# Formula 1 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 28, 2018, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734 "2018-02-28T05:37:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/122 "2018-07-23T14:56:07Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Exact opposite in Germany. Uh, I guess if I had to say anything, the clean start was remarkable. Probably the smallest pile of scrap carbon fiber on the track in recent memory. I thought it was a really good race. Hamilton’s drive was a masterclass. As soon as the threat of rain became real you just know he becomes a step above the rest. I’ve no doubt that Vettel knew exactly how fast Hamilton was closing on him and that’s why he continued pushing and from that comes the error. Laps 44-50 Hamilton was taking about 2 seconds every lap out of that lead. I suspect he’d have been right up with Vettel before the end of the race. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/123 "2018-07-23T15:17:36Z")
No doubt Hamilton drove a great race. But as far as exciting action at the end, we had only a brief show before Mercedes shut it down. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/124 "2018-07-23T17:23:19Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Interesting that he swore in English over his radio rather than German Really? The ‘Shei’ that got through before it was censored certainly sounded German to me. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/125 "2018-07-23T18:08:32Z")
That sucked. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/126 "2018-07-23T20:52:59Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > No doubt Hamilton drove a great race. But as far as exciting action at the end, we had only a brief show before Mercedes shut it down. I think that single sniff was all that Bottas was going to get anyway. Once Hamilton’s tyres were back up to temp I don’t think he was going to take him. I’m not a fan of team orders but in this case with a slippery track and a 1-2 they never expected, whoever was in front it was probably the right thing to get them to hold station. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/127 "2018-07-23T20:54:40Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Really? The ‘Shei’ that got through before it was censored certainly sounded German to me. Possibly, but just before that we had a fairly lightly censored “Fuck’s sake. Fuck’s sake.”. Or at least, I’m almost certain of it. My knowledge of German vernacular is limited so it’s possible I’m wrong, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/128 "2018-07-23T23:00:05Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I’m not a fan of team orders but in this case with a slippery track and a 1-2 they never expected, whoever was in front it was probably the right thing to get them to hold station. Unless it was Bottas. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/129 "2018-07-24T06:52:59Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Unless it was Bottas. :rolleyes: I don’t think so. Team orders have favoured Bottas before and Hamilton has complied. Mercedes only very, very rarely inflict them on their drivers. If Bottas had been faster (he wasn’t) they’d have let him go to protect the win. There was absolutely nothing to gain by letting them battle for 6 or 7 laps on a drying track with threat of further rain, the risks were too high. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/130 "2018-07-24T13:04:30Z")
Oh, I agree, but if Val were leading after that safety car, I’d bet the team would make him give Hamilton the position. He’s clearly the #2, and at this point in the season, Cry-baby Lewis needs the points. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2018, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/131 "2018-07-24T13:21:01Z")
Actually, after Vettel’s crash Hamilton would have regained the #1 spot even if he had come second. And it was only after Bottas had tried to pass Hamilton and failed that team orders were issued. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/132 "2018-07-25T16:55:39Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Oh, I agree, but if Val were leading after that safety car, I’d bet the team would make him give Hamilton the position. He’s clearly the #2, and at this point in the season, Cry-baby Lewis needs the points. No. I really don’t think they would. I don’t think Lewis has ever been in a no.1 driver position that is remotely similar to what Vettel had (has) or Schumacher. Just last year there was a situation in[Hungary](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jul/30/sebastian-vettel-wins-hungarian-grand-prix-report) where Bottas let Lewis through to have a stab at the Ferraris to see if he could pass where Bottas couldn’t. Hamilton couldn’t either and he gave the place back to Bottas. His championship position then was even worse than it would have been by finishing second last week. Note that in the same race Vettel was slower than Raikkonen and was holding him up but Raikkonen was not allowed to pass him. ---
**Author:** ![popomomo\_cocoyoyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@popomomo\_cocoyoyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/popomomo_cocoyoyo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/133 "2018-07-27T00:04:03Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I thought it was a really good race. Hamilton’s drive was a masterclass. As soon as the threat of rain became real you just know he becomes a step above the rest. I understand where you’re coming from, when I started following F1 30 odd years ago, I too had my favourite driver who was a step above the rest at every race, in my mind. No doubt Hamilton is one of the best drivers and he did drive very well in this race but nothing exceptional. In reality his advantage came from several factors: He was low on the starting grid so could choose any strategy and of course he (with the team) chose softs-ultra softs, and he (with the team again) changed to ultra softs at just the right time just before the rain started. All the other front runners were forced into the opposite stratgey (per the regulations) and were stuck on used softs. The sticky ultra softs would have given him much better traction in the wet parts, so he simply kept out of trouble and gained 2 seconds a lap just per better equipment, no “masterclass” drive needed. I’d chalk his win up to decent drive, good stratgey calls by Merc team, a bit of luck in timing, and Vettel’s mistake. RIP Marchionne, did I miss something or did that happen very quickly? ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/134 "2018-07-27T20:00:09Z")
Starting 14th is an advantage? ---
