Formula 1 Discussion - And favourite driver?

[Full Race Replay]

im so happy that Perez is going to Red Bull. I loved seeing him win in sakhir even tho i was rooting for George Russel, and I can tell he has a lot of passion, hope he can do really well, get a lot of podiums and even wins, and help red bull take the fight to mercedes.

 

[Pee Cola]

Great to see that Checo has a drive. Whilst it's a bit sad that Alex is being demoted, he's young enough to have another crack at a full time F1 drive in the medium term.

I'm not Checo... but if I was, my goal in 2021 would be to send a message to Stroll the Elder by beating Stroll the Younger and Vettel in the 2021 WDC standings. He can do this by playing a role as Max's wingman, which would also win good boy points from the RB brass.

 

[Coccxys]

He can do this just by being Max's wingman,

Nah, he should go in there intending to beat Max. He's an idiot if he goes in to play second fiddle with Max as the undisputed team leader. Remember his big break at McLaren along side Button when Lewis left, he coped a lot of flack for not being able to drive Button hard enough and it looked like he had blew any opportunity of a top team drive again after that. He has had to work hard to rebuild his rep following that.

Red Bull need someone who will push Max to his absolute limit, just think how fast Max could push it if he is being challenged by his team mate. If he can stick with or even beat Max his reputation will go through the roof. If he can start to race Max then 2021 might not be as utterly dull as we expect since its clear team mate battles at Merc aren't going to happen and there are few rule changes.

 

[Pee Cola]

Nah, he should go in there intending to beat Max. He's an idiot if he goes in to play second fiddle with Max as the undisputed team leader. Red Bull need someone who will push Max to his absolute limit, just think how fast Max could push it if he is being challenged by his team mate. If he can stick with or even beat Max his reputation will go through the roof. If he can start to race Max then 2021 might not be as utterly dull as we expect since its clear team mate battles at Merc aren't going to happen and there are few rule changes.

This scenario had crossed my mind. By all reports, the RB team is one of the most high-pressure environments in F1. Checo is one of the few drivers that has the fortitude to take it on, but idk if it would be wise to push too hard in his first season. Once Checo gets a decent read on who's who in the RB zoo, then he can go for it. Assuming Hambone finishes up at the end of 2021, the 2022 WDC will be up for grabs, thus giving Checo the encouragement to go balls out and take the fight right up to Max.

In the meantime, a one-fingered salute to RP/AM in 2021 is a good short term goal.

 

[LiveFromNS]

I am pretty sure I read something within the last few weeks that Checo appeared to say he had something lined up for 2022. So, if indeed he has somewhere to go in '22, then I can see why he has a 1 year deal. Obviously RB could extend it, but from all appearances at the moment, he will be there just for '21 as I bet they figure with Albon being the test and *development* driver for the '22 car, they expect him to perhaps be ready to go back to RB in '22, or potentially AT if Yuki gets promoted to RB in '22 (I also read a blurb where Marko would be down with just that happening) or Gasly leaves in '22 (also a possibility if Ocon sucks against Fred).

Whatever the case, agreed, Checo needs to go into '21 like Villeneuve '96, Lewis '07, Ricciardo '14 and come in all guns blazing and put heat on the incumbent and #1 driver. If he is close to or ahead of Max in points after let's say 6 or 8 races, then it will be tough on RB to try and pull the maneuvering to guarantee Max wins with weird pit strategy or other nonsense. I just hope we have a solid 2 teams/4 drivers (at least) battle at the top. If McLaren with the Merc can get in there along with RP, all the better.

With our luck, I can see '21 being the season where finally, the rules brought in way back in 2014 get as close to parity finally being reached, and we have a sort of 2012 where 3+ teams 6 or 7 drivers win a race. Then the great reset '22 and we get another run of dominance by some team who aced the new rules and regs! Shoot me if that goes down please.

But I am stoked for what I hope to be one of the better seasons. 23 races is great too! I could watch F1 every weekend, more so if it is competitive and Lewis ain't there anymore, so happy to see so many races in store for us! I signed up for the notification of when the Canadian GP tixs go on sale. If covid allows for travel, I think me and daughter's fiance are going to go.

 

[The Grognard]

2012 is not gonna be repeating any time soon. That was a rare time when nobody had the correct solution to the season from day 1 and it only took the sheer tenacity of Alonso and the crafty brains of Newey to even put the championship down to the last race.

 

[New Fag]

Well to the absolute surprise of no one Lewis has won SPotY.

My favourite take, so smug, naive, blind and uneducated.



