Formula 1 - How Hard Can It Be

[PDSAjax]

Errrr....very hard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGUZJVY-sHo


I must have done a thousand laps of Stowe circuit at Silverstone in my racing years.... But I would exchange vital parts of my anatomy to do just 2 laps in an F1 car.....

 

[bebe]

Can't be that hard. Button spent his whole career at the back of the field, he gets a good car and he jumps to the lead position. It's not about the driver, it's all about the machine.... MS was not that great of a driver, he just had the best car at the time, a Ferrari.

 

[LancsLad]

Errrr....very hard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGUZJVY-sHo


I must have done a thousand laps of Stowe circuit at Silverstone in my racing years.... But I would exchange vital parts of my anatomy to do just 2 laps in an F1 car.....

Check out ARDS ( Aintree Racing Drivers School) at Three Sisters race track just outside Wigan.


Excellent time, I've done it.

.

 

[JEFF247]

It's somethin else!!

Errrr....very hard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGUZJVY-sHo


I must have done a thousand laps of Stowe circuit at Silverstone in my racing years.... But I would exchange vital parts of my anatomy to do just 2 laps in an F1 car.....

I was so glad I went to Montreal for the last F1 race there. I have been to NASCAR, Indy Car, Daytona Prototype, and others. Nothing compares to the power and beauty of the F1. This video is from my seat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTaGc4GHeu0

Thankfully, I was sitting in a corner. The sound of these cars in the straight away is deafening!!! Just an awesome sight and sound.

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

I was so glad I went to Montreal for the last F1 race there. I have been to NASCAR, Indy Car, Daytona Prototype, and others. Nothing compares to the power and beauty of the F1.

I agree 100% (although I find the cars ugly this year).

I always go to the Canadian GP but for some reason didn't go last year. GP week in Montreal is something every race fan should experience. Montreal does it up right!

Hopefully there will be another chance, but probably not as long as Ecclestone is running the show.

 

[JEFF247]

It was great. Weatherman was calling for rain, but it was beautiful all weekend. And a Casino in the middle of the racetrack. Hot chicks, hot cars and gambling!!! Doesn't get any better than that!!!

 

[diverdown]

I agree 100% (although I find the cars ugly this year).

Obviously to each his own. I really like the cars this year, even the Brawn yellowy-green/white.

I am happy to see the new and established teams fighting for podiums.

I think even with the huge amount of computer and telemetry functionality built into the cars it is still high speed tight quarters and corners racing. Pretty hard even for the pros.

Question is...were the cars years ago harder to drive and therefore the drivers more skilled? I think they were.

RE:Shumi. Don't forget Ferrari was basking in medocrity until they went out and got Michael under contract. Together the driver and car program blossumed and became a championship jugernaut.

 

[nottyboi]

Can't be that hard. Button spent his whole career at the back of the field, he gets a good car and he jumps to the lead position. It's not about the driver, it's all about the machine.... MS was not that great of a driver, he just had the best car at the time, a Ferrari.

even the worst driver in F1 is an EXCEPTIONAL driver by any standard. No one gets to F1 without enormous talent. Saying it isn't that hard because Button is winning is like saying you can beat the #10 ranked tennis player in the world....absurd.

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

Gonna be a great race season...NOT just a McClaren vs Ferrari season!!!!

As long as it doesn't turn out to be a Brawn vs. Toyota season.

 

[shrek71]

P.S. I've heard that the Champion will be the driver that wins the most races, NOT the points leader..anybody know for sure?

I believe that is how it is going to work for the 2010 season.

Cheers

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

I believe that is how it is going to work for the 2010 season.

Cheers

The change is scheduled for 2010 but it still may not happen.

Personally I think it's a mistake and so do the drivers. I think the change was supposed to be implemented this season but the drivers put up a fight.

For the life of me, I can't see the advantage of this.

 

[bebe]

even the worst driver in F1 is an EXCEPTIONAL driver by any standard. No one gets to F1 without enormous talent. Saying it isn't that hard because Button is winning is like saying you can beat the #10 ranked tennis player in the world....absurd.

Don't get me wrong, I am a big F1 fan, but not all great drivers end up in F1. Look at JV and Montoya, they struggled and failed in Nascar but both drove well in F1, provided the car was there.

Its all about the car, that is to say better engineering.

 

[Justanormalguy]

Forget about F1 auto racing!

This is why motorcycle racing is better:

http://www.stripcountry.com/virg903/a03.jpg.

