F1 2016 Formula 1 Season

Sunny · Dec 2, 2016

chonkoa said:
My take is that Nico may have hinted at quitting during the last contract negotiation, definitely a decision was made during that process.
It was decided to send him off with a big bang, so the wheels were put in motion.

1. Swap garage
2. Sabotage Lewis with all sorts of twisted convoluted gremlins you can find in the known universe.
3. Of all the cars on the grid with Merc engines, only one driver had 8 recorded problems( some will call it bad luck, I call it a trend)
4. Toto Wolfe calls Max Verstappens dad to ask Max not to interfere.
5. Calling a driver leading the race to speed up so as not to jeopardize his own race- does not make sense at all unless the race they were alluding to is that of the person in P2.
6. Telling the Rosberg that 3rd place will be good enough to win the WDC when they knew Hamilton was fighting to retain his title.

We will only find out the truth when LH writes his book in 10 years.

But MB wasn't clever enough to just repeat #2 once more and just put it away for good?

Betty Swollocks said:
I am surprised that the general consensus amongst the media is that it's a "smart move" by Nico. To me it seems like he's a bit of a coward to not defend his title. And I'm more of a Rosberg fan than a Hamilton fan.

First, I thought the same too - coward move. And it is. But at the same time, if your heart is not in it to give it your 100% for another year, it takes courage to admit to yourself and call it quits than go on (like a few other ex champions have).

LaArtist · Dec 2, 2016

hah Nico really?

anyway glad to see him go and he won't be ambassador for mercedes, the man lacks charisma.

Wehrlein if they really want a clear nr 2, or bottas if they want a Little more competition for lewis.

chonkoa · Dec 2, 2016

LaArtist said:
hah Nico really?

anyway glad to see him go and he won't be ambassador for mercedes, the man lacks charisma.

Wehrlein if they really want a clear nr 2, or bottas if they want a Little more competition for lewis.

I think it is going to be Pascal Wehrlein. If Pascal gets the seat, it will explains why Esteban Ocon got the Manor seat instead of Pascal. It was a shock then, but it will all make sense if Pascal becomes the second Merc driver.

Betty Swollocks · Dec 2, 2016

Matski said:
Why put his family, and himself, through all that again just to do something he's already done..

Well, he hasn't defended his title before.

Sunny said:
First, I thought the same too - coward move. And it is. But at the same time, if your heart is not in it to give it your 100% for another year, it takes courage to admit to yourself and call it quits than go on (like a few other ex champions have).

Playing Devil's advocate.....I wonder if his heart would be in it if he thought he could win the title next year?

But, I don't want to criticise Rosberg too much. I like him. He could teach Hamilton a thing or two about class. Quote from Lewis tonight - "This is the first time he's won in 18 years, hence why it was not a surprise that he decided to stop." No doubt the knuckle-dragging Hamilton fans will be smiling at that comment.

LaArtist · Dec 2, 2016

Betty Swollocks said:
Well, he hasn't defended his title before.

Playing Devil's advocate.....I wonder if his heart would be in it if he thought he could win the title next year?

But, I don't want to criticise Rosberg too much. I like him. He could teach Hamilton a thing or two about class. Quote from Lewis tonight - "This is the first time he's won in 18 years, hence why it was not a surprise that he decided to stop." No doubt the knuckle-dragging Hamilton fans will be smiling at that comment.

Lol thats so badly taken out of context..

Here is what he said

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/127372

chonkoa said:
I think it is going to be Pascal Wehrlein. If Pascal gets the seat, it will explains why Esteban Ocon got the Manor seat instead of Pascal. It was a shock then, but it will all make sense if Pascal becomes the second Merc driver.

i always said it would be Pascal, at the start of this thread even.

Deleted member 1071 · Dec 3, 2016

Personally, I can only respect Nico Rosbergs' decision to retire. Word has it that he is quite multi-talented with many interests and exceptionally intelligent. As mentioned above, no longer having ones' heart in a profession will, should one have attractive options, quickly usher the moment to bid farewell.

And putting family first is a given.

Sunny · Dec 3, 2016

Betty Swollocks said:
Playing Devil's advocate.....I wonder if his heart would be in it if he thought he could win the title next year?

All this is conjecture... but yea, sure, if he knew a win is a certainty, he would have probably continued. But he probably knows very well, it will be year of sacrifice and hardship that could very likely end in nothing but tears and heartache, so if you don't have the drive, why go on?

