The Official 2018 Spanish Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**
Discussion
HustleRussell said:
sparta6 said:
My personal theory is this could be Hamilton's final season, and the FIA will want their Golden Boy to exit on a high.
swisstoni said:
Obviously wasn't interested (or born?) when Hamilton pretty much had every minor infraction in the book thrown at him on a regular basis by his latter day FIA benefactors.
Ah not just me thinking that then,... You there, go here (ordered by FIA rep) - oh, you were not allowed to do that, punished by FIA.............NRS said:
Gad-Westy said:
rev-erend said:
521EK9 said:
On another note:
I'm probably one of the few that finds Monaco an absolute snooze fest unless it's raining, i try to tune into it but find a written commentary on BBC usually suffices. If it sounds juicy I will watch the recording of it later otherwise that 2 hours can be spent doing something more productive.
You are not the only one..I'm probably one of the few that finds Monaco an absolute snooze fest unless it's raining, i try to tune into it but find a written commentary on BBC usually suffices. If it sounds juicy I will watch the recording of it later otherwise that 2 hours can be spent doing something more productive.
It's impossible to overtake, just a presession from beginning to end.
Verstappen has managed to pass as the hairpin but others may decide to close the door this year and that will lead to more low speed crashes.
sparta6 said:
37chevy said:
They also changed them in 2014 and last year at Ferrari’s request. teams give feedback to Pirelli and Pirelli change tyres so that performance or safety is increased. I find your inability to accept that ALL teams do this BY VETTELS OWN ADMISSION quite baffling. Maybe you do just sit in your bedroom with a tin foil hat and book of conspiracy theories that suit your agenda. Be good if you took it off for a change and had a balanced opinion
My books are located in my library 
My personal theory is this could be Hamilton's final season, and the FIA will want their Golden Boy to exit on a high.
I would not be surprised if he does depart with 5 WDC's
It would not surprise me if he takes on a challenge next year (as out of contract).
Helmut Marko
Pirelli changed the tyres ahead of the race to be much thinner, sparking accusations that this was done at the request of Mercedes to give them an advantage.
Team boss Toto Wolff has already denied them once but victory has only strengthened their rivals' claims.
Red Bull, in particular, have taken issue with the change with advisor Helmut Marko speaking out.
The Austrian firmly believes there's a very good reason why Mercedes could request such an advantage from Pirelli - and it's not fair on other teams.
"When you're a team and a manufacturer at the same time, you can do that," said Marko.
"We [Red Bull] produce energy drinks - of course we cannot influence as much compared to a maker of passenger cars."
But Wolff has been quick to respond to the accusations, dismissing the idea that there was any collusion.
"It's not the first time the doctor [Marko] sees ghosts," he said.
"There were problems with blistering on the tyres in the winter tests, even at Red Bull. The rears looked like a volcanic landscape. So Pirelli improved them. It's bad for business if tyres explode."
As for Red Bull's complaining, Wolff also had some very strong words for their targeting of his team.
"I think it looks weak if you have a bad weekend and complain," said Wolff. "First and foremost, we look at ourselves for our problems."
Wolff certainly has a point, too, as both Ferrari and Red Bull suffered problems that prevented them from putting up a proper challenge.
Daniel Ricciardo found himself well off the pace after a spin on turn 10 that wasn't caught on camera and wasn't able to recover for an assault on the podium.
Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, controversially pitted twice when everyone else settled for one, costing him precious time.
Pirelli changed the tyres ahead of the race to be much thinner, sparking accusations that this was done at the request of Mercedes to give them an advantage.
Team boss Toto Wolff has already denied them once but victory has only strengthened their rivals' claims.
Red Bull, in particular, have taken issue with the change with advisor Helmut Marko speaking out.
The Austrian firmly believes there's a very good reason why Mercedes could request such an advantage from Pirelli - and it's not fair on other teams.
"When you're a team and a manufacturer at the same time, you can do that," said Marko.
"We [Red Bull] produce energy drinks - of course we cannot influence as much compared to a maker of passenger cars."
But Wolff has been quick to respond to the accusations, dismissing the idea that there was any collusion.
"It's not the first time the doctor [Marko] sees ghosts," he said.
"There were problems with blistering on the tyres in the winter tests, even at Red Bull. The rears looked like a volcanic landscape. So Pirelli improved them. It's bad for business if tyres explode."
As for Red Bull's complaining, Wolff also had some very strong words for their targeting of his team.
"I think it looks weak if you have a bad weekend and complain," said Wolff. "First and foremost, we look at ourselves for our problems."
Wolff certainly has a point, too, as both Ferrari and Red Bull suffered problems that prevented them from putting up a proper challenge.
