2013 Car Reveal & Winter Testing Kickoff

stormybadger8 said:Against all odds, I’d say it could easily be Alonso or Hamilton.
I’ve got a gut feeling that one or two drivers are going to completely crack this year if their car isn't top-tier. They'll start driving like absolute maniacs, trying to force it when the machinery just isn't there.😳
All in all, I’m expecting a killer season packed with brilliant overtakes and absolute masterclasses.👋 And even more coastline.😬

When is it finally going to happen?🙂 I can't wait. I've got a gut feeling this is going to be the best season ever.😁

Wrong.
Both of them are pretty seasoned drivers at this point—they know exactly how to squeeze out every bit of performance. Honestly, Hamilton tends to be a bit more hot-headed, so I’d give the edge to Alonso in that department.

I'm looking at Perez—he's under massive pressure right now, and he’s going to have to push way harder than anyone else just to prove he belongs. If he doesn't step up and match Button's level, he'll just start making sloppy mistakes on track trying too hard to force a result.
Maybe Maldonado finally learned his lesson—I’m actually expecting a solid season from him. Honestly, I think Williams is going to have an awesome year because they'll probably nail the car again, and this time they've actually got two quality drivers.

Honestly, those comparisons are a bit tasteless, don't you think? I’d kindly ask everyone to please tone it down and move on.

Thanks.

Drew Bennett68 said:Honestly, those comparisons are a bit tasteless, don't you think? I’d kindly ask everyone to please tone it down and move on.

Thanks.

That's exactly right, Drew Bennett68! 🙏
I am asking you the same thing.
A few months back, when we spent those few days hanging out in the paddock, we had a pretty candid debate about what everyone on this forum actually wants regarding moderation in Formula 1. Specifically, we talked about how to effectively shut down trolls who make a habit of attacking drivers, teams, and the members of those teams. Our stance on that issue was made very clear during that discussion.

Nathan Jones98 said:Wrong.
Both of them are pretty seasoned drivers at this point—they know exactly how to squeeze out every bit of performance. Honestly, Hamilton tends to be a bit more hot-headed, so I’d give the edge to Alonso in that department.

I'm looking at Perez—he's under massive pressure right now, and he’s going to have to push way harder than anyone else just to prove he belongs. If he doesn't step up and match Button's level, he'll just start making sloppy mistakes on track trying too hard to force a result.
Maybe Maldonado finally learned his lesson—I’m actually expecting a solid season from him. Honestly, I think Williams is going to have an awesome year because they'll probably nail the car again, and this time they've actually got two quality drivers.

I don't really see it that way...
McLaren looks like they have the best car right now, so they won't feel the need to pull any stunts since they're basically constantly improving, maybe sitting 2 or 3 cars behind the leaders...
My money is actually on Hamilton; he's naturally aggressive... and by all accounts, that car is good enough for the front row, maybe even third. I think he’ll be the one biting the hardest, which usually means some kind of disaster happens down the line...
Same goes for Alonso. He’s been waiting for a title forever, and it's obvious that playing it safe without any aggression doesn't work. If the car isn't at the very top—meaning the absolute best—then I expect him to drive way more aggressively than before. And once you start driving like that, mistakes are inevitable...

Perez doesn't really have much motivation for that kind of chaos. His results will definitely be better than when he was at Sauber, and honestly, nobody is expecting miracles from him.🤷
Getting 4 or 5 podiums this season is plenty for a start, and he can pull that off even with a conservative driving style...
To me, it feels like Button is the one under pressure to deliver a solid result, not Perez.🤷

William Bennett53 said:That's exactly right, Drew Bennett68! 🙏
I am asking you the same thing.
A few months back, when we spent those few days hanging out in the paddock, we had a pretty candid debate about what everyone on this forum actually wants regarding moderation in Formula 1. Specifically, we talked about how to effectively shut down trolls who make a habit of attacking drivers, teams, and the members of those teams. Our stance on that issue was made very clear during that discussion.

The beer was flowing, and I just couldn't help myself.

But look, since I'm a proud recovering alcoholic now, let me apologize to the community (even the ones I used to call by much different names) and even to the seven-time world champion—comparing him to a malicious disease was a stretch, even if the booze started it.

God bless!

Peace out! 😁😁😁

ruggedhawk20 said:The beer was flowing, and I just couldn't help myself.

