In the round-up: Marcus Ericsson says he is looking at a possible move to take Nico Hulkenberg’s vacant place at Force India next season.
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Your daily digest of F1 news, views, features and more from hundreds of sites across the web:
Ericsson eyes vacant Force India seat (Autosport)
"I still think it's most likely I'll stay with Sauber, but like I've said, I want to be in the best team possible, and Force India seem to be really strong at the moment."
Sebastian Vettel: Poor results mustn't distract 2017 work (ESPN)
"We had a plan which we are following for a long time for what's going on next year."
Massa: Alonso ‘good friends with the stewards’ (Motorsport)
"I think he has very good friends in the stewards, to be honest."
Williams to test 2017-focused wing again in Mexico (F1i)
"When asked how much teams are able to learn for next year while running the current cars, Symonds replied: 'Not at lot.'"
McLaren hid 2017 car from Button until contract call (Crash)
"I obviously didn't see the 2017 car for a little while as I was decided what to do for next year,” Button said. “I will be back at the factory and drive it in the simulator."
Mexican Grand Prix fans and passion lay foundations for long F1 future (The Guardian)
"This is just the beginning for us. We need to keep building and working toward the future and thinking 10 or 15 years ahead to where we want to be."
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@WillPalmerr was pretty impressive in the @McLarenF1 car today, kid was on it. #MABA pic.twitter.com/ZqsV6dQIWa
— David Brabham (@brabsracer) October 26, 2016
How lush is that? @WillPalmerr in McLaren at #MABA2016 @BRDCSilverstone @SilverstoneUK pic.twitter.com/sF4zyIMGNh
— Jason Plato (@jasonplato) October 26, 2016
Arrived in Mexico City last night. @PWehrlein on the plane, taking a Texan hat with him. I feel sure he will end up with a sombrero too.
— Alan Baldwin (@alanbaldwinf1) October 26, 2016
Would be great to see Mercedes and a couple of others head to WEC to develop their hybrid powerplants – and leave F1 to their customer teams
— Tiff Needell (@tiff_tv) October 26, 2016
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Comment of the day
It’s hard to find anyone with something positive to say about Tilke’s reworking of Mexico’s F1 track:
Along with Sochi and Abu Dhabi, probably the third rung in the Tilke-trinity-of-truly-terrible-tracks. The clumsy, follow-my-leader turns of four, five and six is at last a truly credible rival for title of “Worst Track Complex [customary Clarksonian pause]… in the World” currently held by turns five, six and seven at Abu Dhabi.
Even the Esses have no flow. The first apex is too slow, so whilst all other S-bend complexes in the world start quickly and require the driver to progressively bleed momentum through the changes of direction, the drivers are trying to regain momentum through the preceding curves.
Saying that, we should see some impressive lap-times this year. Given that we almost came within a second of Rosberg’s 19.4 pole lap during the race last year just shows that it wasn’t a fully representative pole lap, and the Audi LMP1 car has since logged a 1’24 in WEC qualifying affirming that. I would be surprised if pole isn’t a 1’15.
@William-Brierty
From the forum
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Crm, Gwen, Jeff Bird, Golson and Ostrailya!
If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is via the contact form or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
Michael Schumacher took victory in his final sportscar race 25 years ago today at Autpolis in Japan, sharing a Mercedes with Karl Wendlinger.
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
27th October 2016, 0:10
Ericsson at Force India lolololol. You shouldn’t even be in a Sauber.
Daniel
27th October 2016, 2:20
Reginaldo Leme, Brazil’s most proeminent Formula 1 journalist, said during the US GP broadcast that Force India’s seat would be given to Nasr, and that Bernie was involved in the negotiations
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
27th October 2016, 3:26
Ericsson and Nasr, Romain and Guti, Massa, Mag and Palmer, Kvyat right now, don’t look like F1 material to me.
Arrows98 (@arrows98)
27th October 2016, 3:52
the sad thing is, during the USGP, Brazilian TV was reporting that it was Nasr the one supposed to take Hulk’s seat at FI… plus, that Bernie was backing up the move! :/
the said it was pretty much a done deal, so, even if you chalk off some of it as ‘nationalistic wishful thinking’, there’s probably a deal in the works…
zimkazimka (@zimkazimka)
27th October 2016, 5:00
So, first Monisha signs too many drivers to the team, and now she signs too many of them off. Interesting.
