Jump to content

Formula One 2017


Lineker

Recommended Posts

2 hours ago, Katsuya loves Oslo said:

Kubica on Sky Sports Italia today:

"Despite my limitations, i know that i can do what i did 6 years ago. I feel like a formula 1 driver and if there is opportunity - i am ready".

My body is ready, Kubie.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alonso retired with an engine failure, then took off into the stands with the fans because he just couldn't give a fuck anymore.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think Vettel would have got both the Force India's anyway, to be honest. Maybe they'd have ended 4th and 6th if Ocon had been ahead of Perez, but Horner pretty much said "yeah, if Perez couldn't pass Ricciardo, then Ocon wouldn't have".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Katsuya loves Oslo said:

I think Vettel would have got both the Force India's anyway, to be honest. Maybe they'd have ended 4th and 6th if Ocon had been ahead of Perez, but Horner pretty much said "yeah, if Perez couldn't pass Ricciardo, then Ocon wouldn't have".

One thing I don't understand, though. Vettel clearly pushed Ocon off the track by coming in too fast at a terrible angle (same angle as the Perez/Massa crash from 2 years ago), causing Ocon to lose all his speed.

Shouldn't Vettel have given back that position? Or at least be penalized in some way, because Vettel just got away with some reckless driving.

Also, every time I think I can't love Patrick Stewart more, and he proves me wrong. That man is a treasure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, Jasonmufc said:

One thing I don't understand, though. Vettel clearly pushed Ocon off the track by coming in too fast at a terrible angle (same angle as the Perez/Massa crash from 2 years ago), causing Ocon to lose all his speed.

Shouldn't Vettel have given back that position? Or at least be penalized in some way, because Vettel just got away with some reckless driving.

Also, every time I think I can't love Patrick Stewart more, and he proves me wrong. That man is a treasure.

Technically, Vettel gave him a car's width of room. Ocon was already well off the racing line and probably would have ended up on the grass if he had turned in for the corner normally at that point anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Admin
Quote

Force India is considering changing its name to take on a more "international flavour" and make the Formula 1 team more attractive to potential new sponsors, says boss Vijay Mallya.

Mallya bought the outfit that was known as Jordan, Midland and Spyker, and rebranded it Force India in 2008, aiming to bring Indian sponsors and a driver from the nation into F1.

Force India has progressed up the field, finishing a career-best fourth in the constructors' championship last year and it currently holds that position after seven races in 2017.

But while it has delivered impressive performances and added sponsors, such as water technology specialist BWT this season, the team has not had much success bringing Indian companies onboard.

"There is a growing feeling that maybe since we are a much-improved team in terms of performance and attracting more international sponsors, and sadly less Indian sponsors, there is a debate as to why the name should not be changed to give it a more international flavour," Mallya said.

"There are some people who believe the current name Force India is restrictive psychologically.

"I'm considering along with the other shareholders what steps to take but it's a major decision and one that is not going to be taken in a hurry without due consideration.

"More importantly, we have to look at the way the F1 scenario is unfolding under Liberty ownership.

"If they follow the NFL model, then of course the name becomes even more important because it's a franchise model where the focus is on the name.

"But the current pattern may continue.

"These are all issues I'll consider with the other shareholders before arriving at any final conclusion."

This is not the first time Force India has considered a name change, coming close to rebranding itself as Aston Martin Racing for 2016, only for the deal to collapse at the final hurdle.

Mallya said there was a "proposal on the table" from a sponsor regarding the name change while adding the team is in "negotiations for some additional sponsorships as well".

He said the fact he is considering a name change has "absolutely" nothing to do with his current legal situation.

Authorities in India are chasing Mallya for around £900million they claim he owes in the wake of the collapse of one of his businesses, Kingfisher Airlines, in 2013.

Mallya had his diplomatic passport revoked last April, with a warrant issued for his arrest, and he has since been residing in the UK.

"The fact the country of India and me are not the best partners is something that has been going on for a few years now," said Mallya.

