Boring race again all in all.
The F1 Thread 2014 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.
why the hell is he doing that after race interview.
Boring, but I'm just glad Lewis won.
And will people here say how boring it is, if Hamilton wins it easily?
Well yeah, just scroll up a couple of post. Lewis fecked off at the start and that was the end it.
Missed the start of the race, but from what I saw it was a rather boring race. Hard luck to riccardo as everything just seemed to go wrong for him in a short space of time. The new rules have made some massive gaps between the teams meaning we don't actually see much battling at the moment. And a fuel percentage stat display 
Seeing that basically summed up everything that is wrong with F1 right now.
Seeing that basically summed up everything that is wrong with F1 right now.Not a particularly interesting race, but with such disparity between the cars what's to be expected? It might even up later on when the teams can steal the better tech of the Mercedes / Red Bull. Usually the way.
On a side note, that last lap was a shambles from a coverage point of view. Massa and Bottas were fighting for position -- and it was the only interesting thing happening on track -- so instead we got to watch Niki fecking Lauda for forty seconds celebrating. Wow! So interesting!
On a side note, that last lap was a shambles from a coverage point of view. Massa and Bottas were fighting for position -- and it was the only interesting thing happening on track -- so instead we got to watch Niki fecking Lauda for forty seconds celebrating. Wow! So interesting!
So with all the talk of the preseason excitement with the new rules etc, the start of the season has been a real damp squib.
Mercs are too good and the possible surprise teams such as Williams, Force India have not delivered. It's Red Bull coming back again.
Mercs are too good and the possible surprise teams such as Williams, Force India have not delivered. It's Red Bull coming back again.
I think if you look at the pace in quali in the wet and then the downforce sectors in the dry, Red Bull are arguably as good as the Merc's but lose out on the straights. But I'm not sure the Merc's have even given it the full beans yet, seems like they can win running at 90%, Rosberg was basically holding Vettel at arms length without really trying and when he wanted to pull away he did it in like 3 laps.
It's a long season with a ton of development scope but if the Merc's carry on like that I don't think anyone will catch them in time to mount a real challenge.
It's a long season with a ton of development scope but if the Merc's carry on like that I don't think anyone will catch them in time to mount a real challenge.
I think that we're unfortunately going to see a lot drivers "not trying" this season in order to preserve their engines.
I don't think it was really a case not trying because of fear of failures or fuel saving though, more like "we have this race covered so we aren't showing our hand yet". Everyone knows Merc are quick but I'm not sure they know just how quick, they don't want to let the others benchmark their performance and give them somthing to aim for.
Hamilton finished 24 seconds ahead of Vettel and I'm not sure he even bothered going 90% in the middle stint, he was cruising which to me says if he wanted he could have probably stretched that even further, his fastest lap at the end was nearly a second quicker than Rosberg and over a second quicker than Alonso and Vettel, late stop I know but those stopped late too and were pushing for position. It was actually almost Vettel-esque today from Hamilton.
Yes race was boring, however there were a few decent position fights going on throughout...really enjoying Bottas at the moment...has shown what he can do in the first two races, not to mention his attitude telling his team to tell Masa to move the feck out of the way early on...at the same time I'm glad Massa didn't give in to team orders at the end. Hulk had a good finish as well. Gave it all he could in trying to block Alonso.
I wonder what the most innovative thing is at the moment? We've had years of double diffusers, blown exhausts, extra DRS (Merc), etc. There's always something that someone does that others haven't, what have we got now besides a whole load of new things?
Once we get to the European tracks I imagine the field will bunch up a little and things will settle, especially with all these little faults though I think we got used to reliability... I remember playing an F1 game and during a long race my engine blew... How come Ferrari have been left behind with their engine? I can understand Renault in some sense. I know Mercedes have put a lot of effort and resources to this but they are way ahead. I'm glad Honda are joining next year, the more variation and competition the better.
