2017 NASCAR Season

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.

Hold up, the rumors online say Ricci has a contract signed and sealed 😁

Anyway, regarding Sainz, he was basically on the radar for Ford first, then later Mercedes...
And after all that noise, there’s been total radio silence from Sainz himself...
Except for that one comment right before the Mack situation about him leaving at the end of 2017 if he didn't land a seat at Red Bull,
Since nothing actually materialized between Sainz and Mercedes, it pretty much confirms Horner and Marko offered him that 2018 spot at Red Bull...

It's the same deal with young Gasly; he was promised an F1 seat, specifically with the junior team...
Which really only means one thing: someone’s getting the boot from Red Bull/the junior squad. It’s almost certainly Kvyat, though I can't be 100% sure. Because of Sainz, someone has to go, and they'll be out of Red Bull soon. It's just a matter of who...
Looking back at how much Ricci got the short end of the stick during the 2016 season, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he's the one being pushed out.
He's been with Red Bull forever without delivering real results. Sure, the car isn't great, but F1 is brutal—and Red Bull is even worse...

mellowtiger83 said: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.

There is zero chance Ricciardo moves to Toro Rosso. If that English article didn't make it clear enough for you, then honestly... 🤦 You wanna bet on that?😁

As for Ferrari, I’m certain they’ll be the only ones actually challenging Mercedes. They're going to have a top-tier chassis because that genius finally has full control there—plus, having someone like Roy Byrne involved helps too. When you factor in those massive engine numbers, it's all pretty obvious. Sadly for you, it'll just be Hamilton vs. Vettel... Ricciardo will probably just be a side character.

Man, we already placed our bets on RB vs. Ferrari, no need to repeat yourself.😉

And seriously, stop using that tired "Comedy Tibi" line. We get it!

Tibi earned that nickname himself, though... he even said it.

neonfox65 said:There is zero chance Ricciardo moves to Toro Rosso. If that English article didn't make it clear enough for you, then honestly... 🤦 You wanna bet on that?😁

As for Ferrari, I’m certain they’ll be the only ones actually challenging Mercedes. They're going to have a top-tier chassis because that genius finally has full control there—plus, having someone like Roy Byrne involved helps too. When you factor in those massive engine numbers, it's all pretty obvious. Sadly for you, it'll just be Hamilton vs. Vettel... Ricciardo will probably just be a side character.

Man, we already placed our bets on RB vs. Ferrari, no need to repeat yourself.😉

And seriously, stop using that tired "Comedy Tibi" line. We get it!

Tibi earned that nickname himself, though... he even said it.

When it comes to you, honestly, anyone trying to have a real conversation is just part of the joke. 😁

neonfox65 said:There is zero chance Ricciardo moves to Toro Rosso. If that English article didn't make it clear enough for you, then honestly... 🤦 You wanna bet on that?😁

As for Ferrari, I’m certain they’ll be the only ones actually challenging Mercedes. They're going to have a top-tier chassis because that genius finally has full control there—plus, having someone like Roy Byrne involved helps too. When you factor in those massive engine numbers, it's all pretty obvious. Sadly for you, it'll just be Hamilton vs. Vettel... Ricciardo will probably just be a side character.

Man, we already placed our bets on RB vs. Ferrari, no need to repeat yourself.😉

And seriously, stop using that tired "Comedy Tibi" line. We get it!

Tibi earned that nickname himself, though... he even said it.

What exactly are you getting from that text, neonfox65? 🙂
Does that text actually say Red Bull can't get Ricci back into the seat, or that Ricci doesn't even have a say in anything?

Go ahead and read that text again. Then tell me: is Ricci just rambling because he's trying to run a glorified commercial for himself and Red Bull, or is he actually just being a massive jerk? 😍
Just look at Ricciardo’s own quotes. He basically said he’d jump ship to Ferrari in a heartbeat if they actually had a winning car. But since they don't? He thinks his best shot is staying with Red Bull. That's why he isn't heading to Maranello.
Nobody even knows who actually called him for the Ferrari seat, aside from the media circus and the occasional mouthy pundit over at Red Bull. As far as I can tell, absolutely no one from the Ferrari camp has ever even breathed a word about wanting Ricciardo on the team. 😉

So, if Ricci is actually such a hot commodity, why didn't he land a seat at Mercedes? That should have been their top priority. Instead, they didn't even mention him—it was all about Max. Makes you wonder.
And that’s probably exactly why the Mercedes isn't a winning car right now. 😍

