Sport The Formula 1 Thread

[The Bag]

Were there two safety cars? I only remember one, but the interview woman keeps mentioning two.

[Hackign]

Apparently Luca confirmed Alonso for Ferrari while Whitmarsh sort of did telling reaction to all but confirm the Raikkonen to McLaren deal.

So the guys on the autosport forums say.

Hamilton and Raikkonen to thrash everyone next year.

[Pete]

God that was boring.

[Shimmyhill]

The first lap or 2 was epic, esp in car as the cars were all bunched together.

Hami was in a different league again, faster than the redbulls even for the time his Kers stopped working !

[Halkyon]

Apparently Luca confirmed Alonso for Ferrari while Whitmarsh sort of did telling reaction to all but confirm the Raikkonen to McLaren deal.

So the guys on the autosport forums say.

Hamilton and Raikkonen to thrash everyone next year.

[DarthSquirrel]

Were there two safety cars? I only remember one, but the interview woman keeps mentioning two.

I think she said "A tale of two safety cars" meaning the one which came out for the Sutil-Heidfeld tangle and the one that didn't come out for the Webber crash which people gambled on and allowed Button to profit by jumping Rubens.

[marsh]

Dull, please tell me there are some more significant rule changes to bring the cars closer together on track ?

[Sidewaysbob]

Well that was pretty dull wasn't it ?

Qualifying was aceness. F1 cars belting around downtown Singapore, sparks showering the track as the cars rode the bumpy street circuit. The World champion in waiting having an awful time of it, failing to get to Quli 3. Barrichello, chasing the leader, tries too hard and sticks it in the wall leaving Hamilton with a tank full of fuel and a pole for his troubles.

It was great. Everything that is good about F1 was there in the Qualifying, drivers really trying hard, balls out, inch perfect driving. But it also showed the bad bits of F1, the fact that all the drivers knew they had to be up front because there was precious little over taking to be had on this tight and twisty street course. Once they left the line on Sunday they needed a bit of luck or an idiot up front to move up through the pack.

So thank you Rosberg (crossing the white line out of the pits) and Vettel (speeding in the pit lane ... if that's possible these days). For being idiots for the other drivers. Okay so they robbed us of any interest during the race, once those two had cocked it up there was no one to challenge Hamilton on his cruise to the line.

Webber blew any chance of a tilt at the title, with another DNF. His break exploded and pitched him into the wall. After he's been nailed by the "FIA Random act of rules interpretation" this week. He over took Alonso early on, got squeezed and had to cross over the curb to avoid an accident. Remember Hamilton at Spa last year ? well the same thing here, But wait ... Alonso also crossed the curb with Webber, So they were both over the line. Yes Webber was pretty much, but not quite past Alonso and by avoiding an accident he made the pass stick. Meanwhile Glock got passed Alonso. Webber sails off into the distance until his radio pipes up, "FIA don't like that, better give the place back mate, oh and Let Glock passed too, he's ahead of Alonso now!"

Personally i think once both cars cross the line then no advantage is gained by the other so it should stand. But the FIA disagree and that was the end of that.

Meanwhile Hamilton whizzed on to the Chequred flag, champagne and a big snog from his Pussycat girlfriend, who appears to be still his girlfriend. I should stick to being a petrolhead and leave Celeb gossip to the red tops.

Glock get's second as Vettel and Rosberg cock things up.

Alonso (Teflonso as Brundle called him) keeps his head down and claims that the win last year was all his doing and he didn't need no stupid Brazilin to crash for him Ole.

Vettel saves a dropped bollock and collects 4th place. it should have been more, it's almost the end of his tilt at the title now.

5th for Button, points saved and much smiling all round (except in the garage next door). A break disc about to explode but not, shows yet again, that it's not about being the best, it's luck that wins championship. not speed and guts. You have to be the luckiest SOB out there.

As proved by Barrichello in 6th who isn't lucky and will probably throw a hissy fit over his team not letting him beat Button.

7th For Kovalainen, son to be making way for Kimi all of a sudden. Not the making way bit, he was fired back in Hungary. But who would have though Kimi was going to return to the boys from Woking. Not me, that's for certain. Will he gel with Hamilton ....... not a chance. Shades of Hamilton v Alonso i suspect.

8th Kubica, remember him, yes, he's still racing apparently.

9th Nakajima, doesn't hit anything for a change and get a top ten finish.

