*****Official Formula 1 Thread*******

[KC native]

Everyone else gets an official thread, so I want one too.

I've seen several people make mentions of F1 on here. So, I'm giving us a thread. No more Speed bs coverage. NBC looks like they are taking it serious and will have some good coverage.

With DVRs now, it's no longer a pain in the ass to watch the races. So watch them and discuss

And if you don't watch F1. You suck. Best racing on the planet.

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Following is this week’s coverage schedule for the Rolex Australian Grand Prix on NBC Sports Network:

Date Program Time Network
Friday, March 15 Practice #1 12:00 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Friday, March 15 Practice #2 1:30 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sat., March 16 Qualifying 2 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sat., March 16 Qualifying Re-Air 1:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sunday, March 17 Australian Grand Prix 1:30 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sunday, March 17 F1 Extra 4 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sunday, March 17 Race Re-Air 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
-

More practice times for the entire season can be found here.

2013 FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (Subject to change, all times ET):

Date Grand Prix Time Re-Air (NBCSN) Network
Sun., March 17 Australia 1:30 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., March 24 Malaysia 3:30 a.m. 3 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., April 14 China 2:30 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., April 21 Bahrain 7:30 a.m. Noon NBC Sports Network
Sun., May 12 Spain 7:30 a.m. 2 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., May 26 Monaco 7:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. NBC
Sun., June 9 Canada 2 p.m. 7 p.m. NBC
Sun., June 30 United Kingdom 7:30 a.m. Noon CNBC
Sun., July 7 Germany 7:30 a.m. Noon CNBC
Sun., July 28 Hungary 7:30 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Aug. 25 Belgium 7:30 a.m. Midnight NBC Sports Network
Sun., Sept. 8 Italy 7:30 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Sept. 22 Singapore 7:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Oct. 6 Korea 1:30 a.m. 4 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Oct. 13 Japan 1:30 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Oct. 27 India 5:00 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Nov. 3 Abu Dhabi 7:30 a.m. 6 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Nov. 17 USA (Austin) 1 p.m. 6 p.m. NBC
Sun., Nov. 24 Brazil 11 a.m. 4:30 p.m. NBC

[KC native]

.
F1 Primer: The teams and cars

The F1 rules have been largely stable since 2009. The current generation of cars use 2.4-liter V8 engines which produce around 750bhp.

This is enhanced by the addition of a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). This is basically a hybrid engine which gives drivers an extra 80bhp for up to 6.6 seconds per lap.

Another acronym which comes up often in F1 is DRS. The Drag Reduction System was introduced in 2011 to increase overtaking. It allows a driver to lower his rear wing and increase his top speed, but only on designated parts of the circuit and only when they’re within a second of the car in front.

F1′s engine specification has been ‘frozen’ for several years. That has led teams to focus on the aerodynamics of their cars as the best way of improving performance. And the undoubted masters of that at the moment are Red Bull.

Technical director Adrian Newey has been a key part of the team’s dominance of the past three seasons. His unending quest for performance has brought Red Bull in conflict with the sport’s rule makers on several occasions.

A team with the passion and heritage of Ferrari needs no introduction. They are the only outfit who’ve participated in every season of the world championship since its inauguration in 1950.

They wield immense political clout within the sport and their impatience at going four years without any championship silverware is clearly growing.

McLaren’s status as one of the sport’s top teams is belied by the fact that they haven’t won the constructors’ championship for 15 years. Their relationship with engine supplier Mercedes, which began in 1995, appears to be in its twilight phase.

Mercedes returned to F1 as a full factory team in 2010 but have only won one race since. The hiring of Lewis Hamilton from McLaren this year is a clear signal of their intentions.

The Lotus name appears in F1 but it is no longer connected to the sports car maker. The team which was known as Renault until last year have won championships before and are dark horse contenders for success this year.

Sauber mark the 20th anniversary of their arrival in F1 this year. The independent team owned by Peter Sauber is now run by F1′s first female team principal, Monisha Kaltenborn. Fellow independents Williams have multiple championships to their name and ended an eight-year winless streak last season.

Force India has two home races per year: the Indian Grand Prix and the British Grand Prix, the latter held at Silverstone circuit outside their factory gates.

The role of Toro Rosso in F1 is as a junior team for Red Bull who use it to evaluate potential drivers of the future.

There is room for 26 cars in Formula One at present, but only 22 of the spaces are filled. Three new teams entered F1 in 2010 but one of those, HRT, collapsed during the winter. Only Caterham and Marussia remain, and they are yet to score a point in three years.

[KC native]

.The Formula One world championship is contested by 22 of the best drivers from around the world.

