Formula 1 2020 (Will Contain Race Day Spoilers)

[st13phil]

I did look on the Beeb and noticed how many comments with contempt for LH and then remembered Toto saying - Drivers who say Lewis Hamilton wins because he has the best car should ask themselves “why they haven't found their way into a Mercedes.

Precisely. It's rare that the best driver(s) don't manage to get an offer of the best equipment, and then you get a synergistic partnership that wins.

Hamilton is undoubtedly a superb driver with fantastic feel for what the car is doing under him, and he also - quite obviously - knows how to work with a team to get the best out of everything. Something I personally admire about him is that he is also a "clean" driver who doesn't seem to resort to the obviously dirty on-track tactics that characterised some of the other huge talents (including Schumacher and Senna).

Unfortunately, he has also become divisive due to some of his "extracurricular" activities, campaigns and comments that some love while others don't. Ultimately I have huge respect for what he's achieved on track and congratulate him for his extraordinary achievements, but I suspect I'd not enjoy his company at a bar.

 

[Dryce]

Precisely. It's rare that the best driver(s) don't manage to get an offer of the best equipment, and then you get a synergistic partnership that wins.

Also worth reminding ourselves LH has had respectably fast team mates.

Three of whom won the WDC.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Verstappen tells Red Bull he wants Nico Hulkenberg signed | PlanetF1

After being asked, Max Verstappen has reportedly told Red Bull bosses that he wants Nico Hulkenberg to be his team-mate next season.

www.planetf1.com

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Hey @Mactech and everyone.

Have you an opinion to share on Ron Dennis? (Good or/and bad).

I get the impression he was a marmite guy in F1? I personally like/d him especially for all he achieved at McLaren.

 

[Nat]

Verstappen tells Red Bull he wants Nico Hulkenberg signed | PlanetF1

After being asked, Max Verstappen has reportedly told Red Bull bosses that he wants Nico Hulkenberg to be his team-mate next season.

www.planetf1.com

NH is a good choice of driver. How would MV feel when he leaves him standing.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

NH is a good choice of driver. How would MV feel when he leaves him standing.

I really like Hulk. However, love your optimism.

 

[AMGeed]

NH is a good choice of driver. How would MV feel when he leaves him standing.

Can't see that happening Nat. Although Hulk is an excellent driver I don't place him in the same league as MV.
I'd like to see Sergio in a Red Bull. I think he'd be a lot closer to Max than Albon appears unable to be.

 

[Nat]

Yeah. Fair statement.

Would Horner let any other driver beat Max?

 

[GeeJayW]

Can't see that happening Nat. Although Hulk is an excellent driver I don't place him in the same league as MV.
I'd like to see Sergio in a Red Bull. I think he'd be a lot closer to Max than Albon appears unable to be.

I think Max wants Hulk in the team because he doesn't want Sergio as a team mate.

 

[bob6600]

Hey @Mactech and everyone.

Have you an opinion to share on Ron Dennis? (Good or/and bad).

I get the impression he was a marmite guy in F1? I personally like/d him especially for all he achieved at McLaren.

I liked him. I know he was ruthless but aren't they all behind the scenes? He was the first to bring carbon fibre to an F1 car

 

[Mactech]

I met Ron Dennis a number of times over the years, but I can't really say a knew him as a person.
My first encounter was when he was running Project 4, his Formula 2 team in '78. I was very impressed with the presentation in his truck.
At the time, most teams would have their spare suspension rod ends and spherical bearings in an old biscuit tin or similar. Ron's were laid out in an immaculate drawer, each aligned precisely in foam lined tray.
If Colin Chapman was the yardstick for technical innovation in F1, then Ron was the one responsible for moving the game on in terms of presentation and organisation. He had an eye for detail bordering on OCD.
Under his guidance, McLaren grew from about a dozen enthusiasts into a multi million pound company.
His attention to detail during the 90's meant he still had to personally sign off the livery on the Gulf McLaren GT cars that I ran.

