Spanish Grand Prix 2014, Catalunya - Race 5/19
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Soldato
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Kimi's post race interview - lol. 2 grunts and that was that 
Season looks like it'll be a close battle though, even if it's just Mercedes.
With Red Bull, it was all Vettel because Webber was **** and when he wasn't **** the team told him to maintain the gap.
Merc are letting their guys race. Hopefully it keeps up.
With Red Bull, it was all Vettel because Webber was **** and when he wasn't **** the team told him to maintain the gap.
Merc are letting their guys race. Hopefully it keeps up.
They are only letting them race because they are over a second per lap faster. If next season they have races where the cars are only 5 seconds down the road they will use the same stunts as everyone else I think. When you have probably the most dominant car in almost 20 years you can let them race each other, especially when they seem pretty reliable too.
RBR never let their drivers race. Neither did Ferrari when they were dominating.
Mercedes attitude is a refreshing one, although its probably got a lot to do with seeing the reaction to a strategy of team orders. RBRs desire to effectively ban their drivers from racing each other ever was universally unpopular. Even back in the refueling days most teams would adopt a strategy of holding position after the final pit stops. Mercedes aren't just doing it because they are ahead, they are doing it because if the drivers fall out it will be their own doing, rather than a political farce where the team, drivers, fans, everyone gets peed off. If attempting to control you drivers is just going to end in a screw up, why bother trying? Let them sort it out themselves.
And irrespective of all that, it's good because it means racing at the front!
Mercedes attitude is a refreshing one, although its probably got a lot to do with seeing the reaction to a strategy of team orders. RBRs desire to effectively ban their drivers from racing each other ever was universally unpopular. Even back in the refueling days most teams would adopt a strategy of holding position after the final pit stops. Mercedes aren't just doing it because they are ahead, they are doing it because if the drivers fall out it will be their own doing, rather than a political farce where the team, drivers, fans, everyone gets peed off. If attempting to control you drivers is just going to end in a screw up, why bother trying? Let them sort it out themselves.
And irrespective of all that, it's good because it means racing at the front!
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Soldato
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Just watched it on Sky+, So glad I'm watching on Sky, after watching that podium interview. EJ is a prat. Very close at the end there, well between the Mercs anyway
I used to like EJ, but I'm sure he's changed and become a bit of an idiot
Man of Honour
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I personally am not bothered why they are letting them race. There were plenty of times RB could have let their drivers race, but decided not to - then again, Vettel and Webber were prone to crashing into each other 
. Hamilton and Rosberg have been good enough drivers to avoid this (so far!).
. Hamilton and Rosberg have been good enough drivers to avoid this (so far!).Random thought, is there any way to make suggestions to the FIA/FOM?
From today there are a few things I would suggest. Firstly put the drivers numbers clearly visible on the rear wing end plates like GP2. Its almost impossible to tell who's who trackside without knowing the T bar colours, and even then those aren't that visible. And secondly, Bernie needs to pit asside whatever dispute he had with KangarooTV/Fanvision and bring them back. The races were so much easier to follow with them.
From today there are a few things I would suggest. Firstly put the drivers numbers clearly visible on the rear wing end plates like GP2. Its almost impossible to tell who's who trackside without knowing the T bar colours, and even then those aren't that visible. And secondly, Bernie needs to pit asside whatever dispute he had with KangarooTV/Fanvision and bring them back. The races were so much easier to follow with them.
Man of Honour
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RB are finished if Newey leaves.
Bit of an overstatement... They'll still be the team with the biggest budget after all.
It'll be a blow, to be sure, but to say they're "finished" is a bit much - especially now that aero is taking a slightly lesser role with the new regulations.
Man of Honour
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I see it going downhill. Less intuitive development, fewer championships won and their financial backing will seriously decrease - who knows where that will go, but there were comments years ago that indicated that RB might not be 100% committed to the sport (before they dominated).
Without Newey they will struggle to win championships for a long, long time.
It's also another, possibly final, challenge in his career. He's certainly shown that he likes to move around every so often, bringing his expertise to a new team in a new era.
He designed a dominant car at Williams starting from 1991, and stayed there for 7 years. Then he moved to McLaren in 1997 and did pretty much the same thing over the next 9 years. He moved to Red Bull in 2006, and we all know how that has turned out.
He's been at Red Bull for 8 years now, and it's not unreasonable to suspect he might be looking for a new challenge. If so, Ferrari would be the obvious place to go. If he could succeed in building a dominant car for them before he retires, it will only further cement his standing as the most talented engineer in the history of F1.
At 55 he has, probably, another 10 years before retirement. Enough time to build one more dominant car, given the time he's taken at the other teams.
Yes there will be politics at Ferrari, but above anything else they want victories, and Newey is "the golden goose". That naturally puts him in a uniquely powerful position. He's probably the most valuable property in F1, and there's no reason to suspect he wouldn't be given complete control over the design of the car.
