Sport The Formula 1 Thread

[Sidewaysbob]

Turning the wick down on the qualifying engine made no difference to vettel in valencia and I see no reason why that's changed this week.

Ferrari might be closer, but its Vettels to lose I think.

[Wools]

I made it back from the Goodwood Festival of Speed after camping in Lord March’s back yard for the weekend, and had a brilliant time.

It’s my third time at the Festival and the first time I stayed for the weekend, it’s only on this occasion that I’ve realised the sheer amount of things to see and do. I spent the majority of Thursday & Friday wondering around the stands and paddock, looking at the cars and what’s on offer. I got to see Audi’s new Quattro and was slightly disappointed with how it looked in the flesh, with a typical Audi grill in the front, with some retro lines and design on the back. The far more impressive and imposing static display was the Audi TDI Le Mans car that looked beautiful. I’ve never noticed it before, but underneath the very expensive carbon fibre shell, exists a layer that resembles a F1 chassis. With the car raised on a plinth, you could see between the air intakes and skirt, seeing how exposed a LMP1 car is.

On the Lotus stand, was Ayrton Senna’s JPS Lotus. After being reminded only a week ago how special Ayrton was, it was a privilege to be able to see the car in close up. As a contrast, the modern Renault Lotus was in front and it’s surprising how simular yet different they both are.

Over the weekend, we watched the Hill Climb with some drivers getting it spot on, and in the case of Mario Illien in the Penske not so much, and spent the remainder on Sunday at the top of the hill at the Rally Stage. A lot of great moments there, and finally getting the chance to see one of my favourite cars of all time, the Lancia Delta & the S4 in factory settings with Martini liveries, was a dream come true.

I also got the opportunity to stand only a few feet away from the Red Bull as it was being fired up. I now realise the stupidity of this, as all the mechanics put ear defenders in and I stood mouth agape, but the result was a noise so ferocious that I can’t compare it to anything I’ve ever heard. It was a miracle my ear drums did not rupture.

There were so many highlights, it’s a struggle to think or name them all. Standing on the start line with Mark Webber in the Red Bull, meeting Murray Walker, the Red Arrows fly by as we were putting our tent up, the Vulcans jet engines soaring as the plane climbed vertically and seeing every one of the cars I dreamed about as a kid, turning a wheel in anger.

One of the best weekends away I’ve ever had.

Sorry for the pictures! Even more are here:

http://s1111.photobucket.com/albums/h466/Michael_Woolgar/Goodwood%20Festival%20of%20Speed%202011/

[McSpeed]

*Best. Post. Ever.*

:hat:

[Meers]

Fucking hell, Wools! Awesome post is awesome!

Too bad I've switched the voting system off, otherwise you would have gotten a +1!

[Shimmyhill]

Awesome Wools!

I must make a point of going next year, i keep thinking about it but maybe like you said and go away for the weekend with the family!

[morcs]

My mate went to some thing at Goodwood and saw Lord March in a gents toilet.

Obviously to mark the occasion what he did then was take a photo of Lord March going for a piss. I've got it somewhere.

[Wools]

Thanks, it was a really great weekend and can thoroughly recommend the Festival of Speed to anyone whos never gone before.

One of the issues with watching live Motorsport is the limited views and only seeing the vehicles for a few seconds each lap. At Goodwood, every manufacturer and collector is completely open to you looking at the car and taking photos ( Sometimes theyll even let you sit in them, as I did in 2006 with Richard Burns Safari specification Subaru Impreza ) and when its going up the hill climb, youre only a few bales of hay away from the engine.

A wonderful event, I just wish I had the time to see a few more cars and meet a few drivers!

[reani_]

Excellent post Wools

I don't want to miss any of this:

Formula 1 2011, The British Grand Prix - Practice One

8 Jul 2011 09:55-11:35 Satellite and Cable One

Formula 1 2011, The British Grand Prix - Practice Two

8 Jul 2011 13:55-15:35 Satellite and Cable One

Formula 1 2011, The British Grand Prix - Qualifying

9 Jul 2011 12:10-14:40 BBC One

Formula 1 2011, The British Grand Prix - Race

10 Jul 2011 12:10-15:40 BBC One

Formula 1 2011, The British Grand Prix - Forum

10 Jul 2011 15:40 BBC One

Forgot to add: Sebastian Vettel is the star in a reasonably priced car on Sunday's Top gear. So maybe worth checking that out as well...

Edited July 7, 2011 by Antenor

[Plissken]

Wow, you got to see the Delta S4... Still the most remarkable engine noise I've ever heard.

Damn, I am so going to have to do this one year.

[JohnC]

Schumi is staying next season.

[Sidewaysbob]

That surprises me, I though Di Resta was being groomed for that seat. Obviously he hasn't done enough to get the nod.

[Snowman]

You reckon Mercedes would just kick Schumacher out if di Resta performed well enough? I'd have thought it would depend purely on whether Michael decides to stay or not.

[SeanR]

what's the weather like in Northamptonshire today?

[kiroquai]

Pretty bad - I usually go past the Silverstone junction on the way to work and it was grey and spitting with rain this morning (although I did go a slightly different route to avoid traffic).

Supposedly it's going to be raining most of the day.

[exwhyzed]

This is already more exciting than Valencia.

what's the weather like in Northamptonshire today?

Track is damp / wet in places with with more rain possible.

[myoozikk]

Kobicrashy, nearly rolled it as well. Could have been nasty.

[Dannon]

Yeah, very close to going over

[Dannon]

Well it started drying up towards the end, hopefully it'll dry off a bit more before the next session.

[JPR]

If you didn't catch the interview with Lewis and his brother on 5Live it's really worth checking for it on their site later as I assume they'll put it up. Really good interview it's Lewis having a laugh and chat alongside his younger brother, makes a change from his recent interviews and probably the best one I've heard with him, no what are you thinking moments or corporate rubbish, just a guy who enjoys what he's doing and loves being able to share it with his brother.

[myoozikk]

So the FIA have totally fucked the EBD ban. I'm expecting the red bulls to walk tomorrow.

[dayte]

Eh? What? Has it been postponed?

[MrPogo]

Seems Red Bull complained that the original ruling gave Mercedes engines a huge advantage, so it was changed to something else which McLaren are complaining gives Renault engines (and thus Red Bull) a huge advantage.

[Sidewaysbob]

Horner doesn't sound like he's a happy man. hardy har ahr

[Sidewaysbob]

there is a superb flying camera over the entry to luffield

[Paradigm]

Oo eck.

In fairness I feel sorry for Horner, it seems like other teams are trying to do everything they can to hobble Red Bull when they don't have any concrete idea of why they're fast. It's arbitrary and anti-engineering IMO.

[Jonny5]

Murray Walker in the commentary box

[Sidewaysbob]

Oo eck.

In fairness I feel sorry for Horner, it seems like other teams are trying to do everything they can to hobble Red Bull when they don't have any concrete idea of why they're fast. It's arbitrary and anti-engineering IMO.

indeed, to be told on friday you can have 50% then on Saturday morning have that taken away you can understand his annoyance.

[Sidewaysbob]

That'll be Webber off the podium then. trying to find a leak in the engine bay on Saturday morning never bodes well.

[Rattlehead.ie]

dammit my proxy stopped working......... it would seem its going to be a very interesting next 24 hours for everyone. Teams and Viewers.

[Sidewaysbob]

Since when have the BRDC ever given a shit about the muddy masses round the track. !!