Posts by rustystag7

Arthur Doyle70 said:For real though, not many people could actually give them a run for their money in this race, but you can never tell for sure🤷 . McM is breathing down their necks, and then you've got BMW right there too... things are gonna get even crazier in a week or so

I'm on the same page. I think Fernando Alonso is gonna step it up and maybe even fight for some wins since they look pretty solid out on the track🙏...

I don't really get why everyone is obsessing over all these rumors about Alonso moving🤷

Personally, I'd say there's a 95% chance he sticks around with Renault, and that tiny 5% is just the slim possibility he heads somewhere else🤷

It feels like he knows exactly what he’s accomplished and wants to build something real with Renault. If his only goal was just to jump into a fast car, he probably would've done that already this year🤷

Austin Evans said:And then there’s Kimi’s little closing statement: "We could have been faster, but why bother? There wasn't any chance anyone was gonna catch us or pull anything unexpected." 😂

Man, I just love it when they act all high and mighty like that 🙄

It's like how Mercedes totally choked out after Monaco last year, and look where that landed them 🙄

I can't stand the arrogance from any of these teams, honestly. Just shut up and drive, because you never know how fast the tables can turn 🙏

Man, that race was a total snooze fest. Honestly, I’m all for cutting races this boring from the schedule entirely 🤷

The only one I’d actually fight to keep just because of the history is Monaco. Everything else? Toss it out. If they want a modern calendar with tracks that actually allow for overtaking, then fine, let's go...

It’s honestly depressing that you have to be like two full seconds faster per lap just to even think about passing someone at the Spanish Grand Prix...

The Ferrari cars were looking solid, really great actually👍

Kimi Räikkönen was definitely quicker than Massa, gotta give him credit there. I can't quite recall exactly how Massa started, and I keep thinking he might have actually had the edge over Kimi if he hadn't played it a bit too safe, but who knows...

Heikki Kovalainen barely escaped that mess in one piece 😢
For a split second, I genuinely thought he was a goner. It didn't look remotely safe. Being stuck under the tires for a good minute like that is heavy, and man, hitting those barriers like that? In my opinion, you could snap your neck before you even realize what happened👎

Total bummer for Coltard-Sato having contact again, and Vettel just seems to have zero luck lately😁

redheron12 said:It’s all just noise, honestly. I mean, sure, people love to debate it, but if you just add two titles to Senna and take two away from Schumacher, suddenly the math changes... but even then, it's not like we're talking about some crazy fantasy scenario, right?

The real kicker is how Schumacher's whole career path would've shifted. Once Senna was out of the picture, it basically cleared the way for him—not just on the track, but with the fans, the big sponsors, all that stuff too.....

you're spot on there 👍

redheron12 said:So, based on my own mental math regarding championships, Schumacher didn't actually win a single title ☕

And here's the thing. If Senna had lived......

shbbkbb 🙄

alright fine, I'm not gonna get sucked into an argument, shbbkbb, but everyone acts like Senna died when he was just 20, like there was this massive mountain of potential still ahead of him...

I mean, look, 34 isn't old, obviously, but you're getting into that territory where you're winding down, maybe got 3 or 4 seasons left in the tank at most 🤷

don't get me wrong, the guy's an absolute driving legend, I'm not trying to downplay that at all

Edward Howard2 said:I'm not even leaning on some random theories here, just going strictly off what I remember and looking at the actual numbers...
since you brought up Alonso, look—that guy won a title with Renault just three years after joining them, and they were basically a totally fresh squad in F1 at the time.
And if we're playing the "what if" game, think about Schumacher at Ferrari last year; he wouldn't have even been in the same zip code as Alonso at McLaren if they both had been the number one drivers in their respective teams. McLaren was pretty much dominating most of the season just so Schumacher could actually play a meaningful role.

I mean, I get where you're coming from with what you wrote, but we all know how things went down with Alonso and Hamilton, and honestly, I don't think Schumacher would've changed a thing there either...

And yeah, Mercedes was dominant, sure, but I see the opening in Kimi's lack of interest at the start of the season. We all know how Schumacher is—he’s out there testing whenever everyone else is taking their annual break, tinkering with the car. Meanwhile, Kimi straight-up admitted he can't really tell what works for him and isn't some testing expert.🤷
Plus, let's not forget how Massa and Kimi completely blew it with tactics last season, which is exactly how Schumacher kept walking away with wins.👍

As for Alonso, being a huge Schumacher fan, his title win didn't sit right with me, but hey, massive respect for everything he's pulled off so far.🙏

But man, I still just can't wrap my head around the idea that Barrichello and Irvin were total scrubs. That's just how it is.😁

In my book, Barrichello really didn't get a fair shake, but Irvin? Yeah, he was a total washout.🤷

Edward Howard2 said:it took them five years after he joined Ferrari to actually grab the title, so honestly, it's been way too long since he arrived to say it was all just down to him

yeah, but look—as soon as he left, they snagged the championship just two years after being at their best, and I really think they're on track to pull it off again this year

man, you really picked a hell of an example there...
I mean, Irvin had those four solo wins in his career during that specific season when Schumacher wasn't even driving the whole thing. If he’d been running neck-and-neck with Schumi from the jump, he probably would've been champion, considering he finished only like 2 or 3 points behind Hakkinen at the end
and about the "rest" of that season? We're talking about like two races where Schumi ended up one spot ahead of Irvin.
Irvin drove a great season, and if there's any "what if," it's just: what if Schumi hadn't broken his leg earlier in the year? 😂

look, you're basing all of this on theories that just don't hold water...

And that "five years" thing? Not realistic. Ferrari was basically a total wreck back then, and Schumi was doing so much heavy lifting at McLaren, he was pretty much the only bright spot in the whole operation. It kind of reminds me of how Alonso is dealing with Renault this year....

plus, you know damn well Schumi cruised through last season to take the title easily...

hard to say what might've happened in a vacuum, but looking at how unmotivated Kimi seemed in those first few races, he definitely would've grabbed some wins🤷

last season, Kimi didn't win just because of luck, but more like—how do I put this?—he relied way too heavily on Massa to get it done

just think back to how Ferrari started out... I mean, I'm rooting for the team, but man, instead of pushing forward, Massa is just sitting there blocking Hamilton from the lead😉

and regarding Irvin, sure, maybe Cojo was in that bad spot for six races, fine. But he had the rest of the season left! (Remember, race 7 was when Schumi broke his leg fighting Irvin, so in a replay, he'd be second)... yeah, okay, it boiled down to the last two races, but Schumi was basically driving for him during those two🤷

but Hakkinen still shut him down. It's not like he didn't have the chance to show what he could do

darkmarlin16 said:when you just don't get it

basically "my dad is tougher than yours so shut up" 🙄

but honestly, that’s got zero to do with what we're actually talking about :ne_zna:

darkmarlin16 said:you gotta spell the driver's full name right first, besides Eddie was pretty much right there at the front

yeah he was leading but he didn't actually take the win 🤷
so yeah, I guess I'll just "forget" how to spell the guy's name properly then 🙏

Edward Howard2 said:I’m not even being dramatic here...
most of those titles—specifically the ones in '95, '01, '02, and '04—came because he was driving a beast of a car with zero competition. Back at Benetton, his teammates were guys like Verstappen and Herbert, who honestly weren't exactly top-tier rivals. Then once he moved to Ferrari, he was the undisputed number one from day one, so his teammates didn't even get a fair shake to show what they had in the tank.

Hold up a second, people, what are you even talking about? He joined Ferrari right when they were struggling big time, a team that hadn't touched a championship in like 20 years...

Look, maybe he had a killer car at Benetton, but I bet he had a hand in that too. Everyone talks about how much he knows his way around the mechanics; he knew exactly how to tweak things to fit his style. Having the fastest car doesn't automatically guarantee you the trophy back then...

But everything since he arrived at Ferrari? That’s all him. I don't think there's any point in trying to downplay those championships...

If any driver from today's lineup managed to drag their team to the top like that, we'd be tipping our hats to them. Honestly, looking at how much things fell apart after Schumacher left Ferrari, you can really see the massive hole he left behind...

