The Official Formula 1 Racing Thread

[Supafly]

Another nice race. And it looks like Nico Rosberg is growing up as a racer. When last season he used to pull back or somehow did not have that final edge, now he is also able to be turned aroubnd by rogue driver Sebastian Vettel, and STILL come in third place, after working his way to the front in a car that is not built for driving in the fild.

Now he is collecting enough 1st places too be able to bring that itle home, even if he will face some mishap.

 

[Rey C.]

After watching the Japanese Grand Prix, I agree with everything that you said, Supa. The Rosberg of 2016 is not the one that we've seen in previous seasons. He has grown up and matured as a racer. He now has an A game and he's been bringing it since the end of the Summer break. Lewis, on the other hand, has not been bringing his A game. In a close fight, I still believe that Lewis is the stronger racer overall. But in these dominant Mercedes cars, the winner of the race has been the guy who could get his car going off the line. And that's been Nico. The Mercedes may have a finicky clutch, but Nico has the same system that Lewis does. Nico has gotten on top of it, while Lewis has not. Reliability issues aside, I have to take my hat off to Rosberg for not talking smack or playing mind games, and just getting it done when it was time to get it done.

Lewis backed up on his words after the Malaysian Grand Prix, where he blamed Mercedes for all these dud engines that he's gotten this year. He went on to blame God for his misfortune. Me personally, I'd be more worried about offending God than some corporate suit at Mercedes. But it seems that Lewis is not the man of faith that Ayrton Senna was. In that respect, he's a poseur, IMO. Poor quality control by Mercedes has likely been to blame for the reliability issues. But if it was God, then maybe Lewis should take that as a sign that he needs to change something that he's doing - like less time going to fashion shows and partying with Kanye and Kim, and more time learning how to handle that clutch system.

:2 cents:

 

[Supafly]

News on various Formula 1 windscreen options. Pretty interesting

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/video-analysis-formula-1-s-active-windscreen-system-840591/

 

[Supafly]

The two Mercedes pilots are doing their bst, and earn the merits in Austin.

But Red Bull Racing starts to lose their mojo. Verstappen is struggling with reality, he wants to push it beyond what his team tell him is the smartst strategy, but pulls back to not **** the tires too early, only then to fuck up a pitstop, coming in demanding different tires than prepared and later his engine is kaputt.

Three races to go, and next on the following weekend, Mexico!!!

http://www.f1mix.com/circuits/autodromo-hermanos-rodriguez.asp

 

[larss]

We really need Rosburg to have a bad race just to get the two of them closer. I'd love to see a final race of the season where the winner is the champion.

 

[Supafly]

We really need Rosburg to have a bad race just to get the two of them closer. I'd love to see a final race of the season where the winner is the champion.

If we look at the general relyability, it would probaly take for Verstappen and/or Vettel (The usual two most aggrssive drivers) to take him out or back.

But a dramatic decisions ion the final race woud be AWESOME

 

[dpantski]

Rosberg needs a DNF to lose the title now. He's been very consistent this year and Mercedes still have enough of an edge over Red Bull that he can fall behind one of them at the start and get past through the pitstops.

Hamilton on the other hand is either hot or cold, he could easily go on to win the next 3 races or end up crashing or having mechanical failures and end up 100 pts behind Rosberg in the final standings.

Whatever the case, Alonso is still the best driver.

 

[Supafly]

 

[Supafly]

In between actual races:

Weird News

Formula 1 ace James Hunt's *** reveals his *** once had marathon sex session with 35 air stewardesses

Once boasting of bedding 5,000 women, British Formula One ace James Hunt was known for being a boozing, ****-taking playboy.

But his exploits in the sack were always equalled by his triumphs on the track.

James miraculously juggled his hedonistic lifestyle with a stellar career – an achievement summed perfectly up in the motto sewn on his racing overalls: “Sex, breakfast of champions.”

For all his wanton ways, few could argue with James’ record, particularly on October 24, 1976, when he sensationally beat nemesis Niki Lauda by one point to win a nail-biting World Championship battle.

Initially the underdog that season, James made a spectacular comeback to beat Lauda.

...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/formula-1-ace-james-hunts-9133348

 

[Supafly]

Good news for friends of suspense:

Hamilton beat Rosberg to the pole, again, and Vettel is almost back in the middle field.

https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2016/races/955/mexico.html

 

[Rey C.]

It seems like Rosberg is content to just play it safe and rack up some 2nd place finishes now. That's all he needs to do, so that's what he's doing. He almost got himself in trouble a couple of times in Mexico, but it's working so far. I'm still pulling for Hamilton, but Nico has driven the best season that he's ever driven. Hamilton has been struck with reliability woes and horrible starts, so that's what has put him on the back foot. Rosberg has had much better reliability, but he's also put in championship caliber drives throughout the season. He hasn't made the mistakes that Lewis has made this season. And his level of maturity (vs. last year) makes him seem like a different person altogether. So I can't be unhappy if he manages to capture his first title. As long as Hamilton ends the season at (sole) 2nd place on the all time wins list, that'll be good. And if he wins in Brazil, that'll give him the record for winning on different circuits: 24. And by next year, I think that he *might* be able to beat Schumacher's record of pole positions. I never thought anyone would beat Senna's 65. Now Schumacher's 68 seems doable for Lewis. I don't think anyone is going to beat Schumacher's wins record of 91 though.