BasCB (@bascb)
27th October 2016, 21:44
There certainly seems to be something in those rumours @arrows98. But at the same time Mercedes seems to be trying to get the far more promising Ocon in there, in return for cheaper engines/write off of dept
Joao (@johnmilk)
27th October 2016, 10:20
I agree with you @peartree, except for Romain. Hass doens’t have a bad car, but it is very inconsistent, which makes very difficult to evaluate a driver’s performance. Throughout the season Grosjean managed to do good races whenever the car was at its best. He has 29 points at the moment, compared to 0 from Gutierrez. Not only that, he is in front of Kvyat (who started the season in a RedBull) and Button in the standings. He is in a rookie time, that is still adapting, still making errors to improve their routine, all these affect the driver, and at least in my opinion he is done a great job during the season, also I get the feeling that he is a leader inside that team, and that is very important.
Something that I find very interesting at the moment, is that Manor has a better driver line-up than Sauber, Renault and STR (IMO)
What is worse, is that there are plenty of good and experience drivers that would be better than those mentioned. It’s business I guess.
Joao (@johnmilk)
27th October 2016, 10:21
*rookie team
sorry about that
Tristan
27th October 2016, 15:23
Agree completely. Grosjean’s performance this year has been truly great. Highly underrated. It’s such a shame he didn’t get a seat in a good team based off it. Not to say that I think he would excel there either, just that he deserves the opportunity based off this year.
Manox (@marussi)
27th October 2016, 6:18
Marcus is not that bad and surely better than Nasr this year.
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
27th October 2016, 12:07
@marussi We all saw how good he was at Monaco… Both are laughable frankly, their feeder series results speak for themselves: Marcus has two sprint race victories in 4 years while Felipe has a single sprint race victory in three years. Both should be replaced as soon as possible.
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
27th October 2016, 12:15
Didn’t want to be mean though :s
Manox (@marussi)
27th October 2016, 12:42
No offense taken :) Monaco was a stupid move but Marcus is doing quite well this year but he is no champ material. I want Rosenqvist in F1 instead
Miane
27th October 2016, 18:08
Ericson on Sauber is nothing to consider. Actually the team work for him, even copying Nasr car setup. I think Nast is far better. He is Just in the wrong car at the wrong time
mystic one (@mysticus)
28th October 2016, 19:06
Mercedes is considering Ericson as Ros’s rear right tire to gap the 1.5 psi inflation deficit :)
Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
27th October 2016, 0:36
Not gonna lie, Ericsson has actually been pretty decent in the Sauber. Last year he was terrible but this year he’s actually alright. However I hope he doesn’t go to Force India. I would prefer someone like Ocon or Wehrlein in that seat.
Manox (@marussi)
27th October 2016, 6:19
i dont think he will get the India seat anyway but as a swede i agree on that last year he was terrible and felt this year was make or break. The sauber car is terrible thou this year
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
27th October 2016, 8:28
@ultimateuzair
I’ve been thinking for quite some time this season that Ericsson would do a pretty solid job job in a midfield car judging on his performance this year, therefore I wouldn’t actually mind him moving to a better team like Force India. I would actually think it would make more sense to move him there than Ocon or Wherlein as they have far less experience that Ericsson, Especially Ocon. He will have had less f1 experience than any of the drivers at the end of this season. This is now Ericsson’s 3rd year nearly completed in F1 and although his previous 2 years were not that good, this one has been much better and experience from the past 2 will help.
WheelToWheel (@lolzerbob)
27th October 2016, 9:18
He’s a fast driver, but way too erratic for a solid midfied team to sign him up. Like in GP2, one weekend he would be finishing at the back of the field the next he would get pole and dominate to win the race. He’s improved though, although I think staying at Sauber should be the best, I’d like Giovinazzi to take the Force India seat
Chrisz
27th October 2016, 0:38
I almost forgot how F1 cars one sounded. #palmer in mclaren
paulguitar (@paulguitar)
27th October 2016, 9:15
Indeed @Chrisz
Wonderful to hear it again.
Mick Harrold (@mickharrold)
27th October 2016, 11:45
That McLaren does sound good. A song to the ears and I miss it. It would even fulfil the rest of my senses if only they decided to run someone other than another rich well connected driver in that car. Imagine how good it would sound, feel and taste if they put a real talent in there.
Yeah I know, won this, did that. Blah Blah Blah Whatever. He’s a rich kid with a rich and well connected F1 dad and that is the reason he gets in this car. Way better talent out there. People have a go at Nasr, Ericsson and so on, but for some reason (British media) Jolyon Palmer doesn’t seem to cop the same flack as them. He spent a whole year last year getting FP1 practice with Lotus/Renault, but despite all that help, he still hasn’t performed this year. Will Stevens didn’t cop much flack either for the same reason (British media), but he was hopeless too.
As much flack as Pastor Maldonado copped for being crap and a pay driver, he was miles better than Stevens and Palmer. Although, he should have tried to stop crashing his car at some point. Sorry, we are scraping the bottom of the barrel here with these guys.
