Silly Season 2018/2019

[Big Tea]

not if he isn't given the same updates.

And how often has that been the case?

Of course he won't be fast enough if he's driving around with a damaged chassis for couple of races. I mean how does a team like Mclaren not able to find about that? I remember Grosjean had a similar chassis issue seasons ago at Lotus-Renault I believe. As a driver, it's a big handicap if your car is not able to reach the mileage of a whole race weekend without any technical issues nowadays. That handicap impacts the following race weekends as well.

Does anyone have any information as to how they eventually found out the chassis was damaged? I would like to know not only how they found it, but how they missed it. Not slagging, just asking, but shouldn't the driver have had a good idea of where the problem lay?

[Ground Effect]

And how often has that been the case?

Of course he won't be fast enough if he's driving around with a damaged chassis for couple of races. I mean how does a team like Mclaren not able to find about that? I remember Grosjean had a similar chassis issue seasons ago at Lotus-Renault I believe. As a driver, it's a big handicap if your car is not able to reach the mileage of a whole race weekend without any technical issues nowadays. That handicap impacts the following race weekends as well.

Does anyone have any information as to how they eventually found out the chassis was damaged? I would like to know not only how they found it, but how they missed it. Not slagging, just asking, but shouldn't the driver have had a good idea of where the problem lay?

I'm not sure they ever found or confirmed the chassis was damaged. I believe the chassis change was after they had exhausted all options as to why he was loosing performance. I did read that Stoffel had been pushing for the chassis change.

[ScottB]

If I recall correctly Vandoorne hasn't been off Alonso's pace more so than Massa or Kimi have. Remember Massa in 2012? Alonso was battling for the WDC and he was nowhere. Kimi came on a very high horse from Lotus in 2014 only to be outraced and out-qualified by Alonso with a respectable margin. Why is it surprising that a 2x WDC and probably the most consistent driver on the grid can beat a rookie? We know that this is Alonso's most impressive quality, the ability to extract the maximum out of bad or inconsistent cars and to do it consistently week after week, without mistakes.

I think Vandoorne is severely underrated and racing against a different driver will be a big boost to his career. Torro Rosso move seems the most likely and mutually beneficial to everyone.

Because Mclaren are looking / hoping for a new team leader. Vandoorne isn't bad, but he's shown he's nowhere near Alonso's level, thus he is not a future lead driver for Mclaren, post Alonso. This is a team that saw rookie Hamilton come in and fight with Alonso straight off the bat, a high bar for a rookie, sure, but that's what I imagine is at play here.

Lacking the performance, and, quite possibly, the money, to go out and bag one of the current top guys to replace Fernando, Mclaren are going to have to groom one, Vandoorne hasn't made the grade, so on to Norris to see if he will. If he finds a seat, I'm sure Stoffel could be a solid midfield runner.

[NathanOlder]

He is better than a solid midfield runner,

He holds most records in GP2, he's no slouch. If you ever saw GP2/F2 regularly you would know he is very very good. Just like Leclerc, both of thos put Gasly's record at that level to shame. yet of the 3, Gasly will probably be in the best car next season of the 3. I'm Lando's biggest fan, but he's not ready to be Vandoorne's replacement. Stoff deserves another year, and Lando needs another year to grow. This time last year he was only in the Euro F3 championship. I think 2019 Lando will win the Formula 2 as Russell will win it this year.

[WaikeCU]

IMO Vandoorne should be paired up next to Sainz. Why? Because he has the most experience driving the faulty Mclaren throughout the years. He knows what feels right, better and wrong. If you want to take steps towards improvement, then Mclaren will need a driver like Vandoorne.

[Phil]

I think the dilemma McLaren is facing is that Noris might be the star of tomorrow and the team may be faced with either promoting him to F1 or losing him. Not sure if they need to promote him to their own team or if they could 'loan' him to another (TR?), but that's probably why they are putting him up against Stoffel in FP1 this weekend. To gauge the young new prospect against the old one (Stoffel).

[WaikeCU]

I think the dilemma McLaren is facing is that Noris might be the star of tomorrow and the team may be faced with either promoting him to F1 or losing him. Not sure if they need to promote him to their own team or if they could 'loan' him to another (TR?), but that's probably why they are putting him up against Stoffel in FP1 this weekend. To gauge the young new prospect against the old one (Stoffel).

Which makes me think, why not lend Noris FP1 time in that Mclaren of Alonso, since he's calling it quits anyway after this season?

Unless... that car is not the same as the one Vandoorne is driving? Or it could be that Alonso's car has new updates bolted on and they need Fernando's expertise and feedback on them.

[garygph]

I do wonder if Vandoorne has suffered from having a very influential teammate that has managed to get a car that helps him look good against a teammate. What I mean by this is that Alonso is gifted in the department of driving around handling issues and when they are present he looks REALLY good compared to his teammate compared to what he would if they were both in a current Red Bull for eg. If you think you are going to have a difficult car in the future look for a driver that is good with that. Alonso can cope very well with a vague front end and if the car is going to have that next year then I think that adds to what you are looking for in a driver.

It just does not add up that the Vandoorne that was quick in other times has gone. I also believe that if a cars characteristics are exactly what a driver cannot deal with it can make an otherwise awesome driver look poor.

[zac510]

Which makes me think, why not lend Noris FP1 time in that Mclaren of Alonso, since he's calling it quits anyway after this season?

Unless... that car is not the same as the one Vandoorne is driving? Or it could be that Alonso's car has new updates bolted on and they need Fernando's expertise and feedback on them.

That's a great idea, I'm going to fly back to Monday and suggest it to McLaren!

[Phil]

Which makes me think, why not lend Noris FP1 time in that Mclaren of Alonso, since he's calling it quits anyway after this season?

McLaren have already decided on that Noris will be driving Alonso's car in FP1, just as my post suggested?

[WaikeCU]

Which makes me think, why not lend Noris FP1 time in that Mclaren of Alonso, since he's calling it quits anyway after this season?

McLaren have already decided on that Noris will be driving Alonso's car in FP1, just as my post suggested?

No, I didn't catch that, but I read in the media that he's using Stoffel's car in FP1 for Spa and Monza.

[Phil]

https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2018/08/ ... elgian-gp/

The 18-year-old McLaren development driver will take the wheel of Fernando Alonso’s MCL33 during FP1 as the team continue their evaluation of their 2019 driver options. He is believed to be a contender for the second seat alongside Carlos Sainz for 2019.

[NathanOlder]

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/ ... d-red-bull

So Alonso turned down a move to RedBull ??

I cant believe this? Why would he say no ? Honda ?

[NathanOlder]

Thinking about it, he obviously feels that Honda wont win anything in the coming years

[Ground Effect]

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/ ... d-red-bull

So Alonso turned down a move to RedBull ??

I cant believe this? Why would he say no ? Honda ?

He's a Toyota driver, I guess that could be a reason.