2012 Formula One Season

[rixalex]

Yep i was up last night watching it. Finished at 1am which isn't too uncivilised for me. Red Bull looked very strong as did Ferrari. McClaren were quite close but struggled more than they did in practice and ended up using more tyres, so go into the race today with fewer options in terms of strategy. I think there's quite a high chance, considering how good Red Bulls have been on race day this season, that Vettel will run away with this one, baring an incident. Alonso will be on the podium. As for the third driver on the podium, i think that's anyone's guess, but if i had to put money on it, it wouldn't be a McClaren. They just don't inspire any confidence. Perhaps they'll turn the corner today though. Who knows...

Agree that the Red Bulls looked very strong, there could easily be two Red Bulls on the podium. Except for the first race the McClarens have been stronger in practice and qualifying than in the race itself, so if that trend holds it doesn't bode well for Hamilton. Still, he is starting second so might be able to hold on to a podium finish. If I was a betting man I would probably go with:

1. Vettel

2. Alonso

3. Webber/Hamilton

Sophon

+1

Agreed.

[b19bry]

Yep i was up last night watching it. Finished at 1am which isn't too uncivilised for me. Red Bull looked very strong as did Ferrari. McClaren were quite close but struggled more than they did in practice and ended up using more tyres, so go into the race today with fewer options in terms of strategy. I think there's quite a high chance, considering how good Red Bulls have been on race day this season, that Vettel will run away with this one, baring an incident. Alonso will be on the podium. As for the third driver on the podium, i think that's anyone's guess, but if i had to put money on it, it wouldn't be a McClaren. They just don't inspire any confidence. Perhaps they'll turn the corner today though. Who knows...

Agree that the Red Bulls looked very strong, there could easily be two Red Bulls on the podium. Except for the first race the McClarens have been stronger in practice and qualifying than in the race itself, so if that trend holds it doesn't bode well for Hamilton. Still, he is starting second so might be able to hold on to a podium finish. If I was a betting man I would probably go with:

1. Vettel

2. Alonso

3. Webber/Hamilton

Sophon

I think Red Bull & Mclaren have been the strongest teams of the year so far with Mercedes not too far behind though Ferrari now do seem to be turning their car around since Valencia.

Vettel must be favorite but, so far this season the Mclaren not going so well in races has been more down to poor teamwork and strategy. Hamilton has always gone well in Canada (at least when he's not trying to bash others off the track lol), so I'd say it's all to play for.

Q2 had the top 17 all within 1 second which shows just how close it is right now. Maldonado was on a flyer and would have easily made Q3 had he not dropped it all at the final corner so Williams are definitley on the pace. Mercedes and Grosjean in the Lotus are both dark horses for a podium.

Where Mclaren are struggling is with Button's form which has sadly taken a dive having started so strongly in complete reverse to Massa at Ferrari.

[Sophon]

>Snipped<

Vettel must be favorite but, so far this season the Mclaren not going so well in races has been more down to poor teamwork and strategy.

>Snipped<

McClaren have certainly been hurt by their sloppy teamwork, but I think it's more than that. I have kept a close eye (via F1 Live Timing) on the lap times the different drivers have been able to do in the races, and even when Hamilton/Button have been in clear air they have seldom been able to put in competitive times. Hamilton sometimes have some quick lap times at the start of a stint, but then his tires drops off and he is slower than other drivers on tires with the same number of laps.

Sophon

[b19bry]

>Snipped<

Vettel must be favorite but, so far this season the Mclaren not going so well in races has been more down to poor teamwork and strategy.

>Snipped<

McClaren have certainly been hurt by their sloppy teamwork, but I think it's more than that. I have kept a close eye (via F1 Live Timing) on the lap times the different drivers have been able to do in the races, and even when Hamilton/Button have been in clear air they have seldom been able to put in competitive times. Hamilton sometimes have some quick lap times at the start of a stint, but then his tires drops off and he is slower than other drivers on tires with the same number of laps.

Sophon

Yeah, well conserving tires and using them to best effect is all part of strategy as we saw in Monaco ?

[F1fanatic]

After Canada, I'm now convinced that tyres pay too large a part in F1 races.

At the beginning, only Massa (IIRC) tried to overtake as they were all saving tyres.

