Motorsport Off Topic Thread

FrankJH said:
They were CLEARLY not the best all year - they were barely the best for 5 months which is why they went further and further back during and after the summer

It was only because of the huge lead they had from the beginning of the season that JB got the title

Wonders where with the new tech Merc this year would be with a retro fitted engine that lost similar amounts to the Brawn - I would be pretty amazed if they were even in the midpack even with their current performance advantage

No-one can afford to give that kind of performance away in the current situation, it just wouldn't be viable



I would LOVE VW in F1 (and actually think F1 NEEDS VW/Audi/Porsche as much as VW should be there) but cant think of a worse team to go with - although it sounds like it was inevitable given the current links with the drinks company RB (rather than the team).
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Wasn't long ago that the VW/Audio group were denying any future involvement in F1...

Until I see something direct from VAG, I'll just take all this with a pinch of salt...
 
Why would VAG want in on F1? They have everything they need in terms of Motorsport coverage by globally dominating prototype and GT racing and now Rallying too. F1 would be a very expensive excersize in not doing very well.
 
VAG have apparently been looking for quite a while and the ex Ferrari chap joined Audi to advise on matters other than F1 because he wasn't an expert in anything other than F1. No doubt a cost/benefit analysis has been or is being done. I wouldn't be surprised if an Engine has been mocked up on simulation software too.

Also the head of VW group, Ferdinand Piech was opposed to F1, apparently because he didn't like Bernie on a personal level rather than anything financial. He was ousted as group president earlier this year so if it was going to happen then, if anything, it stands a higher chance now than even a couple of years ago.
 
I wonder if the current scandal that VW is facing might change things? I mean, massive fine incoming....billions wiped off the company share price....Martin Winterkorn might find it hard to push a plan like 'get involved in a sport that offers minimal ROI with regards to technology and PR' through.
 
They'll negotiate a much reduced fine. Sure it could be a few hundred million dollars but I doubt that as well. Threats of withdrawing all factories and investment in the U.S. Will do it.
 
So seems JB will call time on his F1 career this weekend:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mo...Jenson-Button-poised-to-quit-Formula-One.html

Personally as a JB fan I'd say he's making the right decision, he owes Mclaren nothing (they owe him the last 2 years of his career back quite frankly!), realistically by the time Mclaren ever get near to competitive again he's going to be long retired so why waste your time driving round at the back? Go get a competitive drive in WEC or wherever and enjoy your racing again.
 
You can't blame Button really. It must be absolutely soul destroying driving that pile of crap around. Yet another DNF at the weekend and no sign of things improving anytime soon. Unless they make a massive breakthrough soon even next season looks grim. It would be nice to see him join Webber in WEC. Please don't become yet another ex F1 driver pundit for Sky or the BBC.
 
Tbh, as much as I don't like him, I really hope Alonso jumps ship too, either to another series or another team.

Watching McLaren destroy 2 World Champions is no longer funny and is now just pathetic. They are going to be well down financially next year, so the chances of a turn around are going from slim to none.

:(
 
MissChief said:
They'll negotiate a much reduced fine. Sure it could be a few hundred million dollars but I doubt that as well. Threats of withdrawing all factories and investment in the U.S. Will do it.
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I think the opposite is more likely. The US has a history of levying huge fines against foreign companies. Remember BP? The company that is forced to just keep on giving.
 
The_Abyss said:
I think the opposite is more likely. The US has a history of levying huge fines against foreign companies. Remember BP? The company that is forced to just keep on giving.
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Exactly, Volkswagen won't want to walk away from the massive market that is the US. There will probably be some bargaining in respect of the above but i still think there will be a rather large fine... Not to mention groups of yanks suing Volkswagen en masse.
 
I'd really be surprised if he manages to get another year. His comments to the team over the radio and his attitude has been so care-free and flippant lately. It's like he knows how bad it is, but doesn't care because he's off at the end of the season anyway.
 
MooMoo444 said:
I'd really be surprised if he manages to get another year. His comments to the team over the radio and his attitude has been so care-free and flippant lately. It's like he knows how bad it is, but doesn't care because he's off at the end of the season anyway.
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I think thats precisely it, normally would have his PR gameface on. But isn't so bothered now as he knows it makes no difference and is off at the end of the year.
 
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