How does Grosjean have a seat, honestly.
He's like a money sink.
I think he's one of the drivers that bring their own money to the table, right?
I think Haas actually pays Grosjean a tiny amount, as compared to other F1 drivers, but he has a personal sponsor paying the bulk of his salary.
I don't think any of the current group of drivers pay out of their own pocket to drive. Closest you could get is Stroll driving for a team his daddy owns, but his performance during the race usually says "I do deserve to be here". I think Maldonado might be the last egregious case of pay to drive.
Sergio Perez has a lot of money backing as well. He's clearly good enough to get a drive either way, but if he were not he would have the money backing to be a pay driver.
Sergio Perez has a lot of money backing as well. He's clearly good enough to get a drive either way, but if he were not he would have the money backing to be a pay driver.
Yeah, he's backed by one of the wealthiest Mexican, but I believe he still pulls a small salary from Racing Point as well.
The rumors I see online is that Albon is the lowest paid driver this year at sub $200k for the year.
I'm up for it if we can find a time that's not too horrendously late over here.
I'll be up around 7am Central tomorrow morning, and be off and on the computer for most of the day.
Right now London is 5 hours ahead, but tomorrow morning I think it'll be 6
Yeah, you guys put your clocks back this weekend. We did ours last weekend (and my cats still aren't used to it, as far as they're concerned dinner is just always late now).
Evening time will work best for me, I think, so probably sort of mid-to-late-afternoon for you I guess.
COTA itself is stupid. There are so many tracks in America that are much better they could use instead. Imagine an F1 car going down the cork screw at Laguna Seca, or the carousel and kink at Road America.
But noooo, gotta build a new boondoggle of a track instead.
I quite like COTA though. Decent mix of corners + elevation change, good to look at on TV as well. Passing generally possible. When places like Laguna Seca are brought up, it's often pointed out that there's no way you could actually make it compliant with safety standards without significant changes to the track. As for the COTA bumps, the commentary said they're closing it over the winter for some significant resurfacing.
As for the race:
Congrats to Lewis for the 6th title! Here's hoping he keeps on form and bangs in another one next year. A solid race from him as well with the weaker strategy and some opportunistic moves to pass the Ferrari's from the off. If he'd got the first qualifying lap in yesterday then I reckon he would have won it, but he didn't so can't really say much about that.
Bottas had a solid, if not spectacular race. Without traffic, the strategy would have made it a cakewalk for him anyway. I just can't get excited about Bottas winning.
Really unlucky for Vettel to lose the rear suspension. The car was performing terribly before that so I wonder if it was related? Was nice to see him come to congratulate Hamilton in the cooldown room. Seriously hope he has a stronger year next year.
Well, another Hamilton title. congratz, I guess, but I just can't get excited about it.
Another completely fucked up race for Ferrari. Sorry to see Vettel go out like this and Leclerc wasn't doing anything either.
Albon continues to impress after his switch to Red Bull. This was another one of those come-through-the-field races for him and he topped it with 5th place. This kid will only get better.
Albon continues to impress after his switch to Red Bull. This was another one of those come-through-the-field races for him and he topped it with 5th place. This kid will only get better.
Red Bulls and having to come through the field after Lap 1 drama, name a more iconic duo.
In Albon's defense, it's usually not his fault that he gets punted down the order to need to make the comeback, while Verstappen usually clowns himself off the road and has to come back due to his own errors.
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Dhalphirdon't you open that trapdooryou're a fool if you dareRegistered Userregular
Incredible. What an experience. The obvious as a Hamilton fan was seeing him win his sixth title. Lifetime memory stuff. Setting that side though the entire event was incredible. Friday and Saturday it was fun to see the different support series that were there (F4, historic endurance and historic F1 cars) and walk around the track and see the different sights. They had decent (and very expensive) food options around the track. Qualifying was cool to see live but harder to follow than watching it on TV.