Yes there will be politics at Ferrari, but above anything else they want victories, and Newey is "the golden goose". That naturally puts him in a uniquely powerful position. He's probably the most valuable property in F1, and there's no reason to suspect he wouldn't be given complete control over the design of the car.
Absolutely, and he has for the past decade. A lot of people get attached to their work though, and don't want to retire until they have to, or until it gets too tiring. For example, I work with a professor who's 86 years old and still flies around the world for conferences, meetings and lecture series a dozen times per year.
None of us know what's in Newey's mind - we can only speculate from recent statements and from past trends. If he wants a comfortable place to see out his career, then Red Bull would be the likely option. If he wants one more big challenge before he retires, then Ferrari would be the obvious choice. I guess we'll see over the next few years - his Red Bull contract expires in 2017.
None of us know what's in Newey's mind - we can only speculate from recent statements and from past trends. If he wants a comfortable place to see out his career, then Red Bull would be the likely option. If he wants one more big challenge before he retires, then Ferrari would be the obvious choice. I guess we'll see over the next few years - his Red Bull contract expires in 2017.
Yeah people would have disagreed with you had you said that about Williams and Mclaren. Both have struggled since he left, obviously not the sole reason but clearly a big reason as everywhere he goes he wins, lots.
Obviously I know nothing of the man but he does seem to be a guy who likes a new challenge every now and then. Hell he even signed to Jaguar, which the hypocrite Dennis seems to have conveniently forgotten.
Caporegime
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Has there been any indication about Haas and how much money the team will have behind them. Are they going to Toyota it and throw silly money at it, or the next Caterham.
If he felt like there was one last challenge, building a team up from nothing would certainly fit the bill of extreme challenge. Ferrari is one of the toughest jobs because of the pressure and expectations. Ultimately it could come down to money, or loyalty. Have no idea what drives him, Red Bull might be able to offer him 10mil a year but refuse to give him more than 2mil while another team might offer him 10mil, or team principle, who knows.
He might want to leave, he might not, certainly be more interesting as a whole for the sport if he did. If he went to Ferrari/Haas/Mclaren, would RBR fall apart, could he create some magic again, would we get an old favourite come back to the front of the pack.
Merc are making a brilliant car though and have put together a team to rival RBR for sure. Great engine....maybe, though the RBR did fine coming through the pack against other Merc engines. But 50 second gap at a less engine limited race, where everyone expected RBR to close the gap at a track that was more aero limited... speaks exceptionally highly of the Merc car aerodynamically.
Though I think people called the engine issue incorrectly. Less max speed, sure, but more braking, more corners, more harvesting of power. Back to a really really efficient harvesting and application of that electrical power for constantly acceleration and keeping the turbo spun up could potentially make where I think the Merc excels the most, efficiency/ers systems, very very important at these tracks.
If he felt like there was one last challenge, building a team up from nothing would certainly fit the bill of extreme challenge. Ferrari is one of the toughest jobs because of the pressure and expectations. Ultimately it could come down to money, or loyalty. Have no idea what drives him, Red Bull might be able to offer him 10mil a year but refuse to give him more than 2mil while another team might offer him 10mil, or team principle, who knows.
He might want to leave, he might not, certainly be more interesting as a whole for the sport if he did. If he went to Ferrari/Haas/Mclaren, would RBR fall apart, could he create some magic again, would we get an old favourite come back to the front of the pack.
Merc are making a brilliant car though and have put together a team to rival RBR for sure. Great engine....maybe, though the RBR did fine coming through the pack against other Merc engines. But 50 second gap at a less engine limited race, where everyone expected RBR to close the gap at a track that was more aero limited... speaks exceptionally highly of the Merc car aerodynamically.
Though I think people called the engine issue incorrectly. Less max speed, sure, but more braking, more corners, more harvesting of power. Back to a really really efficient harvesting and application of that electrical power for constantly acceleration and keeping the turbo spun up could potentially make where I think the Merc excels the most, efficiency/ers systems, very very important at these tracks.
Fantastic race from Vettel.
I'm glad to see Rosberg genuinely challenging Hamilton on race strategy (even if I am pleased to see Lewis win). Yes, there was a fantastic ding-dong in Bahrain but it only came to a climax because of the safety car; this time Rosberg came very close to winning on a equal terms.
Red Bull seem to be opening a gap to the third placed team. I'm disappointed to see Kimi end on the wrong end of strategy and again beaten by Alonso.
I'm glad to see Rosberg genuinely challenging Hamilton on race strategy (even if I am pleased to see Lewis win). Yes, there was a fantastic ding-dong in Bahrain but it only came to a climax because of the safety car; this time Rosberg came very close to winning on a equal terms.
Red Bull seem to be opening a gap to the third placed team. I'm disappointed to see Kimi end on the wrong end of strategy and again beaten by Alonso.