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Post by René on Nov 17, 2021 18:10:50 GMT
Race three of the triple-header, race one of the Arab autumn!  A well known track on the MotoGP calendar but new to Formula 1. The season is drawing to a close so the championship decision will fall in the next three races. The points difference is too small for a decision in Qatar but a DNF could be near fatal for both title candidates. Lewis was very strong in Brazil so that should worry Red Bull at least a little bit but rest assured that it will be close again. This is going to be exciting no matter what!
Wise words by the way from Carlos re. the turn 4 incident at Interlagos; if there was a gravel trap that wouldn't have happened!
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Post by chrisb on Nov 18, 2021 15:14:32 GMT
Is it a nighttime race a la MotoGP ?
I am sorry it’s not a circuit that inspires
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Post by René on Nov 19, 2021 12:57:10 GMT
Watched FP1 to see what the track was like for the cars. It's as boring and unispiring as can be, yawn... the contrast with Interlagos could not have been any bigger. F1 should never have gone to these places but money rules, and not only in the ecclostone era.
Mercedes' right to review the turn 4 incident has been denied so that is that. Not a Merc fan but Max's defence was over the limit again and I notice in myself that I have trouble with this. I think we all agreed on the fact that Max has matured as a driver and as a person but there are still these Schumacher like traits that I really don't like. The FIA obviously are wary to penalize their new golden boy but the problem is that this sets new precedents. Not the first time Max's driving has changed the rules which is not good. And Max is playing innocent...
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Post by charleselan on Nov 19, 2021 17:57:55 GMT
Cannot bring myself to watch it today, I despise these places and they would probably be better off racing Beach Buggy's. Not surprised that they turned down the "right to review", the FIA have form here. I agree René that this type of driving is not acceptable but to be honest SLH isn't an innocent party with regard to running people off track when they try to overtake around the outside. OK Max was shall we say a little OTT last weekend, however playing "Devil's Advocate" if you had been driving the wheels off your car out front and a guy comes up behind with a huge performance advantage on the straight what do you do"? With this stupid DRS and a car with a big power advantage you have nothing in the locker to defend, that is the absurdity of this whole sorry saga. Imagine Gilles at Jarama in 1981 with a car behind him that was much faster, that great drive would have been meaningless, but I bet he would have moved heaven and earth to defend that position. Just an alternative take on the matter which doesn't mean I agree with myself by the way  . |
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Post by René on Nov 19, 2021 20:14:50 GMT
Imagine Gilles at Jarama in 1981 with a car behind him that was much faster, that great drive would have been meaningless, but I bet he would have moved heaven and earth to defend that position. Just an alternative take on the matter which doesn't mean I agree with myself by the way . I see where you’re coming from but I cannot see Gilles weaving on the straight and then forcing another driver off the track. But hey,you didn’t agree with yourself anyway. |
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Post by mikael on Nov 20, 2021 10:04:01 GMT
This citation from Christian Horner (at the Friday Pres conference) really highlights one of the main "issues" of contemporary Formula One:
I'm repeating myself (and others), I know; but something really should be done, a.s.a.p., to bring the track limits back to where they should be: to where the tarmac ends, and no further.
Link: |
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Post by chrisb on Nov 20, 2021 11:03:10 GMT
aww Mikael, such beauty amongst well drivers who make their own rules up and get away with it, circuit boundaries that exist for the many but not for the few, and an extremely tepid circuit hidden amongst a brutal regime, can't imagine why I love pictures of mad Ronald et al, oh talking of great pictures and great human beings Tony Jardine posted a beautiful picture of Gilles sitting in his new race car with that wonderfully honest smile. what would they have made of today?
I did try and watch 5 minutes on youtube but failed due to a self-induced internal power cut, I fell asleep -
the shenanigans between Max and Lewis just reminds me its pantomine season in the UK.
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Post by charleselan on Nov 20, 2021 11:42:04 GMT
the shenanigans between Max and Lewis just reminds me its pantomine season in the UK. Only to be surpassed by that of Wolff and Horner who are at one another throats. Never liked Ecclestone but he would have been telling them both to wind their necks in, especially Tonto who seems to be having a boxer orientated meltdown, "punched in the face for this, and punched in the face for that". |
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Post by charleselan on Nov 20, 2021 11:49:04 GMT
That sensational picture of Ronnie at Dijon in 1974 was one of many taken that day, I had one as my home page on an iPad, absolutely brilliant. By the way that was one of the all time great drives, very like Stirling Moss at Monaco or the Nurburgring in 1961 where genius out performed the elderly machinery they were saddled with at the time. Talking of weaving on the straights I am reminded that it was during 1974 that Niki gained the wrath of the then quite powerful GPDA for his tendency to do just that, and not to break a tow either. So it isn't anything new. P.S. Just to lighten the mood further is that Max in the Shadow DN3 exceeding track limits behind Ronnie  . |
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Post by Carl on Nov 22, 2021 1:30:17 GMT
Anyone new to Grand Prix might assume it was all about tyres...
