Faster Posted April 22, 2009 Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 Button drove well enough to win both races, though he did have the best car under him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2009 So nothing to write about Vettels victory? Third race of the season, first worthy winner. Vettel is THE future driver of F1, Many compare him with Schumacher, but i think Vettel is much more sympathetic. Was out of the country this weekend, so I missed the Chinese race, it's nothing personal. I did see some highlights though. Vettel is for me the best wet weather driver in the field and most definitely has the potential to be at the very top consistently if given the car. As for saying he is THE F1 driver of the future I think that very much depends on the cars - the same can and has been said about Alonso and Hamilton. We actually have two or three very, very exciting young drivers in the sport at the moment and it's fantastic. It's very rare you get a Schumacher situation; with the best driver in a team which dominates so totally as Ferrari did in the early 2000s, hence I don't think there will be one, single dominant driver in the current generation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted April 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 And now the Toyotas lock out the front of the grid in qualy. Brawn, Red Bull and Toyota all taking their turn in the limelight. And I don't reckon McLaren will be off the pace for too much longer; they already look like their pace of development is quicker than the rest which is hardly unexpected given their resources. Who knows whether Ferrari have any developments and you can never rule out Alonso. It'd take a braver man than me to predict the world champion this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westfale Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 It will be Button. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted April 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 You're a braver man than me! Brawn are running the highly developed "Honda 2009" car. As far as I'm aware, however, they have little money for in-season development and there are already signs Red Bull and Toyota have closed the gap significantly and both these teams - in Vettel and Glock - have men capable of winning a few races which may be all that's needed to win the Championship this year. And I'd be hugely surprised if McLaren aren't near the front in a few races time. Button and Vettel are bookies' favourites but I'm not ruling out Glock or Hamilton - or for that matter, Alonso - as the season develops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westfale Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 You are aware of my dislike of Button. I still think he just races in F1 to date the hot girls. I dont know why, but i simply dont like him. Glock is unknown to me. I cant tell anything about him. Vettels is the guy in the medias spotlight. I would not call me a fan of him, but he his very down to earth in his interviews and seems to be a fair sportsman. But i think Button has the best car and is the most experienced driver in this trio. He will win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted April 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 I still think he just races in F1 to date the hot girls. Haha, fair enough. I think they all do to an extent though! Button is one of the best drivers in the field but nowhere near one of the best racers. Like Massa in some ways; if he gets pole you think he's likely to go on to win, but if not you're not so sure. He's not a risk-taker like the very top drivers are, or at least he doesn't come across that way. I've no reason to dislike him though, and it's always nice to see a Brit at the top. Glock is a very good driver. He won the GP2 series the year after Hamilton did and is more than capable of getting a few race wins if the Toyota turns out to be consistently good. We all know Trulli, his team mate, is a qualifying specialist but rarely does it in the race. I fully expect Glock to outperform him tomorrow. Vettel is a fair sportsman; some would say too fair. Eddie Jordan who is now a pundit on BBC said apologising to BMW in Australia was a sign of weakness, for example, and that you'd never see M Schumacher doing that. I don't agree with Jordan's assessment (he does talk bollocks at times!). Putting that aside though, Vettel is more like Hamilton in the car than Button or Massa which is why I think he has a great, great future. One of the best racers, but, again like Hamilton, a more erratic driver than Button and certainly a risk-taker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted April 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 Fuel-adjusted qualy times suggest Vettel is fuelled fairly heavy and did a fantastic lap so could be really dangerous tomorrow. It also shows, surprisingly, that Hamilton was on the same fuel as the Brawns when one would assume he would be a fair amount lighter. If the Brawn drivers did the best laps possible, that suggests McLaren have closed the gap OR Hamilton pulled an incredible lap from an average car OR the circuit suits the McLarens and "normal" order will be restored next race. Alonso actually underachieved a bit only getting 7th as he's in a light car. Both the Ferraris are fairly heavy so I wouldn't rule them out, especially with KERS off the grid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted April 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 A very good drive from Button to win today and as I guessed Vettel was also strong, although it's arguable that the Toyotas made it too easy for him to get second today. The gap's been closed but Brawn GP are still very much the team to beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westfale Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 Button, again! I didnt watch the race, because it was the last day of sunshine here in Germany. Tomorrow we will get rain from the British islands. Thank you for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted April 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 From here? It's been sunny here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faster Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 I think goethe was making a joke. I am not a fan of this season, sure it has a novelty of different drivers on top but, so far, there is still a 2 team domination of the circuit. When I started watching F1 there was three teams at the top of the heap (Williams, Ferrari and MacLaren) and 6 drivers that could win any race, that only lasted 2 seasons before Ferrari dominated and than Alonso's two remarkable seasons including an utter domination of the second one he won. Than last year was exciting with a good array of winners from different teams and a very competitive championship. This season is not competitive, its just different times dominating and that is the same old thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westfale Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 Both German motormakers BMW and Mercedes are talking about leaving F1. There has been a demand by the representative of the employees in the Advisory board of Daimler. He says, that the F1 cars dont give any advance in developing new elements for a normal car any longer. Norbert Haug, the head of the sports section insists that F1 is still the best way to promote Mercedes cars. But both carmakers are struck by the current recession and their teams are under performing at the moment, i think an exit is possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted May 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 Brawn Mercedes are doing rather well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted May 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 Another