F1; The Official 2017 Thread

[astrochex]

I will watch F1 next year if Kubica is driving. Its the only thing that would enable me to tolerate the halo.

[Rtrorkt]

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

Fixed your post, Massa's retirement announced today

I'd like to see Kubica drive again in F1

Felipe Massa: Williams driver to retire at end of the season - BBC Sport

[legion]

If Massa keeps it up, he'll be the Michael Jordan of F1 retirements.

[Deschodt]

I'm really not looking forward to the Halo - just when the cars started to look good again...
I'd also like to see Ferrari's bluff being called, and if not a bluff for once, it could be interesting...
Sounds like all the engine manufacturers except Honda (shocker) are not happy with the new engine rules though, so hopefully Liberty listens to all involved... I'll probably watch because I cannot help myself and I want to see is McLaren can come back...

[yellowperil]

Just started Q1 and first car out and into the wall. Big effect on tomorrows race.

[Deschodt]

Thank you to whoever recommended the Williams movie on Netflix.

I was a kid and I lived in the area when the accident happened and I remember it well, making the news etc... That was a touching story and it made me more of a fan of Williams than any driver or sponsorship ever could (martini colors help)....
I had no idea about the siblings rivalry either, makes them all more human... A very good watch if you are into F1 and on this thread !

[Won]

Recently watched the Williams movie too. Very interesting indeed to learn the human side of the Williams story. I didn't know anything about Lady Williams before, and I have tremendous respect for her as I can relate somewhat from what my wife is willing to put up with for my own career choices. It made me smile when they mention that Frank was the way he is even before his accident in terms of his personality. I've met a few big names in the industry so far and they all seem to have a thing or two that make them "special".

I'm joining Mercedes F1 in January next year. I was on the phone with them as I was driving to Le Mans in June (will always remember that), so it's been a long process. The visa came in the mail today, so that means everything that must be approved has been approved, and we can say for sure that we are moving back to the UK. I really enjoyed my time in WRC, especially in 2017 with the new cars and good racing. It's a shame that I won't get to have a WRC title on my CV though, we threw that away sort of like Ferrari did. I think 2018 will be very exciting for F1, and look forward to doing my part in the championship fight. I also look forward to the official F1 2018 thread on Pelican!

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Won

I'm joining Mercedes F1 in January next year. I was on the phone with them as I was driving to Le Mans in June (will always remember that), so it's been a long process.....It's a shame that I won't get to have a WRC title on my CV though, we threw that away sort of like Ferrari did. I think 2018 will be very exciting for F1, and look forward to doing my part in the championship fight. I also look forward to the official F1 2018 thread on Pelican!

1) congratulations, I hope you keep us fed with nuggets of insider info that won't get you in trouble but would be great to read.... Doesn't have to be technical, life at Mercedes ?

2) trying to think of who threw away the WRC title this year, I can only think Hyundai&Neuville ?
Fragile suspension parts ? ;-)

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Won

Recently watched the Williams movie too. Very interesting indeed to learn the human side of the Williams story. I didn't know anything about Lady Williams before, and I have tremendous respect for her as I can relate somewhat from what my wife is willing to put up with for my own career choices. It made me smile when they mention that Frank was the way he is even before his accident in terms of his personality. I've met a few big names in the industry so far and they all seem to have a thing or two that make them "special".

I'm joining Mercedes F1 in January next year. I was on the phone with them as I was driving to Le Mans in June (will always remember that), so it's been a long process. The visa came in the mail today, so that means everything that must be approved has been approved, and we can say for sure that we are moving back to the UK. I really enjoyed my time in WRC, especially in 2017 with the new cars and good racing. It's a shame that I won't get to have a WRC title on my CV though, we threw that away sort of like Ferrari did. I think 2018 will be very exciting for F1, and look forward to doing my part in the championship fight. I also look forward to the official F1 2018 thread on Pelican!

Congrats Won! That should be an amazing opportunity.

Your team would have to be the favorites for 2018.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by Won

I'm joining Mercedes F1 in January next year. I really enjoyed my time in WRC, especially in 2017 with the new cars and good racing. It's a shame that I won't get to have a WRC title on my CV though, we threw that away sort of like Ferrari did. I think 2018 will be very exciting for F1, and look forward to doing my part in the championship fight. I also look forward to the official F1 2018 thread on Pelican!

Exciting times, congratulations, fortune favours the brave

Hope you'll enjoy the challenge of the work pace, pressure and level of detail required to survive in a top F1 team. It's not for everyone but I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

What area of the car will you be working on and which dept.? I know a lot of the Merc guys, they are a good bunch so I'm sure they'll make you feel at home very quickly.

[MFAFF]

Originally Posted by Won

Recently watched the Williams movie too. Very interesting indeed to learn the human side of the Williams story. I didn't know anything about Lady Williams before, and I have tremendous respect for her as I can relate somewhat from what my wife is willing to put up with for my own career choices. It made me smile when they mention that Frank was the way he is even before his accident in terms of his personality. I've met a few big names in the industry so far and they all seem to have a thing or two that make them "special".

