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[Big Takeover]

They did have Newey for quite a while.

I didn't say they didn't, but for whatever reason they never truly wiped the floor like Newey had done before and after his tenure there. Despite 3 WDCs, there was never a '96 Williams, or '11 Red Bull performance from in there from McLaren.

you never saw Mika Häkkainen's WDCs? when they had THE most dominant car on the grid.

I absolutely did see Michael win 6 races in '98, and Mika cry in the bushes in '99 while almost getting beat by Irvine!

Seriously though, the best car? Absolutely, but dominant? Like Ferrari '02 dominant? No way. That was the point I was trying to make.

 

[Foliorum Viridum]

To be honest, that's not the best response in admitting to a mistake, but whatever. It does unfairly judge a driver for those who don't have time to click the link. I would do just a quick edit now so anyone else doesn't get the wrong impression - job done.

Yeah, exactly. If you're going to paraphrase an article you need to get it right or just post the actual title.

 

[Ark]

To be honest, that's not the best response in admitting to a mistake, but whatever. It does unfairly judge a driver for those who don't have time to click the link. I would do just a quick edit now so anyone else doesn't get the wrong impression - job done.

Yeah, exactly. If you're going to paraphrase an article you need to get it right or just post the actual title.

If it really bothers you that much, then fine

 

[Sleeplessnights]

I just saw the news about Kimi and Sutil visiting Williams, what was that about? Would Kimi really drive for a Williams if they don't have a winning car?

 

[S. L.]

daamn my Sebastian Bettel just died in Grand Prix Story >_<

 

[fu3lfr3nzy]

Would Kimi really drive for a Williams if they don't have a winning car?

I dont see why not. He drove for McLaren all those years and didnt win anything /trollface

Spoiler

The visit was NOT F1 related

 

[Leunam]

daamn my Sebastian Bettel just died in Grand Prix Story >_<

I've got Ireton Cena and F. Alonso on my team. Cena destroyed his fancy Aero car the other day because he couldn't stop running into people and the car had poor durability.

 

[brotkasten]

daamn my Sebastian Bettel just died in Grand Prix Story >_<

That's okay. He's not the best driver in the game.

 

[Ark]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again buy Kimi is done with F1 and F1 is done with Kimi.

I don't want to see Kimi back, I'd rather see new talent enter the ring.

 

[brotkasten]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again buy Kimi is done with F1 and F1 is done with Kimi.

I don't want to see Kimi back, I'd rather see new talent enter the ring.

You're just afraid that he'll kick Lewis' ass again. Understandable.

 

[avaya]

I absolutely did see Michael win 6 races in '98, and Mika cry in the bushes in '99 while almost getting beat by Irvine!

Seriously though, the best car? Absolutely, but dominant? Like Ferrari '02 dominant? No way. That was the point I was trying to make.

The only reason 98 was close was because of unreliability and the fact that Schumacher was a god. A damn god during those years. They had a second a lap performance from Bridgestone and the micro engine, their 1998 triumph on the constructors side was dominant.

99 they were lucky Schumacher broke his leg.

2002 is an aberation, it is the greatest performance from a racing team in all of motorsport history. Just utterly dicked the competition in the toughest and most competitive racing and technical regulation format of all time. For all the boring races it produced as they relentlessly crushed the competition who had spent several billion dollars between them, I feel priveleged to have watched and attended some of those races. We'll likely never see the likes of that team again.

 

[Sleeplessnights]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again buy Kimi is done with F1 and F1 is done with Kimi.

I don't want to see Kimi back, I'd rather see new talent enter the ring.

I WANT KIMI!

How is Renault supplying Williams next year? I thought each engine manufacture can only supply 3 teams?

Whenever I post in this thread late at night I notice my stupid grammar mistakes

 

[avaya]

Love to see Raikkonen back.

 

[Sleeplessnights]

I think everyone would, except Ark!

 

[DrM]

I WANT KIMI!

How is Renault supplying Williams next year? I thought each engine manufacture can only supply 3 teams?

Whenever I post in this thread late at night I notice my stupid grammar mistakes

As crazy as it seems Renault team is already in talk with other engine manufacturer, probably Cosworth.
RBR is new Renault works team.

 

[Pterion]

You're just afraid that he'll kick Lewis' ass again. Understandable.

Is he going to have a lapdog teammate to gift him wins/positions in order to make him WDC? People bitch all the time against Lewis, but 2007 could have easily been either Lewis or Alonso's WDC if they both had their teammate's support.

Don't get me wrong, I like Kimi (used to be my fav after montoya a while ago), but his ''coke and magnum, I couldn't care less'' attitude got kind of old. If he returns, I hope he's a bit more focused on F1, like back in early-mid 2000s.

