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.

 

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.

 

if you watch one race a year, make it Spa.

 

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

 

I think we will see Red Bull's true pace come Saturday in Melbourne, but the gearbox issue they had was surprising.

 

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....
.

 

Hey, thanks for posting the images!

 

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.

 

I think this is going to be one of the most mixed up season in a long time...even my Red cars (in four races) will be fighting for the front....McLaren will be at the front.

 

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?

 

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...

 

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

 

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?

 

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

 

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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