The race was definitely the highlight of the weekend though. I can't tell you if it was a "good race" as we would define it from our couches, because from track side it was amazing! I was in turn 12 so I got to see quite a bit of the overtaking which was great. I can't recommend the upper level of turn 12 enough if you ever want to go to COTA. You get a bunch of the overtaking, can clearly see the entire stadium section, and can see turn 1, the beginning and end of the esses and the little run up to the short chute that leads to turn 11. The race felt like it was a 15 minute long experiencing live. It just flew by. There wasn't really any thought of whether the race was boring, or whether there was enough overtaking or if the cars could follow. It was just breathtaking to watch those cars live lap after lap. After seeing it live I truly believe TV does not do the sport justice. I'm not sure if that's something that can be solved with better direction or trying new things on TV, but to me it's really obvious now. The crowd makes a huge difference as well: It was incredibly hype during the race. We were sitting next to a pair of British ladies who we had a great time chatting with all weekend about the latest F1 gossip and the racing. Never even found out their names, wasn't important. We just had an immediate friendly rapport chatting about something we were all passionate about.
If I had complaints it would just be the traffic in Austin and the prices of everything. According to some locals there were some other events going on so it was just crazy. Getting in and out of the track every day was an exercise in patience. We used the downtown shuttle so at least we didn't have to drive and park but it was still trying at times. Especially coming back Saturday in a bus full of people with no AC. That was probably my low point of the weekend. The prices on everything is one of those things you just except at any sort of event in America (and I would guess everywhere else?) but there is always some sticker shock. I spent way more on some Mercedes swag than I should have but I figured it's a memories purchase.
All in all I would recommend it to anyone who is a motorsport fan. Whether it's at COTA or some other race if you can handle it financially I highly recommend seeing a GP live.
Dhalphirdon't you open that trapdooryou're a fool if you dareRegistered Userregular
That hypes me for my already-booked Melbourne 2020 trip even more.
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GnomeTankWhat the what?Portland, OregonRegistered Userregular
I try not to live my life looking through the camera of my phone, but I did get a few pictures and videos. I'll see what's worth uploading and post some in the next couple days.
Albon continues to impress after his switch to Red Bull. This was another one of those come-through-the-field races for him and he topped it with 5th place. This kid will only get better.
Red Bulls and having to come through the field after Lap 1 drama, name a more iconic duo.
In Albon's defense, it's usually not his fault that he gets punted down the order to need to make the comeback, while Verstappen usually clowns himself off the road and has to come back due to his own errors.
I think next year, if they stay consistent and don't get punted that often, the Red Bulls can challenge Ferrari for second place. I really, really like what Albon is doing in a Red Bull.
And for something completely different. Michael Fassbender apparently is a racing fan. He wants to race in LeMans and partnered up with Porsche. They made a YouTube series out of it:
GnomeTankWhat the what?Portland, OregonRegistered Userregular
The first episode...
When he plows in to that other car under safety car. That is straight out of iRacing. I laughed so hard. I felt bad for him, we all make mistakes and he clearly felt terrible, but that whole thing just reminded me of stuff that happens in iRacing at times.
“Get in there, Lewis! Er, uh, I mean Sir Lewis...”
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GnomeTankWhat the what?Portland, OregonRegistered Userregular
Sportsman who have done less have been knighted. That said, there is always a private discourse with any potential recipient where they can decline privately without facing public scrutiny. It's possible Lewis has been offered, and privately declined, a knighthood and we would never hear about it.
There was some grumbling when the idea came up before that he should never get one, because of an alleged tax evasion thing involving his private jet. That may rear its head again.
And I am really looking forward to Albon in 2020. He got some fantastic results these past few races and I want to see what he can do over the course of a season. This might actually help Red Bull challenge Ferrari for the #2 spot.
Another race where I don’t really know what they were doing with Hamilton’s strategy. When Verstappen dropped into second after the SC pit stop, it was a forgone conclusion.
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He's like a money sink.
I think he's one of the drivers that bring their own money to the table, right?
I think Haas actually pays Grosjean a tiny amount, as compared to other F1 drivers, but he has a personal sponsor paying the bulk of his salary.
I don't think any of the current group of drivers pay out of their own pocket to drive. Closest you could get is Stroll driving for a team his daddy owns, but his performance during the race usually says "I do deserve to be here". I think Maldonado might be the last egregious case of pay to drive.
Yeah, he's backed by one of the wealthiest Mexican, but I believe he still pulls a small salary from Racing Point as well.
The rumors I see online is that Albon is the lowest paid driver this year at sub $200k for the year.
I'm up for it if we can find a time that's not too horrendously late over here.
