Formula 1 2013

[89CAL]

It was a great drive from Grosjean on the weekend. Shows what he can do when he gets his $hit together.

[sh@un]

Any truth to the rumors of JEV replacing GRO next year?

[mickey]

I'll drive for Sauber for free

[89CAL]

I'll drive for Sauber for free

I'll drive for Marussia for free......

[Roy]

Any truth to the rumors of JEV replacing GRO next year?

I think its purely the French connection...but cant really see it. Lotus could get Hulk or DiResta or Bottas if they liked...all seem to be a better bet than JEV at the moment. How car you back a guy that has been outqualified something like 21-8 and has been out done for points scoring finishes. He is like Heidfeld and a clever racer which is why he came out on top in points last year and currently sits ahead Dan this year,,,,but the perfrmances do not reflect the scorecard nd think he needs a very strong second half of the season if he is to be on anybodies radar for next year

[tweety bird]

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone responded to the pit-lane accident that occurred during the German Grand Prix, saying that cameramen will be allowed on the pit wall only from now on.

Cameraman Paul Allen was hit by a wheel that came loose from Mark Webber's car following a botched Red Bull pit stop.

Allen was taken to hospital after breaking his collarbone and cracking two ribs, although he is expected to make a full recovery.

"I've been in close contact with everybody who has been dealing with the matter," Ecclestone told Press Association Sport.

"It's a terrible thing to say, but it was just one of those things.

"There was a whole bunch of mechanics and the tyre could have hit any one of those guys. The cameraman just happened to be looking the wrong way at the wrong time.

"In future, all our camera crews will only be allowed to film from the pit wall."

Ecclestone's announcement comes after several team principals called for helmets to be worn by everyone that works in the pit lane.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8814826/Ecclestone-announces-pit-changes

[hrd-hr30]

I think its purely the French connection...but cant really see it. Lotus could get Hulk or DiResta or Bottas if they liked...all seem to be a better bet than JEV at the moment. How car you back a guy that has been outqualified something like 21-8 and has been out done for points scoring finishes. He is like Heidfeld and a clever racer which is why he came out on top in points last year and currently sits ahead Dan this year,,,,but the perfrmances do not reflect the scorecard nd think he needs a very strong second half of the season if he is to be on anybodies radar for next year

there's certainly better drivers out there, but for Lotus it's not so much about that...

Vernge more likely candidate for Lotus with their French sponsor and serious need to keep those $$$

But after his strong race in Germany, Grosjean might have bought himself another year if he keeps his nose clean...

[dori34]

http://www.racingfanatic.net/2013/07/sebastian-buemi-tips-red-bull-to-sign.html

'Strong rumours suggest the favourite to replace Iceman is Nico Hulkenberg, And Grosjean is expected to be in the sister car in 2014'...

[Roy]

So, Vettel is easily quite capable of winning any WDC given a car capable. Kimi too. Two gun drivers would take points off each other as much as other drivers. Good for the WCC but not good at bagging the WDC as well.

Kimi is only 3 years younger than Webber. So assuming he signs a 2 year contract with option of 1 yr extension....he would likely retire after RBR stint. So with Vettel under cotnract to end of 2015...do you put yourself in a position where you risk one driver retiring and the other chasing a change and new challenge after 7 years with the one team? all within 12 months or at the same time?

On the face of things it looks an easy decision to take on Kimi...fast, popular and wont upset the team with politics...just drive and drive fast.

But frankly they are not strugfgling to win WDC or WCC with Seb in the car. Dan and Vergne both look capable of consistant and solid points finishes. Dan looks the better option simply because of his quali advantage and the fact that of the two Vergne has thrown the car away in crashes far more often that Dan.

So when I mull over it I think the question is does Dan have enough speed to push Vettel and get a strong haul of points? I think the answer is yes. Dose he have the turn of speed of either Kimi or Vettel...well he was DAMN fast in the RBR in testing. They have the data and know.

Every week that passes i think Dan makes sense for RBR...and is a better long term option and gives them the chance to put de Costa ion the STR for next year to push Jev along. They get a year to look at Dan alongside vettel to understand if they have a good pilot for another 4 or so years.

