Formula One 2017: Marina Bay

There are people who think I favor Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes and it’s just not true, rather there are certain Teams and Drivers that I hate. Far and away my most despised is Scuderia Marlboro, a Team that shamelessly cheats all the time and is allowed to get away with it by the rule makers and referees simply because of their seniority. It really doesn’t matter who drives, I hate all of them. I dislike Red Bull for similar motives though the reason they’re licensed bullies is because of the obscene amounts of cash they throw around. Their recent lack of success masks their hyper-arrogance.

Mercedes on the other hand is mere faceless corporate domination- “We’re Mercedes. We’re one of the biggest car makers in the world. Doesn’t matter what the rules are or who drives for us, we’re here to win.” Resistance is futile. The recent history of Formula One can be summarized as- Maranello runs away and hides, look at all the toys my liquid cocaine can buy, and welcome to the big league babies.

Likewise there are Drivers I respect and Drivers I don’t. Hamilton isn’t quite as much of an asshole as most of them, can make the iron appear slightly faster than it really is, and pass, which are talents. By contrast Schumacher’s only talent was running away and hiding in vastly superior vehicles. Same for Vettel except that he’s the “King of the Assholes” and never, ever wastes an opportunity to remind you. Fernando Alonso is someone I don’t mind admitting I did not sufficiently appreciate because he drove for the Scuderia, but it was during the declining years and his talents at making a brick seem racy point out how badly the McLaren/Honda partnership has failed (more on that later).

All of this is preface to the fact that we may have a real contest in the final 7 races this year.

Hamilton leads Vettel by 3 points in the Drivers’ Championship (the Manufacturers’ Championship belongs to Mercedes by a mile). Mercedes has fielded a low drag, long wheelbase car with plenty of power. Maranello has countered with high downforce which gives it an advantage the more twisty and slow the track. Given the characteristics of each chassis you might expect Mercedes to win 4 to 3, baring mechanical failure and accidents.

Today is not one of those 4.

Marina Bay is the slowest track next to Monaco. It also is a street track with no passing opportunities and Hamilton and Bottas have Qualified 5th and 6th while Vettel has taken the Pole. Red Bull is 2nd and 3rd. Ricciardo is another mildly talented Driver who’s not such an asshole, Verstappen is young and stupid. Hamilton will of course be looking to mitigate the damage and keep it close. On offer will be Softs, Super Softs, and Ultra Softs.

In other news McLaren has dumped Honda as an engine supplier in a bid to keep Alonso on the Team (there’s a limit to how racy he can make bricks and he has other offers). They’ll be moving to Renaults which includes taking Carlos Sainz away from the works Team and kicking Jolyon Palmer to the curb.

Honda, whom Formula One is keenly interested in keeping in the manufacturers mix, will be supplying Toro Rosso next year and may lead to their future partnership with big daddy Red Bull in 2019 because their relationship with Renault is still sour.