2016 FORMULA 1 EMIRATES JAPANESE GRAND PRIX RACE ***SPOILERS***

There is a strategy - our drivers do well on merit, we get our hopes up, and then they do their best to blow it.

I only watched the extended highlights on C4, and the whole commentary team was questioning what the hell we were doing with Kimi and Seb.

I wasn't expecting a Ferrari win, but a podium was definitely on the cards, and thought that would have been obvious to Arrivabene's team as soon as the first lap was completed.

Best,
Sammy

 

+1

How many times have we seen Seb question Ferrari's calls the past 2 seasons? There have been 3 or 4 occasions. That shouldn't happen. Driver has far less info than the strategists....yet it seemed his calls have been mostly (if not all) correct!

 

Noted, seen one post by you, seen them all.

 

I love this paragraph from Sky Sports - Sports News, Transfers, Scores | Watch Live Sport "If Rosberg had been Hamilton on the first lap, losing six places in an instant, the criticism would be endless. The fact the German has dealt with the new-for-2016 procedure with relative ease is testament to the hard work he has been putting in, identifying blistering getaways race after race as a crucial factor in this title race."

 

No surprise at Nico adapting to this change for the year with the clutch/start. He scored the highest on the Williams F1 driver-engineering exam when he was with them. He is a naturally intelligent person much like Vettel.

From what I gather Nico always did well in school and he is a multiple language speaker as well. Smart man. Technically adept. Making the most of the talent he has to get the job done. What more does a team need. Id be happy to see Nico at Ferrari.

 

+1

Endless negative talks about everything. You must be the "Mayor" of sad-city..
Why are you still here??

 

Yep, Nico is a total swot, very clever chap. It's no surprise when the going gets technical, he gets the job done, while his teammate struggles to work out why the square shape doesn't fit through the triangular window hehehehe

 

What bob is getting at is that f1 IS boring to tifosi. We aren't winning, or even battling, no one is. The races have a result before they start - Mercedes win - and the rest are playing for the first of the losers. While recent races have had a little action, it is nothing like getting ready to watch a race knowing that ferrari are in the mix to actually win, maybe get towards a title

The interesting part of f1 at the moment for me is to see Elton get beaten, and since ferrari can't do it, we have to count on others like Nico and ricciardo, so although I like the idea of it, if it doesn't happen, I couldn't care less because f1 for me is a strong ferrari.

 

Oh, come on guys, we had way worse races than yesterday´s. The only thing that was definitely missing was a big kablammo between Verstappen and Hamilton, we would have material for debate for months.

IMO, Verstappen´s move was legal but rough. So far he´s been lucky, but that won´t last forever. After one or two DNFs, people will start questioning if he´s a loose cannon instead of the new Jesuschrist.

 

If and when Hamilton decides to grow up, he will find tonnes of people adoring him. IMHO, he has grown to be a brat. Showing respect is one of the earliest things your parents teach you. Ironically, he was well behaved when he first started. And then 'maybe because i'm black' kicked in, and in his stupid lame attempt to be cool and act cool, he's losing the plot.

You are a professional. I saw the press conference, and it was utterly disrespectful of him playing with his smart phone during a press conference. Is this how a world champion behaves, an ambassador of the sport?

Kimi hates press conferences, but instead of choosing to be dramatic and stir crap, he sits there, answer to the point, job done. Hamilton's public comments about the team, will make the team turn against him, just like Mclaren did with Fernando in 2007.

I have no doubt that Nico will be WDC, and I can say that he deserves it. Frankly, i hope he gets it too. As someone posted above. He's a smart chap.

 

+1 LH could use his influence as a WDC and alter the system or at least bring attention to it in another way. The contrast around him for the simple conference was noticeable. Be a professional man. Its just not that hard. As you posted Kimi is the least supportive of the press but gets it done. Im sorry but its not really work im afraid. LH can do alot better without much effort.

 

Missed this one. Fully agree. Interesting to note that Massa earned his first ever reprimand during Saturday quali. Not bad going for a guy who must be up in or near the top 10 for most race starts?

