Formula One 2019

[Cleoriff]

What better way to start the new F1 thread than wishing Lewis Hamilton a Happy 34th Birthday

Here's hoping for a great season and another world championship for the lad from Stevenage

Get In Lewis and hopefully

PS: New cars are revealed from February 12th. Testing starts February 18th..

Season starts in 10 weeks. March15th Australia...

[Bambino]

I know you won't like this, @Cleoriff, but don't you think it's time for someone else to step up? Same person and same manufacturer winning every year? Huge bore. In fact, Formula One has become really boring in general. When they stopped allowing refueling it killed any strategy a team might have. The low ranked teams never get near the front of the starting grid. The entire race is now about tyres, and 99% of the time they're all on the same ones. It's not something I watch all that often any more. Not much point when, barring an accident, you know the same faces are going to be on the podium.

[Cleoriff]

I agree with you @Bambino

F1 was far more exciting in the 70's and 80's.

However, I have been an avid follower of F1 since the 60's and can't see me stopping anytime soon.

The drivers have no input into any rule changes, that's down to the FIA.

It's always been the same though, one team is vastly superior for a few years and they win trophies. Then it changes. We have had the Red Bull years, The Ferrari years, even the McLaren years... and now it's the turn of Mercedes.

We all thought Ferrari had the best car last year. It's still argued that they had. The difference is, they didn't have Lewis Hamilton.

My passion for him and his racecraft knows no bounds. He broke the mold of F1 drivers. He didn't come from a privileged background and his dad worked 3 jobs to get him into Karting.

To see someone like him making history for us Brits is something I will always be proud of.

Also remember, it might be the same person in the same car....but he has always had a team mate driving another Mercedes. Bottas managed to come 5th. So it's not always the car, or the team...some credit has to go to the driver.

Who knows. it may be Ferrari's year in 2019. They have a bright new driver in Charles Leclerc...so best of luck to them. ....

[Bambino]

I take your point, @Cleoriff, but until the FIA rework the rules so teams can employ a little more strategy into the race itself, I will only be an occasional watcher.

[Cleoriff]

That's fair enough @Bambino

I've enjoyed chatting about F1 anyway..

(Even though I might argue that strategy nowadays makes up for a good part of winning or losing a race ...Just ask Ferrari )

[dgilbert2]

@Cleoriff slowly but surly getting closer to the racing again 

Yes, Happy Birthday to LH 

[Anonymous]

@Cleoriff

Did I hear/read that Lewis is hanging up his helmet after this season?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

@Cleoriff

Did I hear/read that Lewis is hanging up his helmet after this season?

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Someone call an ambulance for @Cleoriff .. I think she just had some kind of medical episode! 

🚑👎🚦🚖

[Cleoriff]

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@Anonymous wrote:

@Cleoriff

Did I hear/read that Lewis is hanging up his helmet after this season?

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No, his contract with Merc ends in 2020 @Anonymous

There is a rumour that he may finish his career with Ferrari though... ( I will take that with a pinch of salt)

[Cleoriff]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

@Cleoriff

Did I hear/read that Lewis is hanging up his helmet after this season?

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Someone call an ambulance for @Cleoriff .. I think she just had some kind of medical episode! 

🚑👎🚦🚖

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No..save the ambulance @Anonymous. Not going to happen....