Formula 1 - F1 - Current Season Discussion

[idfnl]

Kubica was quickest... faster than Stroll. Looks like the seat is his.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/42170859

Also, Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin may join F1.

The new F1 logo is ugly as ****.

 

[Texasmade]

Alfa Romeo is joining F1 not "may join". Gives Ferrari a junior team since Haas isn't go to just roll over and do everything Ferrari says in terms of junior drivers.

 

[flipstah]

Alfa Romeo Sauber? Free advertising and Sauber gets engines for a discount?

 

[sugarbutch]

New logo and (more importantly) the entire brand system are a solid step up from the current logo and the half-assed whatever that FOM have been doing. Looking forward to their over-the-top streaming service, too.

Aston Martin's putting two ex-Ferrari engine guys onto their exploratory F1 engine program is a good sign. Their enthusiasm for the general outlines of the proposed engine spec will also be a good counterweight to the whining from Mercedes and Ferrari.

Williams are in a tough spot. Absent his father's cash, I can't see Stroll's getting another year, but they're stuck with him. I have my doubts about all of the drivers they were said to be considering to pair with him. As it is, it looks like they'll have two question marks in their cars next year.

I'm ambivalent about Kubica. Really want him to do well, but have my doubts based mostly on the amount of time he's been out of racing.

It would appear that Mercedes have cut Wehrlein loose. A year in the Williams against a known entity would have been good to establish his level which almost certainly would be faster and more consistent than the cash cow.

 

[Texasmade]

So Mercedes are going to back Ocon's career now instead of Pascal?

 

[idfnl]

New logo and (more importantly) the entire brand system are a solid step up from the current logo and the half-assed whatever that FOM have been doing.

You know it sucks. You're ******* doing this on purpose to disagree. I know you are.

 

[idfnl]

So Mercedes are going to back Ocon's career now instead of Pascal?

I don't know why. He can't do math, or beat Perez, who McLaren dumped.

 

[sugarbutch]

LOL. I promise you that I'm not trolling.

 

[sugarbutch]

If Bottas doesn't really do the business next year, I think Ocon (assuming similar performance to this year) will replace him.

 

[Texasmade]

If Bottas doesn't really do the business next year, I think Ocon (assuming similar performance to this year) will replace him.

Daniel Ricciardo will be available after next year.

 

[sugarbutch]

If Hamilton doesn't re-up, I think Ricciardo is a lock for Mercedes. If he doesn't, though, I'm not sure Mercedes want that headache again. It would be great to see the two of them go head-to-head.

 

[Texasmade]

There's no way Hamilton and Mercedes don't extend. He just won another WDC and Bottas isn't winning that against Vettel. Hamilton is going to turn down the likely £40M+ a year contract.

 

[idfnl]

If Bottas doesn't really do the business next year, I think Ocon (assuming similar performance to this year) will replace him.

It would be a mistake. Ocon is not the future of Mercedes, neither is Wherlein. Or Bottas.

There seems to be a huge gulf in up and coming talent. What is going on here? This is dysfunction.

Other than Max, who else has the chops save for Ricci? The grid seems loaded with average. Antonio Felix da Costa was robbed of an F1 seat because of Torpedo Man, and it seems like Felix Rosenquist was as well.

My hope is Ross Brawn takes on an oversized influence because he can solve this. We need the best drivers, and these aren't the best drivers.

 

[idfnl]

If Hamilton doesn't re-up, I think Ricciardo is a lock for Mercedes. If he doesn't, though, I'm not sure Mercedes want that headache again. It would be great to see the two of them go head-to-head.

Hamilton - Ricci

We need ultra competitive intra team battles to make the sport fun. Outlaw driver status provisions in contracts. Team orders, fine, but don't allow it to be per-determined.

 

[sugarbutch]

You're the only person I've encountered who doesn't think that Ocon is promising. Of course, you could be right, but a whole lot of knowledgeable people would have to be wrong.

Ultracompetitive intra-team battles only work when the team is dominant. If they aren't then you end up with a constructor's championship and lose the more valued driver championship. If Hamilton and Bottas had split the wins evenly, Vettel would be champion.