Sports - Formula One #31: Possibly The Strangest Season Ever... We Love It - Page 5

Brucas4life · 04-21-2009, 03:09 AM

I was away for the weekend so I didn't get a chance to come and post but I just wanted to say how pleased I was for Vettel, he was definitely one of the ones to watch this season and it's great to see him on the top of that podium. From a McLaren perspective I am so glad to see them both get in the points, and for Heikki to actually finish. I have to admit whilst I am a Heikki fan if he wasn't even completing a lap let alone a race then it was going to be hard for McLaren to justify keeping him. Especially if Lewis does end up challenging, he needs his team mate up there with him like Kimi was for Massa last season. But Lewis said he didn't think the car would be able to compete with the front runners for a while yet as they are still making improvements so I think finishing 5th and 6th was pretty good tbh. Now we've just got the hearing coming up and I'm praying they don't give the team any bans.

As for Ferrari, I think I read that this was their worst start to a season since 1981, it's so strange seeing them not even score a point. Three races now and nothing. I'm sure they will get better though and it's just a case of making the improvements to the car. They are just giving everyone else a head start

welshgirlyUK · 04-21-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

I think I read that this was their worst start to a season since 1981

Yeah, i think Martin Brundle mentioned that on the BBC coverage the other day. It's pretty mind blowing, but i can't lie and say it dissapoints me, because if anything, it excites me. I like seeing other teams getting the opportunity to show what their made of.

Brucas4life · 04-21-2009, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshgirlyUK (View Post)

Yeah, i think Martin Brundle mentioned that on the BBC coverage the other day. It's pretty mind blowing, but i can't lie and say it dissapoints me, because if anything, it excites me. I like seeing other teams getting the opportunity to show what their made of.

Well I'm not a Ferrari fan so I can't say I'm sad to see them struggling either, but it certainly is strange to see them doing so poorly. I knew McLaren would struggle at the start of the season so I was prepared for that but I'm just shocked that Ferrari are actually worse.

Once the other teams have made all their improvements and sorted out the diffuser, so are more on the same level it will be interesting to see how Brawn do, will they still be getting podium finishes or will they start sliding down the grid more. I'd like to see Jensen remain up there, although I am a Lewis and McLaren fan first so obviously I'd prefer for them to get ahead.

Although I think both McLaren and Ferrari will bounce back this season, I think this year it will be a lot closer than past seasons.

goodnightboy · 04-21-2009, 09:54 AM

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Originally Posted by Brucas4life (View Post)

I knew McLaren would struggle at the start of the season so I was prepared for that but I'm just shocked that Ferrari are actually worse.

Really? Was it because they were focused on the 2008 car when Lewis was challenging for the title or some other reason? As for the diffuser - I can see Brawn challenging for podiums still but it won't be as easy as it was in Melbourne, for example. I mean Red Bull are so impressive even without the diffuser, and McLaren and Renault (well Alonso) seem to have made improvements now that they have their interim (I assume) diffusers. But apparently Brawn consider the diffuser only one of the reasons why they're doing so well, which is why I expect Jensen to still be making a strong case for podium finishes. I'm not so sure about Rubens though. He doesn't seem to be challenging Jensen as much as I would have expected.

Brucas4life · 04-21-2009, 10:10 AM

Oh no I just meant from when you looked at their times in testing and listened to the interviews. Fair enough testing is just a rough guide and there can be a big difference between that and race pace but McLaren weren't even close to the others in testing. They knew they weren't going to be competitive quite a while before the season begun. Maybe they did focus on 2008 so much so that they didn't start preparing for 2009 so early on like some of the others did or maybe they were just caught out and hadn't expected the others to be as fast as they actually were. Obviously the diffuser issue didn't help but I don't think you can say McLaren were lagging so far behind simply due to that. The modifications they have made though since the ruling have obviously had an effect though as there was a significant improvement.

Yeah considering they have the same car it's surprising Rubens isn't challenging like Jensen is. And I agree, although the diffuser has obviously helped Brawn you can't solely say that's why they are doing so well, I mean Williams and Toyota have a similar diffuser and yet they can't match Brawn's pace either.

goodnightboy · 04-21-2009, 08:48 PM

I thought Toyota were the only team consistently challenging Brawn though, in the first two races? Toyota doesn't have Brawn's pace, of course, but I remember seeing Timo and Jarno and being really surprised at how much they stepped up since last season. Williams are struggling though, even with the diffuser - only Rosberg would match the Brawn's pace in qualifying, and he didn't manage to keep the lead in Sepang. They're going to go down the pecking order now that the diffuser's been ruled legal.

