The Official 2016 Russian Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**

[Vaud]

Derek Smith said:

I'm not one for conspiracy theories either, especially the one when Mansell suggested that he was getting lower powered engines compared to Piquet. As everyone in the know said: he was a moaner. Typical Brum, whining instead of getting on with it.

Then he got into the spare car, set up for Piquet and knocked a considerable time off the lap time.

Then Honda said that they designed engine power output to suit the drivers, their thinking obviously that Mansell drove faster with lower power.

So a German car company, suffering a little, despite high sales, with union reps on the board, might well be getting a little restless with a black English bloke winning. He's only half black of course, but Rosberg's only half German.

That said, it is highly unlikely. The only way any team would risk this was if they had a considerable gap between themselves and the opposition. And how likely is that?

Not at all likely in modern F1.

And with respect Derek, I think you demean your considerable writing skills and positive contribution to PH with posts like this. Most unlike you.

[AWRacing]

dr_gn said:

Looks like Rosberg might be heading for the least relevant F1 title in history: All meaningful competition tied up in uncompetitive cars, the team-mate who would - all things equal - thrash him, seemingly lumbered with bad luck, and a points system that makes a comeback very difficult. All with a background of a sport in crisis and a pale shadow of what it once was.

Oh well.

Similar to the past 2 seasons then...

[Dr Z]

If we're entertaining a conspiracy, I'd say some of Rosberg's problems last season were a lot more 'obvious' in that regard. Contamination of the steering column fluid? Throttle pedal sticking at the decisive must-win GP? Silly stuff like that is more suspicious.

I don't have any reason to believe that or indeed Hamilton's problems this time are a result of favoritism by Mercedes. I just don't see why Paddy/Toto come out bending over backwards to apologise publicly for Hamilton's problems. They've given him two Championships for crying out loud. It is him who needs to support the team and keep the mood up at this time. Are Ferrari apologising to Vettel? If anything I get the feeling that Merc really do go beyond the call of duty to keep Hamilton happy.

I wonder how the likes of Jim Clark got on when his car was breaking down if he's not winning!

[dr_gn]

Derek Smith said:

He's only half black of course, but Rosberg's only half German.

Spot-on Derek! Yes, it must have been some board meeting where that was discussed.

Jeez, even by PH standards, that comment must be somewhere near the bottom of the barrel.

[Pints]

Vaud said:

Not at all likely in modern F1.

And with respect Derek, I think you demean your considerable writing skills and positive contribution to PH with posts like this. Most unlike you.

Well said.
Very disappointing.

[dr_gn]

AWRacing said:

dr_gn said:

Looks like Rosberg might be heading for the least relevant F1 title in history: All meaningful competition tied up in uncompetitive cars, the team-mate who would - all things equal - thrash him, seemingly lumbered with bad luck, and a points system that makes a comeback very difficult. All with a background of a sport in crisis and a pale shadow of what it once was.

Oh well.

Y
Similar to the past 2 seasons then...

The only slight compensation being that the better driver probably won those two, but yes.

[Flooble]

s3fella said:

Since they have swapped pit crews, maybe it was the pit crew all along that won those championships?

Absolutely, it seems people have overlooked that the mechanics have been swapped around. So Hamilton is now lumbered with the crew who managed to break Rosberg's throttle pedal, contaminate his steering fluid and have that weird oil in water leak (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2015/09/mercedes-rosberg-problem-identified-hopeful-on-hamilton-engine-reliability/)

That last failure was suspiciously similar - perhaps someone in the crew can't read the instructions?

[Derek Smith]

deadslow said:

wow, sad that you are reducing F1 to this

Jonesy23 said:

Some people on here really do come out with some utter with their conspiracy theories.

Even suggesting it makes you look like an utter idiot.

Vaud said:

And with respect Derek, I think you demean your considerable writing skills and positive contribution to PH with posts like this. Most unlike you.

dr_gn said:

Jeez, even by PH standards, that comment must be somewhere near the bottom of the barrel.

Jeez indeed.

It's not often I've been too subtle.

I'll put in in simpler, more direct terms, this time without trying to make it a bit of fun:

One driver has been favoured in the past when people 'in the know' derided it. There is nothing to suggest it could not happen again.

Perhaps I should have said I don't believe that Merc are guilty of doing so.

Just like everyone else I have no idea whether Merc are favouring one driver above the other. However, to dismiss the possibility without accepting that it had happened in the past and could happen again is wishful thinking.

I gave some reasons that it might happen although a bit tongue in cheek.

It's a forum. It should be fun. I'd appreciate it you read my posts with care. I normally write them with care.

Jeez, lighten up a bit.

[anonymous-user]

Dr Z said:

If we're entertaining a conspiracy, I'd say some of Rosberg's problems last season were a lot more 'obvious' in that regard. Contamination of the steering column fluid? Throttle pedal sticking at the decisive must-win GP? Silly stuff like that is more suspicious.

I don't have any reason to believe that or indeed Hamilton's problems this time are a result of favoritism by Mercedes. I just don't see why Paddy/Toto come out bending over backwards to apologise publicly for Hamilton's problems. They've given him two Championships for crying out loud. It is him who needs to support the team and keep the mood up at this time. Are Ferrari apologising to Vettel? If anything I get the feeling that Merc really do go beyond the call of duty to keep Hamilton happy.

I wonder how the likes of Jim Clark got on when his car was breaking down if he's not winning!

Exactly. As has been said before there are other teams that will offer Lewis a drive if he thinks Mercedes isn't good enough.

[MiniMan64]

Bloody hell.

Serious shortage of tinfoil in this thread.

[Sam All]

The race has not started yet

[swisstoni]

suffolk009 said:

Otispunkmeyer said:

Just watching Ted and his note book. Christ on a bike what a buffoon.