Enough about Ham, that was one helluva race! The Mexican fans were treated to a great dogfight throughout the field. And by the time it was over, three different guys had gotten 3rd place. I agreed with the penalty on Verstappen. But I think that the penalty on Vettel was harsh. Cursing Charlie Whiting on the radio probably added to that one though.

Great race! :nanner:

 

[Supafly]

Well, the problem is:

If he goes wheel-to-wheel and hardcore racing with Hamilton, Verstappen etc, he risks flunking out of the race and losing way more than he could gain.

I would rather play it safe, in his shoes

 

[Supafly]

Two more races to go.

Again, it is not over yet, likely, but there are always cazy chances. And for the second-to-last race, we are looking to Interlagos, Brazil.

https://www.formula1.com/en/championship/races/2016/Brazil.html

Excellent. If only time would fly a bit!!!

 

[Rey C.]

Yep, only two more to go. And even though short of a mechanical failure by Rosberg, my guy is likely going to come up short this year, I still feel that this has been a great season.

So as we leave Mexico and head to Brazil, here are a couple of shots celebrating the "visual appeal" of the sport that we love ():

Mexico

Brazil

BTW, speaking of babes, what has happened to our resident F1 cutie, Ivy Adams??? She was very knowledgeable. I figured we'd see her around more since her boy, Max Verstappen, has had such an exciting season.

 

[Supafly]

I sent her a PM, Hope she comes around again! It's not like Verstappen etc are not providing much suspense

 

[Supafly]

The starting grid, first rows:

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-results/11192/starting-grid-2016-brazilian-formula-1-grand-prix/

Hamilton was just that fraction faster. Will be a great race.

- - - Updated - - -

Second row:

Raikkönen / Verstappen. Damn, that is great.

 

[Rey C.]

I have to say, I don't personally care for Max Verstappen. But I didn't care for Prost, Schumacher or Alonso either. I did/do respect their talent though. And after watching yesterday's superb performance by Verstappen in the wet, passing off line in the driving rain, I said to myself that I hadn't seen anything like that since Senna's amazing performance at the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril in 1985. [NOBABE]The ***[/NOBABE] is something else. He most certainly is the real deal. In the right car, I think that he'd (without a doubt) dust off Vettel and he could easily give Hamilton an honest run for his money.

That was something else. If not for Red Bull's bad strategy call, he'd have had 2nd wrapped up, IMO.

 

[Supafly]

Absolutely. I had respect for his skills, but the way he handled the track and all the happenings in the Brasil GP, you are right, it is no question he will be a future champion. I guess he will **** off Raikkonen even more, by gettingm his spot at Ferrari, maybe not next year, but surely soon.

:stir:

 

[dpantski]

I have to say, I don't personally care for Max Verstappen. But I didn't care for Prost, Schumacher or Alonso either. I did/do respect their talent though. And after watching yesterday's superb performance by Verstappen in the wet, passing off line in the driving rain, I said to myself that I hadn't seen anything like that since Senna's amazing performance at the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril in 1985. [NOBABE]The ***[/NOBABE] is something else. He most certainly is the real deal. In the right car, I think that he'd (without a doubt) dust off Vettel and he could easily give Hamilton an honest run for his money.

That was something else. If not for Red Bull's bad strategy call, he'd have had 2nd wrapped up, IMO.

Yeah I'm very critical of Verstappen when he makes dangerous moves, but he sure can drive. Its not like Ricciardo was hampered by any car issues either, he simply had a better feel for the conditions. I have to wonder how lucky he was considering he was pushing harder than anyone and almost went off at least twice. His mistakes could easily have ended with a DNF (see his record at Monaco) but this time he just about kept it in one piece.

 

[The Identifier]

That was a truly spectacular drive. :hatsoff:

I'm having a hard time thinking of a finer driving display that I've witnessed since I started watching F1 in 1999.

I have to say I was losing enthusiasm for this season but the past couple of races have really picked up. The goings-on in Mexico on the last couple of laps spiced things up nicely.

As for yesterday, it went from looking like a non-event with all the stoppages to what ended up being a classic race. Some iconic moments like Massa's retirement in his final Brazilian GP, and Max's last-minute save before hitting the wall. The race will be remembered for years to come and Verstappen's drive will be talked about alongside Schumacher's at the Spanish GP in 96 and some of Senna's drives in the wet as previously mentioned.

Championship is going down to the final race as well which you wouldn't have anticipated a few races ago. The odds still heavily favour Nico but there's every chance something could go to pot for him and he doesn't win the title. Imagine not winning it given the position he was in. :eek: