We are fifth-sixths of the way through 2019 and a few more trophies have been handed out. A few more will be distributed in the coming weeks. Here, north of the Equator, sunlight is diminishing and temperatures are dropping. Soon, hibernation will not seem so bad.
Once again, this is just for fun. In case you are new, this is my gut reaction to headlines without reading the article. Of course, the gripes I have may be answered in the article.
For the second consecutive month we start with Formula One because Formula One loves making waves...
Teams at odds over post-2024 F1 engine formula
We haven't even gotten the 2021 regulations settled and we are already at odds over 2024?
Can these teams agree to one thing at a time before moving toward the future? If you already know there are conflicts over the 2021 regulations, why is anyone looking ahead to 2024?
This feels like someone seeing the struggle currently taking place and then realize it has to be done all over again for something that will be coming three years later and they are already dreading it.
Can anything come easy in Formula One? I understand technical regulations and engine formulas are not as simple as picking out a new pair or shows or weighing whether or not to get 2% milk or whole milk but there has to be a common interest all the teams can be used as a base and then compromise can start occurring in these negotiations.
And now the technical regulations could be pushed to 2022. What is another year of negotiating going to accomplish? The clock is ticking.
Haas vital to F1 from U.S. standpoint - Brawn
No Haas isn't.
Has anyone tuned into to Formula One because of Haas? Are there any Haas fans watching these races and, if so, why are you a masochist?
I understand Haas is the "American team" but there is no reason why any American should be proud of this team or let Haas be the main reason you watch Formula One.
No one is celebrating Haas in this country. We really do not care. People show up for Ferrari and Mercedes and even Red Bull to an extent. Why? Because Ferrari and Mercedes are symbols of luxury in this country and Red Bull is a symbol of a hyperconnected, tech culture that has risen and with that an increased consumption of energy drinks.
What does Haas symbolize in this country? Avocados!
Haas isn't even the Haas the American people know. This is just some guy, who has made hundreds of millions of dollars in something dull, didn't pay taxes that one time and plastered his name on a Formula One team and he isn't even sure he wants to be in Formula One spending the money!
And Haas was already reportedly interesting selling the team to some Saudi Arabians!
If Haas is vital to Formula One in the United States than Ross Brawn better come up with Plan B quickly.
Suzuka shows two-day F1 weekend could work - Grosjean
In that case Romain, don't the races where Lewis Hamilton went from the pit lane to third in Hungary and went from 21st to third at Spa-Francorchamps and Fernando Alonso went 22nd to seventh in that same race as Hamilton and that time Sebastian Vettel went from 20th to fourth in Malaysia show that reverse-grid qualifying races could work?
A longer discussion about reverse-grid qualifying races will be coming next week but if we are going to use one abbreviated weekend, forced because of the weather, as a reason for two-day weekends then we can do same when it comes to justifying reverse-grid qualifying races.
How Ferrari threw away another golden victory chance
Sebastian Vettel jumped the start but somehow did not trigger the sensor but that start-stop-start beginning of the Japanese Grand Prix allowed Valtteri Bottas to blow by into turn one and in turn two Charles Leclerc made contact with Max Verstappen, causing front wing damage, forcing a pit stop and then led to a five-second penalty and a 10-second penalty applied to Leclerc after the race.
Once again, Ferrari beat itself. It can be applied to Russia and Mexico as well. Ferrari has a lot of things it needs to figure out before 2020. It has been 12 seasons since Ferrari won a World Drivers' Championship. Maybe 13th time will be the charm.
Yamamoto admits F1 run detracted from SF/SGT efforts
How?
You ran one Friday practice.
How could that detract from a Super Formula and Super GT schedule where you had the weekend before your Friday practice run off and your next race was two weeks later?
I understand a lot goes into driving a Formula One car and driving it well. You have to do simulator work, which likely meant flying to the Toro Rosso factory in Italy and you had to read the instructor's manual and sit in on long teleconferences to be a part of the team but it was only one weekend.
How does this one run detract from the seven Super GT races and the six Super Formula races that preceded it?
I think Naoki Yamamoto is a tremendously talented driver but I think what this one weekend meant to his 2019 season at large is slightly exaggerated.
Vergne: "Logical" for eco-minded Hamilton to join Formula E
But what about the capitalistic Lewis Hamilton? Is it logical for the capitalistic-minded Hamilton?
Hamilton has "no interest whatsoever" in Formula E
Nope!
Now, if Mercedes said it would pay Hamilton $70 million a year to race Formula E, probably his tune changes. As for now, Hamilton knows where he will make the most money as he tries to save the world via a vegan diet.
But if you offer him $30 million a year in a hamburger sponsorship, perhaps you can change his dietary habits as well.
No immediate plans for IndyCar on Charlotte Roval
One, IndyCar should never run the Charlotte infield road course.
If NASCAR and NBC really wants a combined weekend with IndyCar than IndyCar should use it to go to a track it wants, otherwise known as Watkins Glen. Settling for the Charlotte roval would be brutal.
Two, in 2020 the Charlotte weekend is moving from the last Sunday in September to the second Sunday in October. Charlotte was already a week after the scheduled IndyCar season finale. Next year there will be three weeks between the IndyCar finale at Laguna Seca and the autumn weekend for NASCAR in Charlotte.
Three, why would IndyCar make its season finale take place during a combined weekend for NASCAR? I think if you are IndyCar and crowning you champion you want it to be the highlight of the weekend. Let's not forget that this would drag the IndyCar season on for another month. IndyCar doesn't want to end any later than it already ends.
Unless Charlotte moves to late-July or the middle of August Charlotte is not going to be the place for a combined weekend and I do not see IndyCar going to Charlotte on its own.
INSIGHT: How LaJoie found his voice in podcasting
By opening his mouth. It is not that hard finding your voice. You don't even need a podcast to do it. All you need is other people around you and participating in a conversation.
Speaking of podcasts, when is that bubble going to pop? Is there a market for all these podcasts? Are people really tuning in to hear what Corey LaJoie has to say? Ryan Blaney has a podcast. James Hinchcliffe and Alexander Rossi have a podcast. I think Ricky and Jordan Taylor did a podcast. I think Josef Newgarden and Tony Kanaan did a podcast. Do all these drivers need podcasts?
This isn't just a motorsports-related item. There are podcasts for everything. How they all survive is questionable and it paints a picture of the 21st century society: Everyone has something to say but how many people are actually listening?
Miami Will be the Home of the First Dedicated Racing eSports Arena
Do we need this?
What is the point of this?
Is there a clamoring for this?
How is this going to be self-sufficient?
It might not even get built but of all the things going on in the world, of the things people need in the world, I am not sure a dedicated racing eSports arena is one of them.
That is kind of a low note to end on but we move on into November and there is not much left. Seasons end and seasons will begin. Life rolls on.
Covering All Motorsports. From Indianapolis to Le Mans, Daytona to Monaco.
