Force India have gone into administration:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/44984140

Nooooooo I don't want Ocon. Get a grip Renault, French nationality is not the be all and end all when choosing drivers

This might be the most exciting Q1 session ever

Most exciting quali ever, ended somewhat anti climatically but a Renault in 5th I will take

Brazil '09 was my personal favourite but this was super exciting too - hopefully the race carries the same excitement. Even if it's dry having the much faster Ferraris behind the Mercs makes things interesting.

 

Danny Ric can't catch a break right now!

From a neutral perspective, shame Ferrari screwed up the pitstop. Could have had a good scrap at the end between Hamilton & Vettel.

I don't think you can put all the blame on Bottas from his clashes with Vettel and Ricciardo in the final laps in Hungary. Mercedes should share some of the blame as well. With Kimi having a slow pit stop and being behind the Haas car, they could have left Bottas out for a few more laps and, by shortening the length of that stint on the softs, given him a better chance of holding off Vettel and Kimi.

 

Leclerc- He had a quieter race than usual.

 

For Sky viewers- What is Martin Brundle like now as a commentator?

Nooooooo I don't want Ocon. Get a grip Renault, French nationality is not the be all and end all when choosing drivers

I think it'd be a great move for both parties!

 

Plus Ocon is literally adorable :wub:

Apparently Daniel Ricciardo is set to leave Red Bull at the end of the season with him joining Renault.

 

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/114...-leave-red-bull

Was about to post - I’m completely shocked given the Mercedes and Ferrari seats are filled but Renault are that wildcard who could build back to glory days so it’s an interesting gamble!

 

What will this mean for the drivers market? Sainz has been rumoured for McLaren recently but you’d think this is his seat to fill at Red Bull. Gasly has impressed on occasions but surely it’s too soon for him? Hulkenberg deserves a chance in a top 3 team but he’s in the Renault who could join those ranks soon. Alonso surely won’t be Red Bull bound with Sainz going to McLaren?

 

Edit: wait, the second Ferrari seat isn’t filled is it - that’s certainly an option! Though Renault is strongly rumoured. But given all the Renault related Red Bull breakdowns it is a little surprising in that respect if true.

Edited August 3, 20186 yr by Hans

I think I would say Gasly it is a season too early for him to join Red Bull. Sainz to go to Red Bull, I would think. I'm shocked about this too.

 

 

Who do I need to ritually sacrifice to the F1 gods for this to happen????????

 

I would kill to have a Hülkcciardo pairing at Renault. I think Dani can smell the winds at RBR and knows that if they were fighting for a WDC then Max would be supported by the team more. It’s telling that Dani has mostly maintained a dignified silence in respect to the engine issues he’s had this year compared to Max. As an aside the incidents happen at a remarkably lower rate to both the Factory and McLaren so either Red Bull aren’t operating it in the correct conditions, or Renault have been so determined to get them to f*** off to Honda that they deliberately gave them dodgy bits. We do have form when it comes to unsportsmanlike conduct and RBR deserve it tbh.

 

I am fiercely against Ocon. I’m not a fan of either Force India driver or the team in general tbh. So as long as he’s not income I’m happy. Sainz and Hülk are a strong pairing so if we can secure Sainz longer term I’d be thrilled.

That's a bold move for Danny, the big 3 have such a pace advantage over the rest of the field it's actually inconceivable that any other team could even think about race victories in the near future.

 

Mind you i said that about Merc back in 2012 & Lewis hasn't done too badly there. We need either Renault or McLaren back up at the business end anyway!

I’m shook. Literally yesterday ESPN reported Dani Ric saying his contract would be signed by Belgium, guess he meant Renault and they assumed RBR!

 

What a coup this would be.

 

I know there’s a Ferrari seat available but given Vettel fled their because he couldn’t cope with Dani Ric beating him in 2014 I’d imagine that Kimi or Leclerc will take that seat even with Dani Ric availabile.

f*** me it’s confirmed!!! Hülkcciardo is a go go go

When you say "we", do you work for Renault or something?

 

What is it about Ocon you don't like? He seems so lovely :o

 

I'm stoked about this bit of F1 news anyhow, it really spices things up. It's as much as a gamble for Danny Ric as it was Red Bull jumping ship for Honda.

 

Allegedly, Red Bull have been having more issues with the engine as they've been avoiding upgrades or possibly have a refined version of the engine because the one on offer compromised their aerodynamics?

I wish I worked for them. No, we as in how any fan talks about a team that they support and are loyal too. It’s quite a common phrase.

 

I don’t rate either FI driver, I find them petulant and stroppy and arrogant. Neither have the skills to back their ego.

 

You look at the aero and cooling on that RBR and compare it to Renault and McLaren (who had packaging and cooling issues in testing) and it’s a reasonable conclusion to make. There’s some reason why they have a higher failure rate and I think claims of “overdriving” are less about factual reality and more of a hatred of Max

Fantastic coup for Renault. Still quite shocked about this.

2019 Grid Predictions:

 

Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel & Kimi Raikkonen

Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton & Valtteri Bottas

Red Bull: Daniel Ricciardo & Max Verstappen

Renault: Nico Hulkenberg & Esteban Ocon

Haas: Kevin Magnussen & Charles Leclerc

Force India: Sergio Perez & Lance Stroll

McLaren: Fernando Alonso & Carlos Sainz

Toro Rosso: Pierre Gasly & Brendon Hartley

Sauber: Antonio Giovinazzi & Marcus Ericsson

Williams: Pascal Wehrlein & George Russell

Revised 2019 Grid Predictions:

 

Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel & Kimi Raikkonen

Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton & Valtteri Bottas (Confirmed)

Red Bull: Max Verstappen & Carlos Sainz

Renault: Nico Hulkenberg & Daniel Ricciardo (Confirmed)

Haas: Kevin Magnussen & Charles Leclerc

Force India: Sergio Perez & Esteban Ocon

McLaren: Fernando Alonso & Lando Norris

Toro Rosso: Pierre Gasly & Brendan Hartley

Sauber: Antonio Giovinazzi & Marcus Ericsson

Williams: Pascal Wehrlein & George Russell

I don’t rate either FI driver, I find them petulant and stroppy and arrogant. Neither have the skills to back their ego.

 

You look at the aero and cooling on that RBR and compare it to Renault and McLaren (who had packaging and cooling issues in testing) and it’s a reasonable conclusion to make. There’s some reason why they have a higher failure rate and I think claims of “overdriving” are less about factual reality and more of a hatred of Max

Esteban has always come across as such a lovely guy in any interview I've seen; granted immature reacting to situations with Sergio last year. Sergio I've increasingly found to come across quite arrogant - though I've seen good-hearted comments and actions from him too to be fair.

 

Surely though, they've been driving the socks off of that Force India? Do you think Hamilton or Vettel or Alonso could've gotten that car onto the podium regularly or even once last year? I think Pérez has improved somewhat since his chance at McLaren... I think Ocon could be a future world champion. Just the impression I get anyway.

 

I ignore the Max hate - he's just a little immature and the mistakes will get less with each year that goes by. When he's on form, he's incredible. I'd take Danny Ric over him as things stand, but I definitely believe the hype.