And as for his teammates? I mean, Irvine actually showed he was legit when Schumacher broke his leg. As far as I remember, for the rest of that season, Schumacher basically played the role of the supporting driver, making all those comments about how he'd help out however he could.🤷

Arthur Doyle70 said:Look, I’ve never been his biggest fan—not even a little bit—and yeah, he definitely had some perks handed to him, but I think you're being a bit harsh about how many titles he actually earned.

Man, just let it go. Honestly, who you like or don't like doesn't really change the facts. The guy built that whole legacy himself. It’s like if Alonso went out and snagged five championships driving for Renault right now; everyone would be pointing at him saying he did it all on his own merit.🤷

But hey, apparently every single win by Senna is somehow more legendary than anything he ever did🙄, and every random third-place finish from a Jordan driver is supposedly better than their entire damn careers, right?🙄

Gregory Phillips24 said:Man, you’re out here acting like some massive Formula 1 expert or whatever, but honestly? Making a mistake like that on this board is just totally unacceptable.

Man, just swap out Indianapolis and Daytona. That's all you gotta do.

Look, my personal life? That’s my business. Period. I'm not really looking to broadcast everything I do behind closed doors like some reality TV star. It’s just one of those things where I prefer keeping my private affairs strictly between me and myself.☕

And when did I ever say I was some kind of expert or anything? Seriously, where is this coming from?
And who’s actually gonna stop me from posting here if I start mixing those two tracks together? Honestly. 🙄

Look, if the issue is just that the mod wants actual discussion happening on the forum instead of people just spamming the feed—you know, keeping things organized and actually having a conversation—then honestly, I’m totally fine being labeled a "know-it-all" by him. If wanting some order in the chaos makes me the bad guy, then so be it. I'll take the title.

Look, I get it. I really do. When the new guys join the crew, they haven't quite caught the vibe yet—they're still figuring out how things work around here. It’s like when you first start at a place like Starbucks or a local diner; everyone's just trying to find their footing. And yeah, we all tend to go in guns blazing, pushing our own specific way of doing things on everyone else. It's just part of the learning curve. But man, I honestly don't get why you're being so hard on him. You're totally tearing him apart, and I just don't see the point.

Look, I already said I came here to actually talk sense and have a real discussion, not to sit around playing "my dad is tougher than your dad" like some middle schooler. But man, you just can't help yourself, can you? You always gotta jump in and ruin the vibe with that constant negativity. 🤷

I mean, I’m just asking, you know? Like, what’s actually the issue here? What's the deal?

Am I just not such a huge fan compared to you or something? Like, am I not allowed to even join this conversation because I don't go as hard as you do?🤷

Gregory Phillips24 said:daytona?

wow, look at you, a regular Formula 1 expert right here🙏🙏🙏🙏

And that was, what, three years ago?

I wonder how many other people are gonna claim they're huge fans of everything Michael Schumacher ever did just to sound cool.

Total Ferrari fanboy😂

man, just drop the Pilatus thing already, okay? Indianapolis is the place. It’s kind of wild how you can get so worked up over some tiny mistake, man...

honestly, do you even have a life or something? 🤷

Bradley Nelson2 said:man, man, man, you are such a headache 😁
if you can't see how much Ricciardo's driving style mirrors Alonso's, then I don't even know what to tell you 🤷
and look, I'm not saying Ricciardo is better than Alonso—not yet, anyway. He’s got the potential to catch up or even blow past him, but hey, time will tell.
The whole point I was making is that I don't see any reason why anyone shouldn't be allowed to compare two Formula 1 drivers.

but seriously, if the issue is that I actually like debating using logic instead of just pulling the "my dad is stronger than your dad" card, then yeah, I guess I'm the problem here. 🙏

Anyway, I'm pretty much on board with everything you said...

But you totally caught me right after that back-and-forth with Jason Campbell70 about whether Hamilton and Ricciardo are better than Alonso...