 

[ashk]

I WANT KIMI!

How is Renault supplying Williams next year? I thought each engine manufacture can only supply 3 teams?

Whenever I post in this thread late at night I notice my stupid grammar mistakes

I thought so too, but it seems that rule is being dropped next year. I think it's going to be unlimited now since Renault have been talking of hoping to get even more customers.

 

[Ark]

I think everyone would, except Ark!

Don't get me wrong, I love Kimi. I mean, who couldn't after the McLaren years?

I just don't think he'll fit back into the mesh. None of the top teams will take him so his best bet would be a top-10 midfielder team (read: Renault, Sauber) so he'd already be shooting himself in the foot.

Ferrari sacked Kimi so he wont be going back there, RBR have got Vettel and Ricciardo when Webber retires and neither Hamilton or Button will be going anywhere any time soon.

You're just afraid that he'll kick Lewis' ass again. Understandable.

Doesn't bother me. I'm just afraid we'll see the 'Schumacher effect' if he returns.

 

[Adam Scott Aukerman]

Rumour of the day seems to be that Ferrari might be trying to sign Jenson for 2013 (McLaren have an option on him for next year, so that's the earliest they could get him if they wanted him). Various stories being linked to on JAonF1, but I've not bothered to check any of them out (I expect they're not the most convincing articles ever written).

 

[Leunam]

Button has already secured his contract with McLaren. I don't think Hamilton has, though.

 

[Adam Scott Aukerman]

Button has already secured his contract with McLaren. I don't think Hamilton has, though.

Since when? As of the last GP weekend, nothing had been signed.

 

[Edmond Dantès]

I think it's a mistake to judge Mclaren on just their results of the last 20 years considering they have 55 years of history in the sport, with a total of 12 Driver World Championship wins and 8 Constructors Championships over that time. It'd be similar to dismissing Ferrari as a wannabe for their dry spell from 1980-2000 (Just 1 Drivers Championship in that timeframe).

It's also a bit disingenious to call them "second worst of the established teams" considering that really, there's only 4 teams most would consider "established" in the sport, Ferrari, Williams Renault and Mclaren. The other teams on the grid may have been born from the ashes of previous teams, or worse, just new teams using old names but they can hardly count themselves as established in the sport IMO.

They'll have success again and I think will certainly be around long enough to weather a dry spell, Williams on the other hand, now there's an established team I fear we could lose from the sport sooner rather than later.

It would be massive shame to see them go the way of BRM, Brabham, and Tyrrell Racing, but it seems ever increasingly likely. I'm thinking new leadership is needed; Frank and Patrick are F1 stalwarts but even legends falter eventually. But imagining Williams without Frank is really quite difficult.

 

[Edmond Dantès]

Since when? As of the last GP weekend, nothing had been signed.

But he's made it clear that he wants to remain at McLaren.

 

[Adam Scott Aukerman]

But he's made it clear that he wants to remain at McLaren.

Doesn't really mean anything - eg, those comments could have been made before Ferrari approached him (if they have). And just look at what's happened with Button in the past with Williams and Brawn/Mercedes.

 

[Edmond Dantès]

Doesn't really mean anything - eg, those comments could have been made before Ferrari approached him (if they have). And just look at what's happened with Button in the past with Williams and Brawn/Mercedes.

True enough, as nice as Button is, he's still a F1 driver and they want the best.

 

[brotkasten]

Button at Ferrari would be the horror. I can't imagine him playing Alonso's backup.

 

[leadbelly]

I think it's a mistake to judge Mclaren on just their results of the last 20 years considering they have 55 years of history in the sport, with a total of 12 Driver World Championship wins and 8 Constructors Championships over that time. It'd be similar to dismissing Ferrari as a wannabe for their dry spell from 1980-2000 (Just 1 Drivers Championship in that timeframe).

It's also a bit disingenious to call them "second worst of the established teams" considering that really, there's only 4 teams most would consider "established" in the sport, Ferrari, Williams Renault and Mclaren. The other teams on the grid may have been born from the ashes of previous teams, or worse, just new teams using old names but they can hardly count themselves as established in the sport IMO.

They'll have success again and I think will certainly be around long enough to weather a dry spell, Williams on the other hand, now there's an established team I fear we could lose from the sport sooner rather than later.

Yeah. I agree with this.

Over those 20 years, I think the difference has been their championship rivals have all enjoyed some degree of domination while McLaren never really has. That's how those Constructors Titles really rack up. Whether it's Newey, or Schuey, or Bridgestone, or double diffusers, or whatever, they never had that x-factor which enabled them to cake walk it even when they were winning races and championships.

I think it's also fair to say that at times they've not made the most of their opportunities too.

