The Official 2014 Singapore GP Thread ***Spoilers***

[Mermaid]

oyster said:

I just think it's all a bit childish.

Agree, just don't cheer for Rosberg.

[007 VXR]

oyster said:

Partly yes, but mainly because the crowd won't be full of boozed up Brits and their copycat colonial cousins.

wake up

[Tony2or4]

hora said:

Loved...the commentary 'he sounds quite camp when under pressure'

That's how I heard it, too, but when I fell about laughing, MrsT gave me an old-fashioned look and said "The word he used was calm, you berk!"

[Derek Smith]

oyster said:

Did anyone boo Fangio when he was taking Moss's car to win races?

There was considerable criticism in the press, if I remember rightly, to the extent that Moss went on TV to try and put a lid on it.

There's been booing before. There's been inappropriate cheering as well.

I remember Patrese in the lead at Monza going out with a suspension failure and the cheers in the stands being deafening.

I seem to remember booing of Vettel, but can't remember the details as there wasn't much fuss made of it.

When MSc came off at Silverstone, there was cheering. When it was realised he was badly injured, the low loader with the bent Ferrari drove past in respectful silence and everyone where I was stood and most applauded when the ambulance came past.

I think if everyone accepted that it wasn't drunken Brits with a hatred of Germans who were the sole source of the boos, and perhaps some were doing it for a laugh - a jolly jape - then it might all disappear.

[Derek Smith]

IainT said:

Interestingly his dad has been around at the races a lot more lately, I wonder how much that's helped him? He seems more susceptible to emotional stuff than some others which seems to have been an issue at times, at others maybe it's helped him move on quickly.

For me the interesting non-racing point next is how Nico deals with this blow - if it phases him or not.

NR seemed quite uptight during the interview on BBC. My wife reckoned he was near to tears. I rubbished that, as much as I dare, and she said that sometimes she can't believe I have four children. (Hmm)

I think this must have hurt him a fair bit. He'll have a team behind him, and one to deal with his brain I suppose, but it still means he'll be working to rectify something that LH has in the bag at the moment.

We had a chat from a sports psychologist at a rugby club and he reckoned that 90% of winning was in the mind. The coach reckoned that the other 90% is two good props. It all has to be going right for them to be at their best.

Whatever, the season is nicely poised at the moment. Whoever you support, Sunday's race has set it up perfectly.

Wolff has just come out and said that the Merc reliability is unacceptable. Well, thanks for that, Toto.

[Esseesse]

[quote=Derek Smith
Wolff has just come out and said that the Merc reliability is unacceptable. Well, thanks for that, Toto.


[/quote]

He likes saying that things are unacceptable.

[LDN]

oyster said:

Agent Orange said:

oyster said:

I'll bet we don't hear a single boo at the japanese GP - why do you think that is?

Because the Japanese fans are extremely polite?

Partly yes, but mainly because the crowd won't be full of boozed up Brits and their copycat colonial cousins.


I just think it's all a bit childish.

Did anyone boo Fangio when he was taking Moss's car to win races?

I think that's very naive; on a number of levels... the most obvious being, since when do our 'colonial cousins' follow what we do!? Sports wise, especially. As well, as has been said, at Monza, it was the Italians booing Rosberg.

[Agent Orange]

oyster said:

Partly yes, but mainly because the crowd won't be full of boozed up Brits and their copycat colonial cousins.

So a few touring Brits drowned out the entire tifosi at Monza? I haven't been for a few years but I'd find that hard to believe.

[foreverdriving]

slipstream 1985 said:

There's no japanese word for "boo"????

Boring answer: Historically, there's no concept of 'booing' in Japanese culture and thus no reason for the word to exist. However, since becoming Westernised and exposed to foreigners booing at events, they needed to create such a word… and they simply stole "booing" from us. Damn thieves BOOOOOO.

[PhillipM]

Derek Smith said:

My wife reckoned he was near to tears.

