Sport The Formula 1 Thread

[Dudley]

It's almost a 50:50 split between ovals and road / street courses.

mm but it's heading away. It was already 7 vs 5 next year and that's with Texas and Las Vegas on the schedule, neither of which I'd place a big bet on actually running.

[Halkyon]

I thought that until I learned more about it.

Condescension appreciated. But I have tried to enjoy it, I just don't get a good vibe from the tone, style or technology of the sport(s). F1 and WRC are the only motorsports I've ever liked, I think it's the OMFG JETS FLYING ACROSS THE GROUND nerdy tech side of F1 and the technical brilliance of the drivers themselves in WRC.

[morcs]

For me it's the psychological aspect that I knew nothing about, which sounds really interesting. Like cycling one man can't win on his own, he needs to find people who'll work with him, but ultimately they're the ones he needs to beat to win at the end.

They're the only two sports I can think of where you need to work with your rivals in order to win. It's like The Weakest Link but at 200mph

[Dudley]

Condescension appreciated. But I have tried to enjoy it, I just don't get a good vibe from the tone, style or technology of the sport(s). F1 and WRC are the only motorsports I've ever liked, I think it's the OMFG JETS FLYING ACROSS THE GROUND nerdy tech side of F1 and the technical brilliance of the drivers themselves in WRC.

Not liking it is fine.

But your statement about a lack of variety was fairly objectively wrong.

[Agent L]

Just seen on twitter that Vettel will be doing a run in the car in Milton Keynes on Dec 10th.

Would be something worth seeing if you are nearby I reckon.

[Bruciebabie]

Now here is something I found very interesting.

This year there was a forced weight distribution rule: "standardised distribution of 45.5-46.7 percent front, 53.3-54.5 rear"

What I hadn't realised is that this rule is for one season only. And also that it was designed so no one team would get an advantage during the first year of Pirelli tyres. As you can read here: http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2011/0/828.html

Now it appears that this rule has prevented some teams from building cars that suited their drivers, prime suspects must be Lewis, Alonso and the Cobbler.

So we have been watching a one off season created by an artificial rule. And next year the cars will be designed to suit the drivers once again.

[SeanR]

Just seen on twitter that Vettel will be doing a run in the car in Milton Keynes on Dec 10th.

Would be something worth seeing if you are nearby I reckon.

<something about roundabouts in milton keynes>

[Halkyon]

Not liking it is fine.

But your statement about a lack of variety was fairly objectively wrong.

Turn left, turn left, turn left, etc. I kid.

The weight distribution thing does excite me somewhat. I assume it has screwed up guys like Petrov and Webber more than anybody else, Shirley?

[morcs]

KERS penalises heavier drivers too, and it's just a fact of life that someone like Matt Neal could never drive an F1 car. As in all sports you'll always be limited to a varying extent by the physical form you're born with.

[Sidewaysbob]

I think it fucked ferrari more than anyone else.

[probeater]

I think its good that only light weight drivers need apply for f1, the whole point of f1 is to build the fastest car, its a bit like having a prize winning horse then plonking a 12 stone lard arse ontop of it, counter productive.

I quite like the new Ferrari f1 prototype, seems to look pretty good and enivitable as h&s won't allow open cockpits for too much longer imo.

[Halkyon]

Thats so sexy. Shame it's a Ferrari.

[mexos]

Thats effing hilarious, university 3D project?

[wev]

It looks like one of those fucking posters of Subaru's you can pick up on markets where the wheels look ridiculously big.

Just seen on twitter that Vettel will be doing a run in the car in Milton Keynes on Dec 10th.

Would be something worth seeing if you are nearby I reckon.

Would love to know more about this, will have to try and find out as I live in Bedford and my little girl likes Red Bull

[Agent L]

I'm afraid I don't know any more. It was @redbullf1spy that gave the heads up if that helps.

[JPR]

Aren't those wheels closer to what we'll be getting, was sure I read earlier in the year the rim size will be increased next season but can't find anything about it now? I hope it's not the case as any mockup I've seen of an F1 car on larger rims looks awful as the thing above does. I'm sure F1 will start running closed cockpits the same season Indy don't have any ovals on the calendar.

[mexos]

Closed cockpit isn't F1. And never will be.

[SF-02]

So next year what's happening with the off pedal blown exhaust thingee? It was changed/restricted for the British GP this year, closer to how it was last year, and Webber put in his best performance as it suits his driving style if I recall Brundle and autosport correctly, and Ferrari improved a lot too. Then it reverted to how it was which suits Vettel and he ran away with the rest of the season. I don't think Webber and Ferrari's form was down to Silverstone being high speed circuit either, but this exhaust thing.

So next year will we be closer to British GP rules?

[Dudley]

If they don't go round Daytona it's not an F1 demo.

They got an SLS round there last weekend as our pacecar, they can manage an F1.

[Sidewaysbob]

The exhaust will have to exit above the rear axil line or some such next year. Mercedes are already workingon a blown rear wing/f-duck hybrid do darr as we talk.

So not realy like Silverstone. More like 3 years ago, before Renault and Newey got all clever and stuff.

[Bruciebabie]

So Lewis has split up with his pussycat: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8840318/Lewis-Hamilton-and-Nicole-Scherzinger-split.html

Is this why he has been so grumpy?

[marsh]

She's as thick as shit, he needs to get himself some classy piece of work like Button. Might want to try and keep her away from the racetrack too. It's the kind of baggage I'd leave at home.

[morcs]

Yeah my thoughts exactly. I blame her for everything!

[marsh]

I wouldn't go that far. He's made some utterly bizzare decisions this year. The massive crowd of yardies at canada, hitting more cars than he's missed etc.

But you can imagine she must be nightmare to maintain.

[Sidewaysbob]

She always looked high maintance, best left alone.

[Halkyon]

He needs himself a nice, homely, possibly slightly chubby woman who can bake for him and keep his feet on the ground.

But don't we all.

Looking forward to India, the track plays great on F1 2011, at least.

[marsh]

Looking forward to India, the track plays great on F1 2011, at least.

Probably in a more finished state than the real thing.

[Bruciebabie]

Probably in a more finished state than the real thing.

Here is the circuit: http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/india_863/circuit_diagram.html

A little local difficulty: http://www.f1sa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31538:f1--local-angry-farmers-still-threaten-inaugural-indian-formula-1-grand-prix&catid=1:f1&Itemid=157

[kiroquai]

Don't know how long this link will be valid for, but for those of you who missed it or don't have Sky and want to watch, here's the first part of last night's Dan Wheldon tribute hour (subsequent parts follow on).

Pretty well done all-round really.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7iaRzSALnI&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7D8SlZbt2s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBxtRsw7z68

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk_Nbe-k5CY

[kiroquai]

Not your fault sir!