F-1

Ohtobbad

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I have been an F-1 fan for 45 years
many years ago, hard core, to the point of
before internet buy magazines to keep track of events
from the UK, following pre-season and the builds, to never missing
a qualifying or races regardless of the hours.

The sport become so much about cars and not drivers I lost
interest, still followed on sports page, but didn't read or watch much,
maybe Canadian GP etc.

this season with the racing being so close, I watched a few races and
tried to watch all of the last 5-6 races, became interesting with closest
championship race in over 20 years.

Hers the question or two, are you a fan? do you follow?
If so how did you like the ending? With newer young fans now
taking to the sport, TV endings seem to be more important than the rules.
Do you agree? Are you ok with Michael Massi's calls with 5 laps to go?

New champion versus world record setting 8th championship?
I have no favorite over Max or Lewis, but I dod beleive SPort
has rules and they should be fair, so not sure I agree with choices.

What say you?
 
I read an article on Road and Track, should have saved it, where they elaborated on rules a bit more.

Basically the section Mercedes is protesting about only so many cars were allowed by pace car before racing resumed, whatever it is 48.12 or 38.12, I forget.

Well that is followed immediately by section 48.13 or 38.13 and apparently it supersedes the the previous section.

It reads something like the race director or his staff or delegate have the power or discretion (basically decision making ability) as to when they deploy the safety car and when they retrieve it.

I’m not pretending to know because I don’t.
I’m just citing something I read.
It reminds us that the complete rule book is more than one section and the events have to be judged on their totality.
Not just a snap shot.

For me, the thing I always felt cheated about with F1 and made me not care much was that it was never a race.
Instead it was a parade where richest teams had best cars and it was not about drivers.

Finally this year we got close racing and it made me pay more attention.
In doing so I noticed rulings go in the favour of Mercedes too.

Anyway, I watch for the racing, and I am glad they gave us a final lap shootout for the victory instead of ending behind pace car.

Maybe there’s an opportunity for F1 to learn a lesson and improve their format from this event.

Maybe something like the NASCAR overtime, so races don’t end behind safety car.
 
your correct on the following ruling, heres the one that throws it all out the window.
if you allow cars to pass, you must do one complete lap before bring in the safety car
which would have ended under yellow, giving hamilton the win,

Massi circumvented 3 rules, which basscially handed Max the title.
Any 2 were almost not over the line, but 3 made it almost obvious.
IMO follow the rules and ! agree add 2 lapps after safety car if required.

If they had of stopped the race, both cars would have been on fresh tires
3 lap shoot out and even with the accident that alowwed MAx to catch up
the 12 seconds, it would have been fair.

Max on new softs, hamliton on 38 lap old hard tires, no contest.
MAx is a worthy champion who had an amazing season.
Lewis showed class beyond, in how he handled losing the race
thus championship.

Massi should not have that kind of control, he basically decided who won and lost
by breaking the FIA rules. That takes away the sport and turns it into entertainment.
What does F-1 want to be? I doubt anything will change even if Mercedes decides
to appeal, but hopefully F-1 Learns and makes changes so this can never happen again.
 
Similar story for me too. I did watch all of the last race and bits through out the season. Nice to see some wheel to wheel racing.
So what I learned to my surprise. next year they will discontinue the use of 13" wheels, going to 18" wow, that was a surprise.
With tires going bigger and bigger this seems one area that is lagging in F1.
 
I read that the original reason for the 13" wheels was to limit the brake rotor size. The rotor size is now speced in the rules so they can now go to a bigger wheel.
 
I just read on Road and Track that Lewis Hamilton has a brand new title as of yesterday.

He now has the prefix of “Sir” before his name after being knighted yesterday by the Royal family.
Prince Charles having performed the ceremony at Windsor castle.

He is the third F1 driver to be knighted after Sir Jack Brabham in 1978 and Sir Jackie Stewart in 2001.
However both those gentlemen’s driving careers were over.
Hamilton is the first active driver to be bestowed the title.

