After the next race I’ll be doing the usual drivers’ half-term rankings post so make sure you share your thoughts on how the drivers have got on so far this year in the forum.
Here’s today’s round-up:
Links
Hamilton: F1 title fight tightest ever (The Independent)
“You can see how tight this championship is. I don’t know whether it’s the new points-scoring system, but the field is so close and all the best drivers are in the top teams and they’re all very, very competitive. So it’s the ultimate challenge I’ve experienced in Formula One, perhaps in Formula One history. I’m sure there will be lots of ups and downs – hopefully, not for us – during the rest of the season but let’s hope we’re able to keep on the front line.”
Mercedes not giving up on 2010 car (Autosport)
Ross Brawn: “I think everybody is looking at next year’s car now, all the teams, but we still have some pretty important things we want to do with this car over the next few races. Then we will have to reflect on the position for the second half of the season. We are not holding back on this car, for sure.”
Comment of the day
Luke is re-appraising his view of McLaren’s drivers:
I am one of those people who needs to eat their words as like many at the start of the season, i predicted Hamilton to top Button on all accounts. Both drivers for me have been solid, consistent and driven to the best of their ability. I would go as far as saying that they are the best driver pairing on the grid.
Hamilton for me has matured so much during his time in F1 and it is really showing in his driving this year. Many a time i have heard the commentators remark as to how old Hamilton or Hamilton of old would have handled such a situation differently to how he just did. Its this mature head and driving style that has got him currently leading the championship.
Button in my eyes has proved himself in a sense. After being simply tossed aside by many (myself included) as inferior to Hamilton in a driving calibre, he has brushed this misconception aside with solid performances and strategic calls which have put him just three points behind his team mate in the current championship standings.
Luke
From the forum
Please take a moment to share your thoughts here on how we can improve comments on F1 Fanatic.
Site updates
After last week’s article on the last F1 race in South Africa there were requests for a section for all the ‘Grand Prix flashbacks’ on F1 Fanatic. That has now been added, you can find it here: Browse all Grand Prix flashbacks
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Plushpile!
On this day in F1
Ferrari scored a one-two in the Canadian Grand Prix on this day 25 years ago, Michele Alboreto leading home team mate Stefan Johansson.
The result put Alboreto in the lead of the world championship – but he would ultimately lose to McLaren’s Alain Prost.
The race was held on the earlier version of the Canadian track as described in last week’s Changing Tracks article:
Dan N
16th June 2010, 0:55
Lewis has got it spot on in my opinion. After Bahrain this F1 season wasn’t given half a chance by many, myself included. But now it seems to be turning into one to remember for quite some time. As has been pointed out, five drivers are with a chance of the top spot by the end of the next race and we’ve had the enjoyment of watching Torro Rosso’s leading races, Virgins passing Mercs’, Lotus’ passing Renaults, not to mention the battles for the top of both championships, and it just looks liike it’l get better and better. However the first race of next year turns out I be so quick to complain.
carldec
16th June 2010, 5:35
your spot on, Dan. This season is turning out to be one of the best I can recall.
I am wondering how many of the “f1 has become boring” crowd will be out in force after Valencia. It has produced two of the most processional races and there is no reason to think it will be any more exiting this year.
DC
16th June 2010, 7:26
Lewis has botched it in my opinion. There is a trend in popular culture for superlatives: whatever is newest is the best thing of all time. Lewis is doing exactly this. So this is Lewis’ “ultimate challenge” and perhaps the ultimate challenge of Formula 1 history? I think that is a bit much, to say the least. The season isn’t even half way over yet. Watching Lewis gush like this is like watching a teenage girl say that Twilight is the best movie of all time.
GQsm (@gqsm)
16th June 2010, 10:45
His point is there has never been 5 or more drivers during a season really in contention to win it. In that context it is the ultimate challenge, normally they only have one or two people they are up against.
