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Post by robmarsh on Oct 30, 2018 13:07:06 GMT
Jamie it must be wonderful to be surrounded by all that history.
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Post by Jamie on Oct 30, 2018 20:50:42 GMT
It was brilliant Rob, I can wholeheartedly recommend a stay at the ‘Hotel de France’ should you ever find yourself in that part of the world.
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Post by mikael on Nov 1, 2018 8:02:37 GMT
"Sebastian Vettel may be past his prime in formula one. "That is the sensational claim of F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart, after the Ferrari driver lost the 2018 title to Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton. "I think Sebastian is past his peak and Lewis is still building to his," the triple world champion told Bild newspaper."
These are interesting and kind of natural thoughts. But it's interesting to think about how the paths our lives - as well as the careers of F1 drivers - are governed, and often changed completely, by small coincidences. It's not difficult to imagine a scenario where Hamilton had stayed on with McLaren and where it was Vettel who had been convinced to join Mercedes, as Schumacher's successor. Then thoughts like those cited above would most likely never have arisen. Source: www.grandprix.com/news/vettel-past-his-peak-in-f1-says-stewart.html
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Post by chrisb on Nov 1, 2018 8:16:57 GMT
I did wonder about this Mikael, Mark Webber,a few years ago said basically the same as Jackie about Seb and last year Lewis was considering retirement and I am not convinced if that may well not be the case should he be challenged all year and in some respects with Alonso moving on, Seb and Lewis retiring a new generation starts and that could prove interesting
But for Niki would Lewis have stayed at McLaren? if so would Alonso have gone to Mercedes? Your knowledge will be greater than mine Mikael but aside from Nico - who I was always unsure if Mercedes actually saw as German - if Mercedes were reluctant to take on another German, I don't know but I never saw the enthusiasm to get Seb is a Merc,
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Post by charleselan on Nov 1, 2018 18:35:13 GMT
As much as I resect and admire JYS' points of view I feel that Sebastian's problems this year have been as a result of the intense pressure at Maranello. Some poor managerial decisions; the design team loosing their way on occasion have had a far more pronounced effect upon him that the challenge from competitors. His mistakes have been the subject of over hyped media coverage particularly from the odious UK S*YF1 shower. It has been said that Lewis Hamilton had a fault free season which isn't strictly true, he has made errors and also needed massaging by his "troups" during races when things were not going to plan.
It comes down to luck a lot of the time; even Max said that Sebastian's "off" at Hockenheim could have happened to anyone as he was first onto the scene of that section of track, and pushing hard. Monza could have been brain fade, but the team management must take a huge amount of responsibility for the build up to that in the first place.
Last weekend in Mexico I felt that Sebastian drove really well, and lacked for nothing in pace or race craft.
For 2019 I think we are going to see some very interesting developments, shame most of us will not be seeing it live. If Honda manage to produce a power unit with something close to MB & Ferrari then Max is going to be more than a problem for Hamilton & Vettel, as the Red Bull is way better in the chassis department. I also think young Charles is going to be massive, his pace and race craft is going to shake up the order without any question.
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Post by Jamie on Nov 1, 2018 19:11:52 GMT
I think I agree in general John, too much being made of Seb’s mistakes as we’re dealing in very, very fine margins here. However, to counter that, I think that Lewis has made the difference this year.....he’s been at a higher level for longer than his chief rivals this season and that’s been the killer blow together with one or two ‘transcending his car’ performances. I’d take nothing away from Seb though, he’s been fast if not quite as consistent as Lewis but there’s hardly anything in it. Looking forward to next year now, the rest of this year has that ‘schools out for summer’ feeling.....
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Post by René on Nov 1, 2018 22:28:18 GMT
As much as I resect and admire JYS' points of view I feel that Sebastian's problems this year have been as a result of the intense pressure at Maranello. Some poor managerial decisions; the design team loosing their way on occasion have had a far more pronounced effect upon him that the challenge from competitors. His mistakes have been the subject of over hyped media coverage particularly from the odious UK S*YF1 shower. It has been said that Lewis Hamilton had a fault free season which isn't strictly true, he has made errors and also needed massaging by his "troups" during races when things were not going to plan. It comes down to luck a lot of the time; even Max said that Sebastian's "off" at Hockenheim could have happened to anyone as he was first onto the scene of that section of track, and pushing hard. Monza could have been brain fade, but the team management must take a huge amount of responsibility for the build up to that in the first place. Last weekend in Mexico I felt that Sebastian drove really well, and lacked for nothing in pace or race craft. For 2019 I think we are going to see some very interesting developments, shame most of us will not be seeing it live. If Honda manage to produce a power unit with something close to MB & Ferrari then Max is going to be more than a problem for Hamilton & Vettel, as the Red Bull is way better in the chassis department. I also think young Charles is going to be massive, his pace and race craft is going to shake up the order without any question. Very good post. Couldn't agree more about Sebastian's season. Yes, he made a few mistakes but some errors have been blown out of proportion. Several drivers have said it could have happened just as easy to them. Lewis wasn't without mistakes either but his team was much more balanced which is a big help. The pressure on these boys is enormous. 2019 could be interesting indeed. If Honda can make that next step Max will be a title contender for sure and Charles will win his first Grand Prix in 2019. Really looking forward to that!
