Sport The Formula 1 Thread

[wev]

Is it worth downloading and watching? I know the outcome (accidentally caught the F1 app on my phone when I picked it up this morning) but missed the race as I didn't get up early enough and then had to go for a staff meeting.

[wev]

Woo, the whole 3 hours is on PS3 BBC iPlayer

[wev]

Just a thought, surely Coulthard has the record for most races in a Newey car and not claiming a WDC?

[Shimmyhill]

Shame the season is over, it's been so compelling. Button found consistency too late to catch Vettel.

Massa is such a useless waste of space.

It was over before a wheel turned world champion wise, the season still has some great races left with Mclaren finally being close to the pace of Rebull and Ferrari not far behind either.

Well done to Vettel, another good interview from him too.

[reani_]

Well done to Vettel, another good interview from him too.

This.

Also, there is still the fight for constructors championship! Even if it looks like that RB just have to collect it, with the recent pace of the McLaren and Alonso always somehow getting on the podium, it's not all set in stone yet.

[Bruciebabie]

I think you were watching a bag of Cadbury's Buttons, because the Button I watched was awesome and drove a fantastic race.

This.

Button just managed his tyres better so he could be fast when others were falling off cliffs. His smoothness and natural speed at their best

Red Bull were in tyre destruction mode and pulled Vettel in every time his sector times took a hit.

At the end Button was just playing with Alonso. Button had to keep their distance at the DRS point over one second whilst nursing his tyres. When he wanted to he was putting fastest overall race sectors, the rest of the time he cruised to look after his tyres.

Virtually all other F1 drivers in Button's position would have gone for it when Alonso was catching up.Even the two ex journeymen in the commentary box said that he should. But then Button could easily have fallen off the cliff had he done so.

This is the thing about Button, he is easily the cleverest F1 drivers as well as being one of the fastest.

And for those who say he can only win in the wet, it must have rained when I blinked.

This was a race for class drivers. Suzuka always is, but this time the tyre problems and safety car amplified it. Hence Alonso 2nd when the best the car should have given him was 5th. And also the Cobbler looked good and finished well.

The big things this season are the battle for second in both championships, and will Force India catch up Renault in the constructors?

[SeanR]

resorted to the BBC3 highlights facepalm.gif.

[marsh]

So, Buttons balls deep with this:

and vettel in the meantime is....

having a drink with Newey and Horner?

I'd rather be Button tbh.

[dayte]

Fantastic race by Jenson, and well done to Vettel for joining the back to back world champion greats.

Watching the interview with Lewis at the end though, and remembering what he was like at the start of his career - damn, he really needs his old management team/father back. He's a completely unfocused man now, and clear number 2 to Button.

[Bruciebabie]

and vettel in the meantime is....

having a drink with Newey and Horner?

With Dr. Hemut Marko, more like.

[Bruciebabie]

And there is still the hovering possibility of an RBR disqualification for breaking the rules, especially after those underside photos got out.

It has happened in the past. But I don't think that the toad has the balls to do it.

[myoozikk]

Will never happen...

[the_debaser]

So, Buttons balls deep with this:

and vettel in the meantime is....

having a drink with Newey and Horner?

I'd rather be Button tbh.

Vettel is 2 time world champ. He'll be balls deep in whatever he wants tonight.

[dayte]

In the Forum interview Vettel himself said that there aren't too many Virgins in F1...

[Sidewaysbob]

vettel and his finger of win Part two.

So he did it then.

Finally

Vettel has won his second championship, a back to back championship no less and he is the youngest driver to do so.

You can’t really argue with the results either, he’s beaten everyone without too much difficulty. Poles, podiums and enough wins to write a new chapter in the record books headed “The next generation”.

So why does it all feel like such and anticlimax? Where’s the Hullabaloo, the Pizzazz and razzamatazz? Where are the bright lights, big fanfare and sparkly jackets, the dancing girls and fireworks of flashlight photography?

This is what happens when you win the title with four races to go. The circus has to be in Korea by Wednesday to set up for the next round of the now redundant championship. So there’s no time to get all worked up. And because this has been telegraphed for six months, it’s no big surprise. Not like last year when Vettel came from behind and snatched the prize from under noses of Alonso and Webber. This year it has felt like a foregone conclusion since pretty much the first round. Vettel has just had that aura around him that this is destined to happen, that this is as inevitable as the Sun rising tomorrow and a Conservative MP getting embroiled in a dirty little sex and nepotism scandal.

But despite the aura I’m still not convinced he’s the second coming either. Yes there is the pass on the outside of the Curva Grande, two wheels on the grass past a Ferrari on cold tires. But that was the highlight of an otherwise undemanding year!

