133 responses to “Daily #F1 News and Comment: Monday 10th March 2014”

1. Ahhhh GMM, since when was Massa a diminutive Briton??

2. When will Villeneuve realise nobody cares about his contrary opinions anymore?? I take all his words with a pinch of salt to be honest. He’s one of those annoying people that has to have a different opinion to anyone else just so people don’t forget about him. It’s quite sad really

   • Totally agree.

     And on “It’s good for (Felipe) Massa, because he was finished and for a few years didn’t even seem like an F1 driver. I think that shows just how good his car is.”

     Who’s talking? The pot calling the kettle black!

   • Tommo, I presume that the journalist that asked him the question(s) cares about his opinions – if only to generate a controversial headline. Whatever else JV may be accused of, you can hardly blame him for answering…

     • True, but why the need for the extreme negativity, unnecessary put downs on drivers and dismissing of a sport that is probably going to have its most exciting season for a long long time? He’s obviously got some bitter feelings towards the sport. Can’t see why else you’d be so upset about it!

       • Tommo, I appreciate hearing JV’s opinions and am glad he is willing to speak w/o filtering his words much. I don’t always agree with what he says, but that doesn’t mean I would want him silenced.

         I think it’s fair to not like JV or disagree w/ his comments or find his critical opinions off-putting, but surely you would agree that there are many, many people the world over who want to hear what JV has to say, no?

         Say he’s stupid if you want, but to claim that “no one” is interested in his thoughts is a logical fallacy of the highest order…

     • But you can blame him for the nonsensical answers – as you might praise someone for sensible answers.

3. So Ferrari have been sand-bagging? We’ll see.

   Massa is an idiot. Four years ago he was told by the team to move over as they chased the WDC. He knew the game then and he knows it now and he plays on it. Pathetic.
   I am enraged at Jean Todt, not only for making the public believe that Ferrari always had a number 1 policy but for signing this drippy man back in 2006. Top level sports people have steel for back bones not jelly; could you imagine Mansell or Senna complaining like little girls.

   As to the RBR policy of spending whatever they choose. No matter what level of genius Adrian Newey has, can somebody explain to me how RBR can ignore limits imposed on the teams as far as wind tunnel use is concerned – how can they possibly build a new car in a matter of weeks when lead time for some items is months?

   To me this is a team trying to breed fear where none exists

   • It looks like Carlo accidentally ate some angry pills this morning. Carlo, my dear enraged friend, when Massa was asked to move over four years ago, it was actually illegal for the team to do so as team orders were forbidden in 2010. Your rant is entirely unfounded. Massa had outqualified Alonso more than anyone else. He’s taken tragic knocks that would have broken the will of a Klingon and he still moved on.
     Sorry to say, on the topic of Massa I disagree with you in the strongest terns.

     • great Hippo, well done

       and about carlo, I don’t care about his stupid comment, italians are usually prone to this type of mental instability, as well as brazilian and any other latin people

       maybe he forgot the 3 races Ferrari screwed in strategy or failures, throwning out at least 25 points in 2008, or even 2007 when FM was fighting closely, even led the table, when suspension went out in Monza

       it’s sad when someone goes out to post comments filled with anger

       • R/T, I object to the ‘mental instability’ comment. Italians might be a bit more emotional and passionate than others, but they’re not mentally instable.

         • A bit of both
           here at the harbour at the oil platform building plant, we have many foreigners, now a “mass” of italians came with Agip Saipem, to develop and work with native brazilians, and they’re quite unstable, and emotional too
           pretty much like any latin people

         • R/T – What type of insults do you have for the other nationalities?

           Please start with the Germans, and then insult the English!

           Then would you insult the US folks, and follow with insults for the Canadians?

         • Enzo, sorry
           I don’t want to hurt any feelings, then again sorry if I indeed overreacted and missed the mark

           but I don’t think it’s fair to label FM “an idiot”

           ciao

         • Ok.

       • Excuse me?
         Now I could just tell you to go f*ck yourself RT, but I won’t.
         What’s the matter , some Italian stallion shagged your girlfriend, and did a better job than you?
         What does RT stand for anyway, Racist Twat?

         • and enzo, mind your manners, or then I’ll be forced to tell you to go f_ck you, too
           to begin with, the conversation wasn’t even with you, and was not in these terms, so, give a break

           as for the “stallion”, the guys I know here, they’re only catch the “professionals” or the “bagaceiras”, term used to describe an “appearance challenged woman”, let’s say, simply ugly, and regarding jobs, they’re here, as many others from Spain and other countries, just cause their local economies are in the s__t, as well as many fellow brazilians took the opposite route when BR economy was sinking, so, you got no valid point in attacking, mate

           cheers

         • Funny that you mention manners…

         • Enzo, sorry
           I don’t want to hurt any feelings, the again sorry if I indeed missed the mark
           ciao

         • Enzo, sorry
           I don’t want to hurt any feelings, then again sorry if I indeed overreacted and missed the mark, still

           but I don’t think it’s fair to label FM “an idiot”

           ciao

         • Comment of the month, really made me laugh.
           Nice1 Enzo.

       • “as well as brazilian and any other latin people”

         Oh Man, you have issues…

   • Felipe Baby!

     • Will – “Felipe Baby!”

       Perhaps you could share some perspectives that you’ve seen from Brazilians on any negative impact that Rob Smedley may have had on Felipe Massa.

       For instance, have folks thought Smedley was slightly demeaning and patronizing in his communications with Massa, (“Thatta boy!”, Felipe Baby!”, etc.)? The relationship tended toward a father / son relationship which is a little disturbing to see at the highest level of racing.

       I’ve often wondered if Smedley’s subtle tone was purposeful to ensure Massa’s compliance as a #2.

       If that is true, then it follows that having a more typical relationship with his race engineer at Williams will help Felipe to better visualize himself as a lead driver.