He is particularly bad at ending his interviews/chats.

I'm convinced he's on some social disorder spectrum.

[whatxd]

Derek Smith said:

So a German car company, suffering a little, despite high sales, with union reps on the board, might well be getting a little restless with a black English bloke winning. He's only half black of course, but Rosberg's only half German.

That said, it is highly unlikely. The only way any team would risk this was if they had a considerable gap between themselves and the opposition. And how likely is that?

GTFO. This is by far the most ridiculous conspiracy theory I've read on an internet forum in quite some time. It's even worse than the drivel they conjure up on the Bluemoon forum. At least you used the word unlikely in your following sentence to numb it down a bit.

Derek Smith said:

Just like everyone else I have no idea whether Merc are favouring one driver above the other. However, to dismiss the possibility without accepting that it had happened in the past and could happen again is wishful thinking.

Mercedes could well be favouring one driver over the other but I find it very had to believe that a multi-billion, multi-national company would've held a discussion about tampering with Hamilton's car based on the colour of his skin.

[ukaskew]

dr_gn said:

the team-mate who would - all things equal - thrash him

Do the numbers really suggest this is actually the case, all things being equal? The performance difference between them seems to be incredibly small. Hamilton seems to have the edge and would appear to do so in terms of racecraft, but Rosberg is often genuinely quicker in particular sectors when they are evenly matched (i.e. Q3).

I think we're at a point in F1 when the driver is less relevant than ever. It's near impossible to stand out in a slower car these days. Unusual results are by far the exception to the rule...Vettel 1st at Monza in 2008, Fisichella 2nd at Spa in 2009, Bianchi 9th at Monaco in 2014?

Vandoorne even mentioned just recently that an F1 car is less physically demanding to drive than the Super Formula cars he races in Japan.

Edited by ukaskew on Sunday 1st May 10:25

[Derek Smith]

whatxd said:

Derek Smith said:

So a German car company, suffering a little, despite high sales, with union reps on the board, might well be getting a little restless with a black English bloke winning. He's only half black of course, but Rosberg's only half German.

That said, it is highly unlikely. The only way any team would risk this was if they had a considerable gap between themselves and the opposition. And how likely is that?

This is by far the most ridiculous conspiracy theory I've read on an internet forum in quite some time. It's even worse than the drivel they conjure up on the Bluemoon forum. At least you used the word unlikely in your following sentence to numb it down a bit.

Derek Smith said:

Just like everyone else I have no idea whether Merc are favouring one driver above the other. However, to dismiss the possibility without accepting that it had happened in the past and could happen again is wishful thinking.

Mercedes could well be favouring one driver over the other but I find it very had to believe that a multi-billion, multi-national company would've held a discussion about tampering with Hamilton's car based on the colour of his skin.

I've not suggested that the team is tampering with any car. Read my posts.

I like Wolff. He is something of a breath of fresh air to the pitlane, but it is easy to be nice when you've got the best car and two excellent drivers.

You say, after critcising me for suggesting it, that Merc could be favouring one driver over the other. So we agree there: it is a possibility.

So what could have caused this? I've suggested reasons. You might think that everyone in the pitlane is very nice and sweet but evidence suggests otherwise. Pressure comes from all directions. One only has to look at Red Bull. Commercial interests are paramount, even for the enthusiasts who run team.

As for colour of the skin: that is not what I said. LH calls himself black. Rosberg calls himself German. Both, no doubt, do it for their own reasons. I was comparing them although I accept there was a certain degree of criticism of Rosberg in it.

However, there was a great deal of pressure on Merc to pick a German driver in the past, hence Schumacher. I have no reason to suspect this is continuing other than it has happened before.

So:

I've not suggested it is a conspiracy.

I've not suggested it is dislike of LH because of his racial make-up.

I've not suggested that LH's car was tampered with.

I have suggested that Merc might well favour one driver over the other, which you've agreed is a possibility.

I don't know how much you know of how teams work in F1 but favouring a driver is a distinct advantage for the chosen one as a 1% advantage is massive. I've seen it over the years and years I've followed the sport. And you have said that it is a possibility with Merc.

So just in case you missed it the first time:

I've not suggested it is a conspiracy.

I've not suggested it is dislike of LH becaue of his racial make-up.

I've not suggested that LH's car was tampered with.

I have suggested that Merc might well favour one driver over the other, which you've agreed is a possibility.

But by all means take me to task for something I have said. But I'd prefer it being done politely.

[mollytherocker]

Enjoying the conspiracies guys.

They sound better than the engines.

[hairyben]

Derek Smith said:

But by all means take me to task for something I have said. But I'd prefer it being done politely.

Everything you said was perfect logical but emotion overrides logic with "conspiracy theories". It fascinates me how people get so angry and confused but it's a subject for another thread.

The mistake you made was by being one of the more respected and levelheaded posters on here, by so much as touching on "conspiracy talk" you upset peoples baseline that much more than one of the regular loonies would.

[oobster]

swisstoni said:

suffolk009 said:

Otispunkmeyer said:

Just watching Ted and his note book. Christ on a bike what a buffoon.

He is particularly bad at ending his interviews/chats.

I'm convinced he's on some social disorder spectrum.

I quite like Ted, but good shout on the social disorder spectrum

[hairyben]

"rosberg has looked dominant all weekend? lazenby talks some st

[hairyben]

oobster said:

I quite like Ted, but good shout on the social disorder spectrum

Ted's a puppy dog, how can anyone not like him.

It's very much a modern fad way of broadcasting where the presenter, instead of being an expert in his field educating the audience, is someone of low knowledge that we the audience go on journey of learning with. Normally this style can annoy me somewhat but it doesn't with Ted; also, he's reporting on things rather than commentating so much.