Motors Bit-Tech F1 2017 thread - Season Complete

Massa has been doing what Massa has done the last three years, quietly getting on with his job and scoring a steady stream of points. For all the attention he's got, Stroll's only actually beaten Massa once this year, the two other times he's been classified ahead of him was because Massa's car broke. If Kubica's arm holds together he will smash Stroll to pieces.

 

I'd like to see Williams maybe go with a less conventional 3 driver lineup. Keep Massa for another year and run BOTH Stroll and Kubica in the second car.

 

Stroll got lucky a couple of times [the podium finish and the p2 qualy], and is still behind Massa on points.

 

http://www.planetf1.com/news/bottas-re-signs-with-mercedes-for-2018/

And the world looked on in complete and total un-surprise.

I'm predicting Ricciardo in a Merc for 2019, unless RB build him a title capable car next year.

 

Well, Williams have to look at other others now, considering McLaren got what Alonso asked for, thus he is staying in McL, so that ship sailed for Williams.

 

Problem with Williams is that they are being propped up by their engine. If they still had a Renault in the back, they'd be fighting with Sauber. They just don't seem to have the brains to develop the car any more - they start strong by playing safe and capitalising on other teams teething problems, then sink back further and further as the season goes on.

 

Renault tell Red Bull to do one...

 

Oooh, spicy!

It makes for sweet revenge for all those years of Horner and Co. badmouthing Renault... But I feel for Ricciardo and Verstappen, it was bad enough seeing Alonso go to waste for the past 3 years, if those 2 are going to be struggling around the back of the grid and retiring every other race, we all lose out. Plus, I give it exactly 5 minutes into pre-season testing before the quit threats come rolling out again.

It doesn't paint a very good picture for F1 at the minute either - manufactures not wanting to supply some teams, some teams not wanting manufactures... Do we really expect the likes of Aston Martin, Porsche, BMW and whoever else to be excited about jumping into this circus?!

 

The trouble is, I can see now Red Bull finding some kind of secret sauce with Honda nd the 2019 engine being a blinder.

However, I hope not, RB have been a bunch of complete turds in F1, even when they were winning.

 

They will both land in cars other than Red Bulls, they're simply too good not to.

 

Ideally - but where could they go that will give them a proper chance to be at the sharp end? Vettel won't wan't either at Ferrari with him (and AFAIK has singed on until the end of 2020), I don't doubt Merc would love to have either alongside Lewis, but that would mean Toto has to hang out his own pet Bottas to dry. Renault would have to make significant gains to really be in with a shot at a title. RBR really needs this rumoured Porsche buyout to happen, or have Aston Martin throw it's chips in after they finished this hypercar project.

I purposely don't mention Honda, because frankly if they haven't been able to fix basic problems yet, I don't see it happening before the engine regs change again.

 

When Lotus were in trouble [locked out of their facilities by bailiffs], the f1 paddock bent over backwards to help the team [well the staff]...
When RBR were in trouble [when they were looking like they had no engine], the paddock was basically 'meh, **** 'em...'

 

I think Ricciardo could get a drive anywhere - he's easily in the top three on the grid. Verstappen is definitely very talented, but he needs to use his head a bit more, before he'll reach the top.

The thought of that happening is sickening - I'd like to see them spend a year or three fighting for Q2, ideally resulting in that smug pr!ck Horner getting the elbow.

 

Actually those two are in ideal position. Most drivers contracts end in 2018 season. So in 2019 it is going to be pretty crazy. Bottas, Raikonnen - two open spots in top teams for 2019 season. And don't think Mercedes will think twice when a chance to grab Verstappen shows up.

 

Was just discussing next year's silly season with a mate.
I can see Merc with either Bottas, Max or DanRic, to be honest.
I can see Ferrari with Bottas or Max (though, for some reason, not so much with Daniel). Either way, a good driver seems to be in the awkward seat there.

I expect to see RBR push for longer term engine spec naildown soon, what with the rumours or Porsche lurking in the wings there for the 2021 season.
I could imagine Lewis being quite tempted to move to an RBR/Porsche.

 

Sky sports are reporting that Jolyon Palmer is excited about his future.

A typo perhaps? Exited seems more likely.

 

Forumla E... or Strictly 2018

 

Unless things go wrong at Mercedes I don't see Lewis driving for any other team before he retires. With RB's behaviour towards it's drivers (pay/conditions) I don't see him or any existing champion driving for RB full stop.

Driving for a team that acknowledges his existence. I would laugh if he goes off to Indycar or GT and kicks arse at that. Or if fate trolls us all and he ends up in a Williams or something.

 

I've heard the rumours that he might get a Williams seat, but it seems highly unlikely to me. He had a raw deal with Renault - poor reliability and Hulk has had al the new bits but, on the odd occasion where the car hasn't let him down, he has either binned it or failed to shine. I don't see a compelling reason for Williams to choose him.

 

Sounds like the perfect Williams driver, in that case!