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Post by robmarsh on May 6, 2022 15:15:55 GMT
Lando Norris has a very interesting, somewhat bizarre helmet for this race. It is painted to look like a basketball complete with the little bumps found on a basketball. Very skillful paint job. May have to change his name to Wilson.
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Post by René on May 6, 2022 19:41:59 GMT
Lando Norris has a very interesting, somewhat bizarre helmet for this race. It is painted to look like a basketball complete with the little bumps found on a basketball. Very skillful paint job. May have to change his name to Wilson. Not a fan of the constantly changing helmets but this looks really cool! Impressive paint job indeed.
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Post by René on May 6, 2022 19:51:10 GMT
Well that was FP1 at the new Miami track... not sure yet what to think of it to be honest. On television the actual scenery doesn't look very impressive and the fake marina doesn't help. The track is obviously fast with a couple of very tight sectors which could cause mayhem during the race. But let's wait and see.
Ferrari looking fast but surprise, surprise, George Russell only a fraction slower than Leclerc. It's only FP1 of course and times will tumble further so let's see if Mercedes can keep up. Gasly and Albon also looking good. Sainz was the only one on Medium tyres in the end so he could be further up the list.
- Leclerc, Ferrari
- Russell, Mercedes
- Verstappen, Red Bull
- Perez, Red Bull
- Gasly, AlphaTauri
- Sainz, Ferrari
- Albon, Williams
- Hamilton, Mercedes
- Magnussen, Haas
- Ricciardo, McLaren
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Post by Carl on May 7, 2022 0:59:58 GMT
My earlier prejudice was based on the terrible Bayfront Park circuit cobbled together in 1983 for IMSA's Grand Prix of Miami for Prototype and Grand Touring classes, but the new course is an impressive improvement, one I hope lends itself well to race conditions. The slow speed chicane (Turns 14 and 15) has a similar rhythm to Turns 9 and 10 in Azerbaijan, but no adjacent castle, so Miami loses style points there and also with the water in the marina. The boats appear real, but the water must have too high a mineral content. There may be time for proper filtration to float both boats and mermaids. Chris may have texted advice to George Russell, whose lap times quickly improved to fastest in FP2 Mario Andretti was a well-spoken advocate for Andretti Autosport's entry into Formula One during his broadcast booth interview and his solid endorsement of Colton Herta was good to hear. There remain one or two powers afraid of more competition, possibly toto wolff and helmut marko, the two most serviceable villains. |
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Post by charleselan on May 7, 2022 11:14:38 GMT
I am not impressed by what I feel is ostentatious, and this whole thing has that factor but sadly what we are coming to expect with our sport and this overly commercialised world. S*YF1's team were in overboard drive throughout, anyone would think the Miami circuit was a combination of Spa; old Nurburgring; Suzuka and Monaco they were bigging the place up that much. Martin Brundle doing one of his trackside views in FP2 after going on about the incredible speed through the corners then went rapturous about that part of the track being lined by Hospitality Suits, as if that were some sort of compliment. All that was needed are a few plastic alligators; large cutout characters of Crockett & Tubbs and some white fake Ferrari Testa Rossa's.
After FP2 most drivers were less than impressed with the detritus outside of the racing line that they say will ruin any attempt at racing, doesn't bode well.
I am all for more races in the USA and getting Andretti along with Colton Herta into F1 but for goodness sake go to proper and decent race venues not the hyped up car park.
Talking of S&YF1 I was actually gladdened by the inclusion of Danica Patrick who was a breath of fresh air throughout not only for her insightful comments and questions, but on a strictly un-PC agenda (sorry) what she brought in kindness to the eye. Danica made no bones about the fact that she wasn't a F1 expert but brought out the racing driver thoughts and feelings from her own experience; excellent stuff they should make her a permanent fixture.
Mario's appearance in the commentary box in FP2 was also excellent and as Carl has mentioned the really did put over the Andretti attempt at forming an F1 team brilliantly as well as giving his expert views on Colton Herta's ability. Regarding the latter I was disgusted at mealy mouthed Horner's comments about Colton when asked after FP2, I quote "we won't know how good he is until he gets into a F1 car". Good god man the same is true of every flaming driver that enters F1, why make a meal of that in this instance. As is the case with Horner we should always take what he says and then reverse at least 50% in what he actually thinks!!
Regarding the actual action one thing that really struck me was that in the first 10 minutes of FP1 there were two guys who were on it almost immediately on a track that no-one had driven on before, and were over half a second quicker that the rest; Charles & Max. To me that illustrated their out and out innate natural talent that puts them in a different league.
Great to see George Russell living up to his burgeoning reputation; impressive and as Jensen Button remarked that he has never seen another driver with such self belief as George. A great FP1 performance by Alexander Albon, not as good in FP2 but the earlier performance did not go unnoticed. Also nice to see Pierre Gasly back near the front, he looked very good, as did Fernando Alonso who is really putting in some strong drives this year when the car allows him to do so. Also Kevin in the top ten once more for Haas, always pleased to see that of course.
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Post by René on May 7, 2022 14:57:49 GMT
what she brought in kindness to the eye. Nothing incorrect if you ask me... sounds more like a compliment! 
It will be interesting to see what Mercedes can do today. If they can really get that car to work then the battle up front could get very tense and exciting!
