The 2014 Formula1 Thread!

[The Boston Dangler]

Sky Sports F1 2014: How Mercedes become so strong in 2014

 

[JulesMaximus]

nope, that is specifically against the rules.

That's what I thought.

 

[_Rick_]

Oh dear, that quali was pretty much an unmitigated disaster for me.

Rosberg on 4 - at least Alonso on 5, the Hülk way down in 8th, and Button missing the top 10. I now have to worry about getting even a podium out of this race :-/
I kind of expect Rosberg to make his way past the RBs, and Hülkenberg can hopefully take the fight to the Williams, but with the current grid, I'm just hoping for some damage minimization. Button starts to look more and more like a mis-investment, after such a strong start in Australia for McLaren.

Happy to see Grosjean in the top-10 though. He's definitely having one of the tougher F1 careers, yet still manages to shine when you least expect him to... And if he can make a points finish for Lotus tomorrow, that would give me major hope for Team Enstone's future.

 

[_Rick_]

Boring race, and Button was bad enough that I lost the leading position.
Of course, having both Hamilton and Rosberg in your team is bound to be a winning combination in the early season...
I'm still hoping for McLaren to eventually resurge, like they almost did in 2012.

 

[redgtxdi]

Ya, pretty bland. About the most interesting thing for me was.......

The Mercedes folks have a bit of a disparity between the 2 drivers. Why is Hamilton so much faster??

And in the Red Bull camp....And on what planet is Vettel slower than Ricciardo??? (I thought that was an anathema in the world of Red Bull?)

Aside from Red Bull being slower, in general, I can't imagine this can go on much longer before Vettel takes action, verbally or otherwise.

 

[merlion]

Had Vettel let Ricciardo through when he was first asked it could have made things a little more interesting between Ricciardo and Alonso at the end.

And I'm not buying Vettel's claim that he let Ricciardo through after he realized that his strategy was going to shift to a three stop. I don't think a three stop was ever in the cards for him. Just some damage control to make him appear as less a d-bag than he actually is.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Had Vettel let Ricciardo through when he was first asked it could have made things a little more interesting between Ricciardo and Alonso at the end.

And I'm not buying Vettel's claim that he let Ricciardo through after he realized that his strategy was going to shift to a three stop. I don't think a three stop was ever in the cards for him. Just some damage control to make him appear as less a d-bag than he actually is.

i agree, although it almost always takes a d-bag to win the title.

"what tires is he on?"
"the same tires as you"
"tough luck"

edit:

fun fact - the race was accidentally called on lap 54 of 56, and kobayashi gets screwed out of 17th.

 

[JulesMaximus]

i agree, although it almost always takes a d-bag to win the title.

"what tires is he on?"
"the same tires as you"
"tough luck"

edit:

fun fact - the race was accidentally called on lap 54 of 56, and kobayashi gets screwed out of 17th.

Did you hear that radio transmission from Lewis Hamilton when he was starting his last lap? He said, "I just saw the checkered flag." It was very matter-of-fact but he didn't slow at all.

I thought Nico Rosberg drove a hell of a race. With no telemetry streaming off the car it must have made it extremely difficult. Good to see Alonso on the podium and I'm glad Vettel is floundering.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Cakegate? Hah.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/racing-news/mercedes-and-red-bull-f1-rivalry

 

[abaez]

I think Lauda just doesn't give a shit.

That said, I really hope Mercedes does not sweep most races. I'm more excited who comes in second and third now since it will always be Hamilton and Rosberg up front.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Cakegate? Hah.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/racing-news/mercedes-and-red-bull-f1-rivalry

In what may be the most hilarious paddock incident since Paul Tracy ran around San Jose trying to beat up Alex Tagliani, Mercedes boss Niki Lauda brought the Red Bull squad a consolatory Viennese cake after the Hamilton-Rosberg one-two in China. Yes, a cake—as in a round, delicious, baked, sweet, edible thing. Dr. Helmet Marko, Red Bull consultant and apparent dessert-agnostic, took exception to this and reportedly insinuated that the 65-year-old Lauda should wear a bulletproof vest next time he's in the paddock. Maybe it was chocolate, and Seb Vettel is a vanilla guy?

