Most liked posts in thread: 2014 - F1

beken · Nov 3, 2014

I had set my DVR to record the race only to find the race on TV was pre-empted by a football game. This has happened 3 times this year. F1 just gets no slack here. Must be the lack of Canadian content. :incazzato:

mrntd · Nov 4, 2014

Nathan said: ↑

Lewis: I know what it takes to be champ
'My dad always said 'Drive like you stole it''

My dad always said 'Drive like you stole it' - Hamilton | Mercedes | Formula 1 news, live F1 | ESPN F1
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Well he did with his 1st championship. At least in my opinion.

Zapski · Nov 4, 2014

Soooo... anyone else thinking that this might be the last season of F1 ever?

BBC Sport - US Grand Prix: Lotus, Force India and Sauber talked out of boycott

A potential US Grand Prix boycott was averted by the intervention of the man who runs Formula 1, Eddie Jordan says.

Lotus, Sauber and Force India considered skipping the race in protest at what they see as an inequitable split in the sport's revenues and had organised a news conference on Sunday.

Jordan, BBC F1's chief analyst, says Donald MacKenzie, co-chairman of F1's largest shareholder, CVC Capital Partners, phoned Lotus boss Gerard Lopez and promised to address their concerns.

MacKenzie said he would do this irrespective of Bernie Ecclestone's position.

As co-chairman and co-founder of CVC Capital Partners, the main shareholder of the group of companies that own F1's commercial rights, MacKenzie employs Ecclestone to run the sport.

He persuaded Lopez to call off the news conference ahead of the race, Jordan says, promising that he would do something to ensure the smaller teams earned more money from the sport.

Force India's Bob Fernley
Force India's Fernley said a US GP boycott was 'on the table'
The intervention raised questions about whether Ecclestone's once iron grip on F1 was loosening, Jordan said.

Ecclestone had said he was to blame for the financial problems afflicting some of the smaller teams.

Talks are planned this week, aimed at trying to solve what has so far been an intractable problem.

The smaller teams are caught between having a relatively small amount of income from F1's commercial rights holders, declining sponsorship figures as a result of the global financial slowdown, declining overall worldwide television audiences and rising costs.

The sport's two smallest teams, Marussia and Caterham, went into administration last month and missed the US race.

But Christian Horner, boss of the Red Bull team that won four consecutive championships from 2010-13, said it was not for the bigger teams to reduce their incomes.

Eddie Jordan
Formula 1 in midst of financial crisis - Jordan
"Teams are here to compete and not sponsor each other," Horner said, adding: "If the commercial rights holder wants to put more money into smaller teams that's their choice and responsibility."

But Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said he believed the leading teams should discuss a redistribution of income.

"We know why we ended up here, it was important for Bernie to re-sign the big teams," he said.

"Today we find ourselves in a situation which is not good. Two of the smaller teams left and some of the others are struggling.

"It is a matter for the teams to discuss with Bernie what can be done. If the bigger teams can do something, we should discuss that.

"Let's see what Bernie comes up with but I guess it's a relationship between the commercial rights holder and the smaller teams."

Lopez told the German magazine Auto Motor Und Sport that the smaller teams expected concrete proposals before this weekend's Brazilian race or they would consider staging a boycott at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi on 23 November.
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Zapski · Nov 4, 2014

Formula 1's top teams not willing to sacrifice income - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

Formula 1's big teams have made it clear that they are not willing to accept sacrificing their own commercial rights income to help the smaller outfits.

In the wake of comments from Bernie Ecclestone that a way to solve F1's cost crisis would be to change the way income is distributed, the bigger squads have baulked at the idea.

They argue that they should not be singled out as the ones who need to make changes simply because they were successful in agreeing better deals with the sport's owners.

When asked by AUTOSPORT about Ecclestone's suggestions the bigger outfits hand over some of their payments to fund the poorer teams, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said: "That is awfully nice of Bernie to suggest that.

"Every team has negotiated his deal with the commercial rights holder and I think it is an issue that needs to be asked of him about the distribution of money.

"We have signed agreements, and I am not convinced that even if you double the money to Caterham and Marussia it would have solved their issues.

"Their issues are more fundamental on what are the cost-drivers rather than what is the income."

Horner is adamant that the only way forward is for F1's owner CVC to pay more out of its profits to help keep the smaller teams alive.

"We have huge budget pressures, and I have to operate within our budget," he said.

"If the commercial rights holder wants to put in place more money to the smaller teams then that is their choice and their responsibility.

"Teams are here to compete, not sponsor each other."

Ferrari team principal Marco Mattiacci believes the best answer would be for F1 to attract more income in the first place - which would help out all teams.

