Formula 1 Thread

[Pothas]

Pedro de la Rosa has signed for Sauber, pretty solid driver; would expect him to go Ok even though he has not done any competative racing in the last couple of seasons, cannot imagine Sauber being all that quick though. Not many spaces left now, one at Reanault and one at Campos. Both still to filled at US F1, that is if all the new teams make the grid of course. Heidfeld still not got a drivie at the moment, will be shocked if doesn't get one, surley would be ideal for any new team.

 

[Uppercut]

Clearly they're just the two villains of a bad Will Ferrell movie.

 

[Matteh]

Just want Schumacher to fail so hard. Car looks good though, brushed silver ftw.

 

[Matteh]

I called it.

Heidfeld's at Merc. Just gutted he won't be racing.

 

[biased indian]

is there any difference in point scoring for this season ?

 

[social]

Spent the weekend at the Bahrain GP and overall I'd rate it a pretty dull experience

However, I got to meet a few of the present and past drivers at our hotel

Surprisingly to me, Alonso was a thoroughly nice guy

 

[Johnners]

So good to see Fernando in a fast car again. Reckon it'll be a good fight this year between him & Hamilton

 

[social]

So good to see Fernando in a fast car again. Reckon it'll be a good fight this year between him & Hamilton

Vettel was clearly the quickest until his car gave out (exhaust problem apparently)

Reckon they've made a mistake in doing away with refuelling - it's so hard to pass that at least the refueling pit stops brought some level of uncertainty into play

Yesterday was just a procession until Vettel's car began to give out

 

[Johnners]

Vettel was clearly the quickest until his car gave out (exhaust problem apparently)

Reckon they've made a mistake in doing away with refuelling - it's so hard to pass that at least the refueling pit stops brought some level of uncertainty into play

Yesterday was just a procession until Vettel's car began to give out

Fair point actually. I only saw the first 15-20 laps and didn't even think about that. As you say it completely removes at least one strategic variable in the race.

 

[Pothas]

Loved seeing Fernando win but it was certainly a dissapointing race, I don't that is just down to the new regulations, Bahrain from my memory always produce fairly dull races, Australia always produces good ones so hopefully things will be better in a couple of weeks.
There are though obvious problems with the new rules, I actualy quite like that the drivers have to manage the tires and if only overtaking was a bit easier I would welcome them. We are just have to hope thatas the season progresses that there will be some inovative strategy rather than everyone doing one stop.

 

[Matteh]

Yesterday was just a procession until Vettel's car began to give out

Naah, the Ferraris were gaining on him massively just before Vettel's sparkplug went anyway.
Red Bull are quickest on a one off lap (Qualis) and Ferrari have the race pace.

Most interest bit of the race was watching Kovaleinen be a gun in the Lotus, such much action at the back. Will definitely be supporting Lotus this season now the lack of Heidfeld has created a void, such a cult team.

 

[social]

Naah, the Ferraris were gaining on him massively just before Vettel's sparkplug went anyway.
Red Bull are quickest on a one off lap (Qualis) and Ferrari have the race pace.

Most interest bit of the race was watching Kovaleinen be a gun in the Lotus, such much action at the back. Will definitely be supporting Lotus this season now the lack of Heidfeld has created a void, such a cult team.

No way

Vettel was cruising and easily holding the Ferraris at bay

I was in the Paddock Club adjacent to the start/finish line and Vettel's car went from being finely tuned to a spluttering hack within one lap and from that point started losing between 2 and 5 seconds a lap to the field

IMO, Massa would've taken Alonso if Vettel's car had not let him down because he was gaining and had good pace

Rosberg should have been roundly criticised for not taking another position off him and Shui/Button/Webber were spitting because he'd held them up

As for Lotus, who cares?

 

[Matteh]

You were at the race though, ironically the worst place to be in order to see the whole thing. The Ferraris were definitely catching before the Red Bull half died.

Massa wouldn't have beaten Alonso because he's rubbish.

Not entirely sure why Rosberg should be criticised at all for anything over the weekend. He was expected to be pushed by Schumacher and he ended up miles ahead of him all weekend.

As for Lotus, anyone who's aware of some F1 history loves the fact they're back in the sport. Same applies to Senna and just how much he looks like Ayrton through a visor.

 

[social]

You were at the race though, ironically the worst place to be in order to see the whole thing. The Ferraris were definitely catching before the Red Bull half died.

Massa wouldn't have beaten Alonso because he's rubbish.

Not entirely sure why Rosberg should be criticised at all for anything over the weekend. He was expected to be pushed by Schumacher and he ended up miles ahead of him all weekend.

As for Lotus, anyone who's aware of some F1 history loves the fact they're back in the sport. Same applies to Senna and just how much he looks like Ayrton through a visor.

The only advantages of being in the position I was at the track is that you can clearly hear the engine tone and you have these technical gizmos that plug you into data, cameras, team conversations etc (pretty nifty if you're into that sort of thing but not really my bag)

Anyway, the chances of Ferrari catching (let alone passing) Vettel without the melt down were minimal at best as the lead had blown out considerably at one stage

Tbf to Massa, he would've been world champ a couple of years ago if not for the ****s from Renault so he cant be all that bad

Rosberg had a car that was 3 seconds per lap faster than Vettel yet barely managed a challenge which was quite strange considering that Schumi (who was well behind his team-mate) was told by his team that all he had to do was maintain his pace to overtake the red bull - that happened about 5 laps from the finish

As for Lotus, their association with Team Lotus is tenuous at best (the owner of Lotus Cars is a shareholder in the racing team but dont have any real input into the cars AFAIK) so, to me, it's a bit meh

 

[Matteh]

All i can keep saying is that the Ferraris were definitely catching up. By all acounts though it seems overtaking is nigh on impossible, although Vettel's been forced into mistakes in the past.

Massa never deserved to win that championship though. Only reason he was so close was because Hamilton got a win stolen from him anyway. He's got a few favourite tracks like Istanbul and Bahrain, but aside from that he's very average as anyone who saw him look like a complete novice in the wet at Silverstone would tell you.

Would blame it on the tyres fading at the end of the race..

Who cares about Lotus cars involvement? Lotus cars like Ferrari cars were only built in the first place to help raise money for the racing team. It's still a Norfolk team and has roots in the original Lotus team, only thing that would really discredit it would be if Colin Chapman wasn't dead and wasn't involved.

 

[99*]

Agree with Matteh.

As much as I hate it the Ferrari's were gaining on Vettel. I don't think it was just race pace however, I reckon Vettel was quite conservative on the fuel. Then of course his exhaust blew and he was ******. (and given the way Alonso was driving to catch him he would've been lucky not to blow his engine)

Also love the fact Lotus is back in F1, even just in name.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Hamilton burning up Australian roads.


WAG.

 

[Burgey]

Bloody funny story that.

 

[Matteh]

Jensooooooooon

 

[DingDong]

hamilton burning up australian roads.


Wag.

+1