Formula One World Championship

No love lost. Teams in contention for championships really only seem to prosper long term when there is a clear-cut lead driver and a clear-cut backup driver ... i.e. Mansell-Patrese works better long term than Senna-Prost or Rosberg-Hamilton.

Neither has anything to gain by moving though. Both will potentially be throwing away their last chance of another world title, at 30 there's no guarantee you will land in a winning car again as Alonso has found out in the last few years.

There's no vacancy at Red Bull, Vettel will be number one at Ferrari, Alonso presumably at McLaren. Any other move is a drop down the grid to quickly become yesterday's news. Although three-car teams could yet shake up the situation.

ABU DHABI PREVIEW

Also, it appears Ricciardo will be joined at Red Bull next year by Carlos Sainz Jr.

Merc claim they're going to "open talks" with Hamilton after Abu Dhabi .... whatever that means.

Less dosh if Hamilton blows the Drivers Championship (more for Rosberg) ...
...  the reverse if he wins it ?  Who knows ... and frankly, who cares!
Until such time as the other manufacturers/cars spec up to the Merc,
can't see F1 being "exciting" any more.

On a sad note, however, Button clearly has a bullet with his name on it ...
... Ron Dennis can be a brutal bastard.

Bianchi out of his coma and breathing on his own. Still unconscious and critical but has been able to be moved to France for ongoing care.

Pretty remarkable that he's still alive in any capacity.

lardbucket wrote:ABU DHABI PREVIEW

Also, it appears Ricciardo will be joined at Red Bull next year by Carlos Sainz Jr.

I thought Kvyat was going there, with the vacancy being at Toro Rosso alongside the Dutch kid? Unless they are asked to run a third car, of course...

You may be right. Hard to predict anything at this time of the season.

Like predicting how Lewis Hamilton will lose the title this weekend...

Run off by Rosberg himself, who miraculously drives away with his own car unscathed?
Mysterious mechanical failure, with accusations of dodgy goings on behind the scenes at Mercedes?
Pit stop cock-up, as above?
Clattered by a crowdfunded Caterham?
Silly spin-off under no pressure from anyone?

I'll go for the second or third option... and a finishing order where the double points makes all the difference, of course.

SCHUMACHER 'progress'

Philippe Streiff probably has more insight than most reporting on this issue.

So, it was Rosberg who was hit by the mechanical failures in the decider... probably a case of luck evening itself out but a shame I suppose that it wasn't decided directly on the track.

Hamilton joins the legends as a double champion - Britain's first since Jackie Stewart, and if Mercedes produce another winning car every chance of adding another next season.

Probably the right result over the course of the season. Hamilton won the most races and Rosberg was only really in touch due a number of unfortunate DNFs for his teammate.

Bit of an average final race, though, all in all.

Hopefully Williams running the Mercs close is a sign of next season being a bit more competitive at the front - albeit they use Mercedes engines, so perhaps it's an ominous sign of more of the same.

I enjoy F1 but I must admit I'm not an expert on all the details and intricacies. Can someone please explain to me how one team (red bull) can be so thoroughly dominant one year, but another team (Mercedes) can be so thoroughly dominant the next? Does a dominant team get handicapped somehow by the F1 to try and keep it more even?

They don't. Mercedes just came up with a brilliant car this year while Red Bull were dominant for the past four. Taking 2009 and Brawn GP's example. The team (Honda) was so shit till 2008 and the GFC caused Honda to pull out at the end of the season while they were working on a brilliant 2009 car. As it turned out, they walked both titles basically in the first ten races itself.

One of the main keys to Mercedes' successes, Aldo Costa, has been linked to a move back to Ferrari.

So, will Hamilton fall out with himself next year?

Terrible anti-climax in the end to the Abu Dhabi "spectacle".
Rosberg's problems with his tyre selection and later, the energy recovery system (ERS) on his car,
virtually killed off the race by halfway ... although Massa's aggressive driving over the final 3 laps
saw him closing but still way off Hamilton's pace as the Brit eased home to victory.

A deserved one undoubtedly ... probably prompting an offer to double his ridiculous salary
for next season by Merc.

Go Williams in 2015 ... Massa and Bottas will, hopefully, have cars next year to push the Mercs ...
glad for Massa too, the gentleman of F1.

Henry wrote:I enjoy F1 but I must admit I'm not an expert on all the details and intricacies. Can someone please explain to me how one team (red bull) can be so thoroughly dominant one year, but another team (Mercedes) can be so thoroughly dominant the next? Does a dominant team get handicapped somehow by the F1 to try and keep it more even?

They changed the rules this year so that the engine went from a v8 in 2013 to a v6 turbo in 2014. Hence they are basically entirely different cars this year to last and are not comparable.

Sounds like Mark Webber's had a big crash in Brazil. BBC and his official site reporting he's "awake and alert". Can only imagine what it would have been like being an Australian watching that happen live after the week they've had...

Not F! but of interest in Oz maybe - Ford is pulling out of V8 Super Cars

Williams appoints Susie Wolff chief F1 test driver

Seems like Button's been retained by McLaren after all for next season. Him and Alonso should make for a decent pairing, if the car's engine isn't built from lollypop sticks again.

Oldest team line-up since... the current Aussie Test side perhaps? 

Jenson deserves to stay on anyway on performances, on race pace he was clearly ahead of Magnussen, even if the Dane had a pretty competent debut season. I suspect they'll bench him for a year or two and wait for Button to call it a day of his own accord.

Good for Button ... and sod Dennis the sulk.

Appears it was he that wanted to shift out the Brit but was overruled by the two major
sponsors of Maclaren who recognised Button's record and the backing he has from
the fans and media alike.

Should be a better car next season - the Honda engine ought to ensure the power unit -
but as for the bon homie between the precocious and self-centred Alonso and the laid
back Button ...... well, that remains to be seen when it unfurls next year.

Will it be another drivers' thrash out a la Mercedes and Red Bull ...or will it be all harmony and lurve ....?!

500 GPs between the two of them, that's quite remarkable.

Driver line-up for next season now complete, other than the possible revival of one or both of the minnow teams. A number of strong looking pairings, with only Sauber and Toro Rosso going for a complete change of drivers.

Predictable finish in Melb. Ricciardo did well to finish 6th given the crap car Red Bull have this season.

Mercedes freight train.