Steam | XBL
"Monaco!"
I'll be up around 7am Central tomorrow morning, and be off and on the computer for most of the day.
Right now London is 5 hours ahead, but tomorrow morning I think it'll be 6
Yeah, you guys put your clocks back this weekend. We did ours last weekend (and my cats still aren't used to it, as far as they're concerned dinner is just always late now).
Evening time will work best for me, I think, so probably sort of mid-to-late-afternoon for you I guess.
Anyone else want to get in on this?
Steam | XBL
Poor Seb
But noooo, gotta build a new boondoggle of a track instead.
As for the race:
Bottas had a solid, if not spectacular race. Without traffic, the strategy would have made it a cakewalk for him anyway. I just can't get excited about Bottas winning.
Really unlucky for Vettel to lose the rear suspension. The car was performing terribly before that so I wonder if it was related? Was nice to see him come to congratulate Hamilton in the cooldown room. Seriously hope he has a stronger year next year.
Another completely fucked up race for Ferrari. Sorry to see Vettel go out like this and Leclerc wasn't doing anything either.
Albon continues to impress after his switch to Red Bull. This was another one of those come-through-the-field races for him and he topped it with 5th place. This kid will only get better.
In Albon's defense, it's usually not his fault that he gets punted down the order to need to make the comeback, while Verstappen usually clowns himself off the road and has to come back due to his own errors.
Incredible. What an experience. The obvious as a Hamilton fan was seeing him win his sixth title. Lifetime memory stuff. Setting that side though the entire event was incredible. Friday and Saturday it was fun to see the different support series that were there (F4, historic endurance and historic F1 cars) and walk around the track and see the different sights. They had decent (and very expensive) food options around the track. Qualifying was cool to see live but harder to follow than watching it on TV.
The race was definitely the highlight of the weekend though. I can't tell you if it was a "good race" as we would define it from our couches, because from track side it was amazing! I was in turn 12 so I got to see quite a bit of the overtaking which was great. I can't recommend the upper level of turn 12 enough if you ever want to go to COTA. You get a bunch of the overtaking, can clearly see the entire stadium section, and can see turn 1, the beginning and end of the esses and the little run up to the short chute that leads to turn 11. The race felt like it was a 15 minute long experiencing live. It just flew by. There wasn't really any thought of whether the race was boring, or whether there was enough overtaking or if the cars could follow. It was just breathtaking to watch those cars live lap after lap. After seeing it live I truly believe TV does not do the sport justice. I'm not sure if that's something that can be solved with better direction or trying new things on TV, but to me it's really obvious now. The crowd makes a huge difference as well: It was incredibly hype during the race. We were sitting next to a pair of British ladies who we had a great time chatting with all weekend about the latest F1 gossip and the racing. Never even found out their names, wasn't important. We just had an immediate friendly rapport chatting about something we were all passionate about.
If I had complaints it would just be the traffic in Austin and the prices of everything. According to some locals there were some other events going on so it was just crazy. Getting in and out of the track every day was an exercise in patience. We used the downtown shuttle so at least we didn't have to drive and park but it was still trying at times. Especially coming back Saturday in a bus full of people with no AC. That was probably my low point of the weekend. The prices on everything is one of those things you just except at any sort of event in America (and I would guess everywhere else?) but there is always some sticker shock. I spent way more on some Mercedes swag than I should have but I figured it's a memories purchase.
All in all I would recommend it to anyone who is a motorsport fan. Whether it's at COTA or some other race if you can handle it financially I highly recommend seeing a GP live.
I think next year, if they stay consistent and don't get punted that often, the Red Bulls can challenge Ferrari for second place. I really, really like what Albon is doing in a Red Bull.
Its actually pretty interesting.
Steam | XBL
D3 Steam #TeamTangent STO
Still, good to hear before the end of the season so it's not even a question
But it was an utterly boneheaded move
Edit: oh for fucks sake, Lewis. That was unnecessary.
Steam | XBL
Steam | XBL
Ferrari doing Ferrari things. Proving yet again why they aren't a serious challenger to Mercedes despite having a car worthy of the challenge.
Gasly gets his first podium...but not in the Red Bull. Who would have even thought?
Lewis deserved penalty for sure.
What ended up being wrong with bottas car?
Stoked for Sainz and Gasly