F1

[Abou27]

I can't wait!  This promises to be a cracking season - very close and lots of drivers keen to impress with contracts up at the end of the season.  Also, Ferrari don't have much further to go in terms of development with their car and may struggle as the season progresses (will be very fast at start, though, as shown by 1st practice times).  Williams look very good, as do McLaren and Renault are improving fast.

I think this might be David Coulthard's season.  It has to be!  Ferrari possibly on the wane, his last chance and, therefore, everything to play for.  I hoping for him to win championship or, failing that, for Renault to reach the top and for Ferrari to start slipping.

Anyway, can't wait.  Roll on Sunday!

[Abou27]

Great race (Ralf worries aside).  Once again, an element of luck to a MS win!  Shame about Alonso - a fantastic start even for a Renault!

Good drive from Sato - he showed a lot more maturity than ever before.  He seems like a really nice guy and I like him but just think he is a bit rude on track.  He has clearly got the speed and, in a couple of years, will calm down and be a regular championship contender (unlike his teammate who shall shortly start to wither away to nothing).

I think with Ralf's accident, it was because of position being so dangerous with cars at high speed.  Therefore, had to wait for SC to be deployed, whole field to pass and then follow behind round the lap.  Medical car at front of pit, I think.  Also, there have been times in the past when marshalls have tried to hurry the driver out of the car before medical advice has been given.  Until things settled down Ralf, in his car, was in the safest place.


Schuey's wins and championship table belie the exciting season this has been so far.  More of the same please! :-)  

[Abou27]

Simpler would be to stop refuelling.  Heavy cars on tyres that had to last for much longer would significantly slow the cars.  Formula 1 is fast becoming quite pathetic.  An element of danger is an integral part of the sport.  The drivers who are a cut above are prepared to go further towards the limit than others.  This difference is diminished as the cars are made safer and safer.

I had a chuckle when I saw one of Mosley's new proposals, though.  It seems very commercial and I would say cancels out all of the other safety measures included in the package (safety being the priority) by the being the most dangerous suggestion ever - it beggars belief.  The idea is that, parade lap having been completed, if a car stalls the start won't be postponed.  Instead, it will proceed as usual with yellow flags indicating the stricken car.  Given some of the take-off scenarios witness in recent seasons, I find this idea truly astonishing!

I reckon good riddance Max.

Apologies for kinda ranting - am in crappy mood :-)  :-x

[Abou27]

I see what you are saying but your point abpout Senna's accident is interesting (I am conveniently forgetting Ratzenberger for the sake of my argument - I'm going to hell).  His death was the result of a freak occurrence rather than the impact itself.  Formula1 cars are infinitely safer than they were then.  Those two deaths were the first for 12 years.  I feel that we have gone far enough.  Although, admittedly, this view depends on other factors changing little.  As cost cutting is also one of the driving (hehe) forces behind the proposed cahnges, it seems odd to change the engine regulations.  The companies cannot go much further with the current rules.  However, with the change to 2.4 engines, all will have to increase their budgets to produce what is required.  And get up to the maximum level pretty quickly.

Basically, what I am saying is, I wish people would stop tinkering with things just to make them appear different and appeal to non-fans.  Just leave them and all will enjoy more.  Look at the scrapping of the disastrous Golden and Silver goals in football by way of an example.

Another lush GBGP, though!

[Abou27]

I think that BAR got off lightly.  Their fuel system itself requiring the extra tank isn't illegal but counting the fuel in it as part of the car's dry weight is.  The fact that when initially asked to completely drain the car of fuel for weighing, they left the fuel in the secondary tank but declared the car empty, suggests to me that they were entirely aware of what they were doing and were cheating.  It is also irrelevant(sp?) if the weight didn't fall below 600kgs during the race.  Just my interpretation.:-)




On Ecclestone; I have heard that he is getting pretty fed up of the changes that Mosley has been introducing and is particularly displeased with the qualifying changes.  It is Mosley who is still on the safety and slow car crusade.  I think he is correct to suggest being heavy handed with rule breakers, though.


The re-instatement of Ferrari after the bargeboard situation to ensure a championship deciding final race a few years back was disgraceful, though.  A tad more consistency needed.

I couldn't watch the race, so have recorded it to watch later.  Looking forward to it, though.  Good to see another team on top and such a pleasant driver as Alonso there too.  He should be able to hold on for championship.  Hopefully.

[Abou27]

Interesting.  If true, that would certainly put the cat amongst the old pigeons :-o

I know F1 cars are well complicated (slight understatement) but I don't see why the FIA couln't have a specialized team to really thouroughly check out the cars;  or maybe I'm being a bit naive? :-)

[Abou27]

Yeah, it's amazing!  Hopefully lots of in car footage.

I defy anyone, formula1 fan or not, to fail to be enthralled by the Monaco event.  Marvellous :-)

[Abou27]

No, I would have pitted sooner!  Huge vibration through suspension for loads of laps; I reckon he was lucky to last as long as he did.  Surely they could have convinced the FIA that the tyre was dangerous?  Don't know why he was pushing so hard earlier on, though!

Another race where I wasn't sure if there was as much action as there seemed to be!  Anyway, it was good to watch and that's the main thing :-)

[Abou27]

Frank Williams has suggested that the Michelin teams would have raced for no points.  You can't say fairer than that (well, almost not).  The Michelin teams would have been penalised (hard for them to manufacture a Minardi/Jordan result over Ferrari), the crowd would have been largely satisfied and the financial effect in terms of sponsorship would be minimalised.  I would very much put the blame at the feet of Mosley.  Whilst I admit that he has done some good for F1 over the years, I think he has brought the sport to the brink of non-existance.

Future rules changes - standard ECU - so it will just be literally a manufacturing contest between the world's car makers; come on, what's the point of them being involved if not to show-off their technical prowess!

I'm hoping that BMW purchasing Sauber suggests that the GPWC          
series is becoming more of a possibility.

I would actually like Bernie to be in charge and for no-one to remember who Max Mosley is.:-)

Meanwhile I shall dig out my mid 90's tapes and remind myself what proper F1 cars look like :-D  

It's going to die, though:-(

[Abou27]

Ah, yes, qualifying?!


Loads of bottomming(?)-out today. Will this be penalised or will it depend on how many, or which of the teams are affected?

(i.e. Alonso is a likely candidate for disqualification)

Brialliantly unpredictable circuit, looks like it should be a fantastic race tomorrow!

[Abou27]

@Doobrey

Yeah, I hope Frank Williams has the resolve to put the spoilt brat in his place.  Looking promising at the moment.  He ain't doing his image any good, though.  Presonally, I can recognise him to be a good driver but his supercilious attitude out of car makes me dislike him intensely.  He was like it in his first year in F1 - way too {bleep}y in interviews.  Kinda wound me up.  But of course, I'm just one side of the coin; I'm sure many admire these traits!

Good race. McLaren worringly quick.  Hard to judge imapct of third driver (particularly at unknown track) - one of the most stupid rules in F1.  Will take the edge off for me if Raikkonen wins Championship.  What do others think?

[Abou27]

Fernando Alonso - Renault - FIA Formula 1 World Champion 2005 :-)

Congratulations to him; a worthy champion!

[Abou27]

Last two races should be fun to see if Alonso can push and fight Raikkonen now championship is decided. It might turn out to be a teaser for next season :-)  

However, further rule changes next season might muddle things up again :roll:

[Abou27]

Not much passing but that's Monaco. :-)

Was still a great race, though. Impressive performance by Alonso, too.  Showed he could significantly up the pace if required.  Maybe gives Hamilton a few things to think about.

Back to back races on the way. :-D