Nico has been allows to get up off the naughty step after
having a really good think about what he’s done, any more of that sort of thing
will lead to all tuck privileges being a removed and extra Latin vocab. Lewis
has been cuffed about the ear and told to stop winding up Nico or he’ll be made
to stand up in front of the parents at the end of term and explain himself.
The boys have been sat down and given a stiff talking too.
Just like they had after Bahrain .. and Canada … and Hungary … and now Spa. Any
more of this sort of thing is going to have consequences. The word is Nico has
even been seen walking form the headmasters office with a ginger step and a
sudden dislike of sitting on hard surfaces. Oh the joys of inter-team rivalry,
an all new and interesting game for the Mercedes management.
 |
| It's my turn to win , no its mine, mine, mine ,mine |
You’d think Paddy Lowe an ex McLaren employee would know how
to deal with two spikey team mates wouldn’t you! Alright he wasn’t there for
the Senna v Prost title fight years. But he’s stood next to Big Ron and seen
how you lay the smack down on the two numbskulls driving into each other.
Lauda, Who witnessed at first-hand how il Commendatore would warn the drivers
that the cars and points were more important than they ever were, should be
able to knock some sense into these two. But week after week, Nico get the luck
and the points, Lewis drives is heart out and puts the moves on Nico.
Mercedes have invested a whole shed load and possibly an out
building or two of cash into winning the championship this year. They’d thought
about the engine design for a good couple years unlike Renault who were a bit
late to the table. When they snaffled Lewis from under Ron’s nose, it was with
the promise that Mercedes WERE going to win the 2014 title. The board of directors
wobbled a bit when Schumacher didn’t turn up to really appear to care about
this return but they kept the faith and now it’s all going to pay off.
As long, and this is the only bit they can’t really control,
the drivers do what they are paid to do and not throw it all away with hissy
fits, stupid mind games and pissing competitions. Redbull are not as surmised
at the start of the season, a pile of shit. That car has won three times now
and Danny looks like he can easily do it again. He’s not fazed joining the big
league and Vettel looks like he’s counting down the days till his contract ends
now.
Mercedes are in very real danger of fumbling this if they
don’t keep a lid on Nico and Lewis growing animosity. The next one to cock the
plan up might well find themselves sitting out the next race and thus waving
goodbye to their championship party plans. Mercedes have to win the
constructors and drivers title to justify all that cash and two nitwit drivers
aren’t going to stop that happing.
Speculation about Alonso’s future plans have notched up a
gear with Alonso saying “I want to
win for Ferrari, I want to win here and finish the job that we started some
years ago and we will see what the future comes” which to anyone who as ever
witness a premiership manager in full flow, knows it’s akin to standing there
and saying, “I’ve told you how much you’re going to have to pay me Mr rival
team owner, it’s up to you now!!”
The word is a failed attempt to bag the Redbull seat last
year has turned into a dance with Big Ron over the new McLaren Honda seat next
year. Despite having a contract with Ferrari until 2016, most people think
he’ll be somewhere else before 2017. Just for his sanity if nothing else, he’s
pretty much got the weight of expectation of all of Italy on his shoulders at
the moment, dragging a crap car to the front year after year and people just
start expecting you to drive whatever turd they pass in January. He wants a
solid gold winner now and no one can see Ferrari making one of them these days.
So we are being treated to Alonso dancing around the
question of his future, Ferrari trying to appear laid back and cool about its
star driver, whilst at the same time desperate to either keep him or pin Vettel
down to a contract he may or may not have already signed. McLaren are flouncing
around like a love sick English lit undergrad on a weekend break in Venice with
his chum Miles, trying to appear comely and slightly flirtatious but not actually
coming out and saying,” let’s try again, you big hunk of manliness, take me!”. Meanwhile
the F1 media circus, like a rapid pack of One direction fans, is watching all of this and working itself up
into a quivering lather of expectation.
I think he’ll announce a deal with McLaren for 2016 and sit
next year out. Vettel will suddenly announce he does indeed have a Ferrari meal
deal and join the Scuderia in 2015, Kvyat will get the nod for the then vacant
seat at Redbull and some other foetus will be drafted in to learn the ropes at
Torro Rosso. Jenson will get one more year at McLaren and Kev will get to keep
his seat.
Or something else will happen ;)
Looking towards the back of the grid, Lotterer appears to be
getting another run with Caterham this weekend at Monza. He did alright in Spa,
he certainly didn’t disgrace himself, buy clearly the car is a pile of shit and
the rumour that the receivers will be called in before the end of the season,
might have some validity to them. There is no chance on God’s green earth they
are going to get any points this year unless something amazing happens. So there’s
going to be no prize money for next year, which might just have saved them.
Also looking a bit iffy are Marussia, the Max is he isn’t he
driving in Spa story appears to be linked to the rumour that Aon, the company
that Chiltons father owns, is going to buy the last of the shares in the team
and take full ownership. Max getting kicked out of the car on Friday looks like
a broadside from the current owners over Aons bows to get them to hurry up with
the purchase of the shares before it all goes tits up and the Russian mafia busts
in to get its money back.
In the good old days the back markers would turn up for a
bit of a laugh and bask in a bit of reflected glory form the likes of Fangio, Moss
and Hawthorn. Now its desperate battle to keep the cheques from bouncing and fighting
off the creditors.
I give it two years before Caterham, Marussia and Sauber have gone to the wall and the four top
teams are running three car teams. And the likes of Force India and Williams
are customer car teams. In 10 years … it’ll be spec cars and a choice of two
engines.
Okay, enough fun, Monza this weekend.
Mercedes could well be in a straight fight with Williams
here. This is the circuit the plucky English team is going to pull all the
stops out for. I don’t think they can challenge
for the pole, but one of the white cars will be on the front row and if Merc
have any sort of problem a Williams will win. The Williams twitter and face books
pages have all exuding a quiet confidence this past week, I think they might
have the belief to nail it and put the first female team owner on the podium
with her boys. If it happens I’ll be cheering for them and a manly tear may appear
when I get a little bit of dust in my eye as they sing the national anthem.
Don’t expect Ferrari to feature near the top ten, the
Prancing pony press office has been flapping around all week trying play down
any chance they have. The car is not going to be fast enough and could well be
out of the top ten entirely.
As for the rest, Force India in the top five, Danny best of
the rest, Jenson to continue the fair well tour and Kev to impress a few more
with his speed and ability to swerve around dangerously.
Saturday is also my birthday, so I shall have a large glass
of red wine as I sit down to watch Lewis take pole.
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