F1 2011

[Snedd]

Anyone else here looking forward to the start of Formula 1 2011? Any predictions for the coming season - Schumacher to win an eighth word title perhaps?

 

[saps]

No way on Schumi, I mean Rosberg out classes him most of last year.
Its likely going to be much like last year methinks. Vettel, Alonso and Hamiliton. Im sure Webber will have some moments and maybe even Button. But I think its mostly a 3 horse race. Sad to see Kubica's accident, he could have been a dark horse contender maybe not for the World Title but for race wins at least

 

[NightHawk877]

Heck yes! Formula 1 is the shiznizzle!

 

[Snedd]

But I think its mostly a 3 horse race.

Well even though he didn't take the title I still rated Alonso as the best driver of 2011. I just wish he would stop throwing his dummy out the car.

A shame that Kubica's drive seems to be going Heidfeld's way, I was really hoping Senna would get it.

 

[saps]

Well even though he didn't take the title I still rated Alonso as the best driver of 2011. I just wish he would stop throwing his dummy out the car.

A shame that Kubica's drive seems to be going Heidfeld's way, I was really hoping Senna would get it.

I started watching F1 in 1990 and Ayrton Senna was my hero at the time. His death was one of those JFK, World Trade Center movements for me. Anyway, the truth is Bruno is just not the same talent level as his Uncle, kinda like in Nascar with the Earnhardt's. Heidfeld will achieve better results over the course of a season I think there is little question there.

 

[Galo1950]

With the new cars/gimmicks(KERS/movable wings), give the season 4-5 races to get a decent picture of capabilities....but, go Ferrari!!! And, get better RK!!!

By the way, I've been following F1 for 50 years...

 

[saps]

With the new cars/gimmicks(KERS/movable wings), give the season 4-5 races to get a decent picture of capabilities....but, go Ferrari!!! And, get better RK!!!

By the way, I've been following F1 for 50 years...

Nice. Back to the 1960's. Wow I bet you've got some great perspective on the evolution of the sport

 

[Galo1950]

Nice. Back to the 1960's. Wow I bet you've got some great perspective on the evolution of the sport

Yes; it sucks Ok, it doesn't suck, but I hate much of the "technology". My biggest dislike is paddle shifters; they are for sissies! I hated it when INDYCAR(THE best racing on the planet) went with them. I also don't think there should be pit stops; have tires and fuel that last an entire race(tire changes would be allowed for punctures and rain). Getting rid of the shifters and pit stops would force the drivers to be, well... DRIVERS. I AM very glad for the safety of the cars, though. Many drivers from previous era's would have never walked away from some of the accidents they have now...

In case you didn't notice, I'm VERY opinionated...but easy to get along with I've been a Ferrari fan since '61(I LOVED the Shark nose look ) and was a Lotus fan also 'til after ACBC died (I kinda' lost it with them then...), and now

Again, Go Ferrari !!!

 

[saps]

Yes; it sucks Ok, it doesn't suck, but I hate much of the "technology". My biggest dislike is paddle shifters; they are for sissies! I hated it when INDYCAR(THE best racing on the planet) went with them. I also don't think there should be pit stops; have tires and fuel that last an entire race(tire changes would be allowed for punctures and rain). Getting rid of the shifters and pit stops would force the drivers to be, well... DRIVERS. I AM very glad for the safety of the cars, though. Many drivers from previos era's would have never walked away from some of the accidents they have now...

In case you didn't notice, I'm VERY opinionated...but easy to get along with I've been a Ferrari fan since '61(I LOVED the Shark nose look ) and was a Lotus fan also 'til after ACBC died (I kinda' lost it with them then...), and now

Again, Go Ferrari !!!

Yeah I've only been following the sport the past 20 years or so but Im a budding F1 historian. So I'd be all ears on things like your opinion of:
which era/decade was your favorite and why?
who your favorites drivers were?

Thanks

 

[Galo1950]

which era/decade was your favorite and why?
Oh man, you really wanna' start a fight, huh ...ok, the '60's('til wings arrived). The drivers had to actually drive the cars. After that, any year Schumi won the WDC...dingdingding


who your favorites drivers were?
In F1, I liked Phil Hill, mainly because he drive for Ferrari and was an American, but Jimmy Clark is my all-time #1, favorite driver. After JC, Jochen Rindt, Mario Andretti, Jody Scheckter(I was his son's mailman in 2004-5 and actually got to meet him and play golf with him the morning of the '05 500 Victory Dinner...WAY ), Nigel Mansel and Schumi. Throw in Ronnie Petterson and Kimi Raikonen(sp?), and that is pretty much the list.

