For me ultimately an exciting season has a variety of winners and you don't know who will win when you turn on the TV.
It could be HAM or ROS. You just don't know.
The reason Senna/Prost in '88 is seen as a classic and 2014 may be seen as a bit dull is nothing to do with the on track action. It's the personalities involved and the drama of it all. But with the ammount of money at stake now everyone has to tow the PR line. The Rosberg Hamilton spat hasn't been allowed to become public and Merc put a lid on it after Spa.
Also Hamiltion has destroyed Rosberg.
Interesting diagram from Joe Seward - a very respectable journalist about the distribution of funds - so maybe my earlier post was wide of the mark 🙁
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/15099282403_a4050d6137_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/15099282403_a4050d6137_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/p1gLBe ]f1-money-supply[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/67749037@N02/ ]boltonjon[/url], on Flickr
See 😉
by my reckoning there's enough movement between the teams that they know what each other are being paid and currently there's plenty of self interest in getting the numbers out there to ramp up the pressure on CVC and the FIA which is why this is coming out now despite the high level of secrecy normally.
[quote=dragon ]While I accept 2004 was dull it at least had 6 individual winners of GPs, so far this season we've had 3!!
Maybe people with rose tinted glasses do think 1989 was great, but I never did, I completely gave up watching around that time as it was a dull fest.
For me ultimately an exciting season has a variety of winners and you don't know who will win when you turn on the TV.
As jfletch suggests, the winner has actually been far less predictable this year than 2004. The fact there has been a limited pool doesn't make for uninteresting racing - I'm not sure how it's any more exciting to have Vettel win from pole one week, LH win from pole the next, Alonso from pole the week after. So far this year 9 race winners weren't on pole, 6 of those weren't even on the front row. In 2008 (touted above for the variety of race winners) 10 race winners weren't on pole, only 4 of those weren't on the front row. Which year has been more unpredictable when you switch the TV on for the race on a Sunday? I wonder which year has had more overtaking in the first 3 or 4 places...
Sure more passing lower down keeps things interesting during the race, but I don't think many people turn on to see a great overtake to move from position 10th to 9th.
You're probably right, though it does provide a bit of entertainment when the leader pisses off into the distance from the start, which has been happening regularly for well over 10 years. However I think most people would like to watch a scrap for 3rd or 4th, which has certainly been happening plenty this year and far more so the last few years than the processional ones before.
Its been a great season and the main two drivers have been allowed to RACE!!
Riccardo whopping Vettel has been great as has the resurgence of Williams
I think 2014 has been a vintage year - far better than the last few years
The politics has also been pretty fascintating
I'll be sad when the season finishes 🙁
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Is the next race in Sparta?
I'll bet £50 Lewis car breaks down to allow the other fella to win by 1 point during the last race / double points system. German team, german driver etc. Cue conspiracy theorists...
On the other hand, Bernie might see Lewis as the "peoples" champ after Rosberg made himself less popular. Cue conspiracy theorists...
I'll bet £50 Lewis car breaks down to allow the other fella to win by 1 point during the last race / double points system. German team, german driver etc. Cue conspiracy theorists...
If we're going with team consiparcy theories.. (which I dont buy) I think Merc would much rather LH wins the championship.
Who is a better ambassoder / marketing tool for mercedes globably, Rosberg Or Hamilton?
The yanks are lapping Hamilton up ATM. The US is a pretty important market for European car companies.
For me, this season has been the best for years and one that I have tried to make sure I watch each race of.
Yes, looking at the results you can say it's boring because Merc have dominated but the raw figures don't tell the whole story. The races have been more enjoyable to watch. Even when the winner is clear, the racing within the mid-pack has been very enjoyable to watch.
And some of Ricciardo's overtaking moves this year have been pretty gob smacking (as well as some of the other driver's to be fair).
I thnk Vergne has been the man to watch this year. Some of his overtakes have been nailbiting. It's made the last few laps worth watching.