At the end, Alonso was a 'sitting duck'.

I thought it was mainly a processional race, with few genuine, on-track overtaking moves.

[carmine]

I think Schumacher drove rather dangerously and jumped the lights at the start.

I also think he broke the speed limit a number of times on the first few rounds.

[rixalex]

After Canada, I'm now convinced that tyres pay too large a part in F1 races.

At the beginning, only Massa (IIRC) tried to overtake as they were all saving tyres.

At the end, Alonso was a 'sitting duck'.

I thought it was mainly a processional race, with few genuine, on-track overtaking moves.

I think you are being too harsh on the tyres there F1. Fact is, had Vettel and Alonso not tried to be "cute", and stuck on the second set around the time that Hamilton did, we would have had a very close finish. Saving tyres at the beginning of the race is all part of race craft, and providing that that conservative mentality is thrown out the window at the business end of the race, which it usually has been this season, i personally don't have too much of a problem with it. It's an extra skill set, in addition to simply driving flat out.

F1 fans can be hard people to please. After Monaco everyone is saying how boring it is as there is no overtaking at all (yes i was one of those). After Canada we now have people saying it is boring because although there was a lot of overtaking, it wasn't the sort of overtaking we like.

[Sophon]

Good race by Hamilton and even more so by Grosjean and Perez. I found it very interesting that there were such a dramatic difference in how the tires held up, for the teams that tried to go to the end on one stop. Grosjean and Perez were still competitive even in the last few laps while Alonso and Vettel had nothing left.

Sophon

[rixalex]

Grosjean and Perez were still competitive even in the last few laps while Alonso and Vettel had nothing left.

Sophon

ํำYes that was weird wasn't it. Can only assume that either Alonso and Vettel made their first stops earlier than Grosjean and Perez did, or that they were racing a lot harder and suffered more deg as a result.

[Sophon]

Grosjean and Perez were still competitive even in the last few laps while Alonso and Vettel had nothing left.

Sophon

ํำYes that was weird wasn't it. Can only assume that either Alonso and Vettel made their first stops earlier than Grosjean and Perez did, or that they were racing a lot harder and suffered more deg as a result.

Grosjean's tires were only two laps older than Alonso's, not enough I think to explain the difference in performance. If my memory can be trusted (which is not a given) Perez was on an opposite strategy starting on the harder tires and ending on the softer. I think he had something like 25 laps on the supersofts at the end.

Sophon

[KeyserSoze01]

I'd like to see all this business of Q1, Q2 and Q3 scrapped, and go back to keeping it simple. One hour. 12 laps per driver. To my mind it was much better then.

I do not agree. Quali is now much more interesting than it was before. Issues from the past with slow traffic on hot laps is not as prevalent as it was in the past. Plus, it is more entertaining for the spectators with 3 separate sessions to prove who is the fastest in quali setup.

[KeyserSoze01]

I think Schumacher drove rather dangerously and jumped the lights at the start.

I also think he broke the speed limit a number of times on the first few rounds.

Your indignation is duly noted and filed in the cylindrical file cabinet.

Had Michael jumped the start, then the stewards would have given him a drive-though penalty. It's not like there aren't 500+ cameras pointing at the start now is there? The same holds true if he wa "speeding" in the pits as there is no other place in F1 were speeds are monitored, unless it is under yellows.

Just how was MS driving dangerously? He was outside Grosean braking into the St Devote at the start, when Grosean moved over into Michael. Hardly his fault if Grosean is not watching his mirrors.

[KeyserSoze01]

After Canada, I'm now convinced that tyres pay too large a part in F1 races.

At the beginning, only Massa (IIRC) tried to overtake as they were all saving tyres.

At the end, Alonso was a 'sitting duck'.

I thought it was mainly a processional race, with few genuine, on-track overtaking moves.

This is what Bernie wanted and we all know, what Bernie wants, Bernie gets.

It was rather entertaining to watch the uni-browed one slip slowing backward through traffic as his tires self-destructed. Guess you can tell I'm not an Alonso fan.

[rixalex]

I'd like to see all this business of Q1, Q2 and Q3 scrapped, and go back to keeping it simple. One hour. 12 laps per driver. To my mind it was much better then.

