The Official 2018 Abu Dhabi GP *** Spoilers***

[Norfolkit]

TobyTR said:

Good season, not great. Only two title contenders .............. Still a massive improvement on 2014-2016 and next year looks even more positive!

Interesting Lewis' comments at the end regarding next year's title rivals - he didn't mention Leclerc... he could be in for a rude awakening

2014 (with a bit of help from Bernie) and 2016 the title went down to the final race, I'd call those great seasons.

Ferrari will back Vettel next year, to start with anyway. If they switch Leclerc to No.1 half way through the season (unlikely), it would probably be too late anyway. He may be a challenger in seasons to come, but the pressure at Ferrari is massive, only time will tell. It will be Hamilton or Vettel for the title, Max will win races but will (probably) DNF too often to be a threat. Bottas and Leclerc may/will win races but probably nowhere near enough and will start the season as clearly number 2 drivers, deservedly so in the case of Bottas.

Disclaimer - we have no idea on how good either 2019 car will be yet.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Jonnny said:

Anyone notice in the interview with Lewis after the race, question was;

"Who will bring the fight to you next season?" (along those lines) and Lewis' reply was;

"Seb, Max and whoe.. [Paused] Valtteri in the car next to me" (obviously not word for word, but close enough)

Maybe nothing, but interesting with the pause, maybe just thinking of his reply or maybe making sure nothing slips out.

I noticed that too .hehe:

[HighwayStar]

sparta6 said:

swisstoni said:

paua said:

sparta6 said:

Ofcourse.

MS brought a small team of British talent across, but the majority were Italian and it's an Italian company.

By contrast Mercedes F1 is a wholly British company pretending to German.
They even play the German national anthem for the "Silver Arrows".

Merc F1 has as much lineage to the Silver Arrows as a digestive biscuit.

Who gives a fk? You've been prattling on & on.
It's of no great importance

Exactly - the bankroll is German.

It's not authentic.

Ah the bankroll !

If McLaren ever get back onto the top step we will hear the Kuwait national anthem

Sparta on one again...

So, what about RedBull... why point all your fire and Merc's 'British' race team?
RedBull Racing, based in Britain but races under the Austrian flag. You must be upset about that...
Or maybe you're just on a wind up for your own amusement eh...

[E34-3.2]

HighwayStar said:

sparta6 said:

swisstoni said:

paua said:

sparta6 said:

Ofcourse.

MS brought a small team of British talent across, but the majority were Italian and it's an Italian company.

By contrast Mercedes F1 is a wholly British company pretending to German.
They even play the German national anthem for the "Silver Arrows".

Merc F1 has as much lineage to the Silver Arrows as a digestive biscuit.

Who gives a fk? You've been prattling on & on.
It's of no great importance

Exactly - the bankroll is German.

It's not authentic.

Ah the bankroll !

If McLaren ever get back onto the top step we will hear the Kuwait national anthem

Sparta on one again...

So, what about RedBull... why point all your fire and Merc's 'British' race team?
RedBull Racing, based in Britain but races under the Austrian flag. You must be upset about that...
Or maybe you're just on a wind up for your own amusement eh...

Sparta6 reminds me of these people leaving all their life in a small village or a small island (not all of them luckily). Very angry about any foreign influence. The problem Sparta6 has is not really Mercs but one of their driver.

[sparta6]

HustleRussell said:

Does anyone but sparta6 have a problem with this?

I will settle for the British national anthem each time Mercedes F1 wins

As NWA stated, "the truth matters"

[RichB]

E34-3.2 said:

<clip> The problem Sparta6 has is not really Mercs but one of their driver.

In what way do you see the team's drivers as part of this debate?

[HighwayStar]

sparta6 said:

HustleRussell said:

Does anyone but sparta6 have a problem with this?

I will settle for the British national anthem each time Mercedes F1 wins

As NWA stated, "the truth matters"

You just can't help yourself can you... 'the truth matters' in NWAs context mattered a hell of a lot more than whether the British or German national anthem is played when Merc sit atop the podium. Those who love F1 know what's what. You clearly do not have enough to worry about or have enough in your day you keep you busy.
Hey, how about getting in touch with Mercedes HQ and letting them know how you feel and what they should do about it.
They'll probably too busying plotting how they can claim WDC&WCC number 6, deciding the budget and directing operations for the British outpost to get back to you though

[HustleRussell]

sparta6 said:

HustleRussell said:

Does anyone but sparta6 have a problem with this?

I will settle for the British national anthem each time Mercedes F1 wins

As NWA stated, "the truth matters"

What do you want to hear that dirge for?

Can't you just feel all warm & fuzzy in the knowledge that it's a British effort and let the Germans have their song?

You invariably get a British national anthem when Mercedes wins a race anyway.

If I had to choose, I'd just have the Italian national anthem play each time because it's the nicest to listen to. No, I am not a Ferrari fan.

