Posts by Joshua Newman2

Sure, but the whole thing feels a bit skewed when you consider there were only two of them out there. Without more context, we’re just guessing—was Jaime actually flying, or was Timo just struggling to keep up? If there had been a few more drivers on the track, we might have had a real baseline to work with, rather than this 🤷

Whether those practice sessions were a joke or not, seeing Robert Kubica nail such a strong position in Q1 and Q2 feels like a much-needed balm for the soul. Lap times are shifting drastically, but since the gaps remain relatively consistent, everyone seems to benefit equally as the pace climbs and the track surface gets more aggressive.

Stop dragging your feet on this guy and just give him admin privileges already. He’s got seven posts under his belt without a single violation to his name; it's pretty obvious he isn't some spam bot or a troublemaker. 👍

Michael Lee4, this might just be the race you’ve been praying for—and honestly, I think a lot of us share that sentiment given the forecast: http://www.planet-f1.com/news/18227/...-race-further-

Amanda Kelly said:That’s a pretty solid anti-ad for those Enkei rims.
The whole thing just crumpled from the impact, yet somehow couldn't even manage to puncture the other guy's tire. They really ought to take a look at some Ben Hur or Gladiator era engineering to see how wheels used to be built for actual combat conditions.
I wouldn't dream of putting that junk on my car.

It’s a good thing they weren't using Alex. I was looking at some wheels once, and a well-meaning mechanic told me they were so flimsy that one actually bent just by falling off a truck during unloading.

I’m expecting plenty of beautiful scenery, and hopefully, those same lovely faces will be making frequent appearances on the screen both before and after the race. 😍

Here's hoping for an engaging, high-quality race. To be honest, I stopped pinning my hopes on Ford this season, but hey, if they actually manage to pull something off, it might just be the highlight of my weekend.

I suspect this race will settle the championship standings and narrow the fight down to just two main contenders. Personally, though, I’d much rather see the opposite—a scenario where Button and Hamilton claw their way back into the points hunt alongside the leaders.

I have a real soft spot for Suzuka, and I'm genuinely looking forward to waking up early for this one. 🙏

stormybadger8 said:So it's fine to call me unrealistic, but it's not okay to say you and Pangloss are unrealistic? 🙏

Fine. If that's some universal law of the cosmos, I'll stick to it from now on.👍

Honestly, I'm done. I feel like I might just permanently ban myself at this point. I have zero desire to argue with any of you anymore.😢

Don't get worked up. I'm just saying there's no reason to accuse me of bias here. Sure, regarding the Vettel-Webber incident, I was biased—and perhaps less than objective—simply because I prefer Mark Webber over Sebastian Vettel. But in this instance, we're talking about Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton, and frankly, almost everyone is more likable than Hamilton. There is zero chance I'd take his side unless I truly believe (as I do here) that he isn't at fault. So, while I might be wrong about the collision itself, I am not being biased toward a favorite. If you look at my fan predictions for the tournament, you'll see I have Mark Webber ranked ten spots ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Rebecca Fox4 said:It’s funny how all that "crybaby" talk has suddenly vanished... now that Ferrari has been the best car on the grid for the last two races, suddenly Alonso is the undisputed best driver out there... your objectivity is truly second to none... 😉

God, Kimi Räikkönen...
I grew up rooting for Fernando Alonso during his glory days at Renault, but my loyalty doesn't blind me to reality. I’d tell you the same thing now as I would have years ago: that brilliant driver is an absolute crybaby. Those two traits aren't mutually exclusive. It’s like Nikola Karabatić—just because someone is a master manipulator and a total fake doesn't mean they aren't a world-class athlete. Alonso is simply both.