"Ferrari is very focused to make the cake bigger and not to change the different ways of how to slice the cake," he said. "We don't have to overreact.

"We need to first look at how to increase revenues, that is priority number one.

"The second is to make sure that who comes in F1 is very aware of the challenge of F1.

"This sport is innovation, innovation costs money, a lot of investment, and long-term investment. So we keep investing in F1: that's our focus."

MERCEDES OPEN TO TALKS

But Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff said that the bigger teams should at least speak to Ecclestone if he thinks there is a compromise that can be reached.

Toto Wolff, F1 2014
"We know why we ended up here," he said. "It was important for Bernie to re-sign the big teams who are the main cast of Formula 1.

"Today we find ourselves in a situation which is not good as two of the smaller new teams have left and some of the others are struggling.

"It is a matter for the teams to discuss it with Bernie. It is his call and if the so-called bigger teams can do something then I think we should sit around a table and discuss it.

"As Mercedes I don't feel we are the primary target because we are far away from what some of the other teams get, so let's see what Bernie comes up with."
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mrntd · Nov 6, 2014

Looking at those numbers and taking the minimum amount cost ($129 mil) from last week, only 3 teams (Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes) could afford the minimum on the money from the commercial rites. The rest is all from sponsors.

Not a real workable financial formula.

Steve · Nov 6, 2014

mrntd said: ↑

Looking at those numbers and taking the minimum amount cost ($129 mil) from last week, only 3 teams (Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes) could afford the minimum on the money from the commercial rites. The rest is all from sponsors.

Not a real workable financial formula.
Click to expand...

Yes, sponsors, but also their own money. If you can take in enough from all sources you can avoid spending your own money and, if you budget well, you could even post a profit. Neither of which are likely if your check from CVC is only $10M. You couldn't have even paid for a V8 engine contract with $10M.

Steve · Nov 6, 2014

Steve · Nov 7, 2014

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo0GPL-RT4k"]NBC Sports Haas F1 Team Interview, Part I: Gene Haas - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAkZSaUk7mE"]NBC Sports Haas F1 Team Interview, Part II: Guenther Steiner - YouTube[/ame]

Nathan · Nov 7, 2014

Marussia closed its door for good today.

Nice farewell article Farewell to Marussia - F1 Opinion - Motor Sport Magazine

Nathan · Nov 7, 2014

Crowd funding to get Caterham to Abu Dhabi

https://www.crowdcube.com/caterham/

minirab · Nov 8, 2014

Nathan said: ↑

Crowd funding to get Caterham to Abu Dhabi

https://www.crowdcube.com/caterham/
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Pretty neat idea...if it works.

minirab · Nov 10, 2014

Yeah, but he has the street creds.

ScottinBend · Nov 10, 2014

Yea.....but those streets were paved over years ago........

Steve · Nov 10, 2014

New points system for final race

by Sniff Petrol on Monday, November 10th, 2014

Following extraordinary scenes on the podium in Brazil, the FIA is to scrap the planned double points rule for Abu Dhabi and replace it with a system called â€˜Piquet pointsâ€™, awarded according to how much three-times world champion and live interview sex pest Nelson Piquet fancies each driversâ€™ girlfriend.

â€˜This is sure to give Lewis Hamilton the upper hand,â€™ noted Maurice Ital of Every Other Sunday magazine. â€˜Piquet really fancies Nicole Whatserface and would definitely like to spend time with her, assuming sheâ€™d want the company of someone who looks like a pervy retiree hanging around the sea front at Nice staring at girls from his 17 year old Ferrari.â€™

Conversely, the bizarre new season ending rule could be bad news for Nico Rosberg as paddock rumours suggest that Piquet finds Vivian Sibold â€˜a bit paleâ€™.

For Red Bullâ€™s Daniel Ricciardo, however, the strange short-notice ruling could be good news; â€˜Piquet really likes the look of his girlfriend,â€™ Ital confirmed. â€˜He was overheard in Brazil saying he definitely wouldnâ€™t kick her out of bed for not mentioning his 1982 win in Rio.â€™

The Piquet-based system is not the first time F1 has attempted an unsettlingly sex pesty points scheme. In 1998 the FIA planned to introduce â€˜Flav scoresâ€™ in which drivers would be awarded extra points depending on how often leathery human testicle Flavio Briatore had attempted to stroke their wife or girlfriend. The plan was abandoned when it was realised the championship would end with every driver on one million points.
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mrntd · Nov 11, 2014

So Bernie wants to scrap the V6s and go back to the V8s in the name of cost savings. What say you all? Keep the expensive V6 hybrid power units. Or go with screaming V8 engines.

Zapski · Nov 11, 2014

Bernie says a lot of stuff. Most of it crap.

