1st Test 2017

[London424]

tommunster10 said:

London424 said:

tommunster10 said:

I was ridiculed on some other threads by suggesting Williams would be worth watching due to the Bottas / Merc deal. So far I think even though early days it's looking like a good car, I am confident I could be proved right.
All it would take is access to some of Merc data or better customer Merc engine etc.

Now now...you were ridiculed saying that Williams would come second due to Lance Stroll and his Dads millions. I've even got a bet with you giving you Williams in the Top 3.

Nope I said actually that Merc possibly will help Williams as part of the Bottas deal firstly and secondly yes Stroll's Daddy stuffing 20 mill into the team won't hurt.

Williams top 3 team yes... so far even though early..they are.

Ahead of which of the following Merc, Ferrari or Redbull?

[anonymous-user]

tommunster10 said:

London424 said:

tommunster10 said:

I was ridiculed on some other threads by suggesting Williams would be worth watching due to the Bottas / Merc deal. So far I think even though early days it's looking like a good car, I am confident I could be proved right.
All it would take is access to some of Merc data or better customer Merc engine etc.

Now now...you were ridiculed saying that Williams would come second due to Lance Stroll and his Dads millions. I've even got a bet with you giving you Williams in the Top 3.

Nope I said actually that Merc possibly will help Williams as part of the Bottas deal firstly and secondly yes Stroll's Daddy stuffing 20 mill into the team won't hurt.

Williams top 3 team yes... so far even though early..they are.

Only a mug would make predictions based on the very first days testing. Carry on.

[patmahe]

Mclaren so far look like they are in for a tough 2017, I'd imagine they will drop Honda asap (end of 2017?) unless they can pull something out of the bag this year, at the moment the disastrous Mclaren Peugeot days must be looking preferable.

With Ron gone and the Honda deal seen as his baby maybe the door might open for McLaren and Mercedes to work together again? But to be honest ANY other engine looks preferable at this stage.

[MissChief]

patmahe said:

Mclaren so far look like they are in for a tough 2017, I'd imagine they will drop Honda asap (end of 2017?) unless they can pull something out of the bag this year, at the moment the disastrous Mclaren Peugeot days must be looking preferable.

With Ron gone and the Honda deal seen as his baby maybe the door might open for McLaren and Mercedes to work together again? But to be honest ANY other engine looks preferable at this stage.

It's true though that if you want to be successful then you need a works engine deal. That's why McL went with Honda. It just appears that Honda are still st.

Not sure how long the Honda deal was originally but surely there has to be performance and reliability clauses of some sort built into a contract like that with (probably) severe financial penalties and perhaps even a break clause in there somewhere?

I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if there was some contact between McLaren and VAG, Ford, BMW and perhaps TATA group sometime soon, if it hasn't happened already. VAG I can see going with Red Bull in some way, perhaps even buying Torro Rosso. Ford might be interested again now they're getting the money back in too. BMW don't seem all that interested in motorsport at the moment. Most of the BMW's running round in GT type series are privateers with perhaps some factory help.

[Vocal Minority]

McLaren are in bother certainly.

Once again, no conclusions, but Ferrari are definitely looking at the races this year, especially compared to last

[anonymous-user]

Hmmm. Seems Sauber are still short of money, signing Calderon as 'development driver'. Presumably took a few quid less than Renault.

[JNW1]

REALIST123 said:

Only a mug would make predictions based on the very first days testing.

Very true but initial signs are that Ferrari have some decent pace and might even be able to keep the Mercs in sight! For me, though, it's Hamilton's title to lose this year.....

[BoRED S2upid]

JNW1 said:

Very true but initial signs are that Ferrari have some decent pace and might even be able to keep the Mercs in sight! For me, though, it's Hamilton's title to lose this year.....

I agree and it's where my money is. I just hope Vetel or Kimi can push him close and Merc aren't running at 8/10ths at the moment.

[TheInternet]

REALIST123 said:

Only a mug would make predictions based on the very first days testing. Carry on.

How soon can I place an ill-judged bet that is shown to be foolish in the extreme by the end of Q3 in Melbourne?

[tommunster10]

REALIST123 said:

tommunster10 said:

London424 said:

tommunster10 said:

I was ridiculed on some other threads by suggesting Williams would be worth watching due to the Bottas / Merc deal. So far I think even though early days it's looking like a good car, I am confident I could be proved right.
All it would take is access to some of Merc data or better customer Merc engine etc.