stormybadger8 said:Quote:>

Keith Rodriguez27 says: So, basically, Hamilton is at fault because Webber is just "crazy" by nature—especially since he's leading the championship right now—and decides to charge head-first into a wall, which means Lewis should have known better and just let him through? 😕 First off, I think we're way too quick to label Webber as some "madman" driver during on-track duels. Second, that logic assumes his behavior is somehow normal (😕) and that every other driver should just adapt to it. In my book, that logic works if we're talking about how much damage Lewis took by letting Webber past, but when we're debating who actually caused the crash? Not a chance. Seriously, at this rate, we might as well just declare him unpredictable and ban him from racing entirely before he actually kills someone on the track. 🤷>

because 😕

I honestly think you guys and even Joshua Newman27 are being insanely unrealistic. What's your problem? Should everyone just brake and wiggle out of the racing line like Jenson Button whenever Hamilton shows up to push someone around? 🙄>

Look at what Hamilton is doing in that clip. He dives into the corner like a maniac, trying to force his way in. What was Webber supposed to do? Just slam on the brakes or swerve off the track? What is wrong with you people? 😕>

I don't get why you're all coming for me. This isn't even a fair argument. 😵>

I'm standing up for Webber here 🤦 ,and it's honestly unbelievable. 🤣>

Did you even bother reading what I wrote above? 😁
Aside from the fact that I’m willing to admit my stance on this specific incident isn't set in stone, the way you're lecturing me about being "unrealistic" is nothing short of tragicomic.

stormybadger8 said:And then suddenly, I'm the one being biased. 😕 ???????????

Alright, here’s the cold, hard truth about that Vettel-Webber mess in Turkey, and honestly, it kills me to even say it.

Sebastian Vettel seriously messed up in Turkey, and it’s going to cost him the title. But look, it wasn't just his fault—he isn't the sole reason for that crash, regardless of who was talking trash. He was barely ahead of Mark Webber, like, almost half a car length ahead, and Webber was shoving him the entire time. Vettel jerked to the side and his rear tire clipped the front of Webber's car. That part? Yeah, that's on him. But honestly, it's not even that massive of an error. Both guys are equally to blame here. The kid didn't exactly have a choice but to turn into the corner; he couldn't just keep going straight or literally stop dead on the track, for God's sake.

Sebastian Vettel’s massive, unforgivable mistake happened away from the track and away from the car. That whole thing where he was waving his hands around and gesturing like Mark Webber had lost his mind? That’s his biggest blunder of the season. It’s costing him more than anything else, and honestly, it’s the one thing I actually hold against him—and I'm pretty sure the entire team does, too.
Between that mistake and the way journalists, parts of his own team, and random people on the forums all jumped him, everyone’s acting like he’s the villain just because of the backlash. It’s like they’re blaming him for the hate he's taking rather than actually looking at how he was driving on track.

Look, regarding that Webber-Hamilton situation, Gil, there’s no debate for me. It's on Hamilton. He was in a spot almost identical to Vettel's, but just watch the footage. Hamilton is the one forcing Webber off the track. He left enough room for a bicycle to squeeze through, maybe, but definitely not a Formula 1 car. There was enough space on the right side for two semi-trucks to pass.🙄 Webber had it in his grasp.
And he just flies right off the track.
B. kočiti is acting like a total idiot.
Just take a normal line through the corner and slam right into Hamilton.

Mark Webber went with option C, and honestly, he made the right call. Webber didn't flinch for a single second—he didn't move an inch toward Lewis Hamilton. It was Hamilton who slammed right into him because he was the one forcing the issue, trying to squeeze Webber off the track. Webber just held his line.☕
Hamilton is totally on himself here. He’s the one who dragged both of them into this mess, so there isn't even a debate. We all know who's at fault, plain and simple. If the roles were reversed and it was Webber, he would have been slapped with a penalty mid-race or right after it finished. The fact that he wasn't tells you everything you need to know about why this happened.☕

Look at you being all "objective" all of a sudden.

Webber was stuck in Hamilton's blind spot, so the poor guy didn't see him coming. Honestly, Hamilton is the one who swerved hard left—and he went all the way. He’s lucky he didn't rip the steering wheel right off.🤣 So he slams into Webber and suddenly it's all Webber's fault in your book? Typical.

Webber was also in the blind spot, Joshua Newman2, exactly the same way. And how can you even be sure Vettel saw him? In this case, Vettel swerves right into Webber—so according to you, it's all Vettel's fault.