I hope Carlos has a good qualy later today. He needs to turn this around with a strong result.
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Post by robmarsh on May 7, 2022 16:17:17 GMT
"I am not impressed by what I feel is ostentatious, and this whole thing has that factor but sadly what we are coming to expect with our sport and this overly commercialised world. S*YF1's team were in overboard drive throughout, anyone would think the Miami circuit was a combination of Spa; old Nurburgring; Suzuka and Monaco they were bigging the place up that much. Martin Brundle doing one of his trackside views in FP2 after going on about the incredible speed through the corners then went rapturous about that part of the track being lined by Hospitality Suits, as if that were some sort of compliment. All that was needed are a few plastic alligators; large cutout characters of Crockett & Tubbs and some white fake Ferrari Testa Rossa's."
Brilliant John. The last line brought a huge grin to my visage.
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Post by Carl on May 7, 2022 17:05:19 GMT
I never watched "Miami Vice", a formulaic action series with Hollywood pretty boys pretending to act. My neighborhood friends and I were more convincing when we ran up and down the block playing Army. It's a shame that such pap is seen as emblematic.
Miami is a luxury resort, close to Cuba and convenient to New York, essentially Las Vegas with beaches and tropical highlights and, like every luxury resort around the world, a construct of false fronts to please the pretentious wealthy. This is what nauseates rational people, excepting only the mermaid who winked at me.
Danica Patrick massively impressed in qualifying at her first Indianapolis 500, correcting a serious oversteer on corner exit above 200 mph. As a woman, she never felt entirely welcomed, either in Indycar or NASCAR and deserved more respect and better rides.
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Post by mikael on May 7, 2022 17:08:30 GMT
A ban of jewellery in the cockpit for F1 drivers - this is really the most crazy thing I have ever read! So, if this becomes a reality, not only can the F1 drivers no longer wear a wristwatch, for consistency, those who are married will also have to remove their wedding rings before boarding the cockpit!?
When has wearing a wristwatch and wearing rings and bracelets ever been a safety issue? Never! - not even in the most dangerous periods of Grand Prix racing.
(Apparently, this rule has been in place since 2005, without ever being strictly enforced (no wonder! ...). And apparently, this comes up now as a consequence of the installment of a new race director, who has prepared himself for his new job with a careful reading of the regulations ...)
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Post by René on May 7, 2022 18:37:59 GMT
@ Carl: I didn’t like Miami Vice either and the white Ferrari looked terrible. Too much bad taste in one series.
@ Mikael: couldn’t agree more about the jewelry ban, what a nonsense!
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Post by Carl on May 7, 2022 19:08:17 GMT
@ Carl: I didn’t like Miami Vice either and the white Ferrari looked terrible. Too much bad taste in one series. @ Mikael: couldn’t agree more about the jewelry ban, what a nonsense! Blue and white is pretty cool, especially with Surtees aboard. 
Wristwatches were a concern of Jackie Stewart and he always removed his before a race. He argued that the wristband could snag when a driver was tossed about during a severe impact, potentially causing greater injury.
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Post by mikael on May 7, 2022 20:41:33 GMT
Carl,
yes, I recall reading that Stewart didn't race with his watch; that he asked someone (Helen, or Ken Tyrrell) to keep it until he was back, out of the car. But I always thought that this was actually to protect the expensive watch, even if Stewart didn't wish to admit this. (And even, if he should perish, the valuable watch wouldn't.) I imagine this was related to growing up just after the war, when people took good care of what they got.
I think that in those days, most (if not all) drivers raced with a bracelet whereon their blood type was engraved. Of course, a watch was slightly heavier. But would it really be an issue?
Best,
Mikael
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Post by René on May 7, 2022 22:14:19 GMT
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Post by Carl on May 8, 2022 0:23:34 GMT
Carl,
yes, I recall reading that Stewart didn't race with his watch; that he asked someone (Helen, or Ken Tyrrell) to keep it until he was back, out of the car. But I always thought that this was actually to protect the expensive watch, even if Stewart didn't wish to admit this. (And even, if he should perish, the valuable watch wouldn't.) I imagine this was related to growing up just after the war, when people took good care of what they got.
I think that in those days, most (if not all) drivers raced with a bracelet whereon their blood type was engraved. Of course, a watch was slightly heavier. But would it really be an issue?
Best,
Mikael
Mikael, A watch should be protected beneath the layers of a driving suit. Stewart said removing it was a safety concern, but as a Scotsman, it may have been for the safety of the watch!
By the way, the story of how watches came to be named is interesting. Before clockmakers were able to make timepieces small enough, people who could not see the town clock knew the time by the cadence of its bells or chimes. A timepiece small enough to be worn or kept in a vest pocket had to be watched. True!
Best, Carl
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Post by Carl on May 8, 2022 0:33:26 GMT
Forza Ferrrrrrrrrarrrrri!  Wow, fantastic result for the Scuderia! Superb pole position for Charles Leclerc and an impressive p2 for Carlos Sainz after his shunt yesterday. That is certainly the best way to regain confidence, for himself and his team.
And what a wonderful tribute to Gilles Villeneuve. Sunday it will be exactly 40 years since that tragic day at Zolder, 40 years.
 And a fantastic p5 for Valtteri by the way! He must be having fun, beating both Mercs (again)! All is well in Modena and the wine flows at Ristorante Cavallino!
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