Japanese Grand Prix 2011, Suzuka Circuit - Race 15/19

The Lotus Elise and Exige are brilliant cars. I love them and prefer them to the heavier (more expensive) super sports cars. They also offer fantastic value for money.
 
The Esprit is the only one actively under development. They fired up the V8 engine for it the other week. If they don't screw it up, it will sell well.

I can't see any of the others reaching production. The Elise concept had a glass roof FFS... it's meant to be a sports car, not a sodding piece of French va-va-voom tat. The Elite has potential but I doubt they have the will to go compete with Aston/Jaguar who are very strong at the moment.
 
sunama said:
The Lotus Elise and Exige are brilliant cars. I love them and prefer them to the heavier (more expensive) super sports cars. They also offer fantastic value for money.
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Both cars that were created way before Dany Bahr took over.

All the 'Bahr era' cars have been larger, heavier, more powerful, and more flashy. As NathanE said, a glass roof on an Elise, WTF?!

I thought the Esprit has been put on hold while they pushed the Evora S and Exige S. It did look nice, but we shall see how it sells.
 
Renault's options in case Kubica cannot return are limited, as the outfit wants a clear number one driver to base its future ambitions around.

Rubens Barrichello is the only current race-winning driver that is available for next year, although he is coming towards the end of his career so would not be a long-term solution for Renault.

The outfit could take a gamble on a young driver, however – like Bruno Senna or its third driver Romain Grosjean, or try and secure a talented youngster like Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg who do not yet have firm deals at Force India for 2012.
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95270

Fingers crossed Kubica does make a return at some point.
 
Personally, I can't see Kubica coming back. Its a real shame.

I think Renault should take a punt on Senna. He has shown good form with very little experierence. However, I think that Petrov brings in more money so Senna is sat in the 'non secure' seat.

I can't see Merc letting Di Resta go to Renault, but Hukenburg might be a good shout. Although I don't see why they would drop Senna and replace him with Hulk.

We shall have to see. There aren't that many people moving about at the end of the year so choice is limited.
 
Di Resta looks the best rookie without a doubt, Senna appears to have grasped the chance with both hands....Kubica will be coming back to a midfield at best team.
Times are difficult in F1, there are a few decent teams and the rest look quite a bit behind. I can't remember the cars off the pace looking quite this bad for some time, and that reflects in the lack of movement of drivers...
 
Duke said:
Di Resta would be their best option if they did change, but get the feeling next year they will have the same drivers as this.
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doubt di resta brings in enough money for a renault seat , i believe FI get a hefty discount on engines from merc for aslong as they have di resta
 
the onboard replay showed that he was not even looking in his mirrors, he just used it as an excuse :)

Seb used his fine to block Jenson, same with Alonso and MS etc at Monza, maybe McLaren can install larger ones for Lewis if he is having problems, also quite a safety concern to admit Lewis can't use his mirrors.
 
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As Whitmarsh said 'the mirrors are only good for picking out colours' now unless the circuit looks red most of the time even Hamilton could spot Ferrari red IF he used his mirrors :p

Fair play though he was looking at the apex of the corner (which is more important to clip correctly for a chicane) and so wouldnt be looking to his outside - thats more than a reasonable reason (note reason, not excuse) for not picking out Massa, but to use that embarrasing excuse that the mirrors arent adequate and to compound it all his Team Principal asking for the FIA to look into revising it, is just a poor show and quite embarrasing...

Its like using the line 'my dog ate my homework Miss'. Hes making himself look more like a fool, by grasping at such straws...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
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I don't know why this is suddenly a controversial issue since Lewis mentioned it on sunday. It's been well known for a long time that the mirrors are not very good, and many drivers have made this comment before. Considering that Hamilton had already been absolved by the stewards and therefore needed no excuses, why aren't we just taking this at face value?
 
Setroc said:
I don't know why this is suddenly a controversial issue since Lewis mentioned it on sunday. It's been well known for a long time that the mirrors are not very good, and many drivers have made this comment before. Considering that Hamilton had already been absolved by the stewards and therefore needed no excuses, why aren't we just taking this at face value?
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Because its Lewis, and people just won't let it go.

Nobody seems to be slating Button for not using his mirrors in Canada. Nobody is slating Webber for driving straight into the back of Schumacher. nobody seems to be acknowledging the numerous times the mirrors have been deemed fairly useless. Its just Hamilton this, Hamilton that, its all pathetic. I genuinely feel sorry for the guy, he can do nothing right as people will always pull him apart.

I guarantee that if he stuck it on pole in Korea and won the race with some epic driving, people would still find something to moan at him about. At least the BBC article had the decency to say he is a great driver making mistakes, rather than the the band wagon opinion on here that he's a below average liability just winging his way through on McLarens cash.

Multiple other incidents with other drivers are being flat out ignored, while people persist on analysing Hamilton to the nth degree in search of something to have a go at him about.

And now I will be branded a Hamilton fanboy, and Mr Men and Arknor will attempt to look clever by trying to bash me down. Fact is, I'm just sticking up for a driver who is being unfairly slated by everyone around him. I would do the same for any other driver (with the possible exception of Teflonso).
 
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