       I’ve not yet seen anything on that angle, but am hoping we will this season…

       • to begin with, brazilians have something called here by famous writter as “complexo de vira lata” loosely meaning “slum dog complex”
         FM had a beautiful fighting history to climb up the ladder until coming to F1, yet brazilians often mock and insult him, they did it even more with Barrichello, making fun of anything, and not giving credit to any of his successes
         to some point, being brazilian too, I hope Rob stays far away from FM, race wise speaking

         • Funny you mention Rob R/T. I have a friend who works for Aston Martin but used to work for Lotus cars. According to him Smedley is not rated by the engineering folk at all… whatever that may mean.

           Sam Michael also springs to mind but then, both are working on F1 while I’m not.. maybe I’m just jealous 😛

         • Don Quixote
           by no means I’m attacking Rob, he’s certainly a talented guy who studied and fought to be where he i now

           I am saying, race wise and also personally wise, seems they got a very strong, brotherly tie between them and us, latins, we tend to get comfortable and perhaps lazy at our professional posts when treated without pressure or at least some professional distance
           I think this is the point raised by Vortex

         • I see. One thing that has struck me with FM is that he is very emotional (maybe passionately emotional) but I get the feeling that when he feels loved he is incredibly strong. If not… Out the back he goes…

         • R/T, Mr. Quixote, and Will,

           Thank you for these responses… Very helpful.

       • Vortex,

         I’m not a great fan of Felipe – basically because I’m a McLaren fan (that really enjoyied Interlagos 2008).

         What I saw – from Sauber to Ferrari – was a driver who lost one of its main characteristics: aggressiveness, fighting spirit.

         Forget the sad year he and Hamilton were crashing in any the race. I speak of something more subtle.

         I can not say that Rob Smedley is guilty, but that paternalistic relationship (and flawed IMHO) does not seems ideal for the F1 environment. And it is clear to radio communications we had access.

         Here in Brazil, we use a lot of soccer to make analogies with everything else. For example we tend to classify technical directors in 2 types: the only motivators (ie Tata Martino) and those who have mastered the tactic (ie Guardiola). Seems to me that Rob Smedley hasn’t many technical resources and ends up appealing to the emotional side of things.

         But it’s just an impression that I bring with me.

   • Interesting point about RBR there Carlo, you have a very good point. It wouldn’t surprise me if some RedBull subciduary companies sub contractor is running a wind tunnel day and night somewhere to bring them the numbers. As you remind us they have spending power by the bucket load. There is no spirit of the rules, only the wording of the rules.

   • I tend to agree with Carlo. Massa reminds me a lot of Patrese. A solid number two but never viewed as a WC calibre driver. It’s somewhat amusing that many people claim he was the 2001 European F3000 champion, when in fact he was the Euro F3000 champion – which was a completely different and much lower calibre series. It’s widely believed he got into Sauber because Barrichello pulled some strings at Ferrari, got into Ferrari because of Todt and his son and stayed because it would have looked bad to drop a loyal driver after he nearly got killed in your car. I wish him well at Williams and won’t miss the half dozen members of his family giving those stupid thumbs up in the Ferrari garage.

     • It’s amazing that Massa was virtual WDC for like 5 seconds, right (or however long it was)?

       I’m not sure how folks can claim Felipe Massa was not WC calibre driver, when he almost won the WDC!

       That he might not be WC-caliber anymore, after his accident, is a fair point to try to argue, but surely a guy who is virtual WDC in the final GP (which he won) and still finishes second overall after an epic season-long battle … well, he was WC caliber that year for sure!

       • Eddie Irvine almost won the WC and I doubt many would claim he was a WC calibre driver.

         • Failure of logic.

           Eddie Irvine was no Felipe Massa!

           Fact remains, Massa was absolutely WDC-caliber!

       • great comment, Papp
         not ’cause I am braziluan, but, FM fought in 2007 until his suspension expired in Monza and in 2008 Ferrari threw lots of points throughout the season
         Monaco, leaving him out
         Canada also leaving him out too long
         Hungary and the last lap blown engine after that fantastic pass at Lewis in the start, and the fast pace during the race
         also that cock f_____ s__t in Singapore when he was leading
         and still he lost the title for tiny margin

         therefore I should agree with our german freund Hippo when he says FM had more blows than any Klingon will would stand

         • I’m brazillian too, and I say if FIA not helped Ferrai, 2008 WDC would be decided before Interlagos. IMHO.

     • Indeed, Massa was basically Italian F3000 champion if I remember correctly. He was very raw when he came into F1 in 2002 – I can remember Brundle saying he had the pace but was prone to errors. 2003 and a full year of testing sorted that out – and by mid 2006 he was starting to beat Schumi to race wins on his preferred circuits.

       I am surprised to hear about Barrichello – especially as he was effectively replaced by Massa – pulling strings (although, for a countryman is understandable). I thought Massa must have been mentored back then a bit like the “Ferrari young driver program” that exists now.. e.g. Fuoco just won Italian Formula Renault 2.0 like Massa did. Felipe (with some Italian roots) came to Europe as an entry level champion in 2000, winning Eurocup in the same year (other winners include Kobayashi, Bottas, Frijns, Vandoorne..). After a 4th championship in a row (in 3 years.. Frijns-like), he was quickly taken under the wings of the team, after a nod to ‘Ferrari junior team’ Sauber, not being dropped for over a decade, even after a lull in performance recently (Just imagine Alonso-Kubica as a driver pairing..).

       As a driver – Massa seems to have peaks and troughs.. we could say the same about Button. All do to some extent – even Vettel prefers some circuit types over others. Hamilton and Rosberg shine at certain times. But the guy who seems to do well everywhere could arguably be Alonso or Raikkonen IMO (granted, they have lost that edge of Q pace with age, and gained it in the race). As a dark horse, I would have Hulkenberg…

4. On tyres, my guess is that Merc switched with Marussia so that they have an early influence on tyre development…maybe. What this shows me is that they will try do a Brawn, all out to win as many races as they can early on and then be impossible to catch for the titles even if the others catch them in engine and tyre development.

