F1 Fanatic round-up: 11/3/2010
The clock is running out on the off-season. The 2010 F1 season starts tomorrow. Here’s our final pre-season round-up:
Links
Hanging out with two world champions (BBC)
Jake Humphrey on Michael Schumacher: “He said he wouldn’t have returned if he wasn’t fit enough, that the current crop of drivers aren’t special it’s the cars that are good, and, most ominously of all, that he is a better driver now than he was five years ago.”
The Coulthard commentary (Red Bull)
“I don’t want to pick on the new boys, but common sense says that turning up to the first race of the year without even having tested, as Hispania Racing will do in Bahrain, is a recipe for disaster.”
Jenson wins a Laureus world sports award
“Jenson won the Breakthrough of the Year Award, which recognised his achievement in taking his first world championship against considerable odds.”
Comment of the day
Pithy and to the point: John H on Ferrari bringing back their pit stop lights:
Ross Brawn wouldn’t have stood for this!
John H
Site updates
The live blogs are ready to go for tomorrow – remember you can follow every session live with us as-it-happens, just look for the live blog post on the site during each of the sessions.
As I’m running F1 Fanatic full-time this year I’ll be able to join in all the sessions and I look forward to seeing a lot more Friday practice sessions than before. See you in the live blogs…
Happy birthday!
No F1 Fanatic birthdays today. If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailling me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
The 1990 season began on this day 20 years ago with some surprising names at the sharp end of the United States Grand Prix grid at Phoenix.
A McLaren on pole position was no surprise, except it belonged to Gerhard Berger rather than Ayrton Senna.
Alongside him was the Minardi of Pierluigi Martini. Third place was occupied by a Dallara (I wouldn’t expect a repeat of that performance for HRT with their Dallara-built cars on Saturday) belonging to Andrea de Cesaris.
Jean Alesi’s Tyrrell completed a surprising front two rows with fourth place in his Tyrrell which, like Martini and de Cesaris, ran on Pirelli tyres which proved surprisingly well suited to the street track. He held the lead for a good portion of Sunday’s race, before losing the lead to Senna in a memorable battle.
ajokay said on 11th March 2010, 10:10
That 1990 Phoenix Grand Prix is one of the races being shown on the BBC Red Button and the BBC website.
I watched it this morning with breakfast. They sure don’t make ‘em like that any more, some brilliant racing, even if it was mostly 90 degree corners
geoff said on 11th March 2010, 10:38
roll on tomorrow,it is going 2 b a gr8 season.
5 teams going 4 the title.
Gd luck 2 them all
geoff said on 11th March 2010, 10:41
all the changes open the field up more.
Expect a few surprises this year.
Sirko said on 11th March 2010, 10:45
I’m looking out the window. It snows. Just yesterday sun was shining, birds were singing, everything seemed like there couldn’t be a better time for starting the season. But now it snows. So I’m waiting for some really hot show from Bahrain. Let it show, let it show, let it show…
LewisC said on 11th March 2010, 11:25
Keith – did you notice that the photo linked to in this sentence of Jake Humphrey’s blog: “Jenson talked about his excitement watching Alain Prost guide his iconic 1988 McLaren to victory.”
Is this one: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/alainprost_mclaren-honda_1988_1024.jpg
(Hi Jake! ;) )
Kallan said on 11th March 2010, 11:44
On the topic of pitstops you can see some Sauber practice runs halfway into this video. (Apologies if it’s not appropriate to link here) They seem to be about 4 seconds. It’s worth checking before FOM takes it down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZbNji8oZdc&feature=sub
John H said on 11th March 2010, 22:20
what a video
three4three said on 11th March 2010, 11:49
I’ve just finished watching all the videos up on the beeb website of the BBC team chatting about the upcoming season. Despite viewing with an open mind, I couldn’t help noticing that Legard contributed nothing of substance to any of the discussions but simply spouted his characteristic drivel – how encouraging. (/sarcasm)
I will do my best to ignore him this season, hopefully this will be my first and last whingeing post regarding JL.
thewiseowl said on 11th March 2010, 11:53
You could just choose radio commentary on the red button?
Dr. Gonzo said on 11th March 2010, 11:57
And have to listen to Jacques Villeneuve! Please give me Legard any day.
ajokay said on 11th March 2010, 12:02
I have to listen to Martin Brundle during qualifying and the race, it’s the law. You just have to put up with Legard if you want Martin.
James_mc said on 11th March 2010, 13:45
I thought that their laughing at DC was most amusing!
Bernard said on 11th March 2010, 14:23
As soon as I hear ‘McLaren from McLaren from Ferrari from Red Bull’ I will switch commentary.
Brundle or no Brundle, Legard is just abysmal.
James_mc said on 11th March 2010, 15:21
I’m hoping things will be better this year as Brawn aren’t there for Legard to fawn over
three4three said on 11th March 2010, 15:52
Like ajokay, I also enjoy Brundle’s commentary so I’ll just have to put up with it.
James, I think Legard will now fawn over McLaren now that it’s an all British team, it’s gonna be ugly.
Pat said on 11th March 2010, 14:24
McLAREN REAR WING HAS PASSED FIA INSPECTION :)
Chris P said on 11th March 2010, 15:03
Do you have a link to the news?
Becken said on 11th March 2010, 15:39
It was confirmed everywhere:
http://en.espnf1.com/bahrain/motorsport/story/10755.html
Pat said on 11th March 2010, 17:17
http://www.flagworld.com/news/?p=33647
BasCB said on 11th March 2010, 16:27
Innovation is everywhere in F1. Just look at this Renault gearboxes (article by ScrabsF1 blog)
http://scarbsf1.wordpress.com/2010/03/10/191/
BasCB said on 11th March 2010, 16:36
Aparantly not all is well at Mercedes GP.
Some skilled technical people leaving and comments about data not being shared between Rosberg and Schu, then Ross and MS brother Ralf saying, that Rosberg is more happy with the understeery handling than Michael.
Then again, with Schumacher in the car (michael, not Ralf) the car can be a dog and he can still win. He is really enyojing the racing, so beware …
More on this:
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/thoughts-from-the-paddock-in-bahrain/
and
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2010/03/schumacher-and-rosberg-mark-out-their-territory/
looks like Renault have been getting their sponsorship deals together with HP to be on the car and some GenII induced names on the car.
ginomaryanto said on 11th March 2010, 17:45
kedepan gambar F1 lebih baik, meliput kejadian yang spektakuler dengan mutu gambar yang bagus dan dalam ukuran besar, OK
ginomaryanto said on 11th March 2010, 17:49
f1-fanatic juga ada liputan moto gp,super baik(WSBK) untuk menambah wawasan dunia balap yang lebih komplit
Scribe said on 11th March 2010, 20:46
Some very good news. The drivers representative on the panel isn’t some nobody with a couple of seasons of also running beneath the belt, it’s Alain Prost! Which is damn good, best driver ever if you ask me. Yeah you heared.
Spud said on 11th March 2010, 22:51
8hrs 10mins 28s