Now now...you were ridiculed saying that Williams would come second due to Lance Stroll and his Dads millions. I've even got a bet with you giving you Williams in the Top 3.

Nope I said actually that Merc possibly will help Williams as part of the Bottas deal firstly and secondly yes Stroll's Daddy stuffing 20 mill into the team won't hurt.

Williams top 3 team yes... so far even though early..they are.

Only a mug would make predictions based on the very first days testing. Carry on.

Only a mug would not read everything before making a crass comment. Carry on...

I've been saying this since Bottas left for Merc.... all Merc F1 need to do is give Williams a closer spec engine to theirs and they could be top 3 ahead of RBR...
All speculation, but it is my freedom to speculate, I don't work for anyone in F1 so I am free to say what i like pretty much.
We shall see, I can't wait personally to see Massa doing well in 2017, Stroll will struggle though.

[Vocal Minority]

tommunster10 said:

All speculation, but it is my freedom to speculate, I don't work for anyone in F1 so I am free to say what i like pretty much.

Of course you. No one has said you aren't. They've just disagreed is all.

[tommunster10]

Vocal Minority said:

tommunster10 said:

All speculation, but it is my freedom to speculate, I don't work for anyone in F1 so I am free to say what i like pretty much.

Of course you. No one has said you aren't. They've just disagreed is all.

I think it would be nice to have Williams up there with the Merc / Ferrari / RBR, no reason it can't happen if Williams are the 2nd best team with a Merc engine.
I honestly don't think daring to suggest Williams could gain out of helping Merc out with Bottas is in anyway beyond the realms of possibility. Even more so when Claire is mentored by Toto.
Factory teams don't want a customer team beating them, but they won't mind if Williams are close.
If nothing else it's getting me excited by seeing how Williams fare this year, its going to be Merc / Lewis clean up but without the Nico needle to spice it up... Bottas fits the dull No2 driver with absolute aplomb.

[London424]

tommunster10 said:

REALIST123 said:

tommunster10 said:

London424 said:

tommunster10 said:

I was ridiculed on some other threads by suggesting Williams would be worth watching due to the Bottas / Merc deal. So far I think even though early days it's looking like a good car, I am confident I could be proved right.
All it would take is access to some of Merc data or better customer Merc engine etc.

Now now...you were ridiculed saying that Williams would come second due to Lance Stroll and his Dads millions. I've even got a bet with you giving you Williams in the Top 3.

Nope I said actually that Merc possibly will help Williams as part of the Bottas deal firstly and secondly yes Stroll's Daddy stuffing 20 mill into the team won't hurt.

Williams top 3 team yes... so far even though early..they are.

Only a mug would make predictions based on the very first days testing. Carry on.

Only a mug would not read everything before making a crass comment. Carry on...

I've been saying this since Bottas left for Merc.... all Merc F1 need to do is give Williams a closer spec engine to theirs and they could be top 3 ahead of RBR...
All speculation, but it is my freedom to speculate, I don't work for anyone in F1 so I am free to say what i like pretty much.
We shall see, I can't wait personally to see Massa doing well in 2017, Stroll will struggle though.

And as has been said many times...they have the exact same spec engine as Merc!! They have the same engine, with the same engine modes, with the same restrictions on how many miles they can use each mode for and complete freedom about when they use the modes!

[tommunster10]

London424 said:

tommunster10 said:

REALIST123 said:

tommunster10 said:

London424 said:

tommunster10 said:

I was ridiculed on some other threads by suggesting Williams would be worth watching due to the Bottas / Merc deal. So far I think even though early days it's looking like a good car, I am confident I could be proved right.
All it would take is access to some of Merc data or better customer Merc engine etc.

Now now...you were ridiculed saying that Williams would come second due to Lance Stroll and his Dads millions. I've even got a bet with you giving you Williams in the Top 3.

Nope I said actually that Merc possibly will help Williams as part of the Bottas deal firstly and secondly yes Stroll's Daddy stuffing 20 mill into the team won't hurt.

Williams top 3 team yes... so far even though early..they are.

Only a mug would make predictions based on the very first days testing. Carry on.

Only a mug would not read everything before making a crass comment. Carry on...