   • My take is that Mercedes are pretty confident about their current form, therefore willing to give up their ‘own’ testing program early on and freeing up some time later on in the season to develop for themselves, whereas the other teams probably want to catch up as quickly as possible and hence want to delay the Pirelli-day as long as possible…

     • That was my initial thinking as well… It reflects Mercedes’ high confidence in their reliability.

       To help see this better, perhaps we should flip this whole view on it’s head so to speak, and look this from Pirelli’s view point.

       We can assume that at Bahrain2, when Pirelli solicited the teams for their choices, they essentially lined up in reverse order of their finishing positions in the 2013 WCC. So RB and Mercedes test on the very last day, Ferrari and Lotus on the 2nd to last day, etc.

       Three tracks… but the latter two tracks, Barcelona and Silverstone have similarities in that F1 cars will run very high lateral (aka cornering & side) forces, and comparatively less longitudinal forces than Bahrain.

       For Mercedes to step out of their place in line and sacrifice an April test day at Bahrain indicates that Pirelli find Bahrain to be very important as a test track for the Pirelli development program.

       Thanks to Mike Coughlan, Pirelli already had one competitive, reliable team to test at Bahrain, Williams. But looking at what Caterham and Marussia were doing at Bahrain 2, they decided they really want another reliable and/or competitive team there.

       Meanwhile at the very last test, Silverstone, Pirelli have at least 2 strong teams (again from the Bahrain2 perspective) in Ferrari and Mercedes. Everyone believes that Red Bull will be more reliable by Silverstone. So that is 3 teams for Silverstone that should be competitive and reliable. So Silverstone would be logical test from which to cherry pick a vulnerable team to give up a Bahrain day.

       Clear View, in his comment below points out how Pirelli may have convinced Mercedes to instead sacrifice a Bahrain day. As you say, Mercedes appearing to be so very well prepared at Bahrain2 may well have also been a factor.

   • McLaren78 – Influencing tire development appears logical.

     Clear View has expanded on this theory in his comment below, and I’ve added a political element to this theory there as well.

5. Interesting that after Bernie, now Massa, believes that Rosberg will come on top in the intra-team Merc battle.

   Maybe we need to have a quick pool for the TJ13 readers prior to the Melbourne curtain-raiser.

   • Merc is obviously in the best position right now, but they only have one driver, who can pace himself and adapt to the ridiculous greenpeace memorial runs we’re going to see this year – Rosberg.
     Lewis is a natural racer, maybe even the fastet there is, but he can’t save tyres or fuel worth squat, which is why most people put their money on Rosberg.

     • That is very true, however Rosberg has never fought for the title and that might unnerve him, who knows…

       One’s for sure. This year will make or break Hamilton’s, Vettel’s, Alonso’s and Kimi’s reputations.

       • My reckoning is only Lewis’s and Fernan’s reputations will be greatly damaged this year…

         • Well, I’m not sure how much damage can be done on Lewis, I mean people already think he’s thick, that he can’t develop a car, that he’s not a thinking driver, that he can just drive immensely fast for one lap and can overtake (probably better than anyone) when his tyres and fuel are optimal for the whole race.

           On the other hand, most regard Alonso as the best driver and Kimi a merely top-5 entity. That’s where the most interesting battle will be.

           And on Vettel, well, he’ll probably win the intra-team battle there, but this year will determine whether Ricciardo will have a career as another ‘excellent’ no 2, or something more.

         • “… but this year will determine whether Ricciardo will have a career as another ‘excellent’ no 2, or something more…”
           Register now for my Top-20 Drivers… etc… 2018… 😉

           Re: Fernan/Kimi – if Fernan beats Kimi, Kimi’s reputation won’t be as badly hurt as if Kimi regularly beats Fernan… Something similar might be said with Lewis/Nico…

     • Lewis on a good day can beat anyone, his problem is he lets things outside of the car get in the way of concentrating on his race craft fully. Hence his erratic performances in recent times, allowing the frustration to bubble to the surface and effect his racing. Rosberg ? He’s not been at the sharp end of a championship fight before in F1, Lewis has a few times. If it comes down to those two, Lewis might have the edge. I really dislike all the hate that gets spewed towards Lewis, it’s almost as inane as the rubbish that is thrown at Vettel. I personally want to see Vettel under pressure via RedBull being on the backfoot to show just how good he is, which this looks like it will be. We may see Vettel pulling performances out of the RB10 that nobody expects or he could throw his toys out of the pram if Redbull can’t get on top of the RB10 issues, let alone Renault’s power train woes.

       Kimi vs Alonso will probably be the more interesting team battle, can’t see Kimi moving aside for Alonso even early on in the championship. Which Alonso are we going to get this season ? The one that won two championships in the face of Schumacher and Ferrari or the one who throws his toys out of the pram at the drop of a hat when things are not going his way.

       • Lewis is surely one of the most talented pure racers currently competing today, no?

         Yet as you say, for all his natural talent and passion, perhaps he’s mentally-weak (relatively speaking, in comparison to his direct competitors?), or if not “weak” per se, perhaps, like you say, he wears his heart on his sleeve and requires all forces outside the car to be perfectly harmonized so that he may drive effectively in it.

         Or maybe he’s no weaker or more emotional than Vettel, maybe Seb just has a better strategy for managing the external influences? Idk.

         This WOULD make a fascinating case study for sports psychologist. In fact, is it known if Lewis does much mental athlete training? I’d love to work with that guy!! What a fascinating challenge it would be to assist an athlete w/ that much energy and potency and emotion in their campaign to win again?

         My god, we would have so much fun, starting w/ psyching out Rosberg, undermining the German, and winning the Teammate Wars™ first, before pummeling the other German week-in and week-out, and setting the Spaniard and the (older) Finn against one another, whilst we also destroyed the harmony at Williams and then induced RoGro to strangle Crashtor®!

         lol jk

     • Rosberg’s performance weakness has been his lack of constitancy. He’ll have a good races, and not so good races. He’ll have a good stint, and a not so good stint. That’s not really the stuff of champions there.