[HustleRussell]

HighwayStar said:

Those who love F1 know what's what.

and I take great pleasure in telling people that "Actually, Mercedes F1 are based in Brackley, the engine comes from Brixworth, the Germans pretty much just supply the money and put their badge on it"

and secondly;

"No you fool! Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff are both Austrian!"

[sparta6]

HustleRussell said:

and I take great pleasure in telling people that "Actually, Mercedes F1 are based in Brackley, the engine comes from Brixworth, the Germans pretty much just supply the money and put their badge on it"

Exactly.

Don't RBR play the British national anthem when they win ?

[sparta6]

E34-3.2 said:

Sparta6 reminds me of these people leaving all their life in a small village or a small island (not all of them luckily). Very angry about any foreign influence.

Correct. Technically Mayfair is a village, albeit very international.

[anonymous-user]

sparta6 said:

HustleRussell said:

and I take great pleasure in telling people that "Actually, Mercedes F1 are based in Brackley, the engine comes from Brixworth, the Germans pretty much just supply the money and put their badge on it"

Exactly.

Don't RBR play the British national anthem when they win ?

Nope! China was a mistake!

[sparta6]

RichB said:

E34-3.2 said:

<clip> The problem Sparta6 has is not really Mercs but one of their driver.

In what way do you see the team's drivers as part of this debate?

No problem with either driver, although the Merc seems wasted on Bottas.

[sparta6]

cb1965 said:

sparta6 said:

HustleRussell said:

and I take great pleasure in telling people that "Actually, Mercedes F1 are based in Brackley, the engine comes from Brixworth, the Germans pretty much just supply the money and put their badge on it"

Exactly.

Don't RBR play the British national anthem when they win ?

Nope! China was a mistake!

"Made In China"

[HighwayStar]

sparta6 said:

HustleRussell said:

and I take great pleasure in telling people that "Actually, Mercedes F1 are based in Brackley, the engine comes from Brixworth, the Germans pretty much just supply the money and put their badge on it"

Exactly.

Don't RBR play the British national anthem when they win ?

Now we see how much of a real fan you are eh... you have too much time on your hands to worry about Merc and which anthem should be played.
I still think you're on a wind up, having a little chuckle to yourself.
Anyway, as has been mentioned, every time Lewis (he's one of our own y'know) wins we hear our national anthem. Do you rise from your armchair in those moments, pride bursting out of you and shed a tear for Queen, Country and Lewis bringing it home again?

[Mark-C]

I know this is a longshot but, in case it does happen, can somebody explain how many anthems should be played when the Thai driver born in Britain wins a race in the Italian car with the Japanese engine sponsored by an Austrian company?

[DanielSan]

Mark-C said:

I know this is a longshot but, in case it does happen, can somebody explain how many anthems should be played when the Thai driver born in Britain wins a race in the Italian car with the Japanese engine sponsored by an Austrian company?

All the national anthems.

[thegreenhell]

He's a Buddhist, apparently, so maybe he just wants a bit of chanting?

[sparta6]

HighwayStar said:

sparta6 said:

HustleRussell said:

and I take great pleasure in telling people that "Actually, Mercedes F1 are based in Brackley, the engine comes from Brixworth, the Germans pretty much just supply the money and put their badge on it"

Exactly.

Don't RBR play the British national anthem when they win ?

Now we see how much of a real fan you are eh... you have too much time on your hands to worry about Merc and which anthem should be played.
I still think you're on a wind up, having a little chuckle to yourself.
Anyway, as has been mentioned, every time Lewis (he's one of our own y'know) wins we hear our national anthem. Do you rise from your armchair in those moments, pride bursting out of you and shed a tear for Queen, Country and Lewis bringing it home again?

I always shed a tear for our Queen. Made of sterling stuff handling Phillip all these years

[HighwayStar]

sparta6 said:

HighwayStar said:

sparta6 said:

HustleRussell said:

and I take great pleasure in telling people that "Actually, Mercedes F1 are based in Brackley, the engine comes from Brixworth, the Germans pretty much just supply the money and put their badge on it"

Exactly.

Don't RBR play the British national anthem when they win ?

Now we see how much of a real fan you are eh... you have too much time on your hands to worry about Merc and which anthem should be played.
I still think you're on a wind up, having a little chuckle to yourself.
Anyway, as has been mentioned, every time Lewis (he's one of our own y'know) wins we hear our national anthem. Do you rise from your armchair in those moments, pride bursting out of you and shed a tear for Queen, Country and Lewis bringing it home again?

I always shed a tear for our Queen. Made of sterling stuff handling Phillip all these years

You do surprise me... Sparta, an Ancient Greek City and Phil the Greek. You two seemed perfectly aligned, spouting crap and ignorance that doesn’t stray to close to the brain. Kindred spirits, a couple of mumbling old farts at least