2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bull!!

[MattS]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

I've been a Ferrari fan my whole F1 fan watching. But not after this season and not again until Vettel is gone. I have zero, none, nada, no use for Vettel!!!! *** is Ferrari thinking? This year has proven that Vettel has been overrated by a dominate car in the past seasons. I assume this means that Alonso is gone. Ugh. I'm not sure I can even watch this weekend and Suzaka is one of my favorite tracks. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

[Russell Jaslow]

She wasn't going to amount amount to anything anyway in F1. It was all a PR move.

Danica's entire career is what you call a PR move.

Simona is a driver. Dedicated to her craft. You get that impression immediately when you speak to her, which I have done at various times.

I have no doubt she would have done better than some of the other pay drivers. But, like many other drivers of capable but perhaps not WDC talent, most don't get the chance to find out, for many reasons. That's the nature of the sport.

[Russell Jaslow]

I've been a Ferrari fan my whole F1 fan watching. But not after this season and not again until Vettel is gone. I have zero, none, nada, no use for Vettel!!!! *** is Ferrari thinking? This year has proven that Vettel has been overrated by a dominate car in the past seasons. I assume this means that Alonso is gone. Ugh. I'm not sure I can even watch this weekend and Suzaka is one of my favorite tracks. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

Let's not forget Vettel won in a Toro Rosso. And got two poles for them.

He's no wanker who got lucky with a dominant car. He's very talented who got lucky with a dominat car. There is a difference.

[solovsfett]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

I've been a Ferrari fan my whole F1 fan watching. But not after this season and not again until Vettel is gone. I have zero, none, nada, no use for Vettel!!!! *** is Ferrari thinking? This year has proven that Vettel has been overrated by a dominate car in the past seasons. I assume this means that Alonso is gone. Ugh. I'm not sure I can even watch this weekend and Suzaka is one of my favorite tracks. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

I couldn't agree more re: Vettel. F that p rick

also looks like Alonso to McLaren is real.

Adrian Newey is backing out of car design so RB I think will be about a 3rd-5th place team in the coming years.

So...where's Ross Braun?

I've not heard his name mentioned anywhere for some time now

[joecct]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

We may not have a race tomorrow due to a Super typhoon that will hit the Sazuka area starting tomorrow with landfall on Monday.

[MattS]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

Let's not forget Vettel won in a Toro Rosso. And got two poles for them.

He's no wanker who got lucky with a dominant car. He's very talented who got lucky with a dominat car. There is a difference.

Yeah, he got that win but IIRC it was in the rain/changing conditions and I thought it was only 1 pole. But still you're right it was a win in a iffy car and certainly shows he is talented.

I do not think that Vettel is a "very talented" driver at least in terms of ranking F1 drivers. I think that Alonso and Hamilton are for sure better drivers without a doubt. I certainly think that Vettel's 4 WDC are due more to the dominate car and a weak teammate than his pure driving talent. Reference this year.

I can't wait for the Italian press to chew him up as soon as he sucks and starts to get beat by his teammate (Kimi?).

And now that I am cooled down some, I will still root for Ferrari, but it will have to be for whomever the second driver is. I guess Kimi for next season and then probably either Hulk or Bianchi.

And what is Ferrari thinking? Do they honestly think that Vettel has more talent than Alonso and can do more for them? I would have thought that this season would have lowered Vettel's stock. I would have thought that the past two years would have strengthened Alonso's position. I guess Alonso must have gotten fed up with the changes and crappy cars at Ferrari and have essentially given up on them and told Ferrari of his intentions to move to another team. So must be McLaren for Alonso now. I wonder if it will be an Alonso/Button or Alonso/Magnussen? I would think these moves will force Button into retirement unless Honda has a say. If so that is a shame.

[MattS]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

And Mercedes looking dominate today in qualifying. I guess weather will be huge tomorrow. As much as I like Massa, I wouldn't want to be lined up right behind him tomorrow. He's terrible in the heavy wet.

[alfablue]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

So the race promoters decided to not run the race early- ugh.

The delays, the weather, and some decent racing- but the race gets called due to a massive crash. Hope Bianchi will be ok.

[MattS]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

What a mess was today's race. I find it hard to believe that the FIA and especially Bernie couldn't force the promoter to start the race early due to weather conditions and driver safety. I call BS on that.

Before the ending the racing was decent although Suzaka is a track where I really like the racing to be dry since it's such a good track.

Bianchi's crash must be horrific since the FIA will not release the footage of it. I hope for a satisfactory recovery for him.

[MattS]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

Not to be too un-caring, but I can't help but wonder if Bianchi's injury will mean Rossi will get his ride this weekend.

[Russell Jaslow]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

What a mess was today's race. I find it hard to believe that the FIA and especially Bernie couldn't force the promoter to start the race early due to weather conditions and driver safety. I call BS on that.

I agree. This seemed a bit strange. Like the FIA and Bernie have ever allowed someone else to bend their will... Then again, the promoter is Honda, so they do wield more power than a "normal" promoter.

[Russell Jaslow]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

Not to be too un-caring, but I can't help but wonder if Bianchi's injury will mean Rossi will get his ride this weekend.

Admittedly, I thought the same thing.

However, though the teams are contractually obligated to run two cars in each race, there is a force majeure allowed in extreme circumstances. Being just one week after this situation, Marussia may be allowed to run just one car at Russia, or perhaps withdraw the team entirely.

[MattS]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

I agree. This seemed a bit strange. Like the FIA and Bernie have ever allowed someone else to bend their will... Then again, the promoter is Honda, so they do wield more power than a "normal" promoter.

I didn't know Honda was the promoter, so I guess it is possible they could rebuff Bernie and the FIA. It still seems unlikely though.

However, though the teams are contractually obligated to run two cars in each race, there is a force majeure allowed in extreme circumstances. Being just one week after this situation, Marussia may be allowed to run just one car at Russia, or perhaps withdraw the team entirely.

I did not know this. However I would highly doubt a Russian owned team would not run two cars in the first modern Russian GP.

[alfablue]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

Admittedly, I thought the same thing.

However, though the teams are contractually obligated to run two cars in each race, there is a force majeure allowed in extreme circumstances. Being just one week after this situation, Marussia may be allowed to run just one car at Russia, or perhaps withdraw the team entirely.

I suspect they will race. Jules may be in very bad, bad shape, but he's still alive. Racing has a way of moving on.

There is a video of the crash, incredible and really shocking. That tiny car was able to make the crane move quite a bit- the Marussia was moving really fast at impact.

[MattS]

Re: 2014 Open Wheel Racing - if it's white smoke, it's not a good sign & that's no bu

Just saw the video. Wow. I am amazed the Jules is still alive.