Here’s the difference between those two incidents:

Hamilton-Vettel:
1. Hamilton is the one pushing Webber off the track, while Vettel is the one being pushed out.🙏 2. Both hit Webber. The only real difference is one swerves left and the other swerves right, but if that's such a massive distinction to you, then whatever.

Webber:
1. In one instance, he's the guy pushing someone else off; in the other, he's the victim getting shoved wide.
2. In both cases, he just hammers the throttle, holds his line, and refuses to budge an inch.

So basically, in your book, every racing incident has one single culprit: the guy being pushed off. Meanwhile, the stubborn mule doing the pushing won't back down or head to the pub to grab a beer. Shameful.🙏 🤣



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFAAD_ZP1TU

Please, do me a favor and explain exactly how Hamilton isn't at fault while Webber is. I'm dying to know so I can learn how to be just as "super objective" as you.🙏

Look, man, you seem a little worked up. 🤷
Let's take it easy; we don't always have to see eye-to-eye on Formula 1, but on a personal level, there’s plenty of mutual respect here. 🙏

Regarding the Vettel-Webber incident, I honestly didn't see anyone watching the race besides you and Helmut Marko blaming Webber for it. Fine, you eventually softened your stance and started splitting the blame between them both—which is actually quite objective and something most neutral fans would agree with—but if we had to pin the fault on just one driver (if it wasn't a perfect 50-50 split, say 60-40 or something else), I believe most viewers (and from what I read in the aftermath, most experts too) felt more of the blame rested with Vettel. He turned into Webber because he realized the guy wasn't going to budge like Felipe Massa or Jenson Button would.

The fact that he later went off on a tangent, pointing fingers and calling his own teammate a lunatic, wasn't his only mistake that day. Even if he and Webber share the responsibility for the collision, a significant portion still lands on Vettel, but that outburst definitely trashed his reputation. If that's what you meant, I completely agree. Before that, Vettel was seen by the public as this charming, intelligent young talent who got along famously with Bernie (remember that joint interview where they were just praising each other?) and could even win in a Toro Rosso. After that, something snapped, and he developed this image of a spoiled kid throwing a tantrum when someone takes his toy away. Still, he has at least another decade of racing ahead of him; there's plenty of time to win back his old fans and pick up a whole new crowd.

As for this recent incident, it's much less clear to me personally. There wasn't much replay footage available, so I've only watched the whole thing a couple of times (I haven't checked YouTube yet, but I will shortly), but my gut feeling is that Webber was being a stubborn mule who refused to give an inch (much like Vettel in Turkey or Hamilton in Monza). I admit, it's just an impression, as the sequence of events isn't entirely crystal clear to me.

I also recognize the possibility that Webber might not be at fault. 🙏 Especially considering he collided with Hamilton, who, as stormyviper11 correctly pointed out earlier, is building a reputation for dirty driving similar to Schumacher's. 🤷

@Paul Collins13
Tell Joža that Joshua Newman sends his regards and wishes him a speedy return. 👍
And yeah, tell him my mother's advice suggests that writing posts—even indirectly, if they are being dictated to you—could result in a very long ban.

stormybadger8 said:So basically, three out of your five favorites are the same as mine.👍

I don't know, none of this makes sense to me. You've got the McLaren camp—meaning Hamilton—the Ferrari camp, then the Alonso camp (which logically should be the same thing, though I doubt it), plus a lost Seb over at Williams, myself, and obviously Phil and his obsession with MSC. That's pretty much the whole lineup.

But now I really don't get how you guys claim to be neutral.😕

When I defend Vettel during the Webber-Vettel Turkey situation, suddenly Vettel is the undisputed villain and Webber is the hero, and I'm clearly being totally biased.

But when everyone starts squawking about how Webber is an idiot and Hamilton is just some poor collateral damage from crazy Webber, then that's perfectly fine, right?😕

Look, the reason I didn't even argue about it is because it's been obvious for a long time that there's zero point in debating it. Honestly, I just don't have the energy anymore.☕

I honestly don't understand what you're struggling with regarding these descriptions. Mark Webber wasn't at fault when Sebastian Vettel veered into him, yet suddenly he's the one to blame now that Vettel has cut into Lewis Hamilton. The fact that I’m willing to defend a driver in one instance and criticize him in another just shows that I'm prepared—unlike you, perhaps—to look at things with a bit more objectivity.