Of course Mclaren dominated the sport in the mid 80s to early 90s. All the established teams have had a period where they have struggled for form.

The funny thing is, I don't think the cars Mclaren have produced over the last decade have been that bad. Mclaren haven't quite been at their best, but at the same time, they have for the most part produced a competitive car. The statistics really don't tell the whole story. Lewis Hamilton could have and perhaps should have won the title in 2007, and Mclaren should have won the constructors, but of course they were stripped of the constructors title. The season before that they had the fastest car as well, but it had reliability issues.

Mclaren have remained competitive.

Edit: Actually it was the 2005 season they had the fastest car, but failed to win races due to reliability issues.

 

[Dead Man]

I think it's a mistake to judge Mclaren on just their results of the last 20 years considering they have 55 years of history in the sport, with a total of 12 Driver World Championship wins and 8 Constructors Championships over that time. It'd be similar to dismissing Ferrari as a wannabe for their dry spell from 1980-2000 (Just 1 Drivers Championship in that timeframe).

It's also a bit disingenious to call them "second worst of the established teams" considering that really, there's only 4 teams most would consider "established" in the sport, Ferrari, Williams Renault and Mclaren. The other teams on the grid may have been born from the ashes of previous teams, or worse, just new teams using old names but they can hardly count themselves as established in the sport IMO.

They'll have success again and I think will certainly be around long enough to weather a dry spell, Williams on the other hand, now there's an established team I fear we could lose from the sport sooner rather than later.

I missed this great post. Agree with all points, especially Williams. They were my favourite team for so long, but watching their slow decline has been heartbreaking. Frank as he gets older I think is not making good hard decisions like he did when he was younger.

 

[Shaneus]

I missed this great post. Agree with all points, especially Williams. They were my favourite team for so long, but watching their slow decline has been heartbreaking. Frank as he gets older I think is not making good hard decisions like he did when he was younger.

Is he still the head decision maker or is he more of an advisor? He looked incredibly frail last time I saw him.

As an Australian, I'd love to somehow see the Brabham team name get back to Formula 1. I suspect someone from Europe bought the licence to use the name for a car or something, but if there's a way the name could come back to this country and be used in the sport again, it would be epic.

 

[AcridMeat]

Is he still the head decision maker or is he more of an advisor? He looked incredibly frail last time I saw him.

As an Australian, I'd love to somehow see the Brabham team name get back to Formula 1. I suspect someone from Europe bought the licence to use the name for a car or something, but if there's a way the name could come back to this country and be used in the sport again, it would be epic.

Headed by Webber, clearly.

 

[Leunam]

Making some more progress on my car. I believe that little box at the top is the ECU. I'm using some reference pics from an MP4/6 so I could be wrong about what part goes where. The pictures I saw also had what kind of looks like a dipstick of some sort, so I mimicked that as well (the glossy hook). It will be much easier to pick out once I paint it red. Other things I added were the four lines that come back and down. I snipped off the nubs that were on the box and replaced them with some resin joints I had.

Also, I fucked up badly on the radiators so I had to cover up the old melted down pattern and remake the sheet metal with some mesh that I bought to create carbon fiber.

Those holes that can barely be made out on the sides are for cable clamps.

Kind of hard to find time to work on this with Deus Ex constantly beckoning me.

 

[Shaneus]

Headed by Webber, clearly.

Well DUH

While looking at Sir Jack's bio on Wikipedia, I stumbled across this page which may be of interest to some: Formula One Rejects. Haven't had a look through yet (it's non-work related, requires a quota) but it could provide some fascinating reading on F1's less successful drivers.

 

[Leunam]

Ah so there has been a woman in F1 (one of five on the first page). My wife asked me about that after we saw Senna and I mentioned the scant rumors circulating Danica Patrick and that one woman that test drove the R31.

 

[Dead Man]

Well DUH

While looking at Sir Jack's bio on Wikipedia, I stumbled across this page which may be of interest to some: Formula One Rejects. Haven't had a look through yet (it's non-work related, requires a quota) but it could provide some fascinating reading on F1's less successful drivers.

I love that website, so much great info there.

 

[RomanticHeroX]

Ah so there has been a woman in F1 (one of five on the first page). My wife asked me about that after we saw Senna and I mentioned the scant rumors circulating Danica Patrick and that one woman that test drove the R31.

There have been several, but they've all been pretty unremarkable. One managed to score half a point, which makes her the highest scoring female F1 driver.

Best article on the site

 

[Osiris]

I'd put good money on Button remaining at Mclaren for 2012 at the very least, they have the option already in the current contract so Button can't/won't get out of that without serious legal and professional repercussions. The bust-up he had over his Williams contract cost Button dearly as far as respect went and he can consider himself quite lucky that his career survived it IMO.