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Post by robmarsh on Nov 2, 2018 7:18:47 GMT
I think next year will be pretty spectacular. Seb should come back stronger after a good rest and hopefully the political infighting at Ferrari would have resolved itself. I look forward to Charles Leclerc's first season with Ferrari with a lot of interest.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2018 3:33:49 GMT
I think next year will be pretty spectacular. Seb should come back stronger after a good rest and hopefully the political infighting at Ferrari would have resolved itself. I look forward to Charles Leclerc's first season with Ferrari with a lot of interest. Yes, yes, whatever, interest schminterest, what will the qualifying score be over the 2019 season between the two Ferrari men? I seem to remember, Marsh, that you are useless at predictions. So is Charles, and Carl, and Chris, and Jamie... and by far the worst of all, Rene. Useless. Me, on the other hand? ALWAYS RIGHT. Yes. You know it the most. And so we return to the question. Vettel vs Leclerc. 21 races. New team and car for Charles. Familiar team and car for the four-time world champion. A fired up Vettel. A nervous and overwhelmed unproven sophomore semi-journeyman lightweight Leclerc. 17-4 Vettel. You read it here first.
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Post by Carl on Nov 4, 2018 5:13:05 GMT
Bill, You should know that my predictions are the only useless ones and will remain so despite your bold disclaimer. Your chair at the table will be without a cushion for a while, but you are most welcome nonetheless! Cheers, Carl
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2018 7:32:03 GMT
17-4, Carl.
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Post by Jamie on Nov 4, 2018 7:32:26 GMT
Hi Bill, good to have you here 👍
I think Seb will gather his forces and come back stronger next year. I predict a Ferrari championship for Seb.....and then retirement. I think CL will push him very hard, win some races and start to show superior speed towards the end of the year forcing Seb to re-evaluate his future.
I also predict that Ferrari will get the hump and decide to pack it all in at the end of the year and everything will be transferred to Milan, painted blood red and come under the auspices of Autodelta SPa.......they’ll sign Hamilton for 2020 and dominate for years to come....
Hang on....why has Sargent Pepper appeared at the foot of my bed??? Ah, it’s just a dream 😁
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2018 7:53:45 GMT
Good to be here, Jamie. Thanks for your post. I think Vettel will smash Leclerc next year. The young Monegasque won't know what hit him.
Important to have wild predictions in flight, I think. You and Carl can see how it might play out. Leclerc will out-qualify Vettel in Australia, a sensation. Then I'll have lost one of my four. Then Vettel will nail six in a row and I'll start feeling cocky. Then Leclerc will get another and I'll be feeling flat and lonely. Then two to Seb and one more to Charles, and I'll be in a flat spin and egging Seb on to greater things.
Charles seems to drive that Sauber with tremendous precision. I haven't seen him drive it 'live', I'm just judging what I see on TV, but he seems inch-perfect everywhere.
Nice guy, too, it seems. But boy, is he going to be up against it next year.
17-4.
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Post by Jamie on Nov 4, 2018 8:04:33 GMT
Oh absolutely, Seb is a very fine racing driver and I think he’ll just have the better of it over the year. But I think Charles will build some momentum that will ultimately make Seb think about the future, I think the likes of Charles, Max (insert name of fast youngster here) will hasten the retirement of the old guard......it was always thus of course, the natural cycle.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2018 8:04:52 GMT
And another thing, RICCIARDO v HULKENBERG. Anyone got any feelings on how that will go?
I think Ricciardo will shade it, but there won't be much between them. Clearly Renault already don't think Nico is team leader material, otherwise they wouldn't have welcomed Dan with open arms. That might fire The Hulk up.
Could be game over for one of those guys if they're not trading blows race to race. Hulk has got the better of Sainz and he's a class act. If he is annihilated by Dan, it could be the end. Renault might look elsewhere.
12-9 to Ricciardo.
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