Well, I can imagine he was, he was definately crying when he got out of the car in the garage. Mind, given he'd probably just realised he'd lost the championship lead through no fault of his own, can't really blame him, I think most people would be upset at that!

[John D.]

IainT said:

Derek Smith said:

IainT said:

The laps Lewis did after the SC pulled in were utterly mesmerising.

Indeed. Impressive.

He knew what he had to do and did so without fuss. He's improved no end of late. I wonder if it is the different management - and I say this as a McLaren fan.

Interestingly his dad has been around at the races a lot more lately, I wonder how much that's helped him? He seems more susceptible to emotional stuff than some others which seems to have been an issue at times, at others maybe it's helped him move on quickly.

For me the interesting non-racing point next is how Nico deals with this blow - if it phases him or not.

I think his relationship with his dad has a big impact on his racing. Seems no coincidence that he is taking a more prominent role (on race coverage at least).

[Flipatron]

PhillipM said:

he'd probably just realised he'd lost the championship lead through no fault of his own, can't really blame him

Funny that, he managed to gain the lead of the championship in exactly the same way.

[toppstuff]

Rosberg to leave Mercedes at the end of the season.

Hamilton is faster and the sponsors like him. He is like catnip to the marketing department. Lauda is a big fan too.

Rosberg simply isn't as fast as Hamilton given the same car. I think he could move to McLaren maybe?

Just a thought.

[Scuffers]

Ignoring he's only just signed a new contract.

[toppstuff]

Scuffers said:

Ignoring he's only just signed a new contract.

Contracts mean little in this game.

If things go Hamiltons way in the next 2-3 races and he builds up a lead, then team orders will kick in and Nico is destined to be the wingman. After a while, its going to bug the hell out of him.

I don't think Nico has the temperament to be a number 2 anymore. I think he feels he has evolved and deserves a Number 1 spot in a team.

[Scuffers]

toppstuff said:

Contracts mean little in this game.

If things go Hamiltons way in the next 2-3 races and he builds up a lead, then team orders will kick in and Nico is destined to be the wingman. After a while, its going to bug the hell out of him.

I don't think Nico has the temperament to be a number 2 anymore. I think he feels he has evolved and deserves a Number 1 spot in a team.

Even if your right, just where will he go?

[toppstuff]

Scuffers said:

toppstuff said:

Contracts mean little in this game.

If things go Hamiltons way in the next 2-3 races and he builds up a lead, then team orders will kick in and Nico is destined to be the wingman. After a while, its going to bug the hell out of him.

I don't think Nico has the temperament to be a number 2 anymore. I think he feels he has evolved and deserves a Number 1 spot in a team.

Even if your right, just where will he go?

Its unlikely, but not impossible IMO. Most likely outcome if the WDC goes to Hamilton is that he will roll the dice and try again with MB next year.

But you never know. Only likely place is Ferrari or Mclaren IMO.

[007 VXR]

toppstuff said:

Its unlikely, but not impossible IMO. Most likely outcome if the WDC goes to Hamilton is that he will roll the dice and try again with MB next year.

But you never know. Only likely place is Ferrari or Mclaren IMO.

i cant see them both being at Merc next year. Imho

[Derek Smith]

The contract argument is spurious. All it means is that if he is kicked out for next season he gets financial compensation.

I can't see him going though. His unpopularity, even with Germans, is a problem but Merc need a German, even half German, driver to keep the board meetings calm. The unions want another Schumacher. So unless they can secure Vettel - hardly Mr Popular, but more so than NR - he'll stay. He's too good a driver to dump. Whilst I think LH has the edge, it is a damn close run thing.

Mind you, Vettel and LH in the same team is hardly likely to make things calmer.

Next season, with the other teams closer to Merc, maybe even equal, is likely to be even better than this year. Now there's a thought.

[Jasandjules]

I can't see Nico wanting to leave a team with a car like that...

Of course I am rather thinking Lewis is in the same boat. Unless a team can convince him their car will be far better next year....