2016 Silly Season Thread

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 22 Nov 2015, 22:03

If all the British coverage was geared towards Will Stevens (or Max Chilton prior to this year) instead, however...?

Faustus · Post by **Faustus** » 23 Nov 2015, 11:39

Lotus is hiring for electronics. 6 month contracts, £20 to £25 per hour.

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 23 Nov 2015, 12:56

dr-baker wrote:If all the British coverage was geared towards Will Stevens (or Max Chilton prior to this year) instead, however...?

The problem isn't the bias. The problem I think is pushing an agenda and being unprofessional.

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 24 Nov 2015, 13:54

Mecachrome applies for Formula 1 engine tender :shock:

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 25 Nov 2015, 00:36

Point 1: should we ask Williams how well that went for them?

Point 2: we all know who with the fishy name was working with Mecachrome, don't we...

(Extra clue to point 2: fill in the Darkthrone lyric. "So ____, so cold... Transilvanian [sic] Hunger!")

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 25 Nov 2015, 11:51

Well, it seems we won't be reliving the glory days of Williams-Mecachrome after all.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 25 Nov 2015, 13:12

Simtek wrote:Well, it seems we won't be reliving the glory days of Williams-Mecachrome after all.

A shame. Ever since teams started to bringing back old successful partnerships to actual days obtaining histories of mediocrity and rejectness, I was hoping to verify if bringing back old mediocre and rejectful partnerships to actual days would pave the way to obtaining successful stories...

Post by **Nuppiz** » 25 Nov 2015, 13:52

Instead, the manufacturers - working with the FIA - will produce a proposal by January 15 2016 that provides solutions to concerns over the power unit, which will focus on:

- Guarantee of the supply of Power Units to teams
- The need to lower the cost of Power Units to customer teams
- Simplification of the technical specification of the power units
- Improved noise

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 25 Nov 2015, 14:02

Nuppiz wrote:
Instead, the manufacturers - working with the FIA - will produce a proposal by January 15 2016 that provides solutions to concerns over the power unit, which will focus on:
- Improved noise

"Improved noise"? I didn't realise that was still a thing. I thought that was all a bit 2014. Anyway, "improved" is a bit subjective isn't it? Maybe I like the quieter engines so for me an improvement would be even quieter cars.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 25 Nov 2015, 16:04

CoopsII wrote:
Nuppiz wrote:
Instead, the manufacturers - working with the FIA - will produce a proposal by January 15 2016 that provides solutions to concerns over the power unit, which will focus on:
- Improved noise

"Improved noise"? I didn't realise that was still a thing. I thought that was all a bit 2014. Anyway, "improved" is a bit subjective isn't it? Maybe I like the quieter engines so for me an improvement would be even quieter cars.

Formula E quiet, perhaps?

There again, the diesel-powered BTCC Seat Leons of about 10 years ago were rather quiet.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 25 Nov 2015, 18:07

As are the Audi Lmp1 cars

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 25 Nov 2015, 18:41

Nuppiz wrote:
Instead, the manufacturers - working with the FIA - will produce a proposal by January 15 2016 that provides solutions to concerns over the power unit, which will focus on:

- Guarantee of the supply of Power Units to teams
- The need to lower the cost of Power Units to customer teams
- Simplification of the technical specification of the power units
- Improved noise

I won't complain if the end result is something like this.

Post by **Londoner** » 26 Nov 2015, 21:39

Sigh. Vive Le IndyCar from 2017 onwards, if they can get a half decent TV deal.

Jan Magnussen · Post by **Rob Dylan** » 26 Nov 2015, 23:24

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/121996
Hamilton up for trying out a Nascar race sometime. Cue the predictable media barrage that HAMILTON'S LOST HIS MOTIVATION AND THAT'S WHY HE'S HAVING HIS WINS STOLEN FROM ROSBERG. I assume they'll harass him about his inevitable move to Nascar until he eventually does go in like 5 years.

AdrianBelmonte_ · Post by **AdrianBelmonte_** » 26 Nov 2015, 23:51

Simtek wrote:I won't complain if the end result is something like this.

