F1 Fanatic round-up: 14/4/2010
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Here’s today’s round-up:
Links
Crunch Time For Brendon Hartley (Motor Sport Musings)
“Brendon Hartley still remains as the only Kiwi with the best shot at making a go of it in Formula 1, and this year could be make or break for the 21-year-old if he wants to realise his ambitions.”
Rely on the Red Bulls for a title tilt (The National)
Johnny Herbert on the decision to give Lewis Hamilton the black-and-white flag during the Malaysian Grand Prix – seems it wasn’t his call after all:
“Lewis Hamilton did well and had every right to be pleased with sixth. He did get a warning for dangerous driving, which I thought was interesting. I was on the board of race stewards in Malaysia as the drivers’ representative, but the decision to warn Hamilton did not come from us, it came from Charlie Whiting, the race director.
“The incident where he wove down the start-finish straight in front of the Renault of Vitaly Petrov divided opinion. In my view it would only have been dangerous or become an issue if Petrov had made a move and tried to overtake Lewis.
“But he didn’t and he followed Lewis from one side of the track to the other and made no attempt to pass him. It was a strange bit of driving and I think it got a reaction as we have not seen that kind of driving for a long time.
“As I said, I do not think there was anything wrong with it, but if it was an attempt to break the tow from his car to Petrov’s then it was unusual.”
Veyron Top Gear race faked? (Wheels 24)
Ron Dennis isn’t impressed by the Bugatti Veyron and suggests the ‘race’ between it and a McLaren F1 was rigged: “When we did the race in Abu Dhabi, we beat it off the line so many times that the film crew was getting frustrated because the outcome was supposed to be for the Bugatti to win. So we had to do that whole thing about ten times before it managed to get off the line cleanly and catch us up. Because every time they dropped the clutch it bogged down and we were gone.”
Update: Original source for the above article: Arabian Business
Comment of the day
Macahan isn’t convinced F1 keeps going to China because of its importance as a market for cars:
Considering that North America wasn’t “important” enough for FIA/FOM to keep on the calendar a few years back and this is a place that is huge in form of car sales and sponsors (Intel, AMD, HP, UST Global, Mobile 1, CNN, Texaco, Clear, Reuters, AT&T, 7-Eleven) to rack up what current and very recent past sponsors that have North American HQ that I can think of. So to me it just say that FIA/FOM don’t care where the races are based on where the sponsors are located or the markets the sponsors are interested in. Looking from Car manufactures consider that up until 09 US was the biggest Car market in the world and now surpassed by China this doesn’t seem to bare into account either.
If sponsor/car mfg sales location and interest would really be taken into account by FIA/FOM you wouldn’t expect to see North America to been completely without a race in 2009, and only 1 race in 08 and 10 (in Canada). You would think they would done anything and everything to ensure there was at least 1, 2 if not actually 3 races there.
So why would China count from sponsor deals, car manufacturer interest or general sponsor interest? Bernie does what Bernie wants and put races where he can suck money out of local government and organisers without heed to sponsor interest nor fans or else why do we still have Turkey on the calendar? And soon Korea when big China can’t even fill their grandstands.
Macahan
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On this day in F1
I say it at least once a week, but if only more F1 drivers were as frank as Mark Webber. He had this to say on this day in 2008 about the talents of Nelson Piquet Jnr and Kazuki Nakajima:
We have two drivers. Williams and Renault have only one.
Mark Webber
Two years later, neither of them are in F1 any more…
Icthyes said on 14th April 2010, 0:22
Top Gear faked? Surely not!
Scribe said on 14th April 2010, 0:33
Suspicion of Top Gear… Outrage!
Ned Flanders said on 14th April 2010, 0:47
I’ve stopped caring about Top Gear these days… the sooner it dies, the better
F1Yankee said on 14th April 2010, 3:36
i still like james may tho
PatrickL said on 14th April 2010, 10:16
Caring? It’s just fun and nonsense!
macahan said on 14th April 2010, 16:14
Only reason I watch because it’s funny and silly. As for serious and unbiased reporting nah then I would watch something else. Love their silly competitions they have against each others.
