TR Forums

End User wrote:

Absolutely gutted that Kimi did not win.

Captain Ned wrote:

End User wrote:

Absolutely gutted that Kimi did not win.

DRS has made passing too easy. It was supposed to equalize two cars; now the trailing car always has the clear advantage.

End User wrote:

Captain Ned wrote:

End User wrote:

Absolutely gutted that Kimi did not win.

DRS has made passing too easy. It was supposed to equalize two cars; now the trailing car always has the clear advantage.

Did you even watch the race? DRS had nothing to do with it. Ferrari had a faster car even when DRS was factored in.

Zak Brown wrote:

It’s clear we haven’t provided Stoffel with the tools to show his true talent, but throughout our relationship he’s proved to be a fantastic team player. His work ethic is impressive, he has a great reputation within the team and we’ve really enjoyed working with him. Of course, we would have loved to achieve more success during our time together, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that he will always be a part of the McLaren family of grand prix drivers. We wish Stoffel all the best in whatever direction he chooses to take next in his career.

We believe Lando is an exciting talent, full of potential, who we’ve very deliberately kept within the McLaren fold for exactly that reason. Lando is an integral part of our plan for rebuilding our Formula 1 operation for the future, and he has already developed a strong relationship with the team.

Stoffel Vandoorne wrote:

While we haven’t achieved the success we’d all hoped for, I’ve really enjoyed the past two seasons racing for McLaren and I have a great relationship with everyone in the team. I intend to give it my all for the remaining seven races of this season.

Lando Norris wrote:

To be announced as a race driver for McLaren is a dream come true. Although I’ve been part of the team for a while now, this is a special moment, one I could only hope would become reality. I’d like to thank the whole team for this amazing opportunity and for believing in me. I’m also extremely grateful for the commitment McLaren has already shown in my development.

Nate Saunders wrote:

Vandoorne should be a reminder that expecting too much, too soon of a youngster can be grossly unfair. The deck was always stacked against Vandoorne in F1. The Belgian was dropped into a dumpster fire of a situation: a McLaren team at war with Honda and at war with itself internally. It probably designed an awful car last year and definitely did this year, with the excuses made about Honda well and truly exposed for what they really were since the switch to Renault. As Vandoorne put it himself after his home race, the team has not made progress at all in 2018. It has fared so badly that it has squeezed the last ounce of patience and hunger from the competitive animal that is Fernando Alonso and prompted him to quit the sport at the end of the year. The only resemblance McLaren currently bares [sic] to the great team it used to be is its name. It's hard to argue that many young drivers on the grid would have fared any better against a man as brilliantly consistent as Alonso. Vandoorne has been one of the closest teammates to Alonso on Saturday afternoons. Too often Vandoorne has faded in races while Alonso has taken the car by the scruff of the neck and forced it further up the grid than it probably deserved to be. There also needs to be questions about whether McLaren is a healthy environment for a young driver.

Fred Vasseur wrote:

Signing Kimi Raikkonen as our driver represents an important pillar of our project, and brings us closer to our target of making significant progress as a team in the near future. Kimi's undoubted talent and immense experience in Formula One will not only contribute to the development of our car, but will also accelerate the growth and development of our team as a whole. Together, we will start the 2019 season with a strong foundation, driven by the determination to fight for results that count.

Esteban Ocon wrote:

There are still hopes, yes, but less and less, as you know. That's a bit why I'm disappointed at the moment, to see that it's not only results that come in play, it has to be other things. That's why I'm disappointed to be in that situation. It's hard to believe that I was in a great position two months ago and things have gone that way now.I was in a fantastic position a couple of months ago and this has turned in a way that I am without a seat nowadays. I’ve worked really hard to get here. This year I’ve progressed compared to last year. It’s 11-3 against Sergio [Perez] in qualifying. I’m fighting hard to do the best I can every race. Arriving here not knowing what I will do next year it’s hard to swallow. And also seeing all my old rivals – Max [Verstappen], Pierre [Gasly], Charles [Leclerc], people I’ve been racing with since day one – they are in top teams and top cars, fighting for podiums and victories. That makes me more hungry than ever and makes me push hard every day. But what should be taken into account is the results, and the work the driver puts in and the effort he puts in to perform. Those extra sport things should not be taken into account. That is where I am a bit disappointed with how things have turned out. As I always say, my life is Formula 1, I have nothing else. The only thing I wanted since I was born is to be racing.

