formula 1 Formula 1 World Championship 2015 Season Discussion

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

Thing is they seem to be upset that they feel that somehow Mercedes has some kind of advantage in their engines that the other teams are simply unable to get near to. But isn't it a fairly widely held belief that the Red Bull wasn't purely just a great design but actually had some kind of hidden aerodynamic or special diffuser arrangement that made is so strong for so many years (and was therefore a 'creative' interpretation of the FIA rules, which is presumably all Mercedes have done to make their car so strong this year). 

[Skiver Veteran]

Exactly. RBR was utterly dominant and never during that time did they whine about the rules being bad for the sport. Even last year CH stated that it was other teams job to catch up with Mercedes. Now they're threatening to quit the sport again (they made the same threat last year) and calling for Mercedes to be disadvantaged by the FIA. Williams, on the other hand, has praised Mercedes and said they'll be working hard to close the gap.

 

If RBR is only interested in the sport if they can win and intend to quit then good riddance. What RBR is doing, all the moaning about the regulations and Mercedes, is bad for the sport. Ferrari hasn't won the WCC since 2008 but rather than quit the sport they've worked hard and look to have a decent car this year.

 

Then thing I don't get is why they are aiming their frustrations at Mercedes when clearly, their biggest issue this year and last has been Renault, Lotus could see that and dropped them.

 

I've seen articles in which CH has stated that the Renault engine is 100BHP short on the Merc PU's but given that they actually have some ability to deliver their enginers this year I would be jumping up and down at Renault and telling them if they don't pull their fingers out they will drop them. I don't want to see that happen, we need diversity among the engines but Renault just aren't doing a good enough job IMO.

 

Look at Mclaren too, they have gone for something different too because of a lack of success, and they have had the Merc engine.

 

 

Thing is they seem to be upset that they feel that somehow Mercedes has some kind of advantage in their engines that the other teams are simply unable to get near to. But isn't it a fairly widely held belief that the Red Bull wasn't purely just a great design but actually had some kind of hidden aerodynamic or special diffuser arrangement that made is so strong for so many years (and was therefore a 'creative' interpretation of the FIA rules, which is presumably all Mercedes have done to make their car so strong this year). 

 

There were investigations into flexible noses and the double diffusers countless times. He just shrugged it off and made statements like it just shows we are doing a good job if the other guys want to slow us down.

 

I do however to an extent agree with him on one aspect. I would like to see other teams fighting for the top step and it not just being a duel between the two Merc drivers as long as despite all that, Hamilton still comes out on top

 

I do think we will see a resurgence at Ferrari and with Vettel at the wheel this year, they have as good a chance as any to take it to them.

 

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

Yeah I think there are several arguments here - the hypocrisy from Horner towards Mercedes is quite entertaining, but I think his frustrations reflect those of many fans of F1. It's no pleasure having one team utterly dominating - it's no longer a sport when one team basically are guaranteed to win it, unless outside influences such as a crash or mechanical failure get in the way. 

 

I'm fairly happy to see Lewis succeeding but I'm sure even he must wish there was a bit more of a fight and it wasn't quite the walk in the park for Mercedes that it is right now. 

[Skiver Veteran]

Yeah I think there are several arguments here - the hypocrisy from Horner towards Mercedes is quite entertaining, but I think his frustrations reflect those of many fans of F1. It's no pleasure having one team utterly dominating - it's no longer a sport when one team basically are guaranteed to win it, unless outside influences such as a crash or mechanical failure get in the way. 

 

I'm fairly happy to see Lewis succeeding but I'm sure even he must wish there was a bit more of a fight and it wasn't quite the walk in the park for Mercedes that it is right now. 

 

I think Hamilton has said in the past that he has never wanted a walk in the park when it comes to the championship, Rosberg has made similar comments this weekend but got some stick from Vettel for it;

 

 

Sebastian Vettel poked fun at Nico Rosberg's suggestion he wants to see the field close up after Mercedes' dominant one-two at the Australian Grand Prix.

 

Australia confirmed Mercedes has carried over a huge advantage from 2014, with Vettel 34 seconds adrift of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in third. In the post-race press conference Rosberg was asked for his opinion on the huge gap enjoyed by Mercedes.