I LOVE IT

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 27 Nov 2015, 02:44

East Londoner wrote:

Sigh. Vive Le IndyCar from 2017 onwards, if they can get a half decent TV deal.

Again it just underlines what a daft decision it was to hand the responsibility of running the sport to the teams. They can't make a good decision if their life depended on it. You need a strong FIA, prepared to make the rules and stand by them too, in order to get anywhere. At the moment we have the complete opposite meanwhile the teams are wringing their hands and running around like headless chickens trying to find answers to questions that most F1 fans aren't actually asking.

Izzyeviel · Post by **Izzyeviel** » 27 Nov 2015, 05:04

Hope the new regs do lead to mass complaints about no overtaking - serves all the naysayers about DRS right!

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 27 Nov 2015, 10:14

AndreaModa wrote:
East Londoner wrote:

Sigh. Vive Le IndyCar from 2017 onwards, if they can get a half decent TV deal.

Again it just underlines what a daft decision it was to hand the responsibility of running the sport to the teams. They can't make a good decision if their life depended on it. You need a strong FIA, prepared to make the rules and stand by them too, in order to get anywhere. At the moment we have the complete opposite meanwhile the teams are wringing their hands and running around like headless chickens trying to find answers to questions that most F1 fans aren't actually asking.

Symonds(translated from Portuguese) wrote:Most of the proposals came from Red Bull. There will be a bigger diffuser, a larger front wing and I think it will be more attractive.

I believe enough is said...

Post by **Ataxia** » 27 Nov 2015, 11:04

The thing is, the FIA could have used an independent board - perhaps comprising of people such as Ross Brawn and Gordon Murray - to define the regulations. Instead, they go asking the teams (who have interest in themselves and nothing more) to do it, in particular a team famed for griping when things don't go their way. Where's the common sense? Jean Todt's too busy running around looking after road safety, not that I'm entirely sure what he's actually doing in that respect either.

It's high time someone grabbed the FIA by the bollocks and started steering it into a direction where it's actually trying to make F1 a better environment, rather than letting teams come up with tape-over-the-cracks ideas under a wave of weak-willed management.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 27 Nov 2015, 11:35

Ataxia wrote:It's high time someone grabbed the FIA by the bollocks and started steering it into a direction where it's actually trying to make F1 a better environment, rather than letting teams come up with tape-over-the-cracks ideas under a wave of weak-willed management.

Bring back Max Mosley???

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 27 Nov 2015, 13:14

dr-baker wrote:
Ataxia wrote:It's high time someone grabbed the FIA by the bollocks and started steering it into a direction where it's actually trying to make F1 a better environment, rather than letting teams come up with tape-over-the-cracks ideas under a wave of weak-willed management.

Bring back Max Mosley???

I thought of it but refrained myself being a critic of Mosley ways and days. No, bring in Vatanen or someone else that has, you know, not only guts but can be leader.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 27 Nov 2015, 15:11

Ataxia wrote:The thing is, the FIA could have used an independent board - perhaps comprising of people such as Ross Brawn and Gordon Murray - to define the regulations. Instead, they go asking the teams (who have interest in themselves and nothing more) to do it, in particular a team famed for griping when things don't go their way. Where's the common sense? Jean Todt's too busy running around looking after road safety, not that I'm entirely sure what he's actually doing in that respect either.

It's high time someone grabbed the FIA by the bollocks and started steering it into a direction where it's actually trying to make F1 a better environment, rather than letting teams come up with tape-over-the-cracks ideas under a wave of weak-willed management.

The two words that always crop up are 'self' and 'interest' and they are the reason why positive moves are rarely made. Even the FIA is full of it.

I have no answers, it's just an observation.

