The Formula One Thread

[Lethevich]

For a while there, certainly before the last two or three seasons, it had become frumpy and predictable

Yes, it was crap in the years before Alonso and Hamilton, and I found it unwatchable. Since then I have found myself watching it quite often (especially since Hamilton's 2 seasons), which is remarkable given my disintrest in motorsport in general...

[Opus106]

Wonderful stuff, Bogey! Thanks.

I am guessing that the garages are a little nicer for these cars these days.

I would have guessed that to be someone's garage in their house, rather than a pit-lane of race-track.

Just curious - was Playboy a sponsor of the race? (second pic)


P.S.: John, doesn't Piquet, Jr. race for Renault?

[Dundonnell]

In the early 1990s I was a fanatical follower of Forumla One-went to the British GP at Silverstone twice, compiled acres of statistics on the drivers past and present etc etc.

But that was the time when the championship was contested by those three great characters Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell. The races were exciting, there was genuine rivalry, and-above all-the drivers seemed to be 'characters', which made their rivalry all the more exciting to see played out on the track.

Then along came Schumacher and-I have to admit-my interest started to wane. For a time-when Schumacher and Damon Hill were battling it out(literally at times )-there was still some interest but after that the races became predictable, Schumacher won everything, the cars seemed more important than the drivers, the drivers all seemed to be identikit bland, characterless clones.

I know that things have improved again in recent years...Alonso, Hamilton et al...but I just can't get back into it I watch England messing up Test Cricket instead

[Bogey]

Wonderful stuff, Bogey! Thanks.

I would have guessed that to be someone's garage in their house, rather than a pit-lane of race-track.

Just curious - was Playboy a sponsor of the race? (second pic)


P.S.: John, doesn't Piquet, Jr. race for Renault?

No.  I just talked to my dad tonight about the race and asked him your question.  He sadi almost everything there had Toyota printed on it.  It was after all called the Toyota Grand Prix of the United States.  However, Miss May of 1979 presented the winning trophy.Here are some of his other memories:

1. On the race day it poured buckets.  He said the cars were making 100 foot high rooster tails with the water as they came around turns, but they still maintained speeds of 60-70 mph even in these horrible conditions.

2. The rain was so bad (and it had rained earlier that week) that if you stepped off the concrete paths, you would be knee deep in mud.

3. Parking was horrible.  When we left he said that both sides of the road were filled with parked cars 15 miles from the race track.  My uncle took us back to our car, but we were not sure if the motor home would make it through the mud.  And speaking of my uncle, he probably got the tickets from his work.  My dad believes he may have been working for American Motors at the time.

[Bogey]

In the early 1990s I was a fanatical follower of Forumla One-went to the British GP at Silverstone twice, compiled acres of statistics on the drivers past and present etc etc.

But that was the time when the championship was contested by those three great characters Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell. The races were exciting, there was genuine rivalry, and-above all-the drivers seemed to be 'characters', which made their rivalry all the more exciting to see played out on the track.

Then along came Schumacher and-I have to admit-my interest started to wane. For a time-when Schumacher and Damon Hill were battling it out(literally at times )-there was still some interest but after that the races became predictable, Schumacher won everything, the cars seemed more important than the drivers, the drivers all seemed to be identikit bland, characterless clones.

I know that things have improved again in recent years...Alonso, Hamilton et al...but I just can't get back into it I watch England messing up Test Cricket instead

Well, hope you join us here and take in some races.  I bet you have some great stories to share and we would love reading them.

[Bogey]

A possible contender?

http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/3/9012.html

Or is Ferrari and or McLaren-Mercedes still the ones to beat?

[Bogey]

Yes, it was crap in the years before Alonso and Hamilton, and I found it unwatchable. Since then I have found myself watching it quite often (especially since Hamilton's 2 seasons), which is remarkable given my disintrest in motorsport in general...

But there seems to be an intangible attraction here in F1.  I am not a motor sport fan.  Never have been.  But this is special....IMO, of course.

[Lethevich]

A possible contender?

http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/3/9012.html

Or is Ferrari and or McLaren-Mercedes still the ones to beat?

To be honest, Honda had been promising similar for years and it never happened - I doubt this will either. The big surprise last season was that a multitude of teams managed to become much more competitive with the big teams in a way no mid-running teams had done for a long time, but with their budgets, I cannot see even them (Renault, Red Bull) overtaking McLaren or Ferrari. BMW may have the best chance, but I think that them retaining Heidfeld may hurt them if he can't improve his results (ditto for Kovalainen and McLaren).

[Bogey]

So, do you folks follow a team, or a specific driver?  I believe I am more into the team thing.  I have not chosen one to pull for this season yet.  I believe I will watch the first race and then decide.  I am usually good at picking out the one that will cause more frustration than happiness, so I look forward to a long season.

[Bogey]

To be honest, Honda had been promising similar for years and it never happened - I doubt this will either. The big surprise last season was that a multitude of teams managed to become much more competitive with the big teams in a way no mid-running teams had done for a long time, but with their budgets, I cannot see even them (Renault, Red Bull) overtaking McLaren or Ferrari. BMW may have the best chance, but I think that them retaining Heidfeld may hurt them if he can't improve his results (ditto for Kovalainen and McLaren).

You don't mean to imply they would in any way hype their team right before the season started for mere publicity?

[Lethevich]

You don't mean to imply they would in any way hype their team right before the season started for mere publicity?

Heaven forfend!

[mahler10th]

P.S.: John, doesn't Piquet, Jr. race for Renault?

Yes, sorry, It's Noco Rosberg that drives for Williams, I got mixed up because their two dads (Kiki and Nelson) used to race each other too, so I clumsily put their sons in the wrong car seats!  Poor excuse for my error, but it should hold water.

Dundonnel: I watch England messing up Test Cricket instead...

That's the pits, so it is.

Bogey:

A possible contender?
http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/3/9012.html
Or is Ferrari and or McLaren-Mercedes still the ones to beat?

No and yes.  The late testing, although very promising for the fiesty new Brawn GP team, is too little too late methinks.  The other teams will be one step ahead and will implement most of their developmental upgrades round about the beginning of May, Spanish Grand Prix time, while the gap in the development cycle for Brawn GP will become more apparent by then.
Ferrari and McLaren are still the dogs to beat - but I rather think the changes are so radical this year that their dominance will be considerably weakened.

[Opus106]

No.  I just talked to my dad tonight about the race and asked him your question.  He sadi almost everything there had Toyota printed on it.  It was after all called the Toyota Grand Prix of the United States.  However, Miss May of 1979 presented the winning trophy.

Ah. And thanks to your father for sharing his memories, as well.

Ferrari and McLaren are still the dogs to beat - but I rather think the changes are so radical this year that their dominance will be considerably weakened.

Quite. It'll be interesting to see how the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), among other things, plays with the teams' fortunes.

[mahler10th]

OPUS: Quite. It'll be interesting to see how the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), among other things, plays with the teams' fortunes.

The KERS is the most innovative development F1 has seen since wings on cars, and between that and a return to slicks, the coming season will sizzle!!

Meanwhile, Brawn GP continue to kick ass on the track:

The newly-rescued Brawn GP on Thursday continued to astound its rivals at Barcelona, on the last day of the final group test of the winter.
Not only was Rubens Barrichello atop the timesheets, he bettered team-mate Jenson Button's astonishing time of Wednesday and was nearly a full second clear of the quickest of his dumbfounded rivals... (from http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/index.shtml)

I still think a lag will become apparent later in early season.  But it would be nice if they turned out strong like this all season, because a new team with old drivers actually winning the Constructors championship would be an exciting milestone for F1.  Hate to be a party pooper though, still think the developmental dynamics in F1 will show their colours come the Spanish GP or thereafter, and Brawn will suffer.

[Bogey]

Race time soon, but in the meantime let's diffuse a bit:

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/3/9052.html

[DavidRoss]

Gosh, they're still doing this?  I haven't paid much attention since the days when John Surtees switched from motorcycles to cars and showed them all how it's done.  (Giving away my age, eh?  Ah, well...I earned this gray beard.)

[Opus106]

Weird.

Actually, it's not all the weird, with Brawn GP performing superbly in the weeks leading to the race, but still, to see the Ferraris at the bottom and these guys at the top (consistently - the key word) is something we need ourselves to accustom to.

But the cars are definitely -to borrow a term from Bart Simpson's lexicon- uuuuggly!

[pjme]

How do you cope with the noise?

P.

[springrite]

We named our daughter Kimi. F-1 fan? For sure. Take a wild guess who we support!

[Opus106]

How do you cope with the noise?

P.

Huh! DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?