I think the other drivers have dropped the ball and missed chances to take the fight to Vettel. Whilst he has undoubtedly performance as required all season as he is paid to do, go out and win every week lad. There hasn’t been a consistent challenge to him in reality

Hamilton has over driven a poor car and tripped over other, less talented, drivers.

Webber has driven into far too many drivers again and made basic in qualifying and school boy errors off the line time and again.

Alonso has been hobbled by a Ferrari that couldn’t seem to get its tires to work at half the circuits and seemed to go backwards at half distance.

Only Button has got his act together and the second half of the season has seen him get his mojo finally up to speed. But alas for the spectacle it has been too little too late.

Today’s win was another pretty good one in a year of pretty good drives. He seems to have grown in confidence and stature as the season has gone on and now it seems that McLaren are turning into the Jenson Button team. More through a process of the team just following the success of a driver rather than an Alonso giving it all the “big I am”. This more than anything has probably contributed to Hamilton having a year to forget. The realisation that results are what a team need to gel it around a driver, rather than a feisty girlfriend and a few hip hop stars on the guest list.

This race was another where Jenson just seemed to be on top of his game all weekend. He missed pole by the gnats proverbial left testicle, but if you need a driver to nail it lap after lap when the tires are not working, Jenson is your man. So as the Vettels and Hamilton's chewed through tires he just kept his head together and worked the car to win the race. A good pit stop and being Mr Consistent left the other drivers to scrap for the second step. He didn’t look like he was going to lose all day. Even when Vettel tried to drive him off the circuit at the start of the race, the new improved calm Button just got his act together and drove the perfect race.

It was all rather dull in the end.

Hamilton and Massa reconvened their on circuit spats again. This time Massa attempted a very ambitious move around the outside of Hamilton into the chicane at the end of the lap. Oddly, this “avoidable contact” didn’t end with the (Ferrari) driver getting a drive through after he clouted a car he was trying to overtake .... one rule for the, one rule for the rest.

Not that it made much difference to either Hamilton or Massa. Both look like they want the season to end so that can leave the media spotlight for a bit.

As for the rest, I don’t know. I was half asleep after watching the Bathurst race.

Stuff like this.

http://youtu.be/vRGzidsL7BI

Exciting stuff, i think you'll agree, anyway.

I think I fell asleep for the last few laps. Vettel got told to go for the points and leave Alonso and Button to it. Button was a bit touch and go on the fuel, but was far enough ahead at the end to protect his lead.

So a very creditable win for Button at what he called his other home race. He seemed pretty happy with the result and I think he deserves it. Vettel tried to put the frighteners on his at the start, squeezing him onto the grass as they all raced into turn one. Three or four years ago that sort of thing would have got the blood boiling and Jenson would have been all over the show. These days he gets his head down and wins. You can’t ask for much more than that, he even got the fastest lap for good measure.

Alonso got second, finally the ability of the Ferrari to not work its tires pays off and he gets a podium result for his troubles. Kept Button honest at the end, but didn’t look like he was going to catch and pass the plucky Brit in the remaining laps. Vettels was protecting his championship point so wasn’t going to try anything Banzi any time soon.

Vettel does what needs doing and rode lady luck all the way to third. Was a bit naughty with the squeeze on Jenson at the start, the fact is, that is the only time so far this year that you could say he has been naughty, gone is the “crash kid” tag it would seem. Anyway, had thoughts of going for the win, but an older wiser voice told him not to and he settled for the points and the championship.

Webber, who has been comprehensible beaten all year, fails to make the podium in the best car again. Gone is the posturing and the “it’s so unfair they all hate me” shtick. He’s being very quite these days, admitting his shot at the title was last year and he missed it. Like Massa I don’t think he’ll take to being a number two driver very well. The truth can be just a cruel as Lady Luck.

Hamilton. Chewed his tires and hit Massa again for 5th. Like an England Rugby team, brilliant to watch when it all goes right, frustrating when the promise fails to deliver. But I still think he’s brilliant.

Schumacher was 6th apparently.

Massa was just as rubbish as normal in 7th

Perez with a head cold that would have felled lesser men was just as boring and tedious as usual and picked up more points for Sauber in 8th. I think he’s turning into my new Trulli. Just sort of annoyingly there and under the mistaken belief he’s actually good rather than extremely well sponsored.

Petrov .... yes .. remember him? Well he’s 9th for Renault as Senna who replaced an under performing Nick Heidfeld got 16th. It’s not just about the money remember, but it helps. Anyway Petrov got some points. He’ll know his fate in a week or two after Kubica gets into the simulator to see if his new bionic arms work.