Finally 10th for Raikkonen. Yupe that Ferrari is still a rubbish car, Fisi in 13th and looking utterly lost proved that. Still what does he care now, he's back to Woking, the ice cream isn't as good, But the Lap dancers are cheaper .. so I've heard.!!

It's the Japanese GP next weekend, back to proper circuit with scary corners and nice fast straights. Can Hamilton make it a back to back win. Who knows.

[Velse]

Finally 10th for Raikkonen. Yupe that Ferrari is still a rubbish car, Fisi in 13th and looking utterly lost proved that. Still what does he care now, he's back to Woking, the ice cream isn't as good, But the Lap dancers are cheaper .. so I've heard.!!

I expect Kimi to do what he does everywhere - turn up, drive very quickly or bin it for a cornetto. They'll get on fine I think, he probably won't say a great deal!

[marsh]

Have Walls been announced as sponsors for Mclaren? or are they going to renault?

[mexos]

Have Walls been announced as sponsors for Mclaren? or are they going to renault?

Not as sponsors - more 'Official Suppliers'

[Sidewaysbob]

I though Kimi was starting a Franchise. Out the back of the Mclaren pits, "the Icemans Ices" perhaps

[curium]

Hamilton and Raikkonen to thrash everyone next year.

I really hope so. Would love to see the ice-man stick it to Ferrari but once again he may go AWOL...

[morcs]

It looks like our desire to have the F1 forum on red button has been answered.

Only problem is it's now even more difficult not to spoiler the replay as there's a whole hour of the programme with the top 3 results stamped at the bottom of the screen!

[Bruciebabie]

It looks like our desire to have the F1 forum on red button has been answered.

Only problem is it's now even more difficult not to spoiler the replay as there's a whole hour of the programme with the top 3 results stamped at the bottom of the screen!

BBC gave us four and a half hours of Singapore Grand Prix yesterday with no adverts and no James Allen.

There was some really wicked content.

The Bernie interview was just brilliant.

And the GP was amazing. I know the masses only want to see incidents and yesterday was light on these. But to see such brilliant drivers exercising such amazing skills right to the limit and beyond for two hours was a joy. There was nowhere and no time for any of them to hide. More quality driving, between concrete walls at 180mph, than you see in most GPs. Button was magnificent, he will be a worthy champion.

[morcs]

BBC gave us four and a half hours of Singapore Grand Prix yesterday with no adverts and no James Allen.

Ah I'd assumed they'd just tagged the forum on the end of the red button replay. I rang a mate up to ask him to watch red button for me and text when it looped back to the start. After it still hadn't looped for an hour after the race I gave up and watched the highlights.

[mexos]

Ah I'd assumed they'd just tagged the forum on the end of the red button replay. I rang a mate up to ask him to watch red button for me and text when it looped back to the start. After it still hadn't looped for an hour after the race I gave up and watched the highlights.

I save the forum for a few days afterwards and watch it online. It's a good F1 midweek fix

Annoying as hell when they don't put it up tho.

[marsh]

Button was magnificent, he will be a worthy champion.

This, I'm starting to think that maybe he has done enough. He was driving the tits off that car until his brakes had decided they didn't want to play anymore.

Great drive.

[gone fishin]

The Singapore track does look amazing (it makes for fantastic shots of the night skyline) but god, was it a bit of a chore watching it.

It will be interesting to see how it fares in 4-5 years time when people are getting bored of the interesting shots (weren't attendance figures down this year). But in saying that, Monaco is a pretty dull course and it seems to be doing OK!

I was thinking how Ross Brawn seems to have changed since his Ferrari days- you could never imagine Schumacher being happy with a 5th place- even starting from 11th- he would be pushing it right to the end. However, the Brawn's seem to be happy just sitting back- having a reliable car and taking in the points. Maybe it plays well to Button's character (he's not really a pushy Schumacher type) but the past few races have shown that the Brawns are quite effortless in picking up the points. Unfortunately it comes across as "limping across the line", and I don't think that would have ever been acceptable at Ferrari (except, maybe in 2003).

I just hope Button can win at least 1 of the next 3 races, otherwise he'll probably get a lot of stick, if crowned, for not having enough bottle....

[Sidewaysbob]

I appreciate that he's paid his dues and all. Done time in the rubbish car. But i'm still not sure he's a worthy champion.

