[Driver] 2018 F1 silly season.

[Born Racer]

I hope the context in which he said that doesn't make him look as bad as that looks when viewed in isolation. It is not necessarily a joke if he is still quick enough, and Juan-Pablo could easy end up with egg on his face.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by wnut

Montoya not convinced:

"Kubica is a joke!"


http://en.f1i.com/news/285872-montoy...iams-joke.html

What is Mr Villeneuve’s view? Take whatever he says, and know the opposite is absolutely true

[djinvicta]

F1.com writes this on Villeneuve's views...

Jacques Villeneuve has blasted Robert Kubica's comeback attempt, believing the Pole doesn't deserve an F1 seat after six years out of the sport.

Kubica's sensational return to the pinnacle of motorsport, after a rally crash halted his career in 2011, is in a final 'make or break' stage.

The 32-year-old tested for Renault at the Hungaroring just before F1's summer break and undoubtedly demonstrated his ability to perform behind the wheel of a 2017-spec F1 car.

The French team still appears to have reservation however about Bobby K's prospects, contrary to Mr. Villeneuve who is crystal clear about what he thinks F1 should do with Robert Kubica.

"I honestly don't understand," the Canadian said in an interview with F1nal-lap.be.

"Who ever got a comeback offer after six years?

"At the end of his career, he was struggling against Petrov. He won his race [in Canada in 2010] like Maldonado, and what did he achieve after that?

"Add the fact that he hasn't recovered 100 percent of his ability, and one wonders how he could cope? Or perhaps the cars are just too easy to drive.

[wnut]

I think in this instance Jaques and Monty are on the right track.

Other than the fairy story, is Kubica bringing serious money to the deal?

Is it just a pay drive deal?

[bella]

i would think there's money going williams -> his insurance company rather than kubica -> williams?

[alan1302]

I expect JV is still bitter about losing his seat to Kubicia as well

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by alan1302

I expect JV is still bitter about losing his seat to Kubicia as well

Jacques bitter?? Nooo way!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by wnut

Other than the fairy story, is Kubica bringing serious money to the deal?

About 8million more than DiResta http://en.f1i.com/news/285872-montoya-kubica-williams-joke.html

[S griffin]

Jacques seems to have a selective memory. Kubica actually won in Canada 2008 and he was hardly struggling against Petrov, he was getting the car further up the grid than it had a right to

[Greem]

I'm undecided on Kubica, myself. I do however have a long-held view that F1 should try not to look back as much as it does, because there's plenty of talent swimming around just out of view and it's those drivers that should be given the chance. They just don't carry the money with them...

The big problem is the $$$. Kubica would be a massive feelgood story, and there'll be plenty of sponsors happy to hitch their horses to that particular cart.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by Greem

I'm undecided on Kubica, myself. I do however have a long-held view that F1 should try not to look back as much as it does, because there's plenty of talent swimming around just out of view and it's those drivers that should be given the chance. They just don't carry the money with them...

The big problem is the $$$. Kubica would be a massive feelgood story, and there'll be plenty of sponsors happy to hitch their horses to that particular cart.

I think that helps, the extra publicity it would give Williams

[Aysedasi]

But the $$$'s aside, I'm with Greem on this. We should be looking forward not backwards. Had he been the best there was at the time he had his accident (making it sort of a Moss-like comeback, if you like), that'd be different. He was good, but but not that good.....

[crmalcolm]

RTL are reporting that Kubica has signed with Williams for 2018.

[Aysedasi]

Really.......?

[crmalcolm]

Sportowe Fakty are also claiming that NBC are running with the story.

[Mekola]

It says Kubica has signed a two-year contract with Williams...

[wnut]

I think I'll go with Monty and Jaques on this one - JOKE.


Should we start betting on how many races it will last?

[F1Guy]

There were reports in the French media last week that a deal has been done with Williams.

Click bait??

[F1Guy]

Just read those links above. So... an announcement WILL be made during the Abu Dhabi GP??

There will be no announcement at this weekends GP. Fake news.

Click bait.

Even though Kubica is believed to be the front runner for the Williams seat, the negotiations continue. Expect an announcement after season's end, or even early into the new year. Will it be Kubica? Or someone else? Or both?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Just read those links above. So... an announcement WILL be made during the Abu Dhabi GP??

There will be no announcement at this weekends GP. Fake news.

Click bait.