I have to give Keith Rodriguez27 credit on one point: I actually preferred Vettel until I stumbled upon this forum and ran headfirst into this cult-like worship surrounding him. But if that’s even relevant, it seems like you’ve backed down quite a bit regarding that stance. Lately, I’ve hardly noticed it at all during the races. 😁

Amanda Kelly said:Fantastic. 🙏

I’d probably agree with Pat too, if I wasn't quoting him so much lately.

It’s curious how you ended up agreeing too. 😁

Personally, until a few races ago, I was convinced Lewis Hamilton was the one who truly earned his title claim this year through sheer performance. But first, there was that collision with Felipe Massa—which was entirely his fault—and now this incident with Mark Webber. I'm still not entirely clear on that last one, though it seems to me Webber might have been the one at fault. On the flip side, Fernando Alonso has managed to transform that lackluster start to the season into the kind of flawless driving precision we used to see during those prime Renault Day periods.
As for Jenson Button, he’s actually the only driver left in the championship fight who hasn't suffered a single DNF due to his own mistakes this season. Unfortunately, as stormyviper11 pointed out, despite those two brilliant wins, he hasn't exactly set the world on fire with his raw pace lately.

stormyviper11 said:Fernando Alonso is absolutely on fire right now. He’s finally got his team dialed in and his head straight, and honestly, anything short of him taking the title would be a massive shock. No matter how much people try to twist the math, he’s been the most consistent driver out there over the last five or six seasons. It's just crazy how a mix of weird luck and that classic "Schumacher-style" attitude toward team management caused him to blow his chance at chasing down those legendary records... First, he ran into a wall with McLaren where it was impossible to win, then he shook up the paddock's trust so much that he ended up stuck in a mid-field team for two years. But now that they've moved past the tuning phase? Man, it's not even a stretch to think we could see a streak of titles and pure dominance until the next big rule change hits.

I wouldn't feel too bad if Mark Webber snatched the title, though. It would basically just be the next logical step in this downward spiral of world champion quality: Michael Schumacher - Fernando Alonso - Kimi Raikkonen - Lewis Hamilton - Jenson Button - Mark Webber. They should all just get together and head off to see the Wizard of Oz.
Michael Schumacher could ask for some basic decency and actual fair play.
Fernando Alonso could ask for some respect for his own crew and the rest of the world, for crying out loud.
Kimi Raikkonen could ask for some work ethic and a reason to actually care.
Lewis Hamilton could ask for some air conditioning to cool his head down.
Jenson Button could ask for a heart and maybe a little bit of pace.
Mark Webber could ask for a DNA transplant to move some grit from his ego into the rest of his body.

Vettel isn't quite there yet, and Lewis Hamilton is still maturing, even if Lewis managed to stumble into that one title. I still think age and experience are going to carry the day here. I expect both of them to crack under pressure eventually, and I'm just waiting for Webber to finally screw up because of some stupid mess he started or got caught up in. So, it really comes down to Alonso and Button—the only two guys I actually trust to do their jobs professionally without making massive mistakes. And let's be real, Alonso is faster, has the better car, and more points...

Brilliant! 🙏

That was a hell of a race! 🙏

Fernando Alonso made a brilliant move back into the championship hunt. 🙏
Even Vettel, despite his collision, wasn't playing second fiddle today. 🙏
I found myself enjoying Mark Webber's pace during the first half, while Robert Kubica really held his own in the latter part. 🙏

Tough break for Lewis Hamilton. Look, I’m not exactly his biggest supporter, but he got caught out by bad luck this time through no fault of his own. 😢

The choice is logical; Mom needs to make the call. ☕

That’s exactly what I was getting at. Honestly, I have no idea where things went off the rails...