Rosberg does a cracking job coming from the back of the grid to 10th after he failed to set a qualifying time due to “technical” problems with the car on Saturday.

This week’s tail end Charlie is the ever reliable Liuzzi. Who spent most of the event sitting at the back of the pits watching mechanics take engines out and slot new engines into his HRT. I’m talking bets on how long it is before he gets fired for next years driver to get some miles under his belt.

So then, Vettel picks up where he left of last year, but does it with a lot more ease, less broken bits and no whinging from his team make. If it wasn’t for that bloody finger, I might actually like the man.

James Roberts,25

Tomox,24

Chris Bush,22

Petey Stevens,22

Charles,20

Joffy Chinnock,19

Duane Weatherall,19

Oliver,19

Andy Daniell,18

Bradlay Law,17

Blu3Flame,17

Charlie Bowdidge,17

Danster,16

Alastair 'Agent L' G,15

Matt O'Brien,15

Neil Carter,15

Steve Allen,15

MrPogo,14

Matthew Leach,14

kiroquai,13

Captain LeChuck,13

Stephen Rose,13

Rattlehead,10

Well done to Mr Roberts

1 286 James Roberts Flow vis

2 272 -14 Alastair 'Agent L' G Team LotusRenaultProtonLada Whatever

3 269 -17 Oliver Formula Sqrt(2)

4 268 -18 Neil Carter F-duct Up F1 Group Team Cars

5 263 -23 Bradlay Law Team Big Chin

6 262 -24 Andy Daniell Gay for Mclaren

7 260 -26 Joffy Chinnock Joffy F1

8 250 -36 Charlie Bowdidge Jnr Bob Racing

9 249 -37 Chris Bush Bushy's Bullets

10 248 -38 kiroquai Flat Tyre F1 21

11 247 -39 Steve Allen Formula Velse

12 241 -45 Duane Weatherall Weveroni

13 239 -47 Charles The Falcon

14 238 -48 Matt O'Brien Race of Bass

15 236 -50 Blu3Flame Valencia Pitlane Party

16 232 -54 Captain LeChuck Monkey Island F1

17 218 -68 Petey Stevens Georgie's Motors

18 212 -74 Stephen Rose MexEff111!!!oneoneone

19 211 -75 MrPogo Pogo Racing

20 206 -80 Danster The Pirates

21 200 -86 Rattlehead G-Force

22 194 -92 Matthew Leach Seekersport

23 187 -99 Tomox Tom's Oxes

It's not all over yet, 4 races to go, can anyone stop team Flo Vis ?

[marsh]

Vettel is 2 time world champ. He'll be balls deep in whatever he wants tonight.

Neweys aerodynamic ringpiece it is then.

[Bruciebabie]

Di Resta was doing very well at one stage then mismanaged it and his tyres fell off the cliff. Sometimes he looks like he has been doing this F1 for years and sometimes he looks the rookie. If it comes to a choice between him and the Hulk it could be difficult.

Rosberg is an enigma. 6 years in F1 in good cars and no win. Not only that, he tends to be unable to improve upon his grid position during a race. So is he the real thing or just another journeyman? This is what the F1 community keep asking without getting an answer. Yesterday we looked more like the real thing as he clawed his way from the back of the grid whilst managing a tricky tyre situation in a car that is not very good. Finishing ahead of the Force Indias was good, but you can't help thinking that a Button or an Alonso would have got by the Renault and the Sauber as well. So the enigma remains.

No doubt now that Kobayashi is a journeyman, he lacks the skillset to trouble top drivers. But he is a lot of fun and enlivens F1 immensely with his personality.

Rubens should retire and share his leaving party with Trulli. Two journeymen well past their sell by dates keeping upcoming talent from getting the drives that they deserve. We have had good value from some recent rookies, so lets have more of it.

Will Kimi be back next year? He seems to have got rallying out of his system and he is still young. He would be a multi time WDC if McLaren hadn't built such unreliable cars for him. Certainly in many races he was the only driver who could take it to the cobbler. If he still has that amazing speed and if he got some motivation he could be an exciting addition to the grid.

And of course there is the story of Robert Kubica. He has come back from massive injury before. His surgeons say everything is fixed. His manager says he is on schedule. I am a member of his fan club because he is one of the few who outperforms the car and brings in more points than he should. The opposite of Rosberg in fact. But Renault have got about a dozen drivers for two seats next season so it is musical chairs time. Certainly Robert is in a different league to Petrov, Senna etc, but is he properly fixed and will the money do the talking?

