2014 Belgian Grand Prix

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If Kobayashi really was as talented as you say he is, why hasn't a bigger team - one that is not reliant on pay drivers - offered him a seat?
C'mon I'm sure you know F1 doesn't always work that way. There is a list a mile long of drivers that probably didn't get a fair shot at proving themselves in F1.
 
You do know that Kobayashi had no financial obligations to Sauber, right? For three years, he got everything you just described: a mid-range car that, if not capable of regular podiums, was certainly strong enough to showcase his talents. And showcase them he did - but the top teams clearly weren't impressed. Now, you can keep telling me that he had rotten luck, with a streak of mechanical failures and getting caught up in incidents that weren't his fault, but when everything went his way, he still couldn't deliver. In (roughly) sixty starts, he had *one* front-row start and *one* podium finish. He has more than his fair shot.
 
You do know that Kobayashi had no financial obligations to Sauber, right? For three years, he got everything you just described: a mid-range car that, if not capable of regular podiums, was certainly strong enough to showcase his talents. And showcase them he did - but the top teams clearly weren't impressed. Now, you can keep telling me that he had rotten luck, with a streak of mechanical failures and getting caught up in incidents that weren't his fault, but when everything went his way, he still couldn't deliver. In (roughly) sixty starts, he had *one* front-row start and *one* podium finish. He has more than his fair shot.
2 front row starts and the podium finish happened in the same year.

The amount of times he got taken out that year with big possibility of points was plenty as well, Valencia(Massa) Spa(Grosjean)are obvious. At Malayasia he didn't even start the race and Perez got 2nd, but Canada he got lucked out of a podium due to safety car, the previous year he managed to get up to 2nd on that track in the wet before the dry weather screwed him as the Sauber was too slow.

Like I said plenty of bad luck, of course when you look at F1 as a Big statistic where every driver on the grid is in equal cars it looks bad but I think your intelligent to know that is clearly not the case.

Daniel Ricciardo got 0 podiums 0 front row starts and his best position of only 6th in a STR before givin the opportunity that RBR even said was a big risk on their part, and now he is probably known as one of the best drivers on the grid.

It's not simple, even when the top team has been grooming said driver since day 1.
 
Your whole argument is that Kobayashi is talented enough to stay in Formula 1, if not get better equipment.

However, that argument is disproven by the way he hasn't earned anything more. You can continue to claim that it wasn't his fault, but he got a better chance than most, but never made good on it.
 
Your whole argument is that Kobayashi is talented enough to stay in Formula 1, if not get better equipment.

However, that argument is disproven by the way he hasn't earned anything more. You can continue to claim that it wasn't his fault, but he got a better chance than most, but never made good on it.
So do you think that F1 at all times has the best 22 drivers in the world on the grid?

Because I'm sorry to tell you the real world is scary and full of terrors.

I could mention how Button would of been out of a drive in 2009 because he was without a drive lined up, but thanks to brawn buying the Honda team he was able to continue, but winning the world title doesn't prove much does it?
 
Well on the race I'm thinking Eau rouge will be the best it's been in a decade, with higher powered cars with less downforce there may be a challenge in going flat at this corner or at least more of a challenge then the easy flat out it has been lately.

Also I think Top speeds are going to reach 360km/h, the turbos are fast and considering they where in the 40s at hockenhiem this will be at V10 levels of speed.
 
They're not expecting to reach those speeds until Monza, when they have the advantage of a low-downforce configuration to assist them. Everything from Les Combes to the top of Blanchimont requires quite a bit if downforce.
 
They're not expecting to reach those speeds until Monza, when they have the advantage of a low-downforce configuration to assist them. Everything from Les Combes to the top of Blanchimont requires quite a bit if downforce.
I thought it might, but in the race i think its possible with DRS assistance and draft.

Monza they will likely all be running the thin rear wings to the point of no DRS anyway, it will be interesting to see if they can hit the speeds of 2005.
 
I have my doubts. Spa might be fast, but it's not close enough to Monza that one small boost will get them over the line.
 
I have my doubts. Spa might be fast, but it's not close enough to Monza that one small boost will get them over the line.
Im not sure the straight at hockenhiem is no where near the level of Spas main straight and 3 drivers got into the 40s with Hamilton at 345.

this will be the first track i think this season that could surpass that.

anyone know what was the fastest top speed at Spa in V10s?
 
This thread is for the Belgian GP misters.

My fault sir, I think I chose to make the bulk of my reply here rather than in Driver Transfer '14 because... I dunno sir :D

anyone know what was the fastest top speed at Spa in V10s?

This guide gives the top speed as a sniff short of 202mph but doesn't say who/when. I'd imagine it's contemporary to the quoted 2009 records though.


Here's a nice preview article from Aunty, probably nothing that anyone will find anew...but if you're like me you just can't get enough of Spa :D
 
according to the split times, only 337km/h in 2005 by Fisi:

I will be surprised if they don't smash that this weekend, just how powerful are these turbos?
 
Can't wait for Lotterer one of the most talented drivers outside F1, probably because he has a name you can't spell correctly.
 
Can't wait for Lotterer one of the most talented drivers outside F1, probably because he has a name you can't spell correctly.

Hope he hasn't turned to the dark side of the force. I know it is likely for one race and I trust he has the sense to realize that the WEC is a strong product now. But you never know.
 
Hope he hasn't turned to the dark side of the force. I know it is likely for one race and I trust he has the sense to realize that the WEC is a strong product now. But you never know.

I'd love to see what he can do at F1, doubt he'd do much at Spa though.
 
Tom
Ted Kravitz who is at Spa to chat about his career

I bet he is :)

I didn't watch but that's 'cos of Kravitz, all your stuff is very good and I'm sure this is too. Dropping Kravitz from the in-race feed would be the best thing they could do, he has no situational awareness at all and queues up long stories that are of very little interest during the race :D

Back on topic, Chilton will be replaced by Rossi at Marussia.
http://en.espnf1.com/marussia/motorsport/story/171643.html

That's a shame, Disney F1 say he's done it voluntarily because Rossi brings more money to the race seat. Chilton expects to be back in the car for Monza, my instinct on that is wait-and-see.
 
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According to Graeme, he is.

Yep. He's driving for the rest of the weekend. Money came in.
 
I predict Max Chilton has a bright future in politics. He has completely ignored any and all criticism or public opinion, insisted that he is still relevant, and used that to justify placing his needs ahead of anyone and everyone else.

Surely he recognises that he has achieved nothing, will continue to achieve nothing, and that nobody would notice if he disappeared overnight.
 
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