Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

This board is closed and will be kept as an archive. Please head to our new home at tch-forum.com



(Existing members: Please check your PMs for your password on the new board. If you do not have a PM, then please send one to me)



Welcome to The Coffee House - your dose of caffeine!

The Coffee House is a friendly and informal community dedicated to having fun. We're a diverse bunch, and so we have plenty to offer, including:
  • Discussions on a wide range of subjects, from science and current events to sport and gaming (and most things in between!);
  • Community-centered forums where members can get to know each other better, and share things they've made;
  • Regularly-scheduled contests, where members can compete for awards and forum currency (Coffee Credits);
  • Shops, where members may spend the Coffee Credits they've earned;
  • A Discord server, where anyone can chat to our members in real time.
What you can see below is a snapshot of what we have to offer. To see the rest, and gain access to all of this, all you need to do is register as a member. Registration is quick, free and easy.

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Locked Topic
The Formula One Thread
Topic Started: Nov 6 2012, 07:40 PM (2,054 Views)
Pyrite
Member Avatar
Just as Planned

Formula One is probably the most discussed sport on this forum, so I think it probably deserves its own thread.

Anyway, the 2012 season is coming to an end soon. So to start the topic going, do you think Alonso has any chance of catching Vettel this season, and what changes do you think will be made to the grid in the next season?

Personally, I think if Vettel finishes the remaining races, he'll win the title.

As for grid changes, we already know the McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, Lotus and Toro Rosso line-ups for next year. Glock is staying with Marussia, de la Rosa is staying with HRT and Hulkenberg is moving to Sauber. I expect Maldonado and Di Resta to stay with their teams, and probably Kovalainen (and if he doesn't stay with Caterham, I'd imagine he'll stay on the grid). As for the rest, I'm not as sure (although I still think Senna and Kobayashi will be on the grid next year).
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Replies:
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

Yeah, that's the thing. I don't doubt his ability, but considering the quality of his machinery, winning four World Championships with it is not enough to class him as an all-time great IMO.

I just hope the 2014 season is more competitive, because it's got to the point where I don't even look forward to the races any more.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

Wow. Kimi Raikkonen's missing the last two races of the year:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24889383

He's been sidelined by back surgery, but some people have pointed out that the timing of this announcement is a bit suspect, and think his pay dispute might not have been resolved after all. Either way, it's a pity he won't be on the grid at Austin or Interlagos :( .
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


That sucks...
They'll probably bring in Petrov or Kovalainen.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


BREAKING NEWS:
:finland: Valterri Bottas will return to Williams next year and will be partnered by :brazil: Felipe Massa.
:venezuela: Pastor Maldonado will not return with Williams after three years with the team including a win at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix.
:russia: Daniil Kyvat has earned his FIA Super License and will take :france: Jean-Éric Vergne's spot in Friday Practice at the United States Grand Prix.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

Good news, I'd say. Williams have a solid line-up now: a driver who brings bucketloads of experience and considerable commercial clout, alongside a talented youngster who hasn't really had the opportunity to do much this year.

I hope this doesn't mean Maldonado is going to Lotus. He's very fast, but far too erratic for a drive with a top team IMO.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

McLaren have announced that rookie Kevin Magnussen will replace Sergio Perez next year:

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/9025486/McLaren-Confirm-Rookie-Magnussen

Magnussen is an exciting prospect, but it's always risky bringing a new driver into a top team. With that said, they managed it with Lewis Hamilton, so who's to say they won't do it again?
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


Hmmm... didn't see that coming.

:finland: Heikki Kovalainen will be replacing Kimi Räikkönen for the last two races of the season.
:italy: Davide Valsecchi was going to do it but they decided he needed to wait a bit longer, Valsecchi and Kovalainen are top contenders for next year at Lotus.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

Are they? I thought the top contenders were Hulkenberg and Maldonado. I still think Hulkenberg is by far the best candidate for that seat.

With that said, I'll be happy to see Kovalainen back on the grid for two races. Apparently, Michael Schumacher was offered the chance, but turned it down....
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

Well, I followed the race live online, and not a lot happened. I won't watch it, and I expect I won't be missing much.

Spoiler: click to toggle
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

Pastor Maldonado has been confirmed at Lotus next year:

http://www.planetf1.com/news/3213/9048860/Lotus-Finally-Confirm-Maldonado-For-2014

Suffice to say, I'm not pleased about it. He's there because of his money: smaller teams always have done that, and always will, but it's a sad reflection on the state of F1 that a top team is doing it too now.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


Typical, get kicked off a small team and sign with a big one.
I hope they confirm Grosjean soon.
Kovalianen did not do well enough in those two races and Valsecchi is not experienced.
I doubt Hülkenburg will ever get a chance at a big team.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

Well, they did also confirm Grosjean, so that's something :) .

