OT: Racing 2017 (Spoiler Alert)

[pk500]

Vettel was pretty damn petulant toward Alonso on the radio late in the race. As Steve Matchett said, "Focus on what you're doing, son!"

Also thought the tone of Vettel's radio transmission after Stroll destroyed the back of his car was pretty funny, he sounded like a very disappointed school teacher.

One of the weirdest "racing incidents" I've seen. Still don't know on whom to assign blame. Bizarre.

[Dave]

Didn't see this one coming - ESPN is taking over F1 coverage next year after NBC chose not to negotiate.

NBC Sports Network has carved out a pretty good niche by consolidating a lot of racing/car coverage, sad to see one of the main pillars leave the network. Interesting quote from them that they "chose not to enter into a new agreement in which the rights holder itself competes with us," assuming that means Liberty Media has some big international streaming plans on the way.

Wonder if any of the current broadcast team will be retained.

[Rodster]

Interesting quote from them that they "chose not to enter into a new agreement in which the rights holder itself competes with us," assuming that means Liberty Media has some big international streaming plans on the way.

Wonder if any of the current broadcast team will be retained.

And maybe the UK broadcaster's can learn a bit or two from us Yanks. While their UK premier broadcaster Sky Sports does a fabulous job they don't allow access to their content outside of the UK. While us Yanks will sell League access around the world to increase revenue and fanbase. You can buy an NBA, MLB, NFL access package outside the US. I would be willing to pay for a package from the UK but can't because Sky Sports won't do it. IIRC even the US broadcasters sell internet packages outside the US. So I'm stuck getting live feeds from Sky Sports via the internet albeit low quality.

So hopefully Liberty Media will fix this in the future as I would love to watch Crofty and Brundle call a race in 4K.

[pk500]

Didn't see this one coming - ESPN is taking over F1 coverage next year after NBC chose not to negotiate.

NBC Sports Network has carved out a pretty good niche by consolidating a lot of racing/car coverage, sad to see one of the main pillars leave the network. Interesting quote from them that they "chose not to enter into a new agreement in which the rights holder itself competes with us," assuming that means Liberty Media has some big international streaming plans on the way.

Wonder if any of the current broadcast team will be retained.

NBC chose not to negotiate because F1 didn't include OTT rights in the deal. NBC is right: Why would it sign a deal in which the rights holder could compete with it? That makes no sense.

It's also rumored ESPN isn't paying a rights fee to F1. Odd, considering Liberty Media owner Greg Maffei complained about the $3 million annual rights fee NBC paid to F1 when Liberty bought F1, calling it a "popcorn fart."

Reports indicate ESPN will use the world feed. Whether that extends to announcers remains to be seen. I can live with or without Diffey, but it would be a mistake for ESPN to drop Hobbs, Matchett and Buxton.

[Dave]

It's also rumored ESPN isn't paying a rights fee to F1. Odd, considering Liberty Media owner Greg Maffei complained about the $3 million annual rights fee NBC paid to F1 when Liberty bought F1, calling it a "popcorn fart."

Reports indicate ESPN will use the world feed. Whether that extends to announcers remains to be seen. I can live with or without Diffey, but it would be a mistake for ESPN to drop Hobbs, Matchett and Buxton.

I really enjoy the NBCSN crew and will miss their contributions if they aren't retained - doesn't NBC use the world feed, just with their own commentary? I'm worried ESPN is going to go completely bare-bones with the coverage, which I guess is better than adding Eddie Cheever. The ESPN IndyCar coverage is dreadful compared to NBC.

From Jalopnik

The report also said ESPN agreed to show all practice and qualifying sessions both live and on replay on one of its platforms next season.

Hopefully "one of its platforms" doesn't relegate FP2 and qualifying to ESPN3.

[Zeppo]

Hopefully "one of its platforms" doesn't relegate FP2 and qualifying to ESPN3.

I’d be surprised if that isn’t what it means, but we can be hopeful. I just hope they show at least qualifying and the races live, so I can record them and time-shift on my own. Also I will miss the generous pre-race and post-race coverage if they don’t put in a similar effort as Speed and NBC Sports have. And I agree Buxton has proven to be very good since he took over for Windsor. It will be a shame if he doesn’t move over to ESPN.

