Posts by stormybadger8

Dammit, LdM is actually claiming Bianchi should’ve been behind the wheel of a Ferrari back in 2015...
I mean, seriously, what kind of curse is following anyone trying to land a seat with that team? First it was Kubica, and now it’s Bianchi. 😢

But honestly, what really bugs me about that footage is that damn loader and that hunk of metal sitting there meant for towing or whatever hellish purpose it serves...

I'm worried he hit his head—or rather, his helmet—right against that chunk of iron. 😢
You can even see it in the photo; something definitely slammed into the floor pan because the paint is clearly scraped off right there. 😢

Jason Campbell70 said:If this holds water, Bianchi was hitting 125 mph at takeoff.
You don't go that fast under those conditions, especially after being waved down by double yellow flags.

If that’s true, then Bianchi was actually being plenty cautious and definitely slowed down, since he was way slower than his teammate...
Bianchi - 125

Chilton (in the same car) - 153 😳


So people can talk all they want, but a 27 miles/h difference is definitely enough of a slowdown due to the flags!

silentbadger17 said:What if the Bear just nailed everything on day one and started crushing everyone with a car that’s 1 to 3 seconds faster per lap depending on the track???
Anything's possible.
Sure, everyone will have a year's head start over the Honda engine in racing, but you never know...
McLaren often had the fastest car, but reliability was always their Achilles' heel,,, 🍿

Every single team has a massive advantage over Honda—even if it's just stuff like brake-by-wire, fuel, KERS charging, and all that.
The Bear didn't just wake up one morning and suddenly become this good. It wasn't like they just headed to Australia and boom, there we go.😁
They got there mostly because of pre-season testing with four different teams where cars actually stayed running most of the time.
And don't forget, Williams didn't break down once during testing (basically, they just blew the engine on the last day after putting in a ton of miles...).
Honda is already at a huge disadvantage there because they only have McLaren. If everything goes perfectly, they're doing four times fewer miles than the Bear.😉

Not to mention that Renault, Ferrari, and Mercedes can fix all the screw-ups they found this season before next year starts.
Honda won't have that luxury since current rules drastically limit how much you can change between the 2015 and 2016 seasons...
Unless maybe Ferrari manages to push through an idea to allow engine development during the season—that could actually help them out.😉

George Anderson5 said:This is horrific. The driver just bounced everywhere. If he pulls through this, major props to him.
Really hoping he’s got the strength to fight it.
And honestly, that video tells you everything. You've got a marshal waving a green flag like a lunatic when they shouldn't be.

Look, that flag doesn't even matter in the end.
It looks like it was meant for the track section behind that turn... the real issue is what the official was doing at the previous position. 😉
Beyond that, we have to wonder if everything was working right in Bianchi's car—specifically if he had any yellow flag alerts on his steering wheel. Usually, drivers get a yellow light on the dash when there's a flag situation on track.

Jacob White49 said:Video

http://esporte.uol.com.br/f1/ultimas...-de-suzuka.htm

Goddammit...
Good grief, that loader had to be carrying at least two or three tons in the back, yet Digel picked it up like it was nothing. 😱
Man, that was some insane speed. What a horrific wreck. 😢

silentbadger17 said:IMO
Lewis Hamilton is praying he doesn't end up like Furkan regarding his "God" status. He’s probably got maybe two, maybe three years left before that whole thing is over.
Is McLaren actually a good move (if they even take him)? Who knows. Still, it beats Ferrari.
I bet Honda builds a powerhouse engine, but reliability and how it fits these cars is the big question. From what I hear, they aren't allowed to test it on this year's chassis. ☕
At least he'll know he tried.

There is no way McLaren is better than Ferraria.
McLaren isn't even close to being better than Ferraria right now, let alone later. And we all know McLaren has the best engine on the grid.

