Discussion
C2996 said:
Could just be the days of 18 yr old rookies jumping in f1 cars are over though.
I really hope this is the case.The fast-tracking of drivers into F1 de-values the lower formulae and F1. If F1 is the pinnacle of the sport then the drivers need to have truly proved themselves before they get there. Professional athletes (including F1 drivers) are remaining competitive for longer these days so there's no need to get in early.
Norfolkit said:
How much of a shoestring are Williams running on, second time they've run out of spares in 3 days.
Well,jsf said:
It's not money, it's time to make the parts that have just been designed.
PhillipM said:
It's a brand new car, lead-times on parts you're still designing are a b
h 
...and on top of that, the tub was damaged apparently.h A lot of work and air miles for Williams then.
Crafty_ said:
tommunster10 said:
Well correct me if i'm wrong but many many people tarnished Nico's WDC. If Stroll went on to be WDC because like Nico he was in the best car by a mile then it'd be another fine example of all that is wrong with Motorsport if you simply back drivers and not the teams themselves.
It's an engineering sport, the arms race is with technology and engineering not with the drivers, they are as important for marketing as any talent.
I see your point, but lets be honest Maldonado wouldn't have won last year, he'd be too busy peering at his steering wheel and driving off track as a result.It's an engineering sport, the arms race is with technology and engineering not with the drivers, they are as important for marketing as any talent.
Make no mistake, Rosberg was a good driver, not necessarily a great racer but easily competent enough to take advantage of the situation he found himself in.
Maldonado wouldn't be able to. I pick on poor Pastor as he's still fairly fresh in our memories, but there have been other drivers of the same ilk.
On the other side of it there are many competent drivers who never got a shot in anything decent enough - Brundle, McNish, Wilson all spring to mind.
You never know, Lance might be able to settle down and be a very effective racer, he wouldn't be the first driver to arrive in F1 with a bang (or three..).
Williams are doing what they need to, financially. Lets hope its only a temporary requirement.
Massa is a race winner and WDC runner up by 1 point yet according to PH he's useless?! Its madness.
I've said before i follow the Sport for the engineering, its nice to have the drivers and follow them a bit but i don't follow a driver as a fan would so it takes away that layer of bias for me. For me the biggest achievement out there is the team behind the WCC which of course includes the driver but in no way is it an individual sport.
If a driver is driving at 90% to win and a driver is going 110% to get 4ths etc and data shows they are over the limit of the car almost driving on the edge...whose the best driver?
tommunster10 said:
I know Pastor is the poster boy, but lets think about it, when the conditions / tyres / etc were right he won a race. Now figuring how great the Merc was its not beyond the realms of possibility to think Pastor could of peddled it to a few 2nds behind Lewis. At points in Pastors F1 career he was battling with Lewis. So its that chicken and egg again... either Pastor is a bit better than he's credited for, or in F1 given right car any of them could be race winners.
Massa is a race winner and WDC runner up by 1 point yet according to PH he's useless?! Its madness.
I've said before i follow the Sport for the engineering, its nice to have the drivers and follow them a bit but i don't follow a driver as a fan would so it takes away that layer of bias for me. For me the biggest achievement out there is the team behind the WCC which of course includes the driver but in no way is it an individual sport.
If a driver is driving at 90% to win and a driver is going 110% to get 4ths etc and data shows they are over the limit of the car almost driving on the edge...whose the best driver?
My opinion on pastor was that he was properly naturally quick, but struggled to recognise when he was on the limit. His win owes at least a little to the jackpot comedy clown car tyres of that time.Massa is a race winner and WDC runner up by 1 point yet according to PH he's useless?! Its madness.
I've said before i follow the Sport for the engineering, its nice to have the drivers and follow them a bit but i don't follow a driver as a fan would so it takes away that layer of bias for me. For me the biggest achievement out there is the team behind the WCC which of course includes the driver but in no way is it an individual sport.
If a driver is driving at 90% to win and a driver is going 110% to get 4ths etc and data shows they are over the limit of the car almost driving on the edge...whose the best driver?
so no Hamilton today then either...apparently they've decided not to bother. They have an electrical fault to fix, but with the duff wet-testing setup, reckons they won't be on to learning much more today. They must be feeling very confident in themselves.
But you know what they say about prides and falls.
I think, Ferrari must be quietly confident as well. Provided Mercedes haven't been reigning it in significantly.
But you know what they say about prides and falls.
I think, Ferrari must be quietly confident as well. Provided Mercedes haven't been reigning it in significantly.
hairyben said:
My opinion on pastor was that he was properly naturally quick, but struggled to recognise when he was on the limit. His win owes at least a little to the jackpot comedy clown car tyres of that time.
I agree he was certainly fast. The issue is he was on the limit the whole time. The best drivers seem to be able to be on the limit when it is absolutely necessary but have the capacity to operate consistently at 9/10 the rest of the time. VolvoT5 said:
they are already very fast compared to everyone else.
Are they?I honestly believe Ferrari will be right up with them. They are comfortably alongside Mercedes blow for blow - not just on headlining runs - unlike last year, where they bolted on the sticky shoes and went for it on short stints.
OK Mercedes are running conservatively on engine mode, but are Ferrari? I know they didn't last year - but their entire attitude seems to have changed.
Has anyone actually heard a peep from them this time round? There seems to be a very quiet confidence from them - not like last year when it was all puffed chests and big words. This is backed up with the conservative tyre choice.
At this early stage, my £5 bet is hovering over Vettel to be honest.
I know everyone is talking about Mercedes having a big gap, I just don't see the evidence
Edited by Vocal Minority on Thursday 2nd March 11:51
PhillipM said:
HustleRussell said:
I place a lot of stock in Gary Anderson, perhaps the most technically knowledgable independent commentator attending winter testing?
Read what he's said all day about the Merc understeering everywhere, being a bit slidey, slow to turn in....then watch Ham's onboard.He comes out with some gems, but sometimes he just seems to ramble for the sake of it.
NRS said:
PhillipM said:
HustleRussell said:
I place a lot of stock in Gary Anderson, perhaps the most technically knowledgable independent commentator attending winter testing?
Read what he's said all day about the Merc understeering everywhere, being a bit slidey, slow to turn in....then watch Ham's onboard.He comes out with some gems, but sometimes he just seems to ramble for the sake of it.
I've never really thought much of Anderson's punditry, I think the game has minced on a long way since he or on to paper on a car design. His observations often seem t odds with what others see nd even Ted K manages to get more tech info (not that he understands it!). Scarbs, Piola and Mark Hughes seem to be more on the ball.
I was thinking earlier that Ferrari have recently had issues with adapting to the conditions - tyre compound, ambient temperatures, surface abrasion levels etc. The merc and rb have been able to cope pretty well for the most part. I wonder if Ferrari have/are working on that instead of outright speed
I was thinking earlier that Ferrari have recently had issues with adapting to the conditions - tyre compound, ambient temperatures, surface abrasion levels etc. The merc and rb have been able to cope pretty well for the most part. I wonder if Ferrari have/are working on that instead of outright speed
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