Sport The Formula 1 Thread

[McCoy]

I will be hugely fucked off if Virgin dont get it, especially when im already paying for Sky Sports in HD.

It would be rather ironic is Virgin are not able to show the sport in which they have a team competing.

Although, these days I'm not sure which Virgin companies are actually 'Virgin' Companies and which are just the brand and are separate from the Branson stuff.

[marsh]

It would be rather ironic is Virgin are not able to show the sport in which they have a team competing.

Although, these days I'm not sure which Virgin companies are actually 'Virgin' Companies and which are just the brand and are separate from the Branson stuff.

Not anymore? Team is marussia, or at least that's what they've requested.....

[JPR]

Virgin has been dropped from the name now, it's the Marussia F1 team, still listed as partners but don't know to what extent. Also Mercedes have changed their name to Mercedes AMG Petronas, sounds better than Mercedes GP.

[Orgun]

Woot, group of friends and I are road tripping to Spa this year Will be my first road trip, my first time camping and my first F1 race! Can't wait.

though we're having a tough time deciding where to watch the race from on General admission ticket.

[mexos]

Woot, group of friends and I are road tripping to Spa this year Will be my first road trip, my first time camping and my first F1 race! Can't wait.

Your in for a treat, Spa is a wonderful experience with mates. No better place to see your first F1 race.

Buy good quality waterproofs and goretex hiking boots - your gonna need em!

[Marmite]

Amazingly, im going to Monaco

Cant wait.

[mexos]

Club corner platinum for me. I'd like to go to one of the long haul's later in the season too.

Where you going to be for Monaco, Marmite?

[Marmite]

Think weve got grandstand tickets for the bit near the swimming pool area (by the little chicane in the third sector that they fly through )

[mexos]

Awesome. Make sure you go on the track after the race and sit on the road where before the turn in at the swiming pool. At the drivers eye level you can't see shit! Proper mind mending stuff.

[Marmite]

Nice, will do. You've been too then? Any other tips?

[GwiDan]

During the practice session you can pretty much sit wherever, try seeing the cars go through the end of tabac into swimming pool 1, it's ridiculous.

[Sidewaysbob]

I've booked up for the Le Mans Classic and hopefully Le Mans this year.

I might pop over for the Spa 6 hours depending on money and stuff

[max renn]

Woot, group of friends and I are road tripping to Spa this year Will be my first road trip, my first time camping and my first F1 race! Can't wait.

though we're having a tough time deciding where to watch the race from on General admission ticket.

Oh man you'll have a great time!

I sat on the steep grass verge in between Blanchimont and the bus stop, must've been 10 meters away from the cars maximum. Amazing. After the race (when exiting the course) keep an eye out for the Stella Artois beer tent, they serve a special type of SPA magic potion that'll blow your fucking socks off.

[Nick_L]

Think weve got grandstand tickets for the bit near the swimming pool area (by the little chicane in the third sector that they fly through )

I sat there last time I went (which was a long time ago to be fair) was a great view. Barrichello binned his Stewart right in front of us

Monza is also a great great great race to go to.

[John0]

Blocking / defending rules slightly altered: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/16416932.stm#skip_feature_02

Looking at the rules it appears to already have stated you're not allowed to crowd a car beyond the edge of the track, as a separate rule to the amount of defending moves allowed... but we saw that go unpenalised with Schumacher - Hamilton, and Vettel - Button at the start of Suzuka...

[mexos]

I sat there last time I went (which was a long time ago to be fair) was a great view. Barrichello binned his Stewart right in front of us

Monza is also a great great great race to go to.

Ha! I used to do some work for Stewart GP, I was at the factory about a week after that race. One of the guys showed me the bits of Barry's car. One of the rear endplates was ripped like a strongman would rip a telephone book. Even the ripped, destroyed pieces you couldn't bend them - still bloody strong.

[Dudley]

Blocking / defending rules slightly altered: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/16416932.stm#skip_feature_02

Looking at the rules it appears to already have stated you're not allowed to crowd a car beyond the edge of the track, as a separate rule to the amount of defending moves allowed... but we saw that go unpenalised with Schumacher - Hamilton, and Vettel - Button at the start of Suzuka...

