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[Mastah]

Alonso 14 thousands slower than Rosberg. Honda matching Mercedes confirmed!

 

[stryke]

Have no doubt that they only want to help Renault enough to keep them in the sport because it makes Mercedes look better when they completely floor multiple power units.

It's in Mercedes' interests to keep Renault involved in the sport, as it's in a pretty dire situation without them.

If they want to be so benevolent they should extend it to Honda, they need it more.

 

[Zeknurn]

If they want to be so benevolent they should extend it to Honda, they need it more.

Honda hasn't threatened to leave the sport. Yet.

 

[Dilly]

I wonder how McLaren would've fared this season if they still had Mercedes PU's.

 

[Zeknurn]

I wonder how McLaren would've fared this season if they still had Mercedes PU's.

Above Williams but below Ferrari would be my guess.

 

[Celebrimbor]

Paddy Lowe just said its their real pace... yeah right.

 

[FuturusX]

Paddy Lowe just said its their real pace... yeah right.

Don't be a cynic, if the man said it's their real pace, it's their real pace

Ferarri 1 & 2 for sure.

 

[brotkasten]

Why is Mercedes so slow?

 

[Ark]

It would be good for Mercedes to help out Renault. We need them in the sport.

 

[brotkasten]

How likely is it that Vettel's Ferrari breaks down this weekend?

 

[Mastah]

Paddy Lowe just said its their real pace... yeah right.

Last year Mercedes were 1.5 second quicker than Ferrari at Monza, but in Singapore it was only 2 tenths.

This year it was 3 tenths at Monza, but Mercs are 1 second behind at Marina Bay.

 

[Zeknurn]

It seems like Mercedes is struggling with tyre pressures.

 

[Mastah]

Yep:

Tobias Grüner F1 ‏@tgruener 3m3 minutes ago

#F1 Mercedes struggles with tyre pressures. Drivers complain about lack of grip & traction. Also customer teams in trouble it seems.

 

[brotkasten]

Oh God, this is bullshit. Pleeease. I'm sick of Mercedes dominating like they do, but please, not like this.

 

[Tempy]

Should I change my predictions or is it all a ruse and will Mercedes dominate like usual?

 

[Zeknurn]

Video with EJ about VW taking over RBR is up. (UK only)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34302620

Recap:

• Mercedes engine in RBR is not happening. Lauda was positive to it but Wolffe said no.
• RBR will run Ferrari engines for the next two years.
• Martin Winterkorn confirmed last week to Marko and Mateschitz that VWG will take over RBR in 2018.
• Red Bull will continue as a sponsor for $60 million per year.
• Audi will be the brand used for the team
• Domenicali will run the team, possibly alongside Gerhard Berger

• Renault will take over Lotus
• With some tweaking of the TV money by Bernie the deal is as good as done.

• The spare Mercedes power unit will go to Manor making them a Mercedes feeder team.
• They will get help by both Williams and Mercedes to make the team far more competitive.
• Mercedes is doing this because they want to improve their position in the US, so expect Rossi to get the second seat alongside Pascal Wehrlein.

• There are strong rumours that Honda wants to pull out but EJ can't see this happening.
• McLaren has nowhere to go without Honda.

Oh God, this is bullshit. Pleeease. I'm sick of Mercedes dominating like they do, but please, not like this.

Oh please. Mercedes will be back to dominating next race.

 

[nature boy]

Still don't see VAG getting into F1, certainly not Porsche. They're committed to WEC.

Audi's CEO isn't fond on F1, so it comes down to Winterkorn.

And CVC is too cheap to give Renault historical status.

 

[iceagecoming]

Di Resta has the personality of a brick. A prick of a brick too. Why is this loser on skyf1?

 

[John_B]

Where does that leave Horner and Toro Rosso for that matter?

Seems very positive to me if both Renault stays and Audi enters. I'm not so sure that they will be able to build a competitive power unit in two years though.

Interesting weekend none the less. Mercedes seems to have some issues.

 

[nature boy]

You know this could just be a way to pressure Ferrari into giving Red Bull equal treatment...

 

[Fox Mulder]

• There are strong rumours that Honda wants to pull out but EJ can't see this happening.
• McLaren has nowhere to go without Honda.

.

Lol

 

[Mastah]

Mat Oxley ‏@matoxley 45m45 minutes ago

Ecclestone no longer owns Circuit Paul Ricard. His ex-wife got it as part of $1 billion (!) divorce settlement. Now owned by someone else

Toto just said they changed set-up for quali.

