347 replies to this topic

[LolaB0860]

Schwartzman also got a pointless 5 place grid penalty which he will never end up serving

[LolaB0860]

Sauber 14th and 15th because of the retirements/debacles and useless Perez. Congratulations

[Anderis]

Bottas nearly beat Ocon on merit, though.

[Brawn BGP 001]

Bottas had a decent weekend as much as you can in a 2024 Sauber.

[LolaB0860]

He's running out of time in finishing dead last in the championship though. Even beating Sargeant seems very unlikely now.

Edited by LolaB0860, 28 October 2024 - 12:46.

[Yoshi]

Not sure what do think about... Rueda back with his old friend Binotto 

 

Sauber have hired former Ferrari strategist Inaki Rueda as sporting director and Giampaolo Dall’Ara as head of race engineering. Beat Zehnder will become director of signature programs and operations next year.

 

 

Source: https://x.com/racefa...566102414807245

[JRodrigues]

At least, massive improvement on the pit-stop side

 

[LolaB0860]

Peter must be proud of this legacy.

Edited by LolaB0860, 05 November 2024 - 18:55.

[Yoshi]

After open and constructive discussions with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, we mutually concluded that conditions to continue together could not be met so we agreed that it is time to part ways. We would like to thank both for the contribution they have made to the team in the last three years. They have been the embodiment of professionalism, using their experience and enthusiasm to support our growth.

 

Source: https://x.com/stakef...071359300620748

 

Its time to say good bye to both of them.

I assume Gabriel Bortoleto will join them next to Hulkenberg.

[liamski]

Its time to say good bye to both of them.

I assume Gabriel Bortoleto will join them next to Hulkenberg.

Is that effective immediately or the end of the season. Not very clear that Tweet

[Yoshi]

I assume its by end of the year

Edited by Yoshi, 06 November 2024 - 08:29.

[JRodrigues]

By the end of the year, yes.

 

Bortoleto confirmed.

 

 

 

 

Chairman of the Board of Sauber Motorsport AG Gernot Dollner said: “Led by Mattia, Audi's Formula 1 project is making great progress in many areas. The signing of the second driver is another milestone.

 

“We are currently witnessing a generational shift in Formula One, with young drivers immediately making an impact. By signing Gabriel Bortoleto, we have secured one of these top talents. His signing underscores Audi's long-term strategy and commitment to Formula 1.”

Edited by JRodrigues, 06 November 2024 - 08:55.

[LolaB0860]

Zhou was semi-okay, the comms team even dreamed of a point! Even though it was never really in the cards in normal circumstances with the inevitable DRS fly-bys from others.

 

Bottas was crap again both in quali and race, what was the excuse?

Edited by LolaB0860, 24 November 2024 - 17:32.

[Bleu]

Bottas had roughly the same pace with Magnussen and Colapinto before 18-lap middle stint on mediums (which was the longest of any driver in the race)

 

No chance for points but the result should have been much better.

[FLB]

Well, it only took until December for points 

 

But this was utterly deserved today

Edited by FLB, 01 December 2024 - 17:41.

[FullThrottleF1]

Will done Zhou

[Vesuvius]

Well done Zhou. Bottas likely got some damage on his car after been pushed out by Lawson, later on Bottas drove over mirror as well...could have scored points as well.

[JRodrigues]

Good race for both today. One of the few teams to bring updates and it paid off.

[PitViperRacing]

Congrats to Zhou and the team for their first points.

[Yoshi]

Well done - seems like the new floor was finally a good Upgrade.

[STRFerrari4Ever]

Zhou probably sealed his Ferrari reserve drive with his performance, didn’t put a foot wrong in the midfield melee whilst Bottas was skating off the track and a very well deserved points finish.

[FirstnameLastname]

Question:

The points scored today won’t gain the team any prize money…. But they’ll bump the cost of next years entry up

Won’t they?

[GrzegorzChyla]

Bottas took what would look like a dream location, just behind Norris and ahead of Hamilton... But...

[Yoshi]

Question:

The points scored today won’t gain the team any prize money…. But they’ll bump the cost of next years entry up

Won’t they?

Correct

[P123]

I'm sure they all get prize money now? 

[FirstnameLastname]

I'm sure they all get prize money now?

Yeah, but they won’t get ‘more’ for getting points on the board - they’ll just pay more entry costs

[LolaB0860]

In essence they were pointless points, however in terms of PR it's good and makes up for the costs. Season is not a complete embarrassment now.

[BRG]

Good job by that "safe pair of hands" Mr Bottas to break the 2024 points duck.

 

Hang on, what do you mean, it wasn't Valtteri?  

[LolaB0860]

At least he managed to beat Sargeant in the end (albeit in 9 more races...), but let's see if he's classified 22nd or 23rd after Doohan's debut.

 

Zhou passed Lawson in the WDC, but of course he too has quite few more entries...

Edited by LolaB0860, 02 December 2024 - 19:19.

