F1 Grand Prix

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Micheal and Ralf: never.
im a ferrari fan and im happy with the current situation.

I started to watch “Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters” now. Nice.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Well ,

I guess that Schum gonna win once again. Let’s keep in mind that he is by far the BEST pilot in F1.

Let’s keep in mind that Michael was the only pilot ever able to win with the Benetton. Barichello has the same car and doesn’t win anything !!!

Beside this don’t you think that formula one is getting boring???

Michael far ahead , and almost nothing happening behind him.
I really believe that FIA has to take good decisions to make it more thrilling otherwise the audience will run away.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Well said A.T.

Especially about the Aussie V8 and Fords 😉

Cheers,
James

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Hi all,
my favorite types of motor sport in this order,
1 Australian V8 tourning cars Ford Rules
2 sprintcars V8’s that weight nothing sliding around on dirt nothing more exciting
3 rallying just plain good
A.T

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Personally I think M Schumacher will win it. However I support Williams and hope the younger Schumacher wins it. What has happened to McClaren this season, I see even Jensen Button is ahead of Coulthard.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Except for maybe European Touring Car, This is the only true car racing sport. Period.

elp
usa

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Sounds good, but do u think Ralph would like to play second fiddle to elder brother ?

Being in WIlliams, he has the chance to become world champ – under Micheal, he will always be always treated with kid gloves.

I dont think Barrichello is bad at all, he has clear instructions that Micheal is #1 priority to Ferrari, his having to give up the lead to Micheal in past races on many occassions is testimony to that.

To sum: I dont think Ralph would like to get to Ferrari.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Michael and Ralf Schumacher driving for Ferrari – nice idea.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

An interesting thought occured to me after Sunday’s race: what if Ferrari decided to replace Barichello with Ralf Schumacher? Whilst it is clearly too early in the season to speculate on who’s driving for who next year, here’s my reasoning:

Having the two Schumacher brothers driving for the same team would be a wonderful publicity coup for Ferrari, and since they have the same management there shouldn’t be too much of a problem in that regard. Barichello has never excelled since he joint Ferrari, and so probably wouldn’t be too hard to displace. Williams also have a tough decision to make in that they are in the enviable position of having three drivers to choose from next year, with the expiration Jenson Button’s loan to the Bennetton/Renault team. Releasing Ralph to Ferrari would neatly solve this ‘problem’. As for the now vacant seat at Renault, I would personally like to see Jacques Villeneuve fill it (a good driver wasted at BAR IMO), but a trade for Barichello would probably be worked out.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-04-02 AT 07:10 AM (GMT)]On the M. Schumacher topic, I think he and Montoya are in the same class when it comes to driving abilities. They both are extremly fast and take risks no other driver would take. On the other hand both have a tendency to bend or brake the rules if neccessary to win a race. I´m really waiting for the next races to see more of this duell. Ralf Schumacher is a sissy in my opinion. I´m sure Montoya would have beaten M. Schumacher when he would have been in Ralf´s position during the last 10 laps.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Glenn, Do they still have the 1000k race at Bathurst? I remember seeing one event that was televised by the BBC here in the UK and it was the most exciting race I’ve ever seen. Those Holden Commodores were really something else.

Kev,

Yes. It is the king of the mountain tradition between the Holden and Falcon crowd. Top race. 🙂

Regards, Glenn.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Mike,

for me, F1 has lost much of its appeal. I found over the years I got much more satisfaction from watching touring cars, that’s probably why I like the idea of a rolling start. The first one I saw was my first race at Donington (superb circuit with an airport approach right over your head). I think it was 1985 or so and was a superb race between Tom Walkinshaw in a 3.5 litre Rover and Gerhard Berger in a Schneider BMW 635 csi. Door handle to door handle on every lap. What an introduction to motorsport.

Regards,

kev35

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Schumacher Snr is indeed very reminiscent of Senna – the same incredible talent and the same arrogance towards the rest of the world. Maybe the two are linked and you can’t be a supreme driver without that utter self belief and confidence.

