Team Hulkenberg tbh.

 

KMag wasn't sporting with his defence there in the slightest. He was moaning about Hulk v Gro at turn 1 which no doubt caused his actions. I need another look at that, it felt like that Grosjean turned into Hulk more than Hulk causing that one.

 

I liked KMag at Renault last year but that was just a big naw, on a Renault Driver or not.

Tomorrow should be interesting through as it is Kubica vs the RS17.

 

Jolyon Palmer currently stabbing a billion voodoo dolls

Haha! Had not seen that confrontation yet, reminded me of Hamilton vs Massa at Singapore 2011 (I think?) - "Don't touch me".

 

The turn 1 defence was very Max but that particular rule was outlawed & he made the swerve early enough so that was fair game but yeah the next hairpin he left him no room at all, can understand the sarcastic reaction.

A lot of people on Motorsport.com we're saying the same thing! It was Massa/Hamilton

 

 

Today is 5% work, 95% compulsively checking twitter and the live SkySports blog for testing updates on Kubica. I'm praying it goes well for him. There's nothing I'd rather see than Kubica replacing Palmer tbh. He's just done a 9 lap run posting a 1:22.130 as his quickest time. 12 laps in total!

Kubica almost at 110 laps. Currently confusing Motorsport.com by doing an outlap, flying lap, in lap, hitting his marks in the pit box and repeating. This really feels like Renault are working on race craft to me of both a quali session and pit stops - after all don't need the mechanics for the driver to practise the pit stop bits.

It was fantastic to see Kubica back in a F1 car again. Never thought I would see that happen again.

 

 

Should we have a death pool on Palmers career?

When Perez, Alonso and even Sainz are being touted for Palmers seat, along with Sirotkin, Rowland and Latifi from Renaults junior team. I doubt Renault actually consider Kubica a serious option for Palmer, and it's more to do with promotion.

Kubica has comprehensively thrashed all three juniors times in testing, none of them are viable options. Alonso won't move because Renault can't give him a winning car and they're being very blunt about that fact now. Alonso will stay put. I can only see Perez moving for a Ferrari seat (as has been rumoured before) and Ocon is a more likely target for a second FI raid given he's French. Red Bull have doubled down on the Sainz is contracted talk recently so that's unlikely too, but that could happen as part of a divorce between Toro Rosso and Renault to allow TR to take Honda engines.

 

Realisticly Kubica is a fast choice, a proven GP winner and is supposedly outstanding at giving engineers feedback and car development. Given where Renault is right now a fast pacey driver who will develop the f*** out of their car is probably exactly what they need. PR benefit is added bonus

An all right race but Hamilton won.

 

What was that with Perez + Ocon. Perez at blame there. Won't be surprised if one moved teams.

I need to see the incident again but was it really Perez's fault? Looked like he was just taking the natural line rather than pushing Ocon into the wall then Ocon was the one who barged past aggressively at Eau Rouge. I was sat in a foreign bar so will need to rewatch it on Sky Sports F1 HD :lol:

I was out so missed it. Need to catch up with it at some point

Record-breaker :cheer: and just casually over a second quicker than everyone else :smoke:

 

Great effort from Stroll, front row for him. It's a shame everything is blighted by all these penalties but at least it means we'll have some overtaking tomorrow with the RBRs carving their way through the field.

Wet sessions are always the best! :heart: Nuisance Hamilton ruining a Stroll/Ocon front row! :(

 

I'll be intrigued to see how long Stroll and Ocon hold up the Ferraris (and potentially Red Bulls) tomorrow, the Force India in particular always tops the speed traps.

That was a great wet session there although glad to see Grosjean was all right. Great laps from Ocon and Stroll.

 

 

Rumours of Sainz driving for Renault for next year looking quite likely now.

There is a rumour Kubica might go to Williams as it be his only real option but I wouldn't be surprised in Mercedes block that and try to get Wehrlein a Williams seat as he is on his way out of Sauber.

Williams have put their 2018 driver talks on hold for the 2017 midfield battle. They are so waiting to see what Renault does first. It is so obvious they may as well have just openly said it.

 

 

It looks like Singapore is about to be the start of a set of dominos that will trigger the end of Silly Season.

 

 

- Torro Rosso is terminating it's Renault contract in favour of a Honda supply deal.

- In order to terminate said deal, Torro Rosso are releasing Sainz to Renault F1.

- McLaren are terminating their Honda deal.

- McLaren are taking out a supply deal with Renault*

- Alonso stays at McLaren-Renault.

- Renault are heavily considering terminating Palmer immediately after the Singapore Grand Prix.

- To really keep Renault sweet, Torro Rosso will release Sainz to Renault effective from Malaysia should Renault sack Palmer.

- Torro Rosso will call up Gasly as Sainz's replacement.

 

 

*This looks like it's until the end of the 2020 season. McLaren are currently considering developing their own engine for 2021 onwards if the costs can be controlled.

Confirmed as expected that Bottas will stay at Mercedes for next year.

 

 

Rumour mill in overdrive. Latest is that Renault have told Red Bull to get f***ed and to find a new engine supplier after the 2018 season.

 

Don't blame Renault. They're being forced out of a multi-year Torro Rosso deal that's a barely concealed forerunner to getting the senior team to be the Honda works team when the engines are ready. Why wouldn't they want to jack it in and get rid of someone who never praises when they win 4 world championships but throw them under the bus at all other times