2014 Silly Season Thread

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 21 Jan 2014, 21:25

I heard the rumours about Kobayashi returning to F1 with Caterham and I thought that was bathplug all chance of it actually happening. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong.

AHHHHH YEAAAAAAAAAA

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 22 Jan 2014, 00:03

Benetton wrote:Really nice that out of 22 drivers four are from the Nordic countries!

Scandinavia Mania? Or would we need a Norwegian driver and an Icelandic driver for that to work?

Almost makes me wonder if Scandinavia and the World will have a piece on this, but I doubt that.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 22 Jan 2014, 00:31

Cynon wrote:
Benetton wrote:Really nice that out of 22 drivers four are from the Nordic countries!

Scandinavia Mania? Or would we need a Norwegian driver and an Icelandic driver for that to work?

Almost makes me wonder if Scandinavia and the World will have a piece on this, but I doubt that.

Iceland isn't in Scandinavia....

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 22 Jan 2014, 00:37

UgncreativeUsergname wrote:
Cynon wrote:
Benetton wrote:Really nice that out of 22 drivers four are from the Nordic countries!

Scandinavia Mania? Or would we need a Norwegian driver and an Icelandic driver for that to work?

Almost makes me wonder if Scandinavia and the World will have a piece on this, but I doubt that.

Iceland isn't in Scandinavia....

DLTFGITWOAGS, UgncreativeUsergname.

Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Nessafox · Post by **Nessafox** » 22 Jan 2014, 01:13

UgncreativeUsergname wrote:
Cynon wrote:
Benetton wrote:Really nice that out of 22 drivers four are from the Nordic countries!

Scandinavia Mania? Or would we need a Norwegian driver and an Icelandic driver for that to work?

Almost makes me wonder if Scandinavia and the World will have a piece on this, but I doubt that.

Iceland isn't in Scandinavia....

Actually, if i remember correctly,, Finland isn't really Scandinavia either, Finland is one of the 'Baltic countries'. Scandinavia rather refers to the 'Viking' countries (Denmark, Norway and Sweden). Iceland is a former Scandinavian colony, but Greenland and Faroer are still parts of the kingdom of Denmark. And what would be cooler than a driver from Greenland?
Then of course, the vikings have conquered nearly everything on the Atlantic coast in Europe, and along the Dnjepr-river and the Black Sea, up towards Canada.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 22 Jan 2014, 01:59

This wrote:
UgncreativeUsergname wrote:
Cynon wrote:
Scandinavia Mania? Or would we need a Norwegian driver and an Icelandic driver for that to work?

Almost makes me wonder if Scandinavia and the World will have a piece on this, but I doubt that.

Iceland isn't in Scandinavia....

Actually, if i remember correctly,, Finland isn't really Scandinavia either, Finland is one of the 'Baltic countries'. Scandinavia rather refers to the 'Viking' countries (Denmark, Norway and Sweden). Iceland is a former Scandinavian colony, but Greenland and Faroer are still parts of the kingdom of Denmark. And what would be cooler than a driver from Greenland?
Then of course, the vikings have conquered nearly everything on the Atlantic coast in Europe, and along the Dnjepr-river and the Black Sea, up towards Canada.

All this talk makes me think of a dialogue in the movie The Mighty Ducks:

[Bombay is eating ice cream with the Iceland trainer]
Coach Bombay: I thought Iceland was covered with ice.
Maria: No, it's very green!
Coach Bombay: I thought GREENLAND was green!
Maria: Greenland is covered with ice, and Iceland is very nice!

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 22 Jan 2014, 02:11

Finland isn't a Baltic country, that's just Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania.

Rocks with Salt · Post by **Rocks with Salt** » 22 Jan 2014, 04:28

This wrote:
UgncreativeUsergname wrote:
Cynon wrote:Scandinavia Mania? Or would we need a Norwegian driver and an Icelandic driver for that to work?

Almost makes me wonder if Scandinavia and the World will have a piece on this, but I doubt that.

Iceland isn't in Scandinavia....

Actually, if i remember correctly,, Finland isn't really Scandinavia either, Finland is one of the 'Baltic countries'. Scandinavia rather refers to the 'Viking' countries (Denmark, Norway and Sweden). Iceland is a former Scandinavian colony, but Greenland and Faroer are still parts of the kingdom of Denmark. And what would be cooler than a driver from Greenland?
Then of course, the vikings have conquered nearly everything on the Atlantic coast in Europe, and along the Dnjepr-river and the Black Sea, up towards Canada.

Speaking of SATW, here's the webcomic that explains how it works in the north.

