F1 2010

Really? Didn't the fia come down rather heavily on Alonso recently?? The days of that are behind us. Now we rely on the likes of Mansell to make silly decisions!

Tony

Personally I disagree with the "no team orders rule" but as the rule is supposed to apply then that was blatant cheating and I would be surprised if they get away with it.

I think they'll be ok. Ferrari will explain that they didn't want to risk either a crash between them, or Vettel getting involved because they slowed each other by fighting for the lead.
Hey, back in the 60s (I think) if the No1 driver's car had a problem he could come into the pits and take the No2 driver's car!
If Ferrari hadn't done it like they did, they'd have just told Massa he had to short-shift to save fuel. They'll never stop it unless a team consists of one car.

Tony

I have no problems with it. Alonso still has an outside chance for the championship, Massa is too far back in the points. Maybe time to adopt cycling rules as far as teams are concerned.

As if it wasn't boring enough before Farrari decided fix the result. I got up at that point and switched the set off. I don't think I'll bother watching the rest of the season, it's just a farse.

The FIA need to come down hard on Farrari, but no doubt it'll all get smoothed over.

As I say I turned the set of, but I would have been interested to see if they interviewed Martin Whitmarsh, he didn't sound a happy bunny and was clearly holding little back over the team radio.

It would be nice to see Alonso win with his driving skills rather than team orders, politics, amateur dramatics & tantrums.
That is of course assuming he actually does have the driving skills and not just the fastest car.

So, how would any of us know? With any of the drivers. Remembering that no champion has won with a dog of a car.

Tony

I'd award points for first place in the drivers' championship to Massa, second to Alonso, and none at all to Ferrari in the constructors'.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h...mula_one/8852918.stm

Worth every penny. Well done Ferrari. Game on.

Tony

So no effective punishment then. FIA might not as well bothered.

"Effecting the outcome of the race" or something. I doubt it did, so not a bad result.

Tony

Only point deductions or disqualifications would change behaviour, but as I said earlier - these team tactics should be legal IMHO.

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h...mula_one/8852918.stm

Worth every penny. Well done Ferrari. Game on.

Tony

Eh? Can't agree with that at all.

They've just ruined the race as well as breaking the rules.

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:
"Effecting the outcome of the race" or something. I doubt it did, so not a bad result.

Tony

From a team point of view it's the same, that's what they should worry about.
Let the drivers decide the drivers championship IMO.
MS seemed to think the team should still interfere with it.

In the end of the day we were deprived of possibly a good contest.

quote:

Originally posted by Gary S.:
As I say I turned the set of, but I would have been interested to see if they interviewed Martin Whitmarsh, he didn't sound a happy bunny and was clearly holding little back over the team radio.

Doh! I meant Rob Smedley

quote:

Originally posted by Julian H:
So no effective punishment then. FIA might not as well bothered.

Well they didn't quite get away with it but what surprises me is that the $100,000 fine is the maximum the stewards are allowed to impose.

If the consequence is so low for a breach of the rule what is the point of it?

I think that it should be repealed anyway.

quote:

If the consequence is so low for a breach of the rule what is the point of it?

Precisely!

This one has legs though. Lets wait and see what else happens.

I love F1. Have done for thirty years. Seen a few races, been interviewed for a job with a team, love it. BUT. I still just see it as a game, That's all it is. Big egos, big money, big names, fairly high speeds, huge braking etc. Don't take it too seriously if your livelihood isn't dependant on it.

Tony

I don't watch the races any more but caught the news item. At least Massa in his post-race interview was as honest as he could be, Alonso glibly followed the party line and fell further in my estimation.

As for allowing team orders it ocurred to me that if you repealed the rule presumably you'd have to suspend anyone betting on the winner of a race and you'd only be allowed to bet on the winning team?

Over-hyped by its promoters, greedily gobbled up by an uncritical media, swilling with money, out of contact with the fans, lacking true competition and inadequately regulated when things are awry....

F1 = Premiership football!

Both have left a bad taste for some time.

Bruce

Top post Bruce.

Joe

TOP POST from Tony & Bruce

F1 - & MotoGP - is all money, egos, money, bling, money, image & about as important as next weeks "Hello"

It's the technology that fascinates me.
But I would like to know that the person who wins & those in the placed positions got there because they used all the skill & technology to achieve that result. Otherwise its at the same level as athletics with drugs & all-in-wrestling.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike-B:
F1 - & MotoGP - is all money, egos, money, bling, money, image & about as important as next weeks "Hello"

...and in stark contrast with the way it used to be. The Senna homage on Top Gear reminded me why F1 is (was) an amazing sport. To see those old cars almost literally dancing around the circuit, with only a thin bit of plastic between the driver and oblivion. Even Hamilton was emotional.
I'm not advocating that F1 becomes less safe, but there must be some way to get that excitement back in. Maybe the technology has gone too far?
Cheers
John

quote:

Originally posted by Nero:

quote:

Originally posted by Mike-B:
F1 - & MotoGP - is all money, egos, money, bling, money, image & about as important as next weeks "Hello"

...and in stark contrast with the way it used to be. The Senna homage on Top Gear reminded me why F1 is (was) an amazing sport. To see those old cars almost literally dancing around the circuit, with only a thin bit of plastic between the driver and oblivion. Even Hamilton was emotional.
I'm not advocating that F1 becomes less safe, but there must be some way to get that excitement back in. Maybe the technology has gone too far?
Cheers
John

Unfortunately the cars gave that excitement, also took Senna from us.

What was significant from the summary of that McLaren was " No downforce" ie very simple front and rear wing and flat bottom. Not sure going back to manual gear changes would be too safe, but watching Senna driving at high velocity one handed. Truly a craftsman, and still missed.
There was a piece about the great Jim Clark on the F1 programme, even more dangerous era , cars made out of tin foil , and trees used as barriers.

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:

Unfortunately the cars gave that excitement, also took Senna from us.

That's pretty much the bottom line, whenever I complain about boring races today I have to remind myself that excitement in the old days was very often paid with in blood.

That's the unfortunate truth of course. But the drivers knew it.