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Post by charleselan on Jun 23, 2019 12:05:40 GMT
Hi all, This track really is unappealing isn’t it.....and to think of all the magnificent French tracks, past and present.....it’s a reflection of modern F1 really, this season feels like the circus going through the motions, bland and boring. However, I’m always hopeful on race day! Now, I’m a fan of Lewis’ driving and he really is at the peak of his powers at the moment, but I really hope of a different winner here. And not Bottas, that’s just more of the same.....I’ve got everything crossed for Leclerc. Here’s to a great race (I might have to wait for the Indycars at Road America for that 😁). I would say that is pretty much spot on Jamie. For me one of the worst seasons that I have seen, and I have been around for a few! Last night I managed to watch the second initial qualification at Road America until the stream was pulled and I could not find another that worked. What a difference to Ricard! A real race circuit, and absolutely glorious to see. The guys were really giving it their all with cars going off track onto the dry grass verges. This is what motor racing is all about not this sterile garbage that is being dished out in F1. Also the onboard film of the drivers really working at the wheel was something else that is missing in F1. |
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Post by charleselan on Jun 23, 2019 12:24:25 GMT
No big surprises this afternoon but still some interesting developments, most of all the rise of McLaren. It finally looks like they are having a sense of direction again. Have to give it to Zak, he made a few good dicisions, most of all putting Andreas Seidl in charge of the race team. Lando Norris looks very good. I dare to say he will be Britain's next champion. Gasly looks out of his league at Red Bull. Hulkenberg is really not as good as was thought by many. Danny has him covered, easy. Kubica should call it a day. Stroll should go to Formula E.  Some interesting discussion points. I think that all three of the new English drivers have really impressed in different ways. Norris is certainly going very well in the revitalised McLaren, both of which is good news. Also Alex Albon has really impressed me no end, I just hope that the Drinks Company do not push him up to the main team too early in a bid to replace the disappointing Pierre Gasly, who if truth be told was maybe brought on far too fast himself. I agree with Jim in that Brendon Hartley should have been the one promoted, but he was well and truly shafted by the Fizzy Bull. I did see a story that they were making approaches to Nico Hulkenburg but that was later denied by Nico. Like Jim I think you have been very harsh on Nico with regard to comparison with Ricciardo. He has been handicapped by not having the latest upgrades this weekend, and i believe on some other occasions as well, plus his race pace has been excellent. He was also told to hold station in Canada when his late race pace was far superior, which was an odd decision but a clear indication of favouring the highly paid new signing. I feel very sorry for Robert Kubica as it is not working for him, but the odds are really against him. He is in a very poor car and he has been out of F1 for far too long, plus whether he admits it or not he is handicapped physically. On top of that he is up against a young ambitious team mate who I firmly believe to be the best of the three British driver new comers. It is a tragedy that George Russell doesn't have a better car under him right now, also i fear for him as a member of the MB management organisation as they have screwed two very promising youngsters already. |
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Post by Jamie on Jun 23, 2019 15:39:26 GMT
Well, that was an absolute demonstration run from Merc and Hamilton......great for them (and I’m a fan of Hamilton) but boring for the rest of us. Not even his team mate challenged and I fear an easy run to a sixth title; not that he wouldn’t deserve it, he emphatically would, but he’d like some competition and so, I’m sure, would we.
A few interesting battles further down and I was disappointed for poor Lando at the end there; isn’t it great that Bruce’s team appear to be rediscovering their mojo a little and having a genuine talent in the car (both cars) is a joy to see.
Still, yet again F1 disappoints as a racing formula and I’m hoping that Colton Herta gets business done in indycar later to make up for the earlier borefest....
Off to watch The Eagles at Wembley stadium now so at least I’m assured of some quality entertainment today.....wish the same could be said of F1.
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Post by robmarsh on Jun 23, 2019 17:29:03 GMT
The standout thing for me apart from LH's total domination was the stewards actions regarding Ricciardio's driving on the last lap. To me it was more dangerous than Vettel in the previous race and he transgressed again wrt to track limits with 500m of the first incident. One hour after the race the stewards had not made a decision yet they made one within 15 mins the previous race which involved two drivers who had won eight out of the last nine world championships between them.
