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The Formula 1 Thread

Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
31,159
18,914
McLaren do have the budget though, that's why it's been so surprising they've been consistently poor. Williams on the other hand have a fairly modest budget but are still under performing.
They don’t have the budget, it’s like an Everton/spurs competing against city in financial terms.
 

Green Samot

Ever so slightly annoyed
Apr 14, 2004
746
145
They don’t have the budget, it’s like an Everton/spurs competing against city in financial terms.

Yeah OK, compared to Merc and Ferrari they spend less but with the budget they do have and their facilities they should be doing much better.

Having said that, maybe I just think they should be doing much better because they always used to be good :)

They should be up there just behind Red Bull I reckon.
 

Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
31,159
18,914
Yeah OK, compared to Merc and Ferrari they spend less but with the budget they do have and their facilities they should be doing much better.

Having said that, maybe I just think they should be doing much better because they always used to be good :)

They should be up there just behind Red Bull I reckon.
Agreed we should be, but I can assure you budget is nowhere near that of the big boys.

Unfortunate power issues with the Honda engine, some aero challenges last year, but i’s Say a transition year definitely.

No expectations this year, but McLaren are branching out to the Indy 500 race series this year and a few other things.

The facilities are amazing, but McLaren F1 is just a part of McLaren organisation.
 

sussexyid

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2004
1,541
945
Midfield looks very entertaining from testing but until they all turn up in Oz, who knows what their relative performances are.

Id love McLaren Williams to be back at the sharp end, always been a fan of both, ever since Senna vs Mansell.

Williams problem are down to design capabilities, their aero and chasis work was very poor last year. Looks like Mclaren's problems were most aero as the chasis performed relatively well on the right circuits. For McLaren's sake (and for Dan Ric) I hope Renault have actually made a quantum leap forward with their BHP figures too!

Should be an interesting season, though I fear the Ferrari will be a lot quicker than the others!
 

LSUY

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2005
24,010
66,826
F1: We're going to give points to the driver with the fastest lap to help create exciting racing and grow the fan base

Also F1: *sees Sky's viewing figures of 707k compared to C4s 2.5m* we're giving all but one of the GPs to Sky & no more than 50% of the running time of the free to air highlight programme can contain actual racing (down from 70% last year)
 

SirNiNyHotspur

23 Years of Property, Concerts, Karts & Losing
Apr 27, 2004
3,125
6,743
Been watching netflix new F1 series Drive to Survive, got some great behind the scenes stuff from last season, get you ready for Sunday, hope they renew for this season, looking forward to Sunday!
 

Yid-ol

Just-outside Edinburgh
Jan 16, 2006
31,097
19,276
So much for the Ferrari advantage over the winter...

Just seen the qualifying results, was a bit shocked by the gap also. Expected Ferrari to be closer (as they were behind by same gap last year) or ahead after pre season testing..... Mercedes must have been sandbagging throughout it.
 

sussexyid

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2004
1,541
945
Ferrari nowhere really, thought they were showing false pace in testing. Well, thought that mere and red bull were not running flat out.

Well done Battas too, got his nose in front off the line and then took care of business. I think the gap was that big though because of Hamiltons early pit stop to cover Vettel.

Should be a fun season!
 

$hoguN

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2005
26,626
34,700
Shame for Leclerc yesterday. Really great for Hamilton who nursed his softs well to keep him in with a shout of victory.

Quick question, is it just me who thinks Verstappen will never win a World title? Yesterday’s crash with a Sainz just seemed to be another clear demonstration of how he arrogantly refuses to listen to concerns about the way he defends. With Leclerc, Norris and Russel all coming through and Hamilton still showing why he is one of the greatest drivers we will ever see, I just can’t see Max ever winning a title
 

tottenmal

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2013
801
2,082
Shame for Leclerc yesterday. Really great for Hamilton who nursed his softs well to keep him in with a shout of victory.

Quick question, is it just me who thinks Verstappen will never win a World title? Yesterday’s crash with a Sainz just seemed to be another clear demonstration of how he arrogantly refuses to listen to concerns about the way he defends. With Leclerc, Norris and Russel all coming through and Hamilton still showing why he is one of the greatest drivers we will ever see, I just can’t see Max ever winning a title
It does seem that unless Red Bull make the step up to real challengers soon Verstappen will end up as one of those 'What If' drivers. As you say, with the good crop of young drivers coming through, Verstappen isn't the young upstart he once was, or was perceived to be. He needs to mature quickly, as although everybody knows he is quick, he needs to mature enough on track to get a seat at a Mercedes or the like if Red Bull don't deliver. Otherwise as you say, might end up never fulfilling his potential.
 

sussexyid

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2004
1,541
945
Leclerc must be regretting going to Ferrari just now. So unfair

What alternative did he have? He was a Ferrari "Young Driver" and he was at Sauber. Merc were never going to get him and Id rather be a little disgruntled at Ferrari than midfield also ran at Alfa Romeo.
 
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