Motorsport Off Topic Thread

[this_is_gav]

File under 'oh dear, how sad, never mind'...

I've always liked the Singapore race. It's not a great, but it is unique and a real challenge. Unfortunately in these buses the racing itself hasn't been great, but in the V8 days it was a joy to watch them flinging it around there, and overtaking was a fairly regular and often spectacular occurrence.

Until 2014 and especially 2017 it was one of the better tracks added to the calendar and possibly the only non-Tilke track introduced since... hmm... Albert Park perhaps in 1996?

Singapore was designed by the same guy who designed Suzuka all those years ago, which, though considered a classic circuit, doesn't produce much overtaking any more either. I think it's time we stopped blaming tracks.

 

[Flibster]

Autosport reporting the Singapore GP is off, with the possibility of an Austin Dual Header being lined up

Oh? Are they going to redo the circuit at Austin then?

Last I heard, the track surface was trashed and the facilities weren't in great condition either.

 

[chrismscotland]

Oh? Are they going to redo the circuit at Austin then?

Last I heard, the track surface was trashed and the facilities weren't in great condition either.

Well we're due to go to the US on the current calendar anyway on Oct 24th; so I assume anything needing to be done will be done for the originally planned US GP; with a second race (Texas GP?) added the week before or after.

 

[englishpremier]

Why do they make up names rather than just calling them US GP 1 US GP 2 etc... No one is fooled by the name changes for the second races.

 

[chrismscotland]

Why do they make up names rather than just calling them US GP 1 US GP 2 etc... No one is fooled by the name changes for the second races.

I guess its also just to separate them for "history" rather than having two of the same named race in a year. Its not that different historically to how we called the second Italian GP (Imola) variously the San Marino GP or European GP in the 90's/00's
I'm sure for the "extra" races last year (Styria, Mugello and Imola) there was additional sponsorship / money from the Austrian, Italian and local governments to sponsor and hold the races too which probably influenced the naming of those races.

 

[Emlyn_Dewar]

Is it actually being shown on TV or will it be a YouTube stream again?

Dunno about UK TV, I'll just be watching it on YouTube! So far the qualifying sessions have been great to watch.

 

[JRS]

I think it's time we stopped blaming tracks.

Sure. Everyone who rags on Monaco can start.

 

[Emlyn_Dewar]

What an awesome start to the N24. Madness.

 

[Flibster]

Oh... crap....

https://twitter.com/x/status/1400846854355656704

There is track damage. Apparently the tarmac surface has come away, so that'll need fixing. Plus checking all the other other facilities infrastructure for damage.

F1 due there in 3 months. How long does it take for the tarmac to cure properly? Don't want it all greasy as hell at that point of the track

 

[Housey]

It was relayed today I think

 

[Mr Jack]

That's going to make things interesting for the race. Presumably a mix of old and new tarmac?

 

[this_is_gav]

F1 due there in 3 months. How long does it take for the tarmac to cure properly? Don't want it all greasy as hell at that point of the track

Istanbul's tarmac last season was about 10 days old if I remember correctly. There are eight weekends of events scheduled (including the 24 Hours of Spa) before F1 rolls in, so it will be fine by then.

 

[this_is_gav]

Mansour Ojjeh, investor and shareholder in McLaren for more than 30 years, has passed away.

 

[MissChief]

Mansour Ojjeh, investor and shareholder in McLaren for more than 30 years, has passed away.

He played a huge part in McLaren dropping Ron Dennis as Team Principal and CEO, his impact on McLaren and where they are now cannot be underestimated.

I wrote this a few years ago when McLaren were struggling on Reddit for some context. https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/c...urce=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

 

[Mr Jack]

The ever-reliable Sky Sports Italy are reporting that Russell to Mercedes for 2022 will be confirmed at the British GP

https://twitter.com/x/status/1403634984762630146

Hamilton/Russell is an exciting combination.

 

[englishpremier]

The ever-reliable Sky Sports Italy are reporting that Russell to Mercedes for 2022 will be confirmed at the British GP

https://twitter.com/x/status/1403634984762630146

Hamilton/Russell is an exciting combination.

Is that why Bottas has been walking around with a face like a slapped ****

 

[JRS]

Is that why Bottas has been walking around with a face like a slapped ****

Would you expect him to be full of the joys of spring?

 

[Greboth]

I really hope this is true though could be looking like a year too late for Mercedes.

 

[m0ody]

The ever-reliable Sky Sports Italy are reporting that Russell to Mercedes for 2022 will be confirmed at the British GP

https://twitter.com/x/status/1403634984762630146

Hamilton/Russell is an exciting combination.

Holy F how much truth is behind this?? It'll be awesome though...

 

[Entai]

From a friend of mine who talked to Hamiltons brother a couple of months ago, if Merc was to take on Russell, Lewis would only agree, if there is a clause in Russell's contract stating he is an out and out number 2, with his promise of not competing with Lewis directly.

OK yes it's from a friend of a friend, not directly, but I trust this guy, he has never been wrong in the past with comments he has made or passed on from others.

Guess time will tell, but from my side, I can easily see Lewis saying sonething like that, pretty sure he does not want direct teammate competition, he wants a teammate to play rear gunner and keep other teams out of the way, yes get team points to boost constructors, but I reckon Lewis would never want direct championship competition from his teammate.