Meanwhile, I am one who is very sad to see Sepang Circuit go away. It has always been one of my favorites to drive in the games (loving the new game, btw, after skipping last year’s), and it always seems to provide some really fun and unpredictable races, and not just due to the weather! The design of the circuit itself seems to lend itself to fantastic on-track battles. The turn one and two combo in particular always makes for exciting moments when cars are battling.

This track and also Instanbul are favorites of mine I’m sad to have seen the last of. I’d shed no tears if Hungaroring is removed from the schedule, for example, and if it weren’t for the history and the amazing atmosphere, I don’t think I would miss Monza much (I know! Anathema!). But these two very good newer tracks seem to have been better venues for the modern F1 formula than many of the tracks on the schedule, including some of the classics.

[Dave]

Meanwhile, I am one who is very sad to see Sepang Circuit go away. It has always been one of my favorites to drive in the games (loving the new game, btw, after skipping last year’s), and it always seems to provide some really fun and unpredictable races, and not just due to the weather! The design of the circuit itself seems to lend itself to fantastic on-track battles. The turn one and two combo in particular always makes for exciting moments when cars are battling.

I agree with you, the first of the Tilke tracks is one of the best. The turn one/two combo is a great example of designing a track so a faster car can make an outside pass work if it can stick to the outside line during the first turn, more tracks need combinations like that. Austin has a lot of left/right combos but they're too fast to make a move like that work.

Every once in a while I'll come across a video on Twitter or YouTube from the 90s/early 2000s and man, sometimes I forget just how amazing the V10 & V12s sounded.

[pk500]

It's sad that the two best Tilkedromes -- Istanbul and Sepang -- are no longer in F1. Tilke's track in India was solid, too.

Yet Azerbaijan remains. Go figure.

The one superb circuit that never gets enough love in F1 is the Nurburgring. That track is a hell of a challenge, with all kinds of elevation change and different types of corners. Great track. But it's diminished in the eyes of many, especially the old timers, because it's not as ballsy, long and crazy as its adjacent cousin, the Nordschleife.

[F308GTB]

Now that's driving. I wish I could drive that well at Bathurst in a virtual environment.

[pk500]

Spellbinding final 30 laps last night at Homestead. Truex is a deserving champion. Not many guys can hold off Kyle Busch on a drive from hell.

[DChaps]

Yeah, that was some good stuff. Very happy for Truex, definitely had one hell of a season and no better way to prove you are a champion then how that went down. If all the Nascar "playoffs" were able to be like that it would be a pretty good show.

[Rodster]

So another Formula One season comes and goes and shall I dare say "predictable and f###ing boring. Sure Ferrari made it interesting until Vettel went postal in Baku and Ferrari's Quality Control team took a vacation while the season was in session. But Formula One needs a NEW direction, one Ross Brawn wants to introduce to Formula One in 2021 and based on his proposals I welcome it.

For starters, a budget cap (i've been a long proponent of this since 2001), allowing any team to have a chance to win a race on Sunday and not just Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull but any team on the grid. Lower engine costs, eliminating the heat recovery system in the ICE. Using certain standardized parts, making sure all customer teams are using the exact same engine as the mfgs including all of their data. Introducing new engine mfgs like Cosworth and others.

The problem? All the big players such as Ferrari, Merc are saying hell NO, we don't want a global Nascar. And the irony is even with the big players saying no, Ross Brawn is willing to listen and possibly compromise in certain areas but Liberty Media looks like it wants to eliminate Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One model and I welcome it. If it weren't for all of the rumors and offseason behind the scenes drama I would rather watch Indycars. And I just may especially when they introduce their new car.

So who do you side with, Ferrari and Merc or Ross Brawn and Liberty Media?

[fletcher21]

So another Formula One season comes and goes and shall I dare say "predictable and f###ing boring. Sure Ferrari made it interesting until Vettel went postal in Baku and Ferrari's Quality Control team took a vacation while the season was in session. But Formula One needs a NEW direction, one Ross Brawn wants to introduce to Formula One in 2021 and based on his proposals I welcome it.