       Although, ironically, the last time there was a major F1 rule change, another car that was designed under Ross Brawn’s leadership was able to win the WDC with a driver who suffered from the same weakness.

       In comparison, Hamilton appears to be a little bit more creative. How often have we heard him asking his engineer during a race as to which sector he is weakest in, so he can focus on finding more speed. Lewis may have tools in his magic bag of speed tricks versus KeKe’s son.

       Hard to say how things will go between these two. But I’m looking forward to the first four races, and watching these two perform!

   • Nico, Nicole or Lewis?

6. Massa gave an interview for Globo.com and said he almost did a ‘Lewis’ in Sakhir. First 2 times he was going to pit at Ferrari’s.

   • jejeje!

7. I thimk I have the answer why Merc and Marussia swapped dates. If you remember last year, Merc had a tyre destroying rocket ship and doing the ‘secret’ test helped them out no end. So, it makes sense to want to test early because as all the teams cried out last year, you learn something every time an F1 car goes out on track. It’s possible Merc want to be sure their tyre munching days are behind them and at the same time learn a such as possible about the 2014 rubber. What it cost to get Marussia to swap is another story entirely, but I’m certain they would have made the swap worth while.

   • To add to my comment, perhaps Merc want to prove to Pirelli just how aggressive these new PU’s are and want wider tyres for next season, so if they simply shred the tyres with brute force, maybe Pirreli will shit themselves and either a) produce even more durable tyres for later season, or b) force a change to wider tyres for next year on safety grounds. I mean, let’s face it, Caterham and Marussia will not be putting the same load through their tyres as Mercedes will.

     • CV – I must commend you for your latter theory here…

       You’re first proffered theory (Mercedes will learn more about the tires for 2014 in Pirelli’s tire test) isn’t logical given that the Pirelli tire tests are blind tests of various 2015 prototype tire structures and compounds.

       Given that each team sacrifices a full day of running their own test program it should take a strong incentive to entice Mercedes to sacrifice an April test day.

       Your second theory, (the Mercedes team desires changes in the tire regs such as fatter footprint, etc.) is very good! I’d not thought of that!

       I also wonder if there is sort of “Band of Brothers” alliance between Mercedes and Pirelli that was formed as part of them being persecuted by FIA last season for their Barcelona test.

       That whole 2013 Barcelona test may have been part of a longer play strategy to stand on the FIA’s toes and get them to write tire testing into the rules. So Pirelli got what they wanted… tire tests, and plenty of them… What does Mercedes receive from Pirelli?

       Perhaps Pirelli’s invoices to Mercedes are below the market rate?

       Or perhaps there is a larger play to change the regs again as you’ve suggested here CV. Well done!

       • The logic behind my 1st theory was that although the 2013 ‘secret’ test was supposed to be with ‘unmarked’ ‘prototype’ tyres even Nico Rosburg admitted that they had a good idea of which compounds they were testing and also the team is gathering data too, if in future they get matching data from tyres in test session they can check it back aginst the historic data they collected at the test. Also, look how Merc improved their tyre use during the race (as they already had quallylicked) after the test. Also the other teams also said (although possibly slightly exaggerated) that you always learn when running a car in test conditions, even if the program is set by Pirreli. I know that they (the engineers), often say that the car is run a configurations requested by the tyre supplier, that is not to say the Pirreli run the same spec of tyre with multiple set up configurations as to assertain the opperating parameters of their product. The team knows all the set up changes requested as they have to set the car up. This means they know which set up their driver will prefer if and when they ever run on those tyres on a race weekend, also they may be asked to use set ups they don’t use much or don’t have enough track time to test a hunch and these tests may give them this insight simply because that is the set up requested by Pirreli. Pirreli need to know what the maximum camber and tow can be put through their tyres before they become unsafe. Therefore to think the car is set up once and then simply run on lots of different rubber, you are not fully grasping the idea of tyre testing.
         I think it’s very strategic of Merc to swap to an early test on all the levels I have mentioned in my previous posts above and this one.

         VM does this help you to see the logic I applied to the situation to draw my conclusions. It’s definitely a multi faceted decision ny Merc, I wander if they have been on the phone to Ross, it’s a very Brawn-esqu move.

         • CV – ?

           This is not 2013. It’s legal for teams to do their own tests now.

           All the arguments you’ve shared would apply if there was no team testing allowed at all.

           If any of these arguments had merit in 2014, then the teams would have all lined up to do their Pirelli test day as soon as possible (in April @ Bahrain) instead of the last possible day.

       • Just a addition to my answer VM about the tests being ‘blind’ tests of 2015 tyres, that early in the season I am pretty sure Pirreli will still be evaluating their 2014 rubber because as we know the lead time on tyre production is only around 4weeks as we saw last year with the emergency changes. So I shouldn’t think that they will seriously test 2015 rubber until the second half of the season, this will possibly advantage RedBull for 2015, BUT, Merc want the ’14 title so an early test with Pirelli to try and show that this seasons tyres will need beefing up mid season with regard the car development bring so steep this year. Pirelli have already said they are willing to make changes in season should they see fit and if they felt in necessary. So if Merc can not only fuel the fire on the larger tyre debate, as well as providing data that could very likely make Pirreli feel they need to tweek the tyres this season, then they will have achieved both the goals I mentioned in my theories. Let’s face it, this year is going to he Merc’s best shot at the titles as I fear when RB get a good PU in the car they will again be a force to be reckoned with.

   • Why would it have “cost” anything to Merc to get Marussia to “swap” dates?

     I thought Merc got to pick its date before Marussia so they wouldn’t’ve had to have incentivized Marussia to do anything, unless an order had already been established, and THEN Merc wanted to have Marussia’s date…no?

     • Joe – Good questions!

       It is Pirelli’s calendar. Per the regulations, (and Pirelli’s statement) the teams negotiated with Pirelli.

       Pirelli was obliged to give priority to teams according to how they finished the 2013 WCC.

       From the existing schedule, it appears that 10 teams (if not all 11) wanted to test later rather than sooner.

