That'll do for me! Awesome, thanks.
I must have missed this, but damn.
To be fair, RBR already has two fantastic drivers as does Mercedes, all under solid contracts.
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The Formula 1 2014 Season |OT| Who Will Win? Nobody Nose
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That'll do for me! Awesome, thanks.
I must have missed this, but damn.
To be fair, RBR already has two fantastic drivers as does Mercedes, all under solid contracts.
massivekettle
Member
Pitlane Talk is credible. Plus, the most reputable British journos are reporting malaise between Ferrari and Alonso.
Merc have a World champion and a driver who is very close to being good enough already and it's causing some rifts, and Red Bull have a 4x WDC and a rookie who's teaching him how to drive. It's hardly a stain on Alonso that neither Red Bull or Merc have room for him at this time.
massivekettle
Member
- Vettel is not getting the job done at the moment and has been rumoured to join Ferrari ever since his first WDC
- Mercedes wants to bargain hard with Lewis money-wise and could have used Alonso as a bargaining chip
Osiris
I permanently banned my 6 year old daughter from using the PS4 for mistakenly sending grief reports as it's too hard to watch or talk to her
I can think of 30 million reasons why neither picked Alonso up as an option.
I'm sure that had MCL not managed somehow to get Honda to pick up that tab that they also would have looked more carefully at the other options open to them.
nature boy
Member
Found the original quote from AMUS F1 reporter: https://twitter.com/tgruener/status/515115134596161536
Yeah it's looking like it's done. Either he had no alternative or that Honda PU isn't all that bad.
Edit: Autosprint, based on google translate, are saying there's an announcement for Suzuka and it regards a world champion: http://autosprint.corrieredellosport.it/2014/09/25/alonso-dubbio-suzuka/19183/
I would die laughing if Kimi ends up being the team leader at Ferrari.
If this happen and somehow Hamilton goes to Ferrari, I'm sure the happier team is not either McLaren or Ferrari, right Hammer? The dream for Mercedes will forever be Vettel isn't it?
If Hamilton went knocking RBR's door again, he would receive the same response he got 2 years ago "No, thank you". That surely mean he's a worst driver than Mark Webber, right? Mind blown.
If Hamilton went knocking RBR's door again, he would receive the same response he got 2 years ago "No, thank you". That surely mean he's a worst driver than Mark Webber, right? Mind blown.
I assume that amidst all this bollocks, everyone else saw that the Brabham name is back in racing again?
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116013
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/116013
Yeah, I've backed them. Sounds like a great project, and with enough interest on Indiegogo they'll be able to attract bigger outside sponsors. Webber brought me over to follow LMP1, so it would be awesome to have a Brabham to cheer for in LMP2.
Campaign: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/project-brabham
Campaign: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/project-brabham
It would be pretty lame of Mclaren to ditch another young driver after 1 season.
Regarding the engine I think honda will be better prepared than renault were this year, but not anything special like a Mercedes. And since i expect all 3 current engines to jump forward next year then honda will probably be the worst engine.
Regarding the engine I think honda will be better prepared than renault were this year, but not anything special like a Mercedes. And since i expect all 3 current engines to jump forward next year then honda will probably be the worst engine.
Myoclonic Jerk
Member
No Autosport confirmation no news
I don't believe Alonso is going anywhere.. $5 anyone? Everyone?
I don't believe Alonso is going anywhere.. $5 anyone? Everyone?
Myoclonic Jerk
Member
Oh shit.. Ok, I texted the rumor to a very well connected guy to the owners of McLaren
Here's exactly the exchange so far
Well, he was right about me! lol .. But only time will tell if my friend is really that connected or a bullshitter
Here's exactly the exchange so far
Well, he was right about me! lol .. But only time will tell if my friend is really that connected or a bullshitter
Osiris
I permanently banned my 6 year old daughter from using the PS4 for mistakenly sending grief reports as it's too hard to watch or talk to her
No Autosport confirmation no news
I don't believe Alonso is going anywhere.. $5 anyone? Everyone?
Pffft, £5 donation to LOROS if he's doesn't go to McLaren for 2015.
Your choice of charity if you lose?
Myoclonic Jerk
Member
Pffft, £5 donation to LOROS if he's doesn't go to McLaren for 2015.