Ok, the fights start now

p.s. I gotta' hit the sack so I can make my car payment("bad" buying time planning, but hey, I had to have that little red MR2 Spyder...)...

 

[Snedd]

Heidfeld will achieve better results over the course of a season I think there is little question there.

No doubt those are Renaults thoughts as well but its too early in Senna's career (late starter) to really tell his talent level and there is something evocative about the idea of someone with the Senna name being given the chance to drive a decent car.

which era/decade was your favorite and why?
who your favorites drivers were?

The 80's. Back then you could go to a Grand Prix and more or less go anywhere you liked, the track wasn't completely fenced off like it is now. But mainly because of Mansell and Senna. The first race I went to was the British GP in 1987. We were on the inside near the pit lane entry so I had to watch the highlights on TV to see Mansell's famous "two-step" move on Piquet (no diamond screens in those days) but the response of the crowd when Mansell came into view in the lead with two laps to go was one of those unforgettable moments.

 

[saps]

which era/decade was your favorite and why?
Oh man, you really wanna' start a fight, huh ...ok, the '60's('til wings arrived). The drivers had to actually drive the cars. After that, any year Schumi won the WDC...dingdingding


who your favorites drivers were?
In F1, I liked Phil Hill, mainly because he drive for Ferrari and was an American, but Jimmy Clark is my all-time #1, favorite driver. After JC, Jochen Rindt, Mario Andretti, Jody Scheckter(I was his son's mailman in 2004-5 and actually got to meet him and play golf with him the morning of the '05 500 Victory Dinner...WAY ), Nigel Mansel and Schumi. Throw in Ronnie Petterson and Kimi Raikonen(sp?), and that is pretty much the list.

Ok, the fights start now

p.s. I gotta' hit the sack so I can make my car payment("bad" buying time planning, but hey, I had to have that little red MR2 Spyder...)...

Cool Good Stuff.

No doubt those are Renaults thoughts as well but its too early in Senna's career (late starter) to really tell his talent level and there is something evocative about the idea of someone with the Senna name being given the chance to drive a decent car.



The 80's. Back then you could go to a Grand Prix and more or less go anywhere you liked, the track wasn't completely fenced off like it is now. But mainly because of Mansell and Senna. The first race I went to was the British GP in 1987. We were on the inside near the pit lane entry so I had to watch the highlights on TV to see Mansell's famous "two-step" move on Piquet (no diamond screens in those days) but the response of the crowd when Mansell came into view in the lead with two laps to go was one of those unforgettable moments.

See thats my point Bruno only has the name and not the talent. I mean how many times last year was he outqualified and out raced by his teammate. The genuine superstars shine even with inferior equipment. His uncle did. When Alonso was driving the Minardi you knew he was going to be good. When Schumi 1st drove the Jordan you just knew. Im not Anti-Bruno but I do believe you put him in a Red Bull or Ferrari and he never wins a race or gets pole

 

[Snedd]

See thats my point Bruno only has the name and not the talent. I mean how many times last year was he outqualified and out raced by his teammate.

Well too many HRT DNFs for the race results to mean much but for qualy:

Senna vs Chandhok: 7 - 2
Senna vs Yamamoto: 5 - 1
Senna vs Klien: 1 - 2

 

[saps]

Well too many HRT DNFs for the race results to mean much but for qualy:

Senna vs Chandhok: 7 - 2
Senna vs Yamamoto: 5 - 1
Senna vs Klien: 1 - 2

Yeah put any true talent there and do you think any of those guys outqualifies Vettel or Alonso in the same car? Again Im not anti-Senna just saying he will never be a World Champ and likely never win a race. I mean I almost hope Im wrong but I dont think I am. He doesnt even have a seat this year

 

[Vietnam720]

Looking forward to it! Coming from Vietnam where it's difficult to watch EPL in English, F1 has become a bigger addiction of late

 

[Aatos.1]

Wow! Just came across this terrific thread.

I've been a big enthusiast since 1975.

More later, I stayed up too late playing with my new HTC Inspire

Cheers

 

[jayjay1122]

Loving this thread guys!!
It is really a shame about Bahrain but it looks like they are trying to reschedule it.

Been an F1 enthusiast since the 70's (growing up in a house with Italian born parents, I really didn't have a choice ) and have always been a Ferrari fan but as I got older I began to appreciate more of the talent of the drivers.

I agree with some of the others here that Alonso is one of the best pure drivers out there as is Button and Barrichello!

 

[Homan13PSU]

I think this year is going to come down to the same two drivers with a different outcome. Alonso v. Vettel with Alonso taking the crown this year.