Scribe said on 14th April 2010, 13:02
Oh it definatley peaked, last two season where rubbish.
East Londoner said on 14th April 2010, 14:30
Even me, a big Top gear fan, thinks that series 10 was when it peaked, and that all the other series after that have been short on ideas and consequently not as good as series 7-10.
Hallard said on 14th April 2010, 15:20
Its just a TV show, and an entertaining one at that. Lighten up people!
Invoke said on 14th April 2010, 17:01
Exactly Hallard, in fact I thought the Top Gear film crew openly admit they stage their ‘races’ so they are close, its only entertainment! I also seem to recall Clarkson laughing about some factual award they won on the show itself.
Hallard said on 14th April 2010, 21:25
@Invoke-
I remember that too. In response to winning an award for best factual program or something, Clarkson facetiously remarked “absolutely nothing on this show is faked!”
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 14th April 2010, 20:38
Here’s the original source for that article: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/585542-how-to-eat-an-elephant?start=0
Ads21 said on 14th April 2010, 0:22
Top Gear staging part of their show? Surely not
Rob B said on 14th April 2010, 14:35
The Euro fighter one was definatley staged too, I know a lad who is in the forces. It took 3 attempts at slowing down the Typoon to make it ‘close’ to the Veryon. First time it went full afterburn and anhilated it!
Ned Flanders said on 14th April 2010, 0:41
To be fair Webber wasn’t dismissing Piquet and Nakajima as much for their driving ability as their experience, as they were both rookies. And, ironically, Red Bull were effectively even more of a one car team in 2008, as DC was useless during his last season
Tom L. said on 14th April 2010, 3:12
Indeed. By the end of the year: Piquet, 19 pts (only 2 less than Webber himself!), Nakajima, 9 pts, Coulthard, 8 pts. Oh, the irony…
slr said on 14th April 2010, 16:13
Webber’s comment was unnecessary in my opinion.
If he said that about Montoya in 2006, he would have kidnapped him, put him in a bag, and thrown him in a ditch.
Anyway, there have been times when Webber has been rubbish. I suggest that he just shuts up.
SeattleChris said on 14th April 2010, 22:16
I disagree. Formula 1 needs a bad boy. It’s just too bad its Skeletor Webber (Does that guy suck more and more fat out of his face each year or what?).
Tennis started being lamer and more boring as soon as McEnroe retired. He made it more interesting even if the match was bad. Tennis is like basketball; fun to play, but unsatisfying to watch.
Daffid said on 15th April 2010, 11:31
Bit harsh to call him useless when he spent most of the time being punted off the track, particularly by Nakajima
US_Peter said on 14th April 2010, 0:41
Ha! That Webber comment is great.
Ned Flanders said on 14th April 2010, 0:45
Oh yeah, I’ve also found an F1 show on British radio station TalkSport, I think it’s 8pm on Sunday on every race weekend.
From what I’ve heard of it so far it’s aimed more towards casual fans than us lot- I mean, one of the presenters is a retired footballer!- but Eddie Irvine is the guest each work so it’s probably worth a listen just to hear what Irv the Swerve has to say
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 14th April 2010, 7:57
I was on that a couple of weeks ago – I mentioned it in the round-up!
Scribe said on 14th April 2010, 0:48
Well, that Dennis comment is interesting but apart from the fact that the cars are built do different things (the Veyron Championship would have rolling starts) Murray is always the most important opinion when it comes to car design.
An he’s changed his mind a bit.
Mike said on 14th April 2010, 0:54
Go Ron! haha, that was an amusing read,
I am of the “Veyron is a brick, an ugly brick at that” clan, but it seems to me I am quite alone! ^^ I truly don’t understand…
I’d much rather have a F512 M.
