Formula One 2019

[JasonM]

Honestly at this point, Vettel is better off cutting his losses and take a step back. Go sign on to a major WEC Hypercar outfit to take a crack at Le Mans in the coming years, or hop into Indycar and try to get the Indy 500. He's at an age where he's young, but he's also damn old because of how long he's been in F1. And at this point, he's just rowing against a torrent that isn't letting up. The grid is younger than ever, but if he stays active and finds success elsewhere, there's no reason that a Mercedes wouldn't knock on his door if Lewis ever decides to do something else entirely.

The thing he really needs is success, sustained success. Because right now he's mentally just completely out of wack, he sees Lewis run away with the title year after year, and now Leclerc's stealing his thunder, and the past two seasons were probably his only shot at making Lewis sweat, and he fucked that up himself. So he's just up against it, and right now he's hungry for a validation that his four titles weren't flattered by the fact he was driving in an unstoppable car. That he can win a big one without Red Bull, even if everyone kinda knows he won't.

I don't know, Vettel's a great driver, but his brilliance has often been equaled by sheer stupidity. And he's not matured out of the fickleness as a driver. The success gave him confidence to be the best, but now that he's against the wall he's devolved back into rookie Seb who is too hungry for his own good and makes stupid mistakes trying to prove himself, trying to get more out of himself and his car than he's capable of.

He needs a win, but F1 won't give him that unless he gets his shit together, which he won't do until he gets that win. So he's pretty much up shit creek now.

[Chris2K]

 Brundle and Rosberg pointed out that Leclerc just completely disrespected the agreement with Seb in qualifying by not being close to giving him a tow even if they hadn't completely mistimed everything, so it seems very clear that Charles has forced his way into being the #1 driver both on the track and through mind games.

[Adam]

What, based on one incident in which the entire Top 10 cocked up looking for a slipstream?

The wheels have been coming off of Vettel's career for bloody ages and it's true, he has always had these silly mental errors in him and he hasn't grown out of them.

I'm still miffed his antics essentially cost Mark Webber a World Championship in 2010.

[LUKIE]

2 hours ago, Chris2K said:

 Brundle and Rosberg pointed out that Leclerc just completely disrespected the agreement with Seb in qualifying by not being close to giving him a tow even if they hadn't completely mistimed everything, so it seems very clear that Charles has forced his way into being the #1 driver both on the track and through mind games.

Good.

Vettel should go to Formula E. At least there he can smash into other cars without too many consequences.

[Lineker]

Quote

Former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was admitted to a Paris hospital for "secret treatment" on Monday (September 9), Le Parisien newspaper reported.

Schumacher turned 50 on Jan. 3 but has not been seen in public since a skiing accident in the French Alps five years ago that left him with severe head injuries and in a medically-induced coma for several months.

Schumacher was taken to the Pompidou hospital in southwest Paris on Monday afternoon, Le Parisien said, without citing its sources.

The French newspaper said the former champion would undergo treatment based on stem-cell transfusion by French surgeon Philippe Menasche.

A spokeswoman for Schumacher did not immediately return a request for comment.

Schumacher remains motor racing's most successful driver, with a record 91 grand prix wins. He won his first two titles with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 before five in a row with Ferrari between 2000-2004.

In January his family released a statement saying he was in "the very best of hands".

[LUKIE]

I understand the want for privacy, but it is a bit frustrating to not give any indication on how he is especially since he was such a public figure.

[Chris2K]

Haas have confirmed Magnussen and, for some reason, Grosjean for 2020.

Meanwhile Kubica will leave Williams after 2019, leaving his seat at Williams the only one feasibly available for Hulkenberg.

[Lineker]

Kubica hype train has parked forever  

[LUKIE]

LeClerc is incredible.

[LUKIE]

First time in how long since a Mercedes wasn't on the podium?

[JasonM]

11 hours ago, Barbaro CaverLUKIEo said:

First time in how long since a Mercedes wasn't on the podium?

Germany 2019. Bottas crashed out and Lewis got hit by penalties.
In 2018, Mexico 2018 where they finished 4th and 5th and Austria where they both retired.
2017: Monaco, fourth and seventh
2016: Spain, Nico/Lewis destroyed each other. (Creating Verstappen's RBR debut win)
2015: Hungary (6/8), Singapore (4/RET)

So yeah, it's rare as hell. 89 out of the last 96 races have had at least one Mercedes on the podium... Just insane consistency.