Liberty Media Productions in association with Formula One Group
present an epic story of triumph and tragedy
from the producers of Pneumatic Abbey
"Starring C-5, soft and nurturing with a fiery embrace drivers crave and a sidewall that bends like Beckham... Featuring C-3, the rational and balanced Pirelli, whose common sense discerns the most practical course... and C-1, the hardened patriarch past his prime but determined to rule by mulish persistence"
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Post by chrisb on Nov 22, 2021 10:10:30 GMT
I watched the truncated highlights courtesy of youtube, I had to mute of course because I really did believe Croft's pants had caught fire, well driven Lewis but it was a bit simple wasn't it Lewis, I mean you didn't seem to have to work for it, as someone who is no longer so passionate about F1 I am a bit perplexed as to why the MB seems to have gotten so much faster in recent weeks or maybe its an illusion?
Fernando, on the podium - my word - needed some FIA assistance but what the hell he was there,
ok as we know I am not exactly Ferrari's biggest fan but I am distressed when they finish so far behind, that is just not right, they have a brilliant pair of drivers - great resources and ? I do so hope for F1's sake they return to winning ways next year, at least that would give me the opportunity to revert to my usual position about the red cars.
I don't like the circuit as a motorbike venue - I don't like these nightime races and with money so talkative in both series am fully aware that we are stuck with this and the next two venues but I don't like it
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Post by charleselan on Nov 22, 2021 12:30:27 GMT
I am with you on this Chris. a truly awful place to hold an international motor sport event. OK the drivers loved the challenge of the fast corners but that does not translate for a television audience and probably not anyone who was watching from trackside.
After watching qualifying via S*YF1 it was more than one could take so I viewed through my "go to" broadcaster of SRF in Switzerland with the calm and informative commentary of Marc Surer and his co commentator. Watching S*YF1 on Saturday was like going to a dodgy car dealership with Brundle trying to sell one a "Cut & shut" vehicle, all these people do actually live in a bubble that have no idea of what the sport should be about.
I might stand corrected but not one overtake (I use that term advisedly) was taken without the hideous DRS, that is not motor racing but a plain and simple con! How about this for an analogy; if football wanted to have more goals scored they could have a penalty shoot out but the goal keeper could not move from the spot he stood at.
I am no Tifosi but have always had a soft spot for the Scuderia and find it stupefyingly annoying that this team with all its tradition and resource are tugging around so far off the pace, and with two of the best drivers in their cars. Charles and Carlos are simply outstanding and very evenly matched, the best pairing at Ferrari since Jody & Gilles, or maybe Gilles and Didier.
What can one say about Teflonso, a drive of the highest calibre from a guy now into his 40's, and the "old boy" looks as though he is enjoying himself as well, "tell Esteban to fight like a lion"!
Must say that I enjoyed RB's tactic to get fastest lap at the end, I was encouraging them to do exactly that just to wipe the smirk off Tonto's face.
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Post by robmarsh on Nov 22, 2021 12:42:28 GMT
The comments from Chris and John say it all so I have nothing to add about the race except watching a race on that dusty, flat uninspiring track at night is hardly stuff of legends.
I think 22 races is about six too many. The season is too long and it's getting very tedious with the same two cars and drivers running first and second no matter where they start.
I think the Sky F1 team are becoming a bit too jingoistic for my taste, rather distasteful in fact.
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Post by René on Nov 22, 2021 17:23:59 GMT
Watched the race yesterday evening so not live this time. It was exactly what I expected it to be; not very exciting. A good win for Hamilton and Max made a speedy recovery from his grid penalty but it didn't get me on the edge of my seat. Alonso's third place finish was nice though. Whatever you might think of Fernando, he is one hell of a driver who could still become world champion if he had a Merc or Bull under his butt if you ask me. Those desert tracks are just immensly boring. It's the (lack of) scenery and also the layout that makes them such a bore. Maybe not always for the drivers but certainly for the viewers. And we're stuck with them as Qatar signed a 10 year deal from 2023 onwards...
Just an idea; those oil sheiks are so wealthy, why don't they just recreate a Tuscany style landscape around the track? If money is not an issue... |
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Post by charleselan on Nov 23, 2021 12:01:58 GMT
The comments from Chris and John say it all so I have nothing to add about the race except watching a race on that dusty, flat uninspiring track at night is hardly stuff of legends. I think 22 races is about six too many. The season is too long and it's getting very tedious with the same two cars and drivers running first and second no matter where they start. I think the Sky F1 team are becoming a bit too jingoistic for my taste, rather distasteful in fact. Yes Rob, quality not quantity, the shame being that there isn't any money in quality these days. |
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