F1

[TheKhakinator]

Man I'd buy that Ferrari if it wasn't for all the speed bumps around here. 

I hear today that the Mclaren drivers are calling for clarification on whats acceptable overtaking manouvers.

Regarding Rosberg's overtaking in the last race.

Alonso was questioning them as well. Can't say I blame them.  Last year plenty of drivers, usually Hamilton, were punished immediately for doing far less.  This time they say they will investigate after the race and we hear nothing more.

Personally I'd like to see a lot more just classed as racing incidents, but when it gets dangerous like what Rosberg did, especially to Alonso where he continues to move across quite deliberately, something should be done.   And I say that as a big fan of Rosberg.

t'is ridiculous.

excited for spain because it's been too long; not hopeful for a good race but it'd be nice. anyone catch quali?

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anyone catch quali?

Yes and it was great.  Everything is just so unpredictable ATM.  Maldonado 2nd?  And after Red Bulls performance in the last race it looked like they might be back and this time Webber fails to make the top-10 and although Vettel scrapes in, he even bother setting a time.

And when Button, who most people acknowledge as being great at managing his tyres and finding grip in wet conditions,  spends another race meeting complaining about having no grip, then you know the ban on double diffusers is hurting some people hard.

The only predictable things seem to be Massa being shit, Alonso getting the most out of a poor Ferrari and Hamilton looking pretty comfortable.  A lot of people predicted Hamilton would be too hard on his tyres under the new regulations, but if anything the fact the cars move around even on new rubber suits his driving style more.

Barca is normally a crap circuit for overtaking, but it should be fun watching this bunch try to work their way through the field at the start 

7    Nico Rosberg
8   Sebastian Vettel
9   Michael Schumacher    
10   Kamui Kobayashi
11   Jenson Button   
12   Mark Webber

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The only predictable things seem to be....

Ah yeah, I forgot the other predicable thing this season and that's McLarens ability to screw it up for their drivers.  Not enough fuel so Lewis is relegated to last on the grid.  Surely Whitmarsh or some of the engineers must be under threat now.

Incidentally that's another rule that sounds a bit harsh.  Change an engine or gearbox and you drop 5 places, but don't have enough fuel (he didn't run out) and you drop to last place?

Anyway watching the GP3 race now and it's looking a bit overcast in Spain.  Fingers crossed for rain.

[TheKhakinator]

IMO it was a completely fair drop to the back - while he didn't run out of fuel, he had too little to get back to parc ferme under his own power, which is required in the regulations - and thus not having enough fuel for that meant his car was illegally light, essentially. Based on common weight of fuel per lap vs. lap time impact, he still would have had pole if properly fueled, but those estimates are talking race pace and more weight could have had a big effect on a hot qualy lap...

Absolutely cracking race. The commentators said it was known for being exciting at the end and well, wow - what a finish. So great watching Alonso having a go at Maldonado, and he didn't slip up! Nobody was backing Pastor on Sunday morning, that's for sure...

Also wasn't it interesting how rubbish some people's races were? Webber, Button, Schumacher driving into the back of Senna (IMO Senna was hardly blocking, looked more like Schumi was just surprised at how slow Bruno was taking the corner and thus his sudden change of mind to go the inside not the outside screwed him over; keep in mind we saw Schumi drive straight into the back of someone else last year, also in a DRS zone...)

[T_M_C]

Totally agree about Schumi.

Just bad driving on his part.

Was delighted to see Williams get the win.

It's been a real turn around this year for them, so i hope the success continues.

I also heard this morning that the Williams garage suffered a pretty major fire and several mechanics were hospitalised.

I thought the race was ok, a bit boring in parts but i'm glad i watched it.

I getting quite worried about Button now.

He's having real problems with the car.  Hope he turns it around soon.

And as for Hamiltons grid place drop.  I tend to agree with Eddie Jordan, in that the penalty was far too severe.  He should have been dropped back only a few places imo.

But Hamilton had an amazing race. Even comming in a place before Button.

It's pretty clear now though, why Hamilton is such a good qualifyer.  He's obviously running his car so lean on fuel he's getting a weight advantage in qualy.

Looks like the game is up now though.

Looking forward to Monaco.

TMC

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Absolutely cracking race. The commentators said it was known for being exciting at the end and well, wow - what a finish. So great watching Alonso having a go at Maldonado, and he didn't slip up! Nobody was backing Pastor on Sunday morning, that's for sure...

Yeah I thought it was superb.  I'm well pleased Williams finally got another win and slightly shocked that Maldonado managed to keep it on the road under pressure as  I've not been that impressed with him up to now.

And as for Hamiltons grid place drop.  I tend to agree with Eddie Jordan, in that the penalty was far too severe.  He should have been dropped back only a few places imo.

Yeah I've little issue with him taking a penalty, it's just the size seemed disproportionate.  Don't bother running at all in Q3 as a couple did and you keep your grid clot, but attempt to set a time with too little fuel and get kicked to the back of the grid.  I'd have thought wiping his Q3 time would have been sufficient.

Still, if nothing else it game Hamilton the chance to put in a great drive, just 2 stopping while others were struggling even after 3 stops.

It's pretty clear now though, why Hamilton is such a good qualifyer.  He's obviously running his car so lean on fuel he's getting a weight advantage in qualy.

Looks like the game is up now though.

They've been tested for fuel regularly this season and passed ok so I'm tempted to believe Whitmarsh when he said someone just cocked up with the refuelling rig.  Although this is F1 so....


Anyway 5 races, 5 different winners from 5 different teams.  Totally unpredictable.  Hell with we might even get some interesting racing at Monaco with these tyres. 