You only need to look at the careers of some of those that didn't manage the off-track part of being a team-player to the sport to see how lucky he was, F1 has lost a few drivers that had potential greatness and proven on-track results simply because they mismanaged the way they dealt with teams, PR and contract negotiation.

I expect the hold up on finally signing the deal may be related to 2013 onwards, for all we know Ferrari could be purposefully throwing their name into the mix to cost Mclaren more on their re-signing of Button, it wouldn't be the first time such tricks were played in the name of competition.

My guess is that if Button signs a short extention to Mclaren, either for 2012 only or for 2012-2013 then he's interested in the Ferrari drive, if he signs for longer then he's likely using Ferraris interest to tip negotiations with Mclaren to his favour, hence the delay.

 

[Shaneus]

There have been several, but they've all been pretty unremarkable. One managed to score half a point, which makes her the highest scoring female F1 driver.

Best article on the site

Bahaha, that was a great article. Such a clusterfuck.

 

[Templar Wizard]

no way Button is going to Ferrari, expect to see Telmex on the side of the 2013 Ferrari.

 

[Ark]

Button has already secured his contract with McLaren. I don't think Hamilton has, though.

Hamilton is still signed for 2012, and even if the rumours are true that he wants out, he's got no where to go.

 

[RomanticHeroX]

Hamilton would be insane to leave McLaren. Not only are they incredibly well funded and dedicated, I think he would find a huge culture shock trying to integrate himself into another team. He's been McLaren's golden child since he was a boy. I actually think McLaren is the only top team at the moment to have a completely solid lineup, since Ferrari and Red Bull both have wasted slots*.



*Please don't hurt me Webber fans. He's a great guy! I just don't think he's top tier.

 

[Shaneus]

*Please don't hurt me Webber fans. He's a great guy! I just don't think he's top tier.

You don't think he's in the same tier as Hamilton, Button or Vettel? Wow.

 

[RomanticHeroX]

He's certainly better than Massa, but I don't think he's at the same level as Vettel or (when he isn't making mistakes) Hamilton. He is a good second, and sooner or later luck is bound to go his way, but the only way I could see Webber making a title run is if Vettel has a year of disastrous misfortune. You just have to look at this year to see the difference: in identical machinery to the runaway champion he's having to fight for second place.

 

[AcridMeat]

You described last year. That was Webber's chance unfortunately. Unless he has a run in him left like Barrichello in 2009, however he didn't win it either. It's a similar story, a good driver, respected for the most part but always considered second.

Prove me wrong Webbsy.

 

[Shaneus]

You described last year. That was Webber's chance unfortunately. Unless he has a run in him left like Barrichello in 2009, however he didn't win it either. It's a similar story, a good driver, respected for the most part but always considered second.

Prove me wrong Webbsy.

I find your lack of faith disheartening, AM. At least show one-eyed support for the guy until Ricciardo comes through the ranks, FFS!

 

[DrM]

Various stories being linked to on JAonF1, but I've not bothered to check any of them out (I expect they're not the most convincing articles ever written).

I think these are JA wishes and nothing else.
Also Button is not so stupid/crazy to be eight violin @ Ferrari.

Most likely driver to replace Massa is Perez or some other guy from Ferrari Driving Academy. Alonso would love that, fo' sure - clear #1, without any real threat from his teammate.

 

[Dead Man]

You described last year. That was Webber's chance unfortunately. Unless he has a run in him left like Barrichello in 2009, however he didn't win it either. It's a similar story, a good driver, respected for the most part but always considered second.

Prove me wrong Webbsy.

I think if he had a good car in any of the last 4 years he could have won it, I think he is just slowly stating to lose his edge now.

 

[Edmond Dantès]

Renault to build new simulator

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/268313/renault-starts-to-build-new-simulator/

Red Bull planning secret celebrations at Singapore

http://www.motorsport.com/#/F1/news...-plans-for-singapore-celebration/?v=2&s=1&i=8

Klinsmann more impressed with F1 fitness

http://www.motorsport.com/#/F1/news...n-more-impressed-with-f1-fitness/?v=2&s=1&i=9

Finally some recognition from someone outside of the F1 paddock. Also, makes me laugh when people say that F1 drivers aren't athletes and that F1 isn't a sport.

 

[Shaneus]

Alguersuari releases... dance song?

 

[Lucius86]

All I ever see on my twitter feed by F1 drivers is that they are ALWAYS training or doing sponsorship promos outside of racing.

Alguersuari releases... dance song?

Let's see if this is his chance to finally be in P1.

 

[Momo]

Finally some recognition from someone outside of the F1 paddock. Also, makes me laugh when people say that F1 drivers aren't athletes and that F1 isn't a sport.

Why would they say this D: