(24-05-2019, 03:22 PM)NeilP Wrote: Well of course I forgot its a 'rest day' at Monaco ( Is that just so the rich and famous can get pissed up and not miss anything... God I loathe this date on the F1 calendar).
You can always watch Indy 500 instead this weekend
But I agree, I wouldn't miss this race if it were axed. Watching the drivers on it on saturday is something to behold though.
(24-05-2019, 03:22 PM)NeilP Wrote: I must confess even me and my Mercedes and Hamilton fanhood are disappointed with the season, I was expecting a real battle that has failed to materialize. Why did we get here are Mercedes THAT dominant? Ferrari screwed up their car I get that but also what has happened at Red Bull (By the way I am absolutely NOT writing off Verstappen yet this weekend).
The other teams are not doing a good enough job. Simple as that. Can't realy blame Mercedes for the way it is this year. They have built a great, great car and a lot of the credit should go to JA, the other teams have not done as well. Red Bull can't really make the engine excuse this year, it isn't that far off. I think the reason they aren't clear team 2 this year is because of aero compromises they have needed to make to integrate the new PU. Whatever Horner and Marko may say I think swapping engine suppliers isn't plug and play, it takes a couple of years to iron out little problems.
(24-05-2019, 03:22 PM)NeilP Wrote: I think we are all loosely speaking in agreement that F1 is not doing well under the stewardship of Liberty Media and to be honest with you I think F1 as we know it is dying and dying faster than we realize. Jody made the comment about how long Mercedes will remain in the sport and my personal opinion is if they do not like where we are going in the next 2/3 years they may well pull out. I have a gut feeling we are going to lose some of the iconic races over the next few years and that makes me madder than hell that this charade of a race exists. The rush to so many new street circuits does not suit F1 cars in my opinion.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Mercedes drop F1 and focus all its effort into FE. However much I hate it, electric cars are here to stay and the worlds governments are hell bent on making internal combustion engines a thing of the past. Ironically, getting rid of petrol cars won't be any better for the environment, it just moves the point of polution to the power stations. Electric cars may be zero emissions at the point of use, but they sure as hell are NOT zero emissions in entirety.
(24-05-2019, 03:22 PM)NeilP Wrote: We do go on and on about overtaking but as well as the cars themselves you also have to look at the circuits raced on. Monaco is tough to impossible
To highlight your point Sky showed the 1992 Monaco race on Thursday night. I remember it very well, so watched it as it was on. Exciting to watch, what with unfortunate circumtsances putting our Nige second on the track in his williams behind Senna in his McLaren (with shot tyres). The delta was 5 seconds per lap and Nige was all over Senna's gearbox for quite a few laps at the end. Couldn't get past, but it was fun to watch.
(24-05-2019, 03:22 PM)NeilP Wrote: Trying to find positives here and I think the biggest one that stands out to me so far here at Monaco was the performance of Alexander Albon.
I really like the lad. He's proving worthy of a seat in F1 for sure.
(24-05-2019, 03:22 PM)NeilP Wrote: A final (for now) thought is Ricciardo becoming a wild card for Ferrari in 2021
I don't see it myself. I think unless Renault ace the 2021 regulations Riccardo may have finished his career by leaving Red Bull.