*** The official Formula One 2015-16 off season thread ***

[Leroy902]

He does seem to have abit of a sore arse again Lewis...

spats said:

deadslow said:

It would be easier to drop LH. He is, after all, the one who always claims the team cheated him when he doesn't win and I doubt his petted lip routine goes down too well with the mechanics.

If the car remains in front, loads of drivers could win in it, and it would emphasise Merc's engineering expertise to throw the gansta out of the car and let Carlos/Max/Danny/Perez/Bottas show how its done.

Ain't gonna happen

Something tells me you aren't Lewis's number one fan are you?

I'm looking forward to seeing what Ferrhaasi can do and how the A team suddenly have a car with superior aero work. It would be nice to see Renault take over Lotus, saving all those jobs and hopefully showing up RB next year.

Also be interesting to see McHonda next year. What with Manor being Merc and Williams hyrid, and Ferrhaasi getting help they really will need to sort their issues out. Im sure they know what to do, bigger turbo, better heat management and not so much size zero next year!

[deadslow]

Leroy902 said:

He does seem to have abit of a sore arse again Lewis...

spats said:

deadslow said:

It would be easier to drop LH. He is, after all, the one who always claims the team cheated him when he doesn't win and I doubt his petted lip routine goes down too well with the mechanics.

If the car remains in front, loads of drivers could win in it, and it would emphasise Merc's engineering expertise to throw the gansta out of the car and let Carlos/Max/Danny/Perez/Bottas show how its done.

Ain't gonna happen

Something tells me you aren't Lewis's number one fan are you?

I'm looking forward to seeing what Ferrhaasi can do and how the A team suddenly have a car with superior aero work. It would be nice to see Renault take over Lotus, saving all those jobs and hopefully showing up RB next year.

Also be interesting to see McHonda next year. What with Manor being Merc and Williams hyrid, and Ferrhaasi getting help they really will need to sort their issues out. Im sure they know what to do, bigger turbo, better heat management and not so much size zero next year!

Just say it as I see it

[suffolk009]

Just read an interesting idea from Paul Hembrey. He suggests a fundamental shake-up of the calendar - that instead of chasing all around the world, crossing continents and then re-crossing them, they should be grouped more closely.

As I understand it he further proposes three separate championships in a season. Asia. Europe. Americas. Run six or seven races in championship. Build local interest, maybe even have a couple more races per annum.

I'm new to the idea so will have to see how I feel about it in a day or two.

[Vaud]

Vaud said:

So we have some bits still to close out:

• Red Bull engine supply (Renault + Demon Tweeks air filter and Milton Keynes remap?)
• Torro Rosso engine supply (Ferrari seems likely)
• Team Principal for Haas
• Renault - will they, won't they?

From my opening list, 3 down and one to go...

[Vaud]

suffolk009 said:

Just read an interesting idea from Paul Hembrey. He suggests a fundamental shake-up of the calendar - that instead of chasing all around the world, crossing continents and then re-crossing them, they should be grouped more closely.

As I understand it he further proposes three separate championships in a season. Asia. Europe. Americas. Run six or seven races in championship. Build local interest, maybe even have a couple more races per annum.

I'm new to the idea so will have to see how I feel about it in a day or two.

It's worth considering. Would tightly clustered local races erode attendees from each other?
3 championships and then a world champion decided as well? or not?

[suffolk009]

I'm not sure what Hembrey suggests for WDC and WCC. I think it would need to be more than just tot up the points.

On a cynical note, Bernie could probably get more money out of having three opening races, three final races and a big hulabaloo in Abu Dhabi, winner takes all race. Don't think that would be the way to go.

I just thought his idea was interesting and worthy of thought/discussion. Better than the NASCAR setup IMO.

[Vaud]

suffolk009 said:

I just thought his idea was interesting and worthy of thought/discussion. Better than the NASCAR setup IMO.

I agree. Having European, Americas and Pan-Asia champions as a sub-series is a great marketing angle.

