Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio de España 2022Formula 1

[DG_Silva]

As @Veinz said, Latifi has had ample opportunity to prove his worth - that being the money Sofina bring to the table. If De Vries brings anything different, namely a chunk of money or discounts from Merc, Latifi's seat is about as safe as a blancmange nailed to the ceiling.

Williams don't really need money any more (apparently), they need speed and talent from both their drivers and their technical team.

 

[Blitz24]

Juri Vips. There is a new rule this season that all teams have to run a rookie in two FP sessions across the season.

Sadly not terribly Vippy, but that's to be expected. Very good he gets seat time.

 

[McLaren]

So during FP1, I'm pretty sure Ted said that the FIA had cleared the Aston Martin design b/c they had given proof of its concept dating back to winter testing, and mentioned RB complied with the investigation as well.

Interesting to see more tweets coming out though that RB/Horner are seemingly implying the design might've still been brought over by some of their former employees.

 

[Veinz]

🍿

Marko wants answers over Aston Martin: We have evidence

Despite the FIA clearing Aston Martin of any wrongdoing with their latest upgrades amid comparisons to Red Bull's RB18, Helmut Marko is demanding answers.

racingnews365.com

Tbf it’s hard to believe it’s a coincidence.

 

[Samus]

So during FP1, I'm pretty sure Ted said that the FIA had cleared the Aston Martin design b/c they had given proof of its concept dating back to winter testing, and mentioned RB complied with the investigation as well.

Interesting to see more tweets coming out though that RB/Horner are seemingly implying the design might've still been brought over by some of their former employees.

Helmut being Helmut is now claiming that Red Bull data was "downloaded" but didn't explain how, and by who.

 

[TheCracker]

The only reason Latifi is in any position at all is because he bought his seat. There's nothing to feel sorry for him about, if he didn't want to deal with this he shouldn't have forced his way into the sport.

I imagine that at least half the F1 grid and a majority of drivers in F2 are paid drivers to one extent or another. It's not an unusual or privileged position to be in anymore. If it ever was.

 

[Peter.]

I mean, even if it was brought over by a former employee, what are you supposed to do if you just remember designing it and can replicate the philosophy without any data or CAD stuff carried over from a previous employer? Are you banned from using your eyes? Your brain?

The only reason Latifi is in any position at all is because he bought his seat. There's nothing to feel sorry for him about, if he didn't want to deal with this he shouldn't have forced his way into the sport.

I mean, who wouldn't want to race in F1 if money permitted? This is worded as if it's a crime or a morality issue here to race in F1 if you aren't the fastest but have the financial means otherwise. As much as I am fatigued by seeing him be slow for years now, there is also room to feel sorry for someone's self esteem being in jeopardy.

 

[Veinz]

I imagine that at least half the F1 grid and a majority of drivers in F2 are paid drivers to one extent or another. It's not an unusual or privileged position to be in anymore. If it ever was.

Latifi brings $30 million to Williams. That’s the only reason why he’s there.

 

[Samus]

I mean, even if it was brought over by a former employee, what are you supposed to do if you just remember designing it and can replicate the philosophy without any data or CAD stuff carried over from a previous employer? Are you banned from using your eyes? Your brain?

No, Horner has already admitted as much that there isn't anything they can do about people taking ideas and philosophies in their head. After all, that's essentially why Aston poached them in the first place, to bring their knowledge. Actually taking data with you is against the rules though, which is what Marko seems to be suggesting happened. It's Marko though, so probably going nowhere.

 

[TheCracker]

Latifi brings $30 million to Williams. That’s the only reason why he’s there.

Like i said, a probable majority of drivers are only in F1 because of the money they bring with them.

 

[Veinz]

Like i said, a probable majority of drivers are only in F1 because of the money they bring with them.

The vast majority have proven they deserve to be there without having tens of millions of dollars to throw at a team.

 

[TheCracker]

The vast majority have proven they deserve to be there without having tens of millions of dollars to throw at a team.

Like Stroll?

 

[Veinz]

Like Stroll?

Yes hes another prime example of someone who doesn’t deserve his seat, but at least he shows a spark here and there.

 

[McLaren]

Vettel splitting the Red Bulls.

 

[NICKname]

I imagine that at least half the F1 grid and a majority of drivers in F2 are paid drivers to one extent or another. It's not an unusual or privileged position to be in anymore. If it ever was.

Not really. You have Latifi and Zhou. Stroll's there because his dad owns the team, you could count him too. That's it. The rest is there on merit.

I mean, who wouldn't want to race in F1 if money permitted?

I wouldn't.

This is worded as if it's a crime or a morality issue here to race in F1 if you aren't the fastest but have the financial means otherwise.

It's not, but it is damaging the careers of drivers who are better and more succesful.

As much as I am fatigued by seeing him be slow for years now, there is also room to feel sorry for someone's self esteem being in jeopardy.