The champions

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel (Germany) is shooting for a four consecutive drivers’ championship title, which has only been done twice before in the sport’s 63-year history.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso (Spain) is among those trying to stop him. Since winning the 2005 and 2006 titles Alonso has come within a whisker of three more championships in 2007, 2010 and 2012.

Lewis Hamilton has turned his back on the McLaren team which propelled him into F1 and to the 2008 title, and taken over from Schumacher at Mercedes. Fellow Briton Jenson Button, Hamilton’s successor as champion in 2009, remains at McLaren.

And finally there’s Lotus’s enigmatic Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) who won last year on his return from a two-year lay-off which included rally and NASCAR appearances.

Race winners

Mark Webber (Australia) and Felipe Massa (Brazil) have the unenviable task of partnering two of F1′s top talents, Vettel and Alonso respectively.

Nico Rosberg (Germany) and Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) scored their breakthrough Grand Prix victories last year. Rosberg, son of 1982 world champion Keke, is yet to establish himself as a regular front-runner, and faces a stern challenge from Hamilton this year.

Maldonado’s win was one of few high points in a season which saw too many incidents. The same can be said of Romain Grosjean (France), who was quick but too incident-prone in 2012.

Up-and-comers

One of the most interesting storylines ahead of the 2013 season is how Sergio Perez (Mexico) will fare having been promoted to McLaren in Hamilton’s place.

Another one to watch is Nico Hulkenberg (Germany), who led 30 laps of last year’s season finale in an unfancied Force India. He’s moved to Sauber, and is tipped as a future Ferrari driver.

His fellow German Adrian Sutil returns to F1 following a one-year absence. He is reunited at Force India with 2011 team mate Paul di Resta (Britain), which promises to be an absorbing intra-team battle.

Red Bull junior drivers Jean-Eric Vergne (France) and Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) remain at their junior team Toro Rosso for a second year, bidding for a chance to join the senior team. Sophomore driver Charles Pic (France) moves from Marussia to tail-end rivals Caterham.

Rookies

Five new drivers arrive in the sport this year. You can read more about them in this earlier article:

[Bugeater]

Schedule in the OP would be helpful. I don't normally watch this but I'd be willing to check it out if I had a clue when it was on.

[KurtCobain]

Schedule in the OP would be helpful. I don't normally watch this but I'd be willing to check it out if I had a clue when it was on.

You should've started this thing then.

[Bugeater]

You should've started this thing then.
I'm not THAT interested in it.

[KurtCobain]

I'm not THAT interested in it.

I don't even know how I got in this fucking thread.

[Bugeater]

I don't even know how I got in this fucking thread.
That generally happens when you click on the thread title on the front page. So ya gonna watch some F1 or not

[KC native]

Schedule in the OP would be helpful. I don't normally watch this but I'd be willing to check it out if I had a clue when it was on.

Added. Didn't even think of that.

[Bugeater]

Shit, when you said NBC I thought you meant network NBC. I don't think I have NBC Sports Network.

[Dylan]

NBC Sports Group has signed a four-year deal with Formula One for the exclusive U.S. media rights to the world's most popular global motorsports series.

The deal that begins next season will air four races on NBC. The remaining 16 races, and all practices and qualifying sessions will be on cable NBC Sports Network in what's expected to total more than 100 hours of annual programming.

All 20 races will be live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra, the NBC Sports Group’s live-stream platform that is available online at NBCSports.com as well as on mobile and tablet apps.

“We are thrilled to add the top international open-wheel racing series to our already-strong motorsports portfolio,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “Formula 1 is a perfect fit for the NBC Sports Group as it provides content across three platforms — broadcast, cable and digital — for nine months a year with more than 100 hours of premier programming annually.”

The 2013 F1 Grand Prix schedule includes 20 races in 19 countries from March through November, including the Austin, Texas, race on Sunday, Nov. 17 on NBC. The 2013 season begins on Sunday, March 17 in Australia on NBC Sports Network and concludes on Sunday, Nov. 24 in Brazil on NBC. NBC’s first race will be the Grand Prix of Canada, which will be broadcast on Sunday, June 9. The famed Grand Prix of Monaco is scheduled for Sunday, May 26, on NBC Sports Network.

“NBC and its various media assets have a huge profile throughout the United States, and I am obviously delighted to have concluded this agreement. I feel that they will promote Formula One to a level not seen before in the United States,” said Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One Group CEO. “I very much look forward to working with NBC. Together, we will endeavor to broaden the scope of Formula One coverage available to U.S. viewers incorporating additional digital content in particular that has not been available before.”

