The Official F1 2019 silly season *contains speculation*

[Steamer]

kambites said:

Steamer said:

Engine deal / Driver swap? Bottas back to Williams / Ocon into the Merc - nice for all concerned.

I'm not sure it'd be nice for Bottas.

True. I was just thinking of Kimi’s move to Sauber - but you can’t relate that to the Bottas / Merc situation in any shape or form. Bottas has just been letting the frustrations of being in the no.2 seat show a bit - which is totally understandable.

[anonymous-user]

kambites said:

I'm not sure it'd be nice for Bottas.

Bottas needs a superb 2019 or Lewis to retire at the end of the season.

Can't see either happening.

[thegreenhell]

Toto's statement about 2020 makes it sound like he's already signed Ocon to Mercedes.

[andburg]

Toto's statement

“We are prepared for ‘Plan B’ with Esteban, one thing I can guarantee for you is he’s going to be in a good car in 2020 because there are many teams out there that have an interest in Esteban.

This does not say in F1......

[Vaud]

thegreenhell said:

Toto's statement about 2020 makes it sound like he's already signed Ocon to Mercedes.

I agree - otherwise why only sign Bottas year by year.

[Deesee]

Steamer said:

thegreenhell said:

Joe Saward mentions the latest paddock rumour that Ocon is favourite for the remaining Williams seat, possibly with BWT sponsorship moving from FI to Williams. It would make sense that Stroll and partners would want to promote some of their own brands on their car, and Williams need a new main sponsor next year to replace Martini.

That is interesting, especially after the Rich Energy rumors.

Would be even more interesting to see what Ocon can get out of that Williams too.

Multi year deal signed for HASS for rich energy + car colour change to this perhaps?

[Stan the Bat]

kambites said:

Steamer said:

Engine deal / Driver swap? Bottas back to Williams / Ocon into the Merc - nice for all concerned.

I'm not sure it'd be nice for Bottas.

But he's had his chances, just not good enough for a top seat.

[Vaud]

Probably some horrific contract penalty as well to terminate his Merc contract, and cheaper to subsidise Ocon at Williams for a year.

[l354uge]

Deesee said:

Steamer said:

thegreenhell said:

Joe Saward mentions the latest paddock rumour that Ocon is favourite for the remaining Williams seat, possibly with BWT sponsorship moving from FI to Williams. It would make sense that Stroll and partners would want to promote some of their own brands on their car, and Williams need a new main sponsor next year to replace Martini.

That is interesting, especially after the Rich Energy rumors.

Would be even more interesting to see what Ocon can get out of that Williams too.

Multi year deal signed for HASS for rich energy + car colour change to this perhaps?

I find it strange that Haas has taken on a title sponsor.. The whole point of the team is to advertise Haas automation?

[Steamer]

l354uge said:

Deesee said:

Steamer said:

thegreenhell said:

Joe Saward mentions the latest paddock rumour that Ocon is favourite for the remaining Williams seat, possibly with BWT sponsorship moving from FI to Williams. It would make sense that Stroll and partners would want to promote some of their own brands on their car, and Williams need a new main sponsor next year to replace Martini.

That is interesting, especially after the Rich Energy rumors.

Would be even more interesting to see what Ocon can get out of that Williams too.

Multi year deal signed for HASS for rich energy + car colour change to this perhaps?

I find it strange that Haas has taken on a title sponsor.. The whole point of the team is to advertise Haas automation?

True - although I think it was Gene Haas or G.S said last Sunday - it's done wonders for getting our name out there, but nobody knows what we do.

[anonymous-user]

Has anyone ever seen a can of Rich Energy?

Seems like a massive punt on advertising spend for a product that could bomb.

[carl_w]

jsf said:

Has anyone ever seen a can of Rich Energy?

Seems like a massive punt on advertising spend for a product that could bomb.

It's a fair point -- a few years back Lotus (IIRC) had some charlatan in the paddock who claimed he had money but the wire transfer had failed or something.

Mind you, I've never seen a can of Burn either.