So, if Ferrari fixes their engine and bumps up the aero just a bit, they're right back at the top...
McLaren is clearly a mess—chassis, aero, everything. Plus, starting next season, the engine is a complete wildcard that they'll still be struggling to figure out...
Bottom line: McLaren isn't even on Red Bull's level in Jerez... so realistically, even with fifteen Lewis Hamiltons, they don't have a shot in the next year or two unless Honda builds a beast that absolutely crushes everyone else...

gentlecobra23 said:What can he get in WEC that he can't get in F1? Sure, there isn't a seat right now, but F1 pays way more. Since he already lost his spot at Ferrari, taking a gamble on McLaren makes sense. It’s not like McLaren won't be decent.
The new engine is a bit of a wild card, but having Honda behind them will definitely mean better support than what they're getting from Mec currently. Plus, McLaren has actually started hiring some solid people lately, so things should start looking up.

The real question is how much they even need Fernando Alonso.🤷
He’s not exactly in his prime anymore, and if they don't sign him, it's not like anyone else matters for competition anyway...
So, the competition isn't exactly top-tier, but if they take him, they lose any chance of getting Lewis Hamilton back if something goes south at Mec.
The reality is, if Dennis doesn't sign Fernando Alonso, then Fernando might just head for retirement—or a long break that's hard to come back from—in WEC or whatever...

As for Dennis, he's left with Button and Magnussen for a year. If Honda actually turns out to be elite and the car is incredible, he's going to have plenty of problems picking a driver...
Because then you'll have Bottas, Ricciardo, Hamilton, and a whole bunch of other young stars knocking on his door...

steelmaker83 said:but like Lewis Hamilton said, all this surface-level stuff you kids are looking at... it's total bullshit

Regarding the choice, nobody has a crystal ball, not even Lewis Hamilton. Like any business move or decision, this one carries the risk of picking the wrong guy... which is just how things work.

The real mess is happening behind the scenes...
Matthews played a masterstroke in the background😉

He managed to get Lewis Hamilton's contract signed such that he killed two massive flies with one swing...
1. No payout for Lewis Hamilton.
2. And more importantly, no payout for Santander, and they'll probably still have to keep the sponsorship going...

And Lewis Hamilton really screwed himself here...
Because there's a huge question whether he can actually land a decent seat without waiting years for a car that might actually be fast. Even bigger question: does he still have Santander's backing and their cash coming with him?
Ferrari might have even considered asking Rosberg or Lewis Hamilton if they could snag Lewis Hamilton's pile of Santander money, but they'll likely just stick with a younger Hamilton for basically the same price...

vividlynx68 said:I can't believe people are actually falling for this. It’s the same old story, just with different actors. They try to spin the narrative, act like everything is under control, and then reality hits them right in the face. Honestly, watching this unfold is like watching a slow-motion car crash on the interstate—you know exactly how it ends, but you can't look away because the sheer absurdity of it is too good to miss. Typical.

Schmidt is out here speculating that this might all be part of some shady Denisov plot to run Hamilton into the ground and settle the score for 2007. He says anyone who actually knows the guy knows he hasn't forgotten. 🍿

That's nothing new...

stormybadger8 said:Ted dropped a joke today that was absolutely mental—totally insane, yet somehow impossible to call fake.

Veli says Dennis wants to screw over Lewis Hamilton just to settle the score for all that nonsense back in 2007.😂
He’s basically promising him a seat just to get him out of Ferrari. Then, once everyone else is locked in and the grid is full, they'll just screw him over and sign Magnussen and Button instead. Typical. 🤣

As crazy as it sounds, it would be hilarious if Dennis pulled something like that off. It would be the ultimate troll move. 🙏🤣🤣🤣

Ted mentioned it on Sky, and honestly, looking at how things are playing out, it doesn't sound all that crazy...
And we all know the Sky Sports reporters are basically getting their inside info straight from the McLaren garage.

steelmaker83 said:The fact that Lauda said it just adds fuel to the fire. It’s not like Lauda is an idiot who’d go public with vague, unconfirmed rumors—especially right in the middle of a title fight between the current top two drivers. Plus, Lauda represents Mercedes, a company that gives a massive damn about its image and public perception.

But like Alonso said, what you kids see on the surface... that's total bullshit.

