  Vandoorne’s the reserve driver, but I reckon the team would be looking for a higher profile driver.

It wouldn't surprise me if they looked at DeVries. I doubt they'd want to pay any money to another team to break a contract, though I guess some drivers might be happy to pay that fee themselves to get in a Merc

If I recall, they paid Williams somewhere between £10-20 million to release Bottas when Rosberg unexpectedly quit.  

sweepy

Ocon would be the prime option, managed by Toto and definitely a case of building for the future but Lewis isn't going anywhere

Boromedic

I'd love to see Lando in there like

simonk

Looks like Audi want in:

https://www.racefans.net/2021/12/20/audi-tells-fia-it-intends-to-confirm-f1-entry-early-next-year/

chillidoggy

I can't see Hamster bailing out, it's just hot air. He'll get over it once Toto has given him a hug, a hot, sweet, cup of tea, and told him he loves him.

If it does happen, I'd like to see Alonso in the seat, or Lando.

DesVegas

I dont think we'll be lucky enough to not have Lewis race next year

Simonh

DesVegas said:

I dont think we'll be lucky enough to not have Lewis race next year

Max isn't lucky enough to have Lewis race next year. It would be the only way he will win his first WDC

DesVegas

Simonh said:

DesVegas said:

I dont think we'll be lucky enough to not have Lewis race next year

Max isn't lucky enough to have Lewis race next year. It would be the only way he will win his first WDC

Well yes, there is that, where else would he park his car?