Once we get to the European tracks I imagine the field will bunch up a little and things will settle, especially with all these little faults though I think we got used to reliability... I remember playing an F1 game and during a long race my engine blew... How come Ferrari have been left behind with their engine? I can understand Renault in some sense. I know Mercedes have put a lot of effort and resources to this but they are way ahead. I'm glad Honda are joining next year, the more variation and competition the better.
Well they lost a ton of downforce with the new regs, particularly at the rear with the exhaust position now central and above the diffuser negating the huge downforce points it generated. Right now its probably more about who hit the ground running and has the better base car, innovation perhaps comes later or atleast we get to know about anything there might be later. But the new engines are key here, thats the biggest innovation.
I'm not sure engine wise if its a case of Ferrari/Renault being left behind or Mercedes just building an outstanding engine. We have to look back as far as 2012 when Mercedes sold Lewis on the whole deal when he was at the time sitting in a front running (albeit unreliable) McLaren as Merc poodled about eating tyres, they were planning for 2014 even then so I just think Mercedes played the long game, waited it out and are now reaping the rewards.
In terms of actual known innovations though? There are a few:
- McLaren's Rear Suspension "bells"
- Lotus tusk nose
- Mercedes FRIC system
- Red Bull's hidden nose camera solution
I'm sure there is stuff to come and stuff thats on cars that we don't yet know about, there always is. Mercedes supposedly have a different nose solution in the works already, the great thing about new regs is effectively all the teams get a clean slate which tends to rattle some new ideas loose.
I'm not sure engine wise if its a case of Ferrari/Renault being left behind or Mercedes just building an outstanding engine. We have to look back as far as 2012 when Mercedes sold Lewis on the whole deal when he was at the time sitting in a front running (albeit unreliable) McLaren as Merc poodled about eating tyres, they were planning for 2014 even then so I just think Mercedes played the long game, waited it out and are now reaping the rewards.
In terms of actual known innovations though? There are a few:
- McLaren's Rear Suspension "bells"
- Lotus tusk nose
- Mercedes FRIC system
- Red Bull's hidden nose camera solution
I'm sure there is stuff to come and stuff thats on cars that we don't yet know about, there always is. Mercedes supposedly have a different nose solution in the works already, the great thing about new regs is effectively all the teams get a clean slate which tends to rattle some new ideas loose.
WOW this lad is not having the best start to his Red Bull drive.
Daniel Ricciardo has been handed a 10-place grid penalty for next weekend’s 2014 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix following an unsafe release from his third pit stop in Sunday's race in Malaysia.
The Australian had pitted from fourth on track, but was released from his pit box with the left front wheel of his RB10 improperly secured.
Under 2014's revised regulations, any driver who is unsafely released not only incurs a 10-second stop and go penalty if they continue in the race, but also receives an automatic 10-place grid drop for the subsequent event.
Red Bull were also reprimanded by the stewards in Malaysia after a member of team personnel was found to have not worn head protection during a pit stop.
Daniel Ricciardo has been handed a 10-place grid penalty for next weekend’s 2014 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix following an unsafe release from his third pit stop in Sunday's race in Malaysia.
The Australian had pitted from fourth on track, but was released from his pit box with the left front wheel of his RB10 improperly secured.
Under 2014's revised regulations, any driver who is unsafely released not only incurs a 10-second stop and go penalty if they continue in the race, but also receives an automatic 10-place grid drop for the subsequent event.
Red Bull were also reprimanded by the stewards in Malaysia after a member of team personnel was found to have not worn head protection during a pit stop.
He really isn't having much luck is he. Hopefully it starts to turn around for him soon.
He was pretty dumb to drive so far away from his pitbox though, it was apparent almost immediately his wheel wasn't on, its not going to magically attach itself halfway down the pitlane is it?
Also worth pointing out post Malaysia, Hamilton's Hairpiece shoots to the top of the fantasy league. Rado_N shoots to the bottom.
Also worth pointing out post Malaysia, Hamilton's Hairpiece shoots to the top of the fantasy league. Rado_N shoots to the bottom.
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ffs, I can't even remember who I picked aside from I think Kimi who had rotten luck on Sunday! Re Ricciardo, yes the penalty is very harsh and he's had a terrible start in terms of luck, but like Leg-End says, why the hell did he drive so far down the pit lane with a wobbly wheel?
Whats the site name? At what rank am I?
Just checked and my team in that is currently second last in the redcafe table
I've moved down to 3rd position now and a few people have better drivers so will fall a few more places soon
Speaking of Ricciardo, every time I see or hear him speak I get flashes of the film - Hot Rod. He needs to grow a massive moustache and all of his problems will turn into triumph.
Speaking of Ricciardo, every time I see or hear him speak I get flashes of the film - Hot Rod. He needs to grow a massive moustache and all of his problems will turn into triumph.
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I'm mid table, had a pretty damn good last race in that too.
Disappointing start for me, just below mid table, first race was a disaster.
I've missed the first two races but watching the practice at the moment. I reckon these engines sound alright. Not ear shattering but they have a cool sound about them.
I swear every season i see an article by Hamilton which says "I'm in a better place".
The cars look pretty good under the floodlights.
Hamilton had odds of 5/6 to top the practice session times which was quite generous. Red Bull with another fuel flow failure by the FIA. Who would have thought it.
watching FP2 and FIA have told Red Bull, Torro Rosso and Lotus that they can not move the fuel flow sensor any more , they have to sort out the problem before the Spanish GP.
These 3 teams have had 96% of the issues with the sensor and all 3 run on Total fuel, could be a problem with the fuel ?
These 3 teams have had 96% of the issues with the sensor and all 3 run on Total fuel, could be a problem with the fuel ?
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Where is Bottas? Can't recall seeing him in P1 and he hasn't appeared in this session yet.
Mercedes will be on another level this season, won't they? Hamilton half a second quicker than Alonso in P1, then 1 second quicker than him in P2. Really hope he takes the championship this year to be honest, he's definitely worthy of being a multiple winner.
I agree , I am a big Lewis fan, I just wish sometimes he would quit the winging and moaning.
Looks like he has a car that is capable of winning, his team mate is not going to let him have it all his own way and there is no way you can right off Vettel.
Merc's look fantastic onboard, few braking issues finding the limits but in terms of actual cornering in the medium/low speed stuff its on rails. Looks like the have no tyre issues this year either, come to think of it tyres are mentioned much less and thats a huge plus in my opinion. F1 for the last couple of years was basically Pirelli F1.
He does whinge and moan, which takes the shine off of who is one of my favourite current F1 drivers. What really got to me last year was how restricted he was with pushing the car for Mercedes, and got told on many occasions on the team radio to conserve his car, and you could hear the groan from Hamilton (even on one occasion I swear he completely ignored it and pushed harder anyway). Hopefully this season they will give him more freedom to push if he is chasing the leader, which I have seen a lot more of this season than the last.
In terms of natural talent and fearlessness he is up there with the best, and with no setbacks he is one of, if not the firm favourite to win the championship, and rightly so.
My enthusiasm for this season has died already. The life of a McLaren fan.
We drop the tyre issue, and just replace it with managing fuel instead. The sport still has the same issue really. It hardly racing anymore when managing fuel/tyres is more important than pace
I share your pain
Me too! I got into every season thinking this is it, but nope! I imagine it's the same for Ferrari fans.
I hope teams catch up to Mercedes or we'll be in for a boring season championship wise. They're the new Red Bull, finish 1-2 and winning by 20 seconds.
McLaren are a bit of a mix of Liverpool and Arsenal, dominant in the 80s, smatterings of success in the 90s and 00s, otherwise underachieving and living off the past. Got Hodgsoned last season.
The cars have been managing fuel ever since refueling was banned. This year is no different.
However to say it's not racing is a bit blasé. The challenge with racing was that the cars always had more downforce than power in the engine, so now with it being the other way round, the drivers have to actually drive the car rather than point and turn in.