**** Abu Dhabi Grand Prix **** (contains spoilers)

[9.3]

bubney72 said:

Seeing as this is a forum about cars I'd like to congratulate Aldo Costa on his designing the brilliant Mercedes W05. His first championship winning car since the 2008 Ferrari. Ever since he left, their cars have gone backwards, and Mercedes have done the opposite since he joined.

Spot on, a brilliant man.

[revrange]

9.3 said:

Spot on, a brilliant man.

And that is the problem at Ferrari, someone has to carry to can and be fired, even when they are a talented engineer and the problems lay elsewhere

[JonRB]

revrange said:

And that is the problem at Ferrari, someone has to carry to can and be fired, even when they are a talented engineer and the problems lay elsewhere

That's something that really came out in that John Barnard programme on Sky last night; the sheer politics of it all at Ferrari.

[Gary C]

JonRB said:

revrange said:

And that is the problem at Ferrari, someone has to carry to can and be fired, even when they are a talented engineer and the problems lay elsewhere

That's something that really came out in that John Barnard programme on Sky last night; the sheer politics of it all at Ferrari.

'Twas always so, especially under the old man I believe.

[anonymous-user]

9.3 said:

bubney72 said:

Seeing as this is a forum about cars I'd like to congratulate Aldo Costa on his designing the brilliant Mercedes W05. His first championship winning car since the 2008 Ferrari. Ever since he left, their cars have gone backwards, and Mercedes have done the opposite since he joined.

Spot on, a brilliant man.

Yes, amazing how 1 man can do that all on his own....

[angrymoby]

greygoose said:

EskimoArapaho said:

Hungrymc said:

But credit to both men today, Nico for his conduct after the race, and Lewis for taking a very well deserved championship.

Agreed. It's interesting to contrast the conduct of both racers today with those of their respective supporters here. Nico Rosberg is certainly more of a gentleman than some of his fans on PH.

I think you could apply that to both sets of fans, the delight at NR's mechanical troubles was pretty sad despite some people believing it is karma.

tbh I don't think they're Nico 'fans' as such ...just anti-Hamilton & they're conspicuous by their absence, not only in this thread but also seemed to disappear when it was looking more & more likely that Hamilton was going to win the WDC

but i'd like to echo what a lot of others have posted re: Nico ...great to see him more than gracious in defeat & salvaging a lot of respect & hopefully he'll come back stronger & push Hamilton even harder next season

Edited by angrymoby on Monday 24th November 09:37

Edited by angrymoby on Monday 24th November 09:43

[jingars]

Does anyone know the reason for the delay in the BBC making the red button forum programme available on iPlayer?

[Xpuffin]

Sway said:

Fire99 said:

I felt a touch sorry for Nico Rosberg. I have my concerns regarding his conduct at times during the year but he was blighted with what seemed a 'friday afternoon' car for the the decider race and I get the feeling this may have been the best chance he's likely to get to win the title. (obviously I could be wrong on that one)

That's a little off in my opinion.

Merc gave them both systems that were on their 3rd race. The level of testing and (especially for this race) checking would have been immense.

However, these are very complex systems, working in a massively challenging environment.

The problem is, a critical, very integrated component failed. This led to a nearly complete systemic failure. Hence the issues not only with reduced power, but throttle and braking.

The FMEA guys would have done the numbers - these things are always possible, at any time.

The fact it happened when it did isn't even bad luck - it's just statistics.

It's Nicos fault for hiring the same guy Vettel used to nobble Riccardos car

[JonRB]

Blimey. For once the rumours were true...

Ferrari: F1 team replaces team principal Marco Mattiacci

[Bonefish Blues]

Just what you need, a comms. specialist...

[hornetrider]

Bonefish Blues said:

Just what you need, a comms. specialist...

From a tobacco firm.

[Europa1]

JonRB said:

Blimey. For once the rumours were true...

Ferrari: F1 team replaces team principal Marco Mattiacci

So he is ex-Philip Morris and "He has also represented all Formula 1 sponsors on the F1 commission since 2010." This despite the fact that tobacco advertising is banned in F1.

There are times with F1 when I really do feel like a well dessed hare is inviting me down a rabbit hole...

[Lost soul]

jingars said:

Does anyone know the reason for the delay in the BBC making the red button forum programme available on iPlayer?

EJ getting a custard pie in the face was the highlight of the forum yesterday

[Bonefish Blues]

Seb, how's the grass looking over there?

ETA
I know we've ripped the proverbial out of FA for his being in limbo, but tbh even that's preferable, surely?

Edited by Bonefish Blues on Monday 24th November 12:56

[Dr Z]

This race had the potential to be a classic, but alas it petered out from a championship perspective. But it was still an exciting race as Massa was catching the race leader but then ran out of tyre at the end. Congrats to Lewis, although got out qualified this year, he has been the better racer on Sundays. 'Better in the dog fight' as Jody Scheckter put it this morning on BBC. It was very sad to see Nico being lapped, nursing the stricken W05. Deserved better than that. However, his stock can only rise, having beaten Schumacher in 3 seasons together and now running Hamilton so close to the title.

Hope Merc can work on the reliability, and hope Williams and Red Bull can mix it with them next year with McLaren there or thereabouts. Ideally, I'd like to see a 6-way fight to the title next year: Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Alonso, Massa and Bottas!


Roll on 2015!

[smithyithy]

I've been thinking after looking at the points at the end of the season and the way the 'pairs' of drivers were placed against each other, and wondering if the '3 car teams' idea would actually be a good thing.

[Europa1]

In amongst all the plaudits for Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and the way they conducted themselves yesterday, I'd say huge congrats also to the Mercedes pit crew for performing flawlessly in the pitstops on both cars under huge pressure.

[VladD]

Dr Z said:

Hope Merc can work on the reliability, and hope Williams and Red Bull can mix it with them next year with McLaren there or thereabouts. Ideally, I'd like to see a 6-way fight to the title next year: Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Alonso, Massa and Bottas!


Roll on 2015!

I'm hoping we get Alonso paired with JB in a decent McLaren. Everybody will expect Alonso to trounce JB, but then they expected Lewis to do that to JB in 2010. They'd make a great partnership as I think they already have big respect for each other.

[suffolk009]

VladD said:

I'm hoping we get Alonso paired with JB in a decent McLaren. Everybody will expect Alonso to trounce JB, but then they expected Lewis to do that to JB in 2010. They'd make a great partnership as I think they already have big respect for each other.

Since it appears the uppity Spaniard is heading to McLaren, I couldn't agree more.

[speedking31]

Alonso didn't look so keen in the press conference (link posted above.) Maybe because he knows JB would give him a good run for his money.