But look, since I'm a proud recovering alcoholic now, let me apologize to the community (even the ones I used to call by much different names) and even to the seven-time world champion—comparing him to a malicious disease was a stretch, even if the booze started it.

God bless!

Peace out! 😁😁😁

Look, I appreciate the mods looking out for us, but I wasn't offended or angry at all by what Josip Presvetlog wrote. If anything, we need a little distraction from this absolute swamp of nothing happening lately.
Plus, I've always had a soft spot for MSC and the color red.

There's plenty of humor to be found in blunt language. Not everything is inherently evil.
But since that line is thin and we all have different tastes, I respect the mod's decision and think they handled it correctly.

stormybadger8 said:I don't really see it that way...
McLaren looks like they have the best car right now, so they won't feel the need to pull any stunts since they're basically constantly improving, maybe sitting 2 or 3 cars behind the leaders...
My money is actually on Hamilton; he's naturally aggressive... and by all accounts, that car is good enough for the front row, maybe even third. I think he’ll be the one biting the hardest, which usually means some kind of disaster happens down the line...
Same goes for Alonso. He’s been waiting for a title forever, and it's obvious that playing it safe without any aggression doesn't work. If the car isn't at the very top—meaning the absolute best—then I expect him to drive way more aggressively than before. And once you start driving like that, mistakes are inevitable...

Perez doesn't really have much motivation for that kind of chaos. His results will definitely be better than when he was at Sauber, and honestly, nobody is expecting miracles from him.🤷
Getting 4 or 5 podiums this season is plenty for a start, and he can pull that off even with a conservative driving style...
To me, it feels like Button is the one under pressure to deliver a solid result, not Perez.🤷

Hmm... I wouldn't go betting on that if I were you.

stormybadger8 said:I don't really see it that way...
McLaren looks like they have the best car right now, so they won't feel the need to pull any stunts since they're basically constantly improving, maybe sitting 2 or 3 cars behind the leaders...
My money is actually on Hamilton; he's naturally aggressive... and by all accounts, that car is good enough for the front row, maybe even third. I think he’ll be the one biting the hardest, which usually means some kind of disaster happens down the line...
Same goes for Alonso. He’s been waiting for a title forever, and it's obvious that playing it safe without any aggression doesn't work. If the car isn't at the very top—meaning the absolute best—then I expect him to drive way more aggressively than before. And once you start driving like that, mistakes are inevitable...

Perez doesn't really have much motivation for that kind of chaos. His results will definitely be better than when he was at Sauber, and honestly, nobody is expecting miracles from him.🤷
Getting 4 or 5 podiums this season is plenty for a start, and he can pull that off even with a conservative driving style...
To me, it feels like Button is the one under pressure to deliver a solid result, not Perez.🤷

How much of a mess did Alonso and Hamilton actually make of things last season?
How much of a driver's retirement is actually their own fault?
Zero. Or, well, pretty close to it.

Professors make mistakes. But it’s a rare thing to see.

stormybadger8 said:I don't really see it that way...
McLaren looks like they have the best car right now, so they won't feel the need to pull any stunts since they're basically constantly improving, maybe sitting 2 or 3 cars behind the leaders...
My money is actually on Hamilton; he's naturally aggressive... and by all accounts, that car is good enough for the front row, maybe even third. I think he’ll be the one biting the hardest, which usually means some kind of disaster happens down the line...
Same goes for Alonso. He’s been waiting for a title forever, and it's obvious that playing it safe without any aggression doesn't work. If the car isn't at the very top—meaning the absolute best—then I expect him to drive way more aggressively than before. And once you start driving like that, mistakes are inevitable...

Perez doesn't really have much motivation for that kind of chaos. His results will definitely be better than when he was at Sauber, and honestly, nobody is expecting miracles from him.🤷
Getting 4 or 5 podiums this season is plenty for a start, and he can pull that off even with a conservative driving style...
To me, it feels like Button is the one under pressure to deliver a solid result, not Perez.🤷

Don't expect any miracles. Where on earth did you get that idea?
That’s exactly what I’m expecting from him. It’s either going to be a miracle or I'm going to be disappointed.
Now that there’s a beast running the show, the criteria have shifted completely. It’s a whole different game than what we used to see.
There’s no more room for error. The pressure is becoming unbearable.
To quote T. Židak, he’s going to need "balls of steel." Or maybe "brains with balls," if you want to be fancy about it.