       Given that Mercedes finished 2nd in the 2013 WCC, and Pirelli choose to test up to two teams per day, it means that Mercedes had their pick of the calendar.

       If Mercedes wanted to be different and chose to go early, why not go on the very first day?

       How did Marussia get the last day? If there was a slot open there because Mercedes wanted to test early, then why didn’t 3rd through 9th place teams choose that last day slot (alongside Red Bull)?

       Why would Pirelli swap Marussia into the last test instead of Caterham?

       • Ahh, right. Duh. You’re right: it’s more likely that Mercedes’ and Marussia’s dates were switched, based on the scheduling of the other teams, than it is that Merc. simply picked that date and left Marussia to somehow choose the second-to-last slot they have now.

         If someone paypal’s me $100 I’ll call my friend Paul Hembery (or email him, whatever) and ask him how it all went down. However, you have to give me the exact wording for the question as you’d want it asked lol

8. So… Mr JV Knowall speaks… and we’re supposed to be astonished by his insight…? Pur-leeeeeze…!

9. And Toni Vilander (who he…?) thinks his Finnish countryman Heikki Kovalainen’s career is over. Nice to know this at last. I would have said (and did, at the time) his career was over when he left McLaren…!

   • I thought Toni was rather sober and respectful in his commentary – and honest.

     It’s a worthwhile question or at least interesting for speculation to wonder if HK made right choice taking the Lotus drive.

     Did his lack of performance for Lotus cause him not to get a Caterham seat in 2014, or was Caterham always likely to flick Heikki so he was justified to take the Lotus 2-race drive on personal terms … at least then he would get two more races in his F1 career for personal satisfaction (even if failed to perform) whereas if he DID do well, that mighti’ve opened another opportunity (even if it was w/ Caterham) that wouldn’t’ve existed otherwise.

     I like Heikki and think he got more out of F1 than F1 got outta him. Good job, Heikki!!! Player!

10. Well with that final news story about Lewis and Shitslinger, we can wave goodbye to a Hamilton title this year. It ain’t gonna happen! Sadly….. ..

    • Who wants to bet on Hamilton’s form faltering as the season goes on.. Rosberg gaining the upper hand by mid-season, only for Hamilton to come back strong once Nicole leaves the paddock for promoting her music in the second half… Only for a resurgent Vettel to win the WDC on the double points rule.. victorious from Singapore onwards as usual!

      • This is Lewis’s still-unresolved issue…his relationship w/ NS = source of both strength and kryptonite, depending on its status.

        I wish they would just get married and she’d support him for the full season (which is a lot to ask if she’s still working/performing/entertaining full-time, what with all that entails).

    • I thought
      Relation good = Hamilton good

      • No, Lewis won Hungary when the relationship was broken.

        • He also won the WDC (his only WDC, right?) when they were together and NS was at the races w/ Mr. H., too!

    • CV, firstly, I don’t think it’s appropriate or gentlemanly or chivalrous for you to grossly insult any man’s female partner, but especially not the partner of a respected F1 driver who counts many fans amongst the readers here!

      Secondly, your logic is fallacious, as the one year in which Hamilton won the WDC, his girlfriend attended all or most of the races, including the last even in Brasil where he clinched the title. And she was one of the first out of the garage, running to the holding pen area to congratulate, hug and kiss Lewis when he climbed out of the car.

      But really man, I think it’s extremely bad form to insult someone’s girlfriend w/ such vulgar language (or insult any woman, for that matter).

      • Didn’t intentionaly offend it was more tongue in cheek, my wife calls her that becuse she happens to be all ‘gooie’ over Lewis, so it was my bad to use that name on a public forum.
        The reason I think Lewis will be screwed is because she is still working, promoting a single world wide is hard word and time consuming, so she is either going to miss a few races, in which case Lewis my feel abandoned and hard done by as she has broken her word. Or, she will be sooooo freakin jet lagged she won’t know what day of the week it is and that situation in my experience regularly leads to massive screaming rows, over pretty much nothing as things get said in the hear of the moment……it’s a recipe for disaster what ever the outcome of Mz Sherzinger’s love/work dilemma. Money and corporate contract lawyers can have strong influences on a person.

        • It’s a multi album deal for just 3 mill. As I said months ago, she’s worth a fraction of what Lewis is…

        • Didn’t intentionaly offend it was more tongue in cheek,

          Fair enough, CV. It’s too bad there’s not an “edit” function for comments, b/c after thinking about what I posted, I realized that you of all people probably wouldn’t be posting something like that w/ truly malicious intent, so I could’ve cut you some slack.

          I still believe it’s ungentlemanly and uncouth to slag a bird like that 😉 but given what His Honour wrote in the main post about NS looking the worse for wear, I realize I’d be fighting a losing battle on behalf of chivalry here! lol…

          Thanks for checking in and following-up w/ me though.

          And I agree that if NS is still going to be working, it could be tough for her to meet LH’s expectations … but that’s really so personal and so far removed from the info that we have access to, that it’s tough to predict how it will work out.

          It’s obvious Lewis is a highly-sensitive person (though he might not meet the “clinical” definition for that “type” of personality)…I don’t know if NS is toxic for him or not, b/c he won his WDC when they were together, but has both won and lost individual GP’s when they’ve been apart.

          It seems only common sensical though that as a man ages, he may begin to appreciate a certain stability in his personal life – if he is so inclined – and for all his “bling-bling” and pseudo-entertainment/Hollywood celebrity (that many LH critics seem to object to), one thing Lewis has not been accused by the paparazzi of doing regularly is womanizing. Apologies if he has and I’m just not aware of that aspect of his personality, but in all the years I’ve been a casual Hammy Fan­™, coverage of his romantic life seems to have focused on questions of the status of relations w/ NS. So if those can be sorted and her loyalty and support not just pledged – but demonstrated consistently throughout the season – that might be a source of positivity and strength for Lewis.

          And I hope it is!

          Cheers, mate!