Basetornado · Post by **Basetornado** » 22 Jan 2014, 04:29

AdrianSutil wrote:
UgncreativeUsergname wrote:Glad to see Caterham pick two drivers deserving of F1 seats, even if it was still financially motivated. Sure, Ericsson came 6th in GP2, but it was quite close and I heard he had way worse luck than most.

6th in GP2.

6th.

If you think coming 6th is deserving of a seat, then why dont Leimer, Bird, Calado, Nasr or Colleto have seats.
Its all to do with Money.
I mean I can even see Johnny Ceccoto Jnr getting an F1 seat.......

Rusujuur · Post by **Rusujuur** » 22 Jan 2014, 10:22

About the whole scandinavian/nordic/baltic thing - Iceland is definitely Nordic, but can also be considered Scandinavian, although it is geographically far away it has the same culture as Sweden and Norway and used to be a part of Norway for a long time. Finland is usually considered Scandinavian, having been part of Sweden for a long time (They have Swedish as their second language although they actually have about 10% of swedes actually living there). Although the Estonians are almost the same as Finns they are not part of the Nordic group because they have their cultural and historical links with Germany an Russia and are considered Baltic although Latvia and Lithuania are of a completely different linguistic/ethnical group but as the history is similar so are the cultures.

About the Viking thing, that hardly matters any more... The original Vikings came from DEN/SWE/NOR but spread their culture far and wide - From greenland to Kiev (Currently Ukraine) but little remains of that...

eytl · Post by **eytl** » 22 Jan 2014, 11:13

Dare I suggest it's time for a 2014 launch thread?

I might start one and move the posts about the Force India into there.

Basetornado · Post by **Basetornado** » 22 Jan 2014, 11:33

eytl wrote:Dare I suggest it's time for a 2014 launch thread?

I might start one and move the posts about the Force India into there.

If anyone was to suggest it, Id say you were able too.

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 22 Jan 2014, 12:07

Roll on 2015 silly season, say I.

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 22 Jan 2014, 13:11

Rusujuur wrote:

Estonia wrote:Can Eesti into...

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Åland, Bornholm, the Faroes, Svalbard and - for good measure - Orkney and Shetland as well wrote:MAKE OF THE PLUGBATHINGS OFF, ESTONIA!

Robert Kubica can into WRC, but cannot into space. At least, not unless there's a fearsome jump somewhere in the next rally and his accelerator gets stuck. I won't mention the next word, except to say that it can also be followed by Grande, Parabolica, di Lesmo...

As for a proper Nordic challenge... has there ever been a Faroese racing driver, of any description? I'd have thought powerboat racing would be more practical there.

Post by **Ataxia** » 22 Jan 2014, 13:31

dinizintheoven wrote:As for a proper Nordic challenge... has there ever been a Faroese racing driver, of any description? I'd have thought powerboat racing would be more practical there.

I wouldn't have thought so, but if someone has managed to make it...then Faroe 'nuff.

Basetornado · Post by **Basetornado** » 22 Jan 2014, 13:39

Ataxia wrote:
dinizintheoven wrote:As for a proper Nordic challenge... has there ever been a Faroese racing driver, of any description? I'd have thought powerboat racing would be more practical there.

I wouldn't have thought so, but if someone has managed to make it...then Faroe 'nuff.

Haha id say there would be drivers from the Faroes. I mean what else is there to do there? Just proberly havnt gone into any sort of meaningful competitions.

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 22 Jan 2014, 13:41

Absolutely not related to the thread or the post, but I saw this...

Ataxia wrote:F1Rejects' resident whinger, tea enthusiast and John Frusciante fan.

My record is 23 mugs in one day. In the words of Tony Fernando: TEA POWER!

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 22 Jan 2014, 21:14

dinizintheoven wrote:Absolutely not related to the thread or the post, but I saw this...

Ataxia wrote:F1Rejects' resident whinger, tea enthusiast and John Frusciante fan.

My record is 23 mugs in one day. In the words of Tony Fernando: TEA POWER!

Besides I thought I was the one with a reputation for whinging around here. I want my crown back

go_Rubens · Post by **go_Rubens** » 22 Jan 2014, 21:26

dinizintheoven wrote:Absolutely not related to the thread or the post, but I saw this...

Ataxia wrote:F1Rejects' resident whinger, tea enthusiast and John Frusciante fan.

My record is 23 mugs in one day. In the words of Tony Fernando: TEA POWER!

I myself have a reputation of drinking a lot of tea in a day. Also, the same can be said of me drinking hot chocolate in the summer

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 22 Jan 2014, 22:25

dinizintheoven wrote:Absolutely not related to the thread or the post, but I saw this...