Cable network Speed had been the U.S. rights holder to F1 for the last 17 years, but told The Associated Press on Friday it had been outbid by another network.

[Dylan]

F1
Friday, March 15 Practice #1 12:00 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Friday, March 15 Practice #2 1:30 a.m. NBC Sports Network

Sat., March 16 Qualifying 2 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sat., March 16 Qualifying Re-Air 1:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network

Sunday, March 17 Australian Grand Prix 1:30 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sunday, March 17 F1 Extra 4 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sunday, March 17 Race Re-Air 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network

[HIChief]

I started watching F1 last season. There were some real good races that went right down to the wire. You never knew who was going to win, what with tires and fuel management being major factors. Yeah, I'm looking forward to this season, especially if the Chiefs lay another egg. And, thanks for posting the schedule.

[KC native]

I started watching F1 last season. There were some real good races that went right down to the wire. You never knew who was going to win, what with tires and fuel management being major factors. Yeah, I'm looking forward to this season, especially if the Chiefs lay another egg. And, thanks for posting the schedule.

No problem. Last season was awesome. I think we're in for something similar due to the planned tire degradation making most of the races 2 stoppers at least.

[KC native]

Shit, when you said NBC I thought you meant network NBC. I don't think I have NBC Sports Network.

If you have cable/sat and have ESPN and Foxsports you should have it.

[KurtCobain]

That generally happens when you click on the thread title on the front page. So ya gonna watch some F1 or not

Probably.

[KC native]

If any of you have the chance to attend the US race this year, do it. I went to the innuagral race last year and it was a blast. They had everything really well organized. Should only get better.

[alpha_omega]

Dig it...I am a F1 fan. I will be watching this thread.

This is the best racing on the planet (and now on the Planet).

[KC native]

Wooooooooooooooo Getting closer.
nfiniti Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel topped the time sheets in the second Friday practice session for the Australian Grand Prix.

Vettel, who was also quickest in first practice, set the pace with an afternoon lap time of 1m25.908s, 0.264 seconds ahead of the team mate Mark Webber.

Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg finished third despite hitting problems in the final minutes of the session, which resulted in both Rosberg and Hamilton stopping on track with a suspected gearbox failure.

As expected, tyre degradation played a factor in the afternoon practice session, causing a late-session spin for Webber who slid sideways and backwards down the track after losing grip on the exit of Turn 13. Lap times on the short runs also dropped off dramatically after the first flying laps.

Results for the Friday practice sessions are as follows:

Pos. No. Driver Car Best lap Gap Laps
1 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull – Renault 1’25.908 33
2 2 Mark Webber Red Bull – Renault 1’26.172 0.264 31
3 9 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1’26.322 0.414 26
4 7 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus – Renault 1’26.361 0.453 38
5 8 Romain Grosjean Lotus – Renault 1’26.680 0.772 32
6 3 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1’26.748 0.840 35
7 10 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1’26.772 0.864 28
8 4 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1’26.855 0.947 32
9 15 Adrian Sutil Force India – Mercedes 1’27.435 1.527 35
10 11 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber – Ferrari 1’28.187 2.279 34
11 5 Jenson Button McLaren 1’28.294 2.386 30
12 14 Paul di Resta Force India – Mercedes 1’28.311 2.403 37
13 6 Sergio Perez McLaren 1’28.566 2.658 33
14 19 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso – Ferrari 1’28.627 2.719 31
15 12 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber – Ferrari 1’28.772 2.864 33
16 16 Pastor Maldonado Williams – Renault 1’28.852 2.944 36
17 18 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso – Ferrari 1’28.968 3.060 36
18 17 Valtteri Bottas Williams – Renault 1’29.386 3.478 39
19 22 Jules Bianchi Marussia – Cosworth 1’29.696 3.788 32
20 20 Charles Pic Caterham – Renault 1’30.165 4.257 37
21 23 Max Chilton Marussia – Cosworth 1’30.600 4.692 36
22 21 Giedo van der Garde Caterham – Renault 1’32.450 6.542 11

[BlackHelicopters]

Do naked women drive the cars?

[KC native]

Do naked women drive the cars?

Nope but damn near naked women stand by them before the race.

[Demonpenz]

It is a nice change of pace because nascar is in the stoneage as far as technoligy is concerned.

[KC native]

It is a nice change of pace because nascar is in the stoneage as far as technoligy is concerned.

Holy shit. Is that a serious demonpenz post?

[KC native]

Qualifying is on NOW.

[alpha_omega]

Looking forward to it. DVR set...watching it in the morning.

[Dylan]

I would like to see Vittel make a pass on Sutil - or did he give up that idea?