[anonymous-user]

suffolk009 said:

Just read an interesting idea from Paul Hembrey. He suggests a fundamental shake-up of the calendar - that instead of chasing all around the world, crossing continents and then re-crossing them, they should be grouped more closely.

As I understand it he further proposes three separate championships in a season. Asia. Europe. Americas. Run six or seven races in championship. Build local interest, maybe even have a couple more races per annum.

I'm new to the idea so will have to see how I feel about it in a day or two.

The first part is stating the obvious, been suggested and debated before. The second is more unnecessary complication that won't make any difference to anything that matters.

[Vaud]

REALIST123 said:

The first part is stating the obvious, been suggested and debated before. The second is more unnecessary complication that won't make any difference to anything that matters.

Really? You don't think US viewing would rise if you have a 5-6 race NA series with a US Driver or two in the mix?

[suffolk009]

I've been watching a bit of NASCAR this year for the first time. It's interesting that's it's on (pretty much) every weekend and it tours around the country. The western states get very excited when they're all over in the west... and so on. It seems they mostly do the circuit twice.

I don't see why clustering the races would reduce track visitor numbers. How many people can actually afford to go to two races every year anyway?

[Vaud]

suffolk009 said:

I've been watching a bit of NASCAR this year for the first time. It's interesting that's it's on (pretty much) every weekend and it tours around the country. The western states get very excited when they're all over in the west... and so on. It seems they mostly do the circuit twice.

I don't see why clustering the races would reduce track visitor numbers. How many people can actually afford to go to two races every year anyway?

Well Texas / Mexico really hurt Texas this year.. California to Texas or Mexico isn't that far by US standards so you would need some smart scheduling...

Brazil
US - California
Argentina
US - Texas
US - Canada

Maybe ?

[The Moose]

I've just bought a pair of tickets for the NASCAR next year. Best seats available $140 per seat plus $75 for the pit pass.

You cant get into F1 for that!

[Vaud]

The Moose said:

I've just bought a pair of tickets for the NASCAR next year. Best seats available $140 per seat plus $75 for the pit pass.

You cant get into F1 for that!

Yes you can. GEneral Admission at Monza is about €85 on race day but generally I agree.

[Vaud]

Vaud said:

Vaud said:

So we have some bits still to close out:

• Red Bull engine supply (Renault + Demon Tweeks air filter and Milton Keynes remap?)
• Torro Rosso engine supply (Ferrari seems likely)
• Team Principal for Haas
• Renault - will they, won't they?

From my opening list, 3 down and one to go...

Still one to go.

Also I see that Pastor may not be driving... and maybe Kevin M in as a replacement. Maybe all just for show to pressure Venezuela to pay up of course.

[suffolk009]

I thought Gunther Steiner (sp?) was the team principle. I maybe wrong.

[Vaud]

suffolk009 said:

I thought Gunther Steiner (sp?) was the team principle. I maybe wrong.

My error.

I am mixing things up in my simple mind.

[Otispunkmeyer]

My Dad works in Baku

Apparently they are in the process of tearing up some roads and laying tarmac over old cobble streets (fo shame!) all so that they can form the circuit out of a perimeter of concrete blocks. So another race where the track is a bland concrete backdrop verging on the anonymous. And they tarmac'd over some history to do it. Great.

[Eric Mc]

Pity they couldn't race over the cobbles - like they used to.

[BigBen]

The Moose said:

I've just bought a pair of tickets for the NASCAR next year. Best seats available $140 per seat plus $75 for the pit pass.

You cant get into F1 for that!

I am pretty sure that F1 tickets in the US are about that much, certainly not a lot more.

[Vaud]

BigBen said:

I am pretty sure that F1 tickets in the US are about that much, certainly not a lot more.

3 day general admission is $225. Turn 15, $775.

Both prices from a site offering 2016 tickets which aren't actually on sale yet (IIRC) but sound about right.