2020. 

 

Is it really shaping up for a 3 team title battle?

 

Or does Mercedes relatively poor 2nd half of 2019 predict change at the front?

 

I'd like to think 2020 will bring more along the lines of the racing between the Austrian and Italian GPs than the French GP. Things certainly seemed to close up in the 2nd half of the season but even Mercedes 'relatively poor 2nd half of 2019' would be sufficiently good to win them the titles next year (I am prepared for a stato to prove me wrong!). Interesting that the Ferrari Chief (can't remember his name) has said that they have designed next year's car to have more downforce (and therefore drag) so expect them to be slower on the straights. Max will be another year wiser but still as fast so expect less mistakes and therefore a more consistent challenger. Leclerc will be Ferrari team leader (or at least equals) from Race 1 so will not have a compromised start to the season.

 

So yes, I am expecting it to be closer, but if the cars continue to struggle when they get within 2 seconds or so then it won't really change much. Qualifying and strategy will continue to be the key elements to winning races. That and a good start!

 

But despite all that, I would still be surprised if the end result was not the same.

You mention the importance of qually. Though Hamton had the best average grid (slightly distorted by penalties for the other top 5 drivers) Mercedes lack of ability to take regular poles lately has hurt them a lot. I don't think they can count on Ferrari continuing to make strategy errors and giving up track position in the races. Equally, not qualifying ahead of Max will always make the race much more difficult. I really hope the 3 teams come up with closely matched cars, and we get a genuine competitive year.

Off to the archives now to find the last example of that sort of season. Probably between 2010 and 13, one of Sebs very tight title wins when Ferrari and McLaren were genuinely quick too.

The Red future is set. LeClerc extends Ferrari contract for 5 seasons to the end of 2024. They clearly don't want to risk Mercedes grabbing him to replace Hamilton.

Robert Kubica signs for Alfa Romeo as reserve driver in 2020.

Max has announced he has signed (presumably an enhanced pay deal) an extended deal to stay at Red Bull until the end of the 2023 season stating Red Bull gave him his chance to enter F1 and he wants to win a World Title with them.

Lewis must be staying on at Mercedes then. I'm sure Jos would have taken Max to the Silver Arrows instantly if there was any chance of a drive. So much for the highly anticipated 2021 driver merry go round 

 

 

Edited 7 January, 20206 yr by camelspyyder

I thought McClaren had ditched the Renault engine but that is not until the end of 2020. From 2021 they have a Mercedes lump. But Red Bull have done wonders with the Honda lump which McClaren failed to capitalise on. Interesting year it will be with drivers and their cars.

I think the Honda in the RB is night and day different from the boat-anchor McLaren dragged around for 3 wasted years. The RB chassis is obviously superior too. RB is a top team whereas McLaren MK2 (1980-2017) was in its death throes for the last decade.: Here's hoping McLaren MK3 can get back to be a front runner.

Saudi Arabia unveil plans for a new circuit and hope to join the F1 calendar in 2023.

And you thought Liberty weren't going to revisit Bernie's old "Government money but no public interest" scenario, as seen at failed GP's in S. Korea, India, Turkey, etc.

 

Does anybody not think the Hanoi and Qiddiya circuits wont end up as derelict white elephants, a la Yeongam and Buddh International?

Dr Marko's amazing runaway gob is back out in public.

 

This weeks pronouncements which conveniently ignore cast iron facts include:

 

"No regrets over letting Sainz go  because he's no Verstappen". Well they were very closely matched at Toro Rosso but it's probably true, but then he goes on to blame Carlos "over-pushy" father double WRC champ Carlos senior, conveniently forgetting the other extremely pushy F1 dad who hangs around the RBR pits.

 

He also stated there is no way back into F1 for drivers previously axed from the programme ( like JEV or Buemi ). Perhaps he has forgotten that of the 5 most recent RBR/STR drivers 2 (Albon and Hartley) had been dumped long ago and brought back, and 2 others have been dumped from RBR. So 3 of his current drivers have already been kicked off the RedBull ladder? If Buemi came back I reckon he'd certainly beat at least Kvyat, but maybe F1 or RB are keen to keep a Russian in the game?

Decision day in Florida today as DADE County vote whether to agree to revised Miami street circuit layout.

This time it doesn't use the public roads, but surely the noise in the middle of a retirement community is still going to be a stopper?

They'll all be deaf anyway ?

1 hour ago, punyXpress said:

They'll all be deaf anyway ?

Retired Republican NIMBYS with nothing better to do. They've already blocked the most recent proposal. The power of the local taxpayer in the US seems mighty 

2 hours ago, camelspyyder said:

Retired Republican NIMBYS with nothing better to do. They've already blocked the most recent proposal. The power of the local taxpayer in the US seems mighty 

Probably having a big party in Austin, Texas knowing a rival race has been binned.

2 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

Probably having a big party in Austin, Texas knowing a rival race has been binned.

 

Not a rival, Liberty want many races in the US. It s the market with the most money.

Edited 23 January, 20206 yr by camelspyyder

Struggling luxury car maker bailed out for the eleventeeth time to rebrand new investors F1 team.

 

Wow. Lawrence stroll has bought in to  desperate Aston Martin and plans to bin the Racing Point identity for 2021. 

 

Not quite as dramatic as last weeks rumour he was buying Mercedes AMG F1 and rebranding it to AM, but pretty close.

Mercedes gain major new sponsor INEOS, Don't know who they are, but they're appearing everywhere, like an upcoming technovillain in a Bond or Kingsman movie.

Main sponsors of (former) Sky cycle team, also makers of the plastic film (out of gas) that is such a menace in the world.

Upcoming Barcelona testing and known launch dates.

16 hours ago, camelspyyder said:

Mercedes gain major new sponsor INEOS, Don't know who they are, 

 

company that came out of the former BP chemicals processing arm

 

they have a big petrochemical refinery near me.

 

owned by "the richest man in britain", Sir Jim Ratcliffe

OMG!

 

They said the Halo looked bad...

 

This is Indycars new screen (the one RedBull proposed for F1)

 

 

looks like a 1 seat saloon car. 

 

🤢

I dunno, I'm getting a bit of a "Concorde" vibe about it