**Author:** ![popomomo\_cocoyoyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@popomomo\_cocoyoyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/popomomo_cocoyoyo)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/135 "2018-07-27T22:58:20Z")
Haha 11th is even better but yes, with the free choice of starting tires and two step difference between quali and option tires (in Hockenheim), it can be. It helps that the midfield drivers don’t bother to defend against the top 3 teams. Welcome to modern F1. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/136 "2018-07-28T07:00:29Z")
Yeah, the whole “qualified way back in the pack” hype is something the announcers try to play up to full advantage. The Reality is, if Lewis or Seb are mired down in the pack, that just means (usually) they’ll finish second or third. When Lewis qualified 14th, I though to myself, “Well, then he’ll finish third, maybe second if he gets Kimi and Bottas is told to let him through”. Well, Seb fucked up and he won. No big surprise. Not to me, at least. Starting 14th is really only a few seconds behind. And with the 3 DRS areas, overtaking is no big deal for the Mercedes. Just whip around, picking off a couple guys a lap. And, yeah, all those also-rans basically let Lewis by. Yes, Modern F1. Still better than Indy Car. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/137 "2018-07-28T16:44:21Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Well, Seb fucked up and he won. No big surprise. Not to me, at least. Starting 14th is really only a few seconds behind. And with the 3 DRS areas, overtaking is no big deal for the Mercedes. Just whip around, picking off a couple guys a lap. And, yeah, all those also-rans basically let Lewis by. You say that, but that was the best “low grid to win” for a decade ---
**Author:** ![popomomo\_cocoyoyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@popomomo\_cocoyoyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/popomomo_cocoyoyo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/138 "2018-07-29T03:02:51Z")
**Novelty Bobble** , to be fair, here’s something that’ll make you happy: [SPOILER]Today’s quali was a much better demonstration of how good Hamilton is in the wet, and confirmation that he’s one of the best if not the best qualifier of this era. Vettel on the other hand, eeh, has he ever done well in the wet? That was the most exciting quali I remember in a long time, non-stop action from start to finish, and kudos to Charlie and the gang for not red-flagging Q3 and letting them race. Red Bull: complete implosion, lol. [/SPOILER] > [@Gatopescado](#): > > And with the 3 DRS areas, overtaking is no big deal for the Mercedes. Just whip around, picking off a couple guys a lap. And, yeah, all those also-rans basically let Lewis by. > > Yes, Modern F1. Still better than Indy Car. 😉 Confirmation from Thursday’s press conference: > [@](#): > > \*\*Q: (Viktor Adorjan – Origo GP Hirek) \*\*To all gentlemen: we could see during the last couple of races that front runners could overtake the midfield runners quite easily, whatever, recovering from their fallbacks of lost places. Is there something to be done – apart from having faster cars – in order to make life harder for the front runners who are trying to reclaim their positions in the near future to make races a bit more exciting? > > \*\*Esteban Ocon: \*\*I don’t know, to be honest. At the moment, yeah, it’s really easy for them because we can’t fight, we would destroy our tyres and it’s useless to do that because we are not competing in the same league to be honest. Yeah, I see it from that angle, that it’s not my race so I have to let them go and fight for mine… > > \*\*Carlos Sainz: \*\*No, not much to add, not realistic when you see all these cars flashing by because we are not fighting them. I’m sorry to say that because it’s not good for the show but we are just not able to fight them, it’s two completely different categories, it’s up to two seconds, two seconds and a half sometimes in race pace… F1 is still one of the most immersive sports out there, it’s not just the race weekend, there’s the development race between weekends, the rich and famous lifestyle, and the ongoing soap operas, teams poaching engineers and directors, others always in financial trouble, something new every day, love it. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/139 "2018-07-31T19:03:19Z")
Jeez, that “race” was a snoozefest! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/140 "2018-08-03T18:22:03Z")
Well… that was unexpected and interesting… Ricciardo going to Renault next year (taking Sainz place if there was any confusion). Now who does Red Bull get? The good money is on Gasly. But Sainz (obviously) and Ocon can probably be picked up as well. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734/141 "2018-08-03T18:50:19Z")
Reading the buzz, seems like Sainz’s deal with McClaren is all but done, Gasly to RB is the likely choice but I would love love love to see Alonso and Verstappen on the same team. I know it won’t happen because Honda but I still dream. Ocon to Mercedes when they get sick of Bottas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2018/809734.md?page=8)