          • “slag” = slag-off, of course

          • I have to agree that when when Lewis is ‘on it’ he is near unstoppable within reason and a pleasure to watch drive, just also admit that when NS is in the pit garage she really adds some energy, well she did at McLaren. Whenever Lewis did good they erupted with joy and when he was wronged by others the whole team felt it. Was great to watch and a little bit of me really wants LH to prove his critics wrong once and for all.

11. Vettel: “The car we will use in Melbourne will only be the same as the one we tested in the winter on the outside,” he said.
    “Inside, it will be different,” added Vettel.
    Good job he made it clear…

    • …. its Dr. Who’s TARDIS 😉

12. Check out the weather in Melbourne for Sunday, Oh it’s gonna be a great weekend, 4x more torque, with less downforce, in the rain. OMG I’m gonna wet myself with excitement………

    http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/melbourne.shtml

    • Well, we should see less cars failing to finish the race then.. unless they all spin off, of course!

    • I’m glad I tallked my husband into under cover seats now! Sunny day for practice on Friday though but looks like an afternoon thunderstorm on Sat. Wonder what that’s going to do to qualifying, They ended up having in on Sun morning because of rain last year. It’s also going to be cold! Packing my raincoat…

13. You can see I don’t have much to do today – on holiday from my Top-20.
    I think I understand why you (we…) are paying for GMM but do we have to use the stories we’ve bought if they’re basically rubbish…?
    Hollywood has for ages bought stories (from various sources) and, if they were later deemed unbankable, they were binned…
    It’s a justifiable business pattern, I think…

    • +1, I’d rather have a good debate about the value-added article (tyre test day allocation) rather than a bunch of people slaming JV or NS…

    • Agreed – I now skip over things when I see (GMM)
      I will stick to articles by the likes of BJF, TFH, lorenzo, taflach, scarbs, etc.
      Its the insight that’s important here.

14. That weather forcast you have up is not the same as three others I found, they all say chance of rain, one even says 90% chance of rain during the race.

    • …. probably a bit to far away for accurate forecast yet

      • I’m with his honourableness on this one. Australian weather forecasters get a bit overexcited when it comes to the prospect of rain

        • But our local forecast is for lots of rain (and really cold) which means a southerly change-it all depends on if it happens Sat, Sun or is delayed until Mon…

          It can rain anytime in Melbourne as it is. It’s well known for being able to have 4 seasons in one day…

15. Saw an article where a chap from Magnetti Marelli was saying he reckons none of the cars would finish the first race.
    Has this ever happened before where there has been no finishers does anyone know? Would be a laugh wouldn’t it!

    • It has happened in horse racing 3 or so years ago in Towcester.
      In car racing, I think NASCAR is the closest. There was only one car crossing the line in a race in ’86.

    • Please don’t tempt fate! Just imagine, with nothing to commentate on, we could get to hear even more of Johnny Herbert talking bollocks. Heaven forbid!!! 🙂

      • You just put me off even trying to find this on the internet… 🙂
        I might have to just go back to Bathurst.

        • available on vip box & cric free

    • If that well known English manufacturer and purveyor of things electrical for motor cars under the sobriquet of ‘The Prince of Darkness’ were involved here, you could take nil finishers as a given….

16. Why all the negativity towards Lewis? You don’t win a championship, win races and get pole positions without working with the team to develop the car and providing feedback. 2011 was his only bad year in terms of having himself to blame, but people continually use that as a base on which to judge him on. He was near flawless in 2012, only to be let down by his team on numerous occasions. Anyway, calling him thick is totally unjustified, at least wait until the end of this year to make a judgement as to which driver out of lewis and nico can “think” more….
    Let yourself down on this one TJ13…

    • But you can only speculate at the of the year… At the end of the year people speculate on the following year.
      Apart from that I agree about the extended negativity that can creep into internet sites, generally, at times – though I don’t get too upset about it any more…

      • Not getting upset, but getting tired of hearing the same old things about Lewis, and for some reason it only applies to him and not any other driver on the grid. “Oh, Lewis can’t think as well as other drivers and is getting distracted by the celebrity lifestyle.” All smacks of double standards….Kimi likes a drink now and then, yet never gets criticised, just gets called a legend. Now if Lewis did that, the media would be calling for him to be hanged….
        Hope this website isn’t heading down the same double standards direction as the mainstream media…

        • …This website isn’t heading anywhere different…. it was started with a view to not be cowed by the F1 establishment and not to be sycophantic like those who need F1 grace and favour. TJ13 says what others refuse to write or say.

          TJ13 has always criticised the self delusion, pompous nonsense and stupidity which prevails in F1 almost weekly. Healthy scepticism is in its DNA….

          ….this means Montezemolo, Fernando, Lewis, Vettel, Horner, Newey, Whimarsh, Dennis, Crashtor, Ijaz, Boullier, Kimi, Todt, Charlie W, Toto, Lauda, Marko etc etc…. even Webber (when Mrs. J is not looking) have all been castigated for something listed above.

          Its what F1 does and someone, somewhere in the sport is always loosing the plot……

          Its particularly when Lewis gets a lick of the gavel, more people get upset, and they don’t realise the likes of Vettel and Horner get it 3 times as much….

          If Lewis gets it wrong this year… goes EMO and misses his chance – he may simply end up a one year WDC wonder – then all the fanbouys can argue his missed opportunities until the cows come home – it will mean NOUGHT!

          Despite the RED PLANE, silly dogs, tattoos, homies and everything else Lewis talks about…. Lewis needs to step up and fast

          • fair and square, he threw away his 2007 n the same way Ferrari threw Felipe’s title in 2008, one way or another, he would still be a one hit maker

          • OMG your honour, that’s the coolest reply to anything, ever!
            Forget Kimi…….Judge you are the Legend.

        • You seem to forget how much criticism Kimi got in Malaysia 2009 and the famous ” icecream ” scenario ……

        • hoh hum!

          For those who are puzzled about Lewis and his love for Ham, the following link might help.

          http://tinyurl.com/qz6o4jr

          This post is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person living or in limbo is purely coincidental.