Your choice of charity if you lose?
It's on
I'll go with the same one ..
He'll stay at Ferrari in 2015
Osiris
I permanently banned my 6 year old daughter from using the PS4 for mistakenly sending grief reports as it's too hard to watch or talk to her
It's on
I'll go with the same one ..
He'll stay at Ferrari in 2015
Good man!
Alonso confirmed pay driver
At the end of the day, they are nearly all pay drivers at one level or another, and this has been the case since the 60's.
I agree, but to be fair they don't really need a star driver right now. They just need a good driver pairing that doesn't create any pressure (Kimi and Grosjean pls) while they implement the correct changes at Maranello
No Autosport confirmation no news
I don't believe Alonso is going anywhere.. $5 anyone? Everyone?
Autosport have been very coy with Alonso leaving Ferrari and going to McLaren. If you read between the lines on everything they've published in regards to Alonso in the last month or two, I certainly got the idea that a storm was brewing.
Myoclonic Jerk
Member
Myoclonic Jerk
Member
I agree, but to be fair they don't really need a star driver right now. They just need a good driver pairing that doesn't create any pressure (Kimi and Grosjean pls) while they implement the correct changes at Maranello
Autosport have been very coy with Alonso leaving Ferrari and going to McLaren. If you read between the lines on everything they've published in regards to Alonso in the last month or two, I certainly got the idea that a storm was brewing.
Did Eddie say anything about it?
massivekettle
Member
No Autosport confirmation no news
I don't believe Alonso is going anywhere.. $5 anyone? Everyone?
Autosport is always late, though.
We need EJ to confirm.... EJ pls.
I agree, but to be fair they don't really need a star driver right now. They just need a good driver pairing that doesn't create any pressure (Kimi and Grosjean pls) while they implement the correct changes at Maranello
Please not Grosjean....i dont think i could take it after 2012 and i have no faith in Kimi anymore. Next year going to be a write off, only consolation would be Alonso having to endure a dog at McLaren.
Any way you put it, Kimi and Hulk/Bianchi/Grosjean is going to be the worst driver pairing Ferrari has had since 1995
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffaele_Marciello
He's still a bit shaky in GP2, but quick when he gets a weekend together. Another year and he'll get consistent results there, I think. Ferrari junior driver as well
I haven't really followed the BBC stuff outside of the DC and Hamilton columns, but I'd be surprised if he hasn't.
You'd have to be outright blind not to see that Grosjean is one of the fastest drivers with the most potential on the grid right now. He's in a higher station than Hulkenberg or any other potential top-tier-non-rookie driver.
Same as the last 60 years, no one
theignoramus
Member
Sebastian has good rapport with the engineers at Red Bull. I wonder if he could drag some key personnel, Schumi style to Ferrari. I for one, dont believe Newey is finished with Formula 1. Red Bull yes, F1 no.
I dont believe Adrian is the type to say "No" to an opportunity to bring forth a renaissance at Ferrari. He said "No" to them before because he wasnt finished with Red Bull.
I dont believe Adrian is the type to say "No" to an opportunity to bring forth a renaissance at Ferrari. He said "No" to them before because he wasnt finished with Red Bull.
99% sure that was to do with him and his wife not wanting to move to Maranello. They offered him an ungodly sum of money.
massivekettle
Member
I am not quite sure re: bold. As for whether that's even possible - I don't think so. Most key RBR staff I assume would be on pretty strict/tight contracts, especially after Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari (?) already poached a few people in the past.
And Newey is fully out of F1 after 2014. No amount of money will make him go work in Italy.
Seriously? The mans greed is beyond comical now.
Well, everyone laughed when Massa said he was going to Williams last year, and look the team they have now...
theignoramus
Member
Its obvious that money is of limited concern to Newey at this stage of his life, but there's something to be said for the appeal of bringing Ferrari back to the top (or near it) of the F1 peking order where it belongs. Thats the only thing Newey hasnt done and he himself has said working for Ferrari would be a dream scenario.
Remember, this is a man whom the Italian government had under indictment for manslaughter because of the Senna tragedy at Imola in 94.
How deliciously ironic would it be if he played a crucial role in Ferrari being back at the forefront of F1 dominance. A man like Newey would have that thought in the back of his mind.
