Motosport General discussion tread --- Formula1, MotoGP, WTCC, ETCC, DTM.....

[dre1982]

I can't wait till the next season starts. It will be a season with a lot of small battles between team mates. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.what-will-be-the-biggest-rivalries-in-f1-in-2021-we-take-a-look-at-hamilton.2IyOyaebADxXntGTABb9WG.html

The next year only Redbull can be the outsider.
Mercedes has a temperature problem if they haven't fixed it in this winter when they need to push at 100%.

Honda claimed a huge step for the next year, even if they left the circus in this last year they will upgrade for 2021.

So if they kept their words they can push the battle with Merdedes.

I'm not expecting a Ferrari fight for the title, they can maybe win some races but it will be hard.

The championship would indeed go between Mercedes and Red Bull. Mercedes is still the number one or a miracle must been happen in Japan.

The battles within the team would be great. And I can't wait for the promotion video's of McLaren.  Should be funny shit with Lando and Daniel.

[1714244688]

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[1714244688]

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[LTU_btc]

There is some important news announced today. F1 are planning to make race on Portimao track on free slot on 2nd May. They also agreed on engine freeze for 2022. And also, Sprint Race format got positive support.
I'm happy that Portimao track is added, I liked it last year. Personally, I'm a bit sceptical about sprint race idea, but it's just my opinion. And news about engines freeze is good thing for Red Bull as I understand.

[coinlocket$]

Fernando Alonso was hitten while he was training on a bicycle.
According to Alpine, his F1 team he probably has several broken bones from the first reports but does not appear to be life threatening.

He is in hospital and tomorrow we will know more.

[aesma]

Ecclestone says that peace in the team is the most important and that's why he didn't hire Senna in the end. Well, the clause Hamilton is asking for is basically the same thing : don't hire a driver that will make me unhappy.

Has proven by Russel, any good driver can win with Mercedes and Mercedes is more important than Hamilton.
Imho, drivers like Verstappen, LeClerc, Riccardo and maybe some more can "easily" win the title with this Mercedes and do better than Bottas.

Hamilton is a great driver for sure but he wants too much power and too much money.

If I'm not wrong the deal is only for 1 year.

Mercedes has built a brand with Hamilton. Yes they can win without him but it's not just about winning, he brings something to the table.

As for winning, he has the most proven track record of the field, obviously, so replacing him is still a gamble.

[AakZaki]

Ducati launch and presentation about the new bike for the session 2021

Live presentation



Link to the photo gallery

https://www.motogp.com/en/gallery/2021/02/09/photo-gallery-ducati-lenovo-team-show-off-new-2021-livery/360895

I think the black Lenovo lettering takes a bit of getting used to, but I'm looking forward to seeing Bagnaia at the Ducati this year. I think he will have a strong season on the factory Ducati.

New livery and new riders wish them luck next season. Regarding Lenovo, I heard that they will be the main sponsor for 3 seasons.

Regarding other news, I just learned that the Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit in Argentina had experienced a fire. The entire pit building, including the press room, Race Control and VIP lounge was destroyed by fire. But I'm glad there were no casualties there. Until now, I don't know what causes it. Hopefully they can clean up soon and return to normal. 

Source: https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2021/02/06/major-fire-breaks-out-at-the-termas-de-rio-hondo-circuit/360783

[coinlocket$]

There is some important news announced today. F1 are planning to make race on Portimao track on free slot on 2nd May. They also agreed on engine freeze for 2022. And also, Sprint Race format got positive support.
I'm happy that Portimao track is added, I liked it last year. Personally, I'm a bit sceptical about sprint race idea, but it's just my opinion. And news about engines freeze is good thing for Red Bull as I understand.

I also read about sprint races but on Saturday overwriting the actual pole position.
They are talking about a 100km ish race to determine who will start in the 1st position on Sunday.

While I like the idea I will be sad if we lose the actual pole position system.


About the engines freeze, the question you should ask is.

Why Ferrari with a bad engine in 2020, probably a decent engine for 2021 but not the best has accepted this thing?

If I was Ferrari I will never accept this rule except... I have a big surprise incoming. Maybe they find something like in 2019

[Koal-84]

Ducati launch and presentation about the new bike for the session 2021

Live presentation



Link to the photo gallery

https://www.motogp.com/en/gallery/2021/02/09/photo-gallery-ducati-lenovo-team-show-off-new-2021-livery/360895

I think the black Lenovo lettering takes a bit of getting used to, but I'm looking forward to seeing Bagnaia at the Ducati this year. I think he will have a strong season on the factory Ducati.

New livery and new riders wish them luck next season. Regarding Lenovo, I heard that they will be the main sponsor for 3 seasons.