I do not agree. Quali is now much more interesting than it was before. Issues from the past with slow traffic on hot laps is not as prevalent as it was in the past. Plus, it is more entertaining for the spectators with 3 separate sessions to prove who is the fastest in quali setup.

Q1 and Q2 are boring for me. Might be a little excitement at seeing who gets dumped out, but i'm much more interested in who is going the fastest, and the only time that is revealed is the last three minutes of Q3. I could quite happily just watch those three minutes, and forget the rest... would save me having to listen to so much Slater crap.

[KeyserSoze01]

I'd like to see all this business of Q1, Q2 and Q3 scrapped, and go back to keeping it simple. One hour. 12 laps per driver. To my mind it was much better then.

I do not agree. Quali is now much more interesting than it was before. Issues from the past with slow traffic on hot laps is not as prevalent as it was in the past. Plus, it is more entertaining for the spectators with 3 separate sessions to prove who is the fastest in quali setup.

Q1 and Q2 are boring for me. Might be a little excitement at seeing who gets dumped out, but i'm much more interested in who is going the fastest, and the only time that is revealed is the last three minutes of Q3. I could quite happily just watch those three minutes, and forget the rest... would save me having to listen to so much Slater crap.

Easy then, just tune in for the last 3 minutes of Q3. It's quickly than watching all the cars run for 60 minutes in the old format waiting for someone to put in a hot lap. Problem solved.

I like the current format for many reasons. One being that the slower cars are out by Q3 and the fastest teams get a clear shot at hot lap. How many times in the past have drivers been balked on hot laps in the old format? Many I know. Then there is the strategies the teams have to run against the clock in Q2 and Q3. When to go out, how much rubber is down, how many sets of primes and options do we have left, are we in the bump-zone etc... Then comes the last 2 minutes of Q3 which is where the rubber meets the road and the stars shine. The format is more entertaining for the spectator as it has a defined format, a beginning for each session and an end., not just all the cars on track at the same time, all vying for the fastest lap.

On another topic, while some of the drivers and pundits have moaned that this season will hurt F1's reputation with the diversity of winners. 7 winners in 7 races. I think it's fantastic and one of the most exciting seasons I've seen and I've been following F1 since '69. The racing had become stale and boring with the cars going round in a processional manner with one team dominating. The advent of DRS, KRS and Pirelli tires have livened up the action on track and added to the strategy teams have to use to win. You can roll the dice on tire strategy and sometimes you win and sometimes you get the shaft. The Canadian GP is a perfect example. Ferrari gambled and lost, while Lotus and Sauber got to the podium.

[rixalex]

Then comes the last 2 minutes of Q3 which is where the rubber meets the road and the stars shine. The format is more entertaining for the spectator as it has a defined format, a beginning for each session and an end., not just all the cars on track at the same time, all vying for the fastest lap.

What i miss about the old system, and what i don't like about all the real action being compressed into two minutes, is being able to sit with a driver throughout an entire flying lap. Seeing his time in sector 1, then sector 2, and the final sector. With having perhaps half a dozen drivers all doing their ultimate flying lap at exactly the same time, means pretty much all we get is a camera on the finishing line, and them coming over one by one.

Gimmicky for me. An innovation for the world of the Sky Sports TV viewer.

[F1fanatic]

After Canada, I'm now convinced that tyres pay too large a part in F1 races.

At the beginning, only Massa (IIRC) tried to overtake as they were all saving tyres.

At the end, Alonso was a 'sitting duck'.

I thought it was mainly a processional race, with few genuine, on-track overtaking moves.

This is what Bernie wanted and we all know, what Bernie wants, Bernie gets.

It was rather entertaining to watch the uni-browed one slip slowing backward through traffic as his tires self-destructed. Guess you can tell I'm not an Alonso fan.

I prefer to see a race won by the best driver on the day, driving as fast as possible - although I accept that the best car is more important than anything else. Strategy comes a distant third in my book.

I'm not an Alonso fan either - but I think he is one of the best (if not the best) driver on the grid at the moment. But... watching any driver fight hard, only to have their tyres let them down at the end of the race so badly that they are easily overtaken, detracts from the enjoyment of the race and the 'feeling' that the best driver won.

