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D3-No.435 · Post by **D3-No.435** » Tue May 30, 2017 2:01 pm

Any F1 Fanatics on here?

I'm a loyal Ferrari fan so was obviously overjoyed with the result of the Monaco GP at the weekend. This is my 27th season following the sport and have watched every GP since 1990 (including every qualifying session since 1997).

What's everyone's thoughts on the 2017 season, will the previously dominant Mercedes finally be knocked off the top by Ferrari this year?

Looks like being a two horse race between Vettel & Hamilton / Ferrari & Mercedes for the titles, who's your money on? Or does anyone think another driver/team can beat them both to the title?

dodgyken · Post by **dodgyken** » Tue May 30, 2017 3:30 pm

Wider cars + Monaco = racing fail

I love Monaco for its history but as a race it is a complete and utter waste of time.

Give me 85-95 (non-active) chassis with 2017 engines and components - and go racing.

B10BRW · Post by **B10BRW** » Tue May 30, 2017 5:05 pm

dodgyken wrote:Wider cars + Monaco = racing fail

I love Monaco for its history but as a race it is a complete and utter waste of time.

I agree, it was bad enough over the last few last seasons, with the inability to overtake because of the vortex caused by the car in front.
This year it has made it into more of a procession.
Bring back the racing that Nigel Mansell thrilled us with.
These days races are won in the pits with a quiet word in the leaders ear.

D3-No.435 · Post by **D3-No.435** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 3:10 pm

I somewhat agree with the comments about Monaco but hopefully as the season progresses through different circuits we will see more overtakes.

It's Canada next, that should be a good track to pass on. Following a car through the slow-speed turn 10 shouldn't affect the cars too much and a good slipstream with DRS should make for an easy pass into the chicane.

Monaco has always been a difficult circuit to overtake on so this year was really no different to races in the past. Recall Mansell trying to pass Senna in the final 3 laps in 1992. Even with a car and tyre advantage Mansell couldn't find a way past. Can't really imagine an F1 season without the Monaco GP though.

MickB3 · Post by **MickB3** » Fri Jun 02, 2017 11:21 am

Its good to see Ferrari mixing it up with Mercedes this year. I am hoping Red Bull can step up a little more and challenge.
Monaco is a great spectacle but it not going to give you good racing and Ferrari with the shorter car was going to have an advantage.
I would love to see Max Verstappen up there challenging.

D3-No.435 · Post by **D3-No.435** » Mon Jun 12, 2017 2:25 pm

Canadian GP = Great for Mercedes. Poor for Ferrari. Although Vettel's recovery drive was great to watch as he worked his way back up to 4th from being 18th, Ferrari should have come away from Canada with more than 18 points. At least we had some overtaking.

MickB3 wrote:I would love to see Max Verstappen up there challenging.

Verstappen had a great start, shame the car let him down but don't think he would have challenged Hamilton. Red Bull's podium was well deserved, another lap or two I think Vettel would have passed Ricciardo for 3rd but Red Bull are still a long way behind the red and silver machines.

Hamilton's win has closed the gap. The season is getting very interesting...

B10BRW · Post by **B10BRW** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 12:59 am

Interesting that the other Ferrari had a "technical problem" and let Vettel pass.
Force India need to have a word with Perez, Ocon could have/might have finished third.

D3-No.435 · Post by **D3-No.435** » Wed Jun 14, 2017 7:34 am

The conspiracy theorists will say Kimi's issues were a way of getting Vettel ahead of Kimi but i don't think that was the case. Kimi's pace towards the end showed he was in trouble.

Team orders exist in every team, more so at Ferrari but Ocon must feel hard done by. He was definitely on for a podium but Perez being the team leader was never going to give it up. Anyone notice Ocon did not apply DRS after the final corner on the last lap, he had a much better exit out the final chicane, I think he would have passed Perez before the finishing line if DRS was employed.

Roll on Baku.....

Post by **Charles** » Wed Jun 14, 2017 9:39 pm

I picked up an interesting snippet the other day along the lines that Ferrari complained about a particular part of the Mercedes suspension set-up that they had used last year and was on this year's car until just before the opening race when the complaint was upheld.

I think it was referred to as a "forcing spring" or suchlike and it was an important feature in how the car was able to get the tyres on song quickly.

Anyway, my guess is that Mercedes have found an alternative way of achieving the same thing and this will stretch the gap between them and Ferrari again.

The next few races will be telling ...

ETA - here's what I was trying to explain

D3-No.435 · Post by **D3-No.435** » Thu Jun 15, 2017 2:26 pm

Very interesting read that. Similar to an article i read on Autosport website before the season began but this was much more detailed.

It's obvious the changes have affected both Mercedes and Red Bull but i agree with you Charles, it does seem that Mercedes are working around the issue. It would be nice if the Ferrari/Mercedes battle continues throughout the season just to keep things interesting - I certainly don't want Hamilton/Mercedes to run away with both championships.

D3-No.435 · Post by **D3-No.435** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 5:12 pm

Peoples thoughts on the Vettel/Hamilton incident in the Azerbaijan GP?

PhillV8S · Post by **PhillV8S** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 5:45 pm

I think Vettel has watched a few of Schumacher's old race moves and tips on how to keep the opposition at bay!

Post by **Charles** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 11:35 pm

Vettel should have been disqualified from the race - anything less sends the wrong message to younger drivers both in F1 and lower down the levels.

The stewards said that Hamilton did NOT brake and repeated what he did on previous restarts which was perfectly acceptable.

Meanwhile Vettel f***s up, blames everyone but himself and drives like a complete idiot in a fit of pique ... what would have happened if he had damaged Hamilton's car such that it broke and crashed at over 200mph along the main straight?

D3-No.435 · Post by **D3-No.435** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 8:39 pm

I was shocked watching Vettel's actions but i do believe the 10 second stop/go penalty was the correct punishment for the crime. It's the most stern penalty that can be dished out during a race. In my opinion disqualification or a ban would have been harsh.

I think Hamilton's headrest issue and Vettel finishing ahead of him and extending the championship lead has highlighted Vettel's maneuver more so. If Hamilton had won the race and Vettel had finished 5th i don't think there would have been as much said or written about the incident.

What was a friendly championship battle has now intensified into a war.

MickB3 · Post by **MickB3** » Wed Jun 28, 2017 10:14 am

I think Vettel should have been black flagged. It sends the wrong message that road rage is acceptable. I am willing to bet that if one of the younger drivers had acted in the same way they would have been dealt with much more harshly. Saying that, I am not a fan of either

and it was great to see such a happy podium with everyone talking to one another.

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