F1 Thread

[Rhys]

Would be nice for a Ferrari to have speed. Lewis definitly the one to beat this year.

[CJ]

This season has the possibility of a Lewis Seb battle. That would be interesting

[Daniel 7]

So, F1 2017 kicks off this weekend with all new cars, regulations and the potential for some competition at the front end of the grid - in the fuel adjusted figures from testing, Ferrari are coming out on top by about 0.8s, which would be quite a distance if it pans out that way. I can't see that being the case, and imagine that Mercedes have been focussing on reliability over the winter rather than eye catching speed tests - they had the speed already, and if Hamilton's 2016 is anything to go by, the reliability needed a lot of attention.

Still - Ferrari should be closer this year - James Allison was heavily involved in the design of that car, so its going to be good. That he's joined Mercedes should work against Ferrari longer term, given the in season development history of Ferrari (its bad), and the knowledge of their performance gains going to their direct rival.

McLaren look utterly shambolic and in complete crisis mode. Honda are a disaster and if anything look worse than they did last year. They'll be at the very back of the grid for the first few races at least, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Alonso walk out half way through the season.

Predictions?

Hamilton for the title, with Vettel pushing him
Ferrari to go close with Mercedes for the constructors
Verstappen and Ricciardo to fall out
Boring races for the first few until the teams get to grips with the new cars, and the drivers figure out how to get their wider cars overtaking one another

[RichC]

Bottas confirmed to drive for Merc next season then.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/38489054

[labourRed]

There's no doubt in my mind if i had £100m or more in my skyrocket i would prefer to spend my days with a new born than travelling the world risking my life. But then that's probably why i'm not a world champion.

Anyway, good luck to the lad. Saw an opening, took it, lived a dream!

[paulg]

Rosberg has a wife and young kid, Lewis doesn't. They both have very different perspectives on life. I think Rosberg deserves credit for knowing his own mind. It is still a dangerous and stressful sport. Nico has done what he set out to do. Which is more than most of us can say in our own lives.

[G]

But he will never go down as a true legend though will he? If I had just won a Championship I would want to win several more, he's 31 G he still has years left in the sport regardless of whether he has the wedge or not, he's shown himself to be a bottler who has taken the easy way out. That's just my take on it.

TBH the way F1 is these days the cars do most of the work for them, it's too easy. They need challenging to show what they are all capable of across a level playing field, it's too easy for them and Mercedes.

I am still baffled by his decision, if he'd won 3 or 4 Championships then fair enough but he won't touch any of the F1 legends now by taking this decision. Maybe he just can't be arsed I don't know but if that is the case why race in the first place.

He was never going to become a legend either, he could drive for years and never win another one. He's not good enough. He lucked in this year much like Button lucked in a few years back. Good but not great and that's how history will view them. Only the very best will win multiple championships and he's not in that bracket.

[Daniel 7]

He's won a World championship against a much more talented driver in the best car on the grid. The rules change next season and Mercedes aren't going to necessarily have that advantage anymore. He's had 3 years of stress and hassle, he probably couldn't face another year of battling Lewis Hamilton again - it must be wearing. I remember Mika Hakkinen saying how tiring the pressure was - he was a similar age when he gave up too. Add in that he's recently become a father for the first time and probably wants to see his kid, it isn't that surprising a choice.

It's never going to get better than this for him. Good luck to him.

[dom9]

But he will never go down as a true legend though will he? If I had just won a Championship I would want to win several more, he's 31 G he still has years left in the sport regardless of whether he has the wedge or not, he's shown himself to be a bottler who has taken the easy way out. That's just my take on it.

TBH the way F1 is these days the cars do most of the work for them, it's too easy. They need challenging to show what they are all capable of across a level playing field, it's too easy for them and Mercedes.

I am still baffled by his decision, if he'd won 3 or 4 Championships then fair enough but he won't touch any of the F1 legends now by taking this decision. Maybe he just can't be arsed I don't know but if that is the case why race in the first place.

Hmmm.

I'm not sure you're able to put yourself in his shoes. And even if you could, why does it matter?

Imagine that Rosberg took umbrage at your career, decisions and motivations or bottling? Based his opinions solely on visiting this website (as opposed to watching him wearing a helmet in a car)?

He doesn't know you. What right would he have to tell you what you should do and why? Your career, your life choices. Not least in the week when you might have achieved your life's dream. Something that very few of us will ever experience.

Perspective, slinks. Perspective.

[Vermilion]

You have to remember Slinks, he's been doing this for 25 yrs.

He said that to beat Hamilton this year, he had to work so hard, under so much pressure, and full on devotion to the task at hand, hardly seeing his family.

I don't think he finds it as easy as Lewis does to perform at the top level, at the peak of his own abilty, that's what separates the best from the rest, he has to try harder, work at it more to compete.

He's quite simply not prepared to go through that again, especially as he's just become a father.

As i say, 25yrs he's been racing, and he's finally conquered his demon, ie: Lewis Hamilton. (with help from engine gremlins yes, but all that matters to him is he got there, he did it, just like his Dad did.

I can totally see why it feels right for him to call it a day, he's not interested in being a legend, not in other peoples eyes anyway, he'll always be a legend to his family, and he can be with his kids as they grow up, travelling the world, enjoying life and being there for all their firsts.

[Red_Polo]

But he will never go down as a true legend though will he?

I'm not going to purport to know his mind, but perhaps to him there are other things more important in life which would be fair enough. Not everyone wants to be all conquering at great cost to other things in life. That's not a question of bottle.

[Slinky Skills]

To be honest slinks he probably realises that it's going to be his only world title as he has been extremely fortunate this season as Hamilton has had a few DNF's and without them Lewis would have cruised to another title.

Maybe he has bottled it but ultimately he has followed in his father's footsteps which is all he's ever wanted.

Maybe, my friend has said the exact same thing and that is he knows he will probably never do it again. Quite sad really and I find it a tad disappointing.

Hamilton is a very good driver and he's had some bad luck but he's a winner and has more desire than Rosberg ultimately.

I know Rosberg was kind of living in his dad's shadow and it's still a great achievement but for F1 it's a disappointment he's leaving.

[Leyton388]

To be honest slinks he probably realises that it's going to be his only world title as he has been extremely fortunate this season as Hamilton has had a few DNF's and without them Lewis would have cruised to another title.

Maybe he has bottled it but ultimately he has followed in his father's footsteps which is all he's ever wanted.

[Slinky Skills]

But he will never go down as a true legend though will he? If I had just won a Championship I would want to win several more, he's 31 G he still has years left in the sport regardless of whether he has the wedge or not, he's shown himself to be a bottler who has taken the easy way out. That's just my take on it.

TBH the way F1 is these days the cars do most of the work for them, it's too easy. They need challenging to show what they are all capable of across a level playing field, it's too easy for them and Mercedes.

I am still baffled by his decision, if he'd won 3 or 4 Championships then fair enough but he won't touch any of the F1 legends now by taking this decision. Maybe he just can't be arsed I don't know but if that is the case why race in the first place.

[G]

It's not that he's afraid of the fight he's just doesn't need it in his life, he's won one, he only wanted one. He's heading off into the sunset with millions in his back pocket and the trophy he always wanted. Fair ****s to him I say.