Dan N
16th June 2010, 10:52
And anyway all the drivers have to be media friendly. Its not always what they say but how they say it. In guessing thats the part Kimi didn’t like (no fault of his own, I wouldn’ either)
sato113 (@sato113)
16th June 2010, 1:12
any news on this keith?-
https://www.racefans.net/forum/topic.php?id=30
matt90 (@matt90)
16th June 2010, 1:32
I’ve said it before, but I really don’t get how the drivers don’t understand that the new points don’t make a massive difference. It’s pretty obvious that the value of each position is increased so the only notable difference is 1st being worth slightly more, and 9th and 10th being eligible for points. The fact that Button and Hamilton keep going on about it as though the points have been revolutionised is very iritating and makes me embarassed to be supporting them lol. Although the BBC comentators are no better- it took Jake on the F1 forum pondering how different things would look under the old points before someone finally went away and proved it would be the same.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
16th June 2010, 1:40
I haven’t done it for the last race, but after every race I’ve compared the current system with the previous system and the one before that. In every case (or practically so), the old 10-6-4-3-2-1 system produces the closest standings.
Ed
16th June 2010, 4:05
Button is actually the only driver who I have heard (pre-season) mention that the points system is very similar to last year’s.
Mike
16th June 2010, 8:21
The Australian commentators keep ranting about how good it is… Can they not count?
Patrickl
16th June 2010, 12:07
Yeah I have been wondering about that myself too. Especially when Button was saying the new point system makes catching up easier.
I’m assuming he mean that in an absolute way though. For instance it’s indeed easier to make up 10 points now.
Scribe (@scribe)
16th June 2010, 18:49
Well the new system does indeed make it easier to catch up if you win, because 1st is worth proportionaly more, but it’s not massive.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
16th June 2010, 4:06
Check this out: it’s a video from the E3 Expo of Polyphony Digital’s GRAN TURISMO 5.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxfNb4d3bPY
It’s wrth watching because Sebastian Vettel and Adrian Newey have been invovled in the project. From the sounds oof things, Vettel is lending his voice to introduce races and circuits (and maybe even the series’ famed licence tests) the way Nicky Grist did for COLIN MCRAE RALLY 2.0 and beyond. As for Newey’s involvement, it’s a lot more unclear, though if he’s in a role similar to Vettel’s, then he’ll likely be walking the player through race set-ups and strategy and the like. Although Codemasters have the licence for the 2009 and 2010 Formula 1 seasons (F1 2010 and GT5 are set for a similar release date), GRAN TURISMO 5 PROLOGUE did feature the Ferrari F2007, so it may be possible to see a Red Bull Racing car in the final game.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
16th June 2010, 4:10
Edit: Just realised that Newey is listed as “Chief Technical Officer” for the game. His involvement may then simply be a case of working with the development team to make the game as authentic as possible.
KNF
16th June 2010, 4:34
I think that title refers to Newey’s role in RBR and not in Polyphony itself. It’ll be a bit strange for Vettel to give intros in an English language version, if it was the EU German version it’ll make sense, but maybe the British racing drivers are signed to other games (such as F1 2010)?
I’m a bit concerned about GT5’s lack of a release date, their boss has been faffing about in sportscar and endurance racing over the last few years while they had to rewrite the physics, lighting engine and implement roll and car damage…
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
16th June 2010, 5:11
Release date is given at the end of the video – November 2, 2010.
KNF
16th June 2010, 6:19
Didn’t notice it there, but knowing Polyphony and Sony, the release date might as well be written in whiteboard marker…
Ads21
16th June 2010, 8:16
I really want that game, makes me want to buy a ps3 just to play it
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
16th June 2010, 9:30
They better stick to that. Too many times I’ve been disappointed with it being pushed back…
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
16th June 2010, 13:03
That’s because Kazunori Yamauchi is a notorious perfectionist. If he delays the release of the game, it’s because he’s looking to make it even better. I’m sure you’d much rather wait for a complete game than play an unfinished one straight away.
matt90 (@matt90)
16th June 2010, 13:10
I reckon it’s final now. Giving a date 5 months away seems realistic- it’s in time for christmas, if it was longer away it would seem more open to change, if it was less time it wouldn’t be believable.
