camelspyyder

5 months in, the Dacia still hums along, still guzzling LPG though due to the 1500 foot hill on the way to the shops. It really is the automotive value and performance equivalent of cheaper branded white goods, just doing everything required to an OK standard and nothing more. Although unlike BEKO electricals, it hasn't tried to burn down the kitchen yet.

Back in 2014 loads on here had it. You need to search back through the forums for a cure. Mine only did it on speed bumps. A loud creak from the front left every time.

You don't state your cars age or Head Unit. The Media Systems all changed in 2015. Here are the manual pages for the Mid2015-2019 cars listing valid file formats for Amundsen, Swing, and Blues HU. They take a few clicks to zoom in...

Here we go. All new aero rules, new tyre rules, budget cap, new drivers champ, and a likelyhood that the top 2 teams compromised their preparation whilst fighting for 2021 titles... Could this finally be the kind of multi-team fight not seen for a decade or more. I mean I'm hoping for something like 1982 without the tragedies, but there have been some great years since. 2012 started well - 7 different winners in the first 7 rounds...

MB and Jake Hill have changed cars again... After last years very successful Ford season, they just announced their 2022 deal with WSR BMW and sponsor RoCKit.

Which BTCC do you watch Ken? They were 6th of 15 in the 2021 teams championship and lead driver Jake Hill was 5th overall with 2 wins and 7 other podiums totaling 295 points to the champs 357.

Champ Sutton in shock switch to Ford alongside Dan Cammish. 3 times champion Ash Sutton has moved to Motorbase Ford NAPA Racing, taking the core of his technical team over there too. Olly Jackson and Sam Osborne have the other 2 Motorbase seats. Not sure where this leaves the Mark Blundell team who ran the second pair of Motorbase cars last year.

Well hes ikely going to get a sanction from the FIA for snubbing the prize giving tonight in defiance of another rubbish F1 rule. Wolf isn't going either. Neither will the F1 or FE winning Mercedes cars be on display.

Next year will be telling. Have RB and Mercedes put so much into this fight that other teams will leapfrog their way to the front? Cant wait to see.

Finally he's won a title. I really cant believe its taken 7 years, but that's what he got for Daddy choosing RedBull over other suitors in 2014. In comparison Hamilton's Dad got him into a front running McLaren. Had the Dutch signed for Mercedes back in 2014 (without the promise of an immediate race drive) I expect Max would have had the seat Bottas got, and won 3 or more titles by now. In some ways similar to Alesi who chose the wrong team, and gained a career total of 1 race win, whilst the team he turned down dominated for the majority of the next 7 years.

Even if Mercedes protest against the race direction succeeds, what will happen? FIA declare the race result void, leaving Max and Lewis on 369.5 points each, and Max as Champion on race wins 9 to 8!

It's Max!

Countback would continue... Who's got more 2nd place finishes?

Credit where it's due. Well done RedBull. Last minute changes of wing level & tyre strategy, as well as a brilliant 2 lap qually strategy for both cars worked out so well.

Rule changed in 1961 to deny points to drivers of shared cars. Still happened in the British GP 61 (Fairman/Moss) & US GP 64 (Clark/ Spence). I think it was done for the prize money, even if there were no points to be had.

In other news today, Channel 4 are to be showing the finale live... not that it will help me at 37000 feet onboard Ryanair though...

Wow. The F1 race director today actually suggested this very sanction above ^^^^^ can and will be employed against drivers or teams who crash the opposition to win the title. Red Bull better have the fastest car then on Saturday and Sunday then.

Yeah its almost certainly going to end in a crash, and the FIA wont chuck whomever causes it out of the championship like in 97, when it was a meaningless punishment for Schumacher.

and the race too... I expect fresh engines and grid penalties for both next week. but I'll not be watching due to my flight times. Enjoy the final race.

Well that was dramatic! If you haven't seen qually catch it on C4 from 840 tonight.

3500kms in and the Dacia is running fine. Unfortunately the mountainous terrain here is savaging the mpg figures. I already know from owning a 1.0TSi that these little petrol turbo motors hate hills and headwinds, but the 1.0TCe Stepway has settled down at 31mpg overall which is awful. The only saving grace is the price of LPG. Can't imagine how this little motor will do dragging the much bigger Dacia Jogger about from next year.

New Jeddah circuit very fast, but reminds me of Valencia. I dont recall the racing there being very good; I cant see the overtaking potential here at Jeddah either. Plenty of safety car action though, I expect. With it being narrow, twisty and fast, it looks dangerous. I dont want to see a repeat of Franchitti's Houston smash or, worse, Krosnoffs Toronto one.

As far as I remember you have to force it shut on a 2032. Given the price of replacement keys these days, I don't want to risk any damage to them.

Toledo, yes, maybe the different fob is because it's keyless entry.

Yes I thought they would do that, a meaningless penalty, but the 5 grid place drop was in accord with previous punishments. The race was a walk in the park for Lewis in clean air...and afterwards Mercedes revealed it had the older engine fitted, not the newer, more powerful, one seen in Brazil.