New Grand Prix Season Is Almost Upon Us!!!

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

F1 returns after its break to the Glorious Ardennes in Belgium. Wasn't there a battle there once or something? [;)]

I don't think so. It's so densely wooded as to be impassable, properly defended. Only a psychopath would risk his army there. [;)]

[british exil]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: warspite1

F1 returns after its break to the Glorious Ardennes in Belgium. Wasn't there a battle there once or something? [;)]

I don't think so. It's so densely wooded as to be impassable, properly defended. Only a psychopath would risk his army there. [;)]

Similar to the Hürtgen Forest!?

Mat

[warspite1]

Great news! The powers that be have come to their senses and signed a 3-year deal to ensure that Monza hosts the Italian GP for the next three years.

Thank goodness for that. Lose Monza and you sell F1's history, its soul.

[Orm]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Great news! The powers that be have come to their senses and signed a 3-year deal to ensure that Monza hosts the Italian GP for the next three years.

Thank goodness for that. Lose Monza and you sell F1's history, its soul.

I thought that selling out was what F1 did best. [;)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Great news! The powers that be have come to their senses and signed a 3-year deal to ensure that Monza hosts the Italian GP for the next three years.

Thank goodness for that. Lose Monza and you sell F1's history, its soul.

I thought that selling out was what F1 did best. [;)]

warspite1

There are circuits that should be protected to ensure they never fall off the calendar. History is important whatever Bernie thinks. Silverstone, Spa, Monza, Monaco, a French and a German Grand Prix should be held. Everything else can be up for grabs and sold to the highest bidder if that's what he wants - but not these six.

[Orm]

History is important

Of course history is important. [:)]

I made that joke because I think that history seems lacking in many that have, or get, important sports management roles.

[warspite1]

So it has finally been confirmed - no Button in F1 next year, and possibly never again. Let's hope the latter is not the case, but unlikely he would come out of retirement without a BIG reason to do so.

If he doesn't come back then he has had an interesting career - never the best, but on his day a superb driver that kept Lewis and now Fernando honest.

Good luck Jenson and thanks for the memories - especially Canada 2011!!!

[Gilmer]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

So it has finally been confirmed - no Button in F1 next year, and possibly never again. Let's hope the latter is not the case, but unlikely he would come out of retirement without a BIG reason to do so.

If he doesn't come back then he has had an interesting career - never the best, but on his day a superb driver that kept Lewis and now Fernando honest.

Good luck Jenson and thanks for the memories - especially Canada 2011!!!

If he is gone, he can still hang his hat on 2009. Not everyone gets a championship. Nico Rosberg might have the dubious distinction of having the most wins without a championship when his career is over.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: H Gilmer

ORIGINAL: warspite1

So it has finally been confirmed - no Button in F1 next year, and possibly never again. Let's hope the latter is not the case, but unlikely he would come out of retirement without a BIG reason to do so.

If he doesn't come back then he has had an interesting career - never the best, but on his day a superb driver that kept Lewis and now Fernando honest.

Good luck Jenson and thanks for the memories - especially Canada 2011!!!

Nico Rosberg might have the dubious distinction of having the most wins without a championship when his career is over.

warspite1

Well as you know he already has that record - and by some margin. Can he shed himself of this unwanted title? Well I think so but with the rule changes next year it may well be now or never. After that mid-season wobble he is back with the momentum. Losing his home race was a real blow to his chances - but winning at Spa and Monza (two 'Lewis tracks') gives him a very real chance of finally emulating his dad now.

[Gilmer]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: H Gilmer

ORIGINAL: warspite1

So it has finally been confirmed - no Button in F1 next year, and possibly never again. Let's hope the latter is not the case, but unlikely he would come out of retirement without a BIG reason to do so.

If he doesn't come back then he has had an interesting career - never the best, but on his day a superb driver that kept Lewis and now Fernando honest.

Good luck Jenson and thanks for the memories - especially Canada 2011!!!

Nico Rosberg might have the dubious distinction of having the most wins without a championship when his career is over.

warspite1

Well as you know he already has that record - and by some margin. Can he shed himself of this unwanted title? Well I think so but with the rule changes next year it may well be now or never. After that mid-season wobble he is back with the momentum. Losing his home race was a real blow to his chances - but winning at Spa and Monza (two 'Lewis tracks') gives him a very real chance of finally emulating his dad now.

True. It's hard for me to "keep up" because of when they show the races. This weekend was the first weekend of college football so F1 took a back seat for me and I did not even realize they ran Monza and he won until after I posted.

[warspite1]

Good to see that Felipe Massa has decided to call it a day. Looks like there could be another teenager on the grid next year. Canadian Lance Stroll (who I admit I hadn't heard of) is tipped to be the man to replace him. Wonder if he is as good as Verstappen?

[Gilmer]

This season has been pretty interesting. I'm looking forward to the next 5 races.

[warspite1]

Obviously gutted for Lewis, whose title challenge appears to have been dealt a death blow, but soooooo pleased for Ricciardo. If anyone deserves a win this season its the intensely likeable Aussie.

Meanwhile Vettel continues to prove that what happened to Lewis when McLaren failed to give him a decent car, can happen to all the best drivers. The German is having an absolute shocker of a season.

On the 'sooooo pleased' front, great to see Jolyon Palmer get a point in the Renault. Almost certain his Grand Prix career will last just one season, but at least he got a point!

[Gilmer]

I don't know that Hamilton has been dealt a deathblow. It's obviously more difficult for him to get there, but he could pull it off. I think he is the better driver between the two, but not by a lot. He definitely cannot have anything like this happen to him again.

[warspite1]

Got to love that Austin track [&o]. Such good racing there every year. Great drive from Alonso - would be great to see him in a decent car again.

[Gilmer]

So, as I see it, this is possibly coming down to a very tight championship, but Rosberg has the edge.

[warspite1]

Sadly I don't think its close. Rosberg just needs to beat Lewis once and its over. But he doesn't even have to do that. Rosberg knew the score with 4 to go. Take it easy and finish second (even one 3rd will do) and then even if Lewis wins all four (big ask) the German becomes the second son to emulate his dad and become World Drivers Champion.

Added to all that Lewis has never done well in Brazil and certainly never won on that track.

[Poopyhead]

All true, however Hamilton won his first championship in Brazil by one point. If Verstappen pushes Nico too hard, it may end in a DNF for the points leader. It ain't over...[:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Poopyhead

All true, however Hamilton won his first championship in Brazil by one point. If Verstappen pushes Nico too hard, it may end in a DNF for the points leader. It ain't over...[:)]

warspite1

Well obviously I am hoping with every sinew, every fibre in my body that you are right, but no - it's over [:(].

[Hotschi]

It's not over yet, anything can happen - remember 2007 or 2008.

In my view, Rosberg, although insisting he's still racing for victory in every race, now drives too defensive at race-start. In trying to keep safely clear of Hamilton - for obvious reasons - he's getting under pressure by other drivers, see last race where Verstappen caused a wheel-banging and thus forced Rosberg off-track.

While the odds on paper (one 2nd and one 3rd places suffices - or a single victory combined with a "DNF") are in favour of Rosberg, his first title is not won yet.