[FirstnameLastname]

Good job by that "safe pair of hands" Mr Bottas to break the 2024 points duck.

Hang on, what do you mean, it wasn't Valtteri?

By hitting that mirror and the ensuing carnage… it sort of was Valtteri

[WonderWoman61]

A repeat of 10 years ago averted.

[Baddoer]

Binotto green shirt effect confirmed.

[JordanIreland]

Zhou probably sealed his Ferrari reserve drive with his performance, didn’t put a foot wrong in the midfield melee whilst Bottas was skating off the track and a very well deserved points finish.

It’s a very positive result and well done to Zhou and the entire time. The car had a genuine performance upgrade which is never easy to achieve.

[P123]

Good job by that "safe pair of hands" Mr Bottas to break the 2024 points duck.

 

Hang on, what do you mean, it wasn't Valtteri?  

 

In fairness, he was Lawson'd.  And such is the way with backmarker teams and fleeting opportunities for a decent result.  Quicker than his teammate 90% of the year.  The one time they can score points, it's the teammate.  Much like Marques 'beat' Alonso in the 2001 standings.

[BRG]

In fairness, he was Lawson'd. 

 

But I am told he is the vastly experienced safe pair of hands.  Surely he could manage to evade an erratic rookie?

[RedRabbit]

But I am told he is the vastly experienced safe pair of hands. Surely he could manage to evade an erratic rookie?

Strange take. Bottas is not infallible, but has finished ahead of Zhou for most of the season. He did also finish 11th ultimately, so it's not like he didn't go on to put in a decent effort after the incident.

[LolaB0860]

Zhou had already managed 11th at Bahrain too

[Hellow]

But I am told he is the vastly experienced safe pair of hands.  Surely he could manage to evade an erratic rookie?

Is that not what Bottas exactly did?  He saved his car by evading an spinning "erratic rookie" on situation where crash was incoming.

Here is the situation from race hightlights.You can see how Bottas reacted and avoided worst result.
https://youtu.be/NGSPg5ns2-0?t=128

[JRodrigues]

New era begins

 

 

 

 

 

So it's going to be #98 for Bortoleto.

[FirstnameLastname]

New era begins













So it's going to be #98 for Bortoleto.

98 was the best season… nice number

[Bleu]

Jack Doohan is still #61 so I don't think 98 is yet the regular number. Shwartzman used #97 when doing FP1s and mostly testing numbers are next to each other for every team.

 

Bortoleto's X handle is gabortoleto85 so I expect him to have 85 in the car next year.

[KWSN - DSM]

Disapointing how Bottas can be so ungratious.

 

Valtteri Bottas has claimed he was assured of his place as a "pillar" of the Sauber/Audi Formula 1 programme and labelled his period with the Hinwil-based outfit a "mistake".

 

https://www.autospor...n-end/10681666/

[JRodrigues]

I'm sure Sauber are also regreted of signing him.

[FLB]

 

Disapointing how Bottas can be so ungratious.

 

Valtteri Bottas has claimed he was assured of his place as a "pillar" of the Sauber/Audi Formula 1 programme and labelled his period with the Hinwil-based outfit a "mistake".

 

https://www.autospor...n-end/10681666/

 

Binotto didn't see things the same way as Seidel.... I guess?

[Viryfan]

Binotto didn't see things the same way as Seidel.... I guess?

I would say Vasseur when he hired him in 2021.

He did not forsee what would happen.

Vasseur is buddy with Anssi Rantasalo who was the head of Kemppi which was the main backer of Bottas.

Anssi who speaks very good french by the way

[P123]

 

Disapointing how Bottas can be so ungratious.

 

Valtteri Bottas has claimed he was assured of his place as a "pillar" of the Sauber/Audi Formula 1 programme and labelled his period with the Hinwil-based outfit a "mistake".

 

https://www.autospor...n-end/10681666/

 

 

Sounds like the team had a direction under Vasseur, then became a rudderless placeholder, with Bottas only hanging about after being given the impression of being part of the Audi programme.  He got his money, so I guess he can't complain too much, but largely they were wasting his time (and their own).  We know they recognised their own failures from the management changes they made. 

[KWSN - DSM]

Sounds like the team had a direction under Vasseur, then became a rudderless placeholder, with Bottas only hanging about after being given the impression of being part of the Audi programme.  He got his money, so I guess he can't complain too much, but largely they were wasting his time (and their own).  We know they recognised their own failures from the management changes they made. 

 

If you have nothing good to say, say nothing, p....ng on your team of last 3 seasons the day you walk out the door is unbecoming, and will now be a blot on Bottas, period, stop.

[ATM]

Yeah, somehow it does not fit the usual Bottas-who is generally quite polite (well, except "to who it may concern")...
I guess he's a pressure steamer, accumulating for a long time and then letting it out all of a sudden.
But I agree, there are more gracious ways of bowing out; for instance the way Sainz spoke about Ferrari also this weekend.