    • ….Lewis has a charmed life – certainly in the British Press. Were he another nationality, I suspect he would receive a lot more criticism – and fairly so, for some of the utterly ridiculous things he has said and done over the years…. “If Roscoe shits in my plane, I’ll have to buy a new one”???

      Plus his consistent EMO – “I can win the WDC” – then “our car isn’t good enough” – mood swings, are just not the comments of someone who is particularly bright, he contradicts himself publicly. cf. Barcelona test 2&3 and races 1-6 in 2013…

      • But who are we to judge his lifestyle? His personal life is nothing to do with anyone else. Yes he publicises things, but why should he change just because he’s in the media spotlight.
        Mood swings….I can’t think of when a mood swing has affected his performance since 2011. If you’re referring to him in the interviews, then it’s because he’s hard on himself when he knows he could have or should have performed better. These guys aren’t robots and have emotions which get in the way from time to time. You can’t say he doesn’t deliver since he puts his all into it when racing….

        • formula – Interesting points raised here! Thanks!

          It’s noteworthy that in the Judge’s longer (latter) comment above he delineates what is different about this site. He has pointed out that the overall tone of this site is as a critique of F1, (versus a celebration of F1 for example).

          Regarding any driver’s lifestyle, let me add something for you to consider. First, the negativity about Lewis that is exhibited here may well be umm… misguided. For example, one doesn’t need to be an engineer to be a successful driver. One’s love life can be whatever, while winning a WDC, (whether dating, or married, or single w/out dogs, or single w/dogs). 🙂

          Second, it is so competitive in F1, that to win the WDC requires very high levels of personal focus. Consequently, personal relationships can affect a driver’s on track performance in either a negative way, or a positive way. As an example, many folks believe Lewis was distracted at times by Nicole when they were together previously.

          Third, the problem here today, is that some folks are looking at the factor of Lewis having another relationship with Nicole Scherzinger, and they’re limiting themselves to seeing a repeat of their prior relationship. Such a view fails to take in to account how both of them may have changed over time, as many people do. So thinking that Lewis and Nicole getting back together will have a negative impact on Lewis’ performance is premature and short-sighted.

          • Thank you, someone who has sense and is rational speaks. Excellent comment sir 🙂

        • Good, reasonable defense of Lewis, Formula.

          Fair criticism is just that – fair. But unsubstantiated criticism should be challenged and resolved via constructive dialogue. I like that about this site.

          It seems like it’s usually just the “new guys” – usually – who get all hyperbolic and trollish. lol.

          cheers

      • here in Brazil he would be attacked by the press and some of the people, he’s like Adriano, that talented guy who played for Inter, yet in a softer way

17. than Nico – who has an engineering qualification

    In this context, I think the qualification of World Champion might just trump that….

    After all, Adrian Newey is a notoriously poor race driver.

    • @ Nigel

      So you think being a World Champion makes you smarter than a person with an engineering qualification ?

      I have two words to say –

      Jacques Villeneuve

      I rest my case …… 😉

      • The drivers’ championship is not an IQ contest.

        And JV didn’t get any F1 wins last year.

        I find your case a little weak.

        • ” And JV didn’t get any F1 wins last year. ”

          Your argument was based on WDC’s not on wins ….

          Moving goalposts to support an untenable proposal is merely grasping vainly at non existent straws …..

          So I find your response highly lamentable

          :p

          • oh hush!

            Just b/c someone takes twice as long to do the same amt. of work doesn’t mean they’re smarter than someone who can complete a tech debrief in 1hr vs. 2!

            lol

            😉

      • ‘Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.’
        Albert Einstein

        I think this sums the Lewis/Nico situation up. Lewis cannot be as thick as we are speculating, and just because Nico has a piece of paper saying he has intelligence, that is not to say he has more mental aptitude for driving an F1 car fast. Michael Jackson probably didn’t have a degree either, but if you ask around, he’ll be branded a genius.

        • … Lewis is deemed a bit thick because of what he says and does – tweeting the teams telemetry to justify why Jenson whipped him in qualy SPA???

          To many it seems like the actions of someone a bit thick…

        • i never quite understood how any singer could be defined as a genius.

          He didn’t play any instruments – despite what his press office stated, he never produced any music himself – Thriller and Bad were both Quincy Jones productions but he had input into some of the melodies.

          Maybe I’m unfair, I just haven’t ever been able to define what genius means.

18. Re: French-Anglo Relations story, are there some errors in it?

    We have here:
    “Renault Sport Director Jean-Michel Jalinier reveals in an interview with Speedweek, chose to name Romain Grosjean as the first driver likely to pick up a win for Renault in the new turbo era. “Grosjean has shown that he is very fast and very competitive. He also proved that he is going very intelligent when dividing a race. His race management has enabled him some podiums last year. Romain is therefore also a very promising candidate for the first win”.

    “No mention of Sebastian then?”

    It would be surprising to not mention Sebastian, but I noticed in your quote that he says, “Romain is therefore _also_ a very…” The word also indicates someone else, perhaps ahead of Romain.

    Speedweek is a German periodical, and this interview is on-line. It’s a good interview and Jean-Michael appears to be very complimentary to Red Bull, Vettel, while he also acknowledges their (surprisingly short) timeline of 18 months.

    Regarding the first victory with the new Renault power unit, Jean-Michel offers some interesting insights in to Vettel’s abilities. Google mangles his words on Vettel into this:
    “Sebastian Vettel (gives the best feedback). He is extremely good! His statements are extremely good and he demands a lot. If the car is already very good, then he wants to tease out still more. And everywhere: At corner entry, the apex, the exit of Turn 1, then in curve 2 the same again! He tirelessly insisting improvements, which is excellent. I’m still pretty new to this job, our team there are people with much more experience. I have people who can look back on 40 years of Formula 1. They say Sebastian is as good as Fernando Alonso.”

    The question immediately following is, “Which Renault driver will pick up their first win in the new turbo era?

    Jean-Michel’s response begins with, “Of course, Red Bull Racing will soon be very competitive. But we have a lot of good cars.”

