The Official 2018 F1 Silly Season *Contains Speculation*

[MissChief]

rubystone said:

MissChief said:

Of that I have no doubt at all, but are they willing to put some of that money in?

You doubted what I said though, which is 100% what Vaud did. So for your benefit, I’ll provide a more fuller explanation (no offence taken or given)

McLaren is essentially government owned. Whilst RD was reluctant to approach Mumtalakat for more funding, with his removal, the taps are firmly turned on.

I do have to wonder then, to what benefit? I believe there's some link with the Bahraini royal family and I don't actually see much branding or publicity about this anywhere. If they were investing in the team for publicity or awareness of Bahrain as a potential tourist destination then I could see why the money is going in, but there's little of that to be seen. I know they have billions thanks to the oil, but I'd expect to see at least something to benefit them.

[anonymous-user]

MissChief said:

I do have to wonder then, to what benefit? I believe there's some link with the Bahraini royal family and I don't actually see much branding or publicity about this anywhere. If they were investing in the team for publicity or awareness of Bahrain as a potential tourist destination then I could see why the money is going in, but there's little of that to be seen. I know they have billions thanks to the oil, but I'd expect to see at least something to benefit them.

The business model for a lot of oil states is to buy up a bit of lots of companies that will generate income in the future. They are not stupid enough to think the oil will always be there, its a means to an end. McLaren will be a very profitable company.

[suffolk009]

MissChief said:

rubystone said:

MissChief said:

Of that I have no doubt at all, but are they willing to put some of that money in?

You doubted what I said though, which is 100% what Vaud did. So for your benefit, I’ll provide a more fuller explanation (no offence taken or given)

McLaren is essentially government owned. Whilst RD was reluctant to approach Mumtalakat for more funding, with his removal, the taps are firmly turned on.

I do have to wonder then, to what benefit? I believe there's some link with the Bahraini royal family and I don't actually see much branding or publicity about this anywhere. If they were investing in the team for publicity or awareness of Bahrain as a potential tourist destination then I could see why the money is going in, but there's little of that to be seen. I know they have billions thanks to the oil, but I'd expect to see at least something to benefit them.

I understand that they are investing heavily in the Applied Technology business.

[MissChief]

suffolk009 said:

MissChief said:

rubystone said:

MissChief said:

Of that I have no doubt at all, but are they willing to put some of that money in?

You doubted what I said though, which is 100% what Vaud did. So for your benefit, I’ll provide a more fuller explanation (no offence taken or given)

McLaren is essentially government owned. Whilst RD was reluctant to approach Mumtalakat for more funding, with his removal, the taps are firmly turned on.

I do have to wonder then, to what benefit? I believe there's some link with the Bahraini royal family and I don't actually see much branding or publicity about this anywhere. If they were investing in the team for publicity or awareness of Bahrain as a potential tourist destination then I could see why the money is going in, but there's little of that to be seen. I know they have billions thanks to the oil, but I'd expect to see at least something to benefit them.

I understand that they are investing heavily in the Applied Technology business.

Which is run and funded separately to the F1 business though? Unless Mansour is putting his own money in?

[thegreenhell]

Massa has just announced that he's retiring (again)

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/massa-announces...

[ajprice]

So the Williams list now is Kubica, Di Resta or Kvyat, have I missed any?

[thegreenhell]

Wehrlein?

[HustleRussell]

Oh cool, I feared that after all this speculation Massa would stay and it'd be a huge anti-climax.

[rubystone]

MissChief said:

Which is run and funded separately to the F1 business though? Unless Mansour is putting his own money in?

As part of the RD buy-out they amalgamated the group. It would seem logical if that included AT. Perhaps someone might know for certain?

[anonymous-user]

thegreenhell said:

Massa has just announced that he's retiring (again)

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/massa-announces...

Good news, it would have been a shame to see Massa ruining his reputation by trying to hold on to the seat by slagging other drivers off further. He is one of the nice guys so i hope he has a great final Brazilian GP.

