F1 Most liked posts in thread: 2016 - F1

I think, for at least some teams, pit stop timing has pretty much hit the wall wrt the Law of Diminishing Returns. Still worth practicing to avoid slipping back but the closer you get to zero every additional tenth gained costs MUCH more than the previous few tenths combined.

 

So, Sauber are in financial trouble. There are even rumors they either won't make it to China or won't have tires or otherwise won't be able to race.

Any thoughts on this rumored idea of a save by Ferrari with the intent to turn the team into Alfa-Romeo?

Ferrari may bail out Sauber to pave way for Alfa-Romeo return (gptoday.com)

 

I assume it just takes money, though I'm sure it would be a lot of money and it would come with many Ferrari-benefiting provisos.

 

True, and let's not forget the lesson learned from watching Renault take over Lotus. Wait long enough until they're deep enough in the financial mire and they'll sell out for a euro just to keep the doors open and everyone employed. Plus then creditors will be willing to make deals to avoid ending up with nothing.

I'd hate to watch that sort of blood-letting happen at Sauber with FCA just slowly circling like a vulture waiting for them to collapse.

On the other hand, the story is pure speculation anyway. We may get to watch Sauber circle the drain without someone waiting to pounce. Then the team dissolves, everyone ends up unemployed and the creditors end up with nothing.

So, if I had to pick the lesser of those two evils, I'd rather the former, even if FCA wait to step in until the last possible moment. Would be just as painful to watch but a better resolution in the end. :fingerscrossed:

 

Excellent onboard here of the start and first lap from Hamilton's car: Ride onboard with Hamilton on an eventful opening lap in Bahrain

 

If you remember Benetton's pit fire from 1994, you might be interested in this article by an insider from the time on the rule breaking, the post-fire politics and cover up, etc: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/f1-broken-rules-fire-willem-toet

(FWIW, no idea why it's posted on Linked in but it doesn't matter, you can still see it even if you aren't signed up)

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scA9WlKCBG8"]Jos Verstappen Pitbrand Hockenheim 1994 Benetton - YouTube[/ame]

 

I'm surprised this is happening (in fact, I'm still skeptical that it will) but I guess if nearly everyone is criticizing their new proposal and then the teams bring a unanimous front even Todt and Bernie have to step back. But something tells me this isn't over.....

F1 set to return to 2015-style qualifying (gpupdate.net)

If you haven't heard about the aggregate quali proposal, here's the gist. Three quali sessions. At the end of each session, each driver's two fastest lap times from that session are combined as an aggregate. Those aggregates determine who moves on to Q2 and Q3 and also determine the start order at the end of Q3.