    It is after the Red Bull drivers that he highlights Grosjean. He then highlights Toro Rosso as possible winners as well.

    A frosty relationship is not seen in either the TJ13 translation, nor the mediocre google translation.

    What happened there?

19. Maldonado is the definition of an asshole. I think that’s one thing all of us here can agree on, correct?

    • Well, no… Instead, I’d say he is under-rated by F1 spectators…

      • Well, i mean we saw flashes of speed from him particularly in Spain, where I thought he was brilliant. But then he tailed off from there. Once the red mist takes over, the guy’s a total liability and uses his car as a weapon. Ever since, he hasn’t shown the speed nor consistency. Coupled with the fact that he has been totally disrespectful towards Williams and accusing them of sabotaging his car, is the final nail in the coffin for me. He doesn’t deserve a drive in F1 in my opinion, and there is plenty of talent out there that hasn’t/can’t yet break into F1 due to drivers not being able to pay their way into the sport. It’s totally wrong.

        • “…and uses his car as a weapon.” That disappointing 2011 Spa qualifying incident with Hamilton was 2 and 1/2 years ago.

          • Did the same to perez in monaco after winning in Spain. Says it all about him

    • Maldonado is the definition of an asshole. [note: really?] I think that’s one thing all of us here can agree on, correct?

      As a fan of Maldonado and someone with strong ties to Venezuela + Venezuelan sport: No.

      • Joe, have you had some of the’angry’ pills the fat hippo thought Carlo had taken earlier.
        It’s been a very opinionated day today.
        I wander what tomorrow will bring….lol.

        • I’ m glad it wasn’t just me that noticed this, must be something in the air today (well yesterday technically).

          It has been a very weird day, commenting wise, for this site.

          • It must be all the Express Mortgage readers clicking on the TJ13 banner at the top of that site…

        • Joe, have you had some of the’angry’ pills the fat hippo thought Carlo had taken earlier.

          Haha! No way! Just not enough sleep! Although I did just post a longish reply to your reply to me about “Shitslinger” 😉

          Besides, it’s “formula” who’s angry and ragging on Crashtor™:

          Maldonado is the definition of an asshole. I think that’s one thing all of us here can agree on, correct?

          I don’t deny that Crashtor™ tried to spear Lewis, and he (PM) looks like a villain in the Bond-esque sense, but he actually seems to be a pretty sympathetic, well-spoken (arguably misunderstood) guy, at least based on listening to interviews w/ him speaking his native tongue.

          Not that he’s a disaster and can’t communicate effectively in English. He just comes across as way more humble yet gritty-determined when he is talking about his love for motorsports, the thrill he felt from winning the first GP, how he longs to experience those sensations of being on the podium again, etc… The only thing I didn’t like was any time he had to talk about politics but he did his best to avoid that topic in the first place.

          Anyway, I’ve heard lack of sleep can mimic the effects of angry pills, so… 😉

    • I’m not someone who hates easily, but on this occasion, I must agree with formula. All I see coming from Maldonado is arrogance, cockiness and anger. The impression I get is that he feels he is the dog’s b*ll*cks because he has more money than talent, which keeps him in F1.

      What makes it worse is that everybody knows he is only there because of the money, Williams couldn’t wait to get rid of him, despite his money, Lotus desperately wanted the Hulk, but couldn’t afford to not get Maldonado. Now Pastor is bragging because he thinks he’s in a better team because of his talent, which couldn’t be more wrong.

      Maybe this year, if Lotus manage to tame him like they did with Grosjean, and we see constant real speed, then I will be prepared to change my mind, but I’m not going to hold my breath. I’m fully shocked that Grosjean got a race ban but Maldonado hasn’t, I think his racing had been noticeably more dangerous (not that I’m condoning Grosjean’s driving in 2012, it was poor).

      • Thank god that Lotus couldn’t afford Hulkenberg! Imagine that talent wasted in a Lotus this season. He and Perez were a very fast team in Bahrain. I’m looking forward to seeing what they do in Australia.

        I like the adventurous design of the Lotus, and it may be fast by May or so. But I think the Hulk made a smart choice.

        I like that (despite your hatred) you point out the potential for Pastor to step up a level at Lotus, as did Grosjean. It’s what I’m curious about as well. I could be wrong, but I thought Boullier was very helpful to Grosjean. I’m not sure if it’s good or bad for Maldonado that Boullier has left.

        One story that would be interesting to know is the details of Claire Williams’ Suzuka weekend last year. The story broke then that Maldonado wanted to leave Williams, (if I recall correctly). But I saw in some recent interview during the winter tests that Massa had been approached directly by Claire during that same weekend in Suzuka. Massa said Claire asked him to not tell his manager, Nicolas Todt, about her approach inquiring about him driving a Williams in 2014, because Nicolas Todt was also the manager of Maldonado.

        Some pretty clever folks running the show over at Williams now.

        • I like that (despite your hatred) you point out the potential for Pastor to step up a level at Lotus, as did Grosjean. It’s what I’m curious about as well. I could be wrong, but I thought Boullier was very helpful to Grosjean. I’m not sure if it’s good or bad for Maldonado that Boullier has left.

          I’m concerned about this as well.

          Did RoGro improve specifically b/c of mental conditioning/prep managed by Eric B., or was RoGro’s improvement facilitated by other professionals (such as sports psychologist(s)) who were “merely” recruited to the task by Eric B.?

          And how will Eric B’s not being there impact Pastor’s potential progress?

          The Venezuelan OBVIOUSLY and indisputably has both the pace and the skills to win GPs – he’s done it already and no amt. of hating from haters can erase that victory. But if the car is capable in 2014, and Pastor fails to convert potential to actual result(s), then that will be very disappointing.

          The mgmt + staff turnover at Lotus can’t be good for creating a stable environment that nurtures and supports talent, however – can it?

          I wonder how Whitmarsh would do as “TP” for Lotus? lol

    • Are you a troll…? – Just curious… 😉

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