Daniel Ricciardo found himself well off the pace after a spin on turn 10 that wasn't caught on camera and wasn't able to recover for an assault on the podium.
Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, controversially pitted twice when everyone else settled for one, costing him precious time.
Can you imagine the complaints we'd have seen on here if they'd left them with the thicker tread and consequently all the drivers were pottering around five seconds a lap slower with gaps or at least three seconds between cars in order to keep the tyres from blistering.
F1 fans are nothing if not consistent - they complain about everything.
F1 fans are nothing if not consistent - they complain about everything.
kambites said:
Can you imagine the complaints we'd have seen on here if they'd left them with the thicker tread and consequently all the drivers were pottering around five seconds a lap slower with gaps or at least three seconds between cars in order to keep the tyres from blistering.
F1 fans are nothing if not consistent - they complain about everything.
You can see why the issue is getting talked about.F1 fans are nothing if not consistent - they complain about everything.
If Ferrari took off into the distance after a tyre update then I am sure the chat would be very different.
Now Helmet is off on one about the same subject.
The first four races were amazing.
Just hope the rest of the season can live up to the first part
DanielSan said:
kambites said:
Indeed, but I don't think there's really any reason to believe Mercedes are going to run away with the season now they've had one dominant race. Their car always seems to have worked better than the Ferrari on harder tyres and in cooler temperatures.
Safety car nonsense aside Vettel was dominant in Baku as well, he spent the whole race going just quickly enough to maintain a gap on Hamilton and only upped his pace when Hamilton was banging a quicker lap in. The car was mighty fast before they put a couple of ears in the Halo and it’ll be mighty fast when they’re taken off again.
Vettel's thoughts.
Ferrari really were in trouble.
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/896086/1/vettel-ferr...
Ferrari really were in trouble.
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/896086/1/vettel-ferr...
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Vettel's thoughts.
Ferrari really were in trouble.
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/896086/1/vettel-ferr...
Interesting. Basically saying that if anything, the different tyres brought Ferrari closer to Mercedes than they'd have been with the normal ones. Ferrari really were in trouble.
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/896086/1/vettel-ferr...
Damn that Mercedes for lobbying for tyres to help their competition!
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 15th May 19:02
kambites said:
ELUSIVEJIM said:
Vettel's thoughts.
Ferrari really were in trouble.
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/896086/1/vettel-ferr...
Interesting. Basically saying that if anything, the different tyres brought Ferrari closer to Mercedes than they'd have been with the normal ones. Ferrari really were in trouble.
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/896086/1/vettel-ferr...
Damn that Mercedes for lobbying for tyres to help their competition!
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 15th May 19:02
As I said before... the real reason for the new gap Mercedes have on Ferrari is that the Ferrari has lost some vital bits upon enquiry...
Not had a chance to look into this, but was told the exhaust is no longer blowing and their batteries may have enjoyed more juice than their rivals.
Will look later when I get a chance.
Not had a chance to look into this, but was told the exhaust is no longer blowing and their batteries may have enjoyed more juice than their rivals.
Will look later when I get a chance.
I’m just gonna leave this here. Maybe Jim and Sparta can go n have a cuddle in a corner and share a whole new conspiracy theory. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/136052/vettel-no...
kambites said:
It is getting a bit flat-earthish in here.
It's merely a theory.Don't worry.
Unless it materialises
Like all good people Hamilton has many other time consuming interests that driving around in circles may not be as important to him as it was 10 years ago.
Like all good people, he has evolved.
37chevy said:
I’m just gonna leave this here. Maybe Jim and Sparta can go n have a cuddle in a corner and share a whole new conspiracy theory. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/136052/vettel-no...
Funny enough I posted that before you.
sparta6 said:
... My personal theory is this could be Hamilton's final season, and the FIA will want their Golden Boy to exit on a high.
I would not be surprised if he does depart with 5 WDC's
Of course despite your personal theory, the truth is that Hamilton is one of, if not the, fastest drivers in F1 today and together with a very good car there's every likelihood that he will indeed finish the season with 5 WDCs. You will no doubt say that proves your point that he was assisted by the FIA. You will have based your conspiracy theory on an safe bet. I would not be surprised if he does depart with 5 WDC's
RichB said:
sparta6 said:
... My personal theory is this could be Hamilton's final season, and the FIA will want their Golden Boy to exit on a high.
I would not be surprised if he does depart with 5 WDC's
Of course despite your personal theory, the truth is that Hamilton is one of, if not the, fastest drivers in F1 today and together with a very good car there's every likelihood that he will indeed finish the season with 5 WDCs. You will no doubt say that proves your point that he was assisted by the FIA. You will have based your conspiracy theory on an safe bet. I would not be surprised if he does depart with 5 WDC's
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff