Posts by mellowtiger83

graniteharbor502 said:Actually, every lap completed behind the Safety Car is counted, with the sole exception being that very first formation lap. Furthermore, that peculiar standing start procedure is only utilized at the beginning of the race if weather conditions dictate a start behind the Safety Car; otherwise, every subsequent Safety Car period follows the exact same protocol we saw last year, where the car pulls in and the field accelerates out in a line.
If you are interested in diving deeper into the technicalities of these regulations, you might find more clarity here on page 35.

That actually sounds reasonable enough to me. It would be completely nonsensical to force a standing start after every single Safety Car deployment. That whole process takes forever—realigning the cars on the grid, running the formation lap, all that.

Just imagine they restart, someone wipes out in Turn 1, and you have to do the entire tedious routine all over again. Then it happens again a few laps later. There is simply no logic in it.

jadeseal7 said:I’m a little confused here—I mean, how can anyone say that? It seems to me he essentially handed over the championship title because of those botched starts.

He lost the title to Rosberg, who is an absolute class act and a premier driver—just ask Michael Schumacher if he ever recovers!

Against Bottas, he could comfortably start from the back of the pack. 🙂

How can you not see it? He ought to be starting last every single time just to make the championship actually interesting.

jadeseal7 said:Code: 44

If Code 44 were always relegated to the back of the pack, the race might actually hold some suspense, if you ask me.🙂

neonfox65 said:And what about this part?

Man, you really love playing games, don't you?

The one on top is terrified, while the one on bottom represents his actual desires.😁

stormybadger8 said:Honestly, I'm worried this race ended up looking like this:
Lujo
+ 30 sec Bottas
+ 70 sec Vettel
+ 1 lap Kimi
+ 2 lap Max
+ 2 Lap Ricc
+ 3 lap Massa
....

If Lujo lets any Ferrari get within five seconds of him, I’ll walk through downtown Washington, D.C. completely naked and post selfies all over this forum. It is highly probable that the Ferraris will overtake him. You correctly guessed Bottas's gap, but you missed the mark on the Ferrari situation.👍

Let's go Lewis, show those Ferrari guys who's boss

neonfox65 said:Even Kimi isn't going to beat Vettel. And don't even get me started on Hamilton...

Somewhat accurate. Kimi could beat them if he actually tried, but he won't. Why? Because he’s just a lazy Finn who’s already got enough money in the bank to not care anymore. He simply doesn't give a damn.

In a way, I get it too.

Vettel and Hamilton will be the ones fighting for the championship. One Finn drops out because of sheer apathy, and the other drops out because he's essentially a second-tier driver with zero chance against Hamilton.

Apologies for the language, Forti.🙂

stormybadger8 said:Basically, Force India is delivering way more value per dollar on the grid, while RB, when you look at them alongside STR, is burning through far more cash...

Red Bull is sitting at 320 million pounds total 😲
By this logic, STR is an incredibly expensive toy...

If we look strictly at the math—return on investment—Mercedes is actually the winner here. They’ve spent three times what Force India did, yet their results are more than triple whatever Force India is pulling.

neonfox65 said:

Vettel—we actually had a better car than Red Bull at one point.

I don't even know who to believe anymore...🤣

Did you actually bother reading the full statement?

Ferrari essentially sabotaged themselves through sheer pit wall incompetence. They threw away a winning opportunity. So much went sideways. It’s highly probable they had the edge over Red Bull, yet Ferrari handed everything right back to them and Ricciardo. The drivers aren't really to blame here. Vettel and Kimi put in masterclasses—Vettel especially—but the strategy crew completely botched it.

By 2017, Ferrari will be faster than Red Bull again, and I expect them to actually capitalize on it this time. You simply cannot afford to make these kinds of blunders two years running. The drivers are hungry enough to bite. Especially Vettel. Ferrari is moving with real ambition now. There isn't much chatter, but things are being organized behind the scenes. They're conducting some rather unexpected research. Like I said before, Ferrari is going to be the one to push Hamilton to the limit.

neonfox65 said:A little more

Even though Rosberg’s sudden exit opened up a seat in that dominant Mercedes car, Ricciardo feels he's exactly where he needs to be heading into the new F1 season—and he's convinced Red Bull can make life pretty difficult for the championship favorite, Lewis Hamilton.

“That Mercedes seat was tempting—really made me want to see what that car could do—but 2017 is a fresh start, and I’m hoping our car comes out on top!” the driver said.

“Bottas has a huge opportunity now, so we'll just have to see how he handles it. For me, there's no better place to be than right here at Red Bull.”

“I think we can give them a run for their money. If we make progress similar to last year, believe me, Hamilton is going to have a tough time.”

Ricciardo also gave a shout-out to the Red Bull lineup, claiming they've got the best roster in Formula 1.

“I think we do. Honestly, I couldn't care less who the second-best lineup is, haha,” Ricciardo joked.

“Last year was really encouraging for the whole crew—we were back in the hunt for wins, podiums, and pole positions. It felt like a massive step toward our goals.”

“And based on what I'm hearing about the new car... I’d take the risk and bet on us.”

Pure optimism! 👏😎 🙂

Alonso was the same way not too long ago. You could tell just by looking at that photo you posted 🎉. From that expression alone, it was obvious he was destined to be a world champion 🥱

Ricciardo is being remarkably bold with his chatter. I didn't expect such aimless blather from him; he’s heard the rumors, he knows the landscape, and yet here we are. As for his comments regarding the optimal driver lineup, I shall refrain from commenting entirely. There is an old saying for situations just like this: "the higher they fly, the harder they fall."

