Looks like Gerard Lopez might finally be cottoning on to the idea he's been duped. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111351
He doesn't look like he's fat and poor! I find it hard to believe no one would want him but this has already happened to him so... Maldo's cockiness in interviews this weekend is making more sense now. Oh, and great show from Heikki yesterday. He's probably right to think that good performances won't affect his future prospects - old and poor, I suppose - but if this is his swan song in a good car, I hope he can get a result.
please log in to view this image He also says his plan is to rejoin his former Team Lotus next year. No not that former team Lotus or that other Lotus team but the other former Team Lotus.
According to Benson, Hulk to FI, Maldadondo to Lotus/Sauber, Perez to Lotus/FI/Sauber, Di Resta out: The pictures and sounds released by Mercedes and Renault are not real. Domenicali described it as an "interesting marketing exercise" - Ferrari don't need to do that with their engine. In fact, in Autosprint they asked Marmorini when he would reveal Ferrari's V6 and the answer was "Never". V6 development is allowed until 2018, so there is good reason to hide your real design.
So lets all beleive what Ferrari say and accept that what any other person/team/manufacturer in F1 says and does is bullshit? Becuase of course Ferrari have always had a habit of telling the truth and not manipulating anything...........
AKA: 'It isn't ready.' Using 'never' is a laughable phrase because really he should be saying January... if he was really "witty" which you are trying to imply here, which he isn't. 'Never' to me sounds like a defensive reaction and a typical U-turn a politician would make. 'Oh yes our engine is fantastic and better than the rest...........but we wont: A: Reveal specs and numbers. B: Showcase the engines sound like the rest have done already. C: Post a picture of the engine to show it actually exists. So all we have heard so far is 100% fabrication by Ferrari about their engine and the Italian media is going along with it trying to kid themselves that they're not walking towards a cliff... And that's a pretty interesting (pot stirring) quote by Stefano who has no clue declaring it's a 'marketing design by Lotus and Mercedes'. Anderson made a great point when the engine noises were revealed that it was already 'too late for anybody to copy the design into early next year' and pointing out that this would do minimal damage to Renault and Mercedes as they would be in the final stages by now. Honda followed suit after them and their V6t have been around for years in other series' and just need adjusting for F1... so I guess that isn't real then either? Anything to calm the nerves down on the tifosi by making it sound like they're on the same deadline as the other 3 IMO. Yes Ferrari do need to reveal something about their engine because from the outside Ferrari look like in big **** already while everybody else is set. It doesn't matter if they're trying to keep their engine a secret because if they really got a march on it, the rest will take years to catch up by trying to work around their design and that's why I call BS on this rumoured lightweight material.
Ferrari did (sort of) release an image of their engine in July when the Marussia deal was announced. please log in to view this image I think they accidentally revealed one of their secrets in the process, can you see the turbo is mounted above the engine? Since then they haven't released anything. IMO when Ferrari are quiet, things are going well. But when Ferrari are vocal about something they are not confident and probably in trouble. They've spoken more about fuel consumption than anyone else. They've also expressed some general concerns about early-season reliability (who hasn't?).
Monsieur_F1 ( Mr.F1) @MonsieurF1 #GerardLopez to @MonsieurF1: " @NicoHulkenberg will not drive for @Lotus_F1Team in 2014" #F1 #USGP
Shame. At this rate he's not gong to get a drive at all, will probably get a test role somewhere. Ii i were McLaren, i'd hire him over Magnusson.
WTF does the HULK have to do to get a decent car/chance in a race winning car! These pay drivers are doing my nut in!
Ijaz has apparently committed to the Quantum Deal ("plus even more money") being complete by the end of the week. Looks like we're entering the end-game on that one, which looks set to trigger several driver moves.
But it was proven the other day that Ijaz is the dictionary definition of the word "shyster." If any money does show up, i'll be very very surprised. Eric looked like he wanted to twat him on Sky.
He reminds me of Allen Stanford the American businessman who conned the English and West Indies cricket boards into thinking they would have a twenty20 competition worth millions. He seems slimy and I think even Boullier smells bullcrap based on his body language on Sky!
I think & Hope he will stay at Sauber . http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/2...of-sauber-seat-for-2014-season-if-he-wants-it
Regardless of whether his English is any good or not, as a person the guy is clearly a complete plank and thinks far too highly of himself. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111450 Does he not think Williams are also disappointed with their 2013 season? It all seems to be about him with no regard to the efforts anyone else has put in.
The quotes from him in this article are the only sane things I've heard from him this last week. I suspect that, behind all the histrionics, he will also have been under a lot of pressure from the Venezuelan end with their government's investigation into motorsport funding but won't want to upset them. Still, if that's the case, it's not really an excuse. I think it's pretty well-known here that I'm a fan but he has gone down in my estimation.