"So Kimi, what would you improve on this car, how does it feel?"
"Just leave me alone"
"Understood"
Myoclonic Jerk
Member
He did fantastically well after massas accident. And it showed.
Alonsos "leadership" skills are so overrated. Team principals are/should be the team leaders. Drivers should know how to gove proper feedback and know exactly what they need in a car to be able to go faster.
If a driver's leadership skills are really that important, then what did Alonso do for Ferrari since he joined? Or Renault after rejoining them? Or McLaren in that awful year he was with them? There's no proof whatsoever that he made the team or a car better/faster... Except his 0.6 claim which might be true coz he cheated
Under immense pressure to make a decision.
I very much doubt that. Money is of no concern in Stuttgart.
Sorry, I´m not sure I get the first part (English is not my first language). But as for VET @ MER? No, I don´t see that. Mercedes will always be a team first, constructors championship first team. The HAM signing was mainly thanks to Lauda, because they thought he could help move the team forward. While they knew their engine was going to be a rocket, everything else was guesswork, and a title a dream but no certainty.
VET on the other hand would move the focus from the team and the engine away to his person, and that's not something they want. He would not make any sense at all.
Don´t forget, they just recently signed a young talent as a safety net (f.i. if this bollocks three cars rule would come to fruition).
This I could easily see.
This not so much.
Its quite contrary - he will stay an RB man. They are the ones to foot the bill, so he can achieve his dreams and ambition. There are two things you have to consider:
- he does not want to leave England at any cost, to stay close to his family (so Italy is out anyway)
- he wants to design the next RB sailboat for the America´s Cup (that's his bucket list #1 item)
What could he prove by helping getting FER to the top? He has already done this with other teams, every one in the world knows he is a genius at that. It´d be another multiyear project, which would factually rule out his dream to ever design the yacht.
Why all the fuss about the contract negotiation between Mercedes and Hamilton then? Are there other parts of his contract that Mercedes are unhappy about, or is this more Mercedes keeping their options open if things go nuclear between Rosberg and Hamilton?
massivekettle
Member
To be honest, drivers like Schumacher, Senna, Prost, etc. could dictate the driver's market in the 1980s-1990s whereas the top drivers of our generation cannot. Does that speak volumes about how car-dependent has F1 become?
That's really what my previous post was about.
There is a lot of evidence to the contrary. They are trying to reduce Lewis's salary, which has then prompted rumours of him leaving even following 2014 (i.e. not exercising his option for 2015). Then they decided to postpone contract negotiations until after the season - doesn't really inspire a lot of confidence, does it?
Yes and Yes.
I´d love to know where this comes from. I´ve heard nothing like this.
That was HAM decision, not the teams.
massivekettle
Member
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/05/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-contract
You are right - it was HAM's decision, but Mercedes gladly agreed to, despite them knowing that he could very well make his decision to leave Mercedes in the meantime and that they did not do enough to secure his services for 2015 onwards like they did for Nico (by signing him to a highly lucrative deal during summer).
You are aware, that the contract ROS signed only took him to the same level HAM got? He made only a third of HAM´s money before, while basically being on one level with him.
If Merc gladly agreed, I doubt. They showed him a lot of love and commitment. If he wasn´t willing to pay that back immediately, its better to wait and see than to go begging. Like I said countless times - the driver is not the most important thing for Merc (and in F1 as a whole).
As for the Guardian article - they cite unnamed "voices from Stuttgart". I´d bet these are the same voices, that would like to end the F1 engagement as a whole. But those still are the clear minority, and even less vocal than before, now that Merc finally gets some ROI. In short: I doubt that's true. Money wont be the issue in the upcoming contract talks per se. But I don´t expect a steep raise either.
massivekettle
Member
Given that things should be much tighter from 2015 onwards, relative value of drivers should increase.
It wont, though. There are always exciting young talents pushing to get in. And with The Rise Of The Pay Driver (should be a movie title), it hasn´t been a drivers market for a while now.
massivekettle
Member
Will a top team really pass up on a Fernando or Vettel just to save a few bucks? Empirical evidence indicates quite the opposite, really.
Top teams have only employed top drivers, except McLaren with Lewis, Heikki and Magnussen. But they seem to have stop that practice now that they are trying to reboot their operations.
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