F1 season so far

I've tried to watch a few races so far this year and they've been woeful - almost as boring to watch as the snooker.

Things looked on the up last year but it's gone down the toilet - again! Haven't seen much racing - except lap 1 at Imola. Boring - but I will stay with it out of habit. Nice to see the 'top' teams not getting it all their own way. By convention, I've left the Red Team out of that comment - they're on another planet.

Cheers

Harry

Even my mate Roger Red Watch who works for the Woking team only watches the races up to the first corner then switches off even though he has a vested interest in the result and does (did?) enjoy watching F1.

I thought he took most of the winter off and turned up late on in the testing when the three other drivers has pretty much got it sorted? Playboy lifestyles or not, if you look at the testing results you'll see them all there, pounding round for days on end. Jacques didn't do so much and Michael is probably the next most frequent absentee of the regulars who have a defenite drive.

This is to take nothing away from his natural talent which is there for all to see. But let's not get too rose tinted. He has consistantly played dirty and broken the rules when he could get away with it. It baffles me how someone so skilful feels that they need to do that. Benneton have often been said to have had an advantage down to illegal driver aids when MS was driving for them. Senna was convinced of it - and said as much on the day of his death. Call it gamesmanship if you will, but for all his weaknesses, Senna would not have said that just for effect (unlike MS's patheric and headline chasing accusation than DC had tried to kill him in Spa). The FIA did find illegal systems - but they couldn't catch Benneton using them so they got off on a technicallity.

Then there was that odd braking system on the Ferrari's which only worked on one side - in effect a traction control system - illegal at the time. The team and driver went to great lengths to deny it - until photograpic evidence turned up.

Let's not also forget that he took Hill off to win the championship in Australia. No doubt about that - watch the footage. Then later he tried to do the same to JV at Jerez - and had all his points deducted (although strangely, both he and Ferrari were allowed to keep their secong places in the overall results).

I thimk these things are worth pointing out. There's no doubt he's the best on the grid - but he's dirty. And F1, I'm sorry to say looks more boring than it's ever been. But I'll keep watching. And if MS keeps winning - good luck to him.

Cheers

Harry

It can be seen as dirty tactics, or it can be seen as using every opportunity to gain an advantage for the team. If it is serious stuff - and it is - uncompromising is the name of the game. There is serious money in here in sponsorship, and I can't see the sponsors accepting MS passing over a win of the championship when there was a clear opportunity to end it on that fateful corner. The guy is a genius and we are very lucky to be able to see motor racing history in the making, but uncompromising is the quality that got him to this position.

Schumacher is a great driver but it's a shame we haven't had a chance to see more competition for him.

When I was watching the race at the weekend one of the team managers (from BAR perhaps) stated that you can't really overtake at that track so all the passing was going to be done in the pit-stops. That seems par for the course. When was the last time you saw a F1 race with a close fight for the lead, with passing etc?

I can't remember one.

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Originally posted by HTK:
Then there was that odd braking system on the Ferrari's which only worked on one side - in effect a traction control system - illegal at the time. The team and driver went to great lengths to deny it - until photograpic evidence turned up.
Harry

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Harry mate, I think that might have been Mclaren ! Whatever, I agree with the gist of your post and would say that the same could be said about Senna (there, I've said it). It's always dissapointing when someone with this level of ability doesn't play the game with honour. What do you prove to yourself when you cheat ?

Brian OReilly

The problem for the F1-circus is of course that if it gets so boring that nobody is watching is that the sponsors that pays for the show will go away. And that includes Ferraris sponsors! What's the point of winning if nobody watches it (and therefore doesn't go away and buy the products advertised on the cars). Ferrari is playing a very dangerous game here, for themselves and for F1 in general. A couple of seasans more of MS winning every race and it might be buried and forgotten.
Remember the old DTM? Bernie took over the television rigths and charged the TV-stations such a big amount for showing it that they choose not to. The sponsors ran away and the series died.

JohanR

Bring back Mika and stick him in the other Ferrari I say! The MS show is killing F1.
Give Kimi a decent drive at the same time and things may just get interesting again.

Apparently JV is testing for Williams. Probably just to diagnose why the car is sh*t.

Hey Johan,

I don't think you can blame whichever team is dominant for the demise of F1.

Sadly, by its own definition, F1 is/has painted itself into a corner.

Brian OReilly

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Originally posted by JohanR:
Remember the old DTM? Bernie took over the television rigths and charged the TV-stations such a big amount for showing it that they choose not to. The sponsors ran away and the series died.

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Exactly according to Bernie's plan. A possible competitor for his F1 circus snubbed.

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Exactly according to Bernie's plan. A possible competitor for his F1 circus snubbed.

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Aha!

The new DTM series, b.t.w. and IMHO is probably the best racing series that can be watched on European TV. Lot's of action and tight racing. Like BTCC, but they use "real" racing cars (something like a sportscar prototype that happen to use a body that looks like a standard car), V8 engines, lot's of carbon fibre and stuff. No driver aids is allowed.
I don't think they will ask Bernie for "help" with the TV this time!

JohanR

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Originally posted by JohanR:
The new DTM series, b.t.w. and IMHO is probably the best racing series that can be watched on European TV.

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Better than MotoGP even?

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Better than MotoGP even?