 

[bboyz]

F1

Its all about the car, that is to say better engineering.[/QUOTE]

I would love to see you in an F1 car ....never mind that, lets start with Karts and see where you end up. I have driven with some "Good" drivers ...that means in my world "Great" drivers ...guys that never came close to F1 and the results were a joke. They put me to shame. I was wondering where they went and where the extra engine / cylinders were in their Karts and Cars.

Sure ...equipment helps ...but if you have no talent ....forget it ...don't think or even dream about it. Also, development is huge important. That is what made MS one of the best. The saying goes "You can't polish a piece of sh*t ...it is still a piece of sh*t". MS did do that with Ferrari, he took a team / car and made it into a force in F1. Yes ...sure he had help from the team. But, you think Eddy / Ruben or Massa made/help develop those cars ...not a chance ...all MS. Just to let you know ...I am no MS fan but have huge respect for him.

Just for fun ....check Lewis driving some econ box sedan on Top Gear ...just amazing ...he blows in the top time right out of the box ....cold. That is talent ....not equipment.

All just IMHO

 

[Entropy]

The change is scheduled for 2010 but it still may not happen.

Personally I think it's a mistake and so do the drivers. I think the change was supposed to be implemented this season but the drivers put up a fight.

For the life of me, I can't see the advantage of this.

The advantage is that it would (in theory) encourage championship contenders to always be trying for the win, as opposed to just going for "safe" finishes (ie Alonso in the years that he won--he got out to a big points lead then "coasted" to the end of the season).

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

I would love to see you in an F1 car ....never mind that, lets start with Karts and see where you end up. I have driven with some "Good" drivers ...that means in my world "Great" drivers ...guys that never came close to F1 and the results were a joke. They put me to shame. I was wondering where they went and where the extra engine / cylinders were in their Karts and Cars.

Sure ...equipment helps ...but if you have no talent ....forget it ...don't think or even dream about it. Also, development is huge important. That is what made MS one of the best. The saying goes "You can't polish a piece of sh*t ...it is still a piece of sh*t". MS did do that with Ferrari, he took a team / car and made it into a force in F1. Yes ...sure he had help from the team. But, you think Eddy / Ruben or Massa made/help develop those cars ...not a chance ...all MS. Just to let you know ...I am no MS fan but have huge respect for him.

Just for fun ....check Lewis driving some econ box sedan on Top Gear ...just amazing ...he blows in the top time right out of the box ....cold. That is talent ....not equipment.

All just IMHO

I agree 100%.

I made an effort to ignore several posts saying MS was overrated. Give me a fucking break! Ferrari was a 3rd rate team when he joined and he helped return them to the force they once were (for the record, I'm not a big MS fan. I will never forgive him for purposefully taking out Hill to win his first championship and later tried to do the same to JV) but, to say MS is overrated is ridiculous. Ferrari esentially set their car up around him (he liked a nervous setup so that in itself says something about his talent). Combining this with his ability to convey technical information is what made him one of the best to have ever raced.

Yes, of course the car is a major factor but what many people forget is F1 racing is a TEAM sport. The driver has as much to do with the car's performance and setup as the engineers and mechanics. You can be the greatest stick and wheel man but if you can't convey set up changes to the engineers, you are essentially useless. The car and therefore the team will never improve.

Anyone who says it's all about the car is an idiot. These people think the driver just shows up on Sunday afternoon and pins it.

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

Don't get me wrong, I am a big F1 fan, but not all great drivers end up in F1. Look at JV and Montoya, they struggled and failed in Nascar but both drove well in F1, provided the car was there.

JV and Montoya also won CART championships. CART probably had the most level playing field of any open wheel race series so, clearly you have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

The advantage is that it would (in theory) encourage championship contenders to always be trying for the win, as opposed to just going for "safe" finishes (ie Alonso in the years that he won--he got out to a big points lead then "coasted" to the end of the season).

Okay, that makes sense. Thanks.

The drawback though is it brings into question past championships. For example, Massa would have won the championship last season under these rules. I can think of a few Senna/Prost championship season reversals too.

I think it makes more sense to concentrate efforts on making all of the cars and teams more competitive. I like the changes this year (although the smaller rear wing looks ugly, IMO) and so far the races have been entertaining.

 

[opieshuffle]

Exactly...

Just for fun ....check Lewis driving some econ box sedan on Top Gear ...just amazing ...he blows in the top time right out of the box ....cold. That is talent ....not equipment.

Exactly. Look at that show's "Leader board". They have one for "civilians" and a separate board for F1 drivers.

What used to rattle MS in the early days was the way JV would pass him on the outside line vs inside. JV was a bit reckless but it sure made for some interesting lead changes between those two and an interesting watch. That is NOT a car doing the work.

JMHO...