Motorsport Off Topic Thread

Ah, good to see the FIA deciding to additionally over regulate an already over regulated regulation because their previous attempts at regulation over regulated yet failed.

We had 60 years of F1 with nothing as universally ugly as the recent noses. It was only when the FIA started messing with the rules that things got ugly. Why do they think more rules is the answer?

Also, haven't they basically mandated a spec nose design with the 2015 regs?
 
Why don't the FIA just give each team the design they're going to be using and tell them to build it. Rule after rule on top of rule, just stop. :(
 
Donington Park has gotten the contract to host the British MotoGP round from next year. And I can't help but be reminded about a response I got when I created a thread a few years back about the changes being made to Silverstone and how much I resented the track being dicked around with.

Skeeter in that thread said:
Its been 'dicked' about with because of MotoGP and the different safety aspects a track needs to meet bike racing standards.
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So, the Silverstone owners tear up a perfectly decent racetrack, decommission one of the better corners in world motorsport (Bridge), all to pander to the MotoGP lot....who aren't going there any more. Outstanding.

Presumably the British Superbikes are still going there, just so it's not a total waste?
 
Skeeter said:
Donington? Last I heard MotoGP was going to the Circuit of Wales?
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I don't know that the CoW is that close to finished! But yeah, Donington is hosting it at least next year and presumably will until the Welsh circuit is ready. And the World Superbikes moved from Silverstone to Donington last year as well. I do hope that the British Superbikes are staying, otherwise it really was all for nothing.
 
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Glaucus said:
Not surprised, but I like the fact the cars look very different. It's nice, it feels homely like the old days, even if it is a small part.
Be nice if they didn't look silly and still left room for very different car looks. Not that it's ever bothered me, technology and design above looks.

So going on from this article. Who do people think the best current driver is?
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/alonso-vettel-not-the-best-driver/


For me.
Alonso is the best complete package
And Hamilton is the fastest driver.
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so alonso the best driver on the grid thinks hamilton is the best driver on the grid, SMR gonna plode!

as a Hamilton fan i would still say it is Alonso, he is just a beast in any car you give him, much like Hamilton but Alonso i think has the edge.

2 onboards i could watch all day, Hamilton and Alonso.



As for the regulations again, the best thing about F1 is how people come up with such different solutions to the same problem, the mix of front wings i think is great and they should not be forced to all look the same (even if some do look ugly).
 
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McLaren Group confirms 2013 profit of £18.8m

The McLaren Group made £18.8 million pre-tax profit in 2013, it has been announced.

Total Group turnover, which includes McLaren Racing, increased from £249m in 2012 to £268m last year, while revenues grew by 7.5 per cent as it continued to “apply its cutting-edge technologies into new markets, while also increasing income from sponsorship and Formula 1 prize money”.

“The Group made significant progress towards becoming a global and increasingly diversified high technology company,” read a statement to the press.

“It is on a solid financial footing, is continuing to invest heavily in R&D and is well placed to deliver future growth.”

Ron Dennis, chief executive and chairman of the McLaren Group commented: “McLaren has a long-term strategy to diversify the business by capitalising upon our world-class expertise and technology to target a wide range of industries outside Formula 1.

"That approach is already helping us to increase revenues and, combined with improved income from Formula 1, demonstrates that McLaren is on a solid financial footing and is well placed to achieve significant long-term growth.”

“Sadly, strong financial performance during 2013 was not matched by on track success,” he added. “However, McLaren has a proud and victorious record at the pinnacle of Formula 1 and I am confident that the actions we are taking will enable the team to regain competitiveness in time.

“Our growing revenue and robust financial position will ensure that McLaren Racing has the resources it requires to win races, while enabling us to develop and expand the entire McLaren Group as an internationally recognised technology company.”

The release also stressed that McLaren continued to be supported by a number of blue chip companies, such as SAP, ExxonMobil, Santander, Hugo Boss, GSK, Hilton, AkzoNobel, Tag Heuer and Diageo.

In addition it was noted that McLaren engaged in several technology projects, including supporting Team GB in its build up to the Winter Olympics and supplying electronic systems to all teams in Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar.

No mention was made of the fact that McLaren has still to confirm a new title sponsor for the F1 team following the end of the partnership with Vodafone – although the impact of that may only be seen in twelve months time, when the Group publishes its financial results for 2014. McLaren did say it was preparing to unveil a new title sponsor back in March, but to date there has been no announcement, although in April, Eric Boullier, McLaren's racing director, insisted it was “still happening”.
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http://www.crash.net/f1/news/208285/1/mclaren-confirms-2013-profit-of-188m.html
 
I can see it now... Vettel moves to McLaren who produce a dominant car, he wins the title with ease... People complain he's rubbish and only won due to the car/engine :p
 
JRS said:
I don't know that the CoW is that close to finished! But yeah, Donington is hosting it at least next year and presumably will until the Welsh circuit is ready. And the World Superbikes moved from Silverstone to Donington last year as well. I do hope that the British Superbikes are staying, otherwise it really was all for nothing.
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Am I alone in liking the layout of New Silverstone (ignoring the changes to the runoffs and things made to cater for bikes?).

Yes Bridge was an epic corner, but with modern F1 cars, infact with anything even mildly downforce orientated, the complex from Abbey through to Woodcote was pretty nullified. Nothing ever really happened there, there was no overtaking. The new Arena section is not to bad, and has made turn 1 pretty epic, and the Wellington straight has made Brooklands a much more interesting corner with a lot more going on.

The key corners of Silverstone (Copse, Maggotts, Beckets, Stowe) have been left untouched so overall I like the layout.

But if it was all done for MotoGP, and the ticket prices have gone through the roof to pay all that money back, just for MotoGP to leave, then I can understand them being pretty annoyed. Silverstone and the BRDC have been pretty vocal against CoW as they fear it will eat into their market.

Edit: Its actually CoW that have aranged the Donington deal: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Donington+Park+to+host+2015+British+Motorcycle+Grand+Prix. Its only temporary. However, CoW electing Donington over Silverstone does make it look like there is no love lost between Cow and Silverstone.
 
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Seems the drivers aren't bothered about Parabolica...

Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button and Felipe Massa do not believe the challenge of Monza's Parabolica turn will be reduced by recent changes to the corner's run-off area.

The FIA recently defended the decision to lay a large asphalt run-off area over part of the gravel trap on the outside of the fast right-hander on safety grounds.

The changes provoked some outcry on social media ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, but Williams driver Massa said the cornering challenge would be unchanged.

"I see many people complaining but I didn't see anything that will change our line or the way we are doing the corner," Massa said.

"They changed the outside of the corner, which is safer, but I don't see any difference on the line.

"If people try to use more and go outside, they need to be penalised so it's clear.

"I would have been not happy if they really changed the Parabolica, but they are not changing the Parabolica, they are changing the outside, so I don't understand why people are complaining about that."

McLaren racer Button agreed the challenge of the corner would still remain while safety is improved for the drivers.

"I understand the reason behind it, the safety and the asphalt in run-off areas; straight ahead, in braking, it's a great idea," Button said.

"The exit, I haven't had a look at yet but I've heard there's still Astroturf.

"You can't put wheels on Astroturf when you are laterally loaded at that speed anyway, because it will spit you into the inside barriers.

"I'm sure it's no easier than it was before."
 
Is Massa eyeing a job as a pundit post retirement or something? Every time there's some new topic in F1 he seems to have an opinion and be interviewed by everyone to get it out there.

Button too to a lesser extent, though I think he'd make a good pundit. Massa's views are also a bit...disagreeable at times.
 
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