How many points did Perez throw away with his mistakes last year? A ton. Honestly, way too many if you ask me.

- Expecting title fights from: Alonso, Button, Vettel, and Kimi... maybe even Hamilton if you count that "maybe" (which all depends on the car, not him)
- Just regular points scoring and the occasional podium, with any win feeling like a total jackpot: Rosberg, Perez, Webber, Grosjean, Massa (though honestly, I don't think anyone expects much from Massa)

That’s why there's way more pressure on Button than on Perez. Nobody actually expects Perez to outshine Button, let alone snatch a title...

Whereas, for example...
People expect Hamilton to absolutely crush Rosberg regardless of whether they're looking at the title race; he's expected to win. And that's assuming Hamilton doesn't screw things up first.🤣
Seriously, what Formula 1 are we watching? Do we just have zero memory?😁
Hamić has caused way more chaos in his career than Perez, Maldonado, and half the grid combined.😁

Alonso, on the other hand, is basically in the twilight of his career.☕
No one in Formula 1 has ever won a second title after such a long break. He could equal that record this season, otherwise 2014 would have made him the record holder...
All in all, I expect him to fight harder than ever. But when you're that aggressive and forcing situations, you're asking for a crash—especially now with so many rookies on the grid, including some inexperienced guys in great cars.😳

Amanda Kelly said:Look, I appreciate the mods looking out for us, but I wasn't offended or angry at all by what Josip Presvetlog wrote. If anything, we need a little distraction from this absolute swamp of nothing happening lately.
Plus, I've always had a soft spot for MSC and the color red.

There's plenty of humor to be found in blunt language. Not everything is inherently evil.
But since that line is thin and we all have different tastes, I respect the mod's decision and think they handled it correctly.

Man, listen, I'm with you. But Dorian says you guys all voted for this yourselves during some poll—that was back when I was living in the Midwest, so I have zero clue what went down here.

Seems to me like a classic case of "you asked for it."

Or just run the vote again.

Because let's be real, you all know damn well that insulting and mocking drivers—especially the current ones—is basically Joža's favorite pastime.

And I barely managed to swallow my apology earlier.

I WANT the insults back. It gives the forum some actual soul. Just keep the driver trash-talk separate from the users.

Come on, people—these guys make millions. We can poke fun at them a little without acting like they're untouchable pharaohs. You're not allowed to say a word? Seriously?

-Joža votes to bring back driver insults!

Once the Pirelli circus kicks off—you know, with all the massive setups, the blatant rigging, and the usual nonsense—the insults and cheap shots are just going to become unavoidable...

I’m pretty sure we’re all allowed to take shots at Pirelli, Bernie, and that whole circus crew without getting kicked out 😁

ruggedhawk20 said:That tumor was removed back in late 2006.

Long live the king! 👋

William Bennett53 said:That's exactly right, Drew Bennett68! 🙏
I am asking you the same thing.
A few months back, when we spent those few days hanging out in the paddock, we had a pretty candid debate about what everyone on this forum actually wants regarding moderation in Formula 1. Specifically, we talked about how to effectively shut down trolls who make a habit of attacking drivers, teams, and the members of those teams. Our stance on that issue was made very clear during that discussion.

So there it is.

Besides— ignorance of the law excuses no one. 😁

No offense intended toward anyone. I just needed something to kill time while waiting for the next race of the season.

stormybadger8 said:- Expecting title fights from: Alonso, Button, Vettel, and Kimi... maybe even Hamilton if you count that "maybe" (which all depends on the car, not him)
- Just regular points scoring and the occasional podium, with any win feeling like a total jackpot: Rosberg, Perez, Webber, Grosjean, Massa (though honestly, I don't think anyone expects much from Massa)

That’s why there's way more pressure on Button than on Perez. Nobody actually expects Perez to outshine Button, let alone snatch a title...

