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[tomtom94]

I'd be happy for any new GP in Europe, not matter where. Don't like it that F1 has been slowly abandoning its home continent.

 

[Kölsch Bloot]

I'd be happy for any new GP in Europe, not matter where. Don't like it that F1 has been slowly abandoning its home continent.

 

[ElTorro]

My brain is stubbornly rejecting the idea of calling this the Grand Prix of Europe.

 

[JadedWriter]

Looks like Tilke designed that using an Etch a Sketch.

 

[Big Takeover]

We've wanted a GP for years and years since the last one, but every time environmental parties win the fight and plans get cancelled.

Also, this is Zandvoort itself wanting the GP, not the government or anyone that could make it happen.

Having a corner named Tarzan gets you on the guest list at my show. Anyone with numbered or sponsored corners, guards, please escort them off the schedule.

 

[Nemme]

My brain is stubbornly rejecting the idea of calling this the Grand Prix of Europe.

I think Baku isn't even on the European continent.

 

[NHale]

I think Baku isn't even on the European continent.

If you give Bernie the money he asks for, he will make the European GP in Nigeria.

 

[JadedWriter]

If you give Bernie the money he asks for, he will make the European GP in Nigeria.

Next Russian GP will be in Alaska.

 

[scorcher59]

Money would be the biggest hurdle for Zandvoort I think.

Correct me if i'm wrong but what was the fee to hold a grand prix on a yearly basis? 300 mill?

 

[Chris R]

Next Russian GP will be in Alaska.

FUCK YES (I live in Alaska )

Now I'm going to spend most of tonight trying to design a good street circuit downtown.

 

[Goldrusher]

Looks like Mercedes is organizing its own "Race of Champions"...

Stars & Cars live at the
Mercedes-Benz Arena Stuttgart
December 12th, 2015

These are the confirmed drivers...

Besides MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formel 1-Pilot Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1 World Champion 2008, 2014 und 2015) and Nico Rosberg there are Mercedes-AMG DTM-Driver Pascal Wehrlein (DTM-Champion 2015), Paul Di Resta (DTM-Champion 2010), Gary Paffett (DTM-Champion 2005), Robert Wickens, Christian Vietoris, Daniel Juncadella, Lucas Auer and Maximilian Götz the 10 set drivers for our Stars & Cars competition.

... but the fans can vote for a couple more!

https://starsandcars.mercedes.me/en/home

There's quite a few to choose from, including Lauda, Alesi, Häkkinen and even Mick Schumacher!

 

[JadedWriter]

I'm down for Hamilton vs Hakkinen. Lol haven't seen the name Gary Paffett in a good amount of time.

 

[Psychotext]

That's a shit lineup, main two aside. =/

Would be fun to see Hakkinen though. Maybe also Lauda.

 

[JadedWriter]

Anybody on here thinks Nelson Piquet is going to ask Hamilton about one of the Kardashians during the podium interview? Granted he is tied to the attractive Kardashian

Spoiler

fuck Kim, eww!

 

[Mobius 1]

I want to apologize in advance for the state in which Interlagos is:

http://globoesporte.globo.com/motor...-para-f-1-mas-velhos-problemas-persistem.html

Still cramped, unfinished, a complete mess.

 

[DrM]

That's a shit lineup, main two aside. =/

Would be fun to see Hakkinen though. Maybe also Lauda.

Or Toto.

 

[Psychotext]

I want to apologize in advance for the state in which Interlagos is:

http://globoesporte.globo.com/motor...-para-f-1-mas-velhos-problemas-persistem.html

Still cramped, unfinished, a complete mess.

Oh dear.

 

[Jezbollah]

Well, that and a race in Argentina is one way for Brazil to lose it's GP.

 

[PjotrStroganov]

Money would be the biggest hurdle for Zandvoort I think.

The track and facilities need a complete overhaul for it to be suitable for f1. It's a tired track. When it comes to being up to date Assen would be a better choice. Though the layout isn't really suited for F1.

