Was good to see Massa and Bottas holding off the Mercs early on. Still concerned about their pace in the wet though, their lack of overall downforce gets exposed quite badly. Onwards to Hungary where under normal circumstances I would expect another Merc 1-2

Teams have rejected refuelling, one of the things the survey said would improve the sport?

Slowly slowly people are walking away from F1, they really don't help themselves.

 

I think pay per view as hit it badly as well. Perhaps they (correction: Bernie)  get more money now - but less viewers - I can't see how this helps the sport. Good numbers at Silverstone and these European GPs are under threat. I don't think they want the general public at the races - just celebrities.

Teams have rejected refuelling, one of the things the survey said would improve the sport?

Slowly slowly people are walking away from F1, they really don't help themselves.

 

I don't believe it would improve the show.  Don't you remember the Schumacher years - several flat out sprints with fuel and tyre stops between.  The current Mercedes would be over the horizon and gone if it had less fuel/tyre restrictions.

I don't believe it would improve the show.  Don't you remember the Schumacher years - several flat out sprints with fuel and tyre stops between.  The current Mercedes would be over the horizon and gone if it had less fuel/tyre restrictions.

 

Fully agree. I remember in 2002 and 2004 when it was like that every race. The tyres are holding back the current Mercedes just like some of the Red Bulls from 2010-2013 so although it is a bit artificial, it does improve the show as the dominant team does get challenged from time to time.

I don't believe it would improve the show.  Don't you remember the Schumacher years - several flat out sprints with fuel and tyre stops between.  The current Mercedes would be over the horizon and gone if it had less fuel/tyre restrictions.

Or not. At least part of the reason that the Merc is so fast is that it's much better on fuel efficiency than anything else. That's translating into more power, and I suspect better fuel mileage too.

Dammit Williams! 

 

Why, WHY didn't they let Bottas go? With Massa acting as his rear gunner they might, might just have had enough of a gap to get a win, definitely a podium. 

Then they left it too late, then the rain came, and they went from a  1-2 to getting a 4-5. Seeing them leading their home GP will be one of the highlights of the year for me, its just a shame they got the calls so wrong.

 

Aaaanyway. I thought that was a decent race, just the right amount of unpredictability to spice things up. 

Creditors in the High Court today attempting to close down Lotus over debts!!

 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/119877

Edited 6 July, 201510 yr by camelspyyder

I don't believe it would improve the show. Don't you remember the Schumacher years - several flat out sprints with fuel and tyre stops between. The current Mercedes would be over the horizon and gone if it had less fuel/tyre restrictions.

One proposal I saw was refuelling but with random fuel levels picked by lot.

So you could end up with the back of the field running lighter than the front runners.

One proposal I saw was refuelling but with random fuel levels picked by lot.

So you could end up with the back of the field running lighter than the front runners.

 

That's more artificial and contrived than NASCAR or Indycar throwing random yellows for "debris"

Dammit Williams!

Why, WHY didn't they let Bottas go? With Massa acting as his rear gunner they might, might just have had enough of a gap to get a win, definitely a podium.

Then they left it too late, then the rain came, and they went from a 1-2 to getting a 4-5. Seeing them leading their home GP will be one of the highlights of the year for me, its just a shame they got the calls so wrong.

Aaaanyway. I thought that was a decent race, just the right amount of unpredictability to spice things up.

Williams concern would have been if Massa had slowed to let Bottas through then Hamilton might have also passed Massa. Hamilton passed them by pitting first and running a fast out lap, which showed that the Mercedes had overall better pace. I'm sure Mercedes will be looking at their start procedures' before Hungary.

Williams would rather Massa wins, cos Bo77as is going to Ferrari.

Williams would rather Massa wins, cos Bo77as is going to Ferrari.

 

No, i think after so many years without a win, especially at their home GP, they would have taken a win at almost any cost regardless of the driver. It just seems like they hadn't even thought they would end up in 1st and 2nd and once they were there they weren't really sure what to do. If they had released Bottas, i am almost certain they would have had a podium at the very least.

When Bottas was given the chance to race Massa he couldn't get close enough to pass, even with DRS, so I doubt that if Massa had let him pass he would have scampered off into the distance. In the dry the Williams did look like a match for the Mercedes as LH rarely looked like he was troubling Bottas on the straights.

 

And rain had been predicted from virtually the start of the race so the likelihood would have been that a podium for one of their drivers was probably the best that they could have expected.

 

Good drive by Lewis and a deserved win despite looking like second best all through the practice sessions and the early stages of qualifying.

How about no obligatory pit stops at all? Fuel the car and develop tyres that will go the full race distance. Nothing to stop you stopping and changing tyres but if you limited the pit crew the same as endurance racing then such pit stops would be less attractive than at present as in they would take a lot longer. Personally I am fed up with seeing a Grand Prix won by the a better pit stop strategy.

Yes me too.

 

And its been like that since at least 1982, when Bernie's (yes him again) Brabham team re-introduced fuel stops.

Edited 7 July, 201510 yr by camelspyyder

Seems the silly circus season has started already - BOTTAS to Ferrari by all accounts, signed.

 

Could that mean Button to Williams? I feel this is Button's last season with McLaren and they'll want to bring KMag back in after letting Button do the development work on the new car.

Seems the silly circus season has started already - BOTTAS to Ferrari by all accounts, signed.

 

Could that mean Button to Williams? I feel this is Button's last season with McLaren and they'll want to bring KMag back in after letting Button do the development work on the new car.

Speaking of - Does Valteri put anyone else in mind of a more interviewable Kimi, or a less hyper Keke?

Seems the silly circus season has started already - BOTTAS to Ferrari by all accounts, signed.

 

Could that mean Button to Williams? I feel this is Button's last season with McLaren and they'll want to bring KMag back in after letting Button do the development work on the new car.

 

See post #736

 

Button to the beach more like.  

 

1. He's not as fast as he used to be.

2. Him and Williams went to court so many times over breaches of contract in the past - I seriously doubt Frank would trust him.

3. They already have one old-timer (experienced driver if I'm being nice) on board.

4. The Hulk and Ricciardo are on the market.

Edited 17 July, 201510 yr by camelspyyder

The problem for Hulk is he does not bring much sponsorship money with him compared to the others. Button may find a seat at Penske if they finally come.

Penske?

 

I know I've been away 6 months but that's new??

Penske has been looking at different options to get to formula 1 for about 2 years now.......................if he could just get it past Bernie.

So have VW/Audi. Didn't they buy up a load of old F1 stuff?

Penske has been looking at different options to get to formula 1 for about 2 years now.......................if he could just get it past Bernie.

 

Just been Googling - not a sniff abut Penske. Share please Phil.

 

BTW you don't mean Gene Haas do you?  Tony Stewart's race business partner who's coming in to F1 next year with a Ferrari engine contract in place already.

In other news, RIP Jules :(

Penske has been looking at F1 options for 2 years and did at one point look to bring a BTCC team in until he did a tie up with a V8 supercar team and Ford. He must still be interested, as he still has his scouts out viewing teams even to this date.

 

Haas announced about a team, which I think may have been from the DNA of one of the teams that Penske was looking at as a venture, but not certain, as he is very secretive about viewing teams in public for obvious reasons.

 

It was really sad to read about Jules, and it must have been such a terrible wrench for his father to realise he had come to the end of the road and had to let him go. R.I.P.