Almost all the blocking rules are "understood" to not cover the start anyway.

[mexos]

Remove blocking rules, remove blue flags. Let common sense rule and for drivers to fight. Defensive driving is just as valid as overtaking. It's part of F1. If a driver cannot defend then an overtake isn't an overtake anymore. It's a formality.

This is all getting a bit silly now.

[John0]

Almost all the blocking rules are "understood" to not cover the start anyway.

Ah ok.

[John0]

Remove blocking rules, remove blue flags. Let common sense rule and for drivers to fight. Defensive driving is just as valid as overtaking. It's part of F1. If a driver cannot defend then an overtake isn't an overtake anymore. It's a formality.

This is all getting a bit silly now.

To be honest I've been thinking the opposite. There are many incidents over the season that are not covered by rules or guidelines, and this leads to the situation where whatever the stewards happen to think on the day goes, but then a selection of ex-pros are interviewed who all contradict each other, and the drivers are left wondering what the are/aren't allowed to do, which leads to bickering/ill-feeling and general confusion and controversy.

I see what you're saying, just let racers race and everything will sort itself out, but things all get rather silly like that as well. Just look at F1 2011 races against randoms .

[mexos]

To be honest I've been thinking the opposite. There are many incidents over the season that are not covered by rules or guidelines, and this leads to the situation where whatever the stewards happen to think on the day goes, but then a selection of ex-pros are interviewed who all contradict each other, and the drivers are left wondering what the are/aren't allowed to do, which leads to bickering/ill-feeling and general confusion and controversy.

I see what you're saying, just let racers race and everything will sort itself out, but things all get rather silly like that as well. Just look at F1 2011 races against randoms .

The more rules you have the more interpretation you get. I'd have a permanent pannel of 3 referees that go to every race who decide on every decision, so you have consistency. I'd also have 3 so you don't get bias - or you get less of it. At least 2 need to agree to get the decision through.

[Bruciebabie]

Remove blocking rules, remove blue flags. Let common sense rule and for drivers to fight. Defensive driving is just as valid as overtaking. It's part of F1. If a driver cannot defend then an overtake isn't an overtake anymore. It's a formality.

This is all getting a bit silly now.

Definitely blue flags should go. Pathetic that the best professional drivers in the world need them and an insult to the drivers in less good cars.

[wev]

I agree with mexos. It must get irritating for the teams and drivers when an incident is "under investigation" for even the tiniest of errors on the circuit. I know it pisses me off to see the little box pop up 5 or 6 times a race and there must be more than that that we don't know about.

[mexos]

Something's missing here, I can't quite place what it is but I know it's missing. Is that good enough feedback, can I go now?

[dayte]

The danger of blue flags removal is that a backmarker could potentially put the top cars out of the race.

As for the rule change, that essentially means that the only sensible way of defending is to stick to the racing line and make your one move when the guy behind does.

And what about a gradual 'blend' to the inside line, does that count as a move?

[mexos]

James Allen confirmed as 5 live co commentator. Good for him, no doubt his style will be much different - given the content he'll be commentating on and the time past since his ITV days. Looking forward to seeing what he can do.

[mexos]

The danger of blue flags removal is that a backmarker could potentially put the top cars out of the race.

Shit happens - it's up to the overtaking driver to do it in a safe way. Drivers about to be lapped should be reprimanded for blocking as if defending a racing overtake. But they most certainly shouldn't have to jump out the way in my opinion.

The kids have it too easy these days

[Dudley]

Shit happens - it's up to the overtaking driver to do it in a safe way. Drivers about to be lapped should be reprimanded for blocking as if defending a racing overtake. But they most certainly shouldn't have to jump out the way in my opinion.

The kids have it too easy these days

+1 just for the reference which the kids won't be getting at all

[Orgun]

Oh man you'll have a great time!

I sat on the steep grass verge in between Blanchimont and the bus stop, must've been 10 meters away from the cars maximum. Amazing. After the race (when exiting the course) keep an eye out for the Stella Artois beer tent, they serve a special type of SPA magic potion that'll blow your fucking socks off.

Thanks for the protip, i'll pass it along to my mates.

[dayte]

+1 just for the reference which the kids won't be getting at all

TVs were really expensive back then