Live Streaming:

http://www.coolsport.tv/stream7.html

[Dylan]

Wow. Kimi might have advantage unless his car fails.

I like Kimi - He is the epitome of awesome. The guy is simply a massive driving talent. He gets into any car, is instinctive and gets up to speed with everything quicker than anyone else. Kimi was on his way to NASCAR last year.

Where are the F1 lovers - sleeping? LOL

[Dylan]

Wow. Alonso is FLYING. I hope he doesn't pass Kimi!

Kimi is leading

Edit: What a move by Hamilton. Passes Sutil (for 5th). I'm not sure if their tires will hold up.

This race was over when Kimi passed Hamilton in the first couple of laps.

3 to go... Let's go Kimi - Hold off Alonso

KIMI WON!

Brilliant performance by the 'Iceman.'

Great job Lotus.

[Dylan]

Kimi Raikkonen wins season-opening Australian Grand Prix
http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2013/03/17/4117114/Prix33-20130317191044166233-620x414.jpg

Raikkonen held off Ferrari's Fernando Alonso of Spain and German Red Bull
world champion Sebastian Vettel at the chequered flag. Raikkonen coasted
to the finish line and beat Alonso by 12.4secs with Vettel a further 9.8secs
away in third.

http://images.theage.com.au/2013/03/17/4117059/art-prixraikkonen-620x349.jpg

[alpha_omega]

Great race. Congrats to Lotus.

[KC native]

Kimi is a beast. I loved his radio communcation at the end of the race "SeeItoldyouguyswehadagreatcar"

Championship should be real interesting. Ferrari is starting fast. Red Bull is in their usual form. And Lotus has come out swinging. Raikonnen has a real shot at the driver's championship. Even Mercedes had a good pace. If they get their electrical and gearbox demons figured out quick, Lew Hamilton will be up there too.

[Demonpenz]

Good race. Wheel to wheel start was better action than I have seen in awhile out of F1. Cars looked good..track looked good...good show.

[KC native]

Malaysia starts tonight at 2:30 AM.


Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel beat the Ferrari drivers to take pole position in a rain-affected qualifying session for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The world champion was nearly a second quicker than Felipe Massa, who edged out team-mate Fernando Alonso with the last lap of the session.

Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were fourth and sixth, split by Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen was seventh ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button.
Raikkonen was later given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Rosberg and dropped down to 10th place, behind Button, Force India's Adrian Sutil and McLaren's Sergio Perez.

Vettel and the two Ferrari drivers were the three final cars to cross the line in a session that started in the rain and dried throughout, but always stayed too wet for 'slick' dry-weather tyres.

Alonso was first to cross the line, displacing Hamilton as the fastest man, before Vettel beat him by just over a second, and then Massa split them with the final lap.

Vettel and Massa came in for a fresh set of intermediates prior to their final runs, but Alonso elected to stay out.

The Brazilian out-qualified Alonso for the fourth successive race - this time by the margin of 0.14secs.

"We thought it was best come in for new tyres and we confirmed that pretty soon," said Vettel. "I was surprised by the gap in the end."

Massa said: "I don't know if we were able to be second and third in the dry - there were other quick cars like Webber and Kimi.

"It was a good qualifying for us. We took the right decision to stop to change tyres and managed to put a good lap together."

Team-mate Alonso added: "It is a long time since being in the top three, since Hockenheim [in July last year] so it is nice to be back here.

"Starting third gives you the realistic opportunity of a podium and it gives you also the possibility of winning the race. It is a good position to start [from] and we are very happy."

Hamilton lost out by not stopping to fit a fresh set of 'intermediate' tyres.
He said: "Our strategy was to stay out; we thought it would dry up a bit more, but it didn't. But there's lots of positives to take out so I am excited about the race."
The rain hit halfway through the second part of qualifying and Force India's Paul di Resta was one of those to lose out as a result.

The Scot was called in by his team to change tyres and to do so he had to abort a faster lap and by the time he was out on the track again it was raining.

He ended up 15th, behind Lotus's Romain Grosjean, Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo and the second Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez.

Lotus blamed the failure of their weather radar for Grosjean missing out on the top 10 shoot-out.

Williams continued to struggle, just as they had at the first race of the season in Australia a week ago, with Pastor Maldonado 16th and team-mate Valtteri Bottas 18th after failing to progress beyond the first knock-out session, which was held in the dry.