Granted, its just testing and teams are driving cars that look a lot different from how they will look in Australia in a couple weeks. That being said, Red Bull and Ferrari have been the class of each of the tests. Mercedes has been having a LOT of technical issues with their car, McLaren has as well not to mention that they haven't even closely approached what the Ferrari's and Red Bull's are doing on pace.

My predictions for the season are a fight between Ferrari and Red Bull for the top spot with McLaren the clear number three team right now. Renault and Merc will be battling for the four spot and Lotus will join Williams, Sauber and Toro Rosso for middle of the pack. HRT and Virgin-Marussa will battle it out for back of the pack.

 

[Aatos.1]

Loving this thread guys!!
It is really a shame about Bahrain but it looks like they are trying to reschedule it.

Been an F1 enthusiast since the 70's (growing up in a house with Italian born parents, I really didn't have a choice ) and have always been a Ferrari fan but as I got older I began to appreciate more of the talent of the drivers.

I agree with some of the others here that Alonso is one of the best pure drivers out there as is Button and Barrichello!

I read Bernie said there was no room to reschedule Bahrain, I sure hope you're right.

Your take on Alonso, Button & Barrichello is right on. My favs? Alonso & Barrichello.

I'm really enthused about this season even though as we know often times it's more of a parade than a race... Heh!

Cheers...

 

[saps]

It is a shame about Bahrain as now we're all waiting 2 more weeks for our F1 fix. Im very curious to see how Button fairs this year. I'll give him a mini-pass last year since Lewis had more familiarity with the team. But clearly Lewis was quicker in that car. I fear for both Mark Webber and Massa this year. Massa is clearly a #2 and despite all the apparent fair play from Red Bull last year I think Webber might be pushed into that same status this year.

 

[Homan13PSU]

It is a shame about Bahrain as now we're all waiting 2 more weeks for our F1 fix. Im very curious to see how Button fairs this year. I'll give him a mini-pass last year since Lewis had more familiarity with the team. But clearly Lewis was quicker in that car. I fear for both Mark Webber and Massa this year. Massa is clearly a #2 and despite all the apparent fair play from Red Bull last year I think Webber might be pushed into that same status this year.

As much as I like Jenson, I think in 2009 he found himself in a lucky position. Of the three teams that brought the double decker diffusers to the table to kick off the season Brawn by far had the most balanced car of the three. By the times other teams caught up with their own diffuser designs five races in Jenson had already won the first five races.

 

[Slug]

Getting rid of the shifters and pit stops would force the drivers to be, well... DRIVERS.

Ah Galo, you're a man after my own heart. Remember the good old days when racing was a wheel-to-wheel battle of attrition, and winning was as much about skill as speed i.e. managing your fuel and tyres for an entire race, and "race strategy" changed by the minute depending on what the other guys were doing? Happy days....

I AM very glad for the safety of the cars, though. Many drivers from previous era's would have never walked away from some of the accidents they have now...

As someone who watched Ronnie Petterson die I can only agree. However, with cars and circuits now safer, surely it's time to reintroduce some of the old F1 spirit?

 

[Galo1950]

Ah Galo, you're a man after my own heart. Remember the good old days when racing was a wheel-to-wheel battle of attrition, and winning was as much about skill as speed i.e. managing your fuel and tyres for an entire race, and "race strategy" changed by the minute depending on what the other guys were doing? Happy days....

And it's not so much about enormous horsepower, but car control. "Race strategy" was keeping the car on the track in front of your competitors , not when to come in for tires.

As someone who watched Ronnie Petterson die I can only agree. However, with cars and circuits now safer, surely it's time to reintroduce some of the old F1 spirit?

Jochen Rindt, Jo Siffert, Piers Courage(the list goes on...) too...but the only way I see the "old spirit" returning is do away with all the electronic aids for the sake of dictating to the driver. The only contact the pit should have with the driver is the pit sign and only IF there is a dangerous mechanical problem with the car(from any sensor on the car), by radio. If a driver can't tell a tire is losing pressure or a brake is fading, send them to CRASHCAR...

 

[gallandof]

I wish I followed F1 better, as its my favorite motorsport, but I have never had the time. Hopefully this season I can actually catch a lot of it.

 

[saps]

I wish I followed F1 better, as its my favorite motorsport, but I have never had the time. Hopefully this season I can actually catch a lot of it.

Yeah some of those race times arent very USA friendly. But like anything in life we make time for things we truly find valuable. Until last year I didnt watch many races during 2007-2009 myself. But for whatever reason I returned to the 4-5am wake ups this last season. I remember when I was a younger living in Hawaii and having to wake up at 2am or just not go to sleep at all