As for the rolling starts, no, I don’t think they would be a good idea. Speaking personally, the best part of the race is that standing start when they are all there on the grid after the parade lap, nobody knowing how long the lights are going to be on for, and then the mad dash for the first corner, with 22 cars trying to squeeze into a space barely wide enough for 2! Yes, it can cause some spectacular crashes, and yes it might be argued that its dangerous, but motor racing is a dangerous sport and none more so that Formula 1. IMHO they have already done too much in the name of trying to make the sport safer (although its worth noting that most of the rules introduced to slow the cars down have been nullified by some superb design work), and anymore would run the risk of making it completely uninteresting.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

there’s an article about this at the ITV website.

http://www.itv-f1.com/features/features_story/9977

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Mike,

I have to agree, I think his status at present does allow him to exploit any inconsistencies in the application of the rules. True, you don’t have to like him and I agree he probably doesn’t come across as one of F1’s really nice guys like Herbert or Berger.

I think there is an element in his driving which you call cheating (reminiscent of Senna?), I put it down to his innate confidence and the belief that he is invincible. The greatest tragedy when a driver is prone to having that attitude, is that one day, someone else will play him at his own game with disastrous consequences. The safety measures now in place will allow cars and drivers to increase speed. This has happened before with the result there was an increase in accidents. This may be happening already with the number of first corner incidents. Do you think there may be a case for using a rolling start?

Regards,

kev35

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Don’t deny that the guy is an awesome driver, and in a few years time may well be able to lay claim to being the best ever, but that doesn’t mean I have to like him 😉 The thing that annoys me with him is that even though he has this phenomenal talent, he still feels the need to cheat (twice ramming Damon Hill of the track, and trying the same thing with Jacques Villeneuve) or sail very close to the wind (I thought his defence against Montoya on Sunday’s first lap looked awfully close to weaving). I also suspect that given the inconsistency in the application of the rules and penalties, he feels that his stature as the numero uno driver gives him a degree of protection that he can exploit to the full.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Mike,

I see the point about tv directors focussing on the lead battle (such as it is)but I don’t see anything being likely to change in the near future. It may be me viewing the past through rose tinted spectacles but I really do feel the races were far more exciting to watch in the 80’s and 90’s. I miss the likes of Mansell, Prost, Senna, Berger, Piquet and Alesi.

It would be nice to see a new world champion but I fear Schumacher M is the best driver on the circuit. His ability to make many of his race wins appear simple could make some people dislike him, but you can’t take his record away from him.

Regards,

kev35

RE: F1 Grand Prix

>I enjoy formula 1 but I do think many of the races become
>very processional.

This is an oft repeated complaint about Formula 1, and I think I worked out why yesterday: its because the TV directors (and lets face it, all but the most committed fans with a track nearby will be watching it on TV) insist on focusing on the leader, even if there is nothing happening at the front. Yesterday we had lap after lap of little but the two Ferraris going round line astern, when just a few places back there was a superb scrap going on between the two McLarens and the two Renaults. If the directors got it into their heads that people come to cars *racing*, rather than just driving round in circles then maybe it would be a lot more interesting for the casual viewer.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

As a fellow McLaren fan I would have to say that I don’t think that they really have much of a chance this year. They may win the odd race here and there, but not enough to win the championship with.

Sadly I think your analysis is probably right, and the Schumcher Snr will win it again, although either Montoya or little Ralphie could be in a position to spoil his party. I also think that Williams will probably win the constructors championship, assuming that the reliability gremlins that plagued them last year really are gone for good.

Whatever happens, its shaping up to be a good season. Its nice to have three or four teams in a challenging position, rather than just one running away with it, and maybe another a bit further back. I also think McLaren’s decision to switch from Bridgestone to Michellin tyres has done the sport a world of good too.

RE: F1 Grand Prix

F1 Bad, Superbike Good!
Cheers, Dazza.}>