Top 10 qualifiers:

1. Sebastian Vettel (Ger), Red Bull - 1min 49.674secs
2. Felipe Massa (Bra), Ferrari - 1:50.587
3. Fernando Alonso (Spa), Ferrari - 1:50.727
4. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes - 1:51.699
5. Mark Webber (Aus), Red Bull - 1:52.244
6. Nico Rosberg (Ger), Mercedes - 1:52.519
7. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin), Lotus - 1:52.970
8. Jenson Button (GB), McLaren - 1:53.175
9. Adrian Sutil (Ger), Force India - 1:53.439
10. Sergio Perez (Mex), McLaren - 1:54.136

[Demonpenz]

is the race going to be live on TV somewhere? How does Ferrari not kick more dick haha

[KC native]

is the race going to be live on TV somewhere? How does Ferrari not kick more dick haha

Yea, NBC Sports network. 2:30AM

[Dayze]

nice; thanks for the scheudle. rep, ...fucker.

[Dylan]

Malaysia Grand Prix: Whom are you picking?

Alonso
Massa
Kimi

Kimi was given a three-place penalty for blocking Rosberg during qualifying. He starts 10th on the grid - which might be too far back to be on podium.

However, they have to get through the start and you never know what is going to happen with these lastest 2013 tires -

I wonder whom Vettel will defend at the start - Alonso or Massa.

Guess, I am going to set my alarm...

[Dylan]

WOW ... Alonso is out! Webber clipped his wing -- HUGE mistake by Ferrari, not pitting Alonso..."Ferrari pit crew waiting"


I think Webber also clipped Vettel's wing.

J.C. what a cluster f. Woke me right up! Can't believe that happened.

Nico on the move - coming up on Hamilton...

You're sleeping?

[Dylan]

RACE RESULTS

The Malaysian Grand Prix
Sepang, Malaysia;
56 laps; 310.408km
24 March 2013

Classified:

Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1h38m56.681s
2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault + 4.298s
3. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes + 12.181s
4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes + 12.640s
5. Felipe Massa Ferrari + 25.648s
6. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault + 35.564s
7. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 48.479s
8. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari + 53.044s
9. Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes + 1m12.357s
10. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1m27.124s
11. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault + 1m28.610s
12. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari + 1 lap
13. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap
14. Charles Pic Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
15. Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
16. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth + 2 laps
17. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes + 3 laps
18. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 5 laps
Fastest lap: Perez, 1m39.199s



World Championship standings, round 2:

Drivers:
1. Vettel 40
2. Raikkonen 31
3. Webber 26
4. Hamilton 25
5. Massa 22
6. Alonso 18
7. Rosberg 12
8. Grosjean 9
9. Sutil 6
10. Di Resta 4
11. Hulkenberg 4
12. Button 2
13. Perez 2
14. Vergne 1

[alpha_omega]

WOW ... Alonso is out! Webber clipped his wing -- HUGE mistake by Ferrari, not pitting Alonso..."Ferrari pit crew

Wow is right. I had read your post before I watched the replay, and I still was surprised when I saw it.

[Al Bundy]

I know next to nothing about F-1, I swore I just a guy hit some switch the flung him around another car... what the hell was I seeing?

[Dylan]

Wow is right. I had read your post before I watched the replay, and I still was surprised when I saw it.

Did you hear Vettel defied team orders to win the race over his teammate Weber?

I get it - Formula 1 a team will give an order to their driver to maintain a gap or in nonprofessional terms, not to pass their teammate in managed situations – especially near the end of a race.

I get it - Teams do not want to see both of their drivers racing each other and end up in the fence and giving away points. I get it - if driver #1 is going for the world championship – the team does not want to see driver #2 winning a race and interfering with driver #1 points.

Nevertheless, as a fan I don’t like it – I just want to see the most skilled driver with the best car win. That is all.

Here is a good review of Malaysian Grand Prix review:

Vettel defies team orders to seize victory
Alonso out early
Webber takes lead
“Mark is too slow”
War breaks out at Red Bull
No smiles on the podium

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/24/2013-malaysian-grand-prix-review/

[Dylan]

I know next to nothing about F-1, I swore I just a guy hit some switch the flung him around another car... what the hell was I seeing?

You can be hooked fast on Formula 1. The technology behind an F1 car is so interesting and complex. In this sport, the technical director is more important than the driver is. They employ the best research and development scientists, who make the car.

The only downside, you will have to watch Formula 1 races live - in the middle of the night. Otherwise, you would miss NASCAR races when FOXsports replays F1 in the US.

[Dylan]

I know next to nothing about F-1, I swore I just a guy hit some switch the flung him around another car... what the hell was I seeing?

It sounds like you are talking about the DRS button that reduces the race car's aerodynamic drag in order to overtake another race car in F1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_reduction_system

[KC native]

Did you hear Vettel defied team orders to win the race over his teammate Weber?