Dan Thorn (@dan-thorn)
16th June 2010, 14:02
I totally agree, we don’t want another uncompletable game like 2 and 3 were. On the other hand there will always be something he wants to make better and there has to come a point where he compromises on certain aspects simply to get it released on this generation of consoles.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
16th June 2010, 14:30
Actually, you can beat GT2. I don’t know about GT3 because I don’t have it, but I know you can beat GT2 – you have to play it in a different language and go into North City. The Vauxhall dealership in the English-language version has been replaced by Opel (I know it’s in the German edition), and there’s a handful of races left over, just enough to get that elusive 100%.
matt90 (@matt90)
16th June 2010, 17:29
I don’t think I got that close to completing 3, but I did manage to complete 4. Those endurance races were a pain though. And I only managed it after accidentally deleting my saved data when I was on 80-something percent. I hope that despite the quality, there is still enough content to keep me going at least for a few months (and here was me hoping I’d put a bit more effort into uni this year lol).
BasCB (@bascb)
17th June 2010, 9:37
From the comments it seems the Red Bull is really going to be part of it!
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=41128
Maybe they can use Kimi to do part of the commentary as well, as his WRC car is in it as well ;-D
Robert C
16th June 2010, 5:01
One thing stands out for F1Fanatic. Keith is clearly the most consistently objective leader of the F1 sites that I follow. The direct result is the forum participants are the most objective as well.
I had observed that most forums were so full of biased viewpoints that it was depressing to even take the chance that something interesting would appear amongst the crap.
It has been all to infrequent that Keith has blessed this site with what has attracted the quality of comment and insights on this forum, and that is my one complaint.
Please double the space of the observations, comments and questions that come so easily from you Keith so that we can have even more like responses from the fans of this unique F1 site.
I love it.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
16th June 2010, 8:07
Thanks very much Robert :-)
Macca (@macca)
16th June 2010, 5:14
Great news about the ‘Grand Prix flashbacks’ I can’t wait to start reading.
BasCB (@bascb)
16th June 2010, 10:16
I spotted that only after seeing your Comment Macca.
Had a look and enjoyed myself hugely. I think you have a lot of great reviews and flashbacks there Keith. Thanks.
Pointer
16th June 2010, 7:52
Is it just me, or is everyone really hamming up the “for sure” thing this year? Is anyone running a For Sure World Championship for this season??
bosyber
16th June 2010, 8:01
For sure, I have been hearing it too much.
BasCB (@bascb)
16th June 2010, 8:37
I certainly agree with Hamilton, that the season is turning into a very close and variable battle between 3 teams and 5 drivers, with serveral cars in close persuit.
We have seen Ferrari being impressive at the start, Red Bull just humiliatingly fast for the first 6 races, but still fragile, McLaren a little off, but fastly improving and now coming out on top. Button making smart and lucky strategy calls, Vettel losing his equipment and later his cool, Alonso getting one over Massa but also being too much on edge to get to the front, Hamilton with amazing driving but little results and immature reactions to tough desicions the team had to make for him, but improving to make it work and win the last races. And Mark Webber to finally start to show what’s in him and upset the order.
Great season, lets enjoy it while it lasts.
Patrickl
16th June 2010, 12:15
About the Hamilton vs Button battle. I’d say Button is pretty much performing the way I expected him. he’s slower than Hamilton, yet his greater patience sometimes helps bring results too.
The current closeness in points has been caused by 2 (mostly) lucky tyre calls from Button and more technical misfortune for Hamilton (Ham lost P2 in Spain while Button only retired in Monaco in P8). If they had finished those races in those positions it would be 110 vs 127.
matt90 (@matt90)
16th June 2010, 17:36
I’m a massive Button fan, probably because he was always the underdog, and I reckon as long as he deosn’t get flattened in qualifying for the rest of the season, he will have performed very well. I think Hamilton is probably one of the best qualifiers and very consistent. Button isn’t quite as consistent, but has proved to be a great qualifier at times. Now Hamilton has the upper hand though, I reckon he’ll maintain it to the end of the season, although hopefully with Button pushing not far behind.