[url] https://twitter.com/danielt_johnson/status/530699203451056128 [/url]
End of the line for Marussia - administrators have confirmed they have ceased trading and staff made redundent.
Jinx!
three words
three
car
teams
three words
disaster
for
f1
(longterm) 🙂
The tail end teams mean that well funded teams aren't at the back of the grid. We saw before that manufacturers leave F1 when it suits because it's so expensive and no one wants to be running a team costing a lot that's in last place.
The solution is to ensure that there's a bit more money for the lower end teams to ensure that they don't go bust and can at least remain vaguely in the race.
I wonder if its Bernies wish to take f1 to the grave with him to prove a point.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29954250
I dont normally take too much notice of EJ but he does touch on a few points regarding the increased costs due to the new hybrid engines which Bernie was so vehemently against. No wonder he wants it to fail. Aside from that he needs to get some more cash to recoup the cost of paying off the German government.
CVC better get their act together before Bernie destroys f1 and scares off any investors out there. ( quote from bernie, " its my fault and I dont know what to do") .
he needs to get some more cash to recoup the cost of paying off the German government.
He loses more than that down the back of the sofa.
This bit from Button himself makes it sound very much like he's as good as gone from McLaren, and (by extension it seems) from F1:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29939341
and that there are lots of other challenges in other sports that he is interested in taking on.
This got me wondering whether he'll leave Motorsport and try his hand in a few competitive triathlons.
but all of this could be the reason why Alonso is still wavering on signing
perhaps (and we dont know it yet publicly) the the deal is already done for 3 car teams for 2015 between the big guys and bernie
............and the reason for the lack of any *real* commitment and *real* money to keep these lower teams afloat ..............
who knows what lies, smoke and mirrors are being peddled by bernie/the big teams yet behind the scenes they are rubbing their hands with glee and more money coming to them and not suppling engines (pu) at a loss to small teams.
also rules can certainly be tweeked by the big teams, even as the season starts, which will quickly clarify the whole thing about will the 3rd car attain WDC or Constructor points, and something along the lines of "if 3 cars finish from the same the team, the one in the lowest points scoring position does not get constructor points, but does get WDC points"
The deal for 3 car teams was done years ago. As soon as the number of cars drops below 16 (or teams below 8 ) the remaining teams are obliged to enter 3 cars.
although three car teams would make it less a joke at the back of the field it'd turn me firmly off as it'd mean the top teams would firmly block out the top.
Imagine a Mercedes 1-2-3 (or whoever is dominant in the future?) NOT every race of course, there would still be a redbull etc in P2 or P3 but every so often you'd get a 1-2-3.
Other racing me thinks..
yeah but what you have to remember is
the big F1 teams dont care about the fans
they care about the money
and
bernie dont care about the fans
bernie cares about the money
so...
it makes sense from their POV.
If they go to 3 cars and don't make them full points earning cars, the races will be poorer for it IMO
The teams will attempt to use the 3rd car tactically as a blocker if they can (their own personal safety car), all sorts of shenanigans will be attempted to the detriment of the race as a whole.
I do hope Jules Bianchi's care is taken into account when they folded. The idea of folding to remove the creditors liabilities is possible and then selling the assets for a nominal fee to re enter next year.
It could be the case marussia dont have engines for next year in the absence of bianchi driving for them so the short fall is huge in the budget for next year ( also no money from marussia). Either way its sad to see the privateer teams go when they give young drivers a leg up into f1. It does smell a tad fishy when Bernie already proclaimed the teams are dropping out before the end of the year and 3 cars could be a reality a few months ago.
Martin Brundle - who know his stuff - has suggested the ideal situation would be 6 x 2 Car manufacturers teams and 6 x 2 Car independent teams (affiliated to one of the manufacturers who would supply them the engine but leave them to run the team independently). This would give a grid of 24.