Regarding other news, I just learned that the Termas de Rio Hondo Circuit in Argentina had experienced a fire. The entire pit building, including the press room, Race Control and VIP lounge was destroyed by fire. But I'm glad there were no casualties there. Until now, I don't know what causes it. Hopefully they can clean up soon and return to normal.  

Source: https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2021/02/06/major-fire-breaks-out-at-the-termas-de-rio-hondo-circuit/360783

Yes, the track in Argentina has a problem with the fire, but no one knows that it is possible to drive because of Corona at Argentina. On the MotoGP website, the Argentine routes PPD are undated also USA.



https://www.motogp.com/en/calendar

[dre1982]

Fernando Alonso was hitten while he was training on a bicycle.
According to Alpine, his F1 team he probably has several broken bones from the first reports but does not appear to be life threatening.

He is in hospital and tomorrow we will know more.

Seems that he have to have an operation for his braken jaw but Alpine expects that he will just be back when the season starts.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.alpine-expect-alonso-to-be-fully-operational-ahead-of-new-season-after.1XsjaXqNcXftGx62ZwHvBH.html

[aesma]

Damn about Alonso ! Fortunately not too bad. Women drivers 

I also read about sprint races but on Saturday overwriting the actual pole position.
They are talking about a 100km ish race to determine who will start in the 1st position on Sunday.

While I like the idea I will be sad if we lose the actual pole position system.

They are not going to do a reverse grid, so how will the sprint race start, with the free practice classification ? If so, then that will become some sort of old school qualification.

I must say I don't see the point of a sprint race if the cars basically start in the same order as the real race (Mercedes in front, all the others behind). We might see more action between drivers of the same teams though. Or maybe less, as the teams will ban it.

[Cnut237]

Has proven by Russel, any good driver can win with Mercedes

I'd disagree with this. Russell drove well in a single race but failed to win. This doesn't compare to Hamilton's relentless dominance year after year, and his ability to win in adverse conditions, such as the way he's streets ahead of most other drivers in the wet, or his insane drive to victory in Turkey last season. Russell drove well in that one race, and you can certainly argue that the victory was taken away from him through no fault of his own, but I think if Hamilton were in that same position there's a good chance he'd still have won the race by over-ruling the team instruction to come in, as he did to such good effect in Turkey. Really you only have to look at that one race in Turkey to understand how good Hamilton is... what happened to his team mate Bottas? I lost count of how many times Bottas spun or was overtaken, I think he eventually finished somewhere like 14th, and was lapped by Hamilton in the same car.

It's not coincidence that Hamilton is in the best car. The best car can take their pick of drivers, and they will pick the best. Hamilton and Mercedes is best driver in best car. That's why he keeps winning.

[coinlocket$]

Has proven by Russel, any good driver can win with Mercedes

I'd disagree with this. Russell drove well in a single race but failed to win.

Failed to win, in his 1st race with a new car with 0 Km done and lost only because his team made a mistake in the pit stop.
Destroyed Bottas before the pit stop, overtook him after.

Not only, after recovering the 10-15secs for the team mistake he was winning again but he got a puncture...

Sure failed to win...

[LTU_btc]

About the engines freeze, the question you should ask is.

Why Ferrari with a bad engine in 2020, probably a decent engine for 2021 but not the best has accepted this thing?

If I was Ferrari I will never accept this rule except... I have a big surprise incoming. Maybe they find something like in 2019

Good point. If this engine freeze would hurt Ferrari, they would never agree on it. So, probably there is some things behind the curtain that we don't know.

Seems that he have to have an operation for his braken jaw but Alpine expects that he will just be back when the season starts.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.alpine-expect-alonso-to-be-fully-operational-ahead-of-new-season-after.1XsjaXqNcXftGx62ZwHvBH.html

Broken jaw isreally painful injury, but it's good to read that he will be ready for new season.
Nico Hulkenberg left chat.

[coinlocket$]

Nico Hulkenberg left chat.

LOL.

As I told you Merdeces could suffer Engine problems for 2021 as Hywel Thomas said today.
They will have hot temperatures if they can't fix it ALWAYS IF they need to use the 100% of the power and this depends in opponents.

Another small info.

The new Ferrari will be called SF21 and will be revealed on the 10th of March.

[AndySt]

Ecclestone says that peace in the team is the most important and that's why he didn't hire Senna in the end. Well, the clause Hamilton is asking for is basically the same thing : don't hire a driver that will make me unhappy.

Has proven by Russel, any good driver can win with Mercedes and Mercedes is more important than Hamilton.
Imho, drivers like Verstappen, LeClerc, Riccardo and maybe some more can "easily" win the title with this Mercedes and do better than Bottas.
Hamilton is a great driver for sure but he wants too much power and too much money.
If I'm not wrong the deal is only for 1 year.

I would still not call Russell just a good driver and I am not sure that these good drivers would immediately go well on a car that was adjusted to the parameters of you know what other driver Although, of course, last year the level of the Mercedes car was higher than that of the competitors and we can say that Mercedes had no competition at all and all the victories of the competitors were made not because of their good qualities of the drivers, but by an unfortunate coincidence for the German stable.