On the well connected dad’s list.
Hill : Decent driver, but nothing special. (Won in the best car, but at least he is decent human being)
Villeneuve : Decent driver, but nothing special. (Won in the best car.)
Nelson Piquet Jnr : Pfft
Kazuki Nakajima : Wow. He raced F1. How did that happen.
Rosberg : Very good driver and tier one some times, but not the best on the grid at any time in his career.
Magnussen : Nothing special
Palmer : Pfft
Verstappen : May end up being the exception to the rule. (His dad was fast, but erratic, but has taught him what not to do.)
Robbie (@robbie)
27th October 2016, 14:29
@mickharrold You sound bitter. There you sit on your high horse passing judgement down on people like they’re mere peons, making yourself sound worse than the ‘rich, well connected kids’ would ever sound when talking about others. Perhaps you’ve been burned through nepotism when not getting a promotion that the bosses kid got, just for being who they are?
A question though…what are all the children of wealthy successful parents to do? Denounce their family name and refuse any financial help for fear that someone in their armchair might take issue? What should the media do? Ignore this rabble that has been thrust upon you by teams foolishly hiring them even though they’re ‘nothing special’ and instead mention only the drivers that YOU have deemed worthy? Drivers that according to you should have taken FP1 sessions in a bad car and turned that into gold when at the same time you can witness Alonso with all the sessions behind him, not just FP1’s, barely able to get a better car into the points? Pretty sad.
Mick Harrold (@mickharrold)
27th October 2016, 15:38
Fair point. I never thought of myself a bitter, but you may have a point. I guess I am just your average bloke who came from a family with little means. I wore Op/thrift shop clothes growing up and lived in a small house with my mentally ill grandmother (who I loved). Since then, I started my own business and I have probably joined the ranks of the so called “Rich and well connected” that I scorn.
However I think I do have a point. Almost all of my clients (many who I call friends now) have nothing like my history. They are all mostly smart and hard working, but they came from money. I don’t discount their effort as they have worked as hard as me for the most part. However, almost all came from families with money and most were well connected through their parents. Most of my school friends are tradesman or have office jobs. They work hard too and they are climbing the ladder. Most work just as hard as my well to do friends. And most are just as smart as well.
But there is my point. If you start with money and connections, you will probably end up doing well. A person with good driving skills and who’s dad was an F1 driver is 1000 times more likely to end up in an F1 car than the next Senna from a poor family.
Bitter? Yeah, I guess so. Pay drivers annoy me. So do people getting there on the skills of their parents. Call me stupid, but I feel the best drivers should be in F1 and often that isn’t the case. I own a business, so I do understand that it isn’t simple. However, having gotten on my high horse, I think Verstappen and Rosberg deserve to be there. I think Hill worked hard and is a very inspirational person as well. Palmer and Stevens? Well I think Ericsson and Nasr deserve their seats as much as they do. Which means to say I don’t think any of them deserve their seats.
I will shut up now. This is an F1 column and not a place for me to put forward my views on the world. And I do take on board that you called me bitter. That is a disappointing place for me to be given all of the above drivers that I have slated, worked very hard to get there. Just as hard as I have or harder! I just wish that talent was the predominant factor in promotion instead of money and connections. And that doesn’t just go for F1.
Robbie (@robbie)
27th October 2016, 16:09
@mickharrold Fair and honest comment. In a perfect world I suppose money and connection wouldn’t predominate, but I think it is inevitable. That said, you will agree it certainly is no guarantee of talent or of the same success the parent had, nor a guarantee that one’s children will even want to follow in their parents’ footsteps. I think for me I just don’t like wealthy and connected people who act like they did it all on their own, and prefer that they are humble and respectful as to how lucky they have been, while understanding that is just the way it is sometimes. I congratulate you on your business successes and I wonder too sometimes if someone such as yourself can take even greater satisfaction at your accomplishments than someone who deep down knows they had a big hand up, even if as I say that was just always going to come with the territory of their upbringing. I think racers too, no matter their background, take greater satisfaction in a race or Championship win hard fought as opposed to it being a relative cakewalk. The cakewalk is nice and ‘easy’ at the time, but when they’re retired with a fishing line in the water…meh…it just is what it is….up to the individual I suppose.
anon
28th October 2016, 20:09
@mickharrold, and yet, there is a sublime irony in your post when you comment about how those drivers are more likely to make it into F1 than “the next Senna from a poor family” – Ayrton himself came from a fairly wealthy family with useful business connections, and Ron Dennis has stated in the past that Ayrton used those financial connections to buy his way into the sport.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
27th October 2016, 12:28
People will strongly disagree with my for this. But I think the Mclaren Honda of the past 2 years sounds better than any other car of the hybrid era. I also prefer it to the screaming sound of when the cars had the V8s. I just seem to love those burbling sounds as they lift off the throttle going round bends which no other cars at the moment seem to do. It is also a deeper sounding note than the other cars this year and I just seem to prefer that.