I get it - Formula 1 a team will give an order to their driver to maintain a gap or in nonprofessional terms, not to pass their teammate in managed situations – especially near the end of a race.

I get it - Teams do not want to see both of their drivers racing each other and end up in the fence and giving away points. I get it - if driver #1 is going for the world championship – the team does not want to see driver #2 winning a race and interfering with driver #1 points.

Nevertheless, as a fan I don’t like it – I just want to see the most skilled driver with the best car win. That is all.

Here is a good review of Malaysian Grand Prix review:

Vettel defies team orders to seize victory
Alonso out early
Webber takes lead
“Mark is too slow”
War breaks out at Red Bull
No smiles on the podium

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2013/03/24/2013-malaysian-grand-prix-review/

I fell asleep Sat night and watched it last night.

Vettel's move on Webber was bullshit. Webber turned down his engine on team orders and expected Vettel to do the same and not take it to him. If the order to turn down his engine and hold position hadn't been given then Webber would have been pushing and kept the lead. Sneaky German was sneaky.

[KC native]

You can be hooked fast on Formula 1. The technology behind an F1 car is so interesting and complex. In this sport, the technical director is more important than the driver is. They employ the best research and development scientists, who make the car.

The only downside, you will have to watch Formula 1 races live - in the middle of the night. Otherwise, you would miss NASCAR races when FOXsports replays F1 in the US.

DVR and self discipline is key. If I haven't watched the race yet, I stay off of twitter and instagram.

[KC native]

There were a ton of pit stop errors by a lot of teams this race. I have never seen anything like yesterday's race and I have been watching F1 religiously for 10-12 years.

[Demonpenz]

Alonso was full of fail. Weird deal by Vettle. I am not totally sure he just wanted to win at all costs. I think he is confused as what has happened. Sucked for Mark Weber. F1 team orders sucks. F1 is for itself though not for the fans.

[KC native]

Alonso was full of fail. Weird deal by Vettle. I am not totally sure he just wanted to win at all costs. I think he is confused as what has happened. Sucked for Mark Weber. F1 team orders sucks. F1 is for itself though not for the fans.

Alonso staying out wasn't his call. His team told him to stay out.

Vettel definitely wanted to win at all costs. Immediately after the race in interviews he admitted he fucked up. Red Bull won't do anything about it though. He should be suspended for at least a race.

[Demonpenz]

I don't know. He just sounded confused. I wish he would either just say YOU GOD DAMN RIGHT I WANTED TO WIN instead of sounding like a dumbass. Although sometimes the drivers can sound like dumbasses simply because English is not their first language.

[chefsos]

Random bump time. Just saw this and was inspired, no, compelled to post it.

http://i.imgur.com/GAIu7Xs.gif

I don't see that crazy six wheel Tyrrell anywhere though.

[KC native]

Random bump time. Just saw this and was inspired, no, compelled to post it.

http://i.imgur.com/GAIu7Xs.gif

I don't see that crazy six wheel Tyrrell anywhere though.

I fucking love this gif. Yea, it's not in there. They did have like 4-5 of them when they did the Historic Grand Prix at the F1 race in Austin last November. Shit was cash.

[KC native]

1:30 AM Tonight.

With the soft tires falling off so quickly, it will be interesting from a tire strategy perspective.

Chinese GP: Lewis Hamilton earns maiden Mercedes pole position

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton beat Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Hamilton was nearly 0.3 seconds quicker than Raikkonen as he took his first pole position for his new Mercedes team.

Team-mate Nico Rosberg was fourth ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.
Sebastian Vettel was ninth as team-mate Mark Webber was disqualified for stopping on track with too little fuel.

The Australian will be thrown to the back of the grid, but has the choice of changing his set-up to enhance his chances of overtaking and starting from the pit lane, as his Red Bull team-mate Vettel did in the same circumstances in Abu Dhabi last November.

The rules dictate that any car that does not make it to the pits has to have enough fuel in it to provide a one-litre sample as well as the amount of fuel required to get it back to the pits from where it stopped.
Webber's had only 150ml left in it when it stopped with what Red Bull initially said was a fuel-pressure problem.

Red Bull said a problem with the fuel bowser, the machine that is used to pump fuel into the car, "caused an incorrect fuel measurement to be delivered to Mark's car".

Webber described the situation as "very disappointing".

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean was sixth ahead of the impressive Daniel Ricciardo's Toro Rosso and McLaren's Jenson Button, who like Vettel used 'medium' tyres in final qualifying in an attempt to gain an advantage in the race.

The drivers ahead of Button and Vettel will all have to pit relatively early to change the fragile 'soft' tyres while the 'mediums' will last around 20 laps.
But Vettel and Button will have to use the 'softs' later in the race.

