F1 Racing Thread

[OzExorcist]

Yeah, my understanding was that Kubica was going to be out for the whole season regardless.

As for Reubens, I'm not sure which would be sadder - seeing him finally go, or seeing him wind up driving for a no-hope team like HRT...

 

[JusSumguy]

or seeing him wind up driving for a no-hope team like HRT...

Please... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.


-

 

[ChuckyEgg]

Yeah, my understanding was that Kubica was going to be out for the whole season regardless.

As for Reubens, I'm not sure which would be sadder - seeing him finally go, or seeing him wind up driving for a no-hope team like HRT...

Please... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.


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Rubens' only choice now, Bruno Senna has been chosen as Williams' 2nd driver.

I like Senna, and glad he will be there for 2012, but for Barrichello

 

[t1tpfdc]

Please... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
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Agree totally! Would be great for Rubens if he could get a seat for one final season, but a decent drive, pls. Hate to see him end his career bringing up the rear in every race.

 

[Pothole]

RB is prolly one of the saddest F1 stories there is. totally underrated as a driver, ordered to lose to MS like a zombie on remote control, his career should be a reference book of crap management moves to get a big paycheck for new drivers. He should have bowed out gracefully at last years final race in brazil.
As for Kubica, he was never getting out of an F1 car in 4 secs prior to his 'slip'.

 

[ChuckyEgg]

It looks like Barrichillo is now looking at Indycar

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97180

 

[JusSumguy]

It looks like Barrichillo is now looking at Indycar

Hope not. They kill a lot of drivers. Rather see him drive rally.


:icon_salu

 

[OzExorcist]

Very sad to see him leaving F1 but if it makes him happy I say all the best to him - there's no way he'd be needing to race just for the money at this stage of his career.

 

[Pothole]

Veeeery interesting.

Unofficial Tuesday test times from Jerez:
1. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, 1:19.670, 73 Laps
2. Paul di Resta, Force india, 1:19.772, 101 Laps
3. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:20.219, 56 Laps
4. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 1:20.496, 53 Laps
5. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, 1:20.694, 57 Laps
6. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, 1:20.794, 41 Laps
7. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber, 1:21.353, 106 Laps
8. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:21.530, 60 Laps
9. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:22.815, 69 Laps
10. Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham, 1:23.178, 28 Laps
11. Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 1:23.371, 25 Laps
12. Pedro de la Rosa, HRT, 1:23.676, 44 Laps

 

[Pothole]

Jarno Trulli dumped by Caterham in favour of Petrov as the Russian brings millions in funding.

 

[t1tpfdc]

This may not exactly be F1 capacity.
But I thought it was freakin amazing!

http://www.break.com/index/worlds-smallest-v12-engine-2232389

 

[JusSumguy]

2012 FORMULA 1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

Sun 18 March 2012


:icon_salu

 

[Pothole]

This may not exactly be F1 capacity.
But I thought it was freakin amazing!

http://www.break.com/index/worlds-smallest-v12-engine-2232389

It is, brilliant video. Wonder how long it ran before it destroyed itself?

 

[OzExorcist]

Jarno Trulli dumped by Caterham in favour of Petrov as the Russian brings millions in funding.

...and, let's be fair, Trulli has never been much good anyway. He's one of those drivers that I'm amazed has lasted as long as he has, and it's only been the introduction of the no-hope teams at the bottom of the field that has kept his career going this long.

Petrov is at least new and has some scope to improve. Plus Russian money, obviously

Only a few weeks away from season start, can't wait

 

[Pothole]

Agree about Trulli for sure, never really made top flight.
Waddaya mean 'a few weeks' NEXT WEEKEND DUDE, ALBERT PARK MELBOURNE. Is ya goin ????????

 

[OzExorcist]

Nah, I'm not going. I've been in previous years, but Albert Park is a pretty crap venue for actually watching the sport. Decent seats are crazy expensive too and I don't have any sweet corporate hook-ups, so I much prefer watching it on TV.

That said, the atmosphere in certain parts of town outside the circuit is just amazing during the grand prix weekend

 

[JusSumguy]

I'm all fizzled and goosebumpy with anticipation.

Can't wait to see how the new cars, and new rules line up.