 

[DD]

I want to apologize in advance for the state in which Interlagos is:

http://globoesporte.globo.com/motor...-para-f-1-mas-velhos-problemas-persistem.html

Still cramped, unfinished, a complete mess.

Dude, these renovations will only be ready next year. Of course it will be kind of messy in 2015, but it's already much better than what they had until last year.

I'm with Lauda on the size of the padock: "for what? In China the paddock is immense. You never cross with anyone there. There is no race atmosphere we have here. I like that spirit of Interlagos."

 

[brotkasten]

The Lotus Twitter posted this from their canteen today.

"Pasta Maldonado"

Honestly, it sounds way too good to be named after him.

e: Whelp, time to follow Mercedes F1 on Twitter. Their interaction with Lotus is too good.

 

[brotkasten]

This was meant to be an edit, sorry.

 

[Jezbollah]

Well played, Merc twitter guy.

 

[Souldestroyer Reborn]

Well played, Merc twitter guy.

.

I agree.

 

[dubc35]

I could go for some Pasta Maldonado right now.

 

[JadedWriter]

I could go for some Pasta Maldonado right now.

Once you get the bowl it'll crash onto your lap.

 

[Zeknurn]

Make sure to follow Force India and Williams Too. They have three way bants with Lotus from time to time.

 

[DD]

SHOTS FIRED!

Spoiler

Kind of?

Kevin Magnussen tested a 919 for Porsche at Barcelona and is impressed with the car.

"It was very good. It's the first race car I drive in six or seven months and is a great bolid with incredible power. It's easy to feel that this is probably the most advanced car in the world right now. I can't wait to return."

 

[PdotMichael]

Can't be worse than the Valencia Street Circuit

 

[Aiii]

SHOTS FIRED!

Spoiler

Kind of?

Kevin Magnussen tested a 919 for Porsche at Barcelona and is impressed with the car.

"It was very good. It's the first race car I drive in six or seven months and is a great bolid with incredible power. It's easy to feel that this is probably the most advanced car in the world right now. I can't wait to return."

Translated from PR-speak to English: "I will never get to drive a F1 car ever again, so I might as well suck up to Porsche and hope for the best."

 

[theignoramus]

Of all the old F1 circuits in Europe, I would think Estoril has the track layout that could most easily be transformed into a modern circuit. I have a soft spot for the sheer legacy of Imola circuit (who doesnt?) but overtaking is almost impossible there unless the track configuration is the old one from the Senna era without the S chicanes.

 

[theignoramus]

Gene Haas believes his chassis might be better than Ferrari's in some aspects due the conservative culture at Maranello compared to the aggressive design Haas and Dallara are making together. And this is how you have a positive approach to life.

I hope Haas can do well enough to attract the sponsorship of an American engine manufacturer like Ford or Chevrolet. An all American F1 team that was like, Force India tier and competing for a third place podium a three or four times a year would be awesome for the sport.
I want more American fans and thus, more American media coverage of F1, for two reasons: to expand awareness and appreciation of the sport in America and to get more journalistic coverage and public exposure of FIA's bullshit politics.

 

[stryke]

So Ric using the new engine this weekend. Hope it doesn't blow up in his face.

 

[Aiii]

It would be cool if it were on pace with Ferrari, but that seems unlikely.


---

Carlos and Max play Memory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VojO6atXVSw

 

[Jezbollah]

Of all the old F1 circuits in Europe, I would think Estoril has the track layout that could most easily be transformed into a modern circuit. I have a soft spot for the sheer legacy of Imola circuit (who doesnt?) but overtaking is almost impossible there unless the track configuration is the old one from the Senna era without the S chicanes.

Estoril most recently held a race in 1996 (highlighted by Villeneuve's pass around the outside of Schumacher in the Parabolica) - since then it has been revised to tighten both turns 1 and 2, and also the parabolic. It doesn't jump out as a track that F1 is longing to go back to racing.

Imola has changed since 2007, with the chicane (Variante Bassa) in the last corner removed resulting from a direct run from Rivassa to Tamburello. Id say with DRS there is a chance of it being a legit overtaking spot, but the main issue is the track being so narrow with little in the way of available land to make improvements to promote modern day F1 overtaking IMO.