It doesn't make sense.
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Post by René on Jun 23, 2019 21:57:47 GMT
Like Jim I think you have been very harsh on Nico with regard to comparison with Ricciardo. He has been handicapped by not having the latest upgrades this weekend, and i believe on some other occasions as well, plus his race pace has been excellent. He was also told to hold station in Canada when his late race pace was far superior, which was an odd decision but a clear indication of favouring the highly paid new signing. Maybe but I am just not convinced anymore. He didn't have the upperhand over Sergio Perez when they were teammates. And Perez did manage to score a few podiums then. There are just not enough special results to show compared to Lewis or Seb or Max or Danny or even Charles early in their career or when they had lesser material. I have not seen it. He's good, solid but not super....I think. That one lucky pole is a long time ago. |
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Post by René on Jun 23, 2019 22:14:33 GMT
As Jamie said, F1 disappoints as a racing formula. Again. The track looks horrible and the racing is seldom real racing. I know I can't stop watching it but it is not how it should be.
The IndyCar race this evening at Road America, Elkhart Lake was better in every aspect. The track is majestic with daunting corners and a natural flow that always produces good racing. Rossi won equally dominant as Lewis but it was a great race to watch. How racing should be. The inboard cameras, the helmet cam, the rotating camera that captured Rossi's overtake on Herta so brilliantly, it's just way better than F1. The cars may be slower than F1 but on a track like Road America they surely don't look slower!
And when you've seen this race and how the stewards did not intervene when cars touched or exceeded track limits or rejoined the track in an 'unsafe' manner, the whole Canada thing is just a joke. Oh yes, the stewards team is the same at every race with two ex race winners Max Papis and Arie Luyendijk. No rocket science. Formula One, wake up!
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Post by Jamie on Jun 23, 2019 23:14:41 GMT
As Jamie said, F1 disappoints as a racing formula. Again. The track looks horrible and the racing is seldom real racing. I know I can't stop watching it but it is not how it should be. The IndyCar race this evening at Road America, Elkhart Lake was better in every aspect. The track is majestic with daunting corners and a natural flow that always produces good racing. Rossi won equally dominant as Lewis but it was a great race to watch. How racing should be. The inboard cameras, the helmet cam, the rotating camera that captured Rossi's overtake on Herta so brilliantly, it's just way better than F1. The cars may be slower than F1 but on a track like Road America they surely don't look slower! And when you've seen this race and how the stewards did not intervene when cars touched or exceeded track limits or rejoined the track in an 'unsafe' manner, the whole Canada thing is just a joke. Oh yes, the stewards team is the same at every race with two ex race winners Max Papis and Arie Luyendijk. No rocket science. Formula One, wake up! Distilled common sense in this post René, couldn’t agree more... |
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Post by Carl on Jun 24, 2019 0:22:56 GMT
The standout thing for me apart from LH's total domination was the stewards actions regarding Ricciardio's driving on the last lap. To me it was more dangerous than Vettel in the previous race and he transgressed again wrt to track limits with 500m of the first incident. One hour after the race the stewards had not made a decision yet they made one within 15 mins the previous race which involved two drivers who had won eight out of the last nine world championships between them. It doesn't make sense. I read the paper each morning online and although disappointed to see an Associated Press article describing Hamilton's domination, I soon decided "so what" and deleted my recording of the race unseen. The prospect of a dull race on a strange race track with David Croft's hyperbolic silliness made me glad to know the outcome.
It's out of character for Daniel Ricciardo to be so aggressive. He did the same in Canada, recklessly blocking Valtteri Bottas on the fast straight approaching the final chicane. That's two races in succession he should have been penalized, and finally was in France.