Markp
27th October 2016, 13:20
Have you heard NASCAR? If you like a deeper rumbling sound you will prefer them to any F1 engine.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
27th October 2016, 18:19
Yea, although I don’t watch it, I certainly do prefer the sound of their engines. I actually don’t think much of the look of American muscle cars but I much prefer their sound to the scream of Italian super cars. Many people have said the McLaren-Honda sounds awful. I know it sounds different to the others but IMO, that sound it makes is better than all the other engines.
Neil (@neilosjames)
27th October 2016, 0:41
Could have sworn there were a lot of links between Mr Ericsson and the ‘Swiss’ group that bought Sauber… little bit ungrateful to say he wants to go to Force India!
montreal95 (@montreal95)
27th October 2016, 0:56
@neilosjames Precisely to the contrary. If indeed there are links between ME and the group that saved Sauber, then he can say whatever he bloody likes. He’s close to the money, and Sauber know which side the bread is buttered on. Having said that, I really hope it’ll remain just talk and FI don’t even contemplate wasting that prime seat on him
Arrows98 (@arrows98)
27th October 2016, 3:54
montreal95 (@montreal95)
27th October 2016, 12:19
@arrows98 I thought someone might! ;)
Fletch (@fletchuk)
27th October 2016, 1:26
Massa seems to be turning into the next JV. There I said it.
Tristan
27th October 2016, 2:34
To be fair I also thought the moves were a bit too much. Exciting racing sure, but a driver further down the order definitely would have been penalised for those desperate moves. Imagine if it was the likes of Nasr, Palmer or Kvyat? Penalties given without doubt.
I think it was not only that it was Alonso making the moves, but also that F1 as a whole is desperate to have McLaren see some success.
nase
27th October 2016, 12:46
Not just further down – Nico Rosberg was penalised for a pretty much identical move in Malaysia.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
27th October 2016, 6:57
@fletchuk : +1 to that.
Massa’s comments were as unwarranted as Alonso’s moves.
jodrell (@jodrell)
27th October 2016, 9:55
he’s been giving off a sulky teenager vibe for a couple of years now…nothing is ever his fault
Fletch (@fletchuk)
27th October 2016, 11:39
@Jodrell + 1
Duncan Idaho (@)
27th October 2016, 1:32
Audi confirms WEC withdrawal to focus on Formula E !
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
27th October 2016, 3:32
It’s rather VAG scales down the investment in WEC to save money as a balance for the new regs on wrc and FE. I actually like Mexico, it’s not the old Mexico but it’s a distinctive track. The track is a little like Baku including being under appreciated, and both are probably fitter for overtaking than the unanimously beloved COTA.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
27th October 2016, 7:03
I have to agree with Massa.
If it was Kvyat, Grosjean or one of the Sauber drivers, a penalty would have been handed out.
The stewards really need to be a bit more consistent regardless of who the offender was.
Shayne
27th October 2016, 8:30
The thing is, with different stewards at different tracks there will always be inconsistency. The incidents are not always clear cut, so there will always be difference in opinion, but at least if the same group of stewards oversaw all races you’d hope they would be more consistent with previous decisions.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
27th October 2016, 9:02
@dbradock – I believe accusations of inconsistency are acceptable, since it affects the entire stewarding board. Accusations of favouritism are more directed and should be made only with evidence, and not out of emotion. Like it or not, drivers have to view the stewards as the umpires/referees of the sport and treat them with due respect.
I’m sure if Massa were still under contract and driving next year, he would not be making such loose remarks.
OOliver
27th October 2016, 9:05
Alonso was alongside Massa for a significant amount of time. Massa assumed Alonso dived in at the last minute, but it was a double apex corner and Alonso was already side by side at the first apex.
WilliamB (@william-brierty)
27th October 2016, 8:49
It’s a very sad day for motorsport. Watching a diesel-electric Audi whistle its way through the Porsche Curves is one of the defining racing experiences of my life. Audi brought sportscar racing up to F1-levels of professionalism, and embodied the spirit of endurance better than almost anyone. They gave us some truly iconic racing cars, like the R8 or the first electric-hybrid to win Le Mans, the gorgeous R18, cars peddled by drivers of the quality of Tom Kristensen and Andre Lotterer (both true contenders for being among the ten greatest racing drivers of the 21st Century).
This cataclysmic bombshell is a sobering juncture for a WEC increasingly smug in its comparison to F1. Hopefully another manufacturer can pick up Audi’s vast array of driving and engineering talent for 2018 (Honda is making some noises about an LMP1 interest, and Renault is also a distinct possibility), however in the meanwhile, I can’t say I’m so excited by the idea of WEC racing in 2017 knowing Andre Lotterer likely won’t on the grid.
FlyingLobster27
27th October 2016, 9:15
Nothing lasts forever, @william-brierty. The least that can be said is that Audi have been legendary. Never failing to put a car on the overall podium at Le Mans (a record that nearly fell this year, so close!), just incredible. Personally, I’ll remember how astonishingly quiet the R10 TDI was when I saw it in 2006: if it drove in front of you with another car, you’d only hear the other car.
I said after 2015 that I felt that endurance racing had peaked, with the three-car teams, the mad speeds the cars were doing at Le Mans, the wildcard winners… and this impression seems to be confirmed. P1 is bleeding – and I’m not expecting Toyota to run WEC and WRC from 2018 -, P2 is turning quasi-spec, which makes it unworthy of becoming the top class should P1 bust altogether, and GTE is starting to get out of hand as a GT category. The outlook isn’t good, end of a cycle…
WheelToWheel (@lolzerbob)
27th October 2016, 9:25
@william-brierty
‘WEC increasingly smug in it’s comparison to F1’
I don’t think so. Viewing figures for WEC is going down, and the product is less exciting than F1 because I can never find six hours of looking after your car interesting and it’s impossible to find the time to watch it. i think the only series which is better than F1 is IndyCar in termsod racing. Formula E is slightly worse than F1 and WEC aswell imo
Markp
27th October 2016, 13:30
Not long ago the WEC model was held up as a contrast to everything wrong with F1 and that F1 should be more like WEC. Few years later F1 appears to be carrying on with an exciting future whilst WEC is wilting. Maybe they will move to 1995 style rules where GTE cars have a good chance of victory with many manufacturers in this area? Would they ban prototypes?
anon
28th October 2016, 20:21
@william-brierty, the signs have been there fore a while though – Audi have been complaining for a few years that they felt the ACO hadn’t done enough to raise the profile of the WEC and that the sport wasn’t generating enough sponsorship opportunities. On top of that, the cost inflation has been pretty rampant in the P1 class, although Audi themselves made that rod for their own back given that they pushed for most of the regulations that pushed up costs in the first place.
I’d also have to say that there has been something of a darker side to Audi’s involvement in sportscar racing, which was the fact that the ACO did sometimes unashamedly bend to Audi’s will (for example, adjusting the weight limits for LMP1 cars to favour the R10 when it first came in). They might have embodied the spirit of endurance racing, but they were also responsible for driving out most of the historic privateer teams that created much of the legacy that series had.
Craig Woollard (@craig-o)
27th October 2016, 9:08
Well, I suppose Ericsson has been the least worst Sauber driver this year. But should that justify a move to Force India? No way.
Manox (@marussi)
27th October 2016, 9:49
In a swedish interview je says it mot likly to stay in sauber and not looking at The fi seat would be dumb.
So you can always look, it does not have to mean something
Manox (@marussi)
27th October 2016, 9:51
Oh my god. My spelling on The Phone is bad! He* its* most* likely*
rosbergwillstillloseit
27th October 2016, 9:33
ericsson is doing great this season, i think at the moment he could do better than verstappen in the red bull
WheelToWheel (@lolzerbob)
27th October 2016, 9:36
You would make a good comedian…. Yeah Ericsson would have a won a race and should have won another in Malaysia and race the Mercedes cars in slower machinery, definetly
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
27th October 2016, 11:54
Well, we don’t actually know what Ericcsson would be capable of in a decent car but he has made less bad mistakes in a poor car this year than Verstappen has in a very decent one. Yes, I reckon Verstappen is a fair bit better but the only way we could easily know how good ever driver is if we have several races in a row where all the drivers are in identical machinery. We will probably get a few very big surprises then. Probably showing that certain drivers are much better than we thought and others that we thought were decent turn out not to be that good. Obviously, that won’t happen but it is sort of true that we can’t really see the true performance of all the drivers unless then are all in identical cars.
Markp
27th October 2016, 13:27
I think the best will still be the best but the gaps would be so small that anyone could win on any given Sunday. The best now will likely be the best as they are more consistently near or at the front. Then again you could get an upset like Ricciardo in 2014 who blew Vettels doors off after being very equal with his previous temmate in midfield whilst Vettel won 4 titles in a row. Driver talent is not linear, when they get a good car they can make a huge step up.
Next year with much faster cars the publics perception of the hierachy may change.
