F1 Thread

[CJ]

It's the same for every team next season bar the Mercs!! Everyone will be trying to improve and the team with the best resources is without a doubt the McLaren outfit, to argue you that is ludicrous whether they do it which I've said time and again is complelty different but they will throw resources at doing so.

Fwiw I think Williams will have another decent season

Not all the teams are fading.

Also I think red bull and Ferrari would argue about the best resources.

[G]

Alonso confirmed he won't be Mercedes powered next season. Not that that clears much up!

[CJ]

So he won't be in any team that no one thought he was going to.

[RichC]

Alonso confirmed he won't be Mercedes powered next season. Not that that clears much up!

Well it rules out a lot of teams he's either going to McLaren staying at Ferrari or taking a break.

Fwiw if he takes a break regardless of how good he is it would be a bit of a risk

[RichC]

Not all the teams are fading.

Also I think red bull and Ferrari would argue about the best resources.

Who said they were ? I said bar the Mercs every team will be trying to press on.

It's widely regarded McLaren have the best resouces with their factory but point taken I'm sure RedBull and Ferrari would argue their set up is as good.

[G]

Well it rules out a lot of teams he's either going to McLaren staying at Ferrari or taking a break.

Fwiw if he takes a break regardless of how good he is it would be a bit of a risk

Agree. A year's break at his age is risky. Obviously it's debatable if there'll be a competitive vacancy in 2016 either. It's McLaren or bust for his chances of another title win I reckon. He has to hope they get the car right and Honda are competitive straight out of the box.

[RichC]

Yeah I think it's most likely McLaren but to get a winning car from the get go with Honda will be very tough but what are the other options, RedBull announced their driver pairing straight away and I can't imagine Hamilton or Rosberg giving their seats up with the Mercs next season.

[G]

Maybe not next season but if Honda look decent next season Hamilton might be persuaded to go home for 2016 giving Alonso a chance of a Merc seat.

[CJ]

Who said they were ? I said bar the Mercs every team will be trying to press on.

It's widely regarded McLaren have the best resouces with their factory but point taken I'm sure RedBull and Ferrari would argue their set up is as good.

Everything I have read on f1 budgets. A useful proxy for resources has red bull co fortably outspending all teams. Merc and Ferrari then behind that is McLaren. Of course you can spend less and do well like force India or Williams this year. Also merc and Ferrari produce engines that clouds the issue.

Yeah I think it's most likely McLaren but to get a winning car from the get go with Honda will be very tough but what are the other options, RedBull announced their driver pairing straight away and I can't imagine Hamilton or Rosberg giving their seats up with the Mercs next season.

Its either McLaren or a year out you would think. There is talk that he is keeping options open for the season after if lewis doesn't renew with merc.

[RichC]

Maybe not next season but if Honda look decent next season Hamilton might be persuaded to go home for 2016 giving Alonso a chance of a Merc seat.

That's a strong possibility I think Lewis will at some point head back to McLaren but if it's an all conquering car again next season it's be tough to leave whilst the Merc team was on top.

[G]

Hopefully it isn't! We've just swapped Red Bull dominance for Mercedes dominance.

Be great if we could get 3 or 4 teams capable of winning regularly next season.

[RichC]

Tough to look past them at the moment though Renault have a lot of work to do with as they're well down on the Mercs power and the same goes for Ferrari.

[G]

Even if it was 3 Merc powered teams. Need a battle at the front.

[RichC]

Even if it was 3 Merc powered teams. Need a battle at the front.

I know what you mean but I can't see another Merc powered team beating them, it'll need to be the likes of Ferrari, Renault or Honda

[Bender]

The race was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was instrumental in realising F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone's 30-year desire to have a grand prix in Russia.

Russia is paying a reputed $50m (£31m) a year for the race, believed to be the the largest hosting fee of any grand prix.
Unusually, Ecclestone stayed until the end of the race, sitting with Putin in the hospitality grandstand.