F1: 2019 thread

[Noah930]

Wow, Haas loses Rich Energy. How much does that affect their finances & solvency when it happens mid-season?

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/haas-f1-title-sponsor-rich-183733040.html

(And is Claire Williams happy she dodged that bullet or what!?)

[rusnak]

Good riddance to the hippie. Haas is far more credible without them.

[rfuerst911sc]

Haas losing its title sponsor can't be good regardless if that sponsor was a sham or real . Haas is in a bad place this year , they were expected to step it up after last years good performance . But this year they have taken several steps back and that's not good . Gene Haas has deep pockets but that only goes so far , he can't be happy with this years return on investment and now there will be lots of speculation which will distract the team . Steiner has to step up and command/lead the team at this critical juncture , if he does not he will be replaced .

Both drivers need to look in the mirror and step up their game , both have done stupid stuff this year and that has to stop . The team needs stability at this point across the board . It can be done , just look at how McLaren went from being a laughing stock to where they are this year . Maybe Amazon or a similar US company will step up and be a main sponsor , will be interesting how the rest of the year and specifically how the next 2 - 3 races go . I am pulling for them .

[rfuerst911sc]

It would appear that Haas has NOT lost their sponsorship . But it looks like someone in the Rich Energy company is losing their job over the report.

[Clint Lando]

Haas' title sponsor asserts commitment to team after 'rogue' tweet
9:33 AM PT
Nate Saunders
F1 Associate Editor


SILVERSTONE, U.K -- The shareholders of Haas' title sponsor Rich Energy has reaffirmed their commitment to the American team and distanced itself from an announcement appearing to suggest its partnership had ended, which it said was the "rogue actions" of a lone individual.

On Wednesday evening, a tweet from Rich Energy's official account said the team was pulling its title sponsorship deal. Haas refuted that suggested on Thursday during the media day ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix, saying the deal was in place as normal.

There have been suggestions of an internal struggle within the energy drinks company, with an Autosport report suggesting the original tweet had been written by CEO William Storey without the knowledge of Rich Energy's investors. Storey created headlines during the launch of the partnership when he claimed he wanted to beat energy drinks giant Red Bull on and off the F1 track.

After the original tweet was sent he told the Sun newspaper that he considered Haas car to be a "milk float" that was damaging the Rich Energy brand.

Rich Energy CEO William Storey has apparently been forced out of the company by its main shareholders.

The company backtracked on the original tweet on Thursday afternoon in a statement from its main shareholders -- on this occasion, the statement was issued by Haas itself on behalf of its title sponsor, rather than via Rich Energy's social media.

The statement read: "The shareholders who own the majority of Rich Energy would like to clarify certain statements that have been circulated in the media from an unauthorized source.

"We wholeheartedly believe in the Haas F1 Team, its performance, and the organization as a whole and we are fully committed to the current sponsorship agreement in place. We also completely believe in the product of Formula One and the platform it offers our brand.

"Clearly the rogue actions of one individual have caused great embarrassment. We are in the process of legally removing the individual from all executive responsibilities. They may speak for themselves but their views are not those of the company. The incident is very regrettable; we will not be making further comment on this commercially sensitive matter and will be concluding it behind closed doors.

"We wish to confirm our commitment to the Haas F1 Team, Formula One and to thank the Haas F1 Team for their support and patience whilst this matter is dealt with internally."

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/27168496/haas-title-sponsor-asserts-commitment-team-rogue-tweet

[herr_oberst]

I was going to start an 'F1 1962' thread, but I'll just put this here, and let the contrast speak for itself.

(Porsche content!)

[astrochex]

^Thanks for posting that. Simply glorious.

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, great old video. Amazing to see people standing on a curb just inches from the cars. The yachts in the harbor are mostly sailing vessels.

[legion]

What a race! I'm halfway through and TONS of wheel-to-wheel racing for all top 5 positions.

[legion]

Silverstone SPOILERS:








Whoa! Vettel chokes again and runs into the back of Verstappen!

[Rtrorkt]

HAM, fastest lap on 30 lap old hard compound tires. Driver I say

[astrochex]

There was actual racing in this one with LeClerc brilliantly defending Verstappen even after Max performed his usual punt attempt at one point in the battle.

Congrats to Won for another won-two.

[legion]

Yeah, Hamilton was gifted the win by Giovinazzi. The way Bottas was driving, he probably could have kept Hamilton behind him the whole race...unless he made a mistake...or the battle slowed them both down so that #3 was a threat...

Is Leclerc Ferrari's #1 yet? Look how he handled Verstappen vs. how Vettel handled Verstappen.

[Don Plumley]

What a race! Opening battle between HAM and BOT was W2W fun. Clean, great racing. Unlucky for Bottas but very cool for Ham to get 6x Brit GP title - he's in another orbit. His team kept him out for a safety car and capitalized. Vettel and his red mist really cost Max a great race. I wish I could have been in the Haas debrief with Steiner - the post-race report even he admits how pissed he is, "I’m just stating the obvious here. The best that our drivers could bring to the battle was a shovel – to dig the hole we’re in even deeper." and "When I saw it on TV, I couldn’t almost believe it. There are two cars running into each other and it’s us two.”

So happy to see good racing throughout the field - 2 races now

[cairns]

Nice to see an athlete wrap himself in the flag of his country (rather than trample on it) and give full credit to his team.......I really think Vettel is past his sell by.....

[URY914]

The in-car camera work and the overhead video was incredible during the opening laps. They must use a drone to get those overheads where they are able to stay on the cars through a series of corners.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Great race.

One question, how was Max's pit stop NOT considered an unsafe release?

Racing down the pit lane at 50mph: one car in the lane the other half in the service area, mechanics getting out of the way sharpish.

No penalty, so I guess the FIA consider this OK.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by URY914

The in-car camera work and the overhead video was incredible during the opening laps. They must use a drone to get those overheads where they are able to stay on the cars through a series of corners.

I believe the overhead shots are from a helicopter. In the pits, there is an overhead camera, like the ones in NFL stadiums.

[URY914]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

I believe the overhead shots are from a helicopter. In the pits, there is an overhead camera, like the ones in NFL stadiums.

The pit shots are by a camera on a wire. The ones I'm talking about couldn't be on a wire like the NFL games. The long overhead shot are clearly from a chopper. I talking about the lower level ones.

[450knotOffice]

I've been a Vettel apologist for his entire stint at Ferrari, but I'm thinking he's more of a hindrance to the team's success these days. Leclerc is faster and is the better racer. Heck, I think any number of drivers on the grid can out-drive Vettel at this point in his career: Ham, Max, Leclerc, Riccardo, and possibly Ocon, to name a few. Hell, I think even old guy Alonso can out-race Vettel. He CERTAINLY could've when in his prime. Vettel won four WDC's with a DOMINANT car that happened to also suit him well. Without a car that reliably has him out front and uncontested, he has shown a tendency to make mistakes over and over again. Heck, I remember him crashing into Webber when those two actually got into races for the lead. His race craft for a 4 time WDC is woeful.
Schumi would've owned him in his prime.