I mean, okay, Hamilton has definitely shown some stuff. Even if he isn't strictly "better," he's clearly right there in the mix, but it's hard to call it when we haven't seen them going head-to-head without all the political drama getting in the way. 🤷 And Ricciardo is a great kid, maybe one day he'll be top tier, but right now? Not quite. 🤷

Basically, this whole thing started because I said Alonso is the best driver on the track right now... let me explain my reasoning since we've been going in circles on this for a while...

In my eyes, his technical understanding of the car is better than anyone else's. Even the pros say it—he just gets the mechanics of the machine better than most.

And I can't just brush off those insane drives from Canada. Sure, people point to the tires as an excuse, but man, that defensive driving at Monza where he was holding off half of Schumacher's pace while driving a car that was basically a second slower per lap? Total respect for that. 👍

Don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily a fan of Alonso personally, but he's done things that make me respect him deeply. That's why I think he's the best and most complete driver out there right now. 🤷

Bradley Nelson2 said:Honestly, I mean, seriously... how do they even have the nerve? 🙄

Look, if you’ve actually got something smart to say, then lay out an argument or something. I'm all ears. But if you’re just gonna drop mindless nonsense or quote stuff just for the sake of hearing yourself talk? Honestly, just skip me. Or better yet, just hit that ignore button and move on. It's not that deep. 🤷

Look, if you're actually gonna jump into this debate, you might as well lay out the case for why Kubica could've been better than Alonso. It’s a wild thought, I know, but hear me out. 🤷

I mean, honestly... comparing some rookie driver who's still finding his footing to a two-time world champ? It just doesn't make any sense. Like, there's zero logic there.

Look, let's try to compare things based on what we actually saw back when Alonso was still finding his footing. I mean, we're talking about a driver who was already dropping hints that he had the potential to evolve into a complete, world-class powerhouse—you know how it goes. But honestly? Trying to measure anyone else against the actual qualities of an Alonso... there's just no way. It doesn't make any sense. No logic to it at all. 🤷

Roger Williams3 said:How can you be so sure that going with Alonso isn't gonna pay off in the end?

If I remember right, making that jump over to Renault really paid off big time for him last time.

Honestly, there's no point even getting into an argument about this. Most people have been looking at the drivers through such a narrow lens over the last few races that they've completely lost the bigger picture.

Man, I swear, at the start of last season I couldn't believe how much people were dragging Kimi, acting like he was just some disinterested driver who didn't give a damn. Everyone had their little complaints, saying he wasn't invested or whatever. But look at him today... he’s basically a god.

I mean, honestly? Alonso got incredibly lucky. And when you look at Kimi... let's just say Massa basically handed him that title on a silver platter. It was all right there for him.🤷

I guess we’re all just looking at this through different lenses, you know? Everyone’s got their own take. But honestly, if you ask me, the true test of a great driver isn't some crazy stat sheet or a bunch of technical jargon. It really comes down to one simple thing: would you actually want that person sitting in your own cockpit? Like, if you were running a top-tier team, would you be begging to have them on your side? That's the real metric for me.

I mean, honestly? Anyone would kill to have him on their roster right now. He’s just that good. But McLaren? Nah, they wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole because they're too busy protecting their own little bubble and all those special privileges they've got going on. It's kind of wild if you think about it. 🤷

Honestly, if you ask me, some of this is being totally misread. It’s making it look like Alonso is some kind of loser just because Novak supposedly ran circles around him or whatever. It’s not that simple.

I mean, if you ask me, Novak is actually a seriously talented driver. Like, the kid has massive potential, and I don't think he's nearly as bad as everyone here keeps claiming. Honestly, though? He definitely had it easy being handed that McLaren seat—talk about having things handed to you on a silver platter. 🤷
They’re calling him the best rookie, man. Seriously. 👍

I honestly just don't get it. Like, how can anyone even try to put Kubica in the same conversation as Alonso? It’s just not a fair fight. I mean, look at what Alonso did—that guy is a straight-up freak of nature. He proved exactly how elite he is during that rainy race in Canada, and then you look back at Monza where he was holding off Schumi like it was nothing, keeping him right on his tail for half the race. That kind of stuff? You can't just do that on a whim. Most drivers couldn't pull that off if they had a lifetime to practice. 🤷

Man, I honestly can't believe I let myself get this deep into defending Alonso. What was I even thinking? 😁

Arthur Doyle70 said:I mean, those British journalists probably cooked up five different versions of this story, and honestly, tabloid trash just sells like crazy everywhere.