Ataxia wrote:F1Rejects' resident whinger, tea enthusiast and John Frusciante fan.

My record is 23 mugs in one day. In the words of Tony Fernando: TEA POWER!

I accept your challange and I will see how many mugs I can drink in a day at th weekend.
Did you want me to put an avatar on the line for the challange as well.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 22 Jan 2014, 22:33

go_Rubens wrote: Also, the same can be said of me drinking hot chocolate in the summer

Do you also wear your clothes inside-out?

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 22 Jan 2014, 22:34

roblomas52 wrote:
dinizintheoven wrote:Absolutely not related to the thread or the post, but I saw this...

Ataxia wrote:F1Rejects' resident whinger, tea enthusiast and John Frusciante fan.

My record is 23 mugs in one day. In the words of Tony Fernando: TEA POWER!

I accept your challange and I will see how many mugs I can drink in a day at th weekend.
Did you want me to put an avatar on the line for the challange as well.

There better be video of it so we can verify this :lol:

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 22 Jan 2014, 22:42

Wizzie wrote:
roblomas52 wrote:
dinizintheoven wrote:Absolutely not related to the thread or the post, but I saw this...

My record is 23 mugs in one day. In the words of Tony Fernando: TEA POWER!

I accept your challange and I will see how many mugs I can drink in a day at th weekend.
Did you want me to put an avatar on the line for the challange as well.

There better be video of it so we can verify this

There will be photos to prove it. With a screengrab of the time as well.
Edit:
Just worked out that I will have to average a mug every 25 mins to compensate for my 55 minute paper round

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 22 Jan 2014, 22:54

roblomas52 wrote: Edit:
Just worked out that I will have to average a mug every 25 mins to compensate for my 55 minute paper round

Thermos

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 23 Jan 2014, 04:22

So, the Caterham announcements bring the 2014 silly season to a close. While the 2013 silly season went all the way up to March, this one has ended in the third week of January. Fascinating stuff.

The thread began back in mid-2012, when Ross Prawn (no, you heard right) began saying about Vettel's impending move to Ferrari. Although that didn't happen, the 2014 silly season was by no means dull. In fact, there was a period from June to September this year that saw everybody being linked with everybody.

In the end, Kimi decided he wanted to be paid, Lotus decided they wanted to give a cash-laden driver a chance to mature and show his speed (they say they've done that with Romain, although he isn't cash-laden

). Webber decided he'd had enough, Red Bull decided to go in-house, and promote a driver with an acute upward trajectory, forgetting there had been another guy like that in 2012-end, and is now in DTM (though I'm happy Kvyat is in F1

). Caterham decided they would go hell for leather, bringing back Banzai and a GP2 graduate. Marussia went the opposite way, keeping status quo. Sauber decided to get boring after being interesting for a decade, Force India got the best deal with two talents and quite a bit of money. And McLaren decided they needed another Hamilton (whether it works out like that is to be seen).

Interestingly, our good friend backmarker predicted back in 2012 that Toro Rosso would take Kvyat. Given that Kvyat was in FR2.0 then, it was a bold prediction at the time. Is Kvyat hand in glove with Alex Wurz? :lol:

There were a few arguments in the thread, notably involving someone whom I will not name, but in the end it was a nice fun thread which we all contributed to.

Here's to the silliest silly season of them all!

P.S. Oh, and we beat F1Fanatic's corresponding silly season thread in the number of pages, 58 to 57! Hooray!

Zetec · Post by **Zetec** » 23 Jan 2014, 08:22

wsrgo wrote:(they say they've done that with Romain, although he isn't cash-laden ).

Well, do you think TOTAL is paying millions of cash to Lotus just for fun? TOTAL is actually a personal sponsor of Grosjean. So no Grosjean in the cockpit means no Total sponsorship to Lotus...

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 23 Jan 2014, 08:35

Zetec wrote:
wsrgo wrote:(they say they've done that with Romain, although he isn't cash-laden ).

Well, do you think TOTAL is paying millions of cash to Lotus just for fun? TOTAL is actually a personal sponsor of Grosjean. So no Grosjean in the cockpit means no Total sponsorship to Lotus...

Wherever do you get that?

Backmarker · Post by **Backmarker** » 23 Jan 2014, 09:14

wsrgo wrote:Interestingly, our good friend backmarker predicted back in 2012 that Toro Rosso would take Kvyat. Given that Kvyat was in FR2.0 then, it was a bold prediction at the time. Is Kvyat hand in glove with Alex Wurz?

