Formula 1
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg
I once was a big fan...from about '96 to about 2006. I enjoyed the Villeneuve vs Schumacher battles....didn't enjoy the F1 politics and sometimes favourtism to teams.
But what really killed it for me, was :
-Very little passing....
-Moving F1 from tracks with great and long tradition to newly built tracks that had no F1 history/tradition...or even much car racing of any description.
-F1 politics got too much...
I went from getting up early to watch the F1 races live...to taping the races...to taping the races and fast forwarding....when I found myself FFwd'ing through entire races at breakneck speed...I knew my time had passed.
I might tune in this year....maybe Monte Carlo....see if it's changed for me.
But what really killed it for me, was :
-Very little passing....
-Moving F1 from tracks with great and long tradition to newly built tracks that had no F1 history/tradition...or even much car racing of any description.
-F1 politics got too much...
I went from getting up early to watch the F1 races live...to taping the races...to taping the races and fast forwarding....when I found myself FFwd'ing through entire races at breakneck speed...I knew my time had passed.
I might tune in this year....maybe Monte Carlo....see if it's changed for me.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Hey Less, the past recent years have gotten better and better in my view. True that the dominance shown by Vettel has not pleased me much but there has been great racing anyway. Also passing has increased.
Politics in racing really sux, but there is a lot of intrigue there too.
Personally I am very excited to have the season begin. The evolution of the various marques is rapid and unpredictable. Kimmy is back Michael is back. Some of the "backmarkers" are getting much better quickly. Lesser known drivers are coming into their own.
I fully expect a lot of good competition and some real surprises.
I can hardly wait.
Politics in racing really sux, but there is a lot of intrigue there too.
Personally I am very excited to have the season begin. The evolution of the various marques is rapid and unpredictable. Kimmy is back Michael is back. Some of the "backmarkers" are getting much better quickly. Lesser known drivers are coming into their own.
I fully expect a lot of good competition and some real surprises.
I can hardly wait.
Rusty Roller
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 5
From: Santa Cruz Mountains
I agree the last few years were lack luster compared to seasons past with last year giving promise. This year lets hope the trend for better continues; but they need to be able to test more....
Shameless promoting of F1:
Click to enlarge. ...And for fun: '07 Renault Engine Video
The final pre-season test of 2012 concluded in Spain on Sunday, with Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen setting the pace. Less than half a second covered the top six with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso second and Williams’ Bruno Senna third.
Ferrari technical boss Pat Fry has conceded that the teams are unlikely to finish on the podium at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix
In an unusual twist, the two Red Bull teams were to be found at the bottom of the times, with world champion Sebastian Vettel 11th.
Unofficial Sunday test times from Barcelona:
1. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, 1:22.030, 121 Laps
2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:22.250, 115 Laps
3. Bruno Senna, Williams, 1:22.296, 53 Laps
4. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:22.312, 101 Laps
5. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber, 1:22.386, 72 Laps
6. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:22.430, 115 Laps
7. Vitaly Petrov, Caterham, 1:22.795, 101 Laps
8. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, 1:22.939, 100 Laps
9. Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:23.347, 48 Laps
10. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:23.393, 100 Laps
11. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:23.608, 23 Laps
Shameless promoting of F1:
Click to enlarge. ...And for fun: '07 Renault Engine VideoThe final pre-season test of 2012 concluded in Spain on Sunday, with Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen setting the pace. Less than half a second covered the top six with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso second and Williams’ Bruno Senna third.
Ferrari technical boss Pat Fry has conceded that the teams are unlikely to finish on the podium at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix
In an unusual twist, the two Red Bull teams were to be found at the bottom of the times, with world champion Sebastian Vettel 11th.
Unofficial Sunday test times from Barcelona:
1. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, 1:22.030, 121 Laps
2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:22.250, 115 Laps
3. Bruno Senna, Williams, 1:22.296, 53 Laps
4. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:22.312, 101 Laps
5. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber, 1:22.386, 72 Laps
6. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 1:22.430, 115 Laps
7. Vitaly Petrov, Caterham, 1:22.795, 101 Laps
8. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, 1:22.939, 100 Laps
9. Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:23.347, 48 Laps
10. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:23.393, 100 Laps
11. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 1:23.608, 23 Laps
Rusty Roller
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 5
From: Santa Cruz Mountains
A little something for the last weekend before the start of the F1 2012 season.
