Formula One 2014

[hrd-hr30]

There's still a question mark over Merc rear brakes after Canada. Monza has a monumental stop for the first chicane at the end of the main straight, followed by another big stop for the next chicane not long after. not sure how much they're allowed to do mid-season to fix that issue. I think brake dimensions are fixed for the season, which would be very good news for Williams.

I'm keen to see how the other Mercedes runners of Force India and Mclaren match up with Ferrari and RedBull. FI were up there in Canada, but have fallen behind since. Low downforce might suit them. McLaren are the opposite, improving as the season goes on and should be more than a match for Red Bull here I think. Ferrari are hard to get a read on for me. Torro Rosso went well here last year too - if that's any guide they might even be on Red Bull's heels this weekend.

How many sleeps is it? I love Monza!

[mad082]

I think that redbull showed at spa that they finally have a car that can hold it's own in a straight line for once, so I think that they should go well at Monza and be able to fend off Williams (well Dan will anyway, lol). Merc will still be at the pointy end (unless they crash into each other at turn 1), and Williams will be there as well.

[hrd-hr30]

the only reason RBR were as fast as the others in a straight line at Spa was they used thier Monza wing and all their ERS to defend on that one straight. At Monza, everyone will be using those low downforce/drag wings and there's 3 straights...

[djr81]

There's still a question mark over Merc rear brakes after Canada. Monza has a monumental stop for the first chicane at the end of the main straight, followed by another big stop for the next chicane not long after. not sure how much they're allowed to do mid-season to fix that issue. I think brake dimensions are fixed for the season, which would be very good news for Williams.

I'm keen to see how the other Mercedes runners of Force India and Mclaren match up with Ferrari and RedBull. FI were up there in Canada, but have fallen behind since. Low downforce might suit them. McLaren are the opposite, improving as the season goes on and should be more than a match for Red Bull here I think. Ferrari are hard to get a read on for me. Torro Rosso went well here last year too - if that's any guide they might even be on Red Bull's heels this weekend.

How many sleeps is it? I love Monza!

Low downforce has traditionally been a strength for Force India. Not sure to what extent they have lost that or their oddball strategies have been hiding it.

[mad082]

the only reason RBR were as fast as the others in a straight line at Spa was they used thier Monza wing and all their ERS to defend on that one straight. At Monza, everyone will be using those low downforce/drag wings and there's 3 straights...

I know they were using their Monza wing, I just didn't realise that other teams weren't also using low down force wings

[MatthewT85]

i think they were using low downforce wings, but from what i could see on tv the other teams wings werent as aggressive as the RBRs

[hrd-hr30]

[djr81]

Couldn't understand why Williams were carrying so much wing

[hrd-hr30]

Low downforce has traditionally been a strength for Force India. Not sure to what extent they have lost that or their oddball strategies have been hiding it.

yeah they normally go well at the high speed tracks, and were strong at Canada. But they didn't do as well as hoped at Speilberg... Hopefully they realise it's their best chance of a podium and have been putting everything into their Monza spec!

[hrd-hr30]

Couldn't understand why Williams were carrying so much wing

the faster cars didn't need to shed wing for speed. Their top speeds were within a km/h or two of Red Bulls' despite carrying all that wing! Look out for them at Monza!!!

Edited September 3, 2014 by hrd-hr30

[djr81]

the faster cars didn't need to shed wing for speed. Their top speeds were within a km/h or two of Red Bulls' despite carrying all that wing! Look out for them at Monza!!!

Expected better of Williams at Spa. Cant work out when they are easy on their tyres. I think it is in low to medium downforce circuits when the track temp is 38 - 40 degrees on days beginning with a T or similar.

Also, do want, is cheap enough. Wonder if the come in XXL?

http://www.ompracing.it/en_gb/race-kart-mechanic-wear/suits/ayrton-senna-replica-suit.html

[m.j.h]

Also, do want, is cheap enough. Wonder if the come in XXL?

http://www.ompracing.it/en_gb/race-kart-mechanic-wear/suits/ayrton-senna-replica-suit.html

Not an exact replica as they state

Brazilian flag on the waist band is wrong side and right sleeve looks like it has an extra patch on the replica compared to the photo in link.

