The end is near for Felipe?

[Pamphlet]

Actually, Felipe has some considerable chance given his qualifying pace was much better than before. Just the fact he broke into Q3 being on provisional pole was impressive, and the fact he qualified just behind Fernando, 0.15 seconds behind, is an improvement that can't go unnoticed.

However, this might be the last hurrah for poor Felipe. I hope he will do his best.

There's more to it. In Q3 Massa was caught in traffic, and from what I'm reading thus far Alonso wasn't. And the latter was also running on a new set of supersofts.

[CoopsII]

In Q3 Massa was caught in traffic, and from what I'm reading thus far Alonso wasn't. And the latter was also running on a new set of supersofts.

Which if Massa had had a great season thus far wouldnt stand out as much. However, as he's been so poor so far such bad luck is more noticeable.

[CoopsII]

Apologies if this is old news but the BBCs Andrew Benson claims Ferrari have a pre-contract with Vettel for 2014. Vettel & Alonso? Exciting, if true.

[mario]

Apologies if this is old news but the BBCs Andrew Benson claims Ferrari have a pre-contract with Vettel for 2014. Vettel & Alonso? Exciting, if true.

I would presume that you saw this article speculating about the future driver market?

It certainly is true that Ferrari are interested in Vettel given that he is held in high regard, although Vettel is by no means the only driver Ferrari have their eyes on - if Vettel were to move across to Ferrari in 2014, where might that leave Perez? Alonso is well ensconced at Ferrari and his contract runs until 2016, whilst Vettel would presumably be on a multiple year contract himself if he switched - Perez won't stay at Sauber forever, and it is possible that another team could sign up Perez if Ferrari wait for too long.

[DanielPT]

Apologies if this is old news but the BBCs Andrew Benson claims Ferrari have a pre-contract with Vettel for 2014. Vettel & Alonso? Exciting, if true.

I would presume that you saw this article speculating about the future driver market?

It certainly is true that Ferrari are interested in Vettel given that he is held in high regard, although Vettel is by no means the only driver Ferrari have their eyes on - if Vettel were to move across to Ferrari in 2014, where might that leave Perez? Alonso is well ensconced at Ferrari and his contract runs until 2016, whilst Vettel would presumably be on a multiple year contract himself if he switched - Perez won't stay at Sauber forever, and it is possible that another team could sign up Perez if Ferrari wait for too long.

I think Perez is a minor player here and will be used as a back-up in case they can't sign Webber, whom I think is the most probable 2nd driver for Ferrari. What I find interesting is that, in case Ferrari having a pre-contract with Vettel, that might convince Hamilton that Red Bull might be the way to go. Imagine, "come to Red Bull, from 2014, you will be the number one driving Newey's cars". At the moment, Red Bull doesn't have a suitable replacement for Webber (sorry Vergne, Ricciardo and Buemi) and they could get the better of two worlds, at first pitting Vettel and Hamilton in the same car and reap the marketing rewards, second having assured a top driver from 2014 forwards. Finally, I just want to say that rumours about Ferrari having a pre-contract with other drivers are usually true according to recent history (Raikkonen and Alonso). So, that Vettel rumour might not be wide off the mark...

[pablo_h]

I like it.
Webber to Ferrari for a year, Perez into RBR to prove he can do the job in a front running car to Ferrari.
Hamilton to RBR in 2014

so 2013
Ferrari : Alonso, Webber
RBR: Vettel, Perez (to prove himself worth it to Ferrari), and Ferrari gets their pick between Vettel and Perez.

Whoever Ferrari prefers goes to them, and their seat is taken by Hmailton at RBR joining either Vettel or Perez.
So 2014
Ferrari: Alonso, with either Vettel or Perez
RBR: Hamilton, with either Vettel or Perez (edit: or Perez dumped by RBR if he's no good at RBR and one of the red bull drivers gets the seat)

[eurobrun]

If Vettel goes to Ferrari I would be extremely surprised.

[pablo_h]

If Vettel goes to Ferrari I would be extremely surprised.

I wouldn't, Shuey is his hero so of course I think he'd want to follow in his foot steps one day...
It just depends on how good the Ferrari car is and Marko's influenece on Vettel I suppose.