BigF350: Why would you think Redbull is sandbagging? F1 has never been full of honest preseason/prerace deception!
Enjoy!!! Click to enlarge...
So why do we like F1? Because they go wheel to wheel in the ...... rain?
Or do stupid ***t sometimes? Hard racing?
OR Eye Candy ? 
The Eye's have it....
What will Kimi offer? 
As we sit in wonder; Is this really needed?
Less we not forget:
Ayrton Senna - Best Lap of the Formula 1 History Monaco 1990 - YouTube
Tires breaking off at 185 mph - YouTube
5 Days 13hours....
.
BigF350: Why would you think Redbull is sandbagging? F1 has never been full of honest preseason/prerace deception!
Enjoy!!! Click to enlarge...
So why do we like F1? Because they go wheel to wheel in the ...... rain?
Or do stupid ***t sometimes? Hard racing?
OR Eye Candy ? The Eye's have it....
What will Kimi offer? As we sit in wonder; Is this really needed?
Less we not forget:
Ayrton Senna - Best Lap of the Formula 1 History Monaco 1990 - YouTube
Tires breaking off at 185 mph - YouTube
5 Days 13hours....
.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 83
From: NorCal
Subscribed! 'been watching since the days of Ayrton Senna, Michele Alboreto, Gerhard Berger, and Alain Prost.
Schumacher is still a fav. I want to see Raikkonen on podiums in 2012!
F1 technology is crazy complex and that's what draws me to F1.
Schumacher is still a fav. I want to see Raikkonen on podiums in 2012!
F1 technology is crazy complex and that's what draws me to F1.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Mercedes F-Duct Front wing | Scarbsf1's Blog
I am expecting more from Mercedes this year. I am hoping, and almost believing we are going to have more leaders this year also.
I have not heard too much about the newest Ferraris. Anybody?
I am expecting more from Mercedes this year. I am hoping, and almost believing we are going to have more leaders this year also.
I have not heard too much about the newest Ferraris. Anybody?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
They are in very poor shape if you take want SD is saying and how Fernando is trying to keep a low key.....my understanding they have a fundamental problem at the back of the car....it will require a new tub and new crash test.....so it would not be ready in five races...ug...
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
Holy smoke .........Mercedes: F-Duct Front Wing operated by the Rear Wing DRS...tying in with you the front you posted.
Mercedes: F-Duct Front Wing operated by the Rear Wing DRS | Scarbsf1's Blog
Mercedes: F-Duct Front Wing operated by the Rear Wing DRS | Scarbsf1's Blog
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
All that aero stuff gets pretty deep for me. I would like to see all the FIA prohibitions, [excepting those that are justifiable for safety reasons} just go away. I wonder what F1 cars would look like in that case?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
WOW....there are some saying this is good for 9-11 MPH on the big end...that is huge.
This is monumental, now ALL must figure out how to do it, and Merc was working on the blown front wing last year...the final two races
This is monumental, now ALL must figure out how to do it, and Merc was working on the blown front wing last year...the final two races
Mercedes' hopes of delivering on its strong winter testing form have received a boost, with the FIA confirming ahead of the Australian Grand Prix that a radical wing concept the team has pioneered is fully legal.
The Brackley-based outfit stirred up interest from its rivals throughout pre-season testing with its W03 featuring its own version of a rear-wing F-duct concept - that some suspected was activated by vents being opened when the upper wing elements moves during DRS activation.
It is understood that rival teams queried the legality of such a system – which vents the air through the endplates and in to the main plane, to help stall the wing and boost straight-line speed – with the FIA.
The Brackley-based outfit stirred up interest from its rivals throughout pre-season testing with its W03 featuring its own version of a rear-wing F-duct concept - that some suspected was activated by vents being opened when the upper wing elements moves during DRS activation.
It is understood that rival teams queried the legality of such a system – which vents the air through the endplates and in to the main plane, to help stall the wing and boost straight-line speed – with the FIA.
Rusty Roller
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 5
From: Santa Cruz Mountains
We'll find out soon enough! Good or bad development takes testing. I don't think the new rules , even including more test time, has given the teams enough. Inovation shouldn't be limited. It's not like this is entry level racing.
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