To me Vettel has improved a lot. He is now very good indeed and easily walks over journeyman Webber. But he is in the very, very best car. I think several other drivers could have done the same as he has. And I don't think that he could do what Alonso and Button have done this year. Getting a mediocre car to outperform is the sign of a true great.

Hamilton needs his dad back as his manager. Or Rob Smedley as his mechanic. Or both. Since he signed with his new celebrity management company he has gone downhill fast. He is the best racer of his generation. He should concentrate on this and get the support to do so. Button is smoother and a better thinker so wins when the grip is variable and race conditions change. But on a straightforward dry race Hamilton should have the advantage. It has been fascinating to watch the team rivalry between these two great drivers. And such a pity that recent McLarens don't work for the first half of the season.

Next year's WDC? The cobbler, Alonso, Button must be the first three in line. But it could be Newey for the third year running.

[SteveH]

I'm amazed - and quite sad - that Williams are still floundering mid-field. McLaren and Ferrari have been through hard times and always bounce back, but Williams seem unable to sort themselves out.

[Sidewaysbob]

I think they have a few management issues.

[marsh]

What bob said. They might have renault power, but they had bmw engines for a while and they fucked that right up.

I don't understand why Lewis signed up with that management crew, considering how much he idolises senna, it's the type of thing he would have frowned upon. At this rate, he'll be a very well paid, but slightly shit racing driver. Could easily fall into the same trap kimi has found himself in.

[shock33]

Where would Hamilton go though?

I can't really see him going to Red Bull, it feels like they have a clear driver preference policy and Hamilton seems like he needs to be THE driver in a team*. Ferrari...Well can't seem him racing in the same team as Alonso again and he seems well cemented in there now, Mercedes?

*Well, these days anyway

[wev]

In regards to Rosberg, when has he been in a car thats capable of winning a race? He had 4 seasons in a Williams that was going backwards (and still is) and 2 seasons in a Mercedes thats quite clearly well off the pace of the cars it wants to compete against, thus far he is seventh in the Championship, 3 points ahead of his 7 times World Champion team mate, although both are around 30 points behind 6th place Massa. Last season he finished 7th and had double the amount of points that Schumacher picked up.

[morcs]

It's short memory syndrome, Rosberg has shown his talent many times in the past. Brundle always used to hold him in high regard. He's at least as promising as Button was at his age.

[JPR]

I don't understand why Lewis signed up with that management crew, considering how much he idolises senna, it's the type of thing he would have frowned upon. At this rate, he'll be a very well paid, but slightly shit racing driver. Could easily fall into the same trap kimi has found himself in.

Seen a few people say this and agree, similar thing with Schumacher he did what he did as he had a single focus on racing, that's all that counts to them. Do see more and more comments that his management isn't helping him and I just imagine if the likes of Senna or Schumacher where in his position they'd tell the management company to get lost, get a proper manager in and focus on racing only. I wonder how they've dealt with him this season and all his incidents, I can imagine someone like his father would have a strong word or two with him, he doesn't care about annoying the guy that's making his company millions.

Whilst I'm not a fan of his F1 is always more enjoyable when the top drivers are all competing with each other.

[morcs]

Was flicking through the channels the other day and there was an interview with Sherzinger on. She seems to be utterly devoid of personality. I blame her!

[Rattlehead.ie]

Was flicking through the channels the other day and there was an interview with Sherzinger on. She seems to be utterly devoid of personality. I blame her!

Have you ever seen the 2 pitlane/grid interviews with her on BBC. She is either devoid of a braincell never mind personality or just high as a kite on drugs.

[hub2]

I remember a few races ago the BBC pundit team discussing how Hamilton didn't even have a rep from his management company there for the weekend.

Even if they don't do anything and are just there for 'moral' support or whatever - that seems the bare minimum, but not sending anyone at all - that just screams we don't give a f**k, or incompetence.

[morcs]

Have you ever seen the 2 pitlane/grid interviews with her on BBC. She is either devoid of a braincell never mind personality or just high as a kite on drugs.

Now you mention it I remember one of those, proper bubblehead

[The Bag]

I remember a few races ago the BBC pundit team discussing how Hamilton didn't even have a rep from his management company there for the weekend.

Even if they don't do anything and are just there for 'moral' support or whatever - that seems the bare minimum, but not sending anyone at all - that just screams we don't give a f**k, or incompetence.

That seems to be a huge part of the problem, they're a celebrity management agency they don't seem to know how to manage sports people who need more than someone managing the press and making sure they earn top dollar.

[marsh]

His on track antics are certainly in a similar vein to Ayrton, but the off track stuff isn't. Ayrton would have stuck to his guns and probably bitch smacked massa for his comments at the last race.

Lewis looks like a broken man and completely lost.