[Klon]

If Vettel goes to Ferrari I would be extremely surprised.

I wouldn't, Shuey is his hero so of course I think he'd want to follow in his foot steps one day...
It just depends on how good the Ferrari car is and Marko's influenece on Vettel I suppose.

Furthermore, Ferrari is still a name virtually every F1 driver would want on their CV. Vettel said and I foolishly believe him, that he is not directly looking to hunt down Schumacher's records so with his two world titles he pretty much has virtually done everything he wants - except driving for Ferrari.

[CoopsII]

Vettel said and I foolishly believe him, that he is not directly looking to hunt down Schumacher's records so with his two world titles he pretty much has virtually done everything he wants.

That wouldnt stand up in court.

[Pamphlet]

Vettel said and I foolishly believe him, that he is not directly looking to hunt down Schumacher's records so with his two world titles he pretty much has virtually done everything he wants.

That wouldnt stand up in court.

Vettel doesn't actually seem like an extremely ambitious person, so it may be true.

[Minardi Man]

Well it's possible, but for Vettel's sake, I think he would be best to stay at Red Bull.
I'm sure Alonso has built a very strong relationship in the team by now, and Ferrari haven't produced a championship winning car since 2008; if Vettel and Alonso were in the Ferrari this year, I wouldn't be surprised to see Alonso dominate the inter-team battle.
I can see Vettel moving to Ferrari in the future though, but not until Ferrari are either performing better as a team, or Alonso is performing worse (or gone all together).

[Backmarker]

I'm sure Alonso has built a very strong relationship in the team by now, and Ferrari haven't produced a championship winning car since 2008

I think 2010's car was a championship winning car, though it probably wasn't quite as good as the MP4-25 and the RB6. And despite it being worse than the MP4-27 and the RB8 (and maybe even the W03 and the E20) Ferrari have made, it looks suspiciously like the F2012 might end being a championship winning car. But I don't think Vettel would leave Team Vettel to join Team Alonso.

[CoopsII]

Vettel doesn't actually seem like an extremely ambitious person, so it may be true.

Not outwardly no, thats a good quality he has and in direct contrast to some of Hamiltons earlier 'I was born to win' nonsense. However, his reported interest in stats and his numbers indicates he's quietly keeping an eye on things. I perceive him to be a happy man after two titles and a feeling that the pressures off but I dont see him backing off this year or any other.

[AdrianSutil]

Vettel said and I foolishly believe him, that he is not directly looking to hunt down Schumacher's records so with his two world titles he pretty much has virtually done everything he wants.

That wouldnt stand up in court.

Vettel doesn't actually seem like an extremely ambitious person, so it may be true.

Yeah right

Then why does he always ask the team during every race 'who has the fastest lap and what was their time?' If it's close to
his best and the tyres are good, he'll try to beat it. I'm sorry, but he wants to beat all records. He already has plenty so far:

Youngest to score a point
Youngest to score a podium
Youngest to win a race
Youngest to claim a pole position
Youngest to claim fastest lap
Youngest World Champion
Youngest Double World Champion
Most pole positions in a season

[Wizzie]

Emperor Montezuma has spoken

[Ataxia]

I've had a thought...has anyone noticed Massa's been considerably shitter since Schumacher left the team as a 'consultant'?

[Ferrim]

That wouldnt stand up in court.

Vettel doesn't actually seem like an extremely ambitious person, so it may be true.

Yeah right

Then why does he always ask the team during every race 'who has the fastest lap and what was their time?' If it's close to
his best and the tyres are good, he'll try to beat it. I'm sorry, but he wants to beat all records.

And remember how angry he was last year after he retired from Abu Dhabi in the first corner. It's clear that he wants to win as much as possible - but maybe he isn't obsessed with beating this or that record, just with winning.

[14 Hundred Hours]

Then why does he always ask the team during every race 'who has the fastest lap and what was their time?' If it's close to
his best and the tyres are good, he'll try to beat it. I'm sorry, but he wants to beat all records. He already has plenty so far:

Youngest to score a point
Youngest to score a podium
Youngest to win a race
Youngest to claim a pole position
Youngest to claim fastest lap
Youngest World Champion
Youngest Double World Champion
Most pole positions in a season

Is he still youngest to get fined too?
I reckon Felipe has a chance to drag things back this season- he did pretty well in Monaco, and if he can build on that Ferrari may decide to keep him on.

[AdrianSutil]

Don't know if your being serious or sarcastic with your question, but if it's the former, I reckon Esteban Tuero picked up a fine or two in 1998.

Anyway, I still reckon Massa will be out at the end of the year, even if he picks up a win or two.

[FMecha]

To be fair, who wouldn't it scare?

Daniel Melrose

No, that is called playing on noob level.

Just shut it up, muppet! (Thank you Wizzie)

Melrose's Law: Anyone caught insulting or disrespecting Daniel Melrose's F1 outing will be liable with a papaya rain.

Don't know if your being serious or sarcastic with your question, but if it's the former, I reckon Esteban Tuero picked up a fine or two in 1998.

Anyway, I still reckon Massa will be out at the end of the year, even if he picks up a win or two.

And with that, he's (Massa) officially DBTMOTAT

[Klon]

Melrose's Law: Anyone caught insulting or disrespecting Daniel Melrose's F1 outing will be correct.

Best Fix In The World.

[Wizzie]

Should I be proud about having my own law or not?

[AndreaModa]

Melrose's Law: Anyone caught insulting or disrespecting Daniel Melrose's F1 outing will be correct.

Best Fix In The World.

This, so much that I might print it out and keep it on my wall to remind me how right it is!

[Sunshine_Baby_[IT]]

If Vettel goes to Ferrari I would be extremely surprised.

Me too. To be Alonso's team mate means to be a number 2 driver and I don't think we will see a pairing as Alonso/Vettel at Ferrari. Anyway, by the fact Vettel is many years younger than Alonso, I don't think it's impossible he will drive for Ferrari one day, when Alonso will withdraw or race for another team.

[FMecha]

Should I be proud about having my own law or not?

Feel free, but remember to apply my version and not Klon's.

[Klon]

Feel free, but remember to apply my version and not Klon's.

My version has support of AndreaModa, which is why it is more correct than yours.

[eurobrun]

Feel free, but remember to apply my version and not Klon's.

My version has support of AndreaModa, which is why it is more correct than yours.

I also support Klon's version.

[FMecha]

Feel free, but remember to apply my version and not Klon's.

My version has support of AndreaModa, which is why it is more correct than yours.

I also support Klon's version.

It is because you first said 'this is called playing in noob level' to Wizzie, muppet!

[Wizzie]

My version has support of AndreaModa, which is why it is more correct than yours.

I also support Klon's version.

It is because you first said 'this is called playing in noob level' to Wizzie, muppet!

Yeah but I think a Mr East Londoner was the first one to make the joke many moons ago. Thus, the legend of Melrose's Law was born

[FMecha]

^Wizzie, I meant eurobrun did it in this thread.

[dr-baker]

Should I be proud about having my own law or not?

I'm proud of mine and am happy to link to it in my signature...

[Stramala]

Should I be proud about having my own law or not?

I'm proud of mine and am happy to link to it in my signature...

Unfortunately for me, it's quite rare that someone else invokes my law, so I have to do it myself.

Speaking of which...Inter Primavera 4 - 3 AC Milan Primavera. The Rossoneri have lost every game played against us at every single level of professional football in Italy for 9 months

[eurobrun]

I'm yet to have my own law, and I honestly can't think of what it would be if I had one.

[BlindCaveSalamander]

I'm yet to have my own law, and I honestly can't think of what it would be if I had one.

Clearly it would have to have something to do with your obvious love for Grosjean.

[eurobrun]

I'm yet to have my own law, and I honestly can't think of what it would be if I had one.

Clearly it would have to have something to do with your obvious love for Grosjean.

Losing an avatar challenge sucks.

[Klon]

Well, it would be interesting to discuss what my law would gouvern?

[Ubik]

Very near.

[pasta_maldonado]

Felipe Massa again proving why he's attracted so much criticism this year.

[Ed24]

Felipe Massa again proving why he's attracted so much criticism this year.

A pity as his pace has been excellent since then, ahead or matching Alonso nearly every lap.