[Mark-C]

jsf said:

Has anyone ever seen a can of Rich Energy?

Seems like a massive punt on advertising spend for a product that could bomb.

That's the world we live in. I’ve never seen a Bwt thing or whatever sponsors Force India these days and I’m not convinced the massive tobacco company sponsoring Ferrari believes it’s marketing message behind Mission Winnow!

F1 is all about branding for sponsors. This could make or break Rich Energy but, if the money is real, it helps keep an F1 team going for a while.

The days of Durex, Yardley, ATS Tyres or whatever being able to be title sponsors disappeared with the DFV

[Mr Pointy]

Lewis reckons the biggest problem in Austin was a 50kg cross-weight disparity that made the car a pig to drive:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hamilton-merced...

This occurred following the rebuild after changing the water pump. Given the car weighs 734kg each corner must weigh about 183kg (roughly, given a central CoG) so 50kg is a big percentage. Can someone who knows about these things explain how this error could happen?

[williamp]

Mark-C said:

jsf said:

Has anyone ever seen a can of Rich Energy?

Seems like a massive punt on advertising spend for a product that could bomb.

That's the world we live in. I’ve never seen a Bwt thing or whatever sponsors Force India these days and I’m not convinced the massive tobacco company sponsoring Ferrari believes it’s marketing message behind Mission Winnow!

F1 is all about branding for sponsors. This could make or break Rich Energy but, if the money is real, it helps keep an F1 team going for a while.

The days of Durex, Yardley, ATS Tyres or whatever being able to be title sponsors disappeared with the DFV

Ive never seen a pack of 555 cigarettes, but I still picture a scottish chap yomping a subaru at 110% effort and that was...20 years ago.?

[Vaud]

williamp said:

Ive never seen a pack of 555 cigarettes, but I still picture a scottish chap yomping a subaru at 110% effort and that was...20 years ago.?

It is still a big brand, mostly in Asia, especially in the China, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

[Kraken]

Mr Pointy said:

Lewis reckons the biggest problem in Austin was a 50kg cross-weight disparity that made the car a pig to drive:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hamilton-merced...

This occurred following the rebuild after changing the water pump. Given the car weighs 734kg each corner must weigh about 183kg (roughly, given a central CoG) so 50kg is a big percentage. Can someone who knows about these things explain how this error could happen?

The water pumps had to be identical to the ones they replaced otherwise they wouldn't have been allowed to do it with no penalties and the weight difference wouldn't be enough to account for a cross weight difference like that anyway even if they were slightly different.

Only way I can see it happening is an error with the suspension setup when putting the rear of the car back together. Odd that it happened on both cars though as they wouldn't use the same equipment or personnel.

[HustleRussell]

Vaud said:

williamp said:

Ive never seen a pack of 555 cigarettes, but I still picture a scottish chap yomping a subaru at 110% effort and that was...20 years ago.?

It is still a big brand, mostly in Asia, especially in the China, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

I've seen them in Thailand. Coincidentally (or otherwise?) the number '5' is pronounced 'ha' in Thai, hence in shorthand they will use '555' as we use 'hahaha'

I've never been to The China though.

[thebigmacmoomin]

Mark-C said:

jsf said:

Has anyone ever seen a can of Rich Energy?

Seems like a massive punt on advertising spend for a product that could bomb.

That's the world we live in. I’ve never seen a Bwt thing or whatever sponsors Force India these days and I’m not convinced the massive tobacco company sponsoring Ferrari believes it’s marketing message behind Mission Winnow!

F1 is all about branding for sponsors. This could make or break Rich Energy but, if the money is real, it helps keep an F1 team going for a while.

The days of Durex, Yardley, ATS Tyres or whatever being able to be title sponsors disappeared with the DFV

BWT is something to do with water. Rich Energy, what are their brands or is that what they used on their product.

[HustleRussell]

thebigmacmoomin said:

Mark-C said:

That's the world we live in. I’ve never seen a Bwt thing or whatever sponsors Force India these days

BWT is something to do with water.

I have seen an advert on TV for BWT.