Spectoremg · Post by **Spectoremg** » 27 Nov 2015, 17:58

FIA/FIFA - there's only one eFFFFFing letter between them.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 27 Nov 2015, 21:25

I am not surprised whatsoever, the whole 'greater good of the sport' is non-existent now. Still dark ages where there's no overtaking unless it rains is what we need. It is what made them free up the rules in 2009 to reset the board, hard to believe we need that less than ten years later but apparently we do,

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 28 Nov 2015, 16:46

Stoffel Vandoorne scored another GP2 victory today. It's his 11th, putting him 1st in the all-time record books of the GP2 series. I'm impressed and want a Stoffel T-Shirt. Does anybody around here have a suggestion where I might find one?

It's too bad he won't get a McLaren drive next season in spite of all of this - or maybe it isn't, given Honda's performance this year?

Spectoremg · Post by **Spectoremg** » 28 Nov 2015, 16:57

Yannick wrote:Stoffel Vandoorne scored another GP2 victory today. It's his 11th, putting him 1st in the all-time record books of the GP2 series. I'm impressed and want a Stoffel T-Shirt. Does anybody around here have a suggestion where I might find one?

It's too bad he won't get a McLaren drive next season in spite of all of this - or maybe it isn't, given Honda's performance this year?

Or Ron's/Fernando's comments about a sabbatical?

Jan Magnussen · Post by **Rob Dylan** » 28 Nov 2015, 17:18

A wild Stoffel appears!
But seriously, that would be awesome.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 28 Nov 2015, 17:22

Yannick wrote:I'm impressed and want a Stoffel T-Shirt. Does anybody around here have a suggestion where I might find one?

There's this McLaren shirt signed by Button, Magnussen and Vandoorne if that counts

Post by **mario** » 28 Nov 2015, 18:02

Spectoremg wrote:
Yannick wrote:Stoffel Vandoorne scored another GP2 victory today. It's his 11th, putting him 1st in the all-time record books of the GP2 series. I'm impressed and want a Stoffel T-Shirt. Does anybody around here have a suggestion where I might find one?

It's too bad he won't get a McLaren drive next season in spite of all of this - or maybe it isn't, given Honda's performance this year?
Or Ron's/Fernando's comments about a sabbatical?

It'd be a surprise - Alonso seemed a little caught out when they put the question to him after qualifying, and I wouldn't have thought that, even though he is frustrated, he'd want to walk out just yet.

Collieafc · Post by **Collieafc** » 28 Nov 2015, 19:33

Is it a daft idea though? Think about it...if Alonso takes a sabbatical in 2016, it means McLaren can replace him with Stoffel for 2016. Meanwhile Alonso tests 2016/future 2017 car into oblivion, as he is not actually competing in 2016. Button then finishes his contract at the end of 2016 and Alonso comes in to take his place.

It allows McLaren to appease Stoffel with an F1 seat without losing him to another team, while at the same time fufilling their contract obligations to Button. It allows Ron to save face regarding juggling drivers while giving McLaren and Alonso extra time to deliver a winning car and possibly an extra edge in preparing it, whilst giving Stoffel time to bed into F1.

Depending on the testing regs for non-competing drivers it could be a clever move. Then again, Alonso may yet do a Hakkinen...

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 28 Nov 2015, 19:37

Collieafc wrote:Is it a daft idea though? Think about it...if Alonso takes a sabbatical in 2016, it means McLaren can replace him with Stoffel for 2016. Meanwhile Alonso tests 2016/future 2017 car into oblivion, as he is not actually competing in 2016. Button then finishes his contract at the end of 2016 and Alonso comes in to take his place.

It allows McLaren to appease Stoffel with an F1 seat without losing him to another team, while at the same time fufilling their contract obligations to Button. It allows Ron to save face regarding juggling drivers while giving McLaren and Alonso extra time to deliver a winning car and possibly an extra edge in preparing it, whilst giving Stoffel time to bed into F1.

Depending on the testing regs for non-competing drivers it could be a clever move. Then again, Alonso may yet do a Hakkinen...

It doesn't matter whether the driver's competing or not, in-season testing is banned.

