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Post by rangers on Jun 21, 2011 16:20:02 GMT
I would be surprised if Newey wasn't already working on a solution to the blown diffuser, and RBR will still be at the top of the quali time sheets come Silverstone and beyond.
It's interesting FIA are seeming to come down on RBR now, after not doing much about the Flexi wings last year, which seemed more of an issue than this - even though I am aware they didn't break any rules when tested at 0mph
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Doughnut
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Post by Doughnut on Jun 21, 2011 16:32:42 GMT
I think it's the fancy engine mapping that's being clamped down on and it just so happens that it's Red Bull that seem to be at the forefront of it.
The fancy engine mapping has a few things going against it politically. What they've been doing effectively is wasting a load of fuel just so they can blow hot air through the defuser. This at a time when the FIA are trying to promote fuel efficiency and push for more efficient engines going forward. It doesn't look good from a PR point of view. It also makes the cars sound crap when they're off throttle. It doesn't really add anything to the racing, and isn't something that'd ever be useful on a road car. It also makes it harder for a car to follow close to the car in front (at least theoretically, although it doesn't get talked about much) which is detrimental to the racing. It's fairly expensive to implement (especially for the smaller teams) and seems a bit of a waste throwing all that resource behind engine mappings when they're radically changing the engines in a couple of years time.
The other point is that it's clearly against the rules, and is quite easy to enforce a ban. Especially compared to the flexi front wings thing, which isn't quite as straightforward.
If you fancy being a cynical conspiracy theorist, you could also point to the obvious benefit of stopping Red Bull from running away with the championship.
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Post by GuinnessMan on Jul 23, 2011 11:42:47 GMT
Lee McKenzie looking hot today.
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Post by GuinnessMan on Jul 23, 2011 13:13:08 GMT
Good to see Vettel knocked back to 3rd in Q3, with excellent laps from Webber and Lewis.
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Post by rangers on Jul 23, 2011 15:10:38 GMT
stunning lap from Lewis. hope he can take it to RBR tomorrow
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Post by GuinnessMan on Jul 24, 2011 14:38:02 GMT
Great exciting race. Shame ferrari gifted vettel 4th in pits.
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Post by rangers on Aug 25, 2011 14:31:31 GMT
As an Ayrton Senna fan (and Brazilian drivers in general) great to see Bruno Senna get a shot in a 'proper' F1 car this weekend. He came so close to getting a Brawn drive a couple of years ago, and deserves at least one shot at a competative car. If he can be competative with Petrov, it bodes well.
Also great to see a Senna, with that yellow helmet in a JPS livery car. Will look AWESOME in Eau Rouge, Pouhon etc
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Post by GuinnessMan on Sept 13, 2011 12:30:05 GMT
Why would McLaren want Sam Michael? I know aht it says in the article, but he's not exactly moved Williams forward in the last 10 years. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes hires Sam Michael as Sporting Director 1 hour ago Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is delighted to announce that Sam Michael will join the team as Sporting Director from the 2012 season onwards. With 18 continuous years in the industry, Sam is a hugely experienced Formula 1 professional. After starting his Grand Prix career with Team Lotus in 1993, he joined Jordan Grand Prix in 1995, where he established the team’s R&D group before progressing into a senior race engineering role. In 2001 he joined WilliamsF1 as Chief Operations Engineer, becoming the team’s Technical Director in 2004 and a company director in 2008. As Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ Sporting Director, Sam will join the senior management team in addition to taking specific responsibility for the development and management of the team’s trackside operations. His vast experience and profound understanding of race operations will enhance the team’s on-track capability, adding significantly to its already impressive technical management strength-in-depth. Sam Michael said: “I’m extremely excited to be joining Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. Being a racer my whole life, I know that McLaren is one of the all-time greats of Formula 1. “I already know and respect many of the team’s senior technical management figures, and becoming a member of that excellent working unit was one of the prime attractions of this new position. “Equally, for some time I’ve closely observed and greatly admired both Lewis and Jenson as grade-one drivers, and therefore regard it as an enormous privilege to be able to work with both of them. “I’ve spent 11 seasons with WilliamsF1, have many fond memories, and truly wish them all the best. In the near future, however, I will become 100 per cent focused on Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, and will be aiming to ensure that the team’s famous rocket-red victory T-shirts will be seen many times over the coming years.” Martin Whitmarsh (Team Principal, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes) said: “Speaking on behalf of everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, I’m very pleased to welcome Sam as an important senior addition to our race team. “He’ll bring a very valuable blend of experience and expertise to our pitwall, and will also enrich the technical management we provide for our drivers. “I’m certain he’ll work extremely well with our senior technical management team, which I firmly believe will now become the strongest in all of Formula 1.” www.mclaren.com/page/vodafone-mclaren-mercedes-hires-sam-michael-as-sporting-director