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I don't know. As I don't have a license for motorcycling and therefore doesn't drive one myself it is uninteresting to me (I have done quite some driving around circuits on trackdays with cars and even once driven an Arrows FA14 F1 car). Four wheels for me.

But I should probably, to be on the safe side, rephrase to "best CAR racing series".

JohanR

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Originally posted by JohanR:

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Better than MotoGP even?

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I don't know. As I don't have a license for motorcycling and therefore doesn't drive one myself it is uninteresting to me (I have done quite some driving around circuits on trackdays with cars and even once driven an Arrows FA14 F1 car). Four wheels for me.

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You should give MotoGP a watch as the racing is very good.

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But I should probably, to be on the safe side, rephrase to "best CAR racing series".

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I haven't watched DTM recently but I'll give it a look next time I see it's on.

From my point of view, the only real interest this season has been provided by the vastly improved showing of the BAR team since JV took a hike! Looks to me like he was holding them back far more than pushing them forward!

The Renaults also provide some light relief from the MS inspired tedium. McClarens showing is just abysmal and Williams-BMW continue to waste driver talent by failing to provide them with the equipment and support they need.

The Jaguars that showed some promise at the start of the year have notably failed to deliver on that promise - again! Plus ca Change!

Sad to see Jordan now fighting it out with MInardi for the honour of the last two places on the grid - oh how have the mighty fallen!

David

I was unusually drawn to the F1 coverage last weekend in the hope that Jenson Button could capitalise on his second place at the previous race to go well in Spain. Then, I watched him cock up his qualifying lap and, well, whilst I'm no expert, I could pretty much predict what the race outcome would be.

I think it says something about the state of F1 these days that there has so far been only one driver this season (Button) to have even hinted at pushing Schumacher. Still, I remember in days of yore when Williams were masters of they surveyed. What on earth has happened to them? Perhaps they never got over Senna's death.

Regards,

JonR

Judging by the lack of contributions to this thread of late one is forced to conclude that you've all switched off for the rest of the season.

Sad. Silverstone was good fun for a while there. Kimi and JPM in a fully functional McLaren next year could be just the ticket. I'm sure the fact hasn't escaped MS who must surely be wondering what the f*ck is going on.
Its been a while since he had to look over his shoulder

Anyone buying into the rumours of a Hakkinen/Webber package for Williams next year??

red

Well, with Max, Ron, Adrian and now Sir Frank all letting it be known that they'll be retiring soon-ish, who knows?
One thing is for sure. If the best driver/racer ends up in the best car/team, then no amount of rule juggling will stop him becoming champ.
Just change that bloody awful qualifying format!

Tony

....oh, by the way. I always try to watch the races, so agreed, the last couple have been a treat. I'd hate to have money on the races, and I'm a Schuey/Ferrari fan!

Tony

How to get F1 exiting again?

Well, seing the same guy win every race, year in and year out, is NOT exiting. He might be the best driver around and deserving to win evey race, but it is BORING.

HOW is he winning the races? Certainly not by overtaking his competitors on the track. It is done by cleverly layed up pit stop strategies as could be seen this sunday on Silverstone and the weekend before that in France.

The answers is then:

- Ban pittstops for fuel.
- Only one supplier of tires and make sure they hard enough to last a whole race.

Maybe that German guy will win every race with these rules to, but at least he has to do some on track passing from time to time.

JohanR

I gave it 5 races and after the first three I just fell asleep.
It is most probably more boring than even snooker or bowls. It isn't schu'ies fault he's miles better than everyone else. I think F1 has had its day and is in danger of getting dropped by many more viewers yet. The only enjoyment is watching to see what DC is going to blame not winning on this time. Jeeez that guy is a tosser!
Maybe Button & DC in the same car in a two man race could be watchable - no rules!
(No...not the same car - no...maybe that would )be good )

It's the circuts that need looking at. There must about 25 places where you can overtake/outbrake etc. in a season. The mid field and back markers often make spectacular use of them but you won't see the leading cars using them often to gain a position. F1 is suposed to be the zenith of international 4 wheeled motor sport - so how come they can't pass eachother. Stupid grooved tyres, cliped aero packages, power restrictions - it's wromg! Why not just give them carts?

We don't need dumbed down cars, we need proper circuits.

All only IMO of course.

Cheers

Harry

The powers that be are looking at ways to increase the amount of overtaking, but even the car designers say that it isn't as simple as reducing the aero-effects further and slapping on great big tyres.
I do think the circuits need some work, but what do I know? Looking at the 1st turn at Indianapolis, there is more than one line into the corner and it's fast in, slow out. Combine those factors with horrendously high speeds on approach and the men really are sorted from the boys.
Maybe some of the old circuits could have their famous long straights reinstated? Silverstone still has the Hangar Straight, but because of the micky mouse complex after it, we'll never see the likes of Mansell's big balled manoeuvre of '87 again.
Anyway, I'm shagged after fixing aircraft hydraulic stuff all night.
And so to bed.

Tony

Williams seemed to have had a couple of Championships post Senna.Wpould have had more if Frank didn't sack drivers as soon as they got the championship.
Even during other dominant periods Lotus,Williams and Maclaren you still felt that there was a chance of some one else winning. Now with the unprecedented reliability of the Ferrari no one else is going to get a look in unless MS or RB crash or break down. Just maybe Maclaren can do the job,but I'm not holding my breath.
DTM is a good formula loud and exciting with a good helping of different race winners.

Howard