[coinlocket$]

I would still not call Russell just a good driver

Russell already won 2 world championships in his 1st year in every category. The track is already clear for him.

[Cnut237]

Has proven by Russel, any good driver can win with Mercedes

I'd disagree with this. Russell drove well in a single race but failed to win.

Failed to win, in his 1st race with a new car with 0 Km done and lost only because his team made a mistake in the pit stop.
Destroyed Bottas before the pit stop, overtook him after.

Not only, after recovering the 10-15secs for the team mistake he was winning again but he got a puncture...

Sure failed to win...

Okay, I'm willing to amend my "drove well in a single race but failed to win" and upgrade it to: "drove really well in a single race but failed to win".

I do appreciate that he's a good driver, a great potential talent for the future, but put him in a Merc in circumstances like that Turkey race I used as an example, and you can't say he'd win it as Hamilton did. My point is not that Russell is a bad driver, of course he's not, but rather that he's more potential than finished article. All the speculation around the Hamilton contract with people saying they could just bring Russell in as a straight swap, based on one race, was just ridiculous. He did well, yes, very well, yes, but F1 is littered with instances of drivers who've performed exceptionally from time to time, whereas there are very few who demonstrate the combination of talent, racecraft and utter remorseless consistency that make them multiple world champions.

Sorry, but the 'anyone can win in a Mercedes' argument grates a bit. Mercedes have the best car. Does that mean they think: 'oh well, we've got the best car, let's just stick any random driver in, doesn't matter who they are'... or do they think: 'we've got the best car, we can have any driver we want, let's get the best driver'?

[dre1982]

About the engines freeze, the question you should ask is.

Why Ferrari with a bad engine in 2020, probably a decent engine for 2021 but not the best has accepted this thing?

If I was Ferrari I will never accept this rule except... I have a big surprise incoming. Maybe they find something like in 2019

Good point. If this engine freeze would hurt Ferrari, they would never agree on it. So, probably there is some things behind the curtain that we don't know.

Seems that he have to have an operation for his braken jaw but Alpine expects that he will just be back when the season starts.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.alpine-expect-alonso-to-be-fully-operational-ahead-of-new-season-after.1XsjaXqNcXftGx62ZwHvBH.html

Broken jaw isreally painful injury, but it's good to read that he will be ready for new season.
Nico Hulkenberg left chat.

Guess Hulkenberg would still sit waiting next to his phone. He probably is the most recommended driver for most team when a driver gets covid.

But let's hope he won't be needed.

[kayiboyu]

There is some important news announced today. F1 are planning to make race on Portimao track on free slot on 2nd May. They also agreed on engine freeze for 2022. And also, Sprint Race format got positive support.
I'm happy that Portimao track is added, I liked it last year. Personally, I'm a bit sceptical about sprint race idea, but it's just my opinion. And news about engines freeze is good thing for Red Bull as I understand.

I also read about sprint races but on Saturday overwriting the actual pole position.
They are talking about a 100km ish race to determine who will start in the 1st position on Sunday.

While I like the idea I will be sad if we lose the actual pole position system.


About the engines freeze, the question you should ask is.

Why Ferrari with a bad engine in 2020, probably a decent engine for 2021 but not the best has accepted this thing?

If I was Ferrari I will never accept this rule except... I have a big surprise incoming. Maybe they find something like in 2019

I want Ferrari to gain their great performance they had in 2019 so bad. I agree with you on your idea about the reason they have accepted the engine freeze. There must be definitely something as a reason not to object to this. I hope they found a way to improve their performance a great deal.

[boltz]

See , this is the problem with some F1 drivers ...they are adrenaline junkies so if they're not a their F1 car they will try to get a piece from that adrenaline by doing other sports. We all remember what Heyden got by riding a bicycle right ? I wonder what was in Alonso's head to take that bicycle for a ride as they're very dangerous if the traffic is not controller, especially when you have racing bicycle.

I'm glad he's okay and he will be back in his F1 seat before the start of season.

[Cnut237]

See , this is the problem with some F1 drivers ...they are adrenaline junkies so if they're not a their F1 car they will try to get a piece from that adrenaline by doing other sports.

I've often wondered whether F1 drivers have brains that are just wired differently to normal people, such that they have no sense of danger (or an extremely diminished sense). I'd agree 100% that when not driving F1 cars they can often be found pursuing other dangerous activities - Michael Schumacher's terrible off-piste skiing accident being the most high profile example.

I'm not saying they're reckless, they're not, you have to be tremendously focused and disciplined, and have phenomenal concentration, to be able to drive an F1 car at full speed for a couple of hours without a break. But this utter absence of fear does seem to be a common characteristic.