F1 2018
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Limejuice
Well-Known Member
Well, it looks like Mercedes and Ferrari are both up there. Hard to tell what performance is truly like, given the different set-ups and cold, blowy conditions. Rain is on the cards for tomorrow morning and lunchtime which might affect FP3, but probably not qualifying. The forecast for Sunday is dry and mild-ish.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Changes at McLaren
McLaren had tidied up its management structure, with Jonathan Neale becoming Chief Operating Officer of the McLaren Group. Zak Brown switching from Executive Director of the Group to the narrower role of CEO of McLaren Racing. Mike Flewitt continues as CEO of McLaren Automotive, while a new CEO for McLaren Applied Technologies is being recruited. Eric Boullier remains Racing Director but now reports to Brown, while John Allert remains Chief Marketing Officer.
This means that Zak Brown can now concentrate solely on the McLaren F1 team. I'm sure his major job is currently to find the racing team a title sponsor, something they have lacked for a number of years now and must be having a big effect on their budget.
New Volkswagen Group CEO
Will this change the dynamic regarding VW joining F1? Some reports claim it will. The new CEO is Herbert Diess who when at BMW got a name for himself but cutting them to the bone in the name of efficiency. But with a company as large as the VW group, I don't believe the CEO would make the decision about joining F1 or not. That decision would be taken by the whole board of directors. If Liberty Media can get a cost cap written into the new Concorde agreement, I believe VW could be in F1 after 2021. Its about return on investment and with a cost cap the VW group could get a return on their investment with-in a few years. The marketing value of F1 is well known, the cost cap limits their expenditure and with a redistribution prize money, they could see a return on their investment with-in 5 years, I believe.
McLaren had tidied up its management structure, with Jonathan Neale becoming Chief Operating Officer of the McLaren Group. Zak Brown switching from Executive Director of the Group to the narrower role of CEO of McLaren Racing. Mike Flewitt continues as CEO of McLaren Automotive, while a new CEO for McLaren Applied Technologies is being recruited. Eric Boullier remains Racing Director but now reports to Brown, while John Allert remains Chief Marketing Officer.
This means that Zak Brown can now concentrate solely on the McLaren F1 team. I'm sure his major job is currently to find the racing team a title sponsor, something they have lacked for a number of years now and must be having a big effect on their budget.
New Volkswagen Group CEO
Will this change the dynamic regarding VW joining F1? Some reports claim it will. The new CEO is Herbert Diess who when at BMW got a name for himself but cutting them to the bone in the name of efficiency. But with a company as large as the VW group, I don't believe the CEO would make the decision about joining F1 or not. That decision would be taken by the whole board of directors. If Liberty Media can get a cost cap written into the new Concorde agreement, I believe VW could be in F1 after 2021. Its about return on investment and with a cost cap the VW group could get a return on their investment with-in a few years. The marketing value of F1 is well known, the cost cap limits their expenditure and with a redistribution prize money, they could see a return on their investment with-in 5 years, I believe.
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
By the by, I was watching the GP with the sainted, long-suffering Mrs Limejuice last week. That new F1 heroic anthem began playing. With no prompting from me, she said, "That's a crap piece of music. Is it nicked from Indiana Jones?"
I got right up and made her a cup of tea.
I got right up and made her a cup of tea.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Sounds like Renault sold them a half built engine, not sure how Red Bull missed that, you'd think someone in the Red Bull team should be looking at things such as "is the spare engine fully built" when delivered
1%er
Well-Known Member
Something about this doesn't seem right to me, I'd expect a team like Red Bull would have a spare engine ready to go
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
Exactly. I think Ted's Notebook might be interesting this week.
1%er
Well-Known Member
What the fuck has happened to Williams, this car has Paddy Lowe's DNA so I'd have thought they would have moved forward with his Mercedes experience but they are falling further behind than they were last year. I wonder if Sir Frank is spending less time involved in the team
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
He must be getting on a bit now. Plus Clare started a family last year. You have to wonder if the whip-cracking department has been a bit quiet at Williams.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Good Morning all
That old chestnut seems to be a big story again. There are a number of reports that Force India is on the brink of bankruptcy (again). The reports claim the team needs an advance on its official F1 income within weeks just to survive. I wonder if Sky will cover this today
That old chestnut seems to be a big story again. There are a number of reports that Force India is on the brink of bankruptcy (again). The reports claim the team needs an advance on its official F1 income within weeks just to survive. I wonder if Sky will cover this today
Limejuice
Well-Known Member
The pre-start ceremonies are like the Olympic Games.
I remember when F1 was a bunch of blokes in oily clobber and mis-firing engines, with Murray Walker screaming into a microphone somewhere.
Chase Carey (on Sky) sums up the new reality: "China is an important market for us."
I remember when F1 was a bunch of blokes in oily clobber and mis-firing engines, with Murray Walker screaming into a microphone somewhere.
Chase Carey (on Sky) sums up the new reality: "China is an important market for us."
1%er
Well-Known Member
The left side of the grid is pole but there is more rubber down on the right side, so Kimi and Lewis could get much better traction.
Lewis with the bluff there I think talking about 2 stops, I don't think the teams are 100% sure yet, they'll need to look at the wear, but Lewis can look after his tyres from 4th and maybe try the one stop.
Lewis with the bluff there I think talking about 2 stops, I don't think the teams are 100% sure yet, they'll need to look at the wear, but Lewis can look after his tyres from 4th and maybe try the one stop.