"Obviously we are on a different strategy," Vettel said. "We will see whether it works tomorrow. But I am confident we did the right thing."

Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn said: "Those on the option will have to stop relatively early. It will be a fascinating race."

Hamilton's performance underlined the pace Mercedes had shown throughout the weekend and he was an impressive 0.377secs quicker than Rosberg, who made a mistake at the final corner.

Hamilton said: "[It's an] incredible feeling, so happy to have our first pole for some time. Ecstatic, the lap was great. I really hope we can carry that into tomorrow.

"[The gap is] really surprising because in [final practice] the Ferraris were really quick and we didn't know if we'd have enough pace."

Raikkonen said: "The gap is quite big still. We don't have that speed right now, we were second. Not too bad. The best I think I have been with the team. We are missing the downforce in the middle sector a bit. [We'll] see what we can do."

Alonso added: "Very happy. The weekend has been very good for us. The car felt competitive from Friday.

"The car is responding well and I think we have a good set-up for the race and if everything goes well we should be able to fight for the podium with both cars which is good for the team."

Qualifying result:

1. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes - 1:34.484
2. Kimi Raikkonen - Lotus - 1:34.761
3. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari - 1:34.788
4. Nico Rosberg - Mercedes - 1:34.861
5. Felipe Massa - Ferrari - 1:34.933
6. Romain Grosjean - Lotus - 1:35.364
7. Daniel Ricciardo - Toro Rosso - 1:35.998
8. Jenson Button - McLaren - 2:05.673
9. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull
10. Nico Hulkenberg - Sauber

[Dylan]

Race is on!

Hamilton, Alonso and Kimi so far have been fun to watch.

Hamilton is dropping back.

Wow...Ferrari is hard to beat in the DRS zones

Edit: Webber had a collision Vergne as they were fighting for position.

Webber has a broken front wing.

Edit: No... Kimi gets into the back of Perez (I think it was Perez) - and now has a hole in the nose of his Lotus - damn

Edit: Webber's loses his right rear as it rolls across the road...

[Dylan]

KC Native:

The Chinese Grand Prix:

They are leaving Kimi out - (damage is not serious) Kimi is right on Hamilton's tail - Looks like Ferrari needs fresh tires if they want to keep up with Hamilton and Kimi.

These cars are moving...Button and Grosjean had a DRS incident - not sure what happened.

Alonso up to second - Alonso passes Hulkenberg on the turn -

Alonso leads again, Vettel running second -

Hard to keep up - there are battles all over the place...they are flying.

Edit: Vettel came in for tires - think they are using a two-stop strategy

Edit: Vettel is fast - He just blew past Massi on the overlap - He's up to sixth (?)

It's now Alonso, Hamilton, Kimi and Button

hahahaha... Button is complaining about the traffic - as Vettel runs him down. Vettel's tires are fresher than Button's tires.

They are running over 200 mph. Hamilton is 4 sec. behind Kimi

Alonso leads by 19 sec. over Vettel and Button - all three still need a final stop. Hamilton is closing in on Kimi - 1.5 sec. behind

Alonso pulled an incredible DRS move in turn 1 (?). This is Alonso's race to lose. He just set the fastest lap. He is running a flawless race. Boy is flying.

Kim has now caught Button (running third), who is now struggling to keep up on old tires.

Edit: Vettel, running second, is trying to stay ahead of Button.

Great battle going on between Kimi and Hamilton - Kimi is running 1.5 sec. ahead of Hamilton and holding his own.

5 laps to go - Alonso is 11 sec. ahead of Kimi and Hamilton - Ferrari has the best car - and Alonso - well, is AWESOME...

Edit: Kimi is 2 sec. behind Alonso! WOW Vettel is closing in on Hamilton - fast.

OMG... What a finish... Alonso wins! Kimi second. Hamilton comes in third. Team Kimi beat him at the final pit stop!

That was very close for Hamilton and Vettel - If Vettel pitted earlier I think he would beat out Hamilton - so close.

Spanish national anthem plays in honor of the winner, Fernando Alonso.

Thrilling finish. Thrilling race!

Enjoy it, Sunday.

[KC native]

KC Native:



Enjoy it, Sunday.

Yes, it was fantastic. I watched it live but held off for anybody who planned on watching it on their DVRs.

Great race from Fernando (he's my favorite driver, Kimi is #2, Perez #3). Ferrari looks strong. They had incredible pace and they should be the favorites to take Bahrain. Felipe's fall off kind of surprised me. He was real racy for the first half and then just disappeared.

