F1; The Official 2017 Thread

[javadog]

I don't think anybody's going to like the looks of the halo but, then again, I could criticize 15 or 20 of the aerodynamic appendages on the current cars and make the case that they're equally as bad. There's no question that they studied the problem in a detailed way and I can't fault them for the conclusion that they reached.

For what it's worth, I think Magnuson has damaged his brand a little bit. There's no question he was driving dirty and his post race comments won't endear him to anybody with a mature brain.

[astrochex]

I think the halo is an overeaction to a rare safety issue. It still boggles my mind that they would mandate a solution that impedes driver vision.

[yellowperil]

Go Ham!

[matthewb0051]

And we are back racing! Hallelujah !!!


I'm interested to know just how much K-Mag will be fined for the balls comment on TV.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by astrochex

I think the halo is an overeaction to a rare safety issue. It still boggles my mind that they would mandate a solution that impedes driver vision.

Totally agree. It will be interesting to see after an entire race how many drivers have headaches or similar issues after 2 hours of looking thru/around that thing. Remember that Seb said the windscreen made him sick or dizzy. I bet this will produce the same over time. I know there has been testing but full race distance and racing are different animals.

[URY914]

Spa! :d

[legion]

Without spoiling, the last stint of the race was quite impressive. To do a 14 lap drag race on harder tires and still win...

[tevake]

I woke up early to watch the race, and caught the very last of the GP2 race.
Wow some exciting slicing and dicing going on in that series.

They did so much hyping of the Dutch driver attracting such a big crowd, then an early exit, bummer.

That late caution sure opened the door for Seb. That was close.

Fun race, and season with the close battle between Hamilton and Vettle.

Cheers Richard

[Neilk]

Can't believe Perez.

Sure Ocon might have been a little optimistic in trying a pass before Eau Rouge, but you don't nearly put a competitor, or for that matter your teammate, into the wall. They are both lucky that they only lost places and not more.

[matthewb0051]

Perez is going to be looking for a ride soon. Ocon is in the Mercedes driver program so it won't be his head on the block.

The second incident was just stupid and totally Perez' fault.

[legion]

I'm thinking Verstappen, Perez and Kvyaat will be looking for new rides next season. Verstappen clearly has talent, but he seems to "use up" his car before the race is over, if he doesn't crash. Talent is nice, but finishing races is more important.

I also think (hope) Alonso goes to IndyCar next season. He can spend the next 15 years winning races and fighting for titles. IndyCar will enjoy the attention, both nationally and internationally. I just don't see any good options for him in F1.

[Aragorn]

Verstappen seemed agitated in his post race interview at Spa yesterday. I think he sees the same pattern that Vettel and Webber had a few years ago where one driver had good cars and mechanics and the other got leftovers and DNF's. I don't see any openings in better teams for him until there is a spot at Ferrari or Mercedes.

Perez and Ocon will not be teammates next year. Perez brings sponsorship but Ocon brings Mercedes. Looks like Perez might be out.

Alonso... I have read that he might be at either Renault or Force India. Verstappen is the key. If Verstappen somehow gets the keys to the kingdom at Mercedes (Bottas doesn't have a contract yet) then the seat at Red Bull will be open. The disgust that Alonso had over the radio at Spa was telling. His interview after his race was more telling. He likes McLaren, but they are saddled with Honda. Alonso could either be at Renault, Force India, Red Bull (depending on Verstappen) or Williams next year. Either Force India or Williams will give him Mercedes power. If McLaren somehow get Renault power for 2018, then he might stay.

[URY914]

Monza in the rain.

[Don Plumley]

That was amazing.

[yellowperil]

They were earning their pay today. 200MPH through standing water can't be much fun. Exciting to watch, glad no one got hurt.

[WPOZZZ]

I fell asleep after Q2. 5:30am and I hadn't been to sleep yet, and went out like a light.

[legion]

When did qualifying happen?

I taped it yesterday at the time it was supposed to happen. My recording even includes an extra hour. It looked like they were going to finally start qualifying right around the time my recording cut off. So I taped it again at 12:30 a.m. CDT, figuring it would have happened and been condensed down, but instead I got a soccer game.

I watched the race having no idea why anyone was where they were.

[javadog]

Qualifying happened about 2-1/2 hours late, because Grosjean crashed early in Q1 and they red-flagged it because of rain. Then there were something like 8 drivers with grid penalties. So, the grid was pretty different than normal.

Boring race. I have to hand it to the winner, he can drive well when his car is the way he wants it. That was literally a walk in the park for him today and his qualifying run was pretty special. I'm not a huge fan of him or the team but they do have talent, in spades.

JR

[Deschodt]

Funny Post on sniff petrol:

Alonso relieved at McLaren Honda splitPosted in Motorsport, News by Sniff Petrol on Friday, September 15th, 2017


Following news that McLaren and Honda are to part ways, Fernando Alonso has expressed relief at finally escaping the ‘nightmare’ of having to own a new Civic Type-R.

‘In recent months Fernando had been lobbying McLaren to drop Honda,’ confirmed a source close to the hairy-faced champ. ‘Not because of the mediocre on-track performance and hopeless reliability but because he was sick of coming out of his house every morning to see that awful looking car on the drive.’

‘The Honda relationship was really starting to affect all aspects of his life,’ continued a spokesman for the exasperated radio message racer. ‘Sometimes all he could dream of was inexplicably creased bits of metal and baffling stuck-on plastic, and then he would wake up screaming.’

‘I would like to thank Honda for all their work,’ the Spanish driver said in a statement today. ‘And in particular, their prompt removal of that horrible looking car from outside my house.’

Alonso arrives in Singapore ahead of this weekend’s race with just 10 championship points and the Megane RenaultSport configurator saved to his favourites.

[matthewb0051]

Now FA can have this: