Modern Vespa

On another note, Imola is just around the corner and I'm going to suggest that if Hamilton doesn't improve the Tifosi are going to get vocal.

Does anyone remember when Prost said his Ferrari handled like a Truck and they sacked him ?

Agreed. There's an obvious conflict of interest there, though I do like Ms. Wolff. Agreed wholeheartedly.

and to think ´Dakar´ was more like his sporting retirement project áfter his ralley carreer

Yes, he would be a lót beter than the current egomaniac. Fingers crossed but money will probably have more weight than competence.

I've seen a couple of stories about the knives being out for Christian Horner again, but this time coming from within Red Bull.

I'm not sure how credible it is.

Most of the sites promoting this story I don't like.

Interesting news about Oliver Oakes, and his brother.

Is it possible he's actually fled to Dubai?

Now that I don't know but a couple of sites have suggested that Oakes is going to replace Horner.

That's a little too perfect if you ask me.

Edit, Ah so his brother was arrested. That explains his resignation I guess.

I know that I've said this before but I think that the best thing that Horner and Verstappen could do at the end of this year is to leave Red Bull because Ford and Honda are way behind on the engine development.

Unlike Mercedes Benz of course.

William Oakes was arrested for "transferring criminal property".....because he had a large amount of cash in his possession?

Wasn't aware that being in possession of "a large amount of cash" was a crime in the UK.

You know it's (effectively) a crime in the US, right?

It is if it's laundered Russian oligarch money...

I didn't see that information anywhere, where did you find that out?

No, it isn't, but police like to claim it is and then make you PROVE it isn't....and even in the odd chance you do, they just tell the judge "oh well we already spent it too bad" and you're screwed.

Just because a cop SAYS it's illegal, definitely doesn't mean it is lol.

They say the same thing about panhandling despite SCOTUS case law affirming it's freedom of speech. /shrug

I think he's just guessing, based on past associations of the Oakes brothers.

Note my use of the word "effectively". Civil forfeiture is common. And also unethical, immoral, unconstitutional, and just plain corrupt. But that doesn't make it less common.

America is fucked. That's not a political statement, but a factual one.

It was in one of the reports I read - but can I find it now? Hrumph...

There is some speculation along those lines -- the Oakes have had (in the past) close associations with a certain Russian oligarch who is somewhat infamous within F1 circles. But the nature of the "illegally transferred property" has not yet been disclosed by the authorities, to the best of my knowledge.

That's put an interesting spin on things.

So you finally get to run a F1 Team and your brother needs digging out of a hole.

Both of them are connected to the Russian with the untalented son whose second name sounds like a cake dressing because they bought his F2 Team.

I have to admit, I had Flav all wrong on this one.

On the opposite side we have the law; the rules written by the powers that be to maintain status quo; not per definition just or ethical.
See you statement about the US of America.
And on topic this being ever so clearly illustrated by recent FIA rule machinations.

However I do find it an odd coincidence that Colapinto gets a drive in the Alpine a day after Oakes resigns.

What's even stranger is that Doohan is actually managed by Flavio so that's got to be a little bit awkward.

Also, I didn't know that William Oates was actually arrested in the Silverstone Car Park and has been remanded in Custody until his case comes up.

Now I don't want to cast aspersions but many a criminal has sort refuge in Dubai so rather than stay in the UK I find it interesting that Ollie has decided to make that his destination.

What jolly larks.

"Franz Herman" test drove a Ferrari 296 GT3 at the Nurburgring on Friday.

Max.. Using my last name in vain.
I would die a little on the inside if he ended up in Ferrari red.

Well, if say "Franz" has enough of F1 it would be an interesting way of holding onto his services if he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Ditto.

There are several scenarios apart from it being a logical carreer move when Hamilton goes out.
The tifosi would go wild and nobody can deny he would be like a trump card for Ferrari.
I would no end Max winning a title with Ferrari.

I'd feel bad for whomever his teammate would be, since obviously whoever he drives for has to make a car only for him.

Yuki seems to differ.
And he actually drives ´it´

Secondly Ferrari does not work like that.
Hence I would like it very much if Max drives one to a championship.

Verstappen won't ever drive a F1 Ferrari because he has more sense than that.

Maybe a GT, IMSA or WEC possibly where they seem to have more success but just look at the frustration that Hamilton is experiencing right now.

Do you think he'd sign up for that ?

The days of Ferrari ever winning a F1 Championship are done.

Although you for sure have a point but Hamilton was imo not a yardstick even last year and being an incurable romantic I prefer to think Max wíll go Ferrari and also that it is the only way Ferrari will win a championship.

By that reasoning Alonso should be winning races in an Aston Martin, and he' s not.

Does anyone remember when Albon was signed to Red Bull and they didn't want him the F1 seat so as he was under contract that put him in a Ferrari GT in the DTM then he won his first race and finished 6th in the Championship.

So rather than Franz retiring or going to another team, Red Bull offer him some good money to go racing with another Marque which raises the profile of that series while maintaining continuity with the sponsor.

Ferrari can win again but has to find the right fit in a driver. I agree Max is not.

they need to steal Kimi A from Toto and put Hamilton out to pasture.

But Leclerc is the right fit, but they still can't win.

Great driver, awful car.

Not quite on board with the second.
Remember Leclerc in Jeddah? Hamilton in China sprint? The speed is there. With bóth drivers.
More than RB can claim.

So they've won half a race and a third place in six races.

Yeah, go Ferrari.

Now look at Hamilton vs RB´s second driver.

Na.

On a different theme, still see no sense whatsoever in the rule change on the wings becoming effective in Barcelona. I mean, if here is a need why so late, if there is no need why bother?!

Now, if there is indeed a performance advantage there, then Ferrari will maintain that possible edge at their home track and in Monaco it is irrelevant.
All in all I hópe that Ferrari does not loose an edge with the rule update but also hope that RB will get closer. Max can not keep making up the current
performance difference and him being competitive does add spice to the races.

Lastly a bit of a contradictory ´desire´: I want Ferrari to do well but also would like to see Yuki beat Hamilton.

Yea we get it, you don't like Hamilton.

What's he done that deserves so much negativity?

Red Bull are doing a really interesting thing which is to blame another team for cheating when they aren't winning.

Rather than focus on improving their car they cry foul after every McLaren success because they are so arrogant they can't believe another team is beating them while adhering to the rules.

They have lost Newey, Honda and a whole bunch of senior staff and probably Verstappen if things continue like this.

I think that panic is setting in.

I am enjoying the flailing! The only thing missing is some Benny Hill music.

The Spanish have a tendency to have it in for Hamilton.

https://time.com/archive/6942483/sports-racism-the-stain-in-spain/