I'm joining Mercedes F1 in January next year. I was on the phone with them as I was driving to Le Mans in June (will always remember that), so it's been a long process. The visa came in the mail today, so that means everything that must be approved has been approved, and we can say for sure that we are moving back to the UK. I really enjoyed my time in WRC, especially in 2017 with the new cars and good racing. It's a shame that I won't get to have a WRC title on my CV though, we threw that away sort of like Ferrari did. I think 2018 will be very exciting for F1, and look forward to doing my part in the championship fight. I also look forward to the official F1 2018 thread on Pelican!

Well done... North Oxfordshire/ Northamptonshire Pelican meet?....

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by Won

I'm joining Mercedes F1 in January next year. I was on the phone with them as I was driving to Le Mans in June (will always remember that), so it's been a long process. The visa came in the mail today, so that means everything that must be approved has been approved, and we can say for sure that we are moving back to the UK. I really enjoyed my time in WRC, especially in 2017 with the new cars and good racing. It's a shame that I won't get to have a WRC title on my CV though, we threw that away sort of like Ferrari did. I think 2018 will be very exciting for F1, and look forward to doing my part in the championship fight. I also look forward to the official F1 2018 thread on Pelican!

Wow! Will you be traveling with the team, or working out of Brackley? All that traveling would make me crazy.

[legion]

Won, first off, congrats!

Second, feel free to correct my wild speculation in my F1 posts next year. The way things look from a TV screen in my living room is very different from how they look inside the team!

And on a related but different topic...

I hope Bottas sticks around at Mercedes for a few seasons. I think he's a good teammate for Hamilton. I think he'll come on stronger next season.

[Won]

Thanks guys.

Deschodt, let's get it out of the way: yes Hyundai is my current team and no, I don't think it was only the suspension parts that lost us the title . Even on these parts, I wish I could tell you the real story. I did most of the original 2017 bodywork and all of the "Evo" bodywork which has been on the cars since Catalunya, plus a few other bits generally hidden from view.

I will be working on composites at Mercedes. (Some details edited out... nothing special)

I can already tell you a little bit about the life, and that is everyone (an unusually large number of people, in fact) that I have come in contact with between the initial interviews and now, are all absolutely the nicest human beings. Captain told me once that this industry has a way of filtering out, ahem, "difficult" characters, and I really do believe that to be true. I had a chance to meet James Allison a few years back, and he was a genuinely nice guy as well, so I think it pretty much runs up and down the whole team. They are also very enthusiastic, even more than you would expect for a team that's been winning championships lately. Even my wife commented on how annoyingly enthusiastic and convincing they are, as we were trying to decide whether to make the move back to the UK or not. I'm invited to coffee with my future colleagues even before I start the position. So, first impressions are great. Let's see how it is once I jump into the deep end.

[Won]

Originally Posted by MFAFF

Well done... North Oxfordshire/ Northamptonshire Pelican meet?....

That would be great! Just as Captain was returning to the UK from Italy, we were moving from Oxford to Frankfurt, so we never got a chance to grab a drink. Would be nice to finally meet him and other Pelicans!

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Won

I don't think it was only the suspension parts that lost us the title . Even on these parts, I wish I could tell you the real story.

I do too (about the real story)... Anyway, excellent opportunity, very exciting ! Wishing you great success (although I'd like Mercedes to be challenged for the title next year by RB, Ferrari and McLaren if possible)...

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by Won

That would be great! Just as Captain was returning to the UK from Italy, we were moving from Oxford to Frankfurt, so we never got a chance to grab a drink. Would be nice to finally meet him and other Pelicans!

I'm up for that, only ever met two Pelicans before, had a very entertaining evening in Maranello, would be good to meet some more.

Think you made a great choice in joining the composite department, they might give you my old desk

Your new and my old boss is a top dude and the guys in your team will be very welcoming, I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself.

Front end of the car will keep you extremely busy, the level of detail and work that goes into a front wing assy will be like nothing you'll have worked on before. Also the rate of aero development will make it feel like you've work on one big wing assy when in fact by the time the season is finished you will have designed 8-10 different iterations

[astrochex]

The front wings are phenomenal in their complexity.

Looks like Won is going to have a very exciting next chapter in his career. Good luck!

[arcsine]

Cool and congratulations to you Won.

Can we now start talking about Y250 vortexes?

[MFAFF]

Originally Posted by Won

That would be great! Just as Captain was returning to the UK from Italy, we were moving from Oxford to Frankfurt, so we never got a chance to grab a drink. Would be nice to finally meet him and other Pelicans!

Excellent...hopefully in the New Year once you have settled in....
My car lives in oxford so we can sort out somewhere reasonable to meet up....