WheelToWheel (@lolzerbob)
27th October 2016, 14:39
@thegianthogweed
Ericsson crashed in qualifying in Britain and Hungary forcing him to start from the pit-lane. He crashes into his teammate, the cardinal sin of F1, at Monaco. He also finished only ahead of Haryanto at Baku, Austria, Hungary and Germany and at Hungary he was lapped by his teammate. I haven’t seen hardly any mistakes from Max this year other than Monaco and Spa, and he has the pace to be a future world champion.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
27th October 2016, 20:16
Well, I actually strongly disagree about the penalty Ericcson got at Monoco. I happened to record Monaco 2014 and still have it. Ericsson’s move on his team mate was very nearly identical to Bianchi’s move on Kobyashi. Other than that Nasr has been told for over 10 laps to allow his team mate past which he refused. Ericsson did make a lunge and Nasr could have allowed him though since he had been told to so many times. Bianchi did pretty much the same sudden move on Kobyashi at the same corner but Kobyashi actually just about allowed him enough space. Nasr really should have given Ericsson room as he had been told to ages ago and they were team mates after all!
And about Max, I do certainly think he is better but I didn’t realize about Ericsson’s mistakes in a couple of the qualifying sessions. I maybe should have worded it quite the way I did. And not that this was a mistake that resulted in a crash or anything, but Verstappen thinking his team had called him in last race out wasn’t good. I would count that as a mistake as it would have cost him massively.
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
27th October 2016, 22:33
@lolzerbob
One reason why I was puzzled about not remembering Ericsson crashing in qualifying in Britain and Hungary was because he didn’t crash during either. In Britain, yes he had a heavy crash in the final practice session which IMO was just very unlucky. He just touched the artificial grass on the outside of the kerb and as it was damp, he unfortunately instantly lost control and had one of the worst looking accidents this season. But his mistake really looked minor but obviously costly. And he then simply had no choice to take part in qualifying, partly because of his car and also because they needed to check him out from what I can remember because of the impact.
In Hungary, I am not actually sure what made him start from the back because he did not crash in qualifying. I recorded that race and I’ve looked back and he took part in just Q1, qualified in 17th and then obviously couldn’t go into Q2. He arrived back in the pits in one piece so I’m not sure where you saw him crash in qualifying on both of these race weekends. But yes, he started from the pit lane in both races. I’m not sure what the reason behind that in Hungary was.
WheelToWheel (@lolzerbob)
28th October 2016, 8:33
@thegianthogweed
He crashes at Hungary in qualifying – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCwQv5nkNz0
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
28th October 2016, 11:55
@lolzerbob
Sorry, but this is incorrect. That was not qualifying in Hungary. That mistake must have been in practice. I recorded the qualifying session in Hungary and I have just watched through it. Ericsson did one timed lap in Q1 that got him to 17th. Then the red flag came out because it was simply to wet for anyone to continue. He drove back into the pits without any damage what so ever – just as I said before. I don’t see how the video link you posted proves that he crashed in qualifying because he didn’t.
WheelToWheel (@lolzerbob)
28th October 2016, 12:19
@thegianthogweed
You can’t have missed it because he did
Quoted from this BBC articlae – http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/36875049
All the front-runners negotiated a first session punctuated by four red flags, initially for another burst of heavy rain and then for a succession of crashes, for Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson, Williams’ Felipe Massa and Manor’s Rio Haryanto, who all lost control on their first laps after a re-start.
(picture)
Marcus Ericsson’s Sauber is recovered after his shunt early in Q1
From the Sauber F1 team article – http://www.sauberf1team.com/news/formula-1-hungarian-grand-prix-qualifying-saturday-2
Marcus Ericsson (car number 9):
Sauber C35-Ferrari (Chassis 04/Ferrari)
Qualifying: 20th in Q1 (1:46.984 min / wet tyres)
3rd practice: 20th (1:23.219 min / supersoft tyres / 23 laps)
“It was a very disappointing qualifying for me. The conditions were quite tricky with lots of standing water, but that was the same for everyone. I lost the car, so in the end it was my mistake and the session was quickly over for me. I should have done better. I apologise to the team for the work load I have caused them. I will fight back tomorrow.”
Sky – http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12523/10510395/hungarian-gp-watch-ericsson-massa-and-haryanto-crash-out-of-q1
Again – http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/10510375/ericsson-crashes-in-hungary
Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9iHvciE5Ak
Yeah I don’t see how I can put much more information, but it is CLEAR that he crashed. You must be watching some different qualifying session because it is causes the red flag and I don’t see how you can miss that
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
28th October 2016, 14:55
@lolzerbob
Sorry, I will have to apologies now. I was wrong about this. I did record it but because qualifying went on for longer than expected, my freeview box must not have recorded the part where he crashed. I thought they ended Q1 and from when the 1st red flag came out, and didn’t continue with it. I was obviously wrong as they did continue and Ericsson did crash from all that proof you have given.