As of 2015 there will be four "manufacturer" teams: Ferrari; Mercedes; Red Bull/Renault; Mclaren/Honda.
Audi have ruled themselves out of F1, which means they are actually probably interested so they could be the fifth manufacturer to join.
No idea who a sixth might be? Toyota failed pretty badly previously they will have no appetite for a return. The big US firms don't really get F1 so I can't see Ford, GM or Chrysler putting together a team. BMW had a decent amount of success and maybe interested especially if Audi enter the fray. Who know maybe we might see a Hyundai F1 car!
None of this is likely in the short term though.
No idea who a sixth might be? Toyota failed pretty badly previously they will have no appetite for a return. The big US firms don't really get F1 so I can't see Ford, GM or Chrysler putting together a team. BMW had a decent amount of success and maybe interested especially if Audi enter the fray. Who know maybe we might see a Hyundai F1 car!
Porsche?
Chrysler already have a F1 team, they call it Scuderia Ferrari
Can't see Honda wanting to do anything other than engines, especially after their last two seasons before they left.
Porsche own 50% of the VAG group so I can't see them doing it if Audi won't.
Doesn't really leave many other options. Kia?
Porsche?
Nah - they've only just starting in sports cars again.
Audi - maybe, they've nothing left to achieve in sports cars at the minute. The fact they've gone for a 'simple' engine this year with little energy recover suggests a) they're not interested in it, or b) they're putting there efforts elsewhere.
I do hope Jules Bianchi's care is taken into account when they folded.
I would imagine Ferrari are looking after this, he was effectively their driver.
Further proof that Alonso has a complete inability to panic: [url= http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/29953941 ]BBC[/url]. Sees flames pouring out of the self same car that he is very securely fastened into, doesn't pull over until he sees a fire point so he can get out, grab an extinguisher and put the fire out himself. Classy move!
www.crowcube.com is owned by the same company (Smith & Williamson) as the administators currently running the Caterham F1 team [url= http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2014/11/formula-finbarr-caterham-administrator-turns-team-boss-to-lead-revival/ ](James Allen on F1)[/url]
A question, if I may:
Every GP, the commentators talk about how the track is difficult at first, and needs to "rubber in" before we see proper performances in qualifying.
Why don't they send out a fleet of touring cars (or something with little downforce) with tyres made of the same compound in the week running up to the race to do a load of skidz and rubber it up beforehand ?
Yours in ignorance, ... etc
Why don't they send out a fleet of touring cars (or something with little downforce) with tyres made of the same compound in the week running up to the race to do a load of skidz and rubber it up beforehand ?
Part of the challenge is adapting to the track as it evolves throughout the weekend.
There are often other cars and events going on during the build up to the race but nothing beats having the same rubber going down.
He's not playing the averages is he?
Watching this race as it doesn't involve me getting up at stupid o'clock.
It's painfully boring. Guys just driving around at similar speeds managing tyres. It's contrived garbage.
must be a horrible feeling having Hamilton chasing you down
Hamo is going get this
Ooh this is
boring
I thought the radio5live team was going to bum the radio/mic over Nico at the finish line. Acting as though hes the Messiah 'won the pole position for the season etc/surely its his title now if hamo doesnt finish second' etc.
Christian Horner complaining that the Mercedes dominance is unfair.
Really?
Al heard on the eay home was a terrible discussion about tyres., blisters, the size of blisters, the width of wear on tyres, when tarmac was laid ......it sounded proper thrilling
Thankfully Hora still managed to find something sexual in it
I thought it was a half decent race - not a classic by any means, but fairly entertaining. Shame Hamilton's pit crew made him stay out/he overcooked it, otherwise it would have been more exciting at the end. Clearly the better driver again for 90% of the race.
Will be gutted if Hamilton comes 3rd/worse in the last race - and it will only be down to bad luck if he does.
If button is that good and the rumours are true that he is leaving McLaren then why aren't any of the other teams snapping him up ???
Cos they can't afford him