Kimi is Kimi. That guy is one hell of a driver. If you give him a competent car, he will be a factor.

I think Vettel is a little rattled. It will be interesting to see how he performs in Bahrain. Vettel over his whole stretch at Red Bull has had the superior car over the entire field. This year he doesn't have that advantage at the start of the season. He is still a fantastic driver. His run from 10 to 4 was brilliant and if he wouldn't have pushed too hard on that first lap on the soft tires, he might have been able to catch Hamilton.

Bahrain will be fun to watch too.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/04/14/article-2308838-19489EF5000005DC-598_634x405.jpg

[Dylan]

Business as usual in that part of the world - No?


Bahrain F1 race to go ahead amid tensions, protests
http://rt.com/files/news/1e/cb/60/00/20.jpg
Bahrain F1 race to go ahead amid tensions, protests

(Reuters) - Bahrain's controversial Formula One race will go ahead on Sunday despite opposition protests and street violence plaguing the island kingdom more than two years after pro-democracy protests began.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/20/us-bahrain-grandprix-idUSBRE93J07V20130420



Anonymous set to shutdown Formula One cars electric systems

HACKERS have allegedly taken control of three websites in Bahrain.
International hacking group Anonymous claimed it disrupted services of two websites of the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, www.bahrainexhibitions.com, and the third belonging to Formula One.

"We'll hack #Formula1 cars electronic systems and crash them into one another," it said.

"We are not targeting websites only, we are trying to hack databases, e-mails, so bringing down websites is not all what we do."
The GDN reported earlier an official at the Interior Ministry's Cyber Crime Unit as saying that he was aware of threats against at least three websites by the group.

He said there were similar attempts last year, but added that experts were monitoring the situation and were ready to respond.

The official had said it was difficult to track down hackers targeting websites in Bahrain, but said the majority of attempts appeared to originate in the US.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=351745


https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1769643466/258844_104131489680984_104118713015595_32268_721285_o__1__normal.jpeg Anonymous @YourAnonNews
Anonymous Op Bahrain | We've Begun The Countdown To Wreckage: Action Begins Friday - April 19, 2013 6:00 AM Manama Standard Time | #ExpectUs

[KC native]

Business as usual in that part of the world - No?


Bahrain F1 race to go ahead amid tensions, protests
http://rt.com/files/news/1e/cb/60/00/20.jpg
Bahrain F1 race to go ahead amid tensions, protests



http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/20/us-bahrain-grandprix-idUSBRE93J07V20130420



Anonymous set to shutdown Formula One cars electric systems


http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=351745


https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1769643466/258844_104131489680984_104118713015595_32268_721285_o__1__normal.jpeg Anonymous @YourAnonNews
Anonymous Op Bahrain | We've Begun The Countdown To Wreckage: Action Begins Friday - April 19, 2013 6:00 AM Manama Standard Time | #ExpectUs


LOL @ anonymous taking credit for F1's telemetry problems this year. They switched something related to it (vendor or system) and have had multiple problems with telemetry in every race this year.

And of course Bahrain goes on. Ecclestone is a greedy little troll that would never pass by a $30M+ race fee.

[Dylan]

LOL @ anonymous taking credit for F1's telemetry problems this year. They switched something related to it (vendor or system) and have had multiple problems with telemetry in every race this year.

And of course Bahrain goes on. Ecclestone is a greedy little troll that would never pass by a $30M+ race fee.

Wow. I had no idea a country pays that much money to host a race.

NASCAR's race fees must be $100 per car on Sunday and $50 special on Saturdays.

According the Washington Post, Bahrain pays an estimated $40 million a year to host the Formula One race...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/bahrain-protesters-battle-police-a-day-before-formula-one-race/2013/04/20/5b0298e0-a9f0-11e2-b029-8fb7e977ef71_story.html


Rating Formula One Races by How Fans Might Fare:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/sports/autoracing/16iht-srf1prix16.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

[KC native]

Wow. I had no idea a country pays that much money to host a race.

NASCAR's race fees must be $100 per car on Sunday and $50 special on Saturdays.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/bahrain-protesters-battle-police-a-day-before-formula-one-race/2013/04/20/5b0298e0-a9f0-11e2-b029-8fb7e977ef71_story.html


Rating Formula One Races by How Fans Might Fare:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/sports/autoracing/16iht-srf1prix16.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Yes, Ecclestone's greed is a big threat to F1's sustainability. The sanctioning fees are excessive. The way the money is distributed is fucked off and heavily favors the top teams. He lines his pockets with the TV revenue. Less needs to be going in his and CVC's pockets and more needs to be going to ALL constructors. We lost HRT this year because they're broