Melbourne Grand Prix

quote:

the excitement of pit stops

I find it sad that the racing has become so boring that someone can find pit stops exciting.

I found the pit stops amusing because just when you expected everyone to rush to the car to change the tyres, they just stood there wondering what to do next.....

Pit stops have been part and parcel of Formula One racing. Races are often won and lost in the in-lap, the pit stop, and the out-lap.

What has been boring about the racing is actually rather exciting for fans of Scuderia Ferrari. Sorry if you're not a Ferrari fan but like Michael Schumacher said, its not that Ferrari have been so good - its just that the others have been so bad.

Deane

Bring back Brabham.

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martin
ex-fan if you didnt know

Good to see MS getting his just deserts. A fellow German too.
How many more times is he going to "lure" marshalls in to the danger zone without pace car protection?
Deane they still have pitstops. Just they won't have another set of "super stickies" to put on.
If I had my way they would have to race a car without stops at all. Making a car that reacts to a changes due to the car being a third/half as light at the end of a race. More of a challange to the design team than the 20 lap sprint car we have had recently.
Still prefer NASCAR and sports car racing though. The last few seasons have taken away my affection for the "sport". Still think the MS's team cheats or at least does not get the punishments it ought too.


Howard

I didn't see it, but I'm happy in the knowledge that M Sheitmacher crashed out. He should have been banned years ago - not for winning, but for driving (or attempting to drive) other cars off the circuit.

Was he up to his old tricks again today?

quote:

Was he up to his old tricks again today?

Yes as per usual. I suspect it wasn't his fault though.

Howard

Yes he squeezed Heidfeld onto the grass, the guy then braked and of course had no grip as he slithered off into the back of Shoomaker, poetic justice I think

I think we may see a lot more mistakes from the chosen one this season if he's actually forced to race amongst other drivers lower down the grid.

Regards
Clive

Ban him quickly. I don't mind if he wants to try to kill himself (although I'd never wish death on anybody) but, from the way he does it, he's more likely to kill someone else. If he did it at the British GP, I'd bring a private prosecution: the court would, I think, be amenable to similar fact evidence.

G

Was it a divine wind that blew Mr S into the other car or was it a premeditated race strategy condoned by those in power?

quote:

but for driving (or attempting to drive) other cars off the circuit.

gee, whatever you do, don't mention the war. DC did that to Webber yesterday; add Kimi, Alonso and Fisichella to the list, that I can remember off hand, of people who've run others onto the grass in the past couple of seasons but I don't hear any Brits asking for them to be banned.

As far as I know, the rule is that unless the overtaking car's front axle has passed the overtakee's front axle, the overtaking driver is the one that ought to exercise caution.

But the drivers seem to accept a lot of these things as race incidents and write them off.

Deane

I don't think there was anything sinister about MS's move. He misjudged how far to squeeze him and paid the price. Classic racing incident. DC didn't squeeze Webber off, he just shut the door. Completly different.

Hand on heart I'm glad to see Michael off the scoreboard. Gives everybody he's going to beat over the season a head start - just to keep us awake for a couple of races

Cheers

Harry

quote:

I don't think there was anything sinister about MS's move. He misjudged how far to squeeze him and paid the price. Classic racing incident. DC didn't squeeze Webber off, he just shut the door. Completly different.

Right, so let me get this straight. DC pushing Webber onto the grass is 'just shutting the door' and perfectly legitimate, but Schumi pushing someone onto the grass is either 'squeezing' or
trying to kill someone depending on your point of view. Bizarre.

I think John Sheridan has a point here. There does seem to be a distinct whiff of "let's get 'im cos he's German" in this thread.

quote:

I think John Sheridan has a point here. There does seem to be a distinct whiff of "let's get 'im cos he's German" in this thread.

Not at all, I couldn't give a monkey's what is nationality is, it's just the sheer arrogance of the guy thinking he, and Ferrari are bigger than the sport.

It's just been a shame he's had very little competition over the past few years, (not his fault) apart from his choice of team mate.
Most of the pundits have said, give him competition, put him under pressure, and he'll make mistakes. Lets hope that's what we get this year, that will certainly make it more interesting.

Regards
Clive

quote:

Originally posted by cunningplan:

Not at all, I couldn't give a monkey's what is nationality is, it's just the sheer arrogance of the guy thinking he, and Ferrari are bigger than the sport.

I guess Schumacher is arrogant. He was probably arrogant when he was go-karting too. I don't see how its possible to win in motor racing unless possessed of a large ego and an unassailable sense of it being your absolute right to win and this must be especially true of Formula One.

Deane

quote:

Originally posted by JonR:
I think John Sheridan has a point here. There does seem to be a distinct whiff of "let's get 'im cos he's German" in this thread.

Not from this direction Jon. I question Michael's judgement and his willingness to fight dirty when he's obviously got so much tallent going spare, but that's a part of what makes him such a great driver and competitor. I didn't say that anyone was trying to kill anyone John. You need to calm down a bit and read through the thread again before you accuse me of such drivel. For my own part I just love a good race and I don't care who wins. I'm not one of those stupid flag waving types. I don't know if Webber's time has come yet but he's almost certain to be a champ and it should be thrilling to see what he can do this season. We could be in for a good one - you never know... I don't rate DC - I don't think we'll be seing much of him most Sundays.

Cheers

Harry

quote:

Originally posted by HTK:
didn't say that anyone was trying to kill anyone John. You need to calm down a bit and read through the thread again before you accuse me of such driv

and I never said you did, maybe you should read the thread again as I clearly said:

quote:

either 'squeezing' or trying to kill someone depending on your point of view

can you not remember what your own point of view is? In case you've forgotten, you said it's squeezing, Graham55 thinks he's trying to kill people.

No, actually, I don't think that he's TRYING to kill people. But, if no sanctions are imposed against him for the way that he routinely forces other drivers off the cicuit, a fatality - whether his or someone else's - is likely to result. You may recall that a few years ago he was stripped of his World Championship points for trying to drive someone else off the circuit in the last race of the Championship. But, by then, he had come second. Corrupt old Ecclescake would never have sanctioned that punishment if Cobbler (translation of shoe-maker) had succeeded in his dangerous and illegal manoeuvre and had thereby "won".

And, what's more, my disdain for the man has nothing to do with his being German.

Graham

quote:

Originally posted by HTK:
I don't know if Webber's time has come yet but he's almost certain to be a champ and it should be thrilling to see what he can do this season.

I think Montoya is the most probable next-major-champion in Formula One, once Shumacher retires. He lacks polish, certainly, but it is only a matter of time IMHO. I find his manner grates on me, though, and on that basis I can understand what people dislike so much about Michael Schumacher.

Deane

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:
I think Montoya is the most probable next-major-champion in Formula One, once Shumacher retires. He lacks polish, certainly, but it is only a matter of time IMHO. I find his manner grates on me, though, and on that basis I can understand what people dislike so much about Michael Schumacher.
Deane

JPM's got the raw skill all right but there's something missing somewhere. He's got the agression but he always seems to come out worse off. Maybe uncle Ron will calm him down some.

Cheers

Harry

quote:

And, what's more, my disdain for the man has nothing to do with his being German.

really? So why do non-german drivers not come in for the same criticism?
What you get from people in this country and especially the media is this: Schumi drives some off the track it's life threatening madness. When others do it, it's good, hard racing.
So why the difference?

I don't give a toss for what the British press say, but since you question my motives: I speak fluent German, have many good friends who are German and lived in Germany for getting on for five years when I was younger.

Despite my admiration for many things German, I still think that Schumacher is a danger to himself and other drivers.

Graham