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Post by Doughnut on Sept 13, 2011 14:00:04 GMT
He's a very experienced, very clever bloke. Williams have been on a downward spiral for quite some time for many reasons, mainly financial. I don't know how much they've cut their development budget (relative to the opposition) in the last 10 years but if their progressively worse engines and drivers over that time are any kind of indication then I guess Sam Michael probably had his hands tied over what he could do to a large extent. I reckon his leaving Williams was as much PR and politics as anything else. He fills a position at McLaren that'll have been empty for 3 years and by the sounds of things their other top technical people will all still be there. So it's fairly low risk way for them to evaluate and develop someone who could prove to be a great asset to the team. There's been a few races this year when McLaren could have done with a bit of help on the pit wall with their tactics, and he could be helpful there. He comes across well in TV interviews too, which is handy for someone in a prominent position in an F1 team and could take some work/pressure of Whitmarsh in that area. If they're lucky some of it might even rub off on Hamilton! If they were taking him on as technical director, or something more senior, or their current staff were having to make way for him then it might be a bit more questionable. I reckon this is probably a good move for all concerned though. Whitmarsh is no mug, I'm sure he knows what he's doing.
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Doughnut
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Post by Doughnut on Sept 22, 2011 16:50:45 GMT
Looks like there's a chance Kimi Raikkonen could become only the second driver in history (I think) to have driven for McLaren, Ferrari and Williams.
Possibly more interesting still is the seemingly increasing likelihood of Button becoming the third member of that exclusive club come 2013.
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Post by Doughnut on Oct 8, 2011 5:55:20 GMT
OK BBC, in order for the drivers' championship to stay alive Button has to win and Vettel has to fail to score a point. We get it. We always got it. PLEASE stop telling us now! Am I the only one who's sick of hearing about it?!
I really hope Vettel clinches it this weekend. I'm done hearing about the driver's championship for this season!
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Post by GuinnessMan on Oct 8, 2011 15:11:19 GMT
Ditto
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Post by Doughnut on Oct 10, 2011 9:09:11 GMT
Hallelujah!! Now brace yourselves for being repeatedly told what place the McLarens need to finish in order to keep the constructors title alive.
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Post by GuinnessMan on Oct 10, 2011 9:25:52 GMT
Rumour has it, mclaren are going to fit some parking sensors on lewis's car so he knows when there is a car along side him. I'm a big Lewis fan, but he is making massive mistakes this year.
Decent race yesterday, and a good win for Jensen. If he carries on driving with maturity, he stands a good chance of getting 2nd place.
WRT Constructers championship - 4 races to go, mclaren about 140pts behind - game over all but for the shouting. As you say Doughnut, I hope they don't go on and on about it. If there's a mathematical chance come the last race (which there wont be!) then yes, bleed it to death then.
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Post by panthers4ever on Oct 10, 2011 10:18:12 GMT
Well done Vettle for winning the championship
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Doughnut
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Post by Doughnut on Oct 10, 2011 10:31:20 GMT
Rumour has it, mclaren are going to fit some parking sensors on lewis's car so he knows when there is a car along side him. I'm a big Lewis fan, but he is making massive mistakes this year. Decent race yesterday, and a good win for Jensen. If he carries on driving with maturity, he stands a good chance of getting 2nd place. WRT Constructers championship - 4 races to go, mclaren about 140pts behind - game over all but for the shouting. As you say Doughnut, I hope they don't go on and on about it. If there's a mathematical chance come the last race (which there wont be!) then yes, bleed it to death then. Indeed. I think one of the most interesting things about the drivers' championship this year is going to be if and by how much Button beats Hamilton. He's already more than a full race win ahead of him.
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Post by GuinnessMan on Oct 10, 2011 12:23:25 GMT
They said in the commentry that maybe Jensen has psyched Lewis out, and I think they could be right. Lewis is trying too hard. Since losing his father as his manager seems he has lost a calming/logical influence, maybe needs a race engineer like rob smedley.