[Mr_Thyroid]

There's some suggestion the Kvyat and Wehrlein are in the frame for Massa's seat, but given that neither of these drivers turn 25 until 2019 how does this square with Williams' agreement with Martini that they need a driver over that age?

I'd quite like to see Wehrlein get the seat - of those being mentioned he seems the most likely to fulfil his potential.

[HustleRussell]

Mr_Thyroid said:

There's some suggestion the Kvyat and Wehrlein are in the frame for Massa's seat, but given that neither of these drivers turn 25 until 2019 how does this square with Williams' agreement with Martini that they need a driver over that age?

This isn't an insurmountable problem, Williams can simply employ somebody to fulfill the 'brand ambassador'/ marketing role. There's an article on Autosport which makes a strong case for Kvyat however I agree, Wehrlein deserves a chance and in 2017 the second Sauber car doesn't really constitute a 'chance'. However Kubica still has a draw in terms of his popularity and his story.

[MissChief]

HustleRussell said:

Mr_Thyroid said:

There's some suggestion the Kvyat and Wehrlein are in the frame for Massa's seat, but given that neither of these drivers turn 25 until 2019 how does this square with Williams' agreement with Martini that they need a driver over that age?

This isn't an insurmountable problem, Williams can simply employ somebody to fulfill the 'brand ambassador'/ marketing role. There's an article on Autosport which makes a strong case for Kvyat however I agree, Wehrlein deserves a chance and in 2017 the second Sauber car doesn't really constitute a 'chance'. However Kubica still has a draw in terms of his popularity and his story.

IMO that's all he has. I really cannot see him managing 'Strat 4, Engine 2 please Robert' all while holding onto the wheel at 200MPH. Watch this for all the changes made on a steering wheel just to start the car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn8AhLgmz9E

Then watch this for changes on the steering wheel on a single qualifying lap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHOPJAwm0s and then tell me Robert could adjust settings in corners and make eleven adjustments on the wheel and maintain speed and control? I said it months ago, I do not believe Kubica will get a race seat next season.

[Cold]

Are you suggesting it's beyond the wit of F1 engineers to redesign or reposition a few switches?

[anonymous-user]

Will he get a blue badge? If so, will Hamilton come into the pits after a race win to find a Williams dumped across the 3 podium parking spots?

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Cold said:

Are you suggesting it's beyond the wit of F1 engineers to redesign or reposition a few switches?

If it were simple to make it easier, less prone to mistakes and all controllable with one hand, why haven’t they done it for everyone?

[Vaud]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Cold said:

Are you suggesting it's beyond the wit of F1 engineers to redesign or reposition a few switches?

If it were simple to make it easier, less prone to mistakes and all controllable with one hand, why haven’t they done it for everyone?

UI design is always a set of compromises. Drivers often have custom wheels. They just take time to develop with the driver.

[ajprice]

Video with the differences between Hamilton and Rosberg 2014 steering wheels. The paddles were different sizes, and Hamilton had rotary wheels for brake balance control that gave more adjustment than Rosberg. https://youtu.be/W-40M7_EJsg

[carl_w]

HustleRussell said:

This isn't an insurmountable problem, Williams can simply employ somebody to fulfill the 'brand ambassador'/ marketing role. There's an article on Autosport which makes a strong case for Kvyat however I agree, Wehrlein deserves a chance and in 2017 the second Sauber car doesn't really constitute a 'chance'. However Kubica still has a draw in terms of his popularity and his story.

Since Button's third driver role has been given to Lando Norris next year, could he be in the frame for the brand ambassador role given his history with Williams?

[jamiebae]

carl_w said:

Since Button's third driver role has been given to Lando Norris next year, could he be in the frame for the brand ambassador role given his history with Williams?

Given his desire to race full time, and the likelihood that will be for a manufacturer supported programme, I doubt that would happen. I guess Pail diR will retain the third driver role and cover some Martini stuff should they pick a younger option to replace Massa.