I think back to how they didnt rate Bourdais at all but obviously fell in love with Vettel. On the track the DNFs, and marginal differences in speed meant that to me there didnt appear to be worlds between them. There obviously was. I remember back to that when trying to understand is Dan doing enough against Jev...and with the cars development coming along nicely with James Key...ou get the feeling that STR will be racing FI and McLarens for the rest of the year so both dreivers have better equipment than Buemi and Jaimie to show their ability

The flip side is Kimi...Lotus make his life easy...he drives and thats it. RBR may be able to accomodate a load less PR for him...but it will be more work at RBR than Lotus.

[Roy]

My other prediction is whilst everyone is talking Lotus and RBR...the real issue will be Ferrari. Massa has had his chance and is throwing the car away more than Romain.

The team cant have a guy throwing away so many points when they want to win the WCC. Hulk is a shoe in and would fit in well and if a performer can easily get a good 4-5 years out of him, a good carry over for when Alonso steps aside and the likes of Vettel or whichever young gun arrives in the next 3 years

[wolverine]

How about Bianchi? He has shown enough to upgrade to a much better car next year.

[djr81]

My other prediction is whilst everyone is talking Lotus and RBR...the real issue will be Ferrari. Massa has had his chance and is throwing the car away more than Romain.

The team cant have a guy throwing away so many points when they want to win the WCC. Hulk is a shoe in and would fit in well and if a performer can easily get a good 4-5 years out of him, a good carry over for when Alonso steps aside and the likes of Vettel or whichever young gun arrives in the next 3 years

Well I rate teh Hulk. Would be good to see the second Ferrari go to someone with pace.

As for Kimi RB would do well to sign him _ think how many more cans of that god awful cats piss they would sell. If the boy from Perth cant have it it should be Kimi.

[mad082]

 

But after his strong race in Germany, Grosjean might have bought himself another year if he keeps his nose clean...

By clean you mean "intact"?

[Roy]

Re Hulk. Itd funny that Williams have acrually bloofed the two most impressuve rookies of late. Hulk and Bottas both need a strong seat. Di Resta is in the wings and driving well too.

Surely Massa doesnt stand a chance with so many drivers that look solid in their current drives and have loads of potential in a better car

[ctjet]

Surely Massa doesnt stand a chance with so many drivers that look solid in their current drives and have loads of potential in a better car

he stands absolutely no chance at all

which is sad, because his failures are ferraris failures, and who doesn't like to see them fall flat year after year

and dont call me Shirley

[djr81]

Re Hulk. Itd funny that Williams have acrually bloofed the two most impressuve rookies of late. Hulk and Bottas both need a strong seat. Di Resta is in the wings and driving well too.

Surely Massa doesnt stand a chance with so many drivers that look solid in their current drives and have loads of potential in a better car

Be good if they could get a good car at Williams. Williams would have kept Hulk but they couldnt afford to not run a pay driver.

As for Massa - he is a nice bloke who used to be able to drive. I dont quite understand it - surely a spring to the head doesnt cause that much damage?

[tweety bird]

Honda will development and manufacture the new V6 turbo engines at its base in Japan, but it felt it was important to establish a European facility to support its racing operation.

Yasuhisa Arai, Honda's chief officer of motorsports, said: "With the confirmation of a new F1 operation base in the UK, our preparation to join F1 has become more specific and concrete.

"To meet and exceed the expectations of our fans, we will accelerate our development to bring back the unique Honda engine sound onto the track."

The company plans to begin operations in Milton Keynes in June 2014.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8818737/Honda-confirms-Milton-Keynes-as-base

[tweety bird]

if massa go's i hope pasta steps up and moves to ferrari.

[Roy]

"...exceed the expectations of our fans, we will accelerate our development to bring back the unique Honda engine sound onto the track."

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8818737/Honda-confirms-Milton-Keynes-as-base

So they dont plan on winning anything or being good. Just sound goo. V-Tec YO! )

Truth is the Japanese Engineers want to be working in the UK because of the amount of Romanian and Russian strippers they have in their "gentemens clubs".

[djr81]

So they dont plan on winning anything or being good. Just sound goo. V-Tec YO! )

Truth is the Japanese Engineers want to be working in the UK because of the amount of Romanian and Russian strippers they have in their "gentemens clubs".

Get ron Tauranac out of retirement - he will make then design an engine that can actually be installed.