Whilst i dislike Jackie (I'm a profesional Scots man) Stewart almost as much as i dislike Trulli, he did point out that there are no stand out drivers at the moment. Kimi, Hamilton and Alonso are for me the best right now. But they aren't dominating in the way Senna or Schumnacher could dominate.

Button is kind of winning the title because Redbull have had problems with their Renault Engine, Barrichello could get his act together and spent more time whining about not having the best equipment then racing hard. Mclaren dropped the ball but have recover and now look like winning every race from here on in. Ferrari meanwhile have a rubbish car a driver who doesn't care anymoer and another in hiospital.

So Button hasn't really had to beat all comers, the wins at the start of the year were because there were no other challengers and he had the best car. As the other teams have got their acts together, he has struggled with the pressure and poor qualifying. If he does win the race for the chase for the cup for the thing then i'll cheer just as loud as i did for Lewis last year. But i'm not convinced he's been the best driver of the year. He's had better luck than the rest, but he's not gone out and nailed every race and ground the rest in to the dust.

I think he deserves the Championship, not becuase he is a brilliant driver, but becuase he's had crap cars and stuck to the game. He's also not that exciting to watch. Hamilton drifting his Mclaren through the swimming pool complex at Monaco, that is modern day motorcraft poetry. Button, just sort of drivers around smoothly. Fully in control, never hanging it out where the great and the angels play russian roulette with loaded pistols.

[gone fishin]

I'd agree with you sidewaysbob- if Button does win it, then it will be fantastic for him (after all these years, and proving that he can drive- when in a decent car) and more so for Brawn after the year they've had. But he is way too similar (in my opinion) to David Coulthard- he's a reassuringly dull driver. Never pushes anything too much, never goes over the edge and (at the moment) ends up in the top 5.

Because he had an amazing car at the start of the year, he managed to rack up a load of points. Now the rest of the pack have caught up- he's now being shown up for what he is- like Coulthard.

The difference is that Coulthard always had amazing drivers drive at the same time as him- or drivers that really pushed the envelope (Schumacher, Hakkinen, even Villeneuve and Hill to an extent). For the first half of this year- there was noone who came close to Button.

So that's probably why, I wouldn't be too bothered in Rubens won it instead. I'd feel sorry for Button, because this is probably the best chance he ever has- and he can finally prove his potential that he had shown all those years ago.

That's why I think he has to win something at the end of the season, or show his balls (not literally). If he just ends up winning by Rubens crashing out, or by coming 5/6th in the next few races- with just enough points to win- then it won't do his reputation much good. It maybe explains why the end of this F1 season seems to be a bit "damp" with the general public- certainly compared to last year.

[DarthSquirrel]

This, I'm starting to think that maybe he has done enough. He was driving the tits off that car until his brakes had decided they didn't want to play anymore

Equally, that bit of radio conversation with Barrichello they played was so awesome that he wouldn't be undeserving.

Pit wall: "We are having problems with brake tempreatures. You need to manage your brakes, Rubens. Jenson has the same problem."

Barichello: "... Can we catch him?"

[Bruciebabie]

I appreciate that he's paid his dues and all. Done time in the rubbish car. But i'm still not sure he's a worthy champion.

Whilst i dislike Jackie (I'm a profesional Scots man) Stewart almost as much as i dislike Trulli, he did point out that there are no stand out drivers at the moment. Kimi, Hamilton and Alonso are for me the best right now. But they aren't dominating in the way Senna or Schumnacher could dominate.

Button is kind of winning the title because Redbull have had problems with their Renault Engine, Barrichello could get his act together and spent more time whining about not having the best equipment then racing hard. Mclaren dropped the ball but have recover and now look like winning every race from here on in. Ferrari meanwhile have a rubbish car a driver who doesn't care anymoer and another in hiospital.

So Button hasn't really had to beat all comers, the wins at the start of the year were because there were no other challengers and he had the best car. As the other teams have got their acts together, he has struggled with the pressure and poor qualifying. If he does win the race for the chase for the cup for the thing then i'll cheer just as loud as i did for Lewis last year. But i'm not convinced he's been the best driver of the year. He's had better luck than the rest, but he's not gone out and nailed every race and ground the rest in to the dust.

I think he deserves the Championship, not becuase he is a brilliant driver, but becuase he's had crap cars and stuck to the game. He's also not that exciting to watch. Hamilton drifting his Mclaren through the swimming pool complex at Monaco, that is modern day motorcraft poetry. Button, just sort of drivers around smoothly. Fully in control, never hanging it out where the great and the angels play russian roulette with loaded pistols.

