birchesgreen
Established Member
Toto was unimpressed with Bottas, i think he wishes he could sack him again.
There's certainly some murmurings that it was intentional. I wonder if he was ordered to block Max, only to refuse to comply?I have no clue what Bottas was doing at Turn 1 though. Almost seemed liek he gave up the position to Verstappen.
I think that's possible; only a few races ago he let Max pass very easily and in the same race, I think it was, he ignored a team order to let Hamilton past didn't he? I wondered at the time why he wasn't sacked on the spot; a few days later came the news that he was leaving Mercedes anyway.There's certainly some murmurings that it was intentional. I wonder if he was ordered to block Max, only to refuse to comply?
My heart wants Hamilton to win it so he can surpass Schumacher's seven but my mind says Verstappen has it this year. He has had more DNFs than Hamilton (Britain and the recovery drive in Hungary lost him points) yet has won more races and has not made any mistakes. The RB is simply the better car, Merc being good on some tracks is useless, they need to be good on all of them or most.I don't know about the rest of you, but unless Hamilton and Mercedes get things straight, or Max has some incredibly bad luck, Max has this in the bag.
My heart wants Hamilton to win it so he can surpass Schumacher's seven but my mind says Verstappen has it this year. He has had more DNFs than Hamilton (Britain and the recovery drive in Hungary lost him points) yet has won more races and has not made any mistakes. The RB is simply the better car, Merc being good on some tracks is useless, they need to be good on all of them or most.
I think that's possible; only a few races ago he let Max pass very easily and in the same race, I think it was, he ignored a team order to let Hamilton past didn't he? I wondered at the time why he wasn't sacked on the spot; a few days later came the news that he was leaving Mercedes anyway.
I have to agree with all of that. The way Max managed to keep the Red Bull on the track around the outside of turn one under apparently heavier / later braking than the Mercedes was quite unbelievable. Obviously he's full of confidence (he always has been) but the car is delivering for him now too.My heart wants Hamilton to win it so he can surpass Schumacher's seven but my mind says Verstappen has it this year. He has had more DNFs than Hamilton (Britain and the recovery drive in Hungary lost him points) yet has won more races and has not made any mistakes. The RB is simply the better car, Merc being good on some tracks is useless, they need to be good on all of them or most.
Brasil and Abu Dhabi favour Mercedes over Red Bull in recent years. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are both unknown quantities. There's a lot left to play for.I think it's Max's championship to lose, if he keeps going as he is then Lewis doesn't have any way to pass him, either on track or on the leaderboard.
Max took pole and won the last brasilian grand prix in 2019.Brasil and Abu Dhabi favour Mercedes over Red Bull in recent years. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are both unknown quantities. There's a lot left to play for.
As I said, "over recent years" - since 2014 Mercedes have won 4 times, Red Bull have won once. One swallow doesn't a summer make.Max took pole and won the last brasilian grand prix in 2019.
Having seen clips of the building site of a circuit in Saudi two weeks ago, it reminded me of the visible bare concrete shells of Crossrail stations at ground level in early 2018.Brasil and Abu Dhabi favour Mercedes over Red Bull in recent years. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are both unknown quantities. There's a lot left to play for.
Korea and India all over again.Having seen clips of the building site of a circuit in Saudi two weeks ago, it reminded me of the visible bare concrete shells of Crossrail stations at ground level in early 2018.
Spokesperson: "It's definitely opening in December '18!"
Yeah, right...
There had been talk previously that the race could be on the calendar as soon as 2023 and take place in Docklands as an addition rather than a replacement for the current British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Josh Wanders, of US firm 777 Partners, which is behind the ambitious rebuild in Newham, told the Daily Mail: “We are hopeful that it is coming. We are hugely excited about it.
Now that would be interesting! Have there been any proposed track layouts shown anywhere?Talking about new races, LONDON might just actually be a goer!
I would suggest that's just an indicative outline of the area the track may fall within. It wouldn't surprise me if the journalist has no information about the track itself so has just created the map to make the article more impactful.From the Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/s...-Prix-plans-place-Britain-second-F1-race.html
looks like a DRS bore fest though.
