The official Formula 1 thread

[TheStig]

Hey TPR!

 

Some of you may, but Im sure most of you don't know that F1 is about to kick off in Australia tonight for the first race of the season. I remember there being a little interest in the sport on here, but hey what the hell I thought I'd start a thread about it anyway!

 

I'm gambling with the fact that some of you might be interested, but I do want to keep this a regularly updated page if its something people find interesting. So here it is for the Australian GP!

 

Starting Grid:

 

Pos No Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Laps

1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.572 1:25.187 1:26.714 14

2 Robert Kubica BMW 1:26.103 1:25.315 1:26.869 15

3 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:25.664 1:25.452 1:27.079 13

4 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:25.994 1:25.691 1:27.178 12

5 Nick Heidfeld BMW 1:25.960 1:25.518 1:27.236 16

6 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:26.427 1:26.101 1:28.527 17

7 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:26.295 1:26.059 1:28.687 21

8 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1:26.381 1:26.063 1:29.041 18

9 Timo Glock Toyota 1:26.919 1:26.164 1:29.593 17

10 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari 1:26.702 1:25.842 No time 18

11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:26.369 1:26.173 13

12 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:26.907 1:26.188 10

13 Jenson Button Honda 1:26.712 1:26.259 13

14 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:26.891 1:26.413 13

15 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:26.914 No time 8

16 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:26.140 3

17 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 1:27.207 9

18 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:27.446 10

19 Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari 1:27.859 9

20 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:28.208 9

21 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:28.330 6

22 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 1:29.059

 

Also, be sure to check out these websites!

 

http://www.f1.com

Offical F1 website

 

youtube.com/user/F1Podcast

Really awesome Australian F1 podcast!

 

So if there is interest in this, I'll keep the page updated. If not, hey atleast I gave it a shot!

 

Oh and go Ferrari.

[TPDave]

Hopefully this will be a good season for McLaren, from what i hear the car is a lot better than last season and they didn't do to badly then

 

Any predictions for the drivers/constructors champions? I'm being the optimistic brit and backing Hamilton to win on his second season! At least it's not as optimistic as backing Coulthard (who i supported through my childhood because we shared the same first name ).

 

Dave "yay for F1 thread" Wilson

[spaceace12]

The only kind of racing I like involves dirt and ovals (local track is about to reopen and I am helping), but f1 is neat to watch and listen to also.

[larrygator]

I see two Japanese drivers. I hope they are both men. Japanese women are the worst drivers.

[TheStig]

Well Sato is already out, and I don't know how well Nakajima is doing (commercial break!) but Kimi and Massa arn't doing well.

 

My prediction is that Hamilton will take the championship this yeah, but I really dont like McLaren-Mercedes. I'm HOPING that Ferrari will win it again, but they need to get it together.

 

20 to go!

[hyyyper]

ugh....i watched half the race and it's the same boring thing as last year. I was hoping that the no traction control would help overtaking, but unfortunately....

[65skylark]

I'm thinking John Force will win it all this year.

[DerekRx]

^No way, man! This season belongs to Richard Petty, like it should be!

[the sound]

Watched the whole race yesterday. It was one of the most intereesting grand prix's i've seen for a while, it was exciting all the way to the chequered flag. You just didnt know what was coming next, which was a major plus in my view.

[mcjaco]

Where's Ricky Bobby? Or Cole Trickle?

[TheStig]

^It's Dick Trickle!

 

Here are the results from the Australian GP:

 

Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Pts

1 22 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 58 1:34:50.616 1 10

2 3 Nick Heidfeld BMW 58 +5.4 secs 5 8

3 7 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 58 +8.1 secs 7 6

4 5 Fernando Alonso Renault 58 +17.1 secs 11 5

5 23 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 58 +18.0 secs 3 4

6 8 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 57 +1 Lap 13 3

7 14 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 55 +3 Laps 17 2

8 1 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 53 Engine 15 1

Ret 4 Robert Kubica BMW 47 Accident 2

Ret 12 Timo Glock Toyota 43 Accident 18

Ret 18 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 32 Transmission 19

Ret 6 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 30 Accident damage 20

Ret 2 Felipe Massa Ferrari 29 Engine 4

Ret 9 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 25 Accident 8

Ret 11 Jarno Trulli Toyota 19 Electrical 6

Ret 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari 8 Hydraulics 22

Ret 10 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 0 Accident 14

Ret 16 Jenson Button Honda 0 Accident 12

Ret 19 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 0 Accident 21

Ret 15 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari 0 Accident 9

Ret 21 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 0 Accident 16

DSQ 17 Rubens Barrichello Honda 58 +52.4 secs 10

 

Lots of retired racers, only 7 finished, but Rubens was DQ'd for exiting the pits under Red.

[Fallen Heretic]

There usually are alot of cars dropping out over the first couple of races, but Ive rarely seen it that bad.

 

Did you hear DCs rant about Massa? "If he doesnt apologise, Im going the kick 10 colours of S*** out of the little B******!". Thats almost as funny as the time he told Louise he would have to treat the speedlimiter button gently by pretending it was her nipple. lol.

 

It was nice to see the drivers really struggle for a change. Its about time their skill was really tested. Its looking like its levelling the field a little more.

 

I think Lewis is going to run away with it unless Kovy gets his act togather. Ferrari look to be all at sea, with ferrari engines failing for two teams. They have pace, but its not a good sign that other teams ferrari engines have been blowing as well.

[mcjaco]

Is there rubbing in F1? Afterall, "rubbin', is racin."

[larrygator]

^It's Dick Trickle!

 

I think he was referencing Tom Cruise's character in Days of Thunder.