very assured drive by JB; he's looking stronger and stronger and it'd be great to see another British champion - although it's early days yet. Vettel and Massa both got their strategy wrong (or their teams did), with Webber and Button showing that staying out longer on the soft option tyre was the way to go. Saying that though, Vettel buggered up his start and should really have been challenging the Brawns so that's at least partly his own fault. Alonso really overdrove that car today; well done to him - the Renault doesn't deserve to be in 5th otherwise. The McLaren was arguably the second worse car on the grid after Force India once the Torro Rossos crashed out and Hamilton did as much as could have been expected of him unfortunately. The Toyotas are the other team which seem to have been overtaken this weekend on pure pace. And that brings me to Ferrari - the comedy team of 2009. They contrive to screw up Massa's qualifying a few weeks ago but mucking up Kimi's when the car is now stronger is arguably worse. Not only that but they then, as I pointed out above, didn't give Massa the optimal strategy; he was on the hard tyres for too long. And to top it all off, they don't give him enough fuel to finish the race without having to slow for the final four laps!! I feel sorry for the Brazilian - he should have been well on course for a podium. Next stop...Monte Carlo.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bezzi Posted May 10, 2009 Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 And about Rubens? If Brawn found that 2 stops are better, why they don't change Rubens strategy too? Yesterday they copy the setup of Rubens car to give Buton the pole, like a team. But what hapen today is suspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted May 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 Both Button and Rubens were on 3 stoppers. They switched Button so he could avoid traffic. Rubens had trouble with his tyres in one stint and wasn't as fast as they predicted he would be. No conspiracy, just bad luck for Rubens and a fast drive from Button. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted May 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 By the way, is anyone still a fan of Bernie's winner takes all medals system? Button would be very close to being WDC already! Thank God that was scrapped at the last minute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinite_Olympics Posted May 10, 2009 Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 Interesting race today, especially with the Massa situation and the spectacular craziness at the start. During the race, the Speed TV commentators mentioned something very interesting that Bernie said--not one, but TWO United States based F1 teams could be coming next year! I'd love to see a US racer or two do very well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted May 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 Yep, well they're thinking of introducing a budget cap. Teams which stay under the budget cap will have fewer restrictions on what they can build, teams which decide to go over it will have tighter technical regulations governing what they can build. I suspect the US teams are independently funded teams (they aren't going to be manufacturer teams the way your motor industry is) that will want to work under the budget cap - which is supposed to be about £40m. I'm not convinced creating a two tier regulations system is a good idea tbh. There's enough difficulty and acrimony over one, as the diffuser row has shown again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted May 12, 2009 Report Share Posted May 12, 2009 And now Ferrari are threatening to quit over the budget cap. I hope they do. No team is bigger than the sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faster Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 They are unhappy that there will be two regulatory systems. It does not make sense, either there is no budget cap or there is a budget cap, you can't have two systems. It doesn't make sense to have two systems to govern the sport, it just makes everything more complicated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted May 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 How can we expect teams like McLaren and Ferrari to go from a £300m+ budget to a £40m budget in one season? It's far too much too soon. And yes, the budget cap is supposed to be optional but the lack of technical freedom available for teams going over the cap will mean it won't be worth any team's time. This will affect jobs and the motorsport industry at a time when industry should be backed. Yes, the sport should always be looking at ways of being more competitive, but I'm not sure this is the way. You're right no team is bigger than the sport, and Ferrari and Toyota are the only teams who've threatened to quit over this, but FOTA, the body representing the teams, say there is unanmity in opposing this plan. BTW, welcome back Arwebb. Haven't seen you around for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faster Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 Well have a stepped cap, if teams are spending 150+ million pounds bring the cap to 120 million in the first year, 100 million in the second, 80 million in the third, 60 million in the fourth and 40 million in the fifth. Sure it will be a shock to Ferrari and McLaren but in the end it will allow easier adaption and a unified code of conduct and requirements for all teams. Instead of a two-tiered system which is completely asinine have a gradual movement towards a more responsible system. I think there needs to be a budget cap to provide a level playing field and a more exciting sports but this isn't it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 How can we expect teams like McLaren and Ferrari to go from a £300m+ budget to a £40m budget in one season? It's far too much too soon. And yes, the budget cap is supposed to be optional but the lack of technical freedom available for teams going over the cap will mean it won't be worth any team's time.This will affect jobs and the motorsport industry at a time when industry should be backed. Yes, the sport should always be looking at ways of being more competitive, but I'm not sure this is the way. You're right no team is bigger than the sport, and Ferrari and Toyota are the only teams who've threatened to quit over this, but FOTA, the body representing the teams, say there is unanmity in opposing this plan. BTW, welcome back Arwebb. Haven't seen you around for a while. Problem that I see Rob is that Formula one has been dominated by Ferrari for so long with budgets from that company actually on par with the total seasons race fees from all the promoters combined. Perhaps complacency is creep into Maclaren and Ferrari ? This year is actually very interesting and it seems very competitive. I am sure Brawn is winning so far this season on much less then 300 million. Brawn are really proving, it seems, that huge amounts of money are not the answer as Ferrari is in last place for points despite all the money they put into their efforts. you think of REd Bull as well who don't have a multi national auto company behind them unlike Toyota and Ferrari of course . Formula one is about the most boring racing on the planet really. does anyone pass for the lead on the Track ? Race Results at times overturned or Appealed via a court in Paris . At least with american stock car racing any team can win on a Sunday . Plenty of door to door action and actual passing for the lead. This year I do like that Red Bull and Brawn have really shaken things up , Hopefully Ferrari and Maclaren start developing their cars and become competitive making for an interesting season . Jim jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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