Formula 1 Discussion - And favourite driver?

[The Grognard]

The straitjacketed world of F1 was a poor fit for Grosjean, whose racing horizon seemed to exist either in an ambiguous direction somewhere off the circuit, or in a space and time that was inconveniently occupied by the car of a rival driver.

Off-road dune buggy racing through the desert is the sport for him, although I sure that he would still find a way of colliding with something, or somehow ending up in the sea.

Cue Grosjean becoming a rally driver and proceeding to show everyone how to do a proper flip on one of those things.

 

[Coccxys]

Grosjean has been Tweeting a lot about the new Peugeot WEC hypercar all season so it would be no surprise if he went there, plus he's French (at least as far as his driver's license says) so would be a good fit for a French car company. He's pretty much said he wants the drive in interviews mid September.



Hamilton is throwing a hissy fit (even uses the "right side of history" argument) because the FIA chose a wrong thinker to be driver steward for the day. I don't see anything wrong with what Petrov said here, he's seeing it through the lens of Russian culture and states he supports the message just not the way they go about it.

I did raise an eyebrow at Petrov being chosen but not because of any comments he made.

 

[RomanesEuntDomus]

Verstappen is really mad about Stroll having the gall to not simply vanish into thin air when Max approaches.

All joking aside, this was absolutely Verstappen's fault. Stroll might be a less accomplished driver who only got a seat thanks to his daddy's wallet, but out on the track, he has the same status and rights as anyone else. No matter if you're considered F1s hottest new Driver, when the guy is in front of you and on a fast lap himself, you can't just dive into the corner and expect the other guy to throw away his lap out of sheer amazement at your radiant awesomeness.

All that aside:
This racetrack is pretty cool. Many hills, a few gravel pits, what's not to like? Even the totally oldschool pitlane has its charm.
I just hope the Marshalls get their car-salvage game going, cause taking like 15-20 minutes to carry off a car that got stuck in a gravel pit or merely standing to the side of the track is pretty fucking slow and would be horrendeous during a race.

 

[WhiskeyZuluLima]

I just hope the Marshalls get their car-salvage game going, cause taking like 15-20 minutes to carry off a car that got stuck in a gravel pit or merely standing to the side of the track is pretty fucking slow and would be horrendeous during a race.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be too hopeful.
The circuit has gotten permission from the local government to lock down the immediate area, work with local hotels and really keep possible infection rates low as possible.
So it's quite probable that the marshalls for this race are mostly the same crew who did the 24H Portimao race (Part 1 of that race if you care enough to give it a look) and whilst I know it is by no means an easy job to do marshalling, they were not brilliantly quick with their recovery of a few crashed cars due to the rules for social distancing being extremely rigid.
For sure, the rules may have laxed a bit, but don't expect the usual case of an extremely international group of marshals like we have from previous years, and since motorsports in Portugal is less promoted than in say the UK or Germany, you're naturally going to get on average a more 'amateur' group, not to say the marshals don't know what they're doing like happened in Qatar every year.

 

[Coccxys]

Well Toto has basically said "nowt I can do about Williams plans for Russell's contract". Sounds like confirmation and washing his hands of the whole thing to me.





Honestly if I were Helmut Marco I'd be right down to Russell to see if he fancies sitting in an Alpha Tauri next year, screw the Merc development programme at least if Red Bull want you you're pretty safe there and they don't seem to give as much of a fuck as others do about bringing in stacks of cash.

 

[LiveFromNS]

Yep, George is in big trouble. You know, if I was a billionaire, I'd give George a call and say how much you need to keep your seat and gladly give him the funds. Not that Checo doesn't deserve a seat in F1, but just not at George's expense.

I was thinking about the George situ when I woke up this AM and was reading twitter. If he does have to sit out, I think he needs to be made Mercedes reserve and should do WEC and try and win LeMans while he waits for Mercedes to put him in the seat in 2022.

It will suck that he won't be on the grid (most likely now) next year. But he isn't a Stoffel or Gutierrez so I am positive even if he is out, he will be back in '22, preferably in the Merc.

Also just watched Martin bombing around in Rindt's Lotus with Fleetwood Mac playing. And then to hear him talk about it, you could hear the awe in his voice. So niceeeee.