 

Dick Trickle is by far the all-time best NASCAR driver's name.

[TheStig]

Is there rubbing in F1? Afterall, "rubbin', is racin."

 

There's more chance of "rubbin" in F1 than in NASCAR! Its open wheel racing! Touch a tire to ANY part of another car, and you are pretty much screwed!

 

^It's almost as good as Dick Withers. He lives in Coldwater Michigan.

 

"Do you know Dick Withers in Coldwater?"

[mcjaco]

^It's Dick Trickle!

 

I think he was referencing Tom Cruise's character in Days of Thunder.

 

Dick Trickle is by far the all-time best NASCAR driver's name.

 

Exactly. Top Gun on a Nascar track.

 

I have a 1/32 model of a F1 Ferrari somewhere. It's massive and looks like a projects I'll get to around 2040. I have always loved the looks of F1 cars.

[Fallen Heretic]

I like all the whacked out things the designers were trying in the late 70s and early 80s. Downforce was pretty new and cars were sprouting all sorts of wings and ground effect systems.

 

Did you know that Williams tested a 6 wheeled car, as an experiment to improve traction? it had 4 driven wheels at the back instead of just two. It worked, but never raced as the FIA banned 4 wheel drive, and even though all 4 driven wheels were at the back the car still fell foul of the rule.

 

Tyrrel also developed a 6 wheeled car which did race, with four wheels at the front. It did rather well until the tyre manufacturer failed to develop the small front tyres properly. Performance dropped off and it was scrapped.

 

Im sure there was a third six wheeler but I cant be bothered to go look it up.

 

EDIT: Actually yes I can. It was the March 2-4-0 but it never raced in an F1 race.

[hansrubens]

I always watch the F1 races.

 

This will be the first year I will miss a race.

 

Going to Dorney Park On may 25 during our USA trip when the Monaco GP will be held.

 

Well it's an acceptable reason to miss a GP.

 

There were two things that surprised me during the Australian GP.

 

1. The bad performance of Ferrari.

2. The race pace of Honda.

 

I mean Kimi Raikonen was not able to overtake Barrichello for 10 laps or even more. Can't say anything about Jenson Button since he was pushed out of the race on lap 1.

 

Don't you guys think we need another dutchman in F1.

 

Anyhow I'm looking forward to the Malaysian GP held on march 23.

[BeemerBoy]

^ Watching the Monaco GP will ALWAYS be > than a visit to Dorney Park.

 

Remembering Senna drive the streets of Monaco.....even better. He may of been a McLaren guy, but he's still my second favorite racer of all time, on any circuit. With quotes like this, how could you not love the guy.

 

"Winning is like a drug, I cannot justify in any circumstances coming second or third."

 

Anyway, I missed the Aussie GP. And considering the results, I'm not really saddened by that, I guess.

 

Ferrari WILL rebound.

[hansrubens]

^ Watching the Monaco GP will ALWAYS be > than a visit to Dorney Park.

 

I agree that monaco has an unique atmosphere but most of the times it's just a parade of cars.

 

Here is the vid of the perect lap on monaco by Senna.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyDGB5G7g10

[Fallen Heretic]

Honda finally have a better car to work with this year, so I expected a better pace from them. Its still not great but with Ross Brawn on board now, the team should start to pick up. Especially when the circus comes back to Europe. I would really like to see button get a car which does his talent justice.

 

Personally Im looking forward to the Singapore race. Not just because its at night but because its a proper, well designed street course. Ive seen a plan and a CG trip of the track and it looks great.

[BeemerBoy]

 

Here is the vid of the perect lap on monaco by Senna.

 

 

Wow. Awesome clip. Thanks for posting that! What's great is watching him have to reach down and shift. Ah, the good 'ol days.

[TheStig]

Awww poor Senna, he was pretty much the most amazing driver ever.

 

Monaco is one race I really wan't to see in my lifetime. That, Monza, and the GP of Europe are the three races I really really want to attend (plus there will be a credit there soon at the Ring!)

 

On a different note, Ferrari believes that the ECU was the problem that caused two DNF's in the opening race. The ECU's are now standard among all F1 cars so as to better improve driver equality, but who makes them? McLaren. McLaren was accused last year of stealing Ferrari data and found guilty, fined $100,000,000.00, and stripped of all constructors points. This has started a BIG rivalry between the two teams, so something like this is not at all surprising.

 

Oh, and Friday Practices kicks off in about 22 hours at Malaysia!

[the sound]

Awww poor Senna, he was pretty much the most amazing driver ever.

 

That was a grand prix to remember...

 

The bad performance of Ferrari.

I think there is something wrong with Ferrari this year: Both Ferrari's went out of the race with engine problems, and Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso) had a Ferrari engine, and it failed. Not to mention Sebastian Vettel's Hydraulics problem.

 

I think this year will be much closer then the past few years, which we saw last weekend. I predict big things for BMW this year, as well as Williams returning to the standard they had a few years ago. I also predict that we shall really see who the better drivers in the comp are, now that we don't have traction control.

[hansrubens]

On a different note, Ferrari believes that the ECU was the problem that caused two DNF's in the opening race. The ECU's are now standard among all F1 cars so as to better improve driver equality, but who makes them? McLaren. McLaren was accused last year of stealing Ferrari data and found guilty, fined $100,000,000.00, and stripped of all constructors points. This has started a BIG rivalry between the two teams, so something like this is not at all surprising.

 

Yeah that's true but those ECU's are given to the teams at random by the FIA not by McLaren and it's not affecting any of the other cars.

 

We will see it in the next couple of races.

 

BTW there is rain predicted for this weekend in Sepang so that could be an extra interesting factor.