Additionally, I don't enjoy watching drivers save their tyres at the beginning of the race - the best time (normally) to see a fair amount of overtaking. Hardly anybody bothered to overtake at the beginning of the race in Canada (IIRC)!

[rixalex]

But... watching any driver fight hard, only to have their tyres let them down at the end of the race so badly that they are easily overtaken, detracts from the enjoyment of the race and the 'feeling' that the best driver won.

Only to have their tyres let them down at the end of the race ???

It wasn't the tyres that let them down F1, it was them and their teams. They were trying to get away with doing just one stop. That's not Pirreli's fault.

Would you have had a greater feeling of the best driver winning had Alonso's tyres not deteriorated and had Alonso sailed on to victory having only done one stop, to every body else's two stops? Surely then you would be arguing that the winner wasn't the best driver, but the driver who saved time by doing the fewest stops... the driver who did all his overtaking in the pits. That's your definition of the best driver?!

I don't think the problem in Canada was the tyres. It was some teams making the wrong calls with regards the tyres. Vettel showed that when he made the switch, he was lightning fast (thought it was quite a brave move of his by the way, with only about 7 laps remaining). I think had Alonso and Vettel's teams not messed about worrying so much about getting the jump on the guy in front during pit stops, and just pitted when the tyres needed changing, it would have been a very tight and exciting finish. If you want to blame anyone, blame the teams.

[F1fanatic]

But... watching any driver fight hard, only to have their tyres let them down at the end of the race so badly that they are easily overtaken, detracts from the enjoyment of the race and the 'feeling' that the best driver won.

Only to have their tyres let them down at the end of the race ???

It wasn't the tyres that let them down F1, it was them and their teams. They were trying to get away with doing just one stop. That's not Pirreli's fault.

Would you have had a greater feeling of the best driver winning had Alonso's tyres not deteriorated and had Alonso sailed on to victory having only done one stop, to every body else's two stops? Surely then you would be arguing that the winner wasn't the best driver, but the driver who saved time by doing the fewest stops... the driver who did all his overtaking in the pits. That's your definition of the best driver?!

I don't think the problem in Canada was the tyres. It was some teams making the wrong calls with regards the tyres. Vettel showed that when he made the switch, he was lightning fast (thought it was quite a brave move of his by the way, with only about 7 laps remaining). I think had Alonso and Vettel's teams not messed about worrying so much about getting the jump on the guy in front during pit stops, and just pitted when the tyres needed changing, it would have been a very tight and exciting finish. If you want to blame anyone, blame the teams.

Sorry, I'd missed that Alonso had only done one stop (embarrassed emoticon).

[rixalex]

But... watching any driver fight hard, only to have their tyres let them down at the end of the race so badly that they are easily overtaken, detracts from the enjoyment of the race and the 'feeling' that the best driver won.

Only to have their tyres let them down at the end of the race ???

It wasn't the tyres that let them down F1, it was them and their teams. They were trying to get away with doing just one stop. That's not Pirreli's fault.

Would you have had a greater feeling of the best driver winning had Alonso's tyres not deteriorated and had Alonso sailed on to victory having only done one stop, to every body else's two stops? Surely then you would be arguing that the winner wasn't the best driver, but the driver who saved time by doing the fewest stops... the driver who did all his overtaking in the pits. That's your definition of the best driver?!

I don't think the problem in Canada was the tyres. It was some teams making the wrong calls with regards the tyres. Vettel showed that when he made the switch, he was lightning fast (thought it was quite a brave move of his by the way, with only about 7 laps remaining). I think had Alonso and Vettel's teams not messed about worrying so much about getting the jump on the guy in front during pit stops, and just pitted when the tyres needed changing, it would have been a very tight and exciting finish. If you want to blame anyone, blame the teams.

Sorry, I'd missed that Alonso had only done one stop (embarrassed emoticon).

LOL That explains a lot.

Thought i'd told you to stay off the gin and tonics F1.

[kartman]

YouTube - Sebastian Vettel David Letterman

[Mosha]

I thought the rules stated that all drivers had to learn English for the interviews. So why are the teams allowed to use, in Ferrari's case this w/end, Italian. In pit to car communication?

[KeyserSoze01]

After Canada, I'm now convinced that tyres pay too large a part in F1 races.

At the beginning, only Massa (IIRC) tried to overtake as they were all saving tyres.