Now, I suppose our resident forum visionary will step up to declare exactly who will be going toe-to-toe with Hamilton. It will be nothing more than the Ferrari duo, perhaps with Max occasionally inserting himself into the fray, and that will be that.

neonfox65 said:

Regarding the new car—codenamed 668—Marchionne spills the details:

“Things seem to be moving in the right direction. The data says the engine is solid. But I’m not getting ahead of myself just yet. We’ll see how it actually holds up once it hits the track. That said, the guys are putting in an incredible amount of work.”

As for the chassis... yeah, let's not even go there. Probably another massive headache waiting to happen.

neonfox65, let me make this brief and blunt: F1 contracts are worth nothing. Absolutely nothing. I won't bother listing a million historical precedents. Ricciardo's seat at Red Bull is anything but secure. If Max performs better, I suspect Ricciardo will find himself shown the door. Sainz is already standing by.

As for Ferrari, I am certain they will be the only ones truly contending with Mercedes. They'll have a top-tier chassis because that genius finally has full authority there, and having someone like Roy Byrne involved certainly helps. When you factor in those massive engine specs, the outcome is obvious. To your disappointment, you'll likely be watching a showdown between Hamilton and Vettel; Kimi or Ricciardo will just be supporting characters.

Frame this post or just commit it to memory.

And please, stop repeating that tired "Comedy for Tibia" line. We get it.

stormybadger8 said:If he can't, then I definitely can. 😁

P.S.
Maybe offer him something like this...

You might actually agree to that. I mean, what does he even know? $333 😁

That’s precisely why I picked you to manage the cash; I know you’ll just blow it all at the local pub. That would absolutely wreck neonfox65 mentally—winning the bet only to have the money spent on drinks. 🤣

These guys are alright, the ones neonfox65 is planning to buy stuff with.🎉

neonfox65 said:🤣

Fine, we've got a bet on virtual beer 🙂 (since you clearly can't handle an Avatar or a signature)

We aren't children playing with avatars and signatures. Only $333 counts here. No dollars, no euros, just US dollars, because that's what we use for stakes

neonfox65 said:Max just hinted things are getting pretty tense with Rika. Which basically means they’re gearing up for a serious title fight... 🙂

Ferrari is going to leave them all in the dust, including at least one Mercedes. They’re just talking nonsense. Red Bull is going to completely implode.

I am prepared to enter into a wager with you. Whatever the stakes may be, I find myself inclined toward the challenge. However... $333

If you don't have it. $333 Don't even bother with the betting. Let’s just meet up somewhere instead. We can hand the cash over to Tibija to hold until the end of the season, film the whole thing on camera, and then have a notary certify the deal. I'll cover the notary fees and the beers, assuming you're actually allowed to drink.

There is absolutely no need to even mention Clown Max. He’ll find a way to drive himself straight into a wall eventually.

neonfox65 said:Lewis Hamilton—I didn't have the same shot at the title because of the breakdowns

Hey Lujo Lujo, Nico had his own share of bad luck two seasons prior, perhaps slightly less, like that steering wheel issue in Singapore.

Nico drove that season to the absolute limit and earned the title. I mean, what would poor Nigel Mansell even say about 1990? 🙂

That’s just how F1 works; one person hits a wall, and then someone else finds their light.

neonfox65 said:

Hasegawa—with Honda, a podium in 2017 is actually a realistic goal.

Look, Tibi, you can say what you want, but you’re still ranking McLaren above Mercedes-Benz... 🤣

Those statements were just empty rhetoric, nothing more than hot air. Personally, I see them consistently sitting in the top six, always right there in the mix fighting for podium spots.

That Japanese engineer couldn't have said anything else after how the last two years played out. Don't sweat it, neonfox65; they’re going to be flying high.

neonfox65 said:Plus, both Ferrari and McLaren are going to be struggling next year, so I don't really see why Lewis would trade a championship contender for a total downgrade🙂

BTW Lewis Hamilton is under contract through the end of 2018.

So, what are you, Nostradamus?

How can you possibly know who will be competitive and who won't?

What does it matter if Lewis Hamilton has a contract? Nico Rosberg had one too.

And why are you convinced Red Bull will remain a powerhouse? History shows us that even Adrian Newey can miss the mark on a concept. Besides, they don't have a factory engine; they are reliant on Renault, and switching fuel suppliers isn't exactly helping their case. Max Verstappen can't carry them alone. He’s an alien, sure, but even he can't perform miracles if the car is fundamentally flawed.

stormybadger8 said:And it’s not just that—they don't even have Nico Rosberg anymore...

The real question is how car development is going to suffer now that they're missing Rosberg, especially since Lewis Hamilton clearly isn't about to let things slide (at least from what we can see on the outside)...
From what I can tell, he missed the last few tests for some reason, and if that keeps happening, who knows how this whole thing ends up.🤔

Lewis Hamilton already has his mind set on Ferrari. I am convinced there is an 85% chance he moves there in 2018; I'll give him a 15% chance of heading back to McLaren, and a 0% chance of staying with Mercedes.

Drew Bennett68 said:They had it at the start of the season, then they just didn't.

It’s pretty self-explanatory, really.

In my view, Ferrari actually had the faster car compared to Red Bull; it's just that all that potential somehow vanished into thin air. The pit wall absolutely sabotaged them.

Plus, they struggled during the most critical part of the weekend: qualifying.