Brucas4life · 04-22-2009, 02:41 AM

Yeah sorry I was mainly talking about Williams so I probably shouldn't have said Toyota as well, but as you say they still don't have Brawn's pace. And I agree, Williams I think are going to drift further back now that the other teams are working on their diffuser.

**perrygraham** · 04-22-2009, 06:19 AM

I think it surprises me the most how well the Red Bull Team is performing even without the diffusor. I would put them on second place behind Brawn. It should make Ferrari and McLaren think.

goodnightboy · 04-22-2009, 07:07 PM

Agreed. And on a silly note: whenever I see drivers get caught into accidents or overtaken, do you think they swear or point a middle finger or something? I always do, it makes for a funny image. And if they're stuck behind a slow driver I always imagine them wanting to press a horn.

Looks like Adrian Sutil's having fun.

parasite33 · 04-23-2009, 01:41 AM

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Originally Posted by goodnightboy (View Post)

And on a silly note: whenever I see drivers get caught into accidents or overtaken, do you think they swear or point a middle finger or something?

Yeah, sometimes they do:

Cute dolphin!

welshgirlyUK · 04-23-2009, 02:23 AM

LOL at that Montoya one. I love team radio.

parasite33 · 04-23-2009, 08:52 AM

Yeah, Montoya's radio conversations were priceless.

Ferrari team radio this year is equally amusing.

Brucas4life · 04-23-2009, 11:24 AM

i love those.

Quote:

Legal battle threatens British GP

The future of the British Grand Prix at Donington is again in doubt after legal proceedings were issued against the company leasing the track. Track owners Wheatcroft & Son Limited are seeking £2.47m in rent arrears from Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd (DVLL) as well as forfeiture of the lease. DVLL, headed by chief executive officer Simon Gillett, secured the 150-year lease in 2007.

The circuit has a 10-year contract to host the race, starting in 2010. The proceedings against DVLL were started at Derby County Court by lawyers at Browne Jacobson LLP, acting on behalf of the Wheatcrofts, Tom and Kevin. "It is with great reluctance we have taken this decision," said Kevin Wheatcroft. "Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd owe us nearly £2.5m in rent dating back to September 2008. Despite receiving numerous reassurances over a number of months, they have consistently failed to meet their financial obligations under the terms of the lease. We have held off taking legal action for as long as possible, but have been left with no choice but to commence proceedings to recover the outstanding rent and forfeiture of the lease."

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone expressed sadness at the latest developments threatening the British GP. "I've been saying it for a long time, we (the British) just don't make the effort," said Ecclestone. The F1 supremo, who is who close friends with Wheatcroft, also admitted that he knew nothing of the details of the impending legal case. "I don't know what the situation is. I don't know what the details are. Maybe Tom is wrong and the other people are right. Maybe they don't owe that money. But I'm not worried. I don't worry about anything to be honest with you."

Donington won the rights to host the British Grand Prix after current hosts Silverstone stalled over signing a new deal and Gillett impressed Ecclestone with his plans for redeveloping the East Midlands venue.

In January this year the green light was given to begin work on a £100m redevelopment to bring the venue up to standard. However, despite work beginning immediately the track was not granted a safety certificate by the Motor Sports Association, leading to the cancelling of a number of events.

Gillett was also set to confirm plans at the end of March for his debenture scheme, again to raise much-needed funds, but they have been put on hold. Gillett has claimed the circuit will be ready in time for 2010 but Ecclestone recently stated that if Donington does not meet required standards to host the event there will be no British Grand Prix from next year.

I really hope we don't end up losing the British GP. And why am I not surprised that Ecclestone doesn't care.

**perrygraham** · 04-23-2009, 07:26 PM

Montoya is a moron. Ever been, ever will.
But the radio talk was funny.

Reminds me of this: YouTube - Montoya's confused radio

On that note: Ecclestone is a moron as well. You can't take the British GP away, talking about tradition. I rather would like to avoid yet another GP in the middle east/asian territory. And no Canadian GP, wtf, those where the best over the last years. Next time he will think about taking Monaco away, I swear, he'll get to it.

goodnightboy · 04-23-2009, 07:58 PM

Those are awesome videos - thanks guys! Haha I remember Montoya from the days where my dad used to watch F1 (well he still does) and I would come out of my room and pass by the TV and look for a while... "oh, deer!"

Hilarious. I find it hard to listen to team radio though, is it very hard to hear for you guys as well?

Ah if Ecclestone had his way the calendar would be full of weird GPs in Asian/Middle Eastern countries but at late times so the European audiences can watch it and have their breakfast, endangering the drivers... while all the older, more traditional circuits will be chopped out because they can't pay/don't look glamorous/etc.