Motorsports (NASCAR, F1, etc) Discussion Thread • Page 14

Honda to leave F1 at end of 2021 season

Honda leaving F1 after next season. Red Bull are screwed.

 

That's a potential disaster for the sport. I don't think Merc will supply them, as they tend to only ever supply a limited number of teams, they won't want a Ferrari engine and Renault might well tell them to shove it up their arses.

Also, pretty terrible call from Honda. Once again, they're going to leave on the eve of major regulation changes. Their power unit has really come on now and is decently competitive. Seems crazy to leave now after going through all that pain with Mclaren.

 

Honda are such a joke. Just doing what they did before, abandoning their team and potentially doing real damage to the sport in the short term.

Hope we get another manufacturer in. I’ve always wondered why the Audi group aren’t involved tbh.

 

Also Yuki Tsunoda is in real trouble now of not getting a seat.

 

I think they (along with some others) have thrown their money at developing the power trains for Formula E.

 

One thing I have seen mooted is what I did for my My Team mode on this years game.

If Red Bull have to go with a Renault engine, I’ve seen people say they could rebadge it as Nissan/Infiniti (who are part of the Renault Nissan alliance group). Partially because RB used to be a Nissan Infiniti partnership, when I worked there Vettel even visited us with his Drivers Championship trophy.

Would give RB a good engine, and Renault the money, whilst saving both teams a little face.

 

Everyone knows that the engine development is from Renault Sport (or will they be Alpine now?) though. They can wrap it up however they like (they badged them Tag Heuer last time), it will look like Red Bull going back with their tail between their legs. I wonder if there's any possibility that the Honda engine development could be sold to a third party?

 

A friend of mine just pointed out a rule I'd forgotten. If a team needs an engine supplier and can't sign a deal, the manufacturer supplying the fewest cars has to offer their engines.

That would be Renault.

 

Lmao I’m sure that relationship will go swimmingly
Poor max

 

Hulk is back! Again.

Stroll not fit to drive.

 

.... and he's last lol.

Think the front three will be very close, and then the battle between the rest of the top 10 is going to be really good. Albon looks good around here, Leclerc looks to be enjoying the colder track temps, whilst the McLaren's look really good with the new upgrades.

Throw in some rain and it could be a good one,

 

He's in for a hell of a day, trying to learn how the car works, during the race...

 

Albon looked really poor today. Drive of a man who might well be in trouble.

Cyril is getting a tattoo!

 

well that was painful.

 

Pleased for Ric, delighted for Hulk. Vettel with another disappointing performance.

 

The dip right after the start looks absolutely massive.

 

What an opening lap this is.

holy shit Raikonnen overtaking Leclerc

hahahah Sainz in first!

 

Aw back to normality.

 

Watching Sainz legitimately leading for those first few laps was wild!

Congrats to Hamilton! As much as I’d like to see more variety upfront, it is cool to watch arguably the GOAT in his prime.

 

It is kind of strange to be watching history being made with the way Hamilton is smashing records left right and centre.

Anyone seen the clip of Kimi's first lap that F1 put up on Youtube? Was like watching Mario Kart. Incredible stuff.

 

Looks like Perez will be confirmed at Red Bull and Albon will return to Alpha Tauri.

Honestly, think it's a great move to do this, then give Yuki a second year in F2. He can then replace Gasly when he inevitably moves to Renault/Alpine in 2022.

 

Seems Hulkenberg might not have a seat then. Gio, and Kimi staying at Alfa for some reason. Mazepin and Schumacher at Haas? Would be mental by Haas, if true.

Russell out too would be so disappointing. He’s got so much potential I feel a year out could derail him.

 

I would rather see Hulk at Red Bull and Perez at Williams tbh. Wonder if it's just Perez' camp leaking rumours to pressure Williams.

 

Super strong qualifying by Gasly yesterday. That's another headache for Red Bull.

 

Well I obviously jinxed that one. They've retired Gasly on lap 9. ☹️