1480BF1D-6597-42B1-9DCD-53A46018F97D.jpeg
 
Road and Track revealed yesterday that Mercedes has decided not to appeal the Abu Dhabi grand prix results any further.

The season is officially over.

This is the headline from the article:

“ Mercedes Won't Appeal Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Result”

“ Soon after the controversial finish to the title-deciding race, Mercedes announced its intention to appeal the result. Now, it's dropping the protest.”

The article says the FIA has formed a commission to analyze what happened at the race to improve the sport going forward.

In dropping the appeal, Mercedes said they will work actively with the commission to hold the FIA accountable to its word to make a better F1.

Article suggested Hamilton and Wolf were planning to miss the prize awarding gala last night.
Contrary to FIA sporting code.
This could get them in hot water with the governing body.

So maybe a NASCAR-ish overtime format is possible for the future…
We haven’t herd the last on this. ?
 
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Anyone following F-1 this year?
New changes, allows for better passing,
18" wheels low profile tires and better aero
so cars have better ground effects for downforce
but less disturbance of air to the car following
IE: easier to pass,

But also new issue cause the cars to bounce violently
on high speed straights, casuing all teams some level of troubles
others less so. Looks like Ferrari and Red-bull figured it out the best
Mercedes not so much.

Also drivers haveing back pain, losing focus ( not great in cars traveling over 300km )
FIA says adjustments are coming, guess we will see.

In the meantime it is the Gran-pre of Montreal, been years but I have been several times.
Expensive weekend years ago, likely afraid to know costs now.
But to anyone ever thinking of going, incredible weekend and F-1 cars live
give you a whole new respect for these cars and drivers.. TV truely does not give it justice.

I have been fortuante enough to see, Nelson Piguet, Nigel Mansel, Aryton Senna, Alain Prost,
Michael Scheumacher, Jacgue Vilianuve, along with a whole host of other F-1 stars
I also got to see and hear the V-12 ferrari, which workds and TV sounds could never discribe.

Someday I hope to go again, but buket list is Spa, in Belgium :)
Also wanna see 24 hour of Lemans LOL ahh the list.

Montreal has always been special, many teams did their upgrades for this mid race season
For whatever reason, has one of the largest worldwisde viewing on TV, once hitting 2.5 billion people
Yes Billion. It will be worth the SUnday afternoon watch if your so inclined.
 
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Yes, I’ve been following this season.
Much better racing as you say.
The new aero package making it possible to follow closely now, which they could not do with the previous setup.
This is leading to more passing and more competition.
Not a parade.

I’m glad to see Mercedes not dominating.
Instead trying to catch up this year.

Ferrari was off to great season start with Leclerc getting most poles and the first couple victories.
They are still qualifying well but now have reliability issues and DNFs in recent races.

So now Red Bull steadily stretching the lead with a string of wins lately.

Should be a good show Sunday.
 
Yes, I’ve been following this season.
Much better racing as you say.
The new aero package making it possible to follow closely now, which they could not do with the previous setup.
This is leading to more passing and more competition.
Not a parade.

I’m glad to see Mercedes not dominating.
Instead trying to catch up this year.

Ferrari was off to great season start with Leclerc getting most poles and the first couple victories.
They are still qualifying well but now have reliability issues and DNFs in recent races.

So now Red Bull steadily stretching the lead with a string of wins lately.

Should be a good show Sunday.
be nice to see merc sort out problems, I think it would put them in mix
without winning everything, then you have 3 teams fighting for win
great to see ferrari sort out reliability

Tobad Red bull won't let perez race, bet he would be tied with Max in points now :)
 
It's been interesting this season with very mixed fortunes. As you say Merc are suffering. Did you see Hamilton last race, the video showing his head bouncing up and down along the straight.
Ya not good, can't be fun driving like that. I am Hamliton fan.
that siad I am glad field is closer, but wish merc's were normal
then they would be in this mix as well.

Rain for qualifying today looks like, should mess up the grid,
but suppose to be dry for race, Ferrari changing power plants will put Leclerc at back
so lots of guys trying to go through traffic tomorrow.

Montreal is always a great race, traffic is one of the drivers favourites.
 
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