I've been saying this since Bottas left for Merc.... all Merc F1 need to do is give Williams a closer spec engine to theirs and they could be top 3 ahead of RBR...
All speculation, but it is my freedom to speculate, I don't work for anyone in F1 so I am free to say what i like pretty much.
We shall see, I can't wait personally to see Massa doing well in 2017, Stroll will struggle though.

And as has been said many times...they have the exact same spec engine as Merc!! They have the same engine, with the same engine modes, with the same restrictions on how many miles they can use each mode for and complete freedom about when they use the modes!

When last season? 2016? Really?

Is that why when they had engine troubles they reduced the output but no one else needed to? I follow MotoGP at least they re honest with how the factory teams are compared to customer / satellite teams.

[London424]

tommunster10 said:

London424 said:

tommunster10 said:

REALIST123 said:

tommunster10 said:

London424 said:

tommunster10 said:

I was ridiculed on some other threads by suggesting Williams would be worth watching due to the Bottas / Merc deal. So far I think even though early days it's looking like a good car, I am confident I could be proved right.
All it would take is access to some of Merc data or better customer Merc engine etc.

Now now...you were ridiculed saying that Williams would come second due to Lance Stroll and his Dads millions. I've even got a bet with you giving you Williams in the Top 3.

Nope I said actually that Merc possibly will help Williams as part of the Bottas deal firstly and secondly yes Stroll's Daddy stuffing 20 mill into the team won't hurt.

Williams top 3 team yes... so far even though early..they are.

Only a mug would make predictions based on the very first days testing. Carry on.

Only a mug would not read everything before making a crass comment. Carry on...

I've been saying this since Bottas left for Merc.... all Merc F1 need to do is give Williams a closer spec engine to theirs and they could be top 3 ahead of RBR...
All speculation, but it is my freedom to speculate, I don't work for anyone in F1 so I am free to say what i like pretty much.
We shall see, I can't wait personally to see Massa doing well in 2017, Stroll will struggle though.

And as has been said many times...they have the exact same spec engine as Merc!! They have the same engine, with the same engine modes, with the same restrictions on how many miles they can use each mode for and complete freedom about when they use the modes!

When last season? 2016? Really?

Is that why when they had engine troubles they reduced the output but no one else needed to? I follow MotoGP at least they re honest with how the factory teams are compared to customer / satellite teams.

Every season!

I posted this before but you apparently didn't read it.

https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2016/04/insight-how...

[London424]

Full race sim by Merc this afternoon. Very impressive stuff.

[VolvoT5]

Honda might have been st these last 2 years (and quite possibly this year too) but I don't think McLaren have been up to the same standard as the top teams in terms of their chassis and all around team work.

Interesting at the moment that Raikkonen has matched Hamilton's 120.9 while using the hard tyre compound. Do Ferrari have genuine pace or are Merc taking it comparatively easy at this stage?

Edited by VolvoT5 on Tuesday 28th February 15:08

[JNW1]

BoRED S2upid said:

JNW1 said:

Very true but initial signs are that Ferrari have some decent pace and might even be able to keep the Mercs in sight! For me, though, it's Hamilton's title to lose this year.....

I agree and it's where my money is. I just hope Vetel or Kimi can push him close and Merc aren't running at 8/10ths at the moment.

I very much doubt the Mercs are running at 10/10ths at the moment; they seem to be more concentrating on making sure they've got reliability and both Hamilton and Bottas appear to have done plenty of laps without any problems. If they wanted to show their hand on outright pace I daresay they'd go at least a few tenths a lap quicker and I fear it's all looking a bit ominous for the opposition - appears Mercedes already have both speed and reliability which is a nice foundation on which to build. I suppose there's no great surprise there, the hope has got to be that at least one of the other teams will be able to take the fight to them; however, if they can't Hamilton could do a Mansell '92 and be world champion by late summer!

[HustleRussell]

VolvoT5 said:

Raikkonen has matched Hamilton's 120.9 while using the hard tyre compound. Do Ferrari have genuine pace or are Merc taking it comparatively easy at this stage?

Mercedes are certainly taking it easy but I hope both are true.

[NRS]

VolvoT5 said:

Honda might have been st these last 2 years (and quite possibly this year too) but I don't think McLaren have been up to the same standard as the top teams in terms of their chassis and all around team work.

Probably not, but to be honest they don't get the testing time to even know what their stuff does to improve it. Seems all the effort goes into just getting the car to work. Not to mention even if they did know ways to improve they have to make up for the lack of speed from the engine by presumably removing downforce.