+1 I wouldn't mind him at Ferrari. I'd prefer the current team or Verstappen or Ricciardo in there, but I'd welcome Rosberg. Bit boring at times, but that could be years of PR training doing it's job...

Hehe. +1

+1

For Hamilton it's too late. People have already made their minds up in the last 10 years. They either love him or hate him. Certainly losing fans quicker than gaining them currently?

Very much agree with your comments RE Kimi. Answers questions, and as soon as the presser is done he's out of there. Not playing on his phone for the entire duration of the presser.

As long as Nico's car stays together, he'll win it.

 

No question. Nico is doing a fine job this year. He's making up for any pure pace deficit with superior preparation and race craft. All of this is demonstrated race after race in his start consistency alone.

Just goes to show that no matter how good your god given racing talents are, wining the wdc takes a more thorough application of skills and preparation. That's fair enough in my book. Taking responsibility away from the pit wall and putting it into the cockpit is good.

 

It seems that some already made their minds up on whether Verstappen is a "loose cannon" or "the new Jesuschrist".

Obviously he's neither. Every sportsmen has it's fans, but looking at Vers. performances so far and considering his age and relative inexperience in F1(or anything outside of karting for that matter), no way anyone can deny his talent and skill.

Youngest in everything ever in F1 so far, you don't have to like him, but the kid is good, very good.

 

He is a WDC in the making. One of the best in a long time

 

Nico has the juice doesn't he. Really outstanding stuff.

Lewis is making me even less of a fan with all the whining. Guy might as well go full Diana Ross diva

 

+1

 

So true!!

 

I'm not a Nico fan, but he's taken advantage of things quite well. You can say all day long about this bad luck, that bad engine, that poor race call... whatever. It doesn't matter in the end because in the following years, no one will remember your blown engine or how many DNF's you had because of mechanical issues. That will be forgotten and you'll be where you are in picking order. Look at Seb and Ric in 2014. Seb had horrible luck with a horrible car. Even pre-season was horrible for him with a minimal laps. No one cares. All everyone talks about is how Rick whooped up on 4-time WDC Sebastian Vettel.

For whatever reason, I just don't think Nico is going to be a memorable champion. I don't dislike him, I don't like him. I'm indifferent to him as I think a lot of people are. I think that's his issue.

 

Fully agreed. One time WDC and soon forgotten. Nice guy, zero charisma.

 

But surely all the elton fans will have to acknowledge him as a great, as he is comprehensively beating the guy they all claim is the second coming, pole, fastest in practices, race wins..... has all the tricks in his bag. Hehehe

 

I am not sure if Nico cares about being remembered.

The way I sees it, he just does his job in a very professional manner, and the guy isn't on an ego trip. How refreshing is that !!!

I am not indifferent to him; I like his attitude a lot. I wish every racing driver was like him.

 

I couldn't STAND Nico in his early days with Williams or when he joined Merdedes.

Dude just seemed unhappy and sour during that whole time.

I've been finding a lot more respect and admiration for him these last couple of years, he doesn't seem as "complain-y" as years past and he's really earning this year on merit.

Big jump in respect for him, he's not as "likeable" as Ricc or as "electrifying" as Verstappen, but he'd be a good WDC.

 

I think Nico is a naturally shy individual who made a lot of efforts to come out of his shell to satisfy the demands of F1.

Certainly not an extrovert character like Ricciardo, but a likeable person all the same.

 

+1

No one cares to mention the amount of times Vettel's car broke down. No one. He's had plenty of times when the car just drove without any power because part X failed to function. This cost him plenty of points.

Not to take anything away from Ricciardo. He drove his heart out all season, obviously with a point to prove. Same he did when he heard the Red Bull seat opened up, he started to comprehensively beat Vergne. Ricciardo had it fairly easy with Kvyat, some bad luck. Then Max came, won...Ricciardo stepped up his game again. Wake up call. I think he's having tons of fun out there with Verstappen, battling for honour at the moment. Will be very, very different when they start fighting for the championship...