 

"I hope we can have a good fight," he replied. "That would be awesome. I think the next couple of races we're going to be leading the way for sure, and we're going to try and keep it that way, but we know it would be good if they can come a bit closer, as long as they don't come too close

[MightyJordan]

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[Skiver Veteran]

 

Yep, most articles have one liner including this, but its not as shocking and click worthy to read... RBR could quit F1..in 5 years time.

[MightyJordan]

We are probably gonna see pandemonium at the Belgian Grand Prix this year...

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[Noir Angel]

Formula 1 is an engineering competition and always has been, purposely holding back one team so the others can catch up goes against everything the sport stands for. Renault pushed just as hard as Mercedes for these new regulations, so suck it up and improve your product. Red Bull's arrogance is nothing but a bad joke. As for Mercedes giving customer teams de-tuned engines, that is complete BS. Mercedes would want to give everyone the same spec of engine to enable themselves to gather performance data, plus producing 2 specs of engine would be a lot more expensive. Mercedes simply have a packaging advantage because they designed the engine and chassis to work together.

 

And I really don't buy the argument that they're just in front because of engine power, they have a great chassis. In short the other teams need to stop whining and produce a better product.

[MightyJordan]

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[theyarecomingforyou]

Yeah I think there are several arguments here - the hypocrisy from Horner towards Mercedes is quite entertaining, but I think his frustrations reflect those of many fans of F1. It's no pleasure having one team utterly dominating - it's no longer a sport when one team basically are guaranteed to win it, unless outside influences such as a crash or mechanical failure get in the way.

F1 has always been this way. Go back to 1988 and you had four years of McLaren winning, then three years of Williams, one year Benetton then another two years of Williams, one of McLaren then six years of Ferrari, two years of Renault, two more years of Ferrari, one for Brawn, then four years of Red Bull and now we've had one year of Mercedes, with the potential for a second this year.

 

The point is that the sport is cyclical. RBR was happy when it was at the top, yet moans and threatens to quit the sport when it's someone else's turn. As much as I like Hamilton I don't want to see Mercedes be utterly dominant but the sport is still just as entertaining as ever. In fact it means that the competition has to work that much harder to win. Few would have thought Mercedes would be so utterly dominant when Hamilton moved there.

 

If Mercedes becomes too dominant

[vanx]

1. Manor turned up only to get money and to give their sponsors visibility. They never had an intention to race, no matter what they say. I am glad that Bernie is now making them pay for freight.

 

2. Does anyone else hate the frequency with which the word "driveability" is being used. It's mentioned in almost every other sentence. It's tiring to hear it over and over.

[JoeC]

Few would have thought Mercedes would be so utterly dominant when Hamilton moved there.

 

I remember an interview with Lewis just after he'd signed with Mercedes and he compared it to the start of the Schumacher/Ferrari days, with the potential to work with a team and help turn it into one which could dominate the championships. I didn't think much of it at the time (words are easy) but it seems like they're about as well set-up as they could be to actually manage something like that. I know it's only a year in, just in terms of the here-and-now, they're pretty much where they need to be to have a chance at making that happen.

[Skiver Veteran]

Formula 1 is an engineering competition and always has been, purposely holding back one team so the others can catch up goes against everything the sport stands for. Renault pushed just as hard as Mercedes for these new regulations, so suck it up and improve your product. Red Bull's arrogance is nothing but a bad joke. As for Mercedes giving customer teams de-tuned engines, that is complete BS. Mercedes would want to give everyone the same spec of engine to enable themselves to gather performance data, plus producing 2 specs of engine would be a lot more expensive. Mercedes simply have a packaging advantage because they designed the engine and chassis to work together.

 

And I really don't buy the argument that they're just in front because of engine power, they have a great chassis. In short the other teams need to stop whining and produce a better product.

 

Toto has said it himself its not down to pure power;

 

 

"The most difference we see is mid- to high-speed corners - that seems to be the strength of the car," Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said. "That was the strength of the Red Bulls and it now seems to be where we are looking most competitive.

"We see a deficit from our car on the straights in comparison to Williams and Ferrari, they have much more straight line speed - as much as 10-12km/h in terms of straight-line speed, so less drag."