I wouldn't call this journalism. You can't just hype up the "nationally approved" drivers; publishing pieces like this ends up dragging the entire site's reputation through the mud. I'll admit, I was caught a bit off guard myself. After seeing how Vettel acted following that collision in Turkey, I was so gripped by disappointment that I started forgetting he’s actually a top-tier driver. Losing his cool like that certainly won't help his reputation in my book, but there's no denying he's a first-class talent. 🙏

As for your take on Lewis Hamilton... Look, I find him unlikable too (as most people do), but the guy is having an incredible season. The fact that he’s been one of the strongest title contenders despite starting out in a much slower car than Vettel or Mark Webber speaks volumes. We'll see if the cards flip at Monza, but right now, it looks like he might actually walk away with a pretty dominant championship win.

Here is an interesting perspective that actually aligns quite closely with what Vettel was thinking: http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_feature_item.php

I’m not so sure about that...
Anyone trying to comfort themselves by claiming that Button and Sebastian Vettel still have a fighting chance usually points to the fact that the scoring system changed this year, leaving 150 points on the table while they trail by only about 30. But let’s be realistic: for them to actually become title contenders again, they don't just need luck—they need a massive turnaround. The math simply doesn't add up; they haven't even managed to scrape together 150 points over the first 13 races, yet they're banking on the availability of those same 150 points in the final six as their primary argument for viability. 🤷

It’s been refreshing to watch a NASCAR season where five drivers are essentially neck-and-neck for the championship. Up until Spa-Francorchamps, they were practically inseparable, and while three have slipped slightly behind, they’re still very much in the hunt. I’m hoping we get the most gripping finish in history. But look at the landscape: Lewis Hamilton is fast, arguably faster than his teammate, though he makes the occasional lapse. Mark Webber is quick and remarkably consistent. Fernando Alonso has the speed and enjoys priority within the team, but by his own high standards, he’s being uncharacteristically error-prone. Button isn't exactly the fastest on the grid and tends to lag behind his teammate, yet his precision is nearly flawless. Then there's Sebastian Vettel, who possesses raw speed but hasn't proven he can outpace his teammate, all while struggling with consistency this season.

If we want to see a shake-up, Alonso just needs to tighten up his execution (or, if I may say so, if the Ferrari fans don't mind: catch a bit of a break), especially since his teammate isn't standing in his way. Button’s only path to a reversal depends on something happening to Hamilton—like a sudden string of mistakes—because until he overtakes him, he can't bridge the gap to the rest of the field, and right now, Hamilton is the quicker driver. As for Sebastian Vettel, much like Button, he has to find a way to leapfrog Mark Webber, but he also has to stop making mistakes. So, looking at our three trailing candidates, Sebastian Vettel is the only one facing a double hurdle. Button needs to find more pace, Alonso needs to be more precise, but Vettel needs to do both. His one advantage is having the fastest car on the track; unlike Alonso, if he pulls himself together, he has the tools to drive himself to a title. Still, he's had that superior machinery since the season started and he's *still* trailing, which only reinforces my point: he needs a total upheaval to remain a legitimate threat.

I’m genuinely looking forward to Monza. I really hope at least one of these three manages to close the gap there. If we see a repeat of what happened at Spa-Francorchamps, anyone who stays fast but loses ground will find themselves effectively out of the championship race before the season even ends.

This definitely isn't the right thread for this, but urbanowl96, since you brought up those old-school F1 days: was it actually possible back then to swap drivers mid-race? And if it was, who ended up walking away with the points?

Jack Kelly5, comparing this situation to a group of unfaithful partners is a pretty convincing analogy, and I have to hand it to you—I agree with that point. 🙏

But look at it this way: I’ve always had a soft spot for Button. He reminds me of Prost, and I really respect how he carries himself with such class, proving that raw aggression and sheer speed aren't the only ways to win. Now, the big question: Is he actually Hamilton's wingman? A lot of people swear he is, but personally, I don't buy it. I don't think anyone at McLaren ever sat him down and said, "Look, once you catch up to Hamilton, you need to step aside because we're banking on him for the title, while you're just here to play team player—even if your mathematical odds of winning the championship are just as slim." If I knew for a fact, if it were proven, that Button was intentionally playing the supporting role at the expense of his own shot at the title, I’d be the first one to write him off as a true athlete and driver.