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The Formula 1 Thread

Nick_L

By Nick_L
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myoozikk

myoozikk

Posted
Posted

Red Bull win i'd think, Hamilton top 3 in the wet, top 5 in dry.

Button only did well start of the season because the car was far better than anyone else. I stand by what i said about Button, he's not a world champion imo. He way still get it, but i don't know if he deserves it. He has to show in the next few races he can work with the team to get the car back and prove he can drive it when the pressure is on.

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Sidewaysbob

Sidewaysbob

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It’s back to proper racing

Considering that Belgium is the most boring country on the planet, by some miracle it managed to build the second best circuit in the world. A circuit built by Men for Men to race on. Big, fast corners with long winding straights through the forest up the side of the only interesting bit of Belgium.

This place is all about speed and handling, going fast and carrying the speed though the corners so that the ribbon of tarmac unfolds in front of the car. Speed, you have to have a big grunty engine that can propel the car like a missile through the forest of the Ardennes.

Which going on form so far, all adds up to the Redbulls after Webbers victory in Germany.

But, this is Belgium and that means rain. We got it last year in the result that never was. Hamilton chasing down the Ferrari of Kimi, until it starts to rain and Kimi’s going backwards suddenly. Then Hamilton cuts the corner, gives Kimi the lead back and then takes him into the next corner and keeps it on the island to take a brilliant victory. Or so we thought. Then the FIA pressed the Random Result Generator Button™ and Massa wins for some really bizarre reason.

The weather can be strange here. Rain on one side of the circuit and brilliant sunshine on the other side. Usually it just dumps a load of rain on the circuit and catches the great and good out.

So picking a winner is always tricky here.

Redbull are the favourites because they won in Germany. Webber is still chasing Button hard and Vettel needs to shake the feeling that he’s stiffed when the chips are down. Redbull can still win the constructors cup if both of their drivers are up to speed. Vettel is due a bounce back too, a wet track and he could remined everyone that he's still racing.... China anyone !

McLaren have got themselves a fast car at last and are trying to beat Ferrari to 3rd spot in the championship. So they will be going balls out for a win. Hamilton to wipe the memory of last year’s race, and Kovy to try and keep his seat for next year. I don't think they'll have the legs on Redbull, but a sprinkle of rain and it's anyones to win.

Brawn seems to have got the car sort of fixed and Button needs to stop haemorrhaging point to his rivals. Whilst Barrichello want to prove once and for all that he can win a championship if given the chance. But a cold wet Spa is the same as a Cold wet Silverstone and the Brawn was a piece of shit there. Have they fixed that problem ? I don't think so.

Ferrari meanwhile have given Badoer another shot at racing, after he clocked up the most number of pit lane fines in the history of motor racing. Kimi wants to prove that he can still drive a car fast, even win, after last year’s fiasco.

So there are lots of drivers with something to prove here and they have a proper circuit to do it on.

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Snowman

Snowman

Posted
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I'm slightly baffled by all this talk of Button faltering, not necessarily from this thread but in general. I've no idea whether he's champion material, but it's clear to me that the reason he did so well earlier in the season was because the Brawns had that diffuser. Now the competition has caught up and suddenly people are surprised that he's not doing as well as before. Given Brawn's sponsorship situation, I can't imagine they have the R&D capabilities to improve their car at a rate that matches McLaren and Red Bull.

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Sidewaysbob

Sidewaysbob

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I think Button has fallen into the trap of thinking he has to protect his championship lead. To do that he has to drive for points and not Wins. So, he backs out of 50/50 moves and follows the car infront rather than husseling the other driver.

No killer instinked.

Webber and Barrichello, know they have to beat button. So push harder and driver closer to the edge, thus gaining points.

Button can still turm it around. Nut he doesn't have the singularly best car on the grid anymore.

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dam_aks

dam_aks

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Button doesn't need to do anything drastic though really does he? The points system as it is rewards safe driving, all he has to do is notch up a few podiums and get points finishes and the championship is in the bag. I'd be pretty shocked if he didn't win the Drivers Championship this season, no matter how hard the others push.

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morcs

morcs

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Vettel is due a bounce back too, a wet track and he could remined everyone that he's still racing.... China anyone !

...and Monza last year in the Torro Rosso of course, his first win after a faultless drive in the wet

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Agent L

Agent L

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I think Button has fallen into the trap of thinking he has to protect his championship lead. To do that he has to drive for points and not Wins. So, he backs out of 50/50 moves and follows the car infront rather than husseling the other driver.

No killer instinked.

Webber and Barrichello, know they have to beat button. So push harder and driver closer to the edge, thus gaining points.

Button can still turm it around. Nut he doesn't have the singularly best car on the grid anymore.

I'm not so sure of that. In the last few races where he hasn't qualified too well and/or has been overtaken off the line he's done a banzai move to get (try to get) the place back immediately. It hasn't always worked but there's been real intent there. He pulled out of the dual with Vettel a bit early in my opinion but he correctly stated in an interview afterwards that if he hadn't it would have been a very big accident. As it y=turned out it was the right decision as he ended up outscoring Vettel and Webber to increase his lead.

What he needs is a couple more podiums or ideally a win and a couple of seconds or thirds and I'd say the title is safe. However, he's not had a DNF yet this year and I have a feeling that he'll be very lucky to get through the season without one.

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zxcvbnm

zxcvbnm

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The Maclaren have finally got their act together is nothing but good news for Button. If they keep the red bulls off the top and Button keeps scoring points he'll have the championship, albeit in a very boring manner.

I can't wait until next year when refueling finally gets dumped again. Too much action happens on pit stops, not the drivers will actually have to race for position. I think they might need to lose more Aero packages on the cars though so they actually have a chance of catching each other.

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Agent L

Agent L

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The Maclaren have finally got their act together is nothing but good news for Button. If they keep the red bulls off the top and Button keeps scoring points he'll have the championship, albeit in a very boring manner.

I can't wait until next year when refueling finally gets dumped again. Too much action happens on pit stops, not the drivers will actually have to race for position. I think they might need to lose more Aero packages on the cars though so they actually have a chance of catching each other.

That's very true, and hopefully Kimi can keep getting good results too.

As for pitstops, we'll still be having them for tyres no? I can't see much change really as passing will still happen in the pits. Even more tactical though as drivers need to manage their tyres more.

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mexos

mexos

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I can't wait until next year when refueling finally gets dumped again. Too much action happens on pit stops, not the drivers will actually have to race for position.

I'm unconvinced about the refueling ban. The 88-93 period was chock full of processional races. I remember 94 (when refueling came in) and it mixing it up a bit. The guy who got into the first corner first wasn't (reliability aside) guaranteed victory anymore.

What might work in our favor here is that the field spread is MUCH tighter and closer than in the 80's/90's.

I think they might need to lose more Aero packages on the cars though so they actually have a chance of catching each other.

If only it was that simple... I don't think they'll ever fully sort it. Unless we go to a spec formula :)

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marsh

marsh

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The only thing we are likely to see next year is some very late charges by those that have saved their tyres. You used to get (insert random F1 hopeful in here) on a hard compound holding everyone up and looking to stop once in the race instead of someone running a heavy fuel load and looking to stop once in the race.

Some of those races pre-fueling races were won by a mile if my memory serves me correctly.

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Christoph84

Christoph84

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Which ones?

I think most, bar endurance racing. GP2, A1GP, F3, World Series Renault, Super League Formula (I think) plus the tin tops. Correct me if I'm wrong.

MotoGP also gets along fine, it adds a new challenge for the engineers, the engines effectively manage their fuel use themselves.

I just don't see why it's such a big deal.

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Snowman

Snowman

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You're absolutely right. I suppose the point is that all those formulae you mention feature exciting action on the track. Formula 1 doesn't and so they have to make up for this by mixing things up in the pitlane. Says it all really.

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Christoph84

Christoph84

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But all the formula mentioned don't tend to have pitstops either, even for tyres......

Good point.

I guess it just removes one of the chances they have to overtake in the pits, a chance that they have to try and take on track. It's hard to predict how it'll pan out.

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morcs

morcs

Posted
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Tyres are still a big element.

Porsche Carrera Cup cars are notoriously heavy on tyre wear, so you see some of the veterans conserving their tyres at the start of the race and then fighting back for positions at the end when the leaders have all but knackered their rubber.

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MrPogo

MrPogo

Posted
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Kimi's taking his relaxed approached to crazy new heights, being parked up in Norwich as of 4pm today:

post-1732-1251406917.jpg

Actually looks like it's a 2004 model with updated advertising, but still nice to see! There were a couple of bridgestone trucks setting up in the morning and hoped they might have an F1 car (seemed the best platform to show off the brand!) and it turned out they thought the same!

Edit: no, I can't work out when it's from!

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