[djr81]

The photo is of one of the GP's when smokes sponsorship was banned - probably Silverstone or similar. So it isn't supposed to be the same.

[Roy]

Expected better of Williams at Spa. Cant work out when they are easy on their tyres. I think it is in low to medium downforce circuits when the track temp is 38 - 40 degrees on days beginning with a T or similar.

Also, do want, is cheap enough. Wonder if the come in XXL?

http://www.ompracing.it/en_gb/race-kart-mechanic-wear/suits/ayrton-senna-replica-suit.html

Wet quali ruined their weekend.

Massa is an odd one. Has pace, can still race...but race after race is having Rubens Honda-esque problems and poor Williams bleeding points. I know he is on a two year contract but with Bottas heading into his 3rds season and looking pretty damn rock solid maybe its time for Massa to step aside and they give someone else some testing and a shot.

It is a real shame that Frijns has such a chip on his shoulder as he has the talent to get a seat even without cash. Would have been great to see someone like Williams give him testing instead of Nasr.

I do wonder if any teams out there are making excuses for JEV and willing to give him a shot. I cant see where he is going to end up unless Romain does kick a goal with McLaren, Williams etc and Lotus want another French driver to keep Total and Renault happy.

[djr81]

Lotus are going MB next year Troy don't forget. Not sure about their lube, however. Anyway another reason for MC to go Grosjean?

[Roy]

Its not confirmed yet, but does seem to be expected that teh Mcalaren engines will find their way to Lotus next year. Not sure its wise as myself as Renault will get there and Lotus need the French support of Renulat engines, Total oils and are likely to get better deal out of Renaul then Mercedes powering their own car.

Also...common sense

http://boxofneutrals.com/2014/08/nice-guys-finish-last/

[hrd-hr30]

Also...common sense

http://boxofneutrals.com/2014/08/nice-guys-finish-last/

Same thing lots of people have been saying on forums. Rosberg's sick of Hamilton chopping his nose off and decided not to GTFO of his way next time. He said himself he felt he needed to make a point. It's plainly obvious what that point was.

That article is pretty shit. "Hamilton... was poised to seize the title lead for the first time in Belgium." Really? He was 11 points behind Rosberg, so he need to win and for Rosberg to finish 4th or worse. Not sure how poised to happen that was considering they were over 2sec faster than the rest of the field! And it wouldn't have been the first time he led the championship anyway.

Edited September 3, 2014 by hrd-hr30

[djr81]

Its not confirmed yet, but does seem to be expected that teh Mcalaren engines will find their way to Lotus next year. Not sure its wise as myself as Renault will get there and Lotus need the French support of Renulat engines, Total oils and are likely to get better deal out of Renaul then Mercedes powering their own car.

Also...common sense

http://boxofneutrals.com/2014/08/nice-guys-finish-last/

Not that I want to buy into the new Lotus being the same as the old one but Lotus to Mercedes shades of Lotus to Honda in 1987? With their hopeless aero it may be more accurate than not.

Not that Grosjean is the next Senna or Nick Chester the next Gerard Ducarouge. But maybe Pastor is the next Johnnie Dumphries (Without the title or the class)

[Roy]

Because I am desperate to see Romain get a good seat I do find myself wondering how much infuence Allison will be getting at Ferrari. "You know, when I was at Lotus and we had Kimi and Romain in the cars...Romain was ...." Means I would have to start liking Ferrari, which truth is now that Dennis is back at McLaren I would find it a lot easier to like Ferrari than Mac.

LOL, its September and what is one of the 3 biggest names in F1 is running around in the back of the top 10 with no sponsor after the last two seasons of losing money

[tweety bird]

Haas will be running Ferrari engines.

And kobi's back.