I also predicted Ricciardo to Red Bull, and got pretty much everything else wrong!

watka · Post by **watka** » 23 Jan 2014, 13:48

Double points for Abu Dhabi, F1 fans collectively grown: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/25859321

I thought that the teams were pretty much united against this? Seems that they all had severe brain-fade or had other places to be and couldn't be bothered to talk about it.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 23 Jan 2014, 14:18

watka wrote:Double points for Abu Dhabi, F1 fans collectively grown: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/25859321

I thought that the teams were pretty much united against this? Seems that they all had severe brain-fade or had other places to be and couldn't be bothered to talk about it.

Still better than whatever hair-brained crap NASCAR splooged out for its championship format. This is nothing.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 23 Jan 2014, 15:13

Stoffel Vandoorne named McLaren reserve driver.

wsrgo · Post by **wsrgo** » 23 Jan 2014, 16:00

I'm not sure why we are discussing Abu Double in the silly season thread. Yes, it's silly, but it doesn't really concern the driver market. We generally correlate the silly season with the driver market.

SgtPepper · Post by **SgtPepper** » 23 Jan 2014, 16:30

wsrgo wrote:P.S. Oh, and we beat F1Fanatic's corresponding silly season thread in the number of pages, 58 to 57! Hooray!

Don't forget that it being F1F, that'll be 57 pages of heavily moderated idiocy, compared to actual humour and intelligence.

wsrgo wrote:So, the Caterham announcements bring the 2014 silly season to a close. While the 2013 silly season went all the way up to March, this one has ended in the third week of January. Fascinating stuff.

But in all seriousness, maybe silly season finished sooner this year because the 2013 was such a write off, both in terms of the championship, and being the actual end of the current regulations? Virtually every 2013 F1 report seems to end referring to the 'giant shake up next year' etc etc, and most of last year was spent looking forward, and I suppose the teams have had a stronger incentive to really get their act's together and hit the ground running.

Post by **mario** » 23 Jan 2014, 18:12

SgtPepper wrote:
wsrgo wrote:So, the Caterham announcements bring the 2014 silly season to a close. While the 2013 silly season went all the way up to March, this one has ended in the third week of January. Fascinating stuff.

But in all seriousness, maybe silly season finished sooner this year because the 2013 was such a write off, both in terms of the championship, and being the actual end of the current regulations? Virtually every 2013 F1 report seems to end referring to the 'giant shake up next year' etc etc, and most of last year was spent looking forward, and I suppose the teams have had a stronger incentive to really get their act's together and hit the ground running.

It's true that most teams would probably want to finalise their preparations for 2014 earlier than normal due to the larger change in the regulations. One aspect that has been brought up is the issue of the minimum weight of the car, with driver weight more of an issue due to the rising weight of the drivetrains - getting your driver line up finalised early on gives you a better idea of how much, or how little, ballast you will have to play with and where you might be able to start making small gains in terms of chassis design.

watka · Post by **watka** » 24 Jan 2014, 00:10

wsrgo wrote:I'm not sure why we are discussing Abu Double in the silly season thread. Yes, it's silly, but it doesn't really concern the driver market. We generally correlate the silly season with the driver market.

This time I did use the search bar and this is the thread with the most previous mentions to the double points rule so go figure. :ugeek:

Ha, ha, go FIGURE. And we're talking about NUMBERS. Funny, eh? *grabs coat*

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 24 Jan 2014, 07:35

good_Ralf wrote:Stoffel Vandoorne named McLaren reserve driver.

Completely understandable, and this makes Button's 2015 McLaren seat a little shaky already, unless McLaren can strike a deal with Force India.

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 24 Jan 2014, 10:03

Final nail in the 2014 Silly Season: Eric Boullier joins McLaren as a new team principal.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112254

Thread-ending event as I ever saw one. :lol:

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 24 Jan 2014, 10:05

What the hell is going on?
But wait, there's more! Juncadella is Force India's reserve driver. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112253

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 24 Jan 2014, 10:14

Ferrim wrote:Final nail in the 2014 Silly Season: Eric Boullier joins McLaren as a new team principal.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112254

Thread-ending event as I ever saw one.

That seems to me like another nail in Lotus coffin, unfortunately.

As from the McLaren perspective, I can see why they went for him. Boullier has been doing a great job in a shorter than rival teams budget. So they most likely went with picturing what he could do having access to proper resources.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 24 Jan 2014, 10:29

Lopez as Team Principal? Although its sad for a team once on the verge of greatness I expect a wholly Rejectful year with that inexperienced loon in charge :lol: