F1; The Official 2017 Thread

[URY914]

Let's keep it all in one thread.

Two race have been run and two different winners with the driver's championship now tied at 43 point each. The Bahrain Grand Prix is next and we have a new pole winner in Bottas.


And for those guys that record and watch the races later. Do yourself a favor and don't open this thread and complain that everyone else here is talking about it.

So who is your pick for the WDC this year? I'd like to see someone that hasn't won it before. Daniel Ricciardo or Max Verstappen but I doubt if they will.

[nota]

10:30 AM TODAY on CNBC for BABARAIN F-1

NOT the regular NBC or spNBC channels

if I was going to bet Ham
but would rather see boatass or vet win

[URY914]

Seeing RED.

[livi]

So far perhaps chances are we will be looking at a slightly more exciting season this year.

[rusnak]

I think Ferrari/ Vittles will be out-developed by Merc.

A better prediction would be where will Fred go next year, either in F1 or ...?

[GH85Carrera]

It was really nice to see the action was at the front for a change. It looked for a while like Hamilton had a real chance to catch up. If the 5 second penalty had not been issued it would have been wheel to wheel.

[legion]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

Not really much of an F1 follower, but caught the race on Sunday. What's up with all the sparking? Is it that bumpy for a fairly new track?

They switched the wear planks back to titanium a few years ago to make the racing look more dramatic.

[motion]

They still sound horrible, but I'm a big fan of the low, wide stance they have now. They also DO look like they're ripping through the corners much more quickly. Great to see Ferrari back in the mix. Seb is obviously a very, very good driver. Kimi seems like he's just collecting a pay check.

[nota]

the cars move up and down do to airo/wing loads
much more then track bumps
as babarain track is fairly smooth esp vs a street circuit

[URY914]

Also at the start of the race the tanks are full so the ride height is minimal. The sparks fly on the opening laps and the drivers can feel it upset the cars. Once the fuel load lightens, they're able to wear some of the plates off and the driver makes some adjustments the sparks stop.

[David]

The sparks are more noticeable in a night race.

Good to see Ferrari's doing so we'll. Heck everyone seems to have picked up the pace except McLaren who seem to have gone backwards.

How about that Sainz/Stroll crash! What was Sainz thinking barreling into turn one after a pitstop?

[URY914]

I'm impressed by the new kid Lance Stroll. The talk before the season was his rich daddy bought him the ride. But he's gettin the job done with some good qualifying efforts. Sucks that people keep ending his races early.

[rfuerst911sc]

There was a comment made during the race that Alonso may be in talks to go to Renault . At this point in time he'd have a better chance running a skate board What a mess that McLaren team is.......half the time one of the cars can't start the race half the time the one that starts can't finish . You're spending how much money per year for this performance ?????

[Deschodt]

ALO to Renault makes no sense, he wants another WC, McLaren at least has the buget and ambitions for that, Renault's plan is self admittedly 5 years to be up at the top. If they make it, ALO will have retired by then.

I hope he gives up and goes to INDY full time, + Sports cars. There's nowhere else for him to go in F1 for the foreseable future and I'd like to see a driver of his talent and experience in INDY to get a better gauge of the level there...

Honda hasn't been good in F1 for a long long long time.... Almost 30 years! Renault's engines kicked everyone's a$$ for the longest time (how quickly people forget) and even they got their butts handed to them under the new rules for 2 years (and admittedly are closer now but not totally up there). Toyota also failed in that regard... Honda is in trouble and that won't be resolved quick. It's too bad talent wise (but in fairness I did not "see" Ferrari's comeback either, I would have put $$ on them self destructing this year)

Can you imagine HAM, VET, RIC, ALO and VER all on very close cars ? That would be a championship for the ages !

[matthewb0051]

This could be a great season.

I'm over Steve Matchet and Hobbs and Leigh Diffy all pandering to Hamilton. The guy is good but they try to give him every race and incessantly talk about him.

Another note on Hammy. After the 3rd stop, he AGAIN questioned the team's tire decision. Did the same in Austria last year and won the race. Prat.

Renault seems to be getting stronger. Red Bull struggling but not as bad as McLaren. Interesting that Renault is better - Red Bull not so much but the engines are the same except for the Tag Heuer badge.

I wish Williams could get it together.

[Aragorn]

Originally Posted by motion

They still sound horrible, but I'm a big fan of the low, wide stance they have now. They also DO look like they're ripping through the corners much more quickly. Great to see Ferrari back in the mix. Seb is obviously a very, very good driver. Kimi seems like he's just collecting a pay check.

I remember reading an article a few years ago about the difference between Vettel's driving style and Kimi's style. Vettel is higher input driver who is able to get more temperature in his tires quicker and qualifies better. Kimi is a lower input driver and has problems getting his tires up to temperature as fast. Kimi usually qualifies further back in the field and has more space to make up.

Ferrari seems to be designing a car that better suits Vettel than Kimi. If the car doesn't suit Kimi's style he has to adapt his driving to fit the car. Presently in 2017, Kimi is complaining of understeer during the first two races, which can be traced back to car setup. I would guess that Kimi is not getting proper temperature in the front tires. I could be wrong though. Just a guess based on what I am reading. A better setup on Kimi's car will probably get him closer to the front and maybe a win or two (or more) this season.

[rusnak]

To those who are calling Fernando a crybaby for telling the team on the radio that the engine is the least powerful that he's ever driven, you need to understand that the problem at McLaren is much bigger than some petty strategy call or engine setting. This could end the team. Alonso knows that he needed to get the attention of the Honda board, not just the team. He needed to send a signal to the owners of McLaren, not just to Eric Boullier. I think everyone at McLaren knows that. What is interesting is that they are talking to Merc. This is not for mere technical help, as Honda could simply hire Porsche if that's all they wanted to do. But talking to Merc signals a bigger picture, like maybe a joint project, or maybe Honda want to get out of their contract and will buy it out. Who knows....


Ojjeh: We were promised a lot by Honda | GRAND PRIX 247

[motion]

Uh oh..... rumors are that Alonso parked his McLaren, rather than a mechanical issue.

http://www.crash.net/f1/feature/244742/1/bahrain-grand-prix-the-debrief.html

[Deschodt]

ALO is going to Barber for the w/e. I could not help but notice on his twitter feed post that he packed a helmet.... Hmmm..... he's supposed to drive at Sochi next w/e.... @alo_oficial will drive the McLaren-Honda-Andretti on May 3 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. So after Russia...

So why the helmet this w/e ? some CART running ? I'd love to see him at Barber in a car, just for giggles....

[URY914]

Wow that was a welcome change.