Quote from: murph_fan51 on August 07, 2022, 08:34:11 AM

The WAU cars are really good as you say that NP is 15th and Chaz 5th  Hardly better. Chaz and Adam the main reason here.

As for the opening post of this topic, Stanaway and Boost happening? What’s the bet Adderton will do a back flip and we’ll see them on a Supercar next year 

Mr Boost could even have a share in the category itself given the current ownership muddle.

Good point!

Now that the Payne shares have been sold, there remains about a 15% shareholding by the Rogers, who are also shareholders in ARG.

They were very unhappy that a very well prices takeover was rejected by RACE. That may be an underestimation of their wrath/disapointment based on news reports.

They might feel justified in selling all their shareholding in both organisations to Adderton if he makes a suitable offer. Would he really want to???


There would be nothing to stop them continuing to run a TCR team and a TransAm team simply as entrants.

They would at least get a superior return on their investment by selling to a higher bidder and it only takes 10% plus 1 shares to stymie compulsory share sales in a takeover.

GRM still has a substantial investment in S5000, which rarely uses the cars available. They have had offers to buy the cars, intellectual property and all from USA.

Gary has been a stalwart of Motorsport for many decades. Although we share an annual birthday, his was a few years earlier. I feel old.

Barry was and is a businessman, who may share his father's Motorsport dreams, but surely not at any cost.

Scott Mclaughlin has secured his second pole. Another wonder from downunder.

Simona deSilvestro was 21st but did beat some highly qualified drivers. Not bad for a minor programme after a long layoff. And she did it with "no time" 

https://www.speedcafe.com/2022/08/07/mclaughlin-on-nashville-indycar-pole-power-penalised/

There is a significant safety concern that has re-emerged.

Cars with fogged windscreens were a safety hazard.

When they had heated windscreens, fogging could be minimised.

Then the did away with glass and fogging returned with drivers reporting that they are racing blind and at speed, resulting in accidental crashes.

This brings up two issues:

Purely on safety grounds, should drivers badly fogged up be black flagged or sent to the pits to have screens cleared.

From a Gen 3 perspective. Will they incorporate a proper ventilation and anti fogging system in the new cars?

They could even channel hot air to the screen instead of the drivers feet. There is plenty of heat in a Supercar, not just in management.

Here is one example:  https://www.v8sleuth.com.au/never-again-hazelwood-on-teammate-tangle/

2023, Daniel for a much improved Alpine Team. probably with his salary paid by McLaren.

That is a likely outcome and definitely the best option for Daniel if he wants to stay in F1.

Other options include, McLaren paying his salary (15 to 21M depending on media source) and McLaren farm him out to one of the vacant seats:

Williams. The new owners may surprise with their new car and they do have Mercedes power, which was the benchmark. They would love a Free driver that is a proven winner and have a vacancy.

Haas. Their 2023 car is being developed, in a separate office at the Ferrari complex , using Ferrari staff on secondment, Surely they have to do better and need an experienced driver. Daniel could get McLaren $$$$ plus a bonus from Haas. They would love a Free driver that is a proven winner. Their current drivers are not really up to the game, surname regardless. Of course, that is if they remain Haas, nd not Andeetti/Hass.

There is still the option of Indycar (which I would choose) or sports car racing. all under the McLaren management.

Whatever happens, McLaren is not a happy place for Daniel. Please take the $$$$ on offer and get another drive. Let's face it McLaren is not  a winning team and if you must go to a non-winning team, choose to change, but take the $$$$ with you. 

There are a lot on options in the McLaren camp and none of them are good for Daniel, or probably for a swag of other McLaren signed drivers.

Quote from: stevo qld on August 03, 2022, 03:38:39 PM

Quote from: Alan59 on August 03, 2022, 03:24:09 PM

Alpine’s option with Piastri expired on 31 July.
They were busy trying to convince Alonso to stay on for 2023,farming Oscar out to Williams and then moving Oscar in for 2024.
Oscar had offers from McLaren,Alpine,Williams and Alpha Tauri followed by Red Bull( so half the grid).He decided McLaren was the best option.
Alpine stuffed around and finished losing both Alonso and Piastri.Heads will roll I think.

Are those assumptions, or do you have direct contact with Oscar. I haven't seen an actual announcement for McLaren, who still have two drivers on contract for 2023.

Alan replied "Read Joe Seward’s blog."

Not being aware of Joe Sawards blog, I was out of that loop, but it doesn't seem to have any confirmation,

Reading a stack of news reports about contracts with McLaren show that they are signing drivers, without allocating a series to race in. They have teams in Indycar, Formula E, sports car racing etc.

Daniel has often suggested, or it has been suggested of him, that he wants to be in cars capable of winning, but he still loves F1.

Any realistic chance of a winning drive in F1 is now out of reach, including McLaren.

Might Daniel switch to Indycar? After all, we have seen that a convert from an Australian Touring car series can win races. Surely a multi F1 race winning driver would have a chance of winning.

The ALP Treasurer Jim Chalmers has criticised the banks for passing on rate increase to Mortgages but not passing on rate increase to deposits. 

The media places great emphasis on the cost to mortgage holder, who are a clear minority of Australians.

I also notice on tonight's news that the suburbs that are most affected in Brisbane are all that most people here consider the (alleged) prestige suburbs. Maybe they have just taken out loans to the full extent possible and didn't allow for interest rate increases. Mortgage interest rates are still remarkably low.

On the other hand, a clear majority of Australians have money on deposit in Australian Banks, including those who are saving to buy homes.

Good one Jim.

Sorry, I said that Alonso had only 1 year left on his contact. Actually Alpine were restricting their offer to a single year.

There are also rumors that Webber, Piastri's manager is pushing for a McLaren seat.

Alpine may be taking Daniel back as they don't want to break in a new driver in his first year. They need two point scoring drivers.