The most modern circuits capable of hosting GPs are the ones that Bernie has taken off the calendar for commercial/political reasons - tracks like Magny Cours, Hockenheim..

 

[Aiii]

Magny Cours being taken off of the calendar was just about the best decision Bernie made on that front.

 

[Jezbollah]

I just remembered Mugello. That would be an amazing circuit for the calendar.

EDIT: And of course, Instanbul Park :'(

 

[Zeknurn]

Lots more pictures over at AMS

It's ugly as hell but I would still take it over Mercedes' halo concept.

 

[theignoramus]

Magny Cours being taken off of the calendar was just about the best decision Bernie made on that front.

Hell no, that track was a showcase for F1 cars because of the super high apex speed of the corners. And while difficult, I saw numerous overtakes on that track, even in the days when dirty air from the car in front was a near crippling issue for anyone trying to follow closely behind

 

[DD]

Uh, oh... Austin's race is under threat. The government of Texas lowered their payment from 25 to less than 20 million dollars, and that puts the race under risk. Bernie confirmed that the situation is not good.

 

[brotkasten]

Seb is aiming for victory in the last two races.

Next up is the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos and Vettel feels they can challenge for victory thanks to the "incredible job" the team have done since the start of the year.

"There are two races to go, and two more wins we can potentially get, so this is our aim, even though it won't be easy," the German said.

"The team has done an incredible job across the season to close the gap; eight or nine months ago the gap was something like 1.3 or 1.4 seconds [off the pace].

"Now it's half a second or less, so we've been doing the right things."

http://planetf1.com/news/seb-gunning-for-victory-in-final-two-races/

While I'd like that, it's nice to want things.

e:
According to reports, Lewis is in "poor health". He'll be a day late and miss the conference, but will be able to race.

 

[nature boy]

Of all the old F1 circuits in Europe, I would think Estoril has the track layout that could most easily be transformed into a modern circuit. I have a soft spot for the sheer legacy of Imola circuit (who doesnt?) but overtaking is almost impossible there unless the track configuration is the old one from the Senna era without the S chicanes.

A lap in a F1 car would be close to a minute.

Track is too short for modern F1 cars.


Portimão is far better for F1.

 

[dubc35]

Uh, oh... Austin's race is under threat. The government of Texas lowered their payment from 25 to less than 20 million dollars, and that puts the race under risk. Bernie confirmed that the situation is not good.

Nothing but bad news coming out of Austin since the GP (horrible revenue due to weather, CEO fired, now this). Shame too, it's given us such great GP's.

 

[Aiii]

Ayrton Senna branded McLaren P1:

 

[DD]

Tavo Hellmund (?) an American businessman is considering buying Manor. He also dreams to have Dale Jr. as one of his drivers along with Alex Rossi.

 

[Chris R]

Jr is too old (fuck, he's 41... fuck).

Rossi + Newgarden would be an OK combo for me though.

 

[DrM]

While I'd like that, it's nice to want things.

e:
According to reports, Lewis is in "poor health". He'll be a day late and miss the conference, but will be able to race.

I just wonder how much of Mercedes development switched to 2016 and 2017 after summer break

Lewis was probably partying too hard

 

[JadedWriter]

I just wonder how much of Mercedes development switched to 2016 and 2017 after summer break

Lewis was probably partying too hard

Lewis probably caught something off one of those leopards in New Mexico City, or a Kadashian or something..

 

[nature boy]

Fucking hell

Lance Stroll to test for Williams in 2016

Please no, he makes Maldonado look good. Pay driver series.

 

[dubc35]

Fucking hell

Lance Stroll to test for Williams in 2016

Please no, he makes Maldonado look good. Pay driver series.

His role with Williams is expected to involve plenty of mileage in older cars that are not covered by F1's in-season testing restrictions. He is likely also to drive the team's simulator.

Seems to suggest his dad is paying a ton of money so his son can drive old cars and new video games.