 

[Zeknurn]

Herbert: Some of the teams running Mercedes power units have asked Pirelli if they can lower the tyre pressure so they can get more grip.


LOL.

 

[jey_16]

really hope Red Bull don't get Ferrari engines.....

 

[chadskin]

Niki Lauda just said he'd be surprised if Lewis or Nico were to grab the pole.

 

[Zeknurn]

I'm still amazed with how much money Microsoft must be putting into Lotus.

Here's Grosjean and Maldonado in Xbox overalls.

 

[Aiii]

Niki Lauda just said he'd be surprised if Lewis or Nico were to grab the pole.

I wonder if Niki is even capable of telling the truth anymore, ever since he joined Mercedes I doubt he has done it even once.

 

[Mastah]

really hope Red Bull don't get Ferrari engines.....

I hope they will get them, engines and Ferrari in the 2016 standings

 

[Ark]

Still don't see VAG getting into F1, certainly not Porsche. They're committed to WEC.

Audi's CEO isn't fond on F1, so it comes down to Winterkorn.

And CVC is too cheap to give Renault historical status.

Obviously the brand used wouldn't be Porsche given that they just entered the WEC, it makes a great deal of sense to move their Audi efforts into F1 given how they've dominated the Le Mans series for well over a decade.

I don't understand the CVC cynicism, they already gave Lotus historical status when the team changed hands before. It's a formality if anything else.

Video with EJ about VW taking over RBR is up. (UK only)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34302620

Recap:

• Mercedes engine in RBR is not happening. Lauda was positive to it but Wolffe said no.
• RBR will run Ferrari engines for the next two years.
• Martin Winterkorn confirmed last week to Marko and Mateschitz that VWG will take over RBR in 2018.
• Red Bull will continue as a sponsor for $60 million per year.
• Audi will be the brand used for the team
• Domenicali will run the team, possibly alongside Gerhard Berger

• Renault will take over Lotus
• With some tweaking of the TV money by Bernie the deal is as good as done.

• The spare Mercedes power unit will go to Manor making them a Mercedes feeder team.
• They will get help by both Williams and Mercedes to make the team far more competitive.
• Mercedes is doing this because they want to improve their position in the US, so expect Rossi to get the second seat alongside Pascal Wehrlein.

• There are strong rumours that Honda wants to pull out but EJ can't see this happening.
• McLaren has nowhere to go without Honda.

This list seems almost too good to be true.

EDIT: That frees up Horner to take over Bernie's position as the rumour has been saying for years now. Interesting.

 

[SunhiLegend]

 

[Celebrimbor]

That Vettel Lap

 

[Mastah]

Vettel 46.0, Rosberg 47.5.

 

[ElTorro]

Vettel is slaying Räikkönen.

 

[iceagecoming]

Kimi is so disappointing

 

[Xando]

This is my favourite race to watch. Always love seing the drivers fight through these corners.

Also dat Vettel lap.

 

[Zeknurn]

This is Vettel's track.

 

[Deadman]

Vettel in Asia so good.

 

[Mastah]

This is Vettel's track.

*cough* Outqualified last year by Ricciardo *cough*

 

[Aiii]

Hope Sainz doesn't mess up his 2nd stint, this is the last time a Q3 is pretty much a guaranteed possibility for the Toro Rosso's

 

[Xando]

Rosberg and Hamilton going out on Supersoft in Q1. What happened to Mercedes?

 

[Mastah]

Hamilton 3 tenths faster on supersofts than Vettel on softs, lol.

 

[Aiii]

Rosberg and Hamilton going out on Supersoft in Q1. What happened to Mercedes?

Nothing, engine simply doesn't matter in this track.

 

[Kyougar]

Lets say Kimi doesnt get out of Quali 1....

 

[Zeknurn]

This is a good example of how competitive the field could be if we weren't stuck in an engine formula.

 

[Mastah]

Mclarens in Q2, woo hoo.

 

[Ark]

This is a good example of how competitive the field could be if we weren't stuck in an engine formula.

Yeah that didn't really work out so well last time.

 

[Lach]

So much for Saubers new package.... smh

 

[nny]

Honda power into Q2!

 

[Aiii]

The Sauber's new nose is just as shit as the old one, apparently.

 

[Risgroo]

Top 18 covered by just under 2 seconds, love it!