1st Test 2017

[Vocal Minority]

I will give most the benefit of the doubt....but Stroll has a lot to do. Hopefully he'll get more composure in a crowd

Anyway - Hamilton's third stint of a GP simulation, so at a guesstimate it is the last third or so of a tank on board with soft tyres

OUT; 1m22.216s; 1m22.720s; 1m22.909s; 1m23.538s; 1m23.392s; 1m23.218s; 1m24.635s; 1m23.137s; 1m23.438s; 1m23.252s; 1m23.733s; 1m23.778s; 1m23.727s; 1m23.679s; 1m23.682s; 1m23.791s; 1m23.602s; 1m23.822s; 1m24.078s; 1m24.027s; 1m24.337s; 1m24.837s; IN.

Consistent and a bit up on Bottas yesterday, though he stayed on mediums.

Little bit of drop off after lap 20 - presumably tyres

[FourWheelDrift]

Ferrari power units seem to have a lifespan of 136 laps.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

I just think Mercedes are sandbagging. Ferrari had a good test last year (tests I mean) and it came to nowt.

The Renault engine (apparently) is strong this year - let's see what red bull have to offer.

Oh and t bars. Get rid imo

[Arklight]

That didnt take long did it

https://hasstrollcrashedyet.com/

[FourWheelDrift]

Arklight said:

That didnt take long did it

https://hasstrollcrashedyet.com/

Already sponsored by JCB recovery vehicles.

[MartG]

Arklight said:

That didnt take long did it

https://hasstrollcrashedyet.com/

Hahahaha

[The Hypno-Toad]

Vocal Minority said:

I assume Button is relaxing at home in Monaco(?)

Glass of something in his hand enjoying the glow of not driving that McLaren

and getting paid for it!

[bobbo89]

Vocal Minority said:

I will give most the benefit of the doubt....but Stroll has a lot to do. Hopefully he'll get more composure in a crowd

Dont think Williams will let him out of the simulator until Melbourne!

That said, plenty of others have spun out and/or crashed this week as many have done in previous years and will continue to do so in years to come. He also put in the third highest number of laps at 98 so maybe fatigue playing a bit of a part.

We'll see what happens tomorrow....

[VolvoT5]

Better that Stroll learns the limits and crashes now rather than in few weeks time at the first race of the season.

I think people are being overly harsh on him because he has rich parents who have eased his path into F1 (what parent wouldn't help their kids like that if they had the resources?), not his fault daddy is rich. I mean you can be sure that Jos Verstappen used every contact he had to help Max's career progress perhaps more rapidly than it would have done otherwise. Also some crash happy drivers have progressed to be solid performs... everyone forgets what Grosjean was like and even Perez was a bit of a crash magnet.

[deadslow]

Whitmarsh used to refer to Vettel as 'The Crash Kid'

[anonymous-user]

VolvoT5 said:

Better that Stroll learns the limits and crashes now rather than in few weeks time at the first race of the season.

I think people are being overly harsh on him because he has rich parents who have eased his path into F1 (what parent wouldn't help their kids like that if they had the resources?), not his fault daddy is rich. I mean you can be sure that Jos Verstappen used every contact he had to help Max's career progress perhaps more rapidly than it would have done otherwise.

Maybe. To be fair he's met all my expectations so far.

But I can't agree with your 'who wouldn't?' theory. There are plenty of guys who've gone into racing with all the backing and opportunity they might need but have accepted they're not good enough for F1. The sons of Alain Prost and Damon Hill for two.

[tommunster10]

C2996 said:

fk1_6 said:

It looks like Stroll may be out of his depth going by his continual offs at testing, heres hoping he settles down and finds his feet before the season starts but Williams aren't like Red Bull/Torro Rosso so doubt he'd be dropped regardless especially with the funding he brings.

No point in bringing funding if it's all spent repairing the car, he's not even at racing speed and had three offs. Could just be the days of 18 yr old rookies jumping in f1 cars are over though.

Of course he's out of his depth his Dad has paid for him to be where he is at this age. But the fact is an 18 year old who has paid 20 mill is driving an F1 car and out of 60 odd laps has crashed 3 times and that is with the cars apparently being a bit tougher to drive. So clearly that rips up the argument that F1 cars are somehow impossible to drive but for the very pinnacle of drivers.
Come the season he'll be a top ten driver for sure and getting into top 5 a few times.
F1 needs to be harder.