Sorry again.
WheelToWheel (@lolzerbob)
28th October 2016, 17:35
@thegianthogweed
No need to apologise
rosbergwillstillloseit
27th October 2016, 13:53
why not? he improved so much and verstappen is the definition of overrated
RehMic (@mich747all)
27th October 2016, 10:57
My godness, that V8 sound is so juicy, I remember when I went to my first GP in 2012, how astonished I was. Tbh I think that current V6s have nice texture and each engine sounds different, but I definitely prefer V8s.
Jerejj
27th October 2016, 11:01
“The other overtake he did with Sainz, he just braked late and went off the track also. Two in the last three laps of the race. I don’t see the point in not giving a penalty to him.” – Felipe Massa.
– Yeah, but Alonso completed his overtaking move on Sainz before his brief off-track excursion and regarding the earlier incident: it was a racing incident, so the stewards’ decision was correct.
pH
27th October 2016, 13:57
Actually, no.
Alonso’s sightseeing trip was a part of that passing move, without going out he would not have passed in the first place. So he did gain an advantage by going out, therefore the move was illegal per regulations.
I guess organizers decided to show the world the beauty of Texas by allowing drivers doing some field trips during the race. It’s a pity drivers were rather timid and did not go very far, there are some really nice places within a day’s drive of Austin (I particularly liked the Big Bend National Park).
Prab
27th October 2016, 15:58
Wrong.
So imagine Alonso never braked at Monza’s first chicane, took to the grass and overtook Sainz who was ahead of him.
Going off track should never be an option.
Martin Brundle said it the best “I think they have to change the name of the venue from COTA (Circuit of the Americas) to ZOTA because the F1 drivers treated it more like a zone than a circuit, helping themselves to any bit of hard standing which suited their progress.”
Sergio B. Perez (@sergio-perez)
27th October 2016, 11:02
I think Audi and Mercedes joining Formula E should be a wake-up call for Formula 1. Big name manufacturers come and go and have no concern about the legacy of Formula 1. They just want what is best in terms of marketing and exposure. Formula 1 is still the Premiere motorsport show in the World, but Formula E is gaining much interest and acceptance worldwide, specially by its politically correct environmental Message. Cities open up to the show easily, and provide an amazing background with lots of free media coverage due to their prime location, contrary to regular race tracks.
Ferrari, Mclaren, Williams, Red Bull and the legacy, legendary Formula 1 teams need to take back control of the show and make it the Pinnacle and reference of motorsport once more.
Environmental friendly, alternative energies are the future. If Electric is not the route for Formula 1, then other High performance renewable energy power plants need to be created- its were the motor industry is heading, like it or not.
The Show has to be better for both on location audiences and for TV and online viewers. The current model is alienating audiences. The Race weekend show on location in most venues is poor, the interaction with the “heroes” and teams practically non existent. On TV, pay per view turned the sport from a Mass Market show to a select market. Online viewing, in most cases worldwide, needs to be done either by illegal streams or by exclusive, expensive local network deals.
It will be sad to see Formula 1, with its tradition and Historical significance, to disappear due to lack of innovation and relevance. Something needs to be done- in 2 seasons time, there’s a big chance Formula E becomes a direct challenger, if not a leader, as the pinnacle of motorsport.
Food for thought.
Tony Mansell
27th October 2016, 11:21
We don’t need the manufacturers and we don’t need hybrid in f1. Cosworth would soon breach the gap left by these corporate suits feeding at the trough of f1. Id certainly not look to formula ‘Eh?’ for answers ! Absolute rubbish, with basically chain link armour between spectators and track.
f1 is not perfect but online whingeing magnifies that and its still easily the biggest game in town.
beneboy (@beneboy)
27th October 2016, 12:23
The combined audience of 1.83 million viewers is the lowest Formula 1 has averaged in the overnight viewing figures since the 2006 French Grand Prix.
Sky’s average is down 13 percent on 2015 and down 26 percent on 2014.
https://f1broadcasting.co/tag/ratings/
F1 has lost one-third of its worldwide audience since 2008 – around 200 million viewers.
https://www.racefans.net/2016/04/20/f1-has-lost-one-third-of-its-tv-audience-since-2008/
You’re going to have to find a better excuse than online whinging to explain the drastic decline in viewing figures, if the trend continues, there won’t be an F1 much longer. The sport is quickly disappearing up its own exhaust pipes, haemorrhaging fans at an alarming rate, and appears to be doing everything it can to prevent new fans from learning about it.
