As a novice to the support, what goes into “punting” a season? They just looked incompetent and under funded. Does punting get them under the salary cap? A higher draft pick?I haven’t looked forward to an F1 season this much before. That Haas is an aggressive looking car, though it’s a rendering of the actual car and I don’t have any others to compare it to. The ‘Merican in me wants them to do well knowing they punted last year.
They decided that because the rules were changing (significantly) for this year they would not put any engineering effort into improving last year's car during the season, they just put that manpower into building the best car possible for this season, starting early last year.As a novice to the support, what goes into “punting” a season? They just looked incompetent and under funded. Does punting get them under the salary cap? A higher draft pick?
To build on cgori's answer: Haas never had the budget of the big hitter teams, who have spent epic amounts of cash each year. Gene Haas, the owner, was reportedly on the verge of pulling out after the team's once promising start stalled out a few seasons ago and he was looking at the prospect of spending a lot of money to not accomplish much going forward. Although the cost cap started last year, the regulations for the cars didn't change until the 2021 season ended; so cars that were good in 2020 needed less development to be good in 2021. Since Haas' 2019/20 car was a dog, for 2021 they were essentially doomed to either spend a lot of what they had available to field an at best middling car for 1 season...or punt and stick with the dog while focusing their financial resources on the all new 2022 spec.As a novice to the support, what goes into “punting” a season? They just looked incompetent and under funded. Does punting get them under the salary cap? A higher draft pick?
They decided that because the rules were changing (significantly) for this year they would not put any engineering effort into improving last year's car during the season, they just put that manpower into building the best car possible for this season, starting early last year.
By the rules ("sporting regs") there are some parts that they have to make themselves to be a team (cannot be outsourced), so they did all of that. A lot of the other components are/were sourced from Ferrari, potentially from years-prior cars/designs. From the video it looks like they are still receiving a fair bit of design from Ferrari.
Thanks guys. This is great info.To build on cgori's answer: Haas never had the budget of the big hitter teams, who have spent epic amounts of cash each year. Gene Haas, the owner, was reportedly on the verge of pulling out after the team's once promising start stalled out a few seasons ago and he was looking at the prospect of spending a lot of money to not accomplish much going forward. Although the cost cap started last year, the regulations for the cars didn't change until the 2021 season ended; so cars that were good in 2020 needed less development to be good in 2021. Since Haas' 2019/20 car was a dog, for 2021 they were essentially doomed to either spend a lot of what they had available to field an at best middling car for 1 season...or punt and stick with the dog while focusing their financial resources on the all new 2022 spec.
They've also benefitted from the impact of the cost cap on the mega teams, in particular Ferrari. They always worked with Ferrari, but their chassis engineering department was mostly from respected chassis builder Dallara. Now, they've brought more of that work "in house" by hiring Ferrari people who the prancing horse can't afford in the cost cap and establishing a design center on the Italian team's campus in Maranello. There's also incentive for Ferrari to help Haas out more than in the past, they want Mick driving their car in a couple years but will need him to perform well in his current ride to justify the move.
It's Aston's traditional racing color, like the Shelby-driven 1959 LeMans winner:So Red Bull and Aston Martin presented their new cars, but apparently only the Aston Martin is the real new car, Red Bull seems to have pulled back from revealing details.
I 've seen people rave about the new Aston Martin Livery and though I approve of the lime addition, it doesn't work for me, mostly because of the green hue they are using and partly because I would have prefered if the ads were also in lime. I would have liked it more if it it used the Oregon colors.
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I just got around to finishing off S3 of this just for completeness and to be "caught up" for S4. The handling of Grosjean's accident was really something. One almost forgets how crazy that situation was, and watching the episode brings it right back in frame.
No, Mazepin shouldn’t have had the seat in the first place. As soon as they cleared the sponsorship hurdle his nationality didn’t matter anymore. He was the worst driver F1 has seen in a long time.Something doesn't sit quite right w me on the Mazepin situation. If a driver is fired for something his home counrty decides to do, should he have had the ride in the first place?
The answer is no, but less-than-qualified drivers “buying their seat” with one of the back marker teams is not an uncommon phenomenon in F1. (Lance Stroll is a better driver than Mazepin, but this is how he got his seat.)Something doesn't sit quite right w me on the Mazepin situation. If a driver is fired for something his home counrty decides to do, should he have had the ride in the first place?
I’m not sure why you keep implying that Mazepin was let go because “Russia went to war.” He was let go because his sponsor could no longer pay.I guess it's the issue of paid drivers, but it seems even dirtier after the way he got fired. Like I would imagine something similar would happen w Zhou if China went to war, but If Britain did Lewis and Norris are safe.
