Formula 1 Thread

golfaddick said:

I believe Hamilton's deal with Mercedes runs out next year. Seeing as he has won everything going & beating all the records I think it's time he really tested himself. Sign for one of the lesser teams & see if he can win with a Suber or a Renault. He doesn't need the money so let him pit his wits in an inferior car - that will see how good he really is.

About as much chance as you swimming across The English Channel in a Crombé overcoat.

Helmut Marko saying he hopes to make a decision this week on the second Red Bull seat. I really hope it's Sergio, Alex seems like a nice guy but he's not got near to Max. 

that is that is ridiculous as I didn’t change line up after first week ! 

Will probably mean nothing but a month ago we had a shoot for ExxonMobil for their Red Bull partnership that we manage and we were told on the morning to cancel the edits with Alex Albon and he wasnt attending.

Now wait for him to be announced tomorrow AM.

Alphatauri confirm Yuki Tsunodas promotion from F2. Just leaves that works seat now.

DamoNorthStand said:

Did anyone see (or more importantly hear) the clip of Alonso driving his 2005 championship winning car round Abu Dhabi?

my god the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. It makes you realise how shite the current cars sound. 

Remembering that echo in the air at the track when they came out the pits and were a mile away or so heading towards where you were sitting. The beer in your cup shook as they went past. I honestly believe the roar as an F1 car went past was the moment I fell in love with the sport.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpulR1SJGgM&ab_channel=VarunDubey

Feel sorry for Albon in a way... Its another results driven basis and you need to be the best to drive one of the Mercedes or Red Bulls etc. but would have liked him to have had more time to settle with the team

At the same time Perez should never have been left without a seat next year

RB were never going to please everyone with their decision

You could make a case that Verstappen is the fastest driver on the grid at the moment. If they were in identical cars it’d certainly be very close fight between him and Hamilton. Albon was never likely to match Verstappen, but what he needed to be doing was be close enough to disrupt the Mercs a bit. Maybe get ahead of Bottas occasionally, pick up extra points and podiums if Merc had a rare bad day. He’s been nowhere near doing that. Sakhir GP was a perfect example. Max crashes out, Mercs well down the order, Albon finishes 6th when 4th is par for him even without Max and the Mercs being gone.

With Mclaren improving and getting Merc engines, and Ferrari unlikely to be this bad again next year, Red Bull need someone who will maximize constructors points for them and be ready to capitalize on others’ mistakes, which is pretty much what a Perez has made a career of. I feel like he’s earnt a shot in a top car whereas Albon was gifted it somewhat. A bit harsh he’s not dropping back to Alpha Tauri though. 

Perez to Red Bull confirmed.

Albon will take the role of test and reserve driver.

Albon Voyage!

Just a couple of thoughts on Verstappen. This may be an unpopular opinion, but it’s just a personal perspective.

There’s no doubt he’s an excellent driver. A real talent. He’ll clearly be challenging for multiple titles if not winning them for a large part of his career.
But I look at the, frankly, bewildering amount of hatred that so many people have for Lewis Hamilton and it makes me wonder how the public perception of Verstappen will change in the coming years. 

Fully expect the public to turn against Max. Thats generally what happens with winners - and he is going to be a multiple winner.

Mansell and Hill were loved for being glorious in defeat on the whole. A very British trait.

I agree Max's personality will turn some off, but I can imagine he will still be lauded in Holland even though he is a Monaco resident etc.

lordromford said:

Just a couple of thoughts on Verstappen. This may be an unpopular opinion, but it’s just a personal perspective.

There’s no doubt he’s an excellent driver. A real talent. He’ll clearly be challenging for multiple titles if not winning them for a large part of his career.
But I look at the, frankly, bewildering amount of hatred that so many people have for Lewis Hamilton and it makes me wonder how the public perception of Verstappen will change in the coming years. 

I don’t know if Hamilton is disliked because he wins so often or if it’s a personality thing (I suspect a combination of both.) But if personality is a large factor, I’d expect a lot of those people to turn against Max as time goes on.

I say this because from a personality point of view, I think Lewis compares very favourably to Max. Verstappen appears, to me at least, to be more arrogant, less gracious, more obnoxious, a bigger complainer on track, he throws blame around and generally seems to behave like an entitled brat.
I’d also say he’s more prone to irresponsible or impulsive driving decisions, but that has been less so as he’s matured.

I respect his skill and talent. If he wins multiple titles, I’ll applaud and say fair play. But his personality? No, sorry. I think he’s a prick. Certainly a bigger one than Hamilton.
So when people hope and pray for Verstappen to end Hamilton’s reign, it makes me think “be careful what you wish for”.

This.

Don't get the dislike of Hamilton. People in this Country can't seem to stand winners, unless they're from another Country. We can't wait to knock them down, yet give unswerving support for the gallant losers.

Personally think Verstappen is a petulant, entitled and arrogant twat, despite his undoubted talent. He's a fantastic driver but nowhere near as good a tactician and racer as Lewis.