The F1 Thread

[jlo]

I sort of agree. Button to me is too safe - yes the silkiest driver there is but too safe sometimes where Hamilton is the exact opposite. A mix of the 2 would be perfect.

That'd be Jenson from Interlagos last year, be nice to see it more often. Sadly current F1 car designs do nothing to help, and I don't believe that'll massively change until 2012/13.

 

[Nando]

When Jenson finds the optimum setup he's very very good, no doubt about that. But when he needs to harry a car, like Alonso and Hamilton can he doesn't have 'it'. I'm not slagging him off at all, I just feel he needs to tweak his driving style if he wants to compete with the very best in equal machinery. He won last years title because the Brawn was so far ahead of everything esle at the start of last season, when the playing field levelled out he struggled.

Lewis may have a few recent DNF's, but he's still ahead of Jenson in the championship who's had how many DNF's?

A mix of the two is where you pretty much get Alonso, and when he's in this frame of mind he's currently the best about (Yes he was below par for the first half of the season). He had a a 7 lap run today where his lap time fluctuated by less than one tenth. That's frightening.

McLaren's development is worrying too, they seem to bring updates to the GP's only to see no immediate increase in performance. They brought a new rear wing to Suzuka, which seemed to horribly upset the balance. In comparison you've had Red Bull and Ferrari turn up with upgrades which have seen a pretty much immediate upturn in performance (Ferrari at Valencia for example). Watching the McLaren's at Silvertsone Practice was horrendous, they were all over the shop with their blown diffuser and had to run without it.

Who will win the title? I'd probably be backing Vettel right now. Who deserves to win the title? I'm not sure if anybody really stands out above the others. Before Monza I'd have said Lewis was my driver of the season but he's had a poor run of races (although he drove very well today). Alonso's probably made too many errors in the first half of the season. Button's been solid, Webber's won the most races so far and if Fernando can't win the title I'd like Mark too.

 

[Kenny]

Red Bull's should have this title wrapped up. By a mile the best car and if Vettel and Webber had been better managed they might have avoided a lot of the issues that means they now face the threat of Alonso and an outside push from Lewis and Jensen.

As for Jensen........nothing wrong with how he races, he wants his car to cross the finish line and will think out his race before hand. If needed he will "go for it" as he showed with a brilliant display to bag the title last year. Lewis is just a plain racer, he see's a gap and goes for it. Won't always work and it could cost titles in the future...........wouldn't want him to change though, he is 1 of the reasons why F1 has become increasingly more popular in this country. Your bog standard "fan" wants to see over taking and crashes.

 

[Nando]

I think Lewis will naturally calm down as he continues to get more experienced, and then he'll be an even more frightening prospect. He's probably the most naturally gifted driver on the grid at the moment.

 

[Kenny]

. He's probably the most naturally gifted driver on the grid at the moment.

No doubt about that. He showed his skills as he dragged a piss poor McLaren around last year. I just think that "edge" he has will never go. The move he made on Massa (at Monza?), put him in the same situation 20 times and he would make the same move each time

 

[jlo]

Aye, it is only the media writing Lewis off. He is the closest thing to Senna in my lifetime, who I only very vaguely remember.

 

[Nando]

He won't lose his edge, but his instinct on when to strike will get better to better. For me, the Massa move was stupid, it was never going to happen and when he eradicates that kind of move he'll be the best about. Of course every driver makes silly mistakes at times, but he's got a little bit of a habit of making big cock ups at crucial stages.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Red Bull had plenty in the bag if they needed it, Fernando was never really going to get any closer to Webber.

Spastic moment from Massa at the start, he really needs to stop sulking and man up.

Kamui's an absolute nutter, but it's great to watch.

I remember when Ayrton Senna first appeared on the scene, he was also branded as crazy, which he probably was, but he was a fantastic racing driver. Not that Massa will ever be that good, but the potential is there.

 

[Kenny]

My Dad still says Gilles Villeneuve is the most gifted driver he's ever seen.

Jeremy Clarkson did a brilliant piece on Senna (I was amazed, look it up on You Tube - Top Gear tribute to Senna) and he was of the same thinking until he spent hours going through tapes and speaking to those who worked with him. I think his closing comments were "Gilles Villeneuve was brilliant most of the time, Senna was brilliant every time" or something like that

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I have been watching since the late seventies and Senna is the best I have ever seen. He was just brilliant and I was devastated when he died. If I were to ask my dad the same question I think he would probably say Jim Clark. Jochen Rindt was also a phenomenally talented driver.

 

[jlo]

I saw Senna in the flesh, but was far too young to recognise and admire his talent. My Dad still says Gilles Villeneuve is the most gifted driver he's ever seen.

I was 6 when he died, but I can just about remember a couple of races with him in it...don't ask me which! Would've loved to have seen him myself, just seeing Bruno's eyes through his helmet earlier this year was scary...just remember how close he was to being in Barrichello's seat in 2009!

I might be wrong, but I think we'll see a very competitive Schumacher/Mercedes next year and I can't wait.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Senna was amazing, he made overtaking manoeuvres where others daren't, except for one. Nigel Mansell was nearly as good as the late, great Senna, he too would take gambles, and force errors out of other drivers.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Senna's greatest race was probably in a monsoon at Donington. He was utterly imperious and won by a street.

 

[Nando]

Massa is not and never will be in the same stratosphere as Hamilton/Alonso let alone Senna. Stick him on pole and he's fantastic, otherwise he does prety much jack all. Get Kubica in the Ferrari.

 

[Nando]

I was there that day Paddy, although I was only 3.

The Senna tribute was fantastic, just imagine if we could have had Senna up against Schumi. <drools>

Before the dependancy on aerodynamic grip, risk takers were rewarded for their bravery. It's hard to compare even the Mansell's, Prost's and Senna's etc with the mordern day drivers (let alone the Clark's and Hill's) as their ability to overtake is massively compromised by the modern cars.

I can watch this all day long, absolutely bloody brilliant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sDtn8QnpFg

 

[Law's Bus]

I think his closing comments were "Gilles Villeneuve was brilliant most of the time, Senna was brilliant every time" or something like that

He was wrong. Gilles was brilliant all of the time - no way should that heap of junk he had in 1981 been near the front of the grid, let alone a couple of wins. Senna was dangerous some of the time, and the FIA should have come down on him like a ton of bricks. Just like with Schumacher, Senna was so good that he didn't need to drive like a chav.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

that is some footage - arnoux could drive a bit too!!

 

[Law's Bus]

that is some footage - arnoux could drive a bit too!!

Oddly due to the scoring system in use at the time, Gilles's six points for second place at Dijon were dropped - the whole thing was literally for nothing!

 

[Penk Wolf]

What a farce.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Webber crashed out very quickly after the safety car came in. They have just re-started again, but more rain is forecast, and it will be getting dark soon.