:icon_salu

 

[Pothole]

The race actually looks like a bit of a lottery. Pirelli have softened the tyres even further, and pole position could be detrimental, as a really early pit stop looks on the cards. It's looking like whoever can drive easy on their rubber will dominate.

 

[JusSumguy]

Practice tomorrow... I can't wait.

Every year at the beginning of the F1 season my thoughts always go the the late great Gilles Villeneuve. As far as I was concerned this man was perfection defined in a race car. The things he could do, sometimes made me cry.

And then I ponder on the 6 wheeled Elf car. The Tyrrell P34 (Project 34) This is what sparked my love for auto racing. I still remember the instant. Spanish GP 1976. I never could understand why they outlawed it rather than make the rest catch up.

What an innovation. That seems to be the start of the F1 muzzles. NASCAR did the same thing to Smokey Yunick.

:icon_salu

 

[OzExorcist]

Yeah - new season, lots of possibilities, very exciting time. Can't wait for it all to kick off. C'mon you reds!!!!!!

 

[Pothole]

1 second divides the top 17 in final practice, like I said, a lottery.

 

[ChuckyEgg]

That was a thoroughly enjoyable race, even though I had to watch it as a repeat on the BBC (full race). To avoid finding out who had won, I had to stay clear of all news, email, messages, people knocking on my door, in fact any kind of contact with other people!!

Not live, but still a very enjoyable experience thanks to an excellent presentation and commentary team. The new boy on the commentary team, Ben Edwards, is very enthusiastic, kind of reminded me of Murray Walker. Edwards' gripping enthusiasm works very well with Coulthard's laid back approach.

I'd love to know the viewing figures for the Sky showing, as the BBC apparently got 100k more than last year !

I was disappointed to see Schumacher go out, as I had a feeling he was going to do really well, possibly get on the podium.
And what a bad end for Maldonado.... first decent points for Williams in a long while, only to be blown near the end of the final lap!!!!!!
Kimi always a joy to watch him drive and not lost any of his skill, but I wish he could lose the monotone of his voice.... needs some voice training.

Redbull, I have a bad feeling that what Christian Horner said might be the truth "McLaren didn't excell, Red Bull underperformed" ... rough quote, I can't find the exact quote.

The next race will be interesting.... will Horner prove to be right ???
I pray not

 

[t1tpfdc]

Agree it was a shame that Schumacher exited, but even more so for Grosjean. A great qual session and then out early in his debut race. And Maldonado must be totally gutted!

Saw it on Sky, and it was very good (imho), with Martin Brundel and Damon Hill. But I did miss Eddie Jordan! Love that guy!

 

[JusSumguy]

How about Kimi Räikkönen?

3 years and he's right back in it.


:icon_salu

 

[Pothole]

The only disappointment for me was Vettel luckboxing 2nd thanks to a dumb call to bring out the safety car after Petrov broke down on the start finish striaght. Off the racing side of the track and close to the outer pit wall, a/ the safety car should never have been called out and b/ for the cars to follow a crane for a lap was a joke, FFS get it together Albert Park.
As for Horners comment, McLaren out performed Red Bull ( and the rest ) as they were the only team that built a car to spec, eg front end ride height, all the others on realization of their collective **** up, stuck a wing on ! Red Bull seem a tad t'eed off that their use of exhaust gas technology ( which won for them last season ) has been enhanced, ( by flowing over a low mounted mini rear wing ), and within tech spec, has put them on the back foot. For me the drive of the race was Alonso, great drive to finish 5th, Massa waaay behind before crashing out to save face, it really is time he retired.

Mercedes F1 W03 - rear diffuser 17 March 2012

Mercedes' is arguably the most innovative car of the season, especially compared to its predecessor, with its 'W-duct' front wing and the reported 'F-duct rear wing' that has generated so much discussion in Melbourne. This drawing shows how the exhaust blows towards the central section of the rear diffuser, which also has a second element in the central 15 cm area which is free from restrictions. It's quite a different solution, not totally dissimilar to Sauber's, with airflow coming from the engine cover and going through to the the beam wing and the deformable rear crash structure. But the car's most controversial point is a hole in the rear wing endplate (red arrow), which when opened by the movement of the DRS is thought to stall the rear wing, cutting drag and boosting top-end speed by as much as 18km/h. It is thus far considered legal by the FIA, though two teams have already requested clarification.