Edit: also people with major hate boners for Marzipan think Hass are going to replace him with Fitipaldi, I mean it's not impossible but 2/3 things they point to is most likely puff to get him an indycar seat for next year.

 

[RomanesEuntDomus]

Well to the absolute surprise of no one Lewis has won SPotY.

My favourite take, so smug, naive, blind and uneducated.
View attachment 1801914


Edit: also people with major hate boners for Marzipan think Hass are going to replace him with Fitipaldi, I mean it's not impossible but 2/3 things they point to is most likely puff to get him an indycar seat for next year.

He fights for civil rights causes, when convenient. Or, you know, maybe we're just overlooking the possibility that he doesn't think minorities in Saudi Arabia are human all along?

 

[Balr0g]

Not to mention Hamilton repeats phrases that turn out to be wrong or are even conspiracy theories. He is naive at best and a hypocrite at worse. I would laugh my ass of if Mercedes kicks him and replace him with Russell who is cheaper and is already at his speed level (well at one race we would have to see if this goes on for a full season in a fast car)

 

[New Fag]

He is naive at best and a hypocrite at worse.

It's even worse he's Mr PR Brand Marketing. Almost everything and anything he does is to further his own brand, however comparing him to Rossi, he is a mister nobody, round town I'll often see a 46 and yet I have never seen a 44, Rossi's monster energy drink is still everywhere, Hamilton's is MIA. Rossi even has his own bike school for youngsters.

I would laugh my ass of if Mercedes kicks him and replace him with Russell

It would have me laughing like a mad man, but it's the stupidest thing merc could do, I could rag on Hamilton all day for many things but not his ability, he is one of the best drivers on the grid, other than Max or Alonso and possibly Leclerc who else would you pick instead?

I'm hoping for Russell in the second seat in '22 and does an '07 on Lewis.

 

[Balr0g]

It would have me laughing like a mad man, but it's the stupidest thing merc could do, I could rag on Hamilton all day for many things but not his ability, he is one of the best drivers on the grid, other than Max or Alonso and possibly Leclerc who else would you pick instead?

Hmm you could take Ricciardo. He is quick and one of the best wheel-to wheel drivers. And he wouldn't bitch and complain on the radio.

 

[RomanesEuntDomus]

It would have me laughing like a mad man, but it's the stupidest thing merc could do, I could rag on Hamilton all day for many things but not his ability, he is one of the best drivers on the grid, other than Max or Alonso and possibly Leclerc who else would you pick instead?

We all know, deep down, what we need is Merc to sign a contract with Ragunathan Mahaveer for next year, so we have the empirically proven "worst of all time" driver in the Merc and see how well he does.

Also, joking aside, I think Kimi could still have it in him to win a championship with that Merc.

 

[LiveFromNS]

I rate Carlos pretty highly too. I hope the Ferrari engine is vastly improved next year and they are back in Top 3 (4??, 5?!?!?). I hope they are at least level with McL so he at least is on par with the results he achieved this year.

I am also starting to rate Gasly more and more. After what that kid went through, with the demotion and then quickly followed by loss of his childhood friend in a violent way, its not only amazing that he simply didn't pack it up or be unrepairable mentally, but that he actually excelled after dealing with both of those major calamities in his life. I was sooo happy that it was him that won a race.

And it made the year that much better when Checo also got a win as he was the next one that I also rate fairly highly so also wanted to see him get rewarded for enduring what he also went through this year.

But those 3 guys are ones I rate up there behind the Ham/Max/Lec triumvirate, who I would say are then closely followed by Ric and Fred. Vettel, don't know what to think about him after this year, hope he also has a great '21. The new wunderkids Rus, Nor and Alb, still too soon to fully peg them but I think they are pretty good, even though Alb kind of took a hit this year.

Bottas must be wondering, other than sabotage, how the fuck he can beat Lewis over course of a full season. He has the measure of Lewis at times, but once every 5 or 6 races is not enough to get you a WDC. Its funny, now that I think about it, that he has matched the Buffalo Bills! When I used to watch all sports before I gave up in late 90s to watch just racing, the Bills are an NFL football team who appeared in 4 straight Superbowls. And lost them all! Not the UK style football, should say that for the non-NA crowd who may not know about US football! LOL But this is year number 4 of VB watching Lewis get the glory, which given they haver same car, kind of says definitively that Lewis is a better driver. Can't argue when its your teammate that its the car and not driver ability. That must suck for him to deal with.