If you actually use your brain for a second, it becomes pretty obvious that what Ricciardo wants or doesn't want doesn't matter one bit.
The real question isn't whether he wants out—it's whether he even *can* leave the organization. Honestly, he’s probably stuck. He likely signed some soul-crushing contract years ago that basically makes him property. At this point, it feels like he signed a deal with the devil just to get the job. 😍

Look, the deal with Red Bull is pretty obvious. It’s basically the same playbook. They bankroll these drivers from the time they're kids, then force them into these long-term contracts. Most likely, there are clauses buried in there that make it impossible to leave unless you pay back every single cent they invested in you—money you obviously don't have.
There are basically two ways this plays out:

The whole "cleaning house" thing feels a bit sketchy. I mean, look at the track record—not a single driver from Red Bull has ever actually landed a seat elsewhere after leaving them. That tells you everything you need to know.
There’s probably some fine print in here about clawback clauses if they jump ship to another team. Otherwise, guys like Vergne and Buemi would be finding themselves a paycheck somewhere else right now.
Plus, none of their junior academy drivers have actually landed a seat anywhere else—unless you count jumping straight into a seat at Mercedes (or some other team where Red Bull basically pulled the strings for them).
Look, there’s been plenty of talent in the F1 pipeline lately, but it’s not like they didn't get a shot—they just never got a seat because Red Bull Racing was already full when their time came.
I honestly wonder why nobody else seems interested in these kids besides the junior team...

Then you have those performance clauses—like the one Vettel used. It basically means you have to accept being treated like garbage by your own team in your final season just so they can use your exit to launch some new superstar on your dime...
It’s actually wild. Not a single driver from their academy has managed to break out of the Red Bull system into another top team, even though they've pumped dozens through it.

So, at this point, Ricciardo’s only way out of the junior squad is to either quit F1 entirely or wait for Max to absolutely tear him apart until he's no longer useful to them after they've groomed his replacement...
Red Bull can do whatever they want with him. The real question is whether they want to tank their own investment the way they did with Kvyat...
But ultimately, it all comes down to how things play out with little Sainz. Someone's going to get the short end of the stick here—either Ricciardo or Sainz—and we all know Red Bull's motto: "younger is always better."

stormybadger8 said:When it comes to you, honestly, anyone trying to have a real conversation is just part of the joke. 😁

What exactly are you getting from that text, neonfox65? 🙂
Does that text actually say Red Bull can't get Ricci back into the seat, or that Ricci doesn't even have a say in anything?

Go ahead and read that text again. Then tell me: is Ricci just rambling because he's trying to run a glorified commercial for himself and Red Bull, or is he actually just being a massive jerk? 😍
Just look at Ricciardo’s own quotes. He basically said he’d jump ship to Ferrari in a heartbeat if they actually had a winning car. But since they don't? He thinks his best shot is staying with Red Bull. That's why he isn't heading to Maranello.
Nobody even knows who actually called him for the Ferrari seat, aside from the media circus and the occasional mouthy pundit over at Red Bull. As far as I can tell, absolutely no one from the Ferrari camp has ever even breathed a word about wanting Ricciardo on the team. 😉

So, if Ricci is actually such a hot commodity, why didn't he land a seat at Mercedes? That should have been their top priority. Instead, they didn't even mention him—it was all about Max. Makes you wonder.
And that’s probably exactly why the Mercedes isn't a winning car right now. 😍

If you actually use your brain for a second, it becomes pretty obvious that what Ricciardo wants or doesn't want doesn't matter one bit.
The real question isn't whether he wants out—it's whether he even *can* leave the organization. Honestly, he’s probably stuck. He likely signed some soul-crushing contract years ago that basically makes him property. At this point, it feels like he signed a deal with the devil just to get the job. 😍

Look, the deal with Red Bull is pretty obvious. It’s basically the same playbook. They bankroll these drivers from the time they're kids, then force them into these long-term contracts. Most likely, there are clauses buried in there that make it impossible to leave unless you pay back every single cent they invested in you—money you obviously don't have.
There are basically two ways this plays out:

The whole "cleaning house" thing feels a bit sketchy. I mean, look at the track record—not a single driver from Red Bull has ever actually landed a seat elsewhere after leaving them. That tells you everything you need to know.
There’s probably some fine print in here about clawback clauses if they jump ship to another team. Otherwise, guys like Vergne and Buemi would be finding themselves a paycheck somewhere else right now.
Plus, none of their junior academy drivers have actually landed a seat anywhere else—unless you count jumping straight into a seat at Mercedes (or some other team where Red Bull basically pulled the strings for them).
Look, there’s been plenty of talent in the F1 pipeline lately, but it’s not like they didn't get a shot—they just never got a seat because Red Bull Racing was already full when their time came.
I honestly wonder why nobody else seems interested in these kids besides the junior team...