As for the driver choices, nobody has a crystal ball, not even Alonso. Every business move and decision carries the risk of picking the wrong person... that's just how the world works.

Have you actually listened to or watched Lauda, or are you just making stuff up?
There's no way he was bluffing when he implied they don't need Alonso because their current lineup can easily snatch the title...
He basically said they definitely don't need drama in the garage... and that their number one priority is locking Hamilton down for as many years as possible.

All Alonso did was say what he had to say. He's essentially bluffing to give himself some leverage in negotiations with McLaren.
Honestly, this whole mess happened because Red Bull's PR team played a masterstroke.
1. They screwed over Vettel and Ferrari by announcing things before them; I mean, it's borderline hilarious that Horner is the one announcing Ferrari's lineup...
2. They screwed over Alonso and everyone else by announcing Kvyat at the exact same second.
3. They handed McLaren the perfect hand for negotiating with Alonso...

It's not even impossible that this is all part of a deal between Horner-Denis.😉
Remember those legal tug-of-wars regarding engineers moving from Red Bull to McLaren and then back again? Back then, McLaren was going to sue Red Bull for blocking them, only for everyone to suddenly claim they reached an agreement—even if it wasn't a great one.😁
This could very well be exactly that.

Christian Harris11 said:TBF, I’m with you. This only makes sense if there’s some solid intel or actual hope regarding Honda... or if things go south at Mercedes (which is easy enough, especially if Rosberg snatches the title). Plus, it obviously places a massive amount of pressure on Ferrari, which hurts the team because everything starts revolving around one guy. On the flip side, Ferrari landed Vettel—he's much younger, he’ll be around longer, and it’s smarter to build around him than someone who's basically just waiting for their patience to run out.

The worst part is that everyone is gambling big. Alonso is taking a huge risk moving to McLaren, which is currently a total mess and a complete wildcard for next year. Then you've got Vettel jumping into a clearly struggling Ferrari where there's zero guarantee they'll actually improve. Meanwhile, Mercedes has a car that's barely holding together between drivers, and the whole thing could blow up at any second.

Either way, next year is going to be a ride. Mercedes will probably come out on top regardless of how this plays out; they have at least a slight edge in the car and the drivers, so they'll keep their momentum and grab the title with whoever they can.

Look, Vettel isn't actually taking that much of a gamble.
If anything, Ferrari is already hovering around Red Bull's level, and it's unlikely they'll screw up the engine again, whereas Renault is looking pretty shaky. 😉
On the other hand, Red Bull is definitely going to struggle with aero once Newey leaves, while Ferrari can only gain by finally getting a proper car from Alison.
So, it wouldn't be a shock if Ferrari is ahead of Red Bull by 2015, and by 2016? Almost a sure thing...
Not to mention, the Ferrari brand carries way more weight in racing than Red Bull does, and let's be real—Vettel definitely felt those boos after his win at Indianapolis...
He can claim he doesn't care all he wants, but it definitely gets under his skin.

Then there's Alonso, who clearly overplayed his hand. It didn't even cross his mind that he doesn't actually need anyone serious besides McLaren.
In reality, he had zero shot at Red Bull, and honestly, he hasn't got a prayer at Mercedes unless Hamilton leaves.
Because the real question is: which kid is Mercedes going to pick if they have Hamilton? 🤷
Good grief, they could pick literally anyone on the grid and that person would be good enough in that car to rack up points for the constructors' title. Actually, it might be smarter to grab someone like Mass, who'll just grind out points without causing drama, rather than someone like Alonso who'll make their lives a nightmare and test their nerves way more than Rosberg ever would.
And honestly, with a German engine and car that strong, Mercedes doesn't even need Hamilton. They could easily cruise to a title with Rosberg and Hulk, which might even be the smoother move given they're a German outfit. 😉

steelmaker83 said:Exactly. He walked away because he knew where things were heading. Sure, he had to sit out for two years, but he knew he could ditch them, and he did.

Now Lewis Hamilton is singing the same tune—that he’s the one who snubbed Ferrari, that he’s got a master plan, everything is lined up, and now we just wait to see who comes out on top.

Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if Lewis Hamilton already has something cooking with Mercedes...

So the "plan" involves sitting out for a year or two, or maybe crawling back to Detroit...
And let's hope this grand strategy doesn't involve Flavio giving orders to drive straight into a wall—only this time it's Grosjean or Maldonado (which, let's be real, wouldn't even look suspicious coming from those two 🤣)

All things considered, his "plan" looks pretty shaky, especially since Lauda said they don't want Lewis Hamilton and haven't even considered it...
Besides, a seat in Germany might only open up if Rosberg takes the title, and even then, who knows if that actually happens...
If Hamilton takes the title, Rosberg will probably stay put anyway, mostly because he doesn't exactly have a long list of options...

But here's the kicker: Lewis is the guy who's always late to the party. He consistently joins teams right when they start their downward spiral.😉
He joined Ferrari too late and walked away with basically nothing. The same thing could happen with Mercedes; they could easily start sliding downhill around 2016 or 2017, right when he finally lands a seat there.

steelmaker83 said:Oh sure, Lewis Hamilton is just some green kid who’d totally lose his cool and leave 50 million on the table if he could... right...

How much severance did Lewis Hamilton actually get when he left General Motors back in late 2007?
As far as I recall, he didn't get a single cent. So yeah, we know he's more than capable of getting baited and acting out... we've seen it happen before.😉

I'm really hoping Bianchi pulls through this one 🙂

Drew Bennett68 said:Andrea de Cesaris died.

RIP 😢

neonfalcon16 said:After everything that just went down, I seriously doubt anyone would be crazy enough to drive in those conditions on purpose. Either the marketing hype or the paycheck matters more than actual human lives. 🙄

By that logic, we should’ve banned Maldonad, Grosjean, and Perez ages ago.
It wasn't even about the weather in Spa—it was just plain old bad driving. Grosjean messed up so badly that if he’d been off by just a few inches, the consequences would have been massive regardless of the track conditions...

Terry Carter2 said:Honestly, looking at that wreckage, it looks more like a neck injury than anything else!

Yeah, I’m thinking the same thing given how wrecked that car ended up.
The real question is what happened to his neck, but they probably have bigger fish to fry right now.

That last photo actually gives me some hope 👍
Maybe everything's gonna be just fine after all 🙂

Chris Robinson25 said:I’m just hoping we get some actual facts soon. It feels like it’s been way too long... I can only hope it isn't the worst-case scenario.

Honestly, with all this silence, I’ve been bracing for the absolute worst...
So even hearing that he's in surgery is a relief in its own way (as much as that makes sense). At least there's still a glimmer of hope that things turn out okay.🙂

Emily Patel64 said:@ tibi, Matt Massa was driving through hell (😬). He didn't scream like everyone claims, and some random person complaining about the rain clearly missed how he could sense things were going south
My point is, we should've listened to him

I guess we'll find out who's actually at fault eventually
They both slid out at the exact same spot, anyway

Look, it’s easy to play general after the war is over...
Besides, Matt Massa always starts yelling whenever it rains—nothing new there 😉

The real issue is with CW and the fact that Ferrari didn't get out on track right after Sutil's spin, not the damn rain...

Emily Patel64 said:Matt Massa was totally out of it. It's like his antenna picked up some garbage signal; he really should have listened.

I'm listening to BBC now and they're talking about "pools of water" instead of just puddles... basically where everyone ended up spinning out.
We can't even tell how much of a mess they were actually in.

It’s not the tires or the rain. A ton of drivers were on intermediates and driving just fine.
The real issue is these ridiculous cars and their brake-by-wire systems, plus the KERS charging and all those electronic gimmicks that drivers can't actually control properly...

I mean, look at Caterham, Marussia, and Sauber—they're constantly spinning out on dry tracks because their rear ends just snap loose without warning...
Good grief, even Ericson spun out during the SC today on wet tires while barely going any fast...
And this was the first decent run in the rain with these new cars... if they were hard to drive in the wet before, they're even worse now.😉