The rest of the drivers, meh. Some moments of greatness here and there each have had, but not consistent superb performances every race. Hard to do when you are in the shittier cars of course. Too bad there wasn't more parity between the teams, I mean like 6 or 7 basically battling for pole with the other 3 or 4 teams all 3 or 4 tenths behind the lead pack. Its too much to want/expect all 10 teams to be basically equal...but that would be amazing. I will take 5 teams all within 2 tenths next year with the other 5 no more than 1 sec adrift.

Sorry for the ramble, picked wrong time to toke. LOL

 

[Coccxys]

The drivers themselves voted on their top 10 of the season. The media and fanboys are of course saying "see even they know Lewis is the best". But a. They kind of had to say that and b. You'd all be saying jealous or racist otherwise. Also just look at that list, I'm certainly not in agreement of those being the top 10.

 

[RomanesEuntDomus]

The drivers themselves voted on their top 10 of the season. The media and fanboys are of course saying "see even they know Lewis is the best". But a. They kind of had to say that and b. You'd all be saying jealous or racist otherwise. Also just look at that list, I'm certainly not in agreement of those being the top 10.

View attachment 1802966

No disrespect to Gorsjean, but without his crash, he wouldn't even be anywhere near that top 10 list. And Russel on 6? You kidding me? Kid had a stellar weekend and it took one tire fuck-up, followed by being forced to pit not once by two times to take away his prospects of a win and thereafter he still raced like the devil was chasing him, flying past others like they were riding lawnmowers.

But you know what stings: Bottas isn't even on that list. Moreso than Hamilton, he's seen as a mid-tier driver being carried by the car, even by his peers.

 

[Pee Cola]

I am also starting to rate Gasly more and more. After what that kid went through, with the demotion and then quickly followed by loss of his childhood friend in a violent way, its not only amazing that he simply didn't pack it up or be unrepairable mentally, but that he actually excelled after dealing with both of those major calamities in his life. I was sooo happy that it was him that won a race.

I have a soft spot for Gasly as well. His interview with Tom Clarkson on the F1 Beyond The Grid podcast is worth a listen.

 

[Coccxys]

Get funked Reddit Russian money beats woke tears and petitions any time.

 

[LiveFromNS]

Haas will not sack 2021 driver Mazepin​

Haas says it has dealt with the matter of Nikita Mazepin's "abhorrent" video internally and reaffirmed he will race for the team in 2021.

Mazepin, 21, posted a video to his Instagram on Dec. 9 which showed him touching a woman in the back of a car.

The video was promptly deleted ,but captured and circulated on social media. Haas has dealt with the matter behind closed doors and did not publicly reveal what measures had been taken.

Wednesday's statement also rejected any suggestion Mazepin will not race for the team next season.

Russian driver Nikita Mazepin will race alongside Mick Schumacher at Haas next year. Haas F1 team
On the day the video was posted, Haas condemned its new signing.

"Haas F1 Team does not condone the behaviour of Nikita Mazepin in the video recently posted on his social media," it said. "Additionally, the very fact that the video was posted on social media is also abhorrent to Haas F1 Team. The matter is being dealt with internally."

Mazepin, son of Russian billionaire Dmitry Mazepin, has apologised for the contents of the video.
"I would like to apologise for my recent actions in terms of my own inappropriate behaviour and the fact that it was posted onto social media. I am sorry for the offence I have rightly caused and to the embarrassment I have brought to Haas F1 Team.

"I have to hold myself to a higher standard as a Formula 1 driver and I acknowledge I have let myself and many people down. I promise I will learn from this."

Mazepin is set to make his debut in F1 next season for Haas alongside Mick Schumacher, making up an all-rookie lineup for the American team.

 

[Coccxys]

Some Reddit commentators are saying there is a video of him *gasp* saying the N word when bantering with friends. None of them will answer when or where the video is avaliable as proof and people are getting banned for asking so looks like the full listen and believe witch hunt is going.

One guy commented that next year's dts would be entertaining got shouted down with "F1 is not supposed to be entertainment" totally missing the point of sport.

They're in full frothing at the mouth mode, its glorious. I hope he turns up to the first grandprix with a hooker on each arm and then flips everyone the bird during the gay kneeling shit.

 

[RomanesEuntDomus]

They're in full frothing at the mouth mode, its glorious. I hope he turns up to the first grandprix with a hooker on each arm and then flips everyone the bird during the gay kneeling shit.

When Formula 1 ditched the hot chicks at the starting grid, it started going down the shitter. I'd salute Mazepin if he actually revived this custom by giving them some token function so he can have two hot chicks around his car before the start.