Weekly F1 Gossip

Hi guys, thinking about making this a weekly thing on here if you are so inclined to participate. I will of course provide some links where applicable and my own commentary when required. I will also use some artistic license. I will of course only focus on interesting stories, so if you want to read about Caterham or Marussia, you can do that elsewhere .


F1 faces a new threat as the EU wants alcohol sponsorship banned because alcohol awareness group Eurocare says it sends "mixed messages" given the "destructive prevalence of drink-driving". Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and Jose Cuervo all sponsor teams, while this season Williams took on Martini as their title sponsor.


Nico Rosberg won the prestigious Bambi award for Best Sportsman, Mercedes via twitter commended by saying commenting: "Hat's off sir!"
Sportsman indeed.

Honda's new Formula 1 engine will run on track for the first time on Friday, as McLaren's development MP4-29H takes to the track at Silverstone alongside two classic McLaren Hondas.
Looking forward to seeing this in action

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has revealed the switch from V8 to V6 engines in 2014 led to him questioning whether F1 was the motor racing series for him.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/vettel-zweifelte-an-der-formel-1-man-denkt-ueber-alles-moegliche-nach-8856464.html

A few excerpts; "Of course, one thinks about everything when suddenly two cylinders missing if you do not restart the car, but as a computer must re-boot, then you already ask yourself. What has this to do with racing"

"What is the alternative, the cars have become slower, but still the fastest out there?." That after this season Vettel to Ferrari changes, Vettel would confirm only indirectly again. "I would hope, of course, that I can announce what happened in the future, but right now I have to be patient."
Most amusing indeed, I wonder what his views would be if he had his BD/EBD/DD. The textbook definition of a paper champion.


Meanwhile, Massa has hit back at compatriot Nelson Piquet after the three-time world champion claimed modern drivers had an easier job than in his era. Massa said: "Back then you had the steering wheel, throttle, brake and clutch, but nowadays we are changing things while we are driving in the corners. It's another world - another sport."

"Ok, you had much fewer engineers in the past and you had to know a lot about the mechanical parts," the Williams driver told Brazil's Sportv.
"But the car was almost completely mechanical with no aerodynamics. Now you have so many other things, like all the electronics and all the work we have to do while we're driving.

"Back then you had the steering wheel, throttle, brake and clutch, but nowadays we are changing things while we are driving in the corners.
"It's another world -- another sport," Massa insisted.

Piquet had also criticised the controversial overtaking aid DRS, but Massa hit back: "Many people say that, and that 'the (old) cars were always sideways.

"But today if you go sideways you just go slower," he insisted. "The sport has changed so much, becoming more professional as well.

"Lots of people say 'Back then you had Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell' but now there are drivers with exactly the same level of talent," Massa added.

Well said Felipe, get sick and tired of people who make these comparisons, I would also add that the drivers are a lot fitter and more intelligent.

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