Around the turn of the century I was looking for a bunch of race engineers to look after drivers in the Formula Palmer Audi series.
Ron and Martin Whitmarsh saw this as a great way to train engineers within McLaren without exposing them to the risks of running a current GP driver.
What I remember most, is that within his organisation, there was the possibility of a dozen engineers having the time to spend a whole afternoon listening to my pitch!
Together we put in place a program that would fulfil the race engineering needs of Palmer Audi, and give the McLaren engineers access to real world race engineering at real race meetings, something that was difficult with engineers outnumbering driver by about 100 to 1 at McLaren F1.

Like most great people, not the easiest to get on with, but very much a key player in the story of F1.

 

[GeeJayW]

Ron's attention to detail was/is indeed legendary.

I remember one year ('93 I think), McLaren in preparation for the British Grand Prix, had the floor of their pit garages at Silverstone covered in grey ceramic/marble tiles. The McLaren logo engraved along the front was a very nice finishing touch. Looked amazing.

Ron must have been properly gutted when they realised that the tiles had been laid in the wrong garage. They had to get get special dispensation from the FIA to change pit garages for the Grand Prix later in the year...

 

[Deleted member 150136]

My Friend from childhood(still good friends with my brother) used to be head of F1 production( not design, but the actual productivity or something) for Mclaren.
He left after not so long, said the money was amazing but it was a very difficult place to work.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Ron's attention to detail was/is indeed legendary.

Indeed, anyone who’s been to or seen footage of the MTC in Woking would see just how perfect a building can be. I always wonder what Bruce McLaren would think of that place when you see the little garage where they started out. Maybe too much time and resources at Woking was the beginning of their struggle on track.

 

[GeeJayW]

Indeed, anyone who’s been to or seen footage of the MTC in Woking would see just how perfect a building can be. I always wonder what Bruce McLaren would think of that place when you see the little garage where they started out. Maybe too much time and resources at Woking was the beginning of their struggle on track.

Yep. There was one programme about the MTC where Ron was talking about one of the floor tiles getting damaged and needed to be replaced. Even though to most people the replacement tile matched, to Ron it didn't quite match. He said something like 'it pokes me in the eye every time I walk through here'. There's also a good account of Ron's OCDlike behaviour in Adrian Newey's book.

 

[st13phil]

There was one programme about the MTC where Ron was talking about one of the floor tiles getting damaged

I remember that program, and Ron's comment. I think he added something along the lines of, "for me, it's ruined the building".

Most people would think that an absurd thing to say, but then most people don't have the drive, ambition and capability to build a successful F1 team.

 

[bob6600]

Yep. There was one programme about the MTC where Ron was talking about one of the floor tiles getting damaged and needed to be replaced. Even though to most people the replacement tile matched, to Ron it didn't quite match. He said something like 'it pokes me in the eye every time I walk through here'. There's also a good account of Ron's OCDlike behaviour in Adrian Newey's book.

He's also featured in the last episode of 'Race to Perfection' and admits his OCD

 

[bob6600]

Alfa Romeo retains it's driver for next year. Go Kimi!

Alfa Romeo retain Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi for F1 2021

Kimi Raikkonen to race beyond his 42nd birthday with Alfa Romeo as team confirm new contracts for 2007 world champion and team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi; Five seats remaining on 2021 grid, Mick Schumacher set for Haas

www.skysports.com

 

[bob6600]

Williams also confirm the 'confusion' over Russell... Both current drivers will be with Williams next year. I'm glad as George deserves the seat. I wonder if Toto put some pressure on them.

 

[bob6600]

Alfa Romeo retains it's driver for next year. Go Kimi!

Alfa Romeo retain Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi for F1 2021

Kimi Raikkonen to race beyond his 42nd birthday with Alfa Romeo as team confirm new contracts for 2007 world champion and team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi; Five seats remaining on 2021 grid, Mick Schumacher set for Haas

www.skysports.com