[Lineker]

Quote

McLaren is poised for a return to Mercedes Formula 1 engines in 2021, sources have revealed.

Although McLaren has made good progress since switching from Honda to Renault engines in 2018, it is understood the choice of power unit after its current contract expires in 2020 has been part of the evaluation undertaken by new team principal Andreas Seidl.

It has already announced plans to build a new windtunnel at its Woking base and, aware that new rules from 2021 present a chance to get back in the mix at the front of the field, its engine options have been closely considered.

Autosport understands McLaren's favoured route has been to secure a customer supply with Mercedes.

It has been suggested that talks are now at an advanced stage and a deal could be close.

Both Mercedes and McLaren declined to comment on the matter when approached by Autosport.

While McLaren has enjoyed a performance step with Renault this season and is on course to finish fourth in the constructors' championship, it has also endured frustrations on the reliability front.

Speaking after the Belgian Grand Prix, in which both of McLaren's cars retired following engine issues, Seidl admitted to some disappointment about the lost opportunities problems had caused.

"Renault is making a huge effort in order to bring power updates throughout the season so that's encouraging to see. But of course, [it is] disappointing to have all these penalties and the DNFs in the races," he said.

"It is important that we have a transparent and open relationship there, and that we analyse the issues and try to solve them together."

McLaren enjoyed its most recent successes in Formula 1 with Mercedes in a partnership that lasted from 1995 to '14.

It won drivers' championships with Mika Hakkinen in 1998 and '99, and Lewis Hamilton in '08.

As Mercedes has already concluded a customer supply deal with Williams until 2025, and is believed to have a deal in place with Racing Point for a similar period, a McLaren tie-up would be its third customer.

Under F1's current rules, manufacturers are only allowed to supply a maximum of three teams unless they are granted permission by the governing body.

Article 8.3 of F1's sporting regulations states: "A major car manufacturer may not directly or indirectly supply engines for more than three teams of two cars each without the consent of the FIA."

This means that if supply rules remain as they are, Mercedes will either have to ask permission from the FIA for the McLaren deal to be approved, or to be able to supply its own team from 2021.

However, Appendix 9 of the sporting regulations, which deals with the number of supply deals, could be interpreted as allowing Mercedes to have a third customer without needing approval.

McLaren switching to Mercedes would currently leave Renault without any customer teams.

However, it is understood the manufacturer would be content being able to focus entirely on its own works operation.

[LUKIE]

Leclerc was .400 ahead of Hamilton. Vettel just behind, then another .4 to the next guys.

Madness

[Taxation is Theft]

Sometimes, the first win flips a switch.

[Lineker]

Quote

The Toro Rosso Formula 1 entry will change its name to AlphaTauri next season if rival teams approve a request to do so.

Red Bull's junior team has been on the grid since 2006, after the energy drinks company bought and rebranded Minardi.

It has raced as Scuderia Toro Rosso every year since then, using an Italian translation of Red Bull as its name to honour the new team's Italian predecessor and headquarters.

Red Bull has used Toro Rosso to give its proteges race experience in F1, with the likes of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and current Red Bull star Max Verstappen racing for the junior team.

It has also used Toro Rosso to advertise different products, such as Red Bull's cola and tonic drinks.

Now, Autosport sources have confirmed the team has requested to be rebranded in the name of Red Bull's AlphaTauri fashion label, which was launched two years ago.

AlphaTauri is named after a star in the Taurus constellation, one of the oldest group of stars in the known universe.

A name change requires both the approval of the commercial rights holder and a favourable vote of the F1 Commission.

That will include an e-vote between teams, which is yet to be completed.

[The Lusophone]

Well this is a shambles.

[Katsuya]

I'm sure Vettel wouldn't have done it on purpose, but he definitely could have turned in to that escape road if he wanted and then instead just parked it in the most awkward position he could instead.

Edited September 29, 2019 by Katsuya

[Gazz]

Would it be cynical of me to suggest he did do it on purpose to undermine Leclerc's race and keep him from extending his points lead over Vettel in the WDC?