For starters, a budget cap (i've been a long proponent of this since 2001), allowing any team to have a chance to win a race on Sunday and not just Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull but any team on the grid. Lower engine costs, eliminating the heat recovery system in the ICE. Using certain standardized parts, making sure all customer teams are using the exact same engine as the mfgs including all of their data. Introducing new engine mfgs like Cosworth and others.

The problem? All the big players such as Ferrari, Merc are saying hell NO, we don't want a global Nascar. And the irony is even with the big players saying no, Ross Brawn is willing to listen and possibly compromise in certain areas but Liberty Media looks like it wants to eliminate Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One model and I welcome it. If it weren't for all of the rumors and offseason behind the scenes drama I would rather watch Indycars. And I just may especially when they introduce their new car.

So who do you side with, Ferrari and Merc or Ross Brawn and Liberty Media?

If there was some parody between cars, wouldn't the same drivers still dominate? Can't imagine lance stoll or massa could have won the title this year in a Mercedes.

[pk500]

Ross and Liberty, hands down.

There is absolutely NO reason why Ferrari should receive more of F1's profit than any other team. Yet Marchionne is threatening to pull Ferrari from F1 if its sweetheart deal ends.

Go ahead, make our day, Prancing Horse. Marchionne never would have the balls to do it. Plus there would massive uproar with the Italian public if Ferrari withdrew, and that sh*t would roll downhill on the Ferrari global brand.

[Rodster]

Ross and Liberty, hands down.

There is absolutely NO reason why Ferrari should receive more of F1's profit than any other team. Yet Marchionne is threatening to pull Ferrari from F1 if its sweetheart deal ends.

Go ahead, make our day, Prancing Horse. Marchionne never would have the balls to do it. Plus there would massive uproar with the Italian public if Ferrari withdrew, and that sh*t would roll downhill on the Ferrari global brand.

Totally agree with all of the above. Me thinks Ferrari is just bluffing. OTOH, I could see Merc leaving as it's been mission accomplished for them but where Ross Brawn has the advantage is that he realizes as a team owner and while running Merc is that he was there when the teams drew up plans for the engine regs we now have including the token system. So in essence the inmates are currently running the asylum and Ross Brawn wants to break that up.

I read that Max Mosley would have opposed the bullshit regulations that are currently in place. Jean Todt just panders to the mfgs and trys to go along and get along with everybody.

[Rodster]

If there was some parody between cars, wouldn't the same drivers still dominate? Can't imagine lance stoll or massa could have won the title this year in a Mercedes.

That's the point Ross Brawn has been trying to make. The best teams and drivers will still win but every driver and car on the grid has the potential for an upset on Sunday. And if there was a level playing field and cost structure then maybe iconic teams like Williams F1 would go hire the best most talented drivers instead of the best funded drivers like Lance Stroll.

[wco81]

Shots fired:

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2017/11/fo ... a-problem/

[Dave]

I'm a broken record on this topic, but I can't stand Yas Marina. Sure it looks great from overhead shots but the giant straightaways right after boring corners that don't allow the cars to get close is just terrible.

Tip of the cap to the NBC Sports crew after their final race, going to miss their enthusiasm and perspective next year.

[pk500]

Agree, Dave. Yas Marina is a terrible circuit.

Hermann Tilke has done more to destroy quality F1 racing with his awful circuit designs in the last 20 years than almost any technical regulation passed by the FIA. And it's sad that the two best Tilkedromes -- by far -- both will be off the F1 schedule in 2017, Sepang and Istanbul.

I also liked Tilke's track in India. Gone, too.

[Rodster]

Agree, Dave. Yas Marina is a terrible circuit.

Hermann Tilke has done more to destroy quality F1 racing with his awful circuit designs in the last 20 years than almost any technical regulation passed by the FIA. And it's sad that the two best Tilkedromes -- by far -- both will be off the F1 schedule in 2017, Sepang and Istanbul.

I also liked Tilke's track in India. Gone, too.

Isn't the COTA a Tilke track as well? That's a fun track for both fans and drivers. My favorite track on the calendar is still to this day the legendary Spa followed by Monza.

[pk500]

Isn't the COTA a Tilke track as well? That's a fun track for both fans and drivers. My favorite track on the calendar is still to this day the legendary Spa followed by Monza.

Sort of. Tilke consulted on the design. But the main layout was designed by COTA originator Tavo Hellmund and 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz.

No argument on Spa. It's majestic. I put Suzuka second and Monza third on my personal list.

I also have a soft spot for Interlagos even though it probably shouldn't be on the calendar due to public safety concerns outside the circuit. Too many team and supplier personnel have been held up at gunpoint in Sao Paulo in the last 10 years for F1 to consider that a safe venue.

North America features three very solid circuits on the F1 calendar: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, COTA and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Common thread: None was designed by Tilke.

The most underrated track in F1 is the Nurburgring, by a mile. That's a great effing circuit that everyone sh*ts on because it suffers from the inevitable comparison to the Green Hell of the North, the neighboring Nordschleife.

[Rodster]

The most underrated track in F1 is the Nurburgring, by a mile. That's a great effing circuit that everyone sh*ts on because it suffers from the inevitable comparison to the Green Hell of the North, the neighboring Nordschleife.

Yeah that's a good one but another underrated track no longer on the calendar is the EPIC old Hockenheim layout. A balls to the walls high speed straights broken up by a couple of chicanes and the fast right hander coming off the start/finish line added some pucker factor. Man I miss that track and they neutered it with the new layout. The new layout is fine for GT Sports cars and the DTM but it doesn't do fast F1 cars any justice.

[pk500]

The most underrated track in F1 is the Nurburgring, by a mile. That's a great effing circuit that everyone sh*ts on because it suffers from the inevitable comparison to the Green Hell of the North, the neighboring Nordschleife.

Yeah that's a good one but another underrated track no longer on the calendar is the EPIC old Hockenheim layout. A balls to the walls high speed straights broken up by a couple of chicanes and the fast right hander coming off the start/finish line added some pucker factor. Man I miss that track and they neutered it with the new layout. The new layout is fine for GT Sports cars and the DTM but it doesn't do fast F1 cars any justice.

Amen. I was stoked last weekend while playing Project Cars 2 to discover the game includes the old Hockenheim GP circuit you described so well.

[GB_Simo]

Meanwhile, at Williams, the latest rumour is that the team's decision to delay a driver announcement until January is being driven by a managerial initiative from a Mr N. Rosberg of Monte Carlo. The whisper is that, seeing the seat heading the way of Sergey Sirotkin, Nico's suggested to Williams that if they're willing to give Robert Kubica a go for the first 7 races of the year, they'll get all of Robert's sponsorship money and an option to continue with him beyond that 7th race, with that decision being based on performance relative to Lance Stroll, or park him up and take the Rubles from there on.

How true that is, I know not, and there've been so many openly contradictory rumours over the last few weeks that I've long since given up on trying to count them all. Clearly, though, the delay in announcing anyone points to something going on in the background. Whether it's Nico making moves, Martini digging their heels in over having a pair of under-25s endorsing their product or a straightforward intra-team disagreement (there are, it seems, factions within Williams that remain keen on Kubica, irrespective of Autosport's recent report that he's definitely out of the frame) remains to be seen. Complicating matters further, the team does appear to appreciate that a Sirotkin/Stroll line-up is a PR nightmare of "Holy Pay Drivers, Batman!" proportions; Kubica would be a pay driver too, of course, but nobody seems to be thinking of him as such. They do, however, seem to be somewhat taken aback that the fastest option for 2018 might yet end up having been Felipe Massa after all.

As a Brit who grew up watching F1 through the 1990s, Williams are inevitably, inescapably my team, and what I want from them is something to inspire me, something to cheer on, something to pull for. This, I would absolutely get from seeing Robert in an FW41 even briefly. What I'm getting so far is a bit of a dog's breakfast.

Assuming it does end up being Sirotkin/Stroll, would that be the most underwhelming line-up in their entire time as a constructor? Maldonado/Senna, maybe...?

[Dave]

Some great sports car news over the last couple days.

It will be great to see the Red Dragon back at Daytona and it is cool to see my "local" team, JDC-Miller Motorsports, land the sponsorship. They punched above their weight last year and hopefully the expansion to a two-car team helps close the gap to the front even further.

Now I see Kevin Magnussen is likely joining Alonso and Stroll at the Rolex 24. It is always one of my favorite events of the year because of the timing and quality of the field, this year's is shaping up to be even more interesting.