Lewis Hamilton wrote:

Any team who is not taking him, that's their loss. There are a lot of teams making bad decisions. It's fact.

Daniel Ricciardo wrote:

The Ocon situation, I didn’t do it to screw him, but the effect of my move has put him in a bit of a position now.

Toto Wolff wrote:

What's been going on this year in July and in August was just unbelievable. There was so much politics in the background, hidden agendas, lies, and not all of the good kids are going to end up in cars, and probably Esteban will be one of them. He's one of the future stars. I'm 100 percent sure of that. In July, he had two offers on the table with contracts, and it was just a matter of choosing which was the right one. But he has ended up not having any anymore because people simply don't have the balls to stick to what they say. Esteban is strong, he's been through difficult moments in his career. Neither should the young drivers that have power and speed to be relying on anybody else. I think talent is eventually going to find a way to the good cars, and Esteban is going to [go]."

Christian Horner wrote:

If Toto writes a cheque I'm sure he can get a seat in Williams. There's three super talented kids, certainly two very strong ones I think, and Ocon would be great to see in Formula 1 and George Russell. Toto might have to cut them free at the end of the day because it's a shame to see those guys not get a Formula One seat, just because of who they're contracted to.

Andrew Lewin wrote:

According to reports in Italy, Honda engines are currently providing only 930 hp, compared to 950 hp for Renault and over a thousand for both Mercedes and Ferrari.

End User wrote:

I’m amazed that people are upset at the team orders.

End User wrote:

I’m amazed that people are upset at the team orders.

End User wrote:

How quickly people forget:

https://autoweek.com/article/formula-on ... ormula-one

Geonerd wrote:

End User wrote:

I’m amazed that people are upset at the team orders.

Dude. Please don't presume to judge those who do not share your opinion. From my POV, if I'm gonna spend a good chunk of my disposable income to attend a race and watch fire-breathing monsters do battle, I damn well want to see a genuine RACE, not a managed procession that is designed to protect the corporate interests of the dominant team.

Geonerd wrote:

End User wrote:

How quickly people forget:

https://autoweek.com/article/formula-on ... ormula-one

So one travesty somehow justifies another? Methinks Mr. Spock would likely disapprove of your logic.

End User wrote:

Geonerd wrote:

End User wrote:

How quickly people forget:

https://autoweek.com/article/formula-on ... ormula-one

So one travesty somehow justifies another? Methinks Mr. Spock would likely disapprove of your logic.

Way to misinterpret my post.

What Ferrari did to Rubens was appalling. It is, perhaps, the greatest example of why team orders should be banned.

Charles LeClerc wrote:

Magnussen is and will always be stupid. It's a fact. A shame.

Dieter Rencken, RaceFans wrote:

Talk of the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix brought more bad news: the teams will not be paid (albeit indirectly, given F1’s income is distributed from a “pot” after deductions made for Liberty’s expenses) for this year’s Brazilian Grand Prix. Or next year’s round. Or the 2020 race.

Apparently the race agreement consisted of two parts: a hosting contract with the promoter, known to be a long-standing associate of ex-F1 tsar Bernie Ecclestone, whose wife was once marketing director for the company; and a separate financial underwriting agreement with Sao Paulo city/state. Thus public coffers paid the hosting fee, with the gate covering promoter costs (and profits). It seems that during Bernie’s last days in office he extended the promoter agreement, but failed – conveniently forgot? – to obtain the necessary fiscal agreement. The promoter maintains he has a valid deal and, if F1 failed to sort the funding, that’s not his problem, so the teams (and FOM) are travelling all the way to Brazil and staging the show for three straight years without earning a (coffee) bean for their efforts. Asked to comment, an insider said, “That’s the short version, but you’re not far off the truth,” adding, “We were all surprised when we saw the contract, but Mr E was the boss at the time…”