F1/ Formula E/ Motorsport Thread

It is time for canopies?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Justin Wilson critical with head injuries after flying debris from the indy series. Is it time they made quick release canopies compulsory in motor racing?
For me, yes. With the Hans devices and removable cockpit surrounds I don't see it causing a huge speed of access issue and it would provide some form of protection. Probably wouldn't have helped Bianchi last season, but would have protected Massa for a couple of seasons ago.

 

Probably. Unless Hamilton does get disqualified, which is looking quite likely at time of writing.
In that situation Vettel/Ferrari would actually be back in the mix for the WDC. Not a fan of either but at least it would make things interesting.

 

I hope he gets deducted 25 points, as I would love to see F1's first ever (?) joint race winner. That would have been funny to see on the podium.

 

Common sense prevails

Tyre pressure changes with temperature so it's not a black and white situation

Pirelli agreed with the teams to set and check pressures in the blankets in the garages not when the car is sitting stationary on the grid with cooling tyres

Pirelli are at fault for trying to introduce a new test, as usual a badly thought out move by the clown tyre company

 

All good points tempesta.

I don't really get Pirelli's involvement in F1 from a PR point of view. I know they're working to a brief set by the FIA but still, it's done far more damage to their brand than good that's for sure. I mean, who the hell is going to seriously consider buying a set of Pirellis nowadays for their road car? Oh yes, must get me some of them exploding tyres.

Hopefully Michelin win the contract back but the noises Bernie has been making of late haven't exactly been positive to that end.

 

It's bloody ridiculous now.
How many grid penalties were there before and then deflategate afterwards.

I think they need to scrap the rulebook and start again.

1 litre engines, maximum size of car but anything else goes.

 

Mercedes have lost out here, the rest of the teams now know Merc have been allowing tyres to cool on the grid to 80-90 degF whilst everyone else has been keeping them at 110 degF.

Merc must have a reason to do so (possibly to do with curing of the rubber?) and interestingly Lewis got a lot more life out of the tyres than Vettel yesterday. If there is a trick now everyone knows about it.

 

Hamilton under heavy internet fire for not taking his cap off during the minute's silence.

 

With his willy hanging out or what?

 

I don't see why not taking your cap off is seen as disrespect. Considering the media frenzy of his new hair colour the outrage is probably driven my the media pissed off that they didn't get a decent picture of it.

When another driver has died of head injuries, people aren't discussing safety or honouring his memory, their finding something else to be outraged about.

Maybe they'd like to actually interview Lewis about his thoughts or chair a decent safety discussion, but then I suppose that doesn't sell papers.

For a bit of balance:

http://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/spor...ton_hails__ultimate_gentleman__Justin_Wilson/

 

Well done Lewis!!! I reckon he can do another one next year as well.

Another great USA race, Button must be drive of the day.

 

Nico Rosberg is a bit of a ****.

 

haha phenomenal race, probably the best of the season. get in there lewis!

 

Nice one Lewis

CHAMPIONE

 

Good .... now does that mean we can bin this thread for a few months?

 

Brilliant edge of the seat stuff, best race in ages

Congrats to Lewis

Nico is a right tool

Awesome car from Mercedes

I wish Red Bull would jog on, they screwed up their relationship with Renault nobody else and its their own fault they don't have an engine next year, the whining is getting boring

 

Well done Lewis.

Enjoyed seeing Rosberg have a little bit of a petulant tantrum.

 

Should add, F1 is one of the few (if only?) sports GB is the best in the world at

Most of the teams, engineers and designers are based here and the top driver is British

 

Considering the amount of money Nico Rosberg is paid he needs to learn how to keep his cool. Sponsors won't be happy with him.

Lewis is one of the best drivers on the grid, but we seriously need some decent competition for him.

Vettel and him in the same car would be interesting.

 

Well done Lewis. Your car that is miles better than every other car except 1 won the race and the title.

Yawn.

Would love to see this sport great again, but until there are 1 or 2 other teams actually competing on a similar level, it's just a foregone conclusion from the first qualifying practice.

Just hope this guy doesn't win SPOTY again.

 

Mercedes 1/2. The shocks just keep on coming

 

It seems that Ferrari may be up with Mercedes next year. Hopefully it will improve the competitiveness.

Having said that, yesterdays race was a cracker.

 

Absolutely. Even watching the coverage of the non starting qualifying on Saturday was pretty entertaining.

 

Well done to Lewis, he deserved to win the championship and I'm sure he would've gone on to win it even if this wasn't his week.

However, how comes when Hamilton pushes somebody off the track its 'good aggressive driving' yet when somebody else does it they get a penalty? He forced Rosberg off the track on the first corner, in violation of regulation 16.1e (2015 Regulations Link), he could've easily gone in tighter - just look at the Red Bull line behind. But for example last year Magnussen got a 20 second penalty for a similar move on Alonso (Link - Watch from 6:30).

There is a lack of consistency in the stewarding.

 

I thought it was accepted wisdom that Hamilton had been moaning about his rear brakes all weekend and that the first corner move just underlined the issue he'd been highlighting?

The Magnussen incident isn't at all similar. The speed alone of that move made it significantly more dangerous than Hamilton on Rosberg. You also have to remember starts are generally chaotic and therefore a big part of the entertainment. Where possible the stewards should butt out of officiating them unless anyone does something really dangerous - like Grosjean at Spa the other year.

 

I think they can look at telemetry and see if there there's a deliberate turn towards the opponent, or a lack of avoidance tactics. Lewis was inside and at one point slightly ahead. He had the racing line and therefore should have been let through. However visibility is poor in these cars. Racing incident imho. REgardless, you don't publicly berate your team or partner. Whether it;s justified or not it' looks petulant.

 

If his brakes were a problem he would've missed the apex, not ran wide on the exit...?

The speed was indeed much greater, however Magnussen was always clearly ahead and took the racing line. Whereas Hamilton was only slightly ahead/alongside and not on the racing line. Of course the start will have more incidents than the rest of the race and I agree the stewards should get involved less, but they seem to pick and choose who gets penalised. It's not the first time this season he has done a move like that.

 

Perhaps a racing incident, it just annoys me that aggressive driving is only allowed by some drivers and at some circuits. But agreed, Rosberg didn't exactly show his class! They're supposed to be teammates!

 

Sorry I think it was oversteer then. Definitely an issue he'd had all weekend.

 

Rosberg screwed up his start and Hamilton was slightly ahead at the braking point I think, to me the corner was Hamilton's and Rosberg had only himself to blame by trying to force the issue.

He's not good enough... instead of crying like a girl he needs to sort his abysmal race craft.