View attachment 105402View attachment 105403
I thought that DRS was going to disappear in the new regs? Agreed that the layout is a bit underwhelming on first glance.looks like a DRS bore fest though.
True, it does say "site" rather than "track" or "layout". Plus, looking at the area in Google Maps there aren't roads where most of the red line goes!I would suggest that's just an indicative outline of the area the track may fall within.
The new regs have been designed such that hopefully the need for DRS will be negated with the new aero design, however it's effectively been left in as a contingency measure should it still be required. That is my understanding at least.I thought that DRS was going to disappear in the new regs? Agreed that the layout is a bit underwhelming on first glance.
I reckon two laps of the M25 might do.Now that would be interesting! Have there been any proposed track layouts shown anywhere?
On a Friday evening......................I reckon two laps of the M25 might do.
Remember the British GP a few years ago when a protestor ran onto the track?Now a London circuit would be great. Trouble is you would have to get round insulate Britain .
Indeed I do, I was the post Chief on Stowe corner who phoned it in to Race control.Remember the British GP a few years ago when a protestor ran onto the track?
Okay, this might get split off as a separate thread but for a bit of fun. What would you propose for an F1 track in your home city or a city of choice? Rules are that for street circuits they have to mostly follow existing roads, minor alterations that would co-exist with regular, every day usage are allowed (e.g. a route that goes through the centre of a roundabout as that could be reinstated afterwards).
For a starter, here's my route for a Dundee Grand Prix:
View attachment 105424
Zipped .KML file attached. Yellow line is the track, red area is where the pits would go (on a floating structure). Track length is just over 7km so long, but not the longest track in existence. Don't know if maybe the straights are too long though...
I still remember the steward who ran on and rugby tackled the protestor, total hero!Indeed I do, I was the post Chief on Stowe corner who phoned it in to Race control.
What would you propose for an F1 track in your home city or a city of choice? Rules are that for street circuits they have to mostly follow existing roads, minor alterations that would co-exist with regular, every day usage are allowed (e.g. a route that goes through the centre of a roundabout as that could be reinstated afterwards).
Very thorough, but will there be suitable berthing available for the rich and famous to park their gin palaces in Aberdeen Docks?Okay, I'm going to have to go out any minute, so I'll make a simple sketch for now: I present the Aberdeen Grand Prix:
View attachment 105432
The pitlane would be created on Wellington Street on the grassy area across from Burger King. Cars would go clockwise, and turn by turn:
Turn 1: Wellington Street onto Waterloo Quay. A hard right hander after a cobblestone section. With some rain (inevitable), the cobblestones would turn incredibly slick, creating overtaking opportunities.
Turn 2: Regent Quay - a small right hand kink, taken flat out.
Turn 3: Regent Quay lights - a nasty left hander that requires concentration.
Turn 4: Virginia Street left hander. Taken flat out, the track is much wider at this point.
Turn 5: A nice wide run up to Guild Street by the train/bus stations, and another cobblestone section designed to catch out unaware drivers. At the end, a wide sweeping left hander onto College Street.
Turn 6: College Street into Springbank Terrace - a 90 degree turn, but nice and wide.
Turn 7: Quick run down Springbank Terrace into Willowbank road, followed by a hard 90 degree turn into Holburn Street.
Turn 8: Holburn Street into Union Street. A nasty fast right hand corner.
Turn 9: At the bottom of the flat-out Union Street down the hill, cars turn into King Street while preserving as much speed as possible.
Turn 10: Wide right hand turn into East North Street.
Turn 11: The Justice Port roundabout. Kept in place so that the downhill section of the Beach Boulevard will favour cars with quicker acceleration. Local boy racers from the 90s will finally see their dream: the Bouley being turned into a race track.
Turn 12: Beach Esplanade - a nightmare if it's raining and windy, which it probably will be. The spray from the beach will hinder drivers, while seagulls will probably attack the cars.
DRS zones on Union Street and the Beach Boulevard. The track itself is varied, but the two cobblestone sections are designed to catch drivers out.