Wolfgang · Dec 3, 2016

Live from Stuttgart.

Betty Swollocks · Dec 3, 2016

Max Verstappen tweeted this, which I thought was very funny...

PC Valkyrie · Dec 3, 2016

Very happy for Rosberg, and I totally respect his decision to quite the sport after securing his first F1 title. He's been in F1 for 10 years, and has been racing for 25 years. He's married with a young daughter. He made it clear how much effort and stress he (and his wife/family) went through this past year to fulfill his dream, and he actually had the courage to say he doesn't want to go through that again given his life situation with the desire to be more of a husband and dad.

I disagree with those implying he didn't "deserve" his championship. He beat Hamilton straight up in many races this year. Yes, Hamilton won 1 more race (10 vs 9), but Nico had the MOST fastest laps during races this past season, double the amount Hamilton had this year.

So Nico IS fast. And Nico is smart. He gave up engineering school to pursue an F1 career. I just read today that when he started off with Williams, they made him take an engineering aptitude test. He had the highest ever score for an F1 driver. Nico has been part of Mercedes since the beginning and was instrumental in providing feedback to the engineers to help make Mercedes the dominant force it has been in the last 3 years.

He clearly is a thinking man, and has his priorities in life.

WAND · Dec 7, 2016

Rossi : Mercedes offer can't be refused

One of the best motorcyclists of all time, Valentino Rossi did not hide his interest in re-sits in an F1 car, this time Mercedes, which has sparked the imagination of the fans Auto-moto sport.

Toto Wolff the other day, more in jest, said that the vacancy in the Mercedes, after the departure of the new champion Nico Rosberg, could fill Jorge Lorenzo, who recently tested their car and Valentino Rossi, both behave Moto GP caravans. The Spaniard said that is easy to manage a Formula 1 car, but the Italian, who was 10 years ago, he tested Ferrari has nothing against that sits on four wheels.

- It would be nice. If he wants to call me (Wolf) has my number. I was happy when I tested the Ferrari and how to say no if you are prompted Mercedes - a clear message was sent Rosi.

This would be the best thing on plannet !

Code:

http://autoweek.com/article/formula-one/motogp-star-valentino-rossi-throws-hat-mercedes-f1-seat-derby

WAND · Jan 24, 2017

Mercedes F1 is Predicted to Remain Dominant in 2017 Season

New rules in Formula One will be introduced this year. However, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team is still seen as a dominant force most likely to emerge as Constructors’ Champion again in the coming season.

It was reported that new rules in F1 will be put in effect this season. The amended regulations will bring in wider wings and tyres plus increased downforce for the race cars of the sport. In the interview of Jenson Button, he said that he believes the changes are not enough to cripple Mercedes F1.

The former McLaren driver stated that Mercedes F1 remains as the team with the most superior engine in the sport. Any advantages in the aerodynamics of the race cars brought about by the new rules will be negated by the powerful and reliable engine of the reigning F1 Constructors’ Champion.

Button also explained that the updates in the rules will result to more drag in the cars. Therefore, a massive amount of power is needed to push them. That is something that the engines of Mercedes F1 is good at right now.

On the other hand, he hopes that the revised regulations will allow teams to close their performance gap with the Mercedes cars. He pointed out that it is important to have many teams fighting at the front, so he thinks the developments will usher the beginning of great things in F1 following the three-year lock of Mercedes in the title.

It should be noted that since the engine regulations were changed in 2014, Mercedes F1 has acquired a total of 51 victories, three Drivers’ Championships and three Constructors’ Championships.

Matski · Jan 24, 2017

Oh great... Formula Yawn 2017

JB is probably right. With more downforce there will be more drag, with wider tyres there will be more drag, so the more powerful engines will fair better. With more drag the cars will leave a bigger wake of dirty air, so even though the cars will likely be cornering faster, the car behind is not going to be able to close up the gap in the bends, plus the cars are wider making physical passing a little harder too.

I'm hoping the cars will look better, but I'm really not expecting the "racing" to be any better this year.

F1 has mandated the drivetrains become much more complex than they used to be, which has cost a tonne of money and not improved anything, it's about time they started getting cleverer with the Aero instead. Wing size and position rules will only do so much, it's about time they let active aero back in - and I don't mean the hopeless implementation of DRS.