F1 Australia - not surprising

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

Awesome result

They'll be enjoying a 'Victory Buffet' back at HQ this week, been a long time since the last one.

For a team that have won so many times they still know how special each win is and take time to savior the moment together with everyone that contributed to getting that one dude up to the top step.

The McLaren/Honda saga is not easy viewing for me as I have an emotional attachment to both companies, I really hope for F1 their relationship improves and they make up some ground this year.

Also really good to see Massa still has it, not bad for an old fella

It just astonishes me to see McLaren-Honda flounder so much. In the days olf old McLaren-Honda was a unstoppable machine. Now poor Alonzo is stuck to the worst car on track. I can certainly understand if they were battling for 3rd or 4th best but they are not even close. It is just sad how far the mighty have fallen.

From 1986 to 1991 they were king.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Formula_One_World_Constructors%27_Champion s

[matthewb0051]

I read today that Mclaren are something like 160 bhp down on Mercedes. Seriously?? They really need to get it together or like others I believe Alonso will be gone. Don't blame him though. I would pull a Mark Webber and off to Le Mans and WEC and win a title there before hanging it up.

After Quali I was certain this would be business as usual, so I delayed watching my DVR. Boy was I in for a surprise. That said, I would like to see more competition so long as it is produced through hard work. In my little dream world, Williams would be competing for wins as well.

As for Bottas, he should have passed LH the DB. Its only a 1 year contract and he is already considered a hot driver, so I think he could improve his standing by competing vice being a good team player.

[Deschodt]

Surprised too, glad I got the title of this thread wrong ;-) then again let's see what happens in China

[URY914]

We need a 2017 F1 thread.

[rusnak]

Just as Dr. Z was instrumental in Mercedes dominance in F1, when Honda's CEO who greenlighted the F1 project was fired, that was the end of Honda's F1 dream. They are just going through the motions now, and no one wants to stick his neck out. McLaren will have to look elsewhere because Honda will never come through with a power unit. They just lack the gumption.

[WPOZZZ]

That Giovanazzi did good, just like Van Doorne did last season.

[Deschodt]

This is pretty funny, the internet is all over Wolff's table slamming

The Toto Wolff Smash Is The Meme F1 Deserves Right Now

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

This is pretty funny, the internet is all over Wolff's table slamming

The Toto Wolff Smash Is The Meme F1 Deserves Right Now

He was probably wishing Hamilton had retired instead of Nico.

[Deschodt]

I don't know... I think he was just miffed Verstappen was in the sandwich and allowed Vettel to get by.... Hamilton?
I honestly think *any* of the top 5-6-8 F1 drivers could have been WC in the Mercedes in the past 3 years (I mean Rosberg is good, but nobody ever mentioned him in the same breath as Senna or Schumacher)... Now finally there is some pressure - maybe (let's see what happens in China, Mercedes could come back strong), and it will be fun to see how Hamilton responds.

I dislike the guy - but I respect his raw speed, it would be interesting to see him under pressure - the few times Rosberg got under his skin it was kinda of ugly. I'd love to see Bottas and Vettel (hopefully Kimi too) take some toys from his pram and see what kinda stuff starts flying around... He's a bit of a prima donna (as we all would be given his stature/money/entourage, I suppose).

I could see Mercedes replace HAM with ALO at year's end, and Keep a team player like Valterri. Just my guess... (of course if ALO moves to mercedes, they will produce a dog of a car and Ferrari or Redbull will take over, that's the rule, ALO is cursed ;-)

[matthewb0051]

I'm sure you can guess I don't like Hammy. And I really hate hearing the announcers pander to him.

Not sure what Mercedes considered after the blatant disregard for team instructions in Abu Dhabi but once Nico retired that was the end of all considerations of any sort of punishment. My take is that they tolerate quite a bit of antics from LH simply because he wins. He did the same sort at McLaren, blaming team for everything. Think back to Austria last year, he was a total a$$ about the strategy even went so far as to say the team just cost him the race. Then oops, he was able to catch Nico. Which BTW, Nico's driving was no different than Hammy's in Abu Dhabi, but look at the outcry over Nico's whereas Hammy's was considered 'strategy'. Sheer pandering.

So yes, I would love to see some real fight at the front amongst 4 or 5 drivers. I think he would implode. Goodness knows he can barely work the clutch at the start...

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

This is pretty funny, the internet is all over Wolff's table slamming

The Toto Wolff Smash Is The Meme F1 Deserves Right Now

Or maybe he just realized that Susie lost her DL in the UK so he will have to drive her around.

[David]

I find it surprising that Honda is down on power in F1, MotoGP, and World Superbike. Time for a change in management?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by David

I find it surprising that Honda is down on power in F1, MotoGP, and World Superbike. Time for a change in management?

Down on power and not even reliable.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Down on power and not even reliable.

and a gas hog, too !! The trifecta of crappy F1 engines !

Apparently they have been doing it "their way" and not been willing to listen to outside advice/consultants... They'd be better off with a Renault, seriously... Mercedes might be trickier.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

and a gas hog, too !! The trifecta of crappy F1 engines !

Apparently they have been doing it "their way" and not been willing to listen to outside advice/consultants... They'd be better off with a Renault, seriously... Mercedes might be trickier.

Yea, the three things no one wants in any engine, low power, poor reliability and bad fuel economy.

[Vintage Racer]

F-1 is now an American business (based in Colorado).

[nota]

Originally Posted by Vintage Racer

F-1 is now an American business (based in Colorado).

well burnie's part of the $$$$$$$$$ rights and promotion yes

but the FIA still makes the rules

[legion]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Yea, the three things no one wants in any engine, low power, poor reliability and bad fuel economy.

It's my understanding that the Honda engine can make more power, but it goes kablooee faster when they turn it up.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by legion

It's my understanding that the Honda engine can make more power, but it goes kablooee faster when they turn it up.

So they can do two out of three for a very short time. That only works for a dragster.

[Vintage Racer]

Originally Posted by nota

well burnie's part of the $$$$$$$$$ rights and promotion yes

but the FIA still makes the rules

Bernie resigned as CEO on January 23, 2017 and was replaced by Chase Carey. The FIA does make the rules.

You should read the Liberty Media SEC filings.