And worst of all, the sport is just boring and predictable these days, and you’re lucky to see five minutes of racing during a GP.
The problem isn’t the engines or manufacturers, it’s the aero ruining the racing, the FIA having no idea how to regulate the sport, and FOM being incapable of moving beyond the outdated TV model they’ve been using for decades.
RogerA
27th October 2016, 13:23
I highly doubt that Cosworth have anywhere near the budget to supply as many teams as they would need to should the manufacturer’s withdraw and if only 1 manufacturer (Ferrari for example) stayed Cosworth would get simply demolished.
Also let us not forget that last time they were in F1 there V8 was awful compared to the competition. Down on power, Less drivable, less fuel efficient & less torque which is why all but 1 team (Marussia) ran away from it by the end having only used it because they had no alternative.
anon
29th October 2016, 14:33
@sergio-perez, I think that you are severely overestimating the expansion of Formula E if you think that it can take over as a premier series in just one or two seasons.
At the moment, despite all of the manufacturer interest, the series is not in great financial shape – in their first season, the series lost over $68 million and actually generated very little sponsorship revenue (about $3 million), to the point where the series nearly collapsed in 2015 (without two of their sponsors finally chipping in more revenue, the organisers would have been declared bankrupt).
The organisers have also admitted that the manufacturer interest is something of a double edged sword – they have sold the series on the basis of the fact that it is financially sustainable, but there is the simultaneous risk that introducing those manufacturers could cause a spike in costs, the last thing they need when sponsorship revenue is still pretty weak. They’re still at a phase where they’re still trying just to stabilise the finances of the series, so the sort of massive expansion that would be required to suddenly make it a premier series seems rather unlikely to say the least.
@beneboy, the thing is, quite a few motorsport series are struggling for viewing figures – for example, this year, the Indycar series put out quite a heavy marketing blitz given that they were coming up to the 100th Indianapolis 500 event but, despite the marketing efforts and the fact that you had a quite variable race that lead to a surprise winner, everybody was surprised that the viewing figures fell compared to 2015 (which themselves were down on 2014).
RogerA, you’re right that Cosworth is in pretty terrible financial shape these days – they only just made a profit in 2016, and that was the first time they’d achieved that since 2011 (though their overall turnover, whilst higher than a couple of years ago, is still down on what they were achieving back in 2011). As you say, even if they had the revenue coming in from engine contracts, it’s questionable whether they have the necessary capital to scale up to producing those engines in the first place.
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
27th October 2016, 12:12
Yeah, I would want force india seat aswell, especially since they convert limited budget in to strong results… And will have a 2017 engine… In 2017.
socksolid (@socksolid)
27th October 2016, 12:35
One of the nice things about mexico is that the cars seem to use very soft setup on their cars there to maximise mechanical grip. You can easily see the cars rolling around the corners which is interesting to look at. You can really see the car working through the corners.
Also I don’t think a track necessarily needs any flow. Canada for example does produce good races even if the track has no flow either. That track is just couple of straightaways, couple of chicanes and a hairpin. Sure mexico as a track could be a lot better but its character has always been this corner complex thing. It was never spa and it is hard to make it into one.
Mallesh Magdum (@malleshmagdum)
27th October 2016, 14:22
I really wonder how long will it take for Force India to bring one of their drivers from their “One in a Billion” academy to an F1 cockpit!
Tony Mansell
27th October 2016, 14:31
f1 is not as good as it was, as everyone keeps saying. looks too easy, whatever the reality. Pay Per view affects viewing figures and most sports get a peak then a trough. There is already murmurings Sky/BT is overcooking their EPL coverage with figures down this year.
The current drivers bar Max & Dan are dull- Nico, or divisive- Lewis. But its not just aero that’s the problem. its that its become an engineering and laptop championship. Big turn offs include being told to back off when a driver is on a charge and cars not dancing around at and over the limit.
We’ve seen how ‘manual’ clutches have livened it up. Give em stick shifts and turn the goddam computers OFF !
f1 should be special, not every 2 week for 3/4 of the year. it should be
Todfod (@todfod)
28th October 2016, 8:01
Regarding Ferrari’s 2017 plan.. it seems that they have been focused on it as early as late 2014. I remember Vettel entering the team in 2015 and saying that it would take them a few seasons to rebuild the team, and 2017 was the year they want to be fighting for the championship.
Allison’s departure definitely reduces their chances of reaching their 2017 goals. The man with the 2017 master plan isn’t in their team, and with all the increasing pressure on Ferrari to deliver, it must be a seriously stressful environment at Ferrari. If Ferrari cannot deliver a race winning car next year, I’m sure heads will roll, and Sebastian’s relationship with Ferrari could head southward.