Really, if millionaires squabbling over motor racing and death threats stemming from bakery treats don't get you grinning, nothing will. We'll be the first to report if Foyt and Andretti settle the score with a pie to the face.

Wow... really?

This rich white guy is going to shoot another rich white guy? Over a cake? LOL!!!

 

[The Boston Dangler]

red bull racing is, by miles ahead of ferrari, the douchiest team in f1. horner, marko, even vettel and newey...douches.

 

[norseamd]

now think what type of crap must go on with eccelstone

 

[Brian Stirling]

now think what type of crap must go on with eccelstone

Or Max Mosley :$ :biggrin:


Brian

 

[punjabiplaya]

This rich white guy is going to shoot another rich white guy?

I'd rather have a duel than this stupid fucking double points rule.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Or Max Mosley :$ :biggrin:


Brian

his personal life aside, like it should be, mosley had far more integrity and longer vision as administrator than ecclestone ever has as the owner/salesman.

 

[Brian Stirling]

his personal life aside, like it should be, mosley had far more integrity and longer vision as administrator than ecclestone ever has as the owner/salesman.

True enough...


He may have odd sexual preferences but he was otherwise pretty good for the sport.


Brian

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Nigel Stepney: Ferrari 'spy-gate' mechanic dies in road accident

He was run over by a lorry after stopping on the hard shoulder of the M20 in Kent and getting out of his van.

 

[merlion]

Nigel Stepney: Ferrari 'spy-gate' mechanic dies in road accident

Also from the BBC article -

"For reasons yet to be established, the man appears to have entered the carriageway and was then in collision with an articulated goods vehicle," police said in a statement. "He was pronounced deceased at the scene."

Suicide by truck?

 

[merlion]

Will anyone have upped their game in the three week hiatus leading up to the Spanish GP? Or will this be another cakewalk for the Mercs?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Will anyone have upped their game in the three week hiatus leading up to the Spanish GP? Or will this be another cakewalk for the Mercs?

red bull is said to have found some pace, and this track should suit them. only 1 way to find out!

 

[Harpocrates]

Sauber has apparently shed 15KG from their overweight car which should help Sutil, since he is tall for an F1 driver. Pretty much all the teams are bringing new aero bits, so we really won't know until qualy.

 

[RockinZ28]

Meh, not holding my breath. Merc has been so far ahead, it will take a lot of improvement from anyone just to pose a challenge. Merc also had 3 weeks to improve themselves.

Hope I'm wrong though, want to see some challengers for more than 3rd place.

 

[LTC8K6]

I have yet to watch an F1 race this year. I've only seen a little of one race, and some qualifying.

I don't seem to miss it.

If it seems like some other teams have caught up, I may finally tune in.

 

[_Rick_]

Well, Rosberg again couldn't make it happen, but at least both Merc drivers are relatively evenly matched, unlike Webber/Vettel post 2010.

Once more my other picks underperfomed, with Alonso struggling to get past Raikönnen, but unable to match Bottas or Vettel, Button out of the points (remember Australia? That was a double McLaren podium? WTF is going on) And Hülkenberg not able to challenge for the 6th place he should be racing for under ideal conditions.

Vettel did a brilliant drive, showing Ricciardo that he's still a force to be reckoned with - had he had a car for Q3, that may well have been him on the podium, or at the least a proper fight for Ricciardo. Massa wasn't able to challenge the Ferraris once more, but then I expected his calling from the outset to be more one of a development driver, than an outright contender for the podium.
Sauber is in an absolute disaster, Toro Rosso has also not really been able to avoid the mid-season dev-slump.