Then you have those performance clauses—like the one Vettel used. It basically means you have to accept being treated like garbage by your own team in your final season just so they can use your exit to launch some new superstar on your dime...
It’s actually wild. Not a single driver from their academy has managed to break out of the Red Bull system into another top team, even though they've pumped dozens through it.

So, at this point, Ricciardo’s only way out of the junior squad is to either quit F1 entirely or wait for Max to absolutely tear him apart until he's no longer useful to them after they've groomed his replacement...
Red Bull can do whatever they want with him. The real question is whether they want to tank their own investment the way they did with Kvyat...
But ultimately, it all comes down to how things play out with little Sainz. Someone's going to get the short end of the stick here—either Ricciardo or Sainz—and we all know Red Bull's motto: "younger is always better."

neonfox65 said:And you, Tim, act like you aren't convinced Ferrari's going to take first, yet you put them right at the top of your predictions 🤣 You're such a joke 🤣

stormybadger8 said:Morning 🤣
Do you honestly think anyone here is taking you seriously? 👏

When it comes to a debate between Tim vs Dan, the only thing to take away is comedy, comedy, and more comedy...😁

Look, I’ll just come out and say it—I'm not trying to lie to anyone here... 👋

So, what exactly are you getting from that text, neonfox65?... 🙂

You won't really get what I'm saying until much later, Comedy Tibi... 😂

Does that text actually say Red Bull can't get Ricciardo back into the STR seat—and that he doesn't even have a say in any of this...?

Look, there’s really no point in arguing with you—time will tell anyway. Honestly, the worst-case scenario for Ricciardo is that he leaves Red Bull after a year and jumps to another squad... but it won't be AlphaTauri. I don't get why you can't see that a driver of his caliber has nothing left to prove at a mid-field team like that. Over these last few years, he's absolutely cemented himself as one of the elite drivers on the grid. He was basically the "best of the rest" in two of the last three seasons—he even outmaneuvered Vettel once and Max another time. Even Autosport named him the driver of the year, Alonso gave him massive props, and the guy is widely considered the king of overtakes...

So, if Ricc is actually such a hot commodity right now—and I mean *really* in demand—then he should’ve had a shot at joining Mercedes. That’s exactly the kind of move they’d be looking to make first... but he didn't go. They didn't even mention him, honestly—they were all about Max...
And I guess that’s basically why the Mercedes isn't winning races right now... 😍

From what I've read in the news, Ricciardo was in Munich, but Horner wouldn't budge.

the whole team cleaning house... though even that's debatable—none of the Red Bull drivers ever end up with another top-tier seat after they leave RB/STR, which tells you everything you need to know.

Vettel? Don't make me laugh.

that performance clause Vettel used—which really just means you have to accept the fact that the team basically tossed you aside in your final season just to manufacture a new superstar at your expense...

How many times do I have to tell you? Vettel ADMITTED himself he was outclassed by Ricciardo that year, and the team wasn't playing favorites. But clearly, you just can't handle the idea of someone actually beating stormybadger8.

Seriously, stop writing these novels—you're just typing endless nonsense and repeating yourself. Comedy Tibi.

Check out this comedy routine 👋

Daniel Ricciardo finally weighs in on those Mercedes rumors

Can you please just stop posting this nonsense...🙂>

neonfox65 said:Look, I’ll just come out and say it—I'm not trying to lie to anyone here... 👋

So, what exactly are you getting from that text, neonfox65?... 🙂

You won't really get what I'm saying until much later, Comedy Tibi... 😂

Does that text actually say Red Bull can't get Ricciardo back into the STR seat—and that he doesn't even have a say in any of this...?