I'm fine with the new engines, bad sound and all. If F1 is to be relevant to the cutting edge of automotive technologies, then it needs to move ahead of where the automotive industry is now. Politics aside, the future is coming wether we like it or not, and the trend is towards more complicated, more efficient engines.

Traditionally the first year of any new technology is always more expensive than the subsequent years. The problem is not the engines or the technology, it's Bernie.

He's saying a lot of different things to see what sticks. Throw enough manure at a wall and eventually you have plaster.

It's a negotiating tactic, just like the three car / five team blather.

Minidave · Nov 11, 2014

If they really wanted to be cutting edge relevant, they should have gone to 4 cyl engines - that's where all the mfrs are concentrating the majority of their efforts and engineering resources. There might have been some synergy there, especially with mfrs like Honda, VW and Ford.

Zapski · Nov 11, 2014

They wanted to, but Ferrari put the kibosh on it because, as they said "We don't make 4 Cylinder Ferraris."

Everyone else was fine with 4, but... well... Ferrari. And I'm kind of cool with that to be honest. The world will be a little sadder when there's a 4 banger Enzo.

Steve · Nov 11, 2014

Renault threatened to drop out if they didn't switch from V8s to 4 or 6 cyl engines with some hybrid tech. Less than a week ago Lauda claimed that if F1 switches back to V8s Merc will drop out. We all know ostentatious threats are a method of getting your way in F1 so there may be nothing behind Lauda's threat but it at least shows there's an engine supply concern regardless of what sort of lump the teams and drivers would like to have in their cars. I wonder whether Honda would have jumped in if they were still using V8s.

Ferrari would be happy with a switch back to V8s. Horner says Red Bull like the idea but then they're not building engines or selling road cars.....plus I'm sure they have no trouble remembering they had V8s in their cars when they won all their championships.

I'm also fairly certain they wouldn't go back to the same V8s they finished with. One way or another, the FIA and/or engine manufacturers (minus Ferrari) would push for changes to make them more 'relevant' and 'greener' so they'd need to redesign and redevelop - expensive - and the engines would likely cost more than they did.

Zapski · Nov 11, 2014

Sounds like Sour Grapes from Horner to me. I'm with Mercedes - if 92% of the engine is free to be developed then it seems there's no need to unfreeze the spec. I highly doubt the 8% that's frozen is the split turbo, but I could be wrong.

Also some bolding on my part to support what Steve said.

BBC Sport - Red Bull back rivals' calls to open up F1 engine development

Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner has threatened to join with rival teams to tear up restrictions on engine development from 2016.

Renault, Ferrari and Honda want an extra step of development during the season to try to catch Mercedes.

Talks over the issue broke down at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

"There are no guarantees we can close that gap significantly to Mercedes but not having the opportunity to do so seems pretty unpalatable," Horner said.

Teams are currently only allowed to develop their engines during the winter.

Change in 2016 would require only majority agreement, whereas unanimous agreement is needed for a relaxation of the rules for 2015.

Horner said: "I think that's the only option because with a majority vote '16, '17, '18 can be open, which is ridiculous because it just means we're all going to end up spending a lot more money over a longer period of time, whereas it should be opened to allow Renault, Ferrari, Honda to close the gap."

World champions Mercedes argue the current rules allow plenty of scope for development, saying 92% of the engine design can be changed for next season.

They have, though, offered a limited relaxation of the in-season restrictions for next year, with a proposal for a small number of extra changes to be allowed mid-season. But rivals Renault, Ferrari and, from next year, Honda, want more.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said: "I don't think it's the way forward trying to unsettle the system and saying if you don't agree for '15 , we are going to turn the whole thing upside down, [and have an] engine war.

"You're looking a bit too narrow on your own team's performance and not considering what is going on around you in F1."

Toto Wolff
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff wants to keep the current restrictions on engine development
Horner has blamed the adoption of new turbo hybrid engines this season for the problems of the small teams, because engine bills have at least doubled.

He said F1 ought to consider a return to the previous outdated V8 normally aspirated engines.

"Nobody likes to go backwards but sometimes desperate means require desperate measures," he said.

"You look at the costs of these power units. How sustainable is it for all the teams and indeed the manufacturers?

"I think it's extremely unlikely [F1 would go back to the V8s] but if we were rational about it then yes we would."

But Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda said the German company would pull out of F1 if the turbo hybrid engines were abandoned.

And Renault have previously said they would no longer be in F1 if the new engines had not been introduced.

The manufacturers pushed for their adoption because they considered the previous naturally aspirated V8s were no longer relevant to road-car development.

When it was put to him that the road-car manufacturers would quit F1 if the sport returned to the old engines, Horner said: "They might pull out anyway [because of the increasing costs]. It's just a crazy situation; completely nuts."
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