At the end, Alonso was a 'sitting duck'.

I thought it was mainly a processional race, with few genuine, on-track overtaking moves.

This is what Bernie wanted and we all know, what Bernie wants, Bernie gets.

It was rather entertaining to watch the uni-browed one slip slowing backward through traffic as his tires self-destructed. Guess you can tell I'm not an Alonso fan.

I prefer to see a race won by the best driver on the day, driving as fast as possible - although I accept that the best car is more important than anything else. Strategy comes a distant third in my book.

I'm not an Alonso fan either - but I think he is one of the best (if not the best) driver on the grid at the moment. But... watching any driver fight hard, only to have their tyres let them down at the end of the race so badly that they are easily overtaken, detracts from the enjoyment of the race and the 'feeling' that the best driver won.

Additionally, I don't enjoy watching drivers save their tyres at the beginning of the race - the best time (normally) to see a fair amount of overtaking. Hardly anybody bothered to overtake at the beginning of the race in Canada (IIRC)!

I agree completely, but today's F1 is more about team strategy than about outright performance. Sad, but true. The racing is so close these days, that the gimmicks are the only way to prevent nose-to-tail racing with very little passing as we had in the past. I also agree that the current crop of tire technology weighs too heavily on the outcome of the event. However tainted though, there has been some exciting moments and unusual results this season.

[rixalex]

I thought the rules stated that all drivers had to learn English for the interviews. So why are the teams allowed to use, in Ferrari's case this w/end, Italian. In pit to car communication?

I've often wondered why drivers don't have their race engineers speaking to them in their mother tongue, and thought it a bit unfair that they don't, but assume that even if FIA regs didn't force them to use English - which i assume they do - that the teams themselves would prefer it that way so that the entire team can understand what is being said between driver and engineer. At the end of the day though, i do think the teams should be able to use whatever language they please.

[rixalex]

Expected a boring race but that was far from it!

Amazing result for Alonso to win from where he started. Obviously owed a lot to attrition and safety car helped too, but take nothing away, a great drive.

Comedy of errors continues in the McClaren pits, and that misfortune was compounded by Hamilton battling with Pastor when he should of let him through. Of course with only a lap to go, conceding the place would have hurt, but better than a DNF. That said, it was reckless by Pastor and i'm sure were it Hamilton doing the same, a penalty of some sort would be "awarded".

Anyway, with Vettel out too its another big shake up in the standings. What a bizarre season this is turning into. Wonder how long it will last though. Vettel looked on a different planet and if he takes that sort of pace to the next races, everyone will have to pray for some more DNFs because that is all that will stop him from title number 3.

[F1fanatic]

I agree - an unexpectedly exciting race!

It really is impossible to predict the oucome of races this season. Vettel and Grosjean had brilliant races - until their cars let them down near the end, Hamilton and Maldonado colliding at the very end etc.

A couple of v strange accidents too... i.e. Maldonado on Hamilton and Vergne on Heikki. I don't suppose Massa was v impressed with Kobi either....

Whilst I feel v sorry for Vettel and Grosjean, neither of whom put a foot wrong IIRC, it led to a long-awaited podium finish for Schumi! A lucky result of Schumi, but in view of his appalling luck this season - well deserved .

[rixalex]

Pastor did get penalised. 20 seconds which puts him from 10th to 12th. Good to see some consistency by the stewards. Of course does nothing for Hamilton, but as he says, this is what happens in racing. Move on to the next race. Hope for another good one.

[kartman]

I thought the rules stated that all drivers had to learn English for the interviews. So why are the teams allowed to use, in Ferrari's case this w/end, Italian. In pit to car communication?

I'm sure if an Italian team was forced to use English it would probably be against human rights , last thing Bernie wants is a load of pasta eating do-gooders on his doorstep .

[Mosha]

The Poison Dwarf is offering a London GP, probably includes the balcony at Buck House as the podium. I hope that is not meant to replace Silverstone.

[b19bry]

Good to see BE not blaming Silverstone for the weather.

Well done to MW on a finely judged race, really not bad for a number 2

FA seemed to have the pace most of the weekend, just not when it mattered !

Maldonado certainly getting a reputation for himself now

Best wishes to Maria de V, looking better now & hope she makes a good recovery.