Look, there’s really no point in arguing with you—time will tell anyway. Honestly, the worst-case scenario for Ricciardo is that he leaves Red Bull after a year and jumps to another squad... but it won't be AlphaTauri. I don't get why you can't see that a driver of his caliber has nothing left to prove at a mid-field team like that. Over these last few years, he's absolutely cemented himself as one of the elite drivers on the grid. He was basically the "best of the rest" in two of the last three seasons—he even outmaneuvered Vettel once and Max another time. Even Autosport named him the driver of the year, Alonso gave him massive props, and the guy is widely considered the king of overtakes...

So, if Ricc is actually such a hot commodity right now—and I mean *really* in demand—then he should’ve had a shot at joining Mercedes. That’s exactly the kind of move they’d be looking to make first... but he didn't go. They didn't even mention him, honestly—they were all about Max...
And I guess that’s basically why the Mercedes isn't winning races right now... 😍

From what I've read in the news, Ricciardo was in Munich, but Horner wouldn't budge.

the whole team cleaning house... though even that's debatable—none of the Red Bull drivers ever end up with another top-tier seat after they leave RB/STR, which tells you everything you need to know.

Vettel? Don't make me laugh.

that performance clause Vettel used—which really just means you have to accept the fact that the team basically tossed you aside in your final season just to manufacture a new superstar at your expense...

How many times do I have to tell you? Vettel ADMITTED himself he was outclassed by Ricciardo that year, and the team wasn't playing favorites. But clearly, you just can't handle the idea of someone actually beating stormybadger8.

Seriously, stop writing these novels—you're just typing endless nonsense and repeating yourself. Comedy Tibi.

Wow, look at you, actually reading things.🙂
From what I recall, Max had the most overtakes in 2016 and took the title for best overtaker... maybe you mixed up Max with Ricciardo?🤣

But wait, hold on—how can Horner just "not let" someone go?🙂
If he can block a move to Mercedes, he could just squeeze him out of Red Bull too and prevent him from joining any other team.🙂🤣

Just because someone pulls off the most overtakes doesn't make them the GOAT at passing—give me a link proving he's actually been named the best overtaker.

Alonso said it himself about Ricciardo: “In the overtaking manoeuvres probably he is the best out there."

I can already hear you typing, "Who even cares about Alonso?" 😂

Wait, hold on... how is Horner even able to say no?

When he’s under contract with Red Bull Racing... ☕

There's no way he can pull that off in a TR race, I'll bet anything on it. ☕

Is it not truly curious how you two always find yourselves engaging in such spirited discourse on this platform? ☕Perhaps there is some deeper significance to your constant back-and-forth that we are all simply failing to grasp?

It’s possible Ricciardo gets the seat, but he’ll likely end up at Ferrari to take Vettel's spot, which means Vettel might just hang it up...

I guess there are rumors about expanding the circuit at Circuit of the Americas, and maybe they'll change those first two chicanes at Daytona and modify the third one too? I also heard they might bring back the gravel trap in the Parabolica area.

View on instagram



🤮🙂
Around 3 PM, and apparently those ridiculous noses actually make a comeback 😵

stormybadger8 said:View on instagram



🤮🙂
Around 3 PM, and apparently those ridiculous noses actually make a comeback 😵

As long as they keep feeding the diffuser clean air and the rulebook stays this half-baked—noses are gonna look exactly like this.

We all know what a perfect nose looks like. Look at the Benetton from '94 or that 2001 Williams—now that's design.

Anything else? Not even close. So, you either let them do their thing—meaning everyone gets those classic shapes back—or you keep writing these dumb rules and end up with these ridiculous things.

If they don't want the B194 style, then the FIA needs to just design a mandatory nose themselves and say, "Here—use this one or else."

And amen to that.

Daniel Ricciardo: We can fight for the title

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo says his squad is ready to go toe-to-toe with Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton for the Formula 1 championship this season.

After a rough 2015, Red Bull bounced back last year as the second-best team on the grid—just behind the champions, Mercedes. Plus, they were actually the only ones besides Mercedes to pull off wins last season (shoutout to Spain and Malaysia)...

"I think we can take them on, yeah. If we keep up the progress from last year, I don't think Hamilton is going to have an easy ride," Ricciardo said, according to Sky Sports.

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOO 👋🎉🙂

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! 👏😎 🙂

So, what else does he have left?

The future looks bright for him, but behind him...

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: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 🥱

mellowtiger83 said: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.

What's there even to say...
Look at Red Bull's driver lineup. Combined, they've got 25 podiums, 5 wins, 9 Fl's, and even a P1...
In what alternate universe could any other team pull together a better duo? Their stats are so insane, nobody else is even in the same zip code.😍