I'm worried that you might be right about Hülkenberg :( . He seems to be the right driver coming through at the wrong time. Top teams don't tend to go for promising midfielders any more: instead, sideways moves and young driver programmes/internal promotions rule the day.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


Yeah, so they confirmed him at the same time...
Well, I hope he returns to Sauber or goes to Force India.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

Force India looks like the likely destination for him now. His team-mate there would likely be Sergio Pérez, with Sutil going to Sauber and di Resta racing in IndyCar.

Also, F1 might change its car numbering system. Some people want a driver to have the same number permanently throughout their career. This would allow drivers to turn their car number into part of their personal brand, just as Valentino Rossi did with #46, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. did with #3, etc.: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111650
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

It's been confirmed now. The Hulk has signed with Force India on a multi-year deal:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/25205390

It's good that he's on the grid for next year, but this "multi-year deal" thing worries me. Unless Force India join the ranks of the top teams, he's setting himself up to be the next Nick Heidfeld.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


Exactly.

I'm going to miss di Resta.
He always looked like a good driver.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

So am I. He was never going to be a world-beater IMO, but he definitely deserves to be on the grid ahead of some of those who are going to get places.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

A couple of changes have been announced for next year:
  • A new car numbering system. Each driver can choose a car number between 2 and 99, and then keeps that number for his entire career. The number 1 is reserver for the World Champion, but he's not obliged to use it.
  • The final race of the year is worth double points, in an effort to keep the Championship fight going for longer.
I like the new numbering system, but this double points thing....

Posted Image

It's not even sane, let alone a good idea. Had anyone outside F1 officialdom proposed it, I would have expected them to be laughed off the face of the Earth. Do they work within an echo chamber when they're coming up with new rules :-/ ?
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


The number thing doesn't make a difference.
Double points, just stupid.

Also CJ, where did you find confirmation on Sutil going to Sauber and di Resta going to IndyCar?
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

Well, it isn't information yet: it's still just rumour and speculation.

Here's someone thinking that Sutil will go to Sauber:
http://grandprix247.com/2013/11/25/silly-season-latest-hulkenberg-and-perez-to-force-india-and-sutil-to-sauber/

Here's where di Resta hinted that he might go to IndyCar:
http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/9035273/Di-Resta-again-hints-at-IndyCar-move
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

This blog shows modern F1 cars in retro liveries:

http://cdebdesign.blogspot.co.uk/

Usually, when people attempt this, it doesn't work - but the majority of these look very good. In fact, some of them look even better than they did on the original cars!
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/12/15347.html

Sutil officially will join Sauber.
Also Pérez has officially signed with Force India.
Sirotkin has not earned his Super License to drive with Sauber yet.
Edited by Luma Party, Dec 20 2013, 09:40 PM.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

I think Sirotkin looks very unlikely to go to Sauber now. They'll probably send him out on Fridays, if they have him at all. Sutil's a reasonable enough driver for them, though.

I'm glad Pérez signed for Force India. That team has an exciting line-up and the promise of a good engine, so I think they'll do well next year. My guess is that they'll finish 6th in the standings again, but be closer to the top 5 than this year. They could easily snatch a podium or two as well.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


Guitiérrez is officially racing with Sauber again.
*facepalm*
Sirotkin will be the test driver.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

I'm just relieved that they didn't go with Gutiérrez and Sirotkin as their two race drivers, because I was worried that they might at once point. Still, their line-up of Gutiérrez and Sutil doesn't excite me much - certainly not as much as, say, Force India's.

By the way, Kamui Kobayashi's looking for a race seat with Caterham for next year:
http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/9085859/Kobayashi-to-return-to-F1-
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


That's what I want.
Kobayashi should've been at McLaren.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

That would have been fun :P .

I think the reason why Pérez didn't do so well at McLaren last year is because all his good results at Sauber came from bold strategy calls (and he was able to make those work because he's good at looking after his tyres). However, there was no hope of a repeat at McLaren, because they haven't been known for their good strategy calls in recent years: instead, they've been known for their strategy blunders.

Interesting article here on whether Sebastian Vettel is a 'great':
http://f1rejects.com/centrale/2013/sebgreat/index.html
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

Some very worrying news here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25545993

Michael Schumacher has been involved in a nasty accident when he was skiing in the Alps with his son. He seemed fine at first, but it's now being reported that he's in a coma and in critical condition, and has undergone a brain operation. His wife and two children are with him at the hospital in Grenoble, and he's received visits from various people from inside Formula One, including Jean Todt, Ross Brawn and Olivier Panis.

I really hope for some good news soon :( ....
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
Luma Party
Member Avatar


This really worrying.
I hope he'll be okay.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
CJ
Member Avatar
A very minor case of serious brain damage

There is some good news - his condition has improved slightly after a second operation:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25558709

However, he's not out of danger yet.
Offline Profile Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create your own social network with a free forum.
Learn More · Sign-up Now
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Motorsport · Next Topic »
Locked Topic


Anti-Spam Bots! Mazeguy Smilies