"This is nothing new. I haven't in the last few years considered any name change.

"It's purely to do with current sponsorship, a proposal on the table and sponsorship going forward for the team."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Honestly, I don't know what Mallya is doing right now. He's under extreme scrutiny about his tax dodging and frivolous spending of money, and the last thing he needs to do right now is associate himself with his racing team.

Sure, he might be team principal who brought the team into the sport and made them into what they are now, but the reason sponsors stay away is partly because they don't want to be associated with a man that's exiled himself for allegedly committing high level fraud in his home country. That's not a good look for anyone, and he's not of a level of Bernie Ecclestone or Max Mosley where it doesn't affect anything.

I agree they need to change their name, it would be a good step to make the team more recognisable and sound less 'mid-tabley'. But that's just one thing they need to change, and Mallya stepping into a honorary role would be even better to make the team more attractive for sponsors. 

The rumours in the past were that VAG wanted to make a move into F1, and that Force India would be the prime team for a takeover bid. And honestly, Audi would be the perfect name to slap onto a F1 car. Especially now that the whole scandal is finally dying down again. With Bernie not in play anymore, they might be able to discuss very good terms for the team and future rule adjustments that play into Audi's roadcar focus.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Jasonmufc said:

The rumours in the past were that VAG wanted to make a move into F1

I know you're referring to the Volkswagen/Audi Group but oh man, the immature part of me really wants to see him rename his team to "Vag F1". Already got the pink livery and everything :shifty:

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-renault-warns-palmer-deliver-918842/

Quote

Renault warns Palmer he "has to deliver" soon

Renault Sport F1 boss Cyril Abiteboul says that Jolyon Palmer "has to deliver" and start scoring points for the Enstone team on a regular basis.

After a difficult start to the 2017 season, the Englishman earned 11th places in both Monaco and Montreal.

Meanwhile, his teammate Nico Hulkenberg has finished in the top 10 four times in the last five events, and scored all 18 of the team's points.

While the past two races have taken some of the pressure off Palmer, scoring with both drivers is of paramount importance for Renault, currently seventh in the standings.

Asked if Palmer was safe from the threat of being replaced – and whether the team had an alternative candidate who could do better – Abiteboul told Motorsport.com: "No one is safe in F1.

"F1 is not an environment where anyone can say loudly, 'I'm safe'. To a certain degree there are two questions. There is Jo, and there is a second driver. Right now my focus is on Jo. Jo has to deliver.

"What would happen then, I don't want to elaborate on that, and even further, who would be stepping in, because that's absolutely not the point for today.

"The fact is that Jo has a car which is a point-scoring car, and he has to enter into the points. Full stop."

Regarding a deadline for an upturn in form, he said: "I would hope that by the summer break I would be able to leave on holiday in sixth position in the championship."

 

Abiteboul said it was "unfair" for Hulkenberg to have all the pressure to score points for the team.

"There is a bigger picture for the team, for Renault, for our partners, but also for the two guys racing the car," Abiteboul added.

"Right now I feel that it's a bit almost unfair to Nico, who has to do a lot. The team is clearly very dependent on him.

"You could see that in Monaco. When Nico is out of the game, including for reasons beyond his control like when he had his gearbox failure, we struggle to finish in the points, despite a number of cars that were also not finishing the race. It's a challenge.

"We see that there is a very substantial gap between Nico and Jo in qualifying, and in the race. We are discussing on a regular basis obviously with Jo to see how he can improve."

Abiteboul conceded that Palmer had endured some bad luck in the early races, losing valuable track time and so on.

"The first thing we had to do was deliver him a weekend that was a clean weekend, and we did that in Monaco.

"It was the first time in a while that we'd done that, and for me that weekend was almost a restart for the season for the relationship between Jo and the team, that is finally providing him the right platform in order for him to improve his game, and hopefully eventually to deliver.

"That process has to lead to a position where Jo will also make a contribution to the championship."

Edited by Jasonmufc
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. To learn more, see our Privacy Policy