Man, you hit the nail on the head. It’s like, if they own the platform, they gotta spin it, right? God, I remember when they were doing the exact same thing back in the day with Robert Kubica, just overanalyzing everything...🙄

It's probably just wired into their DNA at this point. 🤷

Arthur Doyle70 said:Honestly, there have been plenty of drivers out there who were just straight-up trash.😉 But honestly, let's be real... it’s rare for a rookie to actually pull it off.😁

Look, I get it. Sumi was definitely a loudmouth, always talking way too much, but honestly? I didn't care. I loved the guy because of what he actually did out on the track. That’s the stuff that matters.🙏

Lewis Hamilton can be pretty mouthy sometimes, I guess, but honestly? I feel like the American media totally blows his little spats with Fernando Alonso way out of proportion. It’s always such a huge drama with them, but you gotta wonder if it's actually that deep or if the reporters are just looking for something to write about. 🤷

Man, I’m telling you, if that kid stays on this path, he’s definitely landing a seat in Formula 1. It's practically a given at this point. 🤷

Raymond Ortiz89 I can't even begin to process this... honestly, just looking at it makes my head spin. It’s like when you’re trying to follow a complex play in a football game and suddenly everyone just stops running and looks at the sky. Total chaos. I was thinking about it earlier while grabbing a coffee, and man, it really hits you how much stuff just doesn't add up sometimes. You know? Like, you expect one thing, and then—boom—reality hits you from a completely different angle. Anyway, just my two cents. My brain is basically mush today.
Man, you didn't even notice him until 2005... only Jason Campbell70 really calls the shots on like three or four races or maybe an entire season, but that’s not nearly enough to judge by. Robert Kubica is a solid driver, I don't get what your problem is with him. And yeah, Fernando Alonso is top-tier, seriously talented, but he's nowhere near being the absolute best. Just look at those old veterans out there—guys who drive flawlessly every single time but just never had the luck on their side.

I mean, I definitely saw Fernando Alonso back in the day, and yeah, I remember when Kimi and Massa were running things at Sauber too. Back then, everyone was just starting to find their footing, you know? It felt like everybody had so much untapped potential... just waiting to explode.

I think you totally missed the mark there. I don't have anything against Robert Kubica, honestly. The guy is just out there building himself up as a driver, and honestly, that’s a win in my book. But man, comparing him to someone like Fernando Alonso? That’s just wild. We're talking about a two-time champ who is in a league of his own. It's like comparing a high school standout to a Hall of Famer—it's just not a fair fight. 🤷

Look, I’m just gonna ask the question straight up: who actually tops Fernando Alonso right now??? I wasn't saying he's the greatest of all time or anything like that, but man... even when he's stuck in a mid-tier car, he's just operating on a completely different level than everyone else. It's like watching a pro quarterback playing for a losing franchise—it doesn't matter how bad the equipment is, you can still see the talent. He's just built different.
I mean, honestly? I’d probably put Heidfeld way higher up the list if he’d actually been given a car that wasn't a total disaster. It’s just hard to judge talent when you're stuck driving a lemon, you know? Like, how can you show what you're really capable of when the car is basically falling apart under you? It's like trying to win a drag race in a beat-up old Ford instead of a high-end muscle car—you just can't get anywhere.🤷

Arthur Doyle70 said:Kid's had such a tiny window in Formula 1, so honestly, 🤷 I’m on the same page—since he’s only hitting his stride in his second season, there's huge potential there. Mistakes aside, I bet he's feeling way more heat right now than the other guys. And hey, comparing him to a two-time world champ? I’d say that’s actually a massive compliment to Hamilton.🤣👍

I'm with you on pretty much everything you said, except maybe the part about Hamilton...
I mean, sure, he'll be great, but let's be real, the guy can be pretty stubborn and prickly when he wants to be. 🙏