Whereas, for example...
People expect Hamilton to absolutely crush Rosberg regardless of whether they're looking at the title race; he's expected to win. And that's assuming Hamilton doesn't screw things up first.🤣
Seriously, what Formula 1 are we watching? Do we just have zero memory?😁
Hamić has caused way more chaos in his career than Perez, Maldonado, and half the grid combined.😁

Alonso, on the other hand, is basically in the twilight of his career.☕
No one in Formula 1 has ever won a second title after such a long break. He could equal that record this season, otherwise 2014 would have made him the record holder...
All in all, I expect him to fight harder than ever. But when you're that aggressive and forcing situations, you're asking for a crash—especially now with so many rookies on the grid, including some inexperienced guys in great cars.😳

Perez has less than a year to prove he deserves a seat at McLaren—well, at McLaren specifically.
Right now, Button is their golden boy. It’s going to be an uphill battle for Perez, honestly, probably impossible. Unless there's some hidden superstar talent in him that we haven't seen yet.
They likely picked Perez because he was the best option available or showed the most promise. But hiring is always about chasing the future, hoping you actually found your next big thing.
It's a total mess when you're essentially gambling on a mid-tier driver from day one.

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hu...or-new-sauber/

Maybe that’s exactly why Ferrari passed on him in the first place 😁

Amanda Kelly said:Perez has less than a year to prove he deserves a seat at McLaren—well, at McLaren specifically.
Right now, Button is their golden boy. It’s going to be an uphill battle for Perez, honestly, probably impossible. Unless there's some hidden superstar talent in him that we haven't seen yet.
They likely picked Perez because he was the best option available or showed the most promise. But hiring is always about chasing the future, hoping you actually found your next big thing.
It's a total mess when you're essentially gambling on a mid-tier driver from day one.

You took the words right out of my mouth—

This is likely Massi's last ride, so he'll probably be driving like a man possessed—assuming they don't bench him first.

Gentlemen, as long as the criticism is aimed at drivers who don't carry quite the same emotional weight with the fans—think Vettel or Rosberg, for instance—nobody seems to mind, and everything stays peaceful. However, if a similar insult were directed toward someone like Alonso, we’d likely see a flurry of report notifications immediately. I'm simply offering a bit of a heads-up: let's not get worked up over it.

@Amanda Kelly - I find myself in agreement with your assessment. That said, I can actually see the merit in Jeremy's perspective regarding McLaren; they might have been much smarter to bring in someone like Maldonado. They already have a rock-solid, reliable points-collector on the roster, so bringing in a bit of a wildcard for the second seat would maintain a perfect team balance...

William Bennett53 said:Gentlemen, as long as the criticism is aimed at drivers who don't carry quite the same emotional weight with the fans—think Vettel or Rosberg, for instance—nobody seems to mind, and everything stays peaceful. However, if a similar insult were directed toward someone like Alonso, we’d likely see a flurry of report notifications immediately. I'm simply offering a bit of a heads-up: let's not get worked up over it.

@Amanda Kelly - I find myself in agreement with your assessment. That said, I can actually see the merit in Jeremy's perspective regarding McLaren; they might have been much smarter to bring in someone like Maldonado. They already have a rock-solid, reliable points-collector on the roster, so bringing in a bit of a wildcard for the second seat would maintain a perfect team balance...

Oh, give me a break! And right when I finally switched my loyalty from Alonso over to Vettel, too.

So now Vettel is fair game, but Alonso is untouchable. Great.

What a joke... 😁🙂

It seems far easier to simply root for the mainstream drivers. 😁Vettel always has this dedicated core of supporters who never seem to find anything to complain about. Alonso, on the other hand, has an endless crowd behind him, including at least one individual who reports every single minor slip-up... honestly, if you follow the usual online forums—which I find myself forced to do—you'll occasionally see these soap opera fans bickering among themselves, demanding penalties for any perceived insult directed toward their favorite icons. 🤣

But let's move past all that and get back to our own discussions.

What are your thoughts on the general consensus that Sauber and Renault were the standout performers of the first round of testing? Personally, those two are my absolute favorite teams, and seeing them actually become competitive this season would be nothing short of a dream come true. 🙏

For teams like Haas or Williams, the real game-changer is going to be resource management.
It all boils down to how they kick off the season and whether they have the bandwidth to keep pace with the technical evolution
of the rest of the field. There’s also the massive question of whether they can secure enough funding.
And ultimately, we have to look at when they decide to pull the plug on current upgrades and pivot entirely toward developing the 2014 car.

Nathan Jones98 said:You took the words right out of my mouth—

This is likely Massi's last ride, so he'll probably be driving like a man possessed—assuming they don't bench him first.

😁
God forbid Ferrari actually performs well enough to make Massi redundant. That would be too much luck for me.