[dfox]

Originally Posted by Artemis

No paradigm shift is needed: Verstappen and his car need no penalty - it's up to the competing teams to build better performing cars and to let these race by the best skilled drivers.

Usain Bolt used to dominate his sport. Imagine that he would have been forced to carry a weight penalty during races "because he dominates the sport". OK, Bolt ran his track and field races all by himself, but you get the message.

Totally agree with no penalties for better performing teams... it just is what it is, other teams need to improve.

Not sure I agree with the Usain Bolt comparison though, his performance is pure human ability. Some sports have weight/size categories to keep things even, but not the Olympics. Red Bull's dominance is mechanical performance (and one insane driver). Other motorsports use identical mechanical setups to highlight driver skill. F1 doesn't, and that's precisely why there should be no penalties for high-performing teams.

I'm with Andrew2 though, I have zero allegiance to any team. Honesty, I find myself with more allegiance to specific drivers over top of teams.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by 3798j

since conversation briefly turned to the all-conquering 917...two shots of its frame...

Weight saving: 917 key:


Dominator:

[Killed by Death]

Mercedes' track simulation for Suzuka is revealing concerning disparities in speeds, particularly in turns 1, 12, and 18 when compared to last year's performance.
This indicates they may face challenges and fans shouldn’t be surprised to see W15 potentially get lapped by the RB20 during the race.
VIA: [ahmed_baokbah]

[3798j]

Staying with the 917 stories, back in the '60's one of my favorite drivers was Jo Siffert. My draw to him was his ability to drive anything and that he was also a businessman, known for his Alfa/Porsche dealership and the stories of him selling Swiss watches to his fellow drivers (back then the drivers were much more of a fraternity than now).
Additionally, the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (CanAm) was going strong in North America and Porsche decided to participate in the 70's with a modified 917 chassis/body...they even experimented using a 7.2L flat 16 but then went the twin turbocharged 12 cylinder route...dominating and winning decisively in '72.
Here's a photo of Jo's dealership and also a photo of that flat 16.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Mercedes' track simulation for Suzuka is revealing concerning disparities in speeds, particularly in turns 1, 12, and 18 when compared to last year's performance.
This indicates they may face challenges and fans shouldn’t be surprised to see W15 potentially get lapped by the RB20 during the race.
VIA: [ahmed_baokbah]

Woah, that's incredibly slow in some of those corners. I hope they're over-correcting their simulator issues here...

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Artemis

And if you can't beat them, join them.

As regards Toto Wolff: if you can't beat Verstappen, hire him.

Johnny Herbert about MAX in a very interesting Dutch article => https://www.f1maximaal.nl/formule-1/...ax-kan-dat-wel

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

The Suzuka track is 'high speed corners my friend

BTW :Today the Japanese at the company said to me : Pity for the other drivers because Sunday there is a chance of rain !

Suzuka 2022 : MAX was P1 in the rain . Behind him it was an emptiness ....

Should be fun with MAX in the rain, the more of it the better.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Johnny Herbert about MAX in a very interesting Dutch article => https://www.f1maximaal.nl/formule-1/...ax-kan-dat-wel

Does Vettel think he's being seriously considered for the number 2 seat at Merc..
It is known that he is close to Hamilton with his climate action beliefs and has been making himself seen lately with various projects like bee keeping and selling some of his car collection.
Inspector Closeau-Vettel..
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=In...feEafsT2Y,st:0

[MoeTE87]

I am ready for the race...damn I hate bye weeks! Let's go!!

[3798j]

Thu, Apr 4
10:30 PM ET MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka Circuit
*MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix Practice 1
Fri, Apr 5
2:00 AM ET MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka Circuit
*MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix Practice 2
Fri, Apr 5
10:30 PM ET MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka Circuit
*MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix Practice 3
Sat, Apr 6
2:00 AM ET MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka Circuit
*MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying
Sun, Apr 7
1:00 AM ET MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka Circuit
*MSC Cruises Japanese Grand Prix Race

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Does Vettel think he's being seriously considered for the number 2 seat at Merc..
It is known that he is close to Hamilton with his climate action beliefs and has been making himself seen lately with various projects like bee keeping and selling some of his car collection.
Inspector Closeau-Vettel..
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=In...feEafsT2Y,st:0

Press conference

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Press conference

SAI still talking to everyone about a drive for next season but Audi seems to be coming up a lot with dads connections and with maybe just a single year contact for '25 he may find it hard for a 12 month contract if Audi is the aim for '26.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

SAI still talking to everyone about a drive for next season but Audi seems to be coming up a lot with dads connections and with maybe just a single year contact for '25 he may find it hard for a 12 month contract if Audi is the aim for '26.

Would be a big mistake if Sainz goes for an Audi contract.
As we know , Audi is a newcomer and will not finish in the top 5...

[Car-Addicted]

Audi's performance in the FIA World Endurance series was nothing short of amazing. That said Sainz would be taking a huge risk there. I can't imagine he is not at the top of every team manager's 2025 wish list and at the top of Ferrari regret list.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Audi's performance in the FIA World Endurance series was nothing short of amazing. That said Sainz would be taking a huge risk there. I can't imagine he is not at the top of every team manager's 2025 wish list and at the top of Ferrari regret list.

I'd certainly go with that, are they rueing that decision behind the window blinds at Maranello, was Piero drunk at the time..

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Would be a big mistake if Sainz goes for an Audi contract.
As we know , Audi is a newcomer and will not finish in the top 5...

It could be about the money also, manufacturer has pots of it.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

...Piero drunk at the time..

Drunk as a skunk

[Car-Addicted]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Drunk as a skunk

Couple races with Hamilton will surely send him to AA.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Couple races with Hamilton will surely send him to AA.

Or NA

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by dfox

I have zero allegiance to any team. Honesty, I find myself with more allegiance to specific drivers over top of teams.

I also don't really have allegiances to teams but more to drivers.
However I do have allegiances with team bosses, or rather said dis-allegiances with team bosses.

I don't like Toto Wolff. Biggest reason is that he always seems to say something political about other teams and other drivers. You constantly hear him bickering mainly about RB.
Zac Brown for the same reason. Typical busy-bodies. Always nagging. It's so tiring.
If you look at Horner, or Vasseur, they hardly say anything political about Mercedes, or Mclaren, or their drivers. Not their business.

Back in the 80's and early 90's I think I was more of a McLaren and Williams fan though.
But nowadays....If I look at Williams....they don't even have the means of properly running 2 cars. If their organisation is such a mess...Do they even belong in F1?
Especially as teams like Andretti can't get a seat in F1? (not that I'm a big Andretti fan, but I think they're more professional than Williams. I can't imagine their organisation being even a greater mess...).

Same goes for Haas. They've had years that they already stated at the beginning of the season that they wouldn't bring updates because their car was so bad, and focus their effords on the next year.
That is not a mentality for racing in the highest echelon of motorsports.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

It could be about the money also, manufacturer has pots of it.

MAX : I'm ready for it...

=> https://www.accuweather.com/en/jp/su...ast/180176_poi

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

MAX : I'm ready for it...

=> https://www.accuweather.com/en/jp/su...ast/180176_poi

I can almost hear that rain coming down putting a smile on MAX and Jos, we've had enough of it over here; action starts in about 5 hours with that time difference.