[VolvoT5]

Red Bull are already playing down their chances

[VolvoT5]

REALIST123 said:

Maybe. To be fair he's met all my expectations so far.

But I can't agree with your 'who wouldn't?' theory. There are plenty of guys who've gone into racing with all the backing and opportunity they might need but have accepted they're not good enough for F1. The sons of Alain Prost and Damon Hill for two.

Yes but correct me if I am wrong in saying that Stroll has actually done quite well in the other series he has competed in? It isn't like he has just bought his way in after one season racing go carts or something. It is too early to judge whether he is good enough or not.

There are probably a few drivers on the grid who wouldn't be there but for their financial backing but that doesn't mean they are rubbish drivers.

[bobbo89]

tommunster10 said:

Of course he's out of his depth his Dad has paid for him to be where he is at this age. But the fact is an 18 year old who has paid 20 mill is driving an F1 car and out of 60 odd laps has crashed 3 times and that is with the cars apparently being a bit tougher to drive. So clearly that rips up the argument that F1 cars are somehow impossible to drive but for the very pinnacle of drivers.
Come the season he'll be a top ten driver for sure and getting into top 5 a few times.
F1 needs to be harder.

Its actually 110 laps and the argument about the cars being tougher to drive is purely physical. With increased aero comes increased g-forces and so greater and faster fatigue for the drivers.

I think you may be unaware of the level of training Stroll has done to be able to get the Williams seat too. Its not just the 20mil but the time spent putting the laps in in a previous years car.

[tommunster10]

bobbo89 said:

tommunster10 said:

Of course he's out of his depth his Dad has paid for him to be where he is at this age. But the fact is an 18 year old who has paid 20 mill is driving an F1 car and out of 60 odd laps has crashed 3 times and that is with the cars apparently being a bit tougher to drive. So clearly that rips up the argument that F1 cars are somehow impossible to drive but for the very pinnacle of drivers.
Come the season he'll be a top ten driver for sure and getting into top 5 a few times.
F1 needs to be harder.

Its actually 110 laps and the argument about the cars being tougher to drive is purely physical. With increased aero comes increased g-forces and so greater and faster fatigue for the drivers.

I think you may be unaware of the level of training Stroll has done to be able to get the Williams seat too. Its not just the 20mil but the time spent putting the laps in in a previous years car.

Yes yes of course it is. All paid for by Daddy, what was it 5 of Mercedes top technical guys and his Daddy purchased a simulator for Williams and Stroll jnr had access to the old Williams F1 car for extra testing...
All that plus his Daddy purchased the GP2 title for him pretty much.... But yes you are right, he was born with natural talent.....

[Crafty_]

deadslow said:

Whitmarsh used to refer to Vettel as 'The Crash Kid'

Given the number of incidents he had last year (not all his fault mind...) that might still be justified

[Vocal Minority]

Also - you rely on the premis that Stroll is awful for your 'F1 cars can't be that hard to drive' argument to be valid.

It may be that Stroll does have some ability. You can't discount that just because Daddy is rich. I agree he looks a bit flaky at the moment, but you do seem to have something of a chip on your shoulder about the young man - and/or Daddy

Ok oi savaloy - I will have 5 internet pounds in that with you. Ferrari's form last year was from transparently grandstanding runs.

Whilst we have not seen LONG long run pace yet, I'd say their footing is way more solid than last year.

[bobbo89]

tommunster10 said:

Yes yes of course it is. All paid for by Daddy, what was it 5 of Mercedes top technical guys and his Daddy purchased a simulator for Williams and Stroll jnr had access to the old Williams F1 car for extra testing...
All that plus his Daddy purchased the GP2 title for him pretty much.... But yes you are right, he was born with natural talent.....

Bit of bitterness coming through there! Different routes and all that but I think if you look at a lot of F1 drivers past and present, you'll find they've come from a bit of money, our current WDC being a shining example.

All I'm doing is giving him the benefit of the doubt. Whatever happens it'll be interesting, if he turns out to be pretty competent and even, maybe, becomes a world champion will he always be tarnished as the one who bought his way into F1 and has no talent?

[tommunster10]

For me Stroll is the pinnacle of the rich kid in racing, worst example of it from GP2 upwards. He's had a few crashes already but regardless he will be a top ten driver possible top 5 by the end of the season... make of that what you will.
Heaps of GP2 drivers never make it, heaps of drivers never make it to GP2. He seems to be making it because his Daddy will pay for it at any cost.
Not for me, i'm sure he will have many fans, but I am not going to one of them.