Yep look back just at last year's thread. Nikita didn't belong and that's nothing to do with the nationality. Just was so bad.I think you’re ignoring how hilariously awful a driver he is. He isn’t getting screwed out of a seat he’s earned. He’s a dangerous driver with a shitty history that had no place in F1. Haas bit the bullet and brought him on in exchange for the sponsor money. Once there was no financial incentive to keep him there sure as hell wasn’t a sporting one.
Mazepin has no place in this sport. Best case is he ruins races. I feel like the likely case is he causes some spectacular crashes.
I don’t disagree, but didn’t he get screwed by the Mazepin spin?
Looking forward to having a safety car every race just to collect Mazepin’s wreck.
We call him Mazespin and he lived up to it.
Not sure how Max threw that away with going off the the track on the pass. Lewis got all he could off those run down tires. Great race.
Maze-ram.
We knew he’d be taking out other competitors, too.
Less than 1 lap. Poor Williams.
Oh there's no question he was the most wild driver on the grid, but he was also in a car widely described as nearly impossible to drive. I am ignoring his lack of talent a bit -- I don't think he's good, but that was evident from the beginning of F1, and in his lower level career. He didn't just now start sucking, but he did just now get terminated.I think you’re ignoring how hilariously awful a driver he is. He isn’t getting screwed out of a seat he’s earned. He’s a dangerous driver with a shitty history that had no place in F1. Haas bit the bullet and brought him on in exchange for the sponsor money. Once there was no financial incentive to keep him there sure as hell wasn’t a sporting one.
Was that not not war related? Honestly asking because I haven't wanted to pay attention to F1 that much. I'm still extremely sour about last season and I'm doing a small protest. I'm taking in some podcasts still, one host said "Haas felt it was problematic" and that "Steiner felt Mazepin couldn't grasp how untenable the situation was" never mentioned the money, so I don't know. I'm starting to think if I don't want to feel dirty, I should dislike all paid drivers from the start and all the way through, that way when they're tossed out its "finally" instead of "that's not very nice".I’m not sure why you keep implying that Mazepin was let go because “Russia went to war.” He was let go because his sponsor could no longer pay.
If he was supremely talented or if his sponsor was still paying he would still be an F1 driver.
The sponsors inability to pay was related to the sanctions imposed because of the war, yes.Was that not not war related?
I’ve always felt that the issue of drivers “buying” their ride is problematic, but it’s been in Formula 1 for as long as I’ve followed the sport. The main issue is can the driver develop?Honestly asking because I haven't wanted to pay attention to F1 that much. I'm still extremely sour about last season and I'm doing a small protest. I'm taking in some podcasts still, one host said "Haas felt it was problematic" and that "Steiner felt Mazepin couldn't grasp how untenable the situation was" never mentioned the money, so I don't know. I'm starting to think if I don't want to feel dirty, I should dislike all paid drivers from the start and all the way through, that way when they're tossed out its "finally" instead of "that's not very nice".
If I am not mistaken Uralkali was his dad's company. And yes, without his dad's money, he doesn't get the seat on merit. Other that, I agree on principle, that Russians shouldn't be targeted or losing their jobs because they are Russians.The sponsors inability to pay was related to the sanctions imposed because of the war, yes.
If the war still happens but the sponsor doesn’t lose the ability to pay, Mazepin is almost certainly still driving for Haas. (IMO, of course.)
I’ve always felt that the issue of drivers “buying” their ride is problematic, but it’s been in Formula 1 for as long as I’ve followed the sport. The main issue is can the driver develop?
Mazepin was talented enough to attract sponsorship and get an F1 ride, but he couldn’t develop beyond his equipment. That made it an easy call for Haas when he lost his sponsorship.
As an aside, I don’t blame you for feeling sour. I share the feeling.
As bad as Haas were, the gap between Schumacher and Mazepin was wider than any other teammate pairing on the grid. There's a graphical review here that's handy.If I am not mistaken Uralkali was his dad's company. And yes, without his dad's money, he doesn't get the seat on merit. Other that, I agree on principle, that Russians shouldn't be targeted or losing their jobs because they are Russians.
Having said that Mazepin got the reputation of being reckless and crashing all the time, but again if I am not mistaken Schumacher crashed more.
That analysis is BRUTAL. Out-qual'd every time (by 0.5-1.0 sec typically, but sometimes much more), finished ahead in only 3 races.As bad as Haas were, the gap between Schumacher and Mazepin was wider than any other teammate pairing on the grid. There's a graphical review here that's handy.
CopyThe sponsors inability to pay was related to the sanctions imposed because of the war, yes.
If the war still happens but the sponsor doesn’t lose the ability to pay, Mazepin is almost certainly still driving for Haas. (IMO, of course.)
I’ve always felt that the issue of drivers “buying” their ride is problematic, but it’s been in Formula 1 for as long as I’ve followed the sport. The main issue is can the driver develop?