[Lineker]

Quote

A new team linked to Campos Racing has targeted entering Formula 1 in 2021 with ex-Mercedes protege Pascal Wehrlein as one of its drivers.

Eponymous team owner Adrian Campos and his co-owner Salvatore Gandolfo want to use F1's major rules overhaul in 2021, including a budget cap, to enter a Spanish team.

It intends to use financial backing from Monaco Increase Management, a company founded by Gandolfo that lists ex-Ferrari, Arrows and Super Aguri senior team member Daniele Audetto as an advisor.

Ex-F1 driver Campos has been involved in F1 projects before, most recently as the driving force behind the entry that became Hispania (HRT) entry when he sold it before its F1 debut in 2010.

His collaboration with MIM claims to have held meetings with F1 chiefs Chase Carey and Ross Brawn, while Gandolfo says it has "the financial solidity required by the FIA to make this project a success".

Brawn said in August there had been a "surprising" amount of interest from potential new teams, with one known to be preparing a bid under the Panthera Team Asia name, but they had been told to wait until at least 2022.

The prospect of a new team was also played down during the recent Singapore Grand Prix weekend, when FIA president Jean Todt said he wanted something "concrete" and he had not yet received "strong contact from a relevant, solid team wishing to join F1".

Todt added that the teams interested were not at the same "level" Haas was prior to joining the F1 grid in 2016.

However, though Gandolfo said the "long-term project" is "aware of the big challenges ahead of us", the Campos/MIM collaboration is proceeding with the intention of joining in 2021.

"With the new budget cap, the new distribution of incomes and the new technical and sporting regulations, there is a great opportunity for smaller teams to compete and ultimately to make the FIA Formula 1 World Championship more interesting and balanced again," said Gandolfo.

Experienced F1 aerodynamicist Ben Wood and ex-Super Aguri chief designer Peter McCool are said to have been recruited to the project already.

McCool has been hired as technical director and Wood is slated to be chief aerodynamicist, a role he held while working alongside McCool at Super Aguri and then performed for Brawn and Mercedes before leaving after the 2010 season.

A study conducted by "a team of professional engineers with F1 backgrounds" has been under way since the end of July to establish the feasibility of the entry and will be concluded when F1's new regulations are finalised at the end of October.

The project states it is at "an advanced stage of negotiations" with existing F1 teams and engine manufacturers to strike "the best possible partnership" for 2021.

As it has its roots in Spain but is utilising development expertise in the UK, this could mean something similar to the set-up of Haas, which is split across different countries.

Haas joined the grid with an extensive part supply arrangement with Ferrari, although it is not clear whether the Campos/MIM collaboration would seek something similar.

Renault may pose the most likely option for an engine deal given it will only supply its works team in 2021, making it a logical choice for any new team.

Should it secure an entry, the Campos/MIM entry has specifically named Wehrlein and Spaniard Alex Palou as potential drivers.

Ex-Manor and Sauber driver Wehrlein is known to Campos because he races in Formula E for the Mahindra team, which Campos supports. He currently dovetails his FE programme with a Ferrari development role.

Palou, who has had a varied junior single-seater career, is currently third in Super Formula during a race-winning rookie season in Japan's premier series.

Campos Racing was founded in 1997 and currently competes in F1's two main feeder categories, F2 and F3.

Renault F1 junior Jack Aitken (pictured below) is fighting for third in the F2 championship but its second car has rotated between Dorian Boccolacci, who encountered financial difficulties, LMP2 convert Arjun Maini and likely Euroformula Open champion Marino Sato.

Campos's race-winning GP3 team has struggled with the series' transition to F3 this year, with a driver line-up comprising Sebastian Fernandez, Alessio Deledda and Alex Peroni.

Both the F2 and F3 teams would continue should the new F1 entry go ahead, operating as a junior team. David Vidales, a frontrunner in international karting, has been identified as a long-term option and is poised to begin a testing programme with Campos in old Euro F3 machinery.

[Chris2K]

F1 aren't liking these potential teams looking for publicity it seems (spoilered for size)

Spoiler

Also, Williams are in serious trouble with their sponsors after admitting they retired Kubica at the weekend for no other reason than to save parts. Apparently it can get worse for them.