Jan Magnussen · Post by **Rob Dylan** » 28 Nov 2015, 19:41

Collieafc wrote:Is it a daft idea though? Think about it...if Alonso takes a sabbatical in 2016, it means McLaren can replace him with Stoffel for 2016. Meanwhile Alonso tests 2016/future 2017 car into oblivion, as he is not actually competing in 2016. Button then finishes his contract at the end of 2016 and Alonso comes in to take his place.

It allows McLaren to appease Stoffel with an F1 seat without losing him to another team, while at the same time fufilling their contract obligations to Button. It allows Ron to save face regarding juggling drivers while giving McLaren and Alonso extra time to deliver a winning car and possibly an extra edge in preparing it, whilst giving Stoffel time to bed into F1.

Depending on the testing regs for non-competing drivers it could be a clever move. Then again, Alonso may yet do a Hakkinen...

And even if Alonso does retire for good, there are plenty of drivers - such as those at Force India - who would be quite dependable in decent machinery. McLaren need to watch out, though, because that Ferrari seat is opening up in 2017 (unless they keep Kimi AGAIN), and they don't have Kevin as a third driver anymore.

Post by **Londoner** » 29 Nov 2015, 10:37

GO HOME RON DENNIS

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 29 Nov 2015, 12:53

Okay, as much as I know that we need every team on the grid, I really could not give a shite if McLaren goes bust now. Completely absurd to expect more from Magnussen.

I mean, for bathplugs sake, Red Bull didn't treat their junior drivers this bad.

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 29 Nov 2015, 13:22

Izzyeviel wrote:Hope the new regs do lead to mass complaints about no overtaking - serves all the naysayers about DRS right!

Back in my day!!

Post by **mario** » 29 Nov 2015, 16:03

Salamander wrote:Okay, as much as I know that we need every team on the grid, I really could not give a shite if McLaren goes bust now. Completely absurd to expect more from Magnussen.

I mean, for bathplugs sake, Red Bull didn't treat their junior drivers this bad.

And we know that they've certainly had a crack at taking that award in the past...

I cannot help but feel that when Ron Dennis says that Magnussen had "very clear goals that he had to achieve, and he did not achieve those goals", the goals are more likely to have been fiscal than performance related given the rumours that Ron Dennis was pushing Magnussen to secure more financial backers in order to justify keeping him over Button.

To be brutally honest, McLaren's driver management has been a real mess in recent years and only seems to have got worse as Ron Dennis has exerted more influence over the team. Really, when did we last see a driver have anything positive to say about McLaren's driver management in recent years?

Kovalainen is still unhappy about how they treated him, even though it is several years since he last drove there, Hamilton seems to have become a pretty lonely and dejected figure within the team before he left, Perez has indicated that McLaren offered him no support and was split by infighting amongst the senior management and the total confusion about Button and Magnussen in 2014 was a total farce that just served to undermine the confidence of both drivers.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 29 Nov 2015, 22:10

East Londoner wrote:GO HOME RON DENNIS

He got a podium in the debut and scored the best result of the team. He fought hard with Button during all season and lost a lot of points due stewards. Like Verstappen jr, he had a pretty good first season.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 30 Nov 2015, 10:37

Dj_bereta wrote:
East Londoner wrote:GO HOME RON DENNIS

He got a podium in the debut and scored the best result of the team. He fought hard with Button during all season and lost a lot of points due stewards. Like Verstappen jr, he had a pretty good first season.

What's worse is that he is seemingly out of a drive in F1 next season which is a crying shame given that he clearly deserves a place in it. I can only hope one of the teams come to their senses. The only reason why I am not enjoying McLaren's current predicament is because Button deserved better and Alonso is a too good driver to be going out like this (he's clearly been unlucky with his career path though).

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 30 Nov 2015, 14:19

DanielPT wrote:Alonso is a too good driver to be going out like this (he's clearly been unlucky with his career path though).

I can see him being remembered for that as much as his success. Hamilton, Vettel and Alonso have all made surprising decisions regarding teams and Alonso is the only one who appears to have made things worse by doing so (so far, you never know).

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 30 Nov 2015, 19:59

Not just his career path: finishing the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix in a points position or passing Petrov and Heidfeld at the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would have added a third title.