JAM
16th June 2010, 12:26
Read this about HD broadcasting not coming until 2012…
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84448
What’s up with that? Are they really serious?
One part about the tunnel in Monaco got the techie in me going
“…through the tunnel, as the recording discs kept skipping frames.”
Resolution: Don’t use crap with moving parts if there’s vibrations. Use flash-disks or off-site storage. Do they really have that bad techies at work? Is everyone working with F1 management as old as Bernie?
In motogp they even test onboard cameras in HD already. Pleasy silly Bernie, watch a motogp-race or even the roundabout-racing from the states to see what wonderful stuff HD brings to racing, and then pull out your platinum card and get to work!
BasCB (@bascb)
16th June 2010, 14:10
I think the main reason behind not going to HD is another thing Bernie said in that article:
Bernie wants us to pay up something extra to be shown HD. That’s not going to happen Benie!
BasCB (@bascb)
16th June 2010, 12:34
It looks like Williams have already made the desicion to do the sensible thing.
No, not focus on developing their car for next year and giving up on this one, they did that last year and look where it got them.
They are going to keep their lineup, with a hope of having the stable team to develop the car and organisation.http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-news/237144/williams-likely-to-retain-barrichello-and-hulkenberg/
UneedAFinn2Win
16th June 2010, 16:09
You may delete this if it seems inappropriate or gloating, but it seems I have been vindicated in my opinion a few days back on negating the effects of wings by none other than Ross Brawn himself:
http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/20564.html
BasCB (@bascb)
16th June 2010, 16:41
Nice one from Kubica
What Brawn says makes you wonder about why they actually banned the F-duct.
BasCB (@bascb)
16th June 2010, 16:39
Looks like Peter Sauber is hugely unimpressed with the Ferrari power plants supplied to his team, as well as having a stab at BMWs departing present of a horrible chassis.
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/formula-1-news/237164/sauber-ferrari-engine-failures-unacceptable/
Maybe Sauber will be interested in getting a Renault supply for next year, or just an enormous price cut from Ferrari?
bosyber
16th June 2010, 17:51
Probably the price cut. And maybe he is annoyed about the BMW thing in his teams name.
I was surprised about him singilng out Willy Rampf too. But I guess things have indeed been pretty dire so far.
He should ask FIA for a chunk of Ferrari’s engine allocations :-p
bosyber
16th June 2010, 17:48
Epsilon worried about late decision (on entry to F1)
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84521
… only in August? Again. The FIA really should have learned that that is automatically putting the new team firmly at the back of the grid.
I also think that Epsilon Euskadi boss Joan Villadelprat is smart to mention he has been looking for budget for at least two year, at about 100mln a year. And probably right that that is what is required to make good gains.
Fer no.65
16th June 2010, 18:07
yeah, i remember i said that here…
F1 is not friendly to those new teams… not only forming a new team from 0 needs a lot of money and resources, it also needs a lot of time!
With these politics, FIA is the only guilty the new teams are miles behind the leaders. It’s not fair. And you get the same amount of testing the leading teams have, but of course, with less money, less resources AND less knowledge about everything!.
It’s painfully stupid. They should accept teams 2 years in advance before they debut at an F1 race. OR give them a lot more testing milage per year. Progress is virtually impossible otherwise. Lotus this year is a case of its own tho.
New teams usually struggle to get money from sponsorship, and spending a whole year trying to catch up the worse of the experienced teams doesn’t help really.
BasCB
17th June 2010, 7:11
But Lotus is only a different story as they have covered the last point you mention (knowledge) from a very experienced team with Gascoyne and Toyota staff, maybe even some FI intellectual property helping them :-D
But both of you are right. Why force a team to build a car and be hopelessly at the end of the grid for at least a year? It would seem their only chance would be to allow them to buy a chassis from another team for the first year if they start as late as they will. Or give them more time, with testing allowed, to get the car up to the job.