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Post by rangers on Oct 10, 2011 12:59:10 GMT
Jenson is a classier bloke on and off the track than Lewis. If i were Whitmarsh I would be looking ahead a couple of years to see who the kids to replace both drivers are. Jenson aint got long left career wise, and Lewis is a liability. If Whitmarsh has any sense he'll be chatting to Di Resta right about now.
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Post by GuinnessMan on Oct 10, 2011 13:43:15 GMT
must say i have been impressed with di resta too. wouldnt be surprised if he is with mercedes next year.
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Post by Doughnut on Oct 10, 2011 14:36:13 GMT
I don't reckon Button has psyched Hamilton out. I reckon Hamilton has psyched Hamilton out. I think he needs to enlist a sports psychologist or experienced coach or something. He needs to get his head together and focus on not making unforced errors. Somehow he needs to draw a line under this year and come back strong next year. He's a top drawer driver, maybe even the fastest in F1 on raw pace alone. He just needs to figure out how to get his form back.
Jenson is older and more mature than Lewis. He wasn't always so mature, or classy. For his first few years in F1 he was a bit of an arrogant git. A few humbling years in a lowly team to knock the arrogance out of him, followed by winning the 2009 championship to boost his self belief and then cutting it at the front with McLaren have turned him in to that much classier bloke on and off the track.
Di Resta has had a good first season. He's a good driver. He could be at Mercedes next season but I doubt he will be as I reckon Mercedes will keep both their current drivers. I reckon it'd be in Di Resta's best interest to stay at Force India next year if possible. They're a solid mid field team and he's gaining valuable experience there. He should sign a one year contract wherever it is he ends up. As things stand Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren all have a seat without a contract for 2013. Di Resta would probably be better off with any of these three than with Mercedes. He'd certainly benefit from keeping his options open at this stage and I reckon if he does go to Mercedes it'll be on more than a 1 year contract.
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Post by rangers on Oct 10, 2011 17:00:09 GMT
I don't reckon Button has psyched Hamilton out. I reckon Hamilton has psyched Hamilton out. I think he needs to enlist a sports psychologist or experienced coach or something. He needs to get his head together and focus on not making unforced errors. Somehow he needs to draw a line under this year and come back strong next year. He's a top drawer driver, maybe even the fastest in F1 on raw pace alone. He just needs to figure out how to get his form back. Jenson is older and more mature than Lewis. He wasn't always so mature, or classy. For his first few years in F1 he was a bit of an arrogant git. A few humbling years in a lowly team to knock the arrogance out of him, followed by winning the 2009 championship to boost his self belief and then cutting it at the front with McLaren have turned him in to that much classier bloke on and off the track. Di Resta has had a good first season. He's a good driver. He could be at Mercedes next season but I doubt he will be as I reckon Mercedes will keep both their current drivers. I reckon it'd be in Di Resta's best interest to stay at Force India next year if possible. They're a solid mid field team and he's gaining valuable experience there. He should sign a one year contract wherever it is he ends up. As things stand Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren all have a seat without a contract for 2013. Di Resta would probably be better off with any of these three than with Mercedes. He'd certainly benefit from keeping his options open at this stage and I reckon if he does go to Mercedes it'll be on more than a 1 year contract. Agree completely. Di Resta needs a year or two at Force India (or similar) before going into a bigger team. Clearly Lewis and Jenson are at McLaren for a couple of years, which would work nicely. Di Resta comes from good racing stock (cousin of the best British sportsman you've never heard of, Dario Franchitti, who should win his 4th indy car title in 4 attempts on Sunday), and will be getting good advice. One for the future. Lewis has the talent, but I think he still believes his own hype. Everyone thought he would learn from that season with the awful mclaren a couple of years ago and mature, but he was probably too young then to have that sort of learning season. He is too outspoken, not enough patience on track. Yes he is still young, but so is Vettel, and he is not known for banging wheels or moaning to the press when things go wrong. Neither did Alonso when he was the young upstart. It's not his fault he has been outclassed by Button - imo he has been the driver of the year - but he needs to grow up and quickly if he is to win another title.
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Post by vinee on Mar 8, 2012 9:05:05 GMT
not me!!!
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