Oh dear god, I've just seen Jenson's Head & Shoulders advert, CRINGE!!
The F1 Thread 2011 Season
- Thread starter Rado_N
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
Hamilton and Button are both slatting the new car , saying it will not be able to match the Red Bulls and Ferrari's.
A bit strange to come out this this so close to the start of the season , maybe a bit of bluffing on there part.
I think they will be both up there at the start of the season.
BBC Sport - F1 - Lewis Hamilton criticises 2011 McLaren car
A bit strange to come out this this so close to the start of the season , maybe a bit of bluffing on there part.
I think they will be both up there at the start of the season.
BBC Sport - F1 - Lewis Hamilton criticises 2011 McLaren car
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Mclaren are kings of sandbagging.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if they aren't as bad as they are making it out to be.
I don't think they are sandbagging, they haven't done it for years. They do however happen to be the most goal focused of the teams therefore very rarely top timesheets at tests.
Ive also got a feeling that McLaren are trying to pull a fast one here and are a lot closer to their rivals then they are letting on. They are also actually a lot closer then they were in testing the previous 2 seasons.
I'm quitely optimistic but I don't want to get my hopes up because it could be 2009 all over again. I still think they have a different rear wing they are holding back.
It's always unwise to expect them to be holding something in reserve, much more reliable to just take it at face value. In that regard, everyone's been saying Ferrari and Red Bull are looking very good, and that McLaren and Mercedes are off their pace. Not to say McLaren can't develop over the season, they're among the best there, and they aren't as bad as in 2009, but certainly not yet among the frontrunners and actually very poor in terms of reliability at the moment (this has been the most worrying thing, something they definitely wouldn't fake). Fingers crossed there's a lot of potential there, just don't expect to see it at the first two or three races.
I just get a feeling they 'are protesting too much' at McLaren. They are sneaky bastards at McLaren.
It does seem odd they have just flatout said they won't be at the front, in 2009 when the situation was dire we didn't hear a peep from them until after Qualifying with Lewis 15th.
Yeah.
I don't think they are quickest or anything like that. But I reckon they are closer than they are letting on.
Hamilton's always crying. You can't figure out if it's tactical or genuine.
Nah, in 2009 Whitmarsh and Haug came out with a press release after Barcelona testing saying that the car was much slower than expected, but that they'd be fighting hard to improve. Nothing like as serious as that this time round - since the 09 car was pretty much a backmarker for the first half of the season - it'll just be at the front of the midfield to begin with. That's what I'd imagine anyway, Occam's razor and all that.
And it's the reliability which is the real concern, it's 04 like at the moment (terrible). Car's very new and innovative though, could be a rocket that just needs debugging for all we know. Or a massive lemon.
Other Mclaren news Pedro de la Rosa is back as a test driver.
Well they keep trying different exhaust configurations don't they, really at this point you would imagine they should have settled on a solution and ran with it. Perhaps they have but now it keeps cracking.
I don't remember the drivers moaning so early in 2009 but then that seems ages ago anyway and Lewis generally says what he feels now abit like Button, experience aint it. But I agree I think they will be around where they were 2010 at the start of the season.
Jonathan Legard on twitter - Told that McLaren engineers are braced for another year of technical catch-up, like 2009, which took at least half a season for progress
Jamesallenonf1
#f1 Schumacher in Mercedes has done a 1:21.268 this morning; fastest of the winter testing- that's some update pack they put on!!
#f1 Schumacher in Mercedes has done a 1:21.268 this morning; fastest of the winter testing- that's some update pack they put on!!
Another not so good day for McLaren today, only 57 laps. Time's not too much to worry about since they've been much quicker, but the reliability is a real concern, seemingly unlikely to be able to finish a race at the moment. Rumour that I read on another site (and it is just a rumour, could be bullshit, so pinch of salt required) saying that they're "building a new chassis". Whether that would mean correcting a manufacturing fault on the original design, or a b-spec, I don't know. Either way, not good if true.
Shit I've just seen it on tv what the feck you thinking Jenson.
Vettel signs new contract with Red Bull to take him to 2014.
Lewis Hamilton's new manager is Simon Fuller if anyone is interested.
So basically he wants to be a bigger name outside of the sport, gotta say thats pretty dissapointing. Obviously it's very wise of him to employ someone who can organise and maximise his exposure but on the otherhand it makes you wonder if he is getting distracted by his fame.
Vettel new contract, sensible choice for both parties really. It's pretty obvious he will drive a Ferrari one day bit with Alonso around it won't be happening just yet.
Can I have the password for the Fantasy league , please
Me too as well please
I'll send them in a sec lads.
Why does he need that muppet , not for his F1 future.
I agree with Leg-End more to do away from F1 , looking to the future.
Still dont see the point he is a young lad still got many years in front of him and when he has finished racing , I can see him dong the tv stuff very easy.
Right now Hamilton doesn't need such distractions yet he keeps invoking them. Another masterful lesson by Ron Dennis on how to manage a driver......
Funnily enough, Hamilton should be looking at drivers like Schumacher and Senna who gained their fame by busting their arses on the track, not chasing skirt and lucrative manager deals. It's part of the perks at being the best.
Funnily enough, Hamilton should be looking at drivers like Schumacher and Senna who gained their fame by busting their arses on the track, not chasing skirt and lucrative manager deals. It's part of the perks at being the best.
Spa sign a 'multi year' title sponsorship agreement with Shell, which suggests its place on the calendar is secure. Glad to hear my favourite track will be around for a few years yet.
Isn't it annoying that great tracks like Spa, Canada and Silverstone have to fight for survival every year while shit ones like Abu Dhabi and Turkey get in without a problem. Fecking Bernie.
Silverstone has finally got passed all that now with the track improvements and the 17 year deal. But you are right, F1 still seeks a payday ahead of common sense most of the time.
Okay, give us a sec though.
Thanks, im all sorted now
Intresting comments by Whitmarsh here BBC Sport - F1 - McLaren to surprise rivals in Australian GP - Whitmarsh
Not that it matter but watching that video on the bbc site the Mclaren merchandise does look really shit and cheap.
Been reading some interesting stuff about how McLaren might be using the exhausts this year. Seems to be the major cause of the unreliability so far, but if they can get it to work properly...
I'll remain in pessimistic mode for now, but hopefully some light on the horizon.
a week away now, i cant wait 
Joined up to the fantasy league, and not made the mistake of going for the £40m budget this time
a week away now, i cant wait
Yes! I'm looking forward to it so much!