 

[Coccxys]

As I said further up though this keeps happening to Merc like with Pascal Wehrlein and Estaban Ocon. Both of those showed the making of great F1 drivers but Merc couldn't for whatever reason convince their placement teams to keep them or new teams to take them. It seems Merc are quite poor at playing the game when it comes to drivers in their progrt but not their team. If they allow Russell to be shoved out of the sport for a year their is no guarantee he'll be the hot new thing when a Merc seat does open up as there'll be no guarantee of him retaining this level of performance.

 

[LiveFromNS]

As I said further up though this keeps happening to Merc like with Pascal Wehrlein and Estaban Ocon. Both of those showed the making of great F1 drivers but Merc couldn't for whatever reason convince their placement teams to keep them or new teams to take them. It seems Merc are quite poor at playing the game when it comes to drivers in their progrt but not their team. If they allow Russell to be shoved out of the sport for a year their is no guarantee he'll be the hot new thing when a Merc seat does open up as there'll be no guarantee of him retaining this level of performance.

Yeah, bad track record for their juniors. I agree, George could get in a predicament if he sits out next year and all the rookies coming in start kicking ass. Who do you think are most likely to be dropped at end of 2021? I know its kind of impossible to predict of course, but the field is starting to get pretty solid throughout and of course those that have the huge backing like Checo, Latifi, Stroll won't be going anywhere. Kimi gots to be done soon so I assume he will leave after 21 and not want to bother with the new stuff happening in 22.

Either way, and bottom line, George should be driving next year, but big money talks loud and he ain't got enough. And to think during the 2010s there were more than 10 teams for quite a few seasons. But now, a seat goes to highest bidder a bit too much.

Funny seeing the guys talking about the money/seats stuff right now on Sky.

 

[RomanesEuntDomus]

The sad truth of it is: There is never a time where talent is scarce. It might be hidden or need some refinement, but it never is unavailable.

From the perspective of any major team in F1, they simply keep younger promising drivers around for a "what if" scenario. Say, Bottas or Hamilton has a terrible crash or some sickness and can't drive for the rest of the season or possibly forever? What if someone suddenly announces his withdrawal from the sport for some private reason?
You want younger drivers to fill in the gaps in such a situation, but you don't need to keep them around forever, they get replaced by newer, other promising drivers while your stars keep their seats until they leave for whatever reason. With a career as long as Hamilton's, that means he outlives several of his possible replacements.
From the team's perspective, there are several advantages: You keep a supply of fresh drivers that you can shape up for your own needs. These younger drivers also lack the confidence and experience to negotiate contracts like someone who's already in the business for a longer time. And last but not least: If F1 teams hold on to established drivers for too long, that means you can't lift up drivers from other Formula type series, such as F2 and F3. The promise of maybe one day replace Hamilton is a very strong incentive for young new talent to work with certain teams, but that also means you sort of need upwards mobility for your drivers, something you can't do, when you hold on to your replacement drivers in F1 for too long.

Someone like Russel dropping out of F1 for lack of a seat is not a flaw of this system, it's one of its key functions, as sad as it is and it means many promising drivers get wasted simply due to bad luck and bad timing. Every once in a while, you'll have a young driver that's ready just at the time when some older driver leaves (or has to leave) a top-team for whatever reason. Most of the time, you'll watch young talent being replaced in their team and they end up at Haas or Williams.

 

[LiveFromNS]

I agree with you, it has happened plenty of times. But most of those drivers were probably mid-field drivers and odd podium grabbers. But George seems he is a great driver and I view him along the likes of LeClerc, get him in a top team and give him a capable car and he will win races. Most of those drivers who disappeared were in midfield teams and couldn't impress enough to stay in F1. George is in the worst car and his abilities and talents are evident with what he does with the car.

Sadly what you say is spot-on and sad situation. I see Michael Andretti is investing in something about giving talent who don't have backing an opportunity to make it to the top level.

 

[Coccxys]

Time to get a weld engineer inspecting those drains asap.

Edit: Someone tell them heat gun + wet cement ends up with a flaky, cracked cement not a nice patch.

Edit 2: this really is looking like amateur hour with these track repairs.

 

[LiveFromNS]

Time to get a weld engineer inspecting those drains asap.

Yeah, this don't look great. Might be in for a bit of a wait. Or even qualifying tomorrow AM?

 

[Coccxys]

The way it's looking it's not getting going at half past, hopefully it's not all the way to tomorrow morning.

 

[LiveFromNS]

Yeah, I am not interested in getting up at 6AM to watch Q. Race is 10AM for me.