Read more at http://en.espnf1.com/mercedes/motorsport/story/194835.html#IfuZSoFRH8lfFdgQ.99

 

Formula one has and always will be more about aero and downforce than anything else. If you can take the fast corners flat then you will leave the others behind at most tracks.

[Skiver Veteran]

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Erm, perhaps if you hadn't tried to screw a driver out of money and contract, there wouldn't be a fight to have 

 

Unless we don't have the full story on this, I cannot believe how nonchalant Sauber appear to be over this all. If I was that teams PR I'd be trying to apologies to the fans, not make out that VDG is the bad guy here. I honestly expect kaltenborn to step down this year over this.

[SledgeNZ]

 

Erm, perhaps if you hadn't tried to screw a driver out of money and contract, there wouldn't be a fight to have 

 

Unless we don't have the full story on this, I cannot believe how nonchalant Sauber appear to be over this all. If I was that teams PR I'd be trying to apologies to the fans, not make out that VDG is the bad guy here. I honestly expect kaltenborn to step down this year over this.

 

Ridiculous stance they've taken. To be fair though that's standard practice for F1 teams and does provide a lot of comedy.

[tuckeratlarge]

I know F1 is a business and not a sport. Christian Horner et al, need to put their whining and bitching energy into catching up with Mercedes. Shoes on the other foot now and like the petulant children who currently work in F1 he doesn't like it. Why don't RedBull with all their money build their own engine, like Mercedes and Ferrari.

 

Also, I would like to see an F1 championship in which only the FIA make the rules. Not the teams, certainly not FOM.

 

How can you have a "sport" in which the top teams make the rules. Nobody ever agrees. Just have the FIA make all the rules. Then if you don't like the rules, don't play the game.

 

I also find it strange that tracks have to pay Bernie to put on a race, usually at a loss, and then the TV people have to pay Bernie to show it.

[Skiver Veteran]

I know F1 is a business and not a sport. Christian Horner et al, need to put their whining and bitching energy into catching up with Mercedes. Shoes on the other foot now and like the petulant children who currently work in F1 he doesn't like it. Why don't RedBull with all their money build their own engine, like Mercedes and Ferrari.

 

Also, I would like to see an F1 championship in which only the FIA make the rules. Not the teams, certainly not FOM.

 

How can you have a "sport" in which the top teams make the rules. Nobody ever agrees. Just have the FIA make all the rules. Then if you don't like the rules, don't play the game.

 

I also find it strange that tracks have to pay Bernie to put on a race, usually at a loss, and then the TV people have to pay Bernie to show it.

 

CVC paid a lot of money for the rights to F1, got to make it back somehow

[MightyJordan]

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[MightyJordan]

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[MightyJordan]

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[Chasethebase Veteran]

 

Still faster than McLaren Honda.

Surprised it isn't "Salt" flavour.

[Chasethebase Veteran]

The German Grand Prix is no longer happening this year, as they have pulled out of the running.

http://www.motorsport-total.com/f1/news/2015/03/2015-keine-formel-1-in-deutschland-auch-nuerburgring-sagt-ab-15031908.html

[Chasethebase Veteran]

Alonso cleared to fly to Malaysia

(Reuters) - McLaren's Fernando Alonso has been cleared to travel to Malaysia for the second race of the Formula One season after passing medical tests in England, Spanish media reported on Sunday.

Marca and AS sports newspapers, quoting sources close to the driver, said the double world champion had short and long-term memory and reflex checks in Cambridge.

There was no immediate comment from McLaren.

The driver, who suffered concussion after crashing in testing in Barcelona last month, missed the March 15 Australian season-opener and must still pass FIA tests at the Sepang circuit on Thursday before being able to race.

His manager has said those should be a formality.

Source: Reuters

[Noir Angel]

CVC paid a lot of money for the rights to F1, got to make it back somehow

 

Quite frankly I think the way F1 is ran is a complete joke. The venues that host the events often operate at a loss, and the teams only receive a small chunk of the commercial pot, all so Bernie and the rights holder can line their pockets. It creates a system where the people the contribute the least to the sport get the most out of it, I can fully see why it peeves so many of the teams and venues.

 

I don't blame the Germans for refusing to operate at a loss, nor would I blame any other circuit owners for pulling their events for the same reason. I really hope Bernie pops his clogs or retires soon, he's a greedy individual.

[MightyJordan]