All Things Motorsport

[mickthemaverick]

As I understood it Porsche wanted a higher shareholding in the team than Red Bull were prepared to relinquish so basically the issue was over "the final say" in ongoing developments.

[Dormouse]

That may well be the official line but Porsche really wanted Red Bull's newly formed engine manufacture plant. It would have given them an enormous leap forward in F1 engine tech. Hardly worth scrapping over who had the most shares considering it was supposed to be a venture of equals. I hope Porsche have been beavering away like Audi.

[Michel]

That may well be the official line but Porsche really wanted Red Bull's newly formed engine manufacture plant. It would have given them an enormous leap forward in F1 engine tech. Hardly worth scrapping over who had the most shares considering it was supposed to be a venture of equals. I hope Porsche have been beavering away like Audi.

I think RBR were just being awkward, and Porsche had enough of it. It's not like they haven't used amazing engine tech in Endurance racing and their Le Mans cars. It appears to me that RBR are a total pain in the backside to deal with. They've managed to annoy every engine supplier they've had so far, especially Renault, who they treated appallingly, both in private and in public.

[Dormouse]

Totally agree. They have a wealth of engine building experience, just not in F1. The juicy carrot of opening up Honda's F1 secrets was a real golden opportunity for them but working with Red Bull appears to have been the problem, and, as you say, they already knew the issues that RB had in the past with other engine builders so, again, I say, why now?

[Michel]

RBR think they're much more important than they are. They're essentially a soft drinks manufacturer. DM threw a huge amount of money at the team, and it still took them 6 years to win a title - and that was only because Alonso somehow managed to lose it in 2010. Whinger Spice goes on like they're a massive racing great. They're not. Porsche are. Audi are. Mercedes, Renault, Toyota, Ferrari, McLaren are all real car manufacturers with a long history of motorsport success.

RBR get right up my nose, TBH.

[Michel]

On another note, I'm enjoying Danica Patrick being part of the SkyF1 team.

[mickthemaverick]

On another note, I'm enjoying Danica Patrick being part of the SkyF1 team.

You're on your own there Michel, She has only ever raced Indy and lower single seaters and as far as I am concerned has no experience of Formula 1 to talk from. Not to mention it will only be a matter of time before she manages to slip in a rant about breast implant illness. There is a wealth of people available who have driven F1 cars and I'd far rather they concentrate on that pool of experience before bringing in Politically Correct choices to make up the numbers!!

[Michel]

On another note, I'm enjoying Danica Patrick being part of the SkyF1 team.

You're on your own there Michel, She has only ever raced Indy and lower single seaters and as far as I am concerned has no experience of Formula 1 to talk from.

Formula one drivers are tedious as hell. They have the best ones already - Jenson Button, Johnny Herbert, Damon Hill, Brundle, Karun Chandok and Ant Davidson. I can't think of a single other driver I'd like to listen to. Paul di Resta is utterly, utterly tedious, as is Coulthard on C4's coverage.

Sort this list by year competed and honestly, pick any that you've heard speak that you'd actually like to see on the telly from "modern" times that are still alive? There's not a single one. Those who have any sense of humour or irreverence are also sadly men of few words - Mika, Kimi perhaps. Mark Webber? That's your lot. The rest are utterly, utterly tedious and unless they've been active since 2014, have just as much relevant experience as Danica does of a contemporary F1 car.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_F ... ne_drivers

I think you're doing Danica a great disservice. Multiple firsts for women in American auto racing, including first to win an IndyCar Series race, first to clinch a pole position in the NASCAR Cup Series and the most starts, laps led, and top-tens in the NASCAR Cup Series. Highest finish by a woman in the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. One of only 14 drivers to have led both races, highest American two seasons running in the Indycar championship etc etc. She can drive a car fast, that's for sure. She doesn't do breast stuff, she's an ambassador for a couple of COPD charities..

[mickthemaverick]

We are all entitled to our own opinions but mine was formed by my own initial research when I first saw her on Sky:

https://news.yahoo.com/danica-patrick-b ... krY1CAoZsr

That is the first site that came up and I immediately lost interest. I'd rather have anyone who has worked in F1 from driver to pit crew before bringing in outsiders to discuss the sport.

F1 is unique in motorsport in many ways and you have to have been involved directly to be a pundit as far as I am concerned.

[mickthemaverick]

Well now we know, £7million fine and a 10% reduction in CFD this season. Waste of time - I can just imagine the other big teams thinking - "Right we don't need to worry about the CAP too much then!" and of course the small teams will be thinking "Now we have no hope of competing"

It is time someone with huge F1 experience and a proper spine took up the roles of Policeman, Judge and Jury and administered proper punishments that will deter the teams from trying to cheat as well. I would have advocated a Y points deducted from the year in question's championships per £X of overspend.

I personally would advocate 1 point per car per £50,000 of overspend for both drivers and constructors championships.

[NewcastleFalcon]

A brief bit of trivia amongst more weighty matters

This car was up for auction today. One of a special edition of 81 to celebrate each of Lotus' Formula one victories up to 2015. Victory number 47

Can you fill in the blanks

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

My suggestion :

Spoiler: show

[NewcastleFalcon]

My suggestion :

Spoiler: show

May be right Mick but it isn't the answer on the "car" literally, which has to be the answer to the question right or wrong. Your suggestion is a little too recent, out by a reasonably small margin.

Regards Neil

[Hell Razor5543]

Monza, 1972 Italian Grand Prix, Emerson Fittipaldi.

[mickthemaverick]

Interesting Neil!! Have a look at this chart and see if you can determine where the error is:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Grand_Prix_results

I make James' suggestion win number 42 from the list.