If you're forcing yourself into a series you can't get into on merit, because you think you should be there anyway, it would probably be a good thing if your self esteem took a hit. And either way, if it really hurts him to perform worse than a better driver, maybe he could wipe his tears with his money? Or he could buy a seat in a less difficult series?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

You have to think of poor Mazepin who was forced out because of cancel culture. /s

 

[Magog]

Really nice to see all 4 current/former champions in the top 8. A shame to see champions running around near the bottom of the field.

 

[SlowGrayAudi]

I think they should make eligibility to F1 dependent on being a champion in a feeder category. At least then you have proven that you can ****ing win something on merit

 

[MagpieRacer]

I think they should make eligibility to F1 dependent on being a champion in a feeder category. At least then you have proven that you can ****ing win something on merit

So Max Verstappen wouldn't have made it to F1 then, and Lance Stroll still would have.

 

[PeterJB]

I do at least think you should get an automatic seat if you win F2, since you already have to leave the series if you do so.

 

[SlowGrayAudi]

So Max Verstappen wouldn't have made it to F1 then, and Lance Stroll still would have.

"In A feeder category"

2014 F3 champion. Am i an idiot or did you not read it properly?

F4 > F3 > F2 > F1

 

[FoxMulder]

🍿

Marko wants answers over Aston Martin: We have evidence

Despite the FIA clearing Aston Martin of any wrongdoing with their latest upgrades amid comparisons to Red Bull's RB18, Helmut Marko is demanding answers.

racingnews365.com

Tbf it’s hard to believe it’s a coincidence.

They could have tested the concept but pretty clearly used redbull to refine and finish it.

 

[MagpieRacer]

"In A feeder category"

2014 F3 champion. Am i an idiot or did you not read it properly?

F4 > F3 > F2 > F1

Lance Stroll won the F3 series in 2016. Max Verstappen didn't win anything until he won the F1 title. He participated in the 2014 F3 series but he didn't win it (that went to Esteban Ocon).

Another note, the F3 series they raced in was the F3 Euroseries, which was still very much a feeder series. GP3 is what raced alongside F1 and F2/GP2 until 2018. The F3 Euroseries and GP3 then merged to become the F3 championship we know now.

Edit: just to clarify, no I don't count the Zandvoort Masters as a significant win.

 

[Magog]

Lance Stroll won the F3 series in 2016. Max Verstappen didn't win anything until he won the F1 title. He participated in the 2014 F3 series but he didn't win it (that went to Esteban Ocon).

Another note, the F3 series they raced in was the F3 Euroseries, which was still very much a feeder series. GP3 is what raced alongside F1 and F2/GP2 until 2018. The F3 Euroseries and GP3 then merged to become the F3 championship we know now.

Edit: just to clarify, no I don't count the Zandvoort Masters as a significant win.

So Max would have had to wait one more year to get in. I'm sure he could have won in a lower category his first year in F1. Or just say you have to had come top 2 in a feeder category. Also Stroll isn't actually a bad driver. He's probably the best "paid" driver I've ever seen. My understanding is that Perez is also practically a paid driver based on all the Mexican endorsement money he brings in even if his daddy doesn't own the team.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

Seems like a big positive for Mercedes powered teams as Toto said they gained land against the other power unit manufacturers. Should mean raceability be much better, less likely to get stuck in traffic although who knows what others might have up their sleeves. I just hope Lewis can win this race and get that record. Hopefully they can nail the setup to give best chance to do it on pure speed.

 

[NotThePrez]

Not really. You have Latifi and Zhou. Stroll's there because his dad owns the team, you could count him too. That's it. The rest is there on merit.

Ehhh, I wouldn't discount Zhou just yet. He's not amazingly quick, but he has shown that he knows how to wheel an F1 car, and isn't scared of fighting for position. As far as rookies go, I think he's showing that he can hang with the rest of them.

As far as Latifi, while I like the guy a lot because of how nice he seems (and how I can relate to how often he trips over his words), I think that this year will sadly be his last at Williams. I'm pretty sure that the new owners have also said that they're no longer as reliant on the money he brings in.

 

[-Fred-]

Also Stroll isn't actually a bad driver. He's probably the best "paid" driver I've ever seen.

He's not Taki Inoue or Jean-Denis Deletraz, but he's not Michael Schumacher either, arguably the greatest pay driver of all time.

 

[Magog]

He's not Taki Inoue or Jean-Denis Deletraz, but he's not Michael Schumacher either, arguably the greatest pay driver of all time.

Schumacher was a pay driver? Not during the time I've been watching. To me a pay driver is someone who ONLY got their seat because of the money they bring to a team. Hard to imagine Michael being in that category. Almost every driver has some sort of sponsorship they bring.

 

[ScottPuss20]

Schumacher was a pay driver? Not during the time I've been watching. To me a pay driver is someone who ONLY got their seat because of the money they bring to a team. Hard to imagine Michael being in that category. Almost every driver has some sort of sponsorship they bring.

He was literally paid for his debut.

 

[Magog]

He was literally paid for his debut.

By whom?