Mazepin was talented enough to attract sponsorship and get an F1 ride, but he couldn’t develop beyond his equipment. That made it an easy call for Haas when he lost his sponsorship.
As an aside, I don’t blame you for feeling sour. I share the feeling.
I've sort of tricked myself into thinking this season will validate last years Max and Lewis battle. Like last year was the regular season and this is the playoffs. I seriously considered not watching after the Abu Dhabi disaster, but I've seen many pro Max personalities admit it wasn't great. It's probably as close as the two fan bases are to agreeing about anything that happened in 2021. I can suck it up and move on now. Everyone knows what happened.I don’t think even the most unabashed Verstappen fan feels right about last year. The season was spectacularly flawed. The FIA needs to rebuild trust with drivers, teams, and fans. They haven’t shown a great talent for understanding that and I remain skeptical that they’ll properly try. The limited reporting of the investigation was a real let down that suggests to me they were going through the motions to satisfy a checkbox requirement, not making an honest effort.
Great move IMO. Mazepin who?Haas brought back K-Mag. That wasn’t on my radar.
Yes, his father is part owner. He is worth $950 million, and is recognized as an "oligarch". So I assume the sanctions hit him hard. But if daddy can't pony up the money, Nikita is not getting a seat.If I am not mistaken Uralkali was his dad's company. And yes, without his dad's money, he doesn't get the seat on merit. Other that, I agree on principle, that Russians shouldn't be targeted or losing their jobs because they are Russians.
Having said that Mazepin got the reputation of being reckless and crashing all the time, but again if I am not mistaken Schumacher crashed more.
I'm only halfway through, but I agree so far. Last year was my first year following the (second half of) the season on a race-by-race level and it really does become so much more apparent how much the narratives are, if not contrived, at least characterized in a way that doesn't really reflect what happened on track. My favorite example of this through the first five episodes is Mazepin's performance at Sochi, which is portrayed as a moral victory where he finally made a smart move and switched to inters before everyone else. They show him crossing the finish line and his team congratulating him along the lines of "nice work, Maz, you beat Mick and Latifi." Of course, they neglect to mention that both of those drivers crashed out and Mazepin was still a full lap behind the next car! Not a big deal but gave me a chuckle.Drive to survive was released and I thought it was fairly disappointing. Brazil wasn't even mentioned. I think maybe I wanted it to be something it was never going to be. It was standard DTS. I wanted a documentary on the Merc-RB battle. Someone needs to do that. Until they changed the rules three times in the final laps, that was the best single season of sports I've ever witnessed
Yeah I think you have to look at it as a show, more than a documentary. There was one minute I noticed where Max won at the Red Bull Ring, they showed crowd celebrations from Zanvort, and Norris comments from somehwere else. I'm sure that bothered some diehards, but from a TV show standpoint, you want to show the Zanvort celebration wiithout covering the Zanvort race, so I get that. This is my first season watching DTS after following the season too. There's definitely a lot of "wut?" but there's also all the behind the scenes stuff I like, and it was the gateway drug that got me into the sport. I'm not going to stop watching it or anything. I believe I saw one race was covered twice, and brazil wasn't covered at all. That was a downer. I don't think you can tell the story of F1 2021 without Brazil. Did you see the Daddy Mazepin stuff yet?I'm only halfway through, but I agree so far. Last year was my first year following the (second half of) the season on a race-by-race level and it really does become so much more apparent how much the narratives are, if not contrived, at least characterized in a way that doesn't really reflect what happened on track. My favorite example of this through the first five episodes is Mazepin's performance at Sochi, which is portrayed as a moral victory where he finally made a smart move and switched to inters before everyone else. They show him crossing the finish line and his team congratulating him along the lines of "nice work, Maz, you beat Mick and Latifi." Of course, they neglect to mention that both of those drivers crashed out and Mazepin was still a full lap behind the next car! Not a big deal but gave me a chuckle.
The Daddy Mazepin stuff was good, and the Yuki episode, which I just watched, was good too - I knew him as a kind of underwhelming rookie driver that I frankly never paid much attention to, but the show really endeared me to his potty mouth and just generally unfiltered personality.Yeah I think you have to look at it as a show, more than a documentary. There was one minute I noticed where Max won at the Red Bull Ring, they showed crowd celebrations from Zanvort, and Norris comments from somehwere else. I'm sure that bothered some diehards, but from a TV show standpoint, you want to show the Zanvort celebration wiithout covering the Zanvort race, so I get that. This is my first season watching DTS after following the season too. There's definitely a lot of "wut?" but there's also all the behind the scenes stuff I like, and it was the gateway drug that got me into the sport. I'm not going to stop watching it or anything. I believe I saw one race was covered twice, and brazil wasn't covered at all. That was a downer. I don't think you can tell the story of F1 2021 without Brazil. Did you see the Daddy Mazepin stuff yet?