Good points well made.

I think today that we have the best crop of F1 drivers ever, so good that it is impossible for anyone to stand out.

But Button is certainly one of the best. He is so good at holding a car smoothly and balanced on the limit that he makes it look easy, when in fact he is showing the very highest level of skill.

IMHO the Red Bulls have been the fastest cars all season. If they had better drivers and management they would be miles ahead by now.

Button has run brilliant races even when the car wasn't working for him mid season. He got the maximum points out of every situation and made no mistakes.

Nobody deserves the WDC more than him this year.

[marsh]

So if Button gets to Suzuka or any of the final races and trounces the opposition, will any of you change your tune?

[Sidewaysbob]

Rubbish, he's got more point than anyone else because they didn't finish and he did. Not because he dominated every race and bloew the opposition away as they tried to catch him up.

Spa is a prefect case in point he crashed out, because he'd qualified badly, all the other rivel then fell by the wayside and dropped the ball. Result Button still leading the championship and the other still chasing. Consistancy and a great deal of luck have got him this far.

He deserves the cup because he's been boring.

[Wilbo]

Can someone summarise the current rumours on the driver market?

From the very first moment I saw them, Brawn were my favourite team - I'd liked Honda, seen them go through a lot between seasons and they have the best colour scheme. Awesome.

Does anyone else think that Fisi, Grosjean and Alguersuari prove that in-season testing needs to make a come-back? These guys are cack precisely because they haven't had a chance to try the cars out :-|

[Bruciebabie]

Can someone summarise the current rumours on the driver market?

From the very first moment I saw them, Brawn were my favourite team - I'd liked Honda, seen them go through a lot between seasons and they have the best colour scheme. Awesome.

Does anyone else think that Fisi, Grosjean and Alguersuari prove that in-season testing needs to make a come-back? These guys are cack precisely because they haven't had a chance to try the cars out :-|

Stolen from another place:

Brawn Mercedes

1. 1) Jenson Button.

2. 2) Nico Rosberg.

Red Bull Mercedes

1. 3) Sebastian Vettel.

2. 4) Mark Webber.

Scuderia Ferrari

1. 5) Fernando Alonso.

2. 6) Felipe Massa.

*Michael Schumacher

McLaren Mercedes

1. 7) Lewis Hamilton.

2. Kimi Räikkönen.

*Bruno Senna

Panasonic Toyota

1. 9) Timo Glock.

2. 10) Kazuki Nakajima.

*Kamui Kobayashi

Williams Renault

1. 11) Rubens Barrichello.

2. 12) Nico Hulkenberg.

Renault

1. 14) Robert Kubica.

2. 15) Heikki Kovalainen.

*Romain Grosjean.

Force India Mercedes

1. 16) Adrian Sutil.

2. 17) Vitantonio Liuzzi.

Toro Rosso Ferrari

1. 18) Sebastien Buemi.

2. 19) Jaime Algesuiari.

USGP Cosworth

1. 20) Scott Speed.

2. 21) Marco Andretti.

Campos Matos Cosworth

1. 22) Pedro De La Rosa.

2. 23) Pastor Maldonado.

Manor Cosworth

1. 24) Andy Carroll.

2. 25) Lucas diGrassi.

Lotus Cosworth

1. 26) Anthony Davidson.

2. 27) Pastor Maldonado.

Sauber Ferrari

1. 28) Nick Heidfeld.

2. 29) Christian Klien.

*denotes third driver

[marsh]

Big hair and Alguersariai yes, fisichella no. Fisi has been driving F1 cars for an age, if he can't find his way round a Ferrari then tough, the other two have no substantial F1 experience and are suffering massively because of it. They should allow the cars six aero test sessions on the friday throughout the year. They could also use the time to let the new guys if they have any to put in some time behind the wheels.

[McCoy]

Does anyone else think that Fisi, Grosjean and Alguersuari prove that in-season testing needs to make a come-back? These guys are cack precisely because they haven't had a chance to try the cars out :-|

I agree. Some limited testing should be allowed during the season, particularly for new drivers. In amny ways it makes me glad that MS wasn't able to come back as he may, without any testing, have been cack at getting to grips with the current Ferrari too....

[DarthSquirrel]