Very insightful comment by Macahan…
I still like the use of the Black and White flag, It should become mainstay I think…
Polishboy808 said on 14th April 2010, 2:43
Your not alone on the veyron thing. Its heavy and at the supercar experiance in the palm beachs i talked to the owner of one and he called his least liked, yet most exspensive car (he got his for 2.2 mil somehow, and it had the normal paintjob and all) and he only brought it “because its a bugatti”. Thats like buying ferrari because its a ferrari. Its truly only good for bragging rights because you’ll never pull off the full 256 on a normal track. Youd have more fun in a 500 on a track imo.
Magnificent Geoffrey said on 14th April 2010, 5:44
If you want a car that goes fast – buy an American one.
If you want a car that goes round corners – buy a European one.
If you want a car that goes round corners…sideways – buy a Japanese one.
Mike said on 14th April 2010, 8:26
If you want a car that does all 3 – Buy a Holden Monaro ^^
But that might be blatantly biased….
Actually, What I really want, Is a Pagani…..
Andrew G said on 14th April 2010, 12:39
My brother just got rid of his Monaro and I already miss borrowing it ! Oh well..
SeattleChris said on 15th April 2010, 23:02
I want a car that’s pink, can fly and has missiles on its wings. I wouldn’t even use it. I’d just put it on the front lawn and say things like, “Oh, yeah that… got it off a guy in a game of Texas Hold’em.”
John H said on 14th April 2010, 14:07
I agree Mike, it’s an ugly brick to me too.
Hallard said on 14th April 2010, 15:37
Im with you on the Veyron’s aesthetics. It certainly isnt pretty. Like a locomotive sculpted from cold lard. I do however, have enormous respect for the engineering that went into it and it has a lot of gorgeous little detail work. It just seems so antiseptic compared to many other supercars, and something like a lowly lotus or caterham or porsche just seems like much more fun to drive. Not like I know from experience though…
Fer no.65 said on 14th April 2010, 1:12
Mark Webber, thumbs up for him…
manatcna said on 14th April 2010, 1:24
You’re not alone Mike – I would rather have a Spider – but until then I’ll make do with my BMW.
maciek said on 14th April 2010, 8:58
I’d rather have a Cerbera, but until then I’ll do with bus and bicycle.
Beanzoo said on 14th April 2010, 10:02
I’m in the same boat mate, can draw some comparisons though my bike often gets bogged down at the lights also :) easier on fuel though.
wasiF1 said on 14th April 2010, 1:35
“Because every time they dropped the clutch it bogged down and we were gone.”
The same thing happened on the show the Mclaren accelerated like a bullet.I wonder what reaction will this bring in Top Gear
KNF said on 14th April 2010, 13:59
Clarkson will probably start talking in a nasally convoluted manner, just to make fun of Ron Dennis and Ronspeak…
Weasel Chops said on 14th April 2010, 14:35
I’d actually prefer that to him constantly over-emphasising the last three words IN EVERY SENTENCE. Worse yet, the other two have copied this speech pattern :(
Dane said on 14th April 2010, 4:26
Sure the Veyrons driver may have bogged it down at the start, but the figures of the Veyron are faster in all 0- times. Even the 1/4 is faster. Everyone loves the Mclaren F1, its still the fastest naturally aspirated car. But it doesnt accelerate faster than the Veyron.
Enigma said on 14th April 2010, 6:12
Keith, RSS doesn’t seem to be working. In last 12 hours I haven’t gotten anything in my google reader, and I’m subscribed to news and comments.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 14th April 2010, 8:54
Thanks for letting me know. This seems to be a problem with Feedburner, I’m looking into it.
yelrom said on 14th April 2010, 6:59
Lol Webber, so true, thumbs up
superted666 said on 14th April 2010, 7:35
Top gear also got into trouble for faking the Tesla electric sports car.
Apparently diagnostics showed it never dipped below 30% charge, yet the faked it running out of juice.
sato113 said on 14th April 2010, 12:04
how is that even possible? surely it could run out of battery. but they’ve probs got a dynamo i guess…
ajokay said on 14th April 2010, 8:42
So they hire former race drivers onto the stewards panel, and then just go straight over their heads to Charlie Whiting… knew it was too good to be true.