Even though Kubica is believed to be the front runner for the Williams seat, the negotiations continue. Expect an announcement after season's end, or even early into the new year. Will it be Kubica? Or someone else? Or both?

So at the moment - what do we have?

Julien Febreau seems to be the original source for this 'rumour' (which would fit quite well in this thread given the title).
This rumour was then picked up by NBC's Jason Swales - although still without reference to a source for confirmation.
Dutch and Polish media (amongst others) then reported this as news.
Now a lot of media are reporting the story about the rumour, including:
dailyautosport, F1Today, TheJudge13, Globo Esporte, Diario Motorsport, Autosport.....

Williams are dismissing the story, but take a look at the words they are using:

'Although conversations are ongoing with Kubica, it is still yet to be finally decided who will replace Massa. We will make an announcement when we have something to announce but nothing is planned this weekend in Abu Dhabi.'

They are not denying that a contract in place - it is highly possible that there is a contract, but that it has caveats based on the outcomes of the test after the Abu Dhabi GP.
In that case:
- They are correct in saying that they have not finally decided, because the decision rests on the test results.
- They are correct to say nothing will be announced this weekend, because the test takes place afterwards.

What is not being confirmed or denied is whether Kubica has a [caveat-laden] 2-year contract.


Dismissing the story as Fake News is a bit much at the moment, and isn't every publicised story on the internet 'click bait'? - Or do the media outlets not want people to visit their pages?

[Skam85]

Agreed, click bait is one of the dumbest statements that have been used in recent years. Like crmalcolm says, it's literally what keeps online news sites alive. No clicks = no visits = no ads = no money = goodnight.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

and isn't every publicised story on the internet 'click bait'? - Or do the media outlets not want people to visit their pages?

In my opinion, absolutely not and people know the difference. Having an appropriate and catchy headline is productive to pull viewers in, but there clearly is a category that goes beyond. Headlines such as "Man runs into childhood sweetheart, what happens next is stunning!" is a modern example.

To use a food analogy... All candy is food, but not all food is candy. Same goes for headlines (food) and clickbait (candy).

Motorsports sites are not immune to "clickbait" types of headlines. Especially when it comes to reporting rumors.

Richard

[Skam85]

Meanwhile,

Giovinazzi still in the frame at Sauber with a possible hint of Alfa:
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...umours-980978/

Sirotkin now in the frame for Williams? Seems strange to give him the Abu Dhabi test if it is a one-off and not a measuring stick for Kubica/straight shootout:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...e-test-981207/

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Dismissing the story as Fake News is a bit much at the moment, and isn't every publicised story on the internet 'click bait'? - Or do the media outlets not want people to visit their pages?

Did you read my post?? Here it is again.

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Just read those links above. So... an announcement WILL be made during the Abu Dhabi GP??

There will be no announcement at this weekends GP. Fake news.

Click bait.

Even though Kubica is believed to be the front runner for the Williams seat, the negotiations continue. Expect an announcement after season's end, or even early into the new year. Will it be Kubica? Or someone else? Or both?

Was simply pointing out that the reports stating that announcement WILL be made this weekend is fake news. Where did I say Kubica has not signed with Williams???? I even stated Kubica is believed to be the front runner for the Williams seat. But wouldn't expect an announcement until seasons end or early next year.

Whoever Williams decide on, be it Robert Kubica, or Bob Kubica or that other talented driver Robbie Kubica, I hope they make the right choice.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

In my opinion, absolutely not and people know the difference. Having an appropriate and catchy headline is productive to pull viewers in, but there clearly is a category that goes beyond. Headlines such as "Man runs into childhood sweetheart, what happens next is stunning!" is a modern example.

To use a food analogy... All candy is food, but not all food is candy. Same goes for headlines (food) and clickbait (candy).

Motorsports sites are not immune to "clickbait" types of headlines. Especially when it comes to reporting rumors.

Richard

I agree entirely that there are misleading headlines, which lead a media consumer along a path where the results are not what they may expect.
If that is referred to as 'clickbait' in terms of it being a negative term - then I don't feel that is the case with the articles being published.

The RTL headline is that Kubica will drive for Williams in 2018. Something that may be true, and in the article the reasoning for making this claim is given. - Therefore (IMO) not fake news or clickbaiting.

The Sportowe Fakty headline is that Kubica is sure to return - a beautiful story. Again, something that may be true, and so not a clickbait or fake news.