So it seems they are using glue or an epoxy??? Why aren't they welding them down?? Seriously, if they do Q after gluing metal down an hour ago, if some driver gets injured or killed, someone will need to be burnt alive.

I am going to assume they are more intelligent and we will have Q tomorrow AM.

 

[Coccxys]

They're taking the risk apparently. Great lap by Russell again.

 

[RomanesEuntDomus]

Apparently, pouring concrete on loose draincovers is the standard solution, when they need something done quick.

Russel is outperforming the Williams like crazy.

 

[Coccxys]

The sky F1 commentators again desperately trying to make people believe that the sport is actually competitive at the front. Keep trying guys. These days Q2 and the slower half of Q3 are the interesting positions.

And cunting Merc fudge it again to screw over Bottas.

 

[LiveFromNS]

Man, that was Bizzarro world at the end. Max should have put the hards on, would have gotten pole for sure!! LOL I don't ever recall seeing that tactic before being better than tried and true softest tyres in Q3.,

 

[LiveFromNS]

So, Petrov's father appears to have been murdered. Wonder if the rainbow crowd had anything to do with it because of what Vitaly said. Guess that was one way to get him out of stewarding the race.

PETROV STEPS DOWN AS STEWARD AFTER FATHER’S DEATH​

48 mins ago
By Scott Mitchell

Vitaly Petrov has stepped down as a Portuguese Grand Prix steward following the death of his father in Russia.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Petrov was making his F1 stewarding debut at Algarve this weekend.

But on Saturday evening reports from Russia emerged that his father had been shot dead at home.

The FIA has confirmed Vitaly Petrov has stepped down from his position following “a personal bereavement” and will be replaced as the driver steward by Bruno Correia, the Formula E safety car driver.

Petrov’s stewarding debut attracted controversy and condemnation because of comments he made a few weeks ago in Russia. The FIA defended its decision to appoint Petrov earlier on Saturday.

“The thoughts of the FIA are with Vitaly and his family at this time,” said the governing body.

The death of Petrov’s father has been widely reported as a possible assassination in Russian media.

RIA Novosti cited a law enforcement source that said Petrov Sr. was shot at his Vyborg homestead by an intruder before being found by a local watchman.

Alexandr Petrov, who was born in 1957, was an elected official in the Vyborg and Leningrad Oblast legislative chambers, and was involved in various business structures.
SOURCE: https://the-race.com/formula-1/petrov-steps-down-as-steward-after-fathers-death/

 

[RomanesEuntDomus]

So, Petrov's father appears to have been murdered. Wonder if the rainbow crowd had anything to do with it because of what Vitaly said. Guess that was one way to get him out of stewarding the race.

PETROV STEPS DOWN AS STEWARD AFTER FATHER’S DEATH​

48 mins ago
By Scott Mitchell

Vitaly Petrov has stepped down as a Portuguese Grand Prix steward following the death of his father in Russia.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Petrov was making his F1 stewarding debut at Algarve this weekend.

But on Saturday evening reports from Russia emerged that his father had been shot dead at home.

The FIA has confirmed Vitaly Petrov has stepped down from his position following “a personal bereavement” and will be replaced as the driver steward by Bruno Correia, the Formula E safety car driver.

Petrov’s stewarding debut attracted controversy and condemnation because of comments he made a few weeks ago in Russia. The FIA defended its decision to appoint Petrov earlier on Saturday.

“The thoughts of the FIA are with Vitaly and his family at this time,” said the governing body.

The death of Petrov’s father has been widely reported as a possible assassination in Russian media.

RIA Novosti cited a law enforcement source that said Petrov Sr. was shot at his Vyborg homestead by an intruder before being found by a local watchman.

Alexandr Petrov, who was born in 1957, was an elected official in the Vyborg and Leningrad Oblast legislative chambers, and was involved in various business structures.
SOURCE: https://the-race.com/formula-1/petrov-steps-down-as-steward-after-fathers-death/

I don't think we need to speculate on the astronomically unlikely event of someone taking offense to Vitaly's debut as Steward, taking a plane to Russia and shooting his dad in revenge to see how bad the BBQ-people are. All we have to do is to watch them celebrate the death of a completely different person, unrelated to the remarks, to see that.

Edit:

So, Haas seems to become a team that merely acts as a vanity project for rich folks or people with support by some company.
Really, I wonder how long it'll take until some bored sheikh buys his way into an F1 cockpit.