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Post by Carl on Jun 24, 2019 0:40:29 GMT
As Jamie said, F1 disappoints as a racing formula. Again. The track looks horrible and the racing is seldom real racing. I know I can't stop watching it but it is not how it should be. The IndyCar race this evening at Road America, Elkhart Lake was better in every aspect. The track is majestic with daunting corners and a natural flow that always produces good racing. Rossi won equally dominant as Lewis but it was a great race to watch. How racing should be. The inboard cameras, the helmet cam, the rotating camera that captured Rossi's overtake on Herta so brilliantly, it's just way better than F1. The cars may be slower than F1 but on a track like Road America they surely don't look slower! And when you've seen this race and how the stewards did not intervene when cars touched or exceeded track limits or rejoined the track in an 'unsafe' manner, the whole Canada thing is just a joke. Oh yes, the stewards team is the same at every race with two ex race winners Max Papis and Arie Luyendijk. No rocket science. Formula One, wake up! Your comparison of the race at Road America (and the broadcast) to the current state of Formula One is perfect, missing only an image of the bar at Siebkens Resort... 
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Post by robmarsh on Jun 24, 2019 7:53:10 GMT
As Jamie said, F1 disappoints as a racing formula. Again. The track looks horrible and the racing is seldom real racing. I know I can't stop watching it but it is not how it should be. The IndyCar race this evening at Road America, Elkhart Lake was better in every aspect. The track is majestic with daunting corners and a natural flow that always produces good racing. Rossi won equally dominant as Lewis but it was a great race to watch. How racing should be. The inboard cameras, the helmet cam, the rotating camera that captured Rossi's overtake on Herta so brilliantly, it's just way better than F1. The cars may be slower than F1 but on a track like Road America they surely don't look slower! And when you've seen this race and how the stewards did not intervene when cars touched or exceeded track limits or rejoined the track in an 'unsafe' manner, the whole Canada thing is just a joke. Oh yes, the stewards team is the same at every race with two ex race winners Max Papis and Arie Luyendijk. No rocket science. Formula One, wake up! Well written René, absolutely spot on. You have encapsulated everything I having be trying to say for two weeks in one hard hitting post. |
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Post by charleselan on Jun 24, 2019 12:13:05 GMT
Like many here I found the French GP at Paul Ricard to be underwhelming; sadly a trait that has been all too prevalent in the past few seasons. If it had not been for the weather to have been so hot yesterday I would have considered spending several hours looking at the screen of my Mac to have been time well wasted. Hamilton stamped his authority all over the race from the beginning, helped largely by his team mate having a typical number two run and anything else just a by product. The last lap down the field offered some respite from the drowsiness that had ensued, as Desperate Dan attempted a trademark lunge on the unfortunate and very impressive Lando Norris in his hampered McLaren, obviously forgetting that he wasn't in the Fizzy Drink machine anymore. The aftermath of which just beggared belief as Desperate Dan must have thought he was in Mad Max mode of a few seasons previous. The guy is obviously having a mini meltdown as this followed his disgraceful attempt at blocking Bottas in Canada, just to think that Nico Hulkenburg was close behind all race in a less well spec'd car . Other than that little bit of "excitement" the best bit was JYS in the winners cool down room afterwards, what a legend the guy is when he reached up to touch Charles Leclerc's forehead and pronounced "obviously young man you aren't working hard enough". Then on to the Indy car race at Road America Elkart Lake. Contrast doesn't come into any comparison does it! Summed up beautifully above and seconded by many others. A dominant win by the exceptional Alexander Rossi and some stirring racing down the field, along with an outstanding comeback drive by the amazing Scott Dixon. The thought crosses my mind here, would the likes of Lewis; Sebastian; Max and Charles rather race at a venue like Road America or ply their lucrative trade on sterile tracks like Ricard or Tilkadomes, we should be told. Formula One reminds me very much of the state of politics in the UK at present. A very rich and wealthy elite do not want change, even if it means the betterment of the whole picture. Greed and self serving attitudes are disgusting and ultimately lead to nothing. F1 needs a major revamp and in days of yore the FIA would have stepped in after this dire current formula and one make dominance, and made clean sweep of the rules. |
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Post by Jamie on Jun 24, 2019 19:19:03 GMT
This season really has been dire, it says something when the most interesting thing to happen so far was Vettel’s dubious penalty in Canada.....I despair.
