Formula 1

[Aussiejeff]

Webber must have been praying for a safety car about 75% race distance! He would have easily won if the god's had smiled on him in that regard.... regardless of his stunning drive back through the pack, this was one of the best F1 races I have watched in many a year.

What about the new rules regarding Kers, faster degrading tyres (ergo- more pit stops) & the rear flexi-wings for overtaking on the main straight only? I suspect these combined have had a major impact on injecting a lot more interest in the racing? At last, the F1 boffins seem to be onto the right track.... maybe extending the number of places around tracks where the rear wing option can be deployed for passing under brakes would be even better?

Anyway, I'm actually wanting to watch every race again.

 

[Synergy]

Certainly one of the best races in a long time. A good mix of strategy and on track passing. Not knowing who is going to win right until the end also makes a great race.

As for all the new things this year... I'm not sold on them yet. Some are good, some need work.

KERS is a great technical idea, and the technology may benefit everyone in the future, but it's obviously very complex, and potentially dangerous to those working on the cars. I feel that it's more of a technical hurdle the teams are being forced to overcome. The result eventually that everyone has it, and it's of no real benefit to anyone - so much for cost cutting.

The faster wearing tyres were needed I think. 1 stop races are boring and races need enough strategy options to make them interesting. It may be by chance, but it seems that the wear rate may be such that 2 or 3 stops will be the key question at every race. I would prefer refueling still be available, but this is a pretty good change. The marbles towards the end of the race are certainly an issue though.

The rear wings... I'm a fan of something to allow a car to pull up to the back of another in a straight line. I'm not a fan of something to ensure that they get past before the breaking area. Real passing should be around corners, or at least into or out of corners. I like that the officials can move the start point for the flap as they chose depending on each track, but so far the passing has been far to easy. With the tyre performance falling away like it has been, there is basically no way for someone to defend on old tyres. If they halved the effect of the flap I might think it was a good thing...

Now who thought a 3 week gap was a good idea? I get withdrawal symptoms!

 

[McCoy Pauley]

Rumour doing the rounds that Rupert Murdoch is kicking the tyres on an acquisition of the management company in charge of Formula One.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rmula-One-takeover-bid.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

 

[robusta]

Two races to go.

My interest is shifting from, can Webber win a race? to will Daniel Ricciardo be in a half decent car next year?

It is nice to have two Aussies to follow.

 

[robusta]

Really looking forward to this race, both Aussies one grid spot ahead of their teammates on the grid should make a interesting race. Alonso just behin
d the Torro Rossos will also be worth watching.

 

[Glen48]

F1 Button is in the top left hand corner of your key board.

I am looking at building a Porsche 917 kit car had a flat 12 Air cooled engine capable of 1.500HP on full boost and would rev to 8,2 so the drivers sat on 8,1 and still holds the fastest lap at Le Mans since 71.
On the Honda F1 engines at 18,000 RPM the pistons are moving up and down 300 times a second, one car became air borne and over revved to 21K before exploding.
Ferrari make 75 M a year out of clothing sales.
don't know where red bull get all their money from but seem to be in every thing.
Good luck to Mark.

 

[ThingyMajiggy]

Looking like it's going to be a ripper year in F1 now that Red Bull aren't a mile ahead! (Well, not yet, we'll see by mid-year). Loving that Mclaren and Mercedes GP are on it! Good luck to Ricciardo too. What a qually performance from Grosjean though, incredible.

 

[MrBurns]

Well done to Jenson Button a great guy good to see him take it out BUT Vettel coming in from 6th to 2nd was a damn good effort.

 

[Noskcid]

Deff one of the best races in Melb in the recent years!!!

 

[ThingyMajiggy]

Well done to Jenson Button a great guy good to see him take it out BUT Vettel coming in from 6th to 2nd was a damn good effort.

Yeah, Kimi as well, 17th to 7th, not bad either! Awesome last lap from Ricciardo too, get into the top ten after the horrid start(both Aussies for that matter!)

Agreed, definitely one of the best Melbourne GPs for a while, which bodes well for the rest of the season, usually Melbourne is one of the more boring races of the year.

 

[Eager]

Agreed, definitely one of the best Melbourne GPs for a while, which bodes well for the rest of the season, usually Melbourne is one of the more boring races of the year.

But an absolute hoot to attend.

I know, I know, spoilt for choice between the AFL grand final, the Melbourne Cup carnival, the Moto GP, the Boxing Day test, the Australian Open, the International Air Show every second year, and the F1 Grand Prix. But attending the F1 GP is very special. It should be retained at all costs.

 

[robusta]

Have always loved to watch Raikkonen race but in the post race interviews, what a boring sod, that monotone robotic voice, and curt non-communicative answers.

This interview has changed my opinion of him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35f4rd5qWA0

 

[Eager]

Have always loved to watch Raikkonen race but in the post race interviews, what a boring sod, that monotone robotic voice, and curt non-communicative answers.

This interview has changed my opinion of him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35f4rd5qWA0

i don't know why it would.

He only looked mildly human when Clarkson was taking the piss.

 

[chrislp]

The guy doesn't care much for formality but he's a character.

 

[Liar's Poker]

Have always loved to watch Raikkonen race but in the post race interviews, what a boring sod, that monotone robotic voice, and curt non-communicative answers.

This interview has changed my opinion of him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35f4rd5qWA0

His ice man type responses is exactly why he is loved by so many.

Go McLaren and kimi!

 

[pavilion103]

Interesting grid for Malaysia. Will the usually fast starting Ferrari's take Vettel into the first corner?

I'm happy for Massa that he is right on top of his game so far this year. A Massa win is a possibility.

 

[robusta]

Yes very pleased for Massa, the expected rain should shake things up further.

 

[Whiskers]

Good drive and a good team strategy effort from Webber.

Vettel's win at all costs attitude, even against your own team mate and team orders, has come back to haunt him again. Team boss memories of his overzealous overtaking, taking out both team cars in the past and for no extra team gain for the risky challenge on Webber this race should earn him a good dressing down behind closed doors.

Some commentry discussion about the validity of team orders... the short answer is so long as the team boss is paying for your car and team, you ought to follow your team boss's orders if you want to keep your drive.

 

[pavilion103]

Horner's comments along the lines of 'if we asked him to give the place back do you think he would have' shows he has no power.

I hope something comes of this.

I was so excited to watch the race, had been waiting all day with two fast starting Ferrari's 2 and 3. After 1 lap I thought, what a waste of time. Good drive from Mark at least.

 

[CanOz]

I've got a chance to go see the F1 here in Shangers next month, would be my first.

We'll see how things a re going by then....

CanOz