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Post by René on Jun 30, 2020 11:50:37 GMT
The cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix seems a long time ago now. A few month later and the world is not the same anymore, including Formula 1. Personally, I didn’t miss it at first as there was so much going on that is much more important than racing. For a while, racing was not life. Worries about vulnerable family members and friends, worries about the economic situation. Those worries are by far not over yet but somehow you learn to live with a new reality and take it day by day. And enjoy the good things in life! One of those good things has always been racing and with the upcoming opening round of the 2020 F1 championship, I am starting to feel the buzz again! The Austrian Grand Prix is usually a good race and this time we get two races for the price of one!  If last years race is anything to go by we’re in for a cracker. Certainly with all the uncertainties that come into play this time. New cars and new working protocols. Drivers who have announced they will leave the team at the end of the season. No fans in the grandstands, nothing is as usual.
And how will the balance of forces turn out? Based on winter testing, Mercedes is still the team to beat with Red Bull close on their heels and Ferrari in third. But will it still be like that coming sunday? Please bring it on!   |
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Post by Carl on Jun 30, 2020 20:41:37 GMT
Yes, a great race safely run is just what we need. May the best driver win despite rumors that Jos Verstappen has been secretly painting empty grandstand seats orange at night.
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Post by robmarsh on Jul 1, 2020 8:28:53 GMT
I love this track, truncated and somewhat emasculated as it may be. Punting for Albon as a surprise. I think Red Bull will be fast but Max will be overconfident and make a mistake. Ferrari, I think, will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to win this one unless they were carrying a lorry load of sandbags back in Spain. Mercedes will slip up because I want them to.
I sincerely hope come Sunday eve I have egg on my face re Ferrari.
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Post by René on Jul 1, 2020 19:53:35 GMT
Yes, a great race safely run is just what we need. May the best driver win despite rumors that Jos Verstappen has been secretly painting empty grandstand seats orange at night. He has even painted the pit boxes orange!  |
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Post by René on Jul 1, 2020 19:57:19 GMT
I love this track, truncated and somewhat emasculated as it may be. Punting for Albon as a surprise. I think Red Bull will be fast but Max will be overconfident and make a mistake. Ferrari, I think, will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to win this one unless they were carrying a lorry load of sandbags back in Spain. Mercedes will slip up because I want them to. I sincerely hope come Sunday eve I have egg on my face re Ferrari. An Albon win, that would be something Rob! Hoping for a Ferrari win though but Alex winning would certainly be second best! |
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Post by chrisb on Jul 2, 2020 8:34:33 GMT
Rob, I do miss the original circuit and whilst this new one compares well with other modern circuits for me it is a pale shadow, in saying that it is still pretty good and maybe with a few alterations that the fizzydrinks guy was suggesting may lift it to past glories, when feeling like i need a boost i just put on the 1973 race on the advert fest of utub and enjoy
Austria is one of my favourite countries to travel in and there is a wonderful series on utub about driving around old circuits and that is inspiring, I hadn't realised how scary both Clermont and Rouen were, mighty circuits only true champions won there
Great words Rene, other aspects of existence have consumed our thoughts and continue to do so - especially given the situation in the UK and a few other countries, oh for a leader, someone like the lady from New Zealand, mind you MotoGP is also coming back shortly, now that will improve moods
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Post by charleselan on Jul 2, 2020 16:22:46 GMT
For my part I cannot get enthused by this, I haven't missed "live" racing at all to be honest. The fact that there will be no real spectators at the event is of little consequence to a television viewer, unlike a football match where their absence is pretty apparent even though crowd noises are piped into the stadium. The latter is truly absurd just like a false audience taped onto a comedy show on TV.
I suppose it will come as some relief to those who have endured the worries and trauma of these past months, and from what I have read and seen it appears that the circus have organised things very well, pity some governments cannot do the same.
On the contrary to my initial comment I would welcome races at places like Imola etc.
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Post by René on Jul 2, 2020 19:37:21 GMT
On the contrary to my initial comment I would welcome races at places like Imola etc. Imola would be great and also Mugello is on the cards which could be very interesting. |
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Post by Carl on Jul 2, 2020 21:24:41 GMT
For my part I cannot get enthused by this, I haven't missed "live" racing at all to be honest. The fact that there will be no real spectators at the event is of little consequence to a television viewer, unlike a football match where their absence is pretty apparent even though crowd noises are piped into the stadium. The latter is truly absurd just like a false audience taped onto a comedy show on TV. I suppose it will come as some relief to those who have endured the worries and trauma of these past months, and from what I have read and seen it appears that the circus have organised things very well, pity some governments cannot do the same. On the contrary to my initial comment I would welcome races at places like Imola etc. I haven't missed racing as much as I anticipated, but although the Indycar race in Texas on June 6th was surreal with social distancing and without spectators, it was good to see actual racing despite a recent coat of sealant effectively eliminating the high line. Less welcome was the constant eager annoyance of Leigh Diffey, who should also have had sealant added. To replace the glamour lost to precaution, there could be a system of inflatable sex dolls in every grandstand, programmed to rise in excitement as the subsidizing teams drivers approach. |
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Post by René on Jul 2, 2020 22:57:17 GMT
To get y'all in the mood! |
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Post by Carl on Jul 3, 2020 3:34:11 GMT
To get y'all in the mood! Whew! Several decades of good, bad, great, fright and tragedy at warp speed!  |
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Post by René on Jul 3, 2020 17:09:51 GMT
To get y'all in the mood! Whew! Several decades of good, bad, great, fright and tragedy at warp speed! Yep Carl, a lot of tragedy in the short film but let's be honest, tragedy and Formula 1 were inseparable in the first few decades of the sport. But what a sensational sport it is! |
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Post by René on Jul 3, 2020 17:19:58 GMT
Finally, we have a lift off. The 2020 F1 season has begun! The Mercs on top of the time list is not a real surprise but what to make of the rest? A fast Racing Point (in the hands of Checo) was what most of the other teams feared. But is this really their position? I mean, are Ferrari and even more Red Bull this far off the Merc pace? I think we will see a little shift tomorrow but it would be nice anyhow if the pink cars can stir up the top three now and then. Ferrari will bring a new aero package in Hungary so the Austrian races will be about damage limitation. At least, that is what they say. But Red Bull was expected to be on the pace right away. They seem to have too much oversteer and a slight inbalance. Well, let's wait and see tomorrow. |
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Post by mikael on Jul 3, 2020 18:02:22 GMT
Hopefully we'll see a lot of great racing - and just that; at best, only that ...
Sports - and motor sport - should be concerned with the competition only.
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Post by Carl on Jul 4, 2020 0:41:32 GMT
Whew! Several decades of good, bad, great, fright and tragedy at warp speed! Yep Carl, a lot of tragedy in the short film but let's be honest, tragedy and Formula 1 were inseparable in the first few decades of the sport. But what a sensational sport it is! Agreed. The danger element still excites because racing would be dull without risk. |
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If last years race is anything to go by we’re in for a cracker. Certainly with all the uncertainties that come into play this time. New cars and new working protocols. Drivers who have announced they will leave the team at the end of the season. No fans in the grandstands, nothing is as usual. 
