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

[HustleRussell]

People talking Red Bull Honda down are in for a surprise IMO.

[Vaud]

HustleRussell said:

People talking Red Bull Honda down are in for a surprise IMO.

I think so too. I would not underestimate the power of 4 cars (so use TR as a testbed for new bits), Adrian Newey's packaging/design and some good collaboration.

Honda want to make this succeed.

[Deesee]

HustleRussell said:

People talking Red Bull Honda down are in for a surprise IMO.

Finishing races yes, podiums yes, winning races possibly, contending either championship no chance...

[Deesee]

Gaz. said:

Deesee said:

HustleRussell said:

People talking Red Bull Honda down are in for a surprise IMO.

Finishing races yes, podiums yes, winning races possibly, contending either championship no chance...

If Gasly gets his head down he could be a contender.

To beat Merc (Hamilton) & contend, they would need to win at least 11 Races, even if they played a tactical game and took a new PU every say every 2/3 races, they could nick a few wins, however the Ferrari will still be there or there about with 5/6 wins next year, and Merc will win 9/10 races.

TBH, if they find themselves ahead of Renault in the WCC (even if they go backwards as such) it will be a stepping stone.

If Williams and Mclaren sort out the 2018 Aero/Flaw issues for the 2019 cars, they could be towards the back.

[HustleRussell]

Deesee said:

HustleRussell said:

People talking Red Bull Honda down are in for a surprise IMO.

Finishing races yes, podiums yes, winning races possibly, contending either championship no chance...

I presume you're talking about 2019 only here?

[thegreenhell]

Red Bull have broken more Renault engines than anyone else. What makes you think the Honda engine will suddenly be reliable enough to be a contender in the back of a Red Bull? It might be quick, but it will break. Often.

[Vaud]

thegreenhell said:

Red Bull have broken more Renault engines than anyone else. What makes you think the Honda engine will suddenly be reliable enough to be a contender in the back of a Red Bull? It might be quick, but it will break. Often.

There is a theory that they have deliberately taken penalties to accelerate the engine development. Some have observed that it is the most improved engine of the year.

I don't know if this is true.

[FourWheelDrift]

At least my ears aren't bleeding this race weekend, Anthony Davidson is back.

[thegreenhell]

Vaud said:

thegreenhell said:

Red Bull have broken more Renault engines than anyone else. What makes you think the Honda engine will suddenly be reliable enough to be a contender in the back of a Red Bull? It might be quick, but it will break. Often.

There is a theory that they have deliberately taken penalties to accelerate the engine development. Some have observed that it is the most improved engine of the year.

I don't know if this is true.

Maybe so, but there is also a theory that the STR design is very conservative to give the Honda a good platform to develop on. The Red Bull packaging next year will not be conservative.

[Deesee]

HustleRussell said:

Deesee said:

HustleRussell said:

People talking Red Bull Honda down are in for a surprise IMO.

Finishing races yes, podiums yes, winning races possibly, contending either championship no chance...

I presume you're talking about 2019 only here?

My crystal ball does not extend into the new regs

[bobbo89]

Vaud said:

HustleRussell said:

People talking Red Bull Honda down are in for a surprise IMO.

I think so too. I would not underestimate the power of 4 cars (so use TR as a testbed for new bits), Adrian Newey's packaging/design and some good collaboration.

Honda want to make this succeed.

As do I. I think (or at least hope) we could be in for a very good season next year with 3 different teams running 3 different engines all competing for wins.

Honda and Torro Rosso seem to have been quietly plugging away all season, occasionally showing what they're capable of, especially towards the end of the season. That Honda engine will be good next year, maybe not the outright best engine on the grid but shoved into a Red Bull it'll be a good combination!

Edited by bobbo89 on Friday 23 November 13:43

[kambites]

I think the question with Redbull Honda is how well the latest Honda PU copes with Redbull's packaging constraints and/or how much Redbull are willing to compromise their packaging (and hence their aero) to allow the engine to be reliable.

[DanielSan]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Some good fun in the drivers pressers
https://youtu.be/-DomDubfpqs

Kimi's dig a out Verstappen and Ocon being boys

[DanielSan]

HustleRussell said:

People talking Red Bull Honda down are in for a surprise IMO.

I'm still betting on Vertsappen to win in Australia just can't get odds for it yet, hopefully after this weekend I can get a request a bet in.

[Derek Smith]

kambites said:

I think the question with Redbull Honda is how well the latest Honda PU copes with Redbull's packaging constraints and/or how much Redbull are willing to compromise their packaging (and hence their aero) to allow the engine to be reliable.

That's the question.

Newey is not know for his willinghess to make concessions. How much faith we can put in Renault's protestations that the packaging starves their engine of whatever is open to question at the moment, although the package has been more reliable in other chassis.

We all accept the genius that is Newey, but are the regulations now so tight that he doesn't make as much difference?

I can't help thinking that any change in aero regs will play to RB but will the Honda engine - improved or not - be enough to get them in the top six again?

It's going to be an interesting season. Just a shame it won't be FTA.

[kimducati]

johnxjsc1985 said:

I feel sure Williams will have put him through every possible scenario before offering him this seat

Well they made sure the cheque had cleared, anyway!!

[markcoznottz]

Nice concrete sanding block at the last corner.....

[FourWheelDrift]

markcoznottz said:

Nice concrete sanding block at the last corner.....

Bicycle stuck on a tram line is what I think of after seeing Verstappen having his steering taken away from him, or Scalextric. Another stupid sausage kerb.

[G0ldfysh]

[quote=ajprice]Alonso's McLaren will have a one off livery with his helmet colours for his last race.

[Url]snip[url]

What is the colour scheme for the good by to Stoffel?

[markcoznottz]

FourWheelDrift said:

markcoznottz said:

Nice concrete sanding block at the last corner.....

Bicycle stuck on a tram line is what I think of after seeing Verstappen having his steering taken away from him, or Scalextric. Another stupid sausage kerb.

Yep. 5 billion dollar sport?. Rock and a hard place though. The grass and gravel has gone because high grip asphalt slows the cars down more, but this encourages drivers to exceed the track limits. These wider tyres seem weird though, if you go sideways you have to instantly open the steering and let the car have its head, and run over whatever's there.