The whole thing needs a complete revamp....throw the rule book away and start again; and by rules, I mean both the sporting and technical regulations....both are a disaster in my opinion. The cars can’t race and when the drivers have a go we get the dreaded ‘incident under investigation’ graphic......jeezzz Formula 1, this like watching a long drawn out suicide attempt.
It really is rubbish at the moment, I do hope a massive shake up is on the cards which is why the 2021 regs haven’t been released yet, but that seems far too obvious and sensible and one thing that F1 is brilliant at is pretending that the show is ok and bloody mindedly carrying on regardless......we’ll see.
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Post by René on Jun 24, 2019 21:50:56 GMT
As Jamie said, F1 disappoints as a racing formula. Again. The track looks horrible and the racing is seldom real racing. I know I can't stop watching it but it is not how it should be. The IndyCar race this evening at Road America, Elkhart Lake was better in every aspect. The track is majestic with daunting corners and a natural flow that always produces good racing. Rossi won equally dominant as Lewis but it was a great race to watch. How racing should be. The inboard cameras, the helmet cam, the rotating camera that captured Rossi's overtake on Herta so brilliantly, it's just way better than F1. The cars may be slower than F1 but on a track like Road America they surely don't look slower! And when you've seen this race and how the stewards did not intervene when cars touched or exceeded track limits or rejoined the track in an 'unsafe' manner, the whole Canada thing is just a joke. Oh yes, the stewards team is the same at every race with two ex race winners Max Papis and Arie Luyendijk. No rocket science. Formula One, wake up! Your comparison of the race at Road America (and the broadcast) to the current state of Formula One is perfect, missing only an image of the bar at Siebkens Resort... Ah yes, Siebkens Resort! You know, during the broadcast there were some shots of the fans in the grandstands and on the grass zones and I really wished I was there. And go for a beer at Siebkens after the race. I never had that feeling while watching the French Grand Prix. And I even have good memories of that place but it is no longer the same, no longer authentic like Road America. Or have we just become grumpy old men...?  |
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Post by René on Jun 24, 2019 21:56:04 GMT
This season really has been dire, it says something when the most interesting thing to happen so far was Vettel’s dubious penalty in Canada.....I despair. The whole thing needs a complete revamp....throw the rule book away and start again; and by rules, I mean both the sporting and technical regulations....both are a disaster in my opinion. The cars can’t race and when the drivers have a go we get the dreaded ‘incident under investigation’ graphic......jeezzz Formula 1, this like watching a long drawn out suicide attempt. It really is rubbish at the moment, I do hope a massive shake up is on the cards which is why the 2021 regs haven’t been released yet, but that seems far too obvious and sensible and one thing that F1 is brilliant at is pretending that the show is ok and bloody mindedly carrying on regardless......we’ll see. Very much agree Jamie but I wouldn't hold my breath. This doesn't sound very good: www.autosport.com/f1/news/144348/f1-21-overhaul-needs-serious-changes--hamilton |
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Post by Carl on Jun 25, 2019 6:13:59 GMT
Your comparison of the race at Road America (and the broadcast) to the current state of Formula One is perfect, missing only an image of the bar at Siebkens Resort... Ah yes, Siebkens Resort! You know, during the broadcast there were some shots of the fans in the grandstands and on the grass zones and I really wished I was there. And go for a beer at Siebkens after the race. I never had that feeling while watching the French Grand Prix. And I even have good memories of that place but it is no longer the same, no longer authentic like Road America. Or have we just become grumpy old men...? I'm older and grumpier and thus a composite of both.
Rene, I have that same feeling every time. The casual seating, the beautiful countryside surrounded by dairy farms and small towns is idyllic. We're the ones who've experienced and value racing as it should be. Never mind the calendar, that's youthful optimism. Those who pay exorbitant admission and then accept without question being treated like third class steerage are the feeble ones. Road America and the many other circuits resistant to corporate sterility are what racing is all about. Well, that and great beer and bratwurst... theluggnutt.com/2018/11/13/the-gearbox-concessions-at-road-america-awarded-michelin-star/ Cheers (reluctantly), Carl |
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