Formula One 2018 - General Thread

[Dryce]

Question for the F! rule gurus. Does the formation lap count as a race lap?

No.

And the pits are closed prior to the start of the race and I think that situation continues during the formation lap. It's not clear what would happen if a driver entered the pits. At best it would be the same as an aborted start. So another formation lap might be required. At worst it would be subject to a penalty.

 

[bob6600]

IIRC the formation lap used to count but I'm sure it doesn't now. As for coming into the pits, I don't think it's allowed. Even if it was, anyone who starts from the pit lane cannot leave untll al of the cars have gone so it would be a disadvantage.

 

[GeeJayW]

I agree ^^ and Mercedes were lucky it didn't ruin Bottas' race although if they had run a strategy to benefit him, he may have passed Verstappen anyway. One thing I couldn't understand is why, with fresher tyres, Bottas couldn't get past Verstappen even with DRS? Maybe he wasn't allowed to use Strat 11 aka party mode but surely with DRS and a big tow it should have been easy?? My only conclusion was that he was too cautious as he knew Max would cut him off and possibly cause a collision.

I think it's hard to trust Max. It's not as if he is just clumsy like Grosjean. No he deliberately runs his fellow competitors (including his team mate) off the road if they try to overtake him and the stewards and RBR have done SFA about it.

I would like to have seen VB have a battle with Kimi for 2nd.

 

[AMGeed]

Vandoorne exits McLaren and Lando Norris in for 2019.
McLaren: British teenager Lando Norris to replace Stoffel Vandoorne

 

[st13phil]

I think it's hard to trust Max. It's not as if he is just clumsy like Grosjean. No he deliberately runs his fellow competitors (including his team mate) off the road if they try to overtake him and the stewards and RBR have done SFA about it.

MV needs someone like Mika Häkkinen to have a word with him in private, like he did with Schumacher after the incident in Spa years ago.

I don’t think it’s ever been made public what Häkkinen said, but it sure as hell scared the bejesus out of Schumacher who treated him with much greater respect afterwards.


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[Deleted member 113659]

MV needs someone like Mika Häkkinen to have a word with him in private, like he did with Schumacher after the incident in Spa years ago.

I don’t think it’s ever been made public what Häkkinen said, but it sure as hell scared the bejesus out of Schumacher who treated him with much greater respect afterwards.


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I still miss Mika. Great driver and character to have around.

Edit: did anyone see the ‘Tooned’ episode staring Mika? They captured his personality perfectly.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

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[moonloops]

Lando Norris in for 2019

Was he the same chap who was in Star Wars ?

 

[bob6600]

Vandoorne exits McLaren and Lando Norris in for 2019.
McLaren: British teenager Lando Norris to replace Stoffel Vandoorne

Surely that spells the end for Vandoorne. I can't see him coming back to F1 which is a shame for him as he had probably the worst chance to prove himself with (a) a poor McLaren and (b) with Alonso as his benchmark team mate

 

[AMGeed]

^ Probably is unless he gets a seat with Torro Rosso. Sauber have already stated they don't want him.
I would think Ocon is ahead of Vandoorne for any vacant seat though.
Bit of a rough deal considering the McLaren is rubbish and not outqualifying Alonso isn't so shameful after all.

 

[guhvies]

IIRC the formation lap used to count but I'm sure it doesn't now. As for coming into the pits, I don't think it's allowed. Even if it was, anyone who starts from the pit lane cannot leave untll al of the cars have gone so it would be a disadvantage.

I don't think it does. This stemmed from the US race at Indy where all the cars were in the formation lap and only the Ferraris & 2 other teams completed the race I believe. Said it would have been too dangerous or so to race...

 

[Petrol Pete]

Apparently they’re just passionate.

Plain rude in any other country in the world.

Just like the French during the Tour de France. A competition (I believe) a Frenchman has not won since the 1980's Just as an Italian has not won at Monza for donkeys years.

 

[Mactech]

Jolyon Palmer column: Brilliant Hamilton dragging Mercedes towards title

Hard to argue with the informed sense written here by Palmer.

 

[bob6600]

I don't think it does. This stemmed from the US race at Indy where all the cars were in the formation lap and only the Ferraris & 2 other teams completed the race I believe. Said it would have been too dangerous or so to race...

It was in the days of two tyre manufacturers. One was deemed dangerous and the other was OK but the FIA did not cancel the race so the teams on the suspect tyre brand didn't race whilst the 3 or so teams on the other tyre brand did. I think it was Bridgetone and Pirelli but I could be wrong

 

[GeeJayW]

Jolyon Palmer column: Brilliant Hamilton dragging Mercedes towards title

Hard to argue with the informed sense written here by Palmer.

Having been less than respectful to Jolyon before, this time I agree with him pretty much word for word.

 

[Mactech]

2005 US Grand Prix. Michelin advised all it's runners that the tyre was unsafe and so only those on Bridgestone raced.
At least they had the sense and guts to say this prior to the race. There was a massive fans backlash, but can you imagine the damage that could have been done if there was a fatal crash during the race?

 

[GeeJayW]

2005 US Grand Prix. Michelin advised all it's runners that the tyre was unsafe and so only those on Bridgestone raced.
At least they had the sense and guts to say this prior to the race. There was a massive fans backlash, but can you imagine the damage that could have been done if there was a fatal crash during the race?

Yes, I think Michelin felt that their (grooved slick IIRC) tyres would surrender under the sustained high speed cornering forces of the Indy circuit. Don't think it had anything to do with them being French... honest!

In the land of litigation, I agree that Michelin made the right decision. Had it gone pear-shaped, they would've indeed been in a bit of a mess.

It was however something of a PR faux par for F1 in the US, where to be honest they don't really 'get' F1 anyway. It's a huge market though, so worth persisting with hence Texas and proposals for NYC.

 

[brucemillar]

I sense in Sebastian a “toys out the pram” approach. I hope I am wrong here. But it does appear that when he doesn’t get things his way in the team or on track? He starts to get very clumsy. He seems to want to win the race and dominate the weekend. When that is not happening for him we see these “mistakes”. This weekend he seemed visibly and verbally unsettled by KR taking pole ahead of some “agreement” that SV appears to believe was in place? For sure, it is not good team work to have Seb towing Kimi in qualifying.


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[Dryce]

Yes, I think Michelin felt that their (grooved slick IIRC) tyres would surrender under the sustained high speed cornering forces of the Indy circuit. Don't think it had anything to do with them being French... honest!

'felt that their [...] tyres would surrender' ?

Were there not several failures during practice which brought this to a head?

And all those brains and all that money in F1 meant that they couldn't figure a workable and agreeable solution to stage some kind of decent race - and they still went ahead with just 6 cars.

I felt that at the time if there was a solution to have a proper fielded race - then somebody should have said to the three teams on Bridgestones .... yeah it's unfair on you but screw that because this is exceptional and remember IT'S THE FANS THAT COUNT.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Yeah. I remember it well. Everyone on the grid in the usual manor. Teams prepping the cars. All 22-24 cars set off for the formation lap then all but 6 pealed off into the pit lane. Strangest start to a race there’s ever been.

McLarens DC was on the radio during the formation lap saying if there was any way around the situation then he still wanted to go ahead and race.

“Negative David, Box Box Box”

There was a suggestion on the Saturday after Qually that the circuit install a last minute chicane on the corner responsible but not all teams agreed. Anyone like to guess which ones?