[TheKhakinator]

Last year we almost had a race of the year at Monaco if it wasn't for that red flag (hang on, was that caused by Maldonado? Or was it Sutil...)

I reckon you're right, they should have wiped Hamilton's Q3 time only.

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Last year we almost had a race of the year at Monaco if it wasn't for that red flag (hang on, was that caused by Maldonado? Or was it Sutil...)

Although I don't remember who caused the red flag, I'm pretty sure it wasn't Madonado as he was taken out by Lewis in one of the incidents he got called up before the stewards for.....followed by his Ali-G "Is it because I'm black" outburst.

I can see the pitstops this year being crazy with most teams using at least a 3 stop strategy on fast tracks, the quickest way around Monaco could be 4 stopping.  I just hope that means a lot of cars don't skip Q3 to save a set of tyres....I'm betting they will though. 

[TheKhakinator]

Last year we almost had a race of the year at Monaco if it wasn't for that red flag (hang on, was that caused by Maldonado? Or was it Sutil...)

Although I don't remember who caused the red flag, I'm pretty sure it wasn't Madonado as he was taken out by Lewis in one of the incidents he got called up before the stewards for.....followed by his Ali-G "Is it because I'm black" outburst.

I can see the pitstops this year being crazy with most teams using at least a 3 stop strategy on fast tracks, the quickest way around Monaco could be 4 stopping.  I just hope that means a lot of cars don't skip Q3 to save a set of tyres....I'm betting they will though. 

You're right, I'd forgotten, Hamilton clipped Maldonado when he was up in 6th. Isn't it great how this year Lewis and Felipe have found a way not to take each other out every race? It was funny, but it was kind of silly.

I've got no idea who's going to take the championship. Despite everyone still thinking Ferrari slow they're up there consistently enough too... :/ Nothing more boring then Ferrari winning a championship. I just wish when Ferrari were doing poorly people wouldn't talk about it every 5 minutes. Gets old fast.

[T_M_C]

And just how much longer can Massa last in that Ferrari.

I can see him being replaced pretty soon.

TMC

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And just how much longer can Massa last in that Ferrari.

I can see him being replaced pretty soon.

I've always thought he was pretty average at best.  As I said earlier in this thread, I really can't believe he came within half a lap of being world champion just a few years ago.

He's certainly on borrowed time now.  It will be very interesting to see who they replace him with as I doubt Alonso wants a repeat of the situation he had at McLaren with Hamilton.

[T_M_C]

I've just picked up

"Eddie Jordan, an independant man, the autobiography" from my local library.

http://www.amazon.com/An-Independent-Man-The-Autoniography/dp/0752893173/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337268288&sr=8-2-fkmr0

Looks like a cracking read.

I don't know much about his background so will be interesting to find out how he started.

I think he works really well on the BBC team with Jake and DC.  He's a bit of a character and takes some ribbing but it all adds to the fun.


Been playing Monaco on GP4 over the last few days.

I can't believe it's still an F1 track they race on.  

To drive on it's a right pig of a track.  It's got to be the worst track imo.

But to watch and as a spectacle it's one of the best.

TMC

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I've just picked up

"Eddie Jordan, an independant man, the autobiography" from my local library.

http://www.amazon.com/An-Independent-Man-The-Autoniography/dp/0752893173/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337268288&sr=8-2-fkmr0

Looks like a cracking read.

I don't know much about his background so will be interesting to find out how he started.

He's got quite a colourful history so that should be good.

TBH I often find him slightly irritating, but I actually missed him while watching the first couple of races on Sky.  Although that's mostly down to the fact Damon Hill was effectively playing the 3rd man role at those races and he's as boring as hell.  It makes you appreiate that something different that Eddie brings to the team.  Sky have since added Johnny Herbert and he's a good laugh so the presenting teams chemistry is a lot better now.

Been playing Monaco on GP4 over the last few days.

I can't believe it's still an F1 track they race on. 

To drive on it's a right pig of a track.  It's got to be the worst track imo.

But to watch and as a spectacle it's one of the best.

In the recent Codemasters F1 games it didn't matter how slow I went I couldn't get around that hairpin without scraping the barriers.  When Monaco came around I was relieved when I inevitably crashed out. 

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Speaking of tyres....

I was watching live WTC racing at the weekend and at the start of the race the commentator said teams were concerned that the tyres wouldn't last the whole race (16 laps IIRC and no tyre changes).  He then said something like "but they say that every year and nothing ever happens."

Well they were right and he was wrong.  Something like 5 cars ended in the gravel as their tyres wore out and punctured.  Then with 4 corners to go the leader punctured and spun out.....then 2 corners from the end the new leader punctured and was overtaken.

Brilliantly entertaining even if it makes a bit of a farce of the whole thing. 

[TheKhakinator]

Speaking of tyres....

I was watching live WTC racing at the weekend and at the start of the race the commentator said teams were concerned that the tyres wouldn't last the whole race (16 laps IIRC and no tyre changes).  He then said something like "but they say that every year and nothing ever happens."

Well they were right and he was wrong.  Something like 5 cars ended in the gravel as their tyres wore out and punctured.  Then with 4 corners to go the leader punctured and spun out.....then 2 corners from the end the new leader punctured and was overtaken.

Brilliantly entertaining even if it makes a bit of a farce of the whole thing. 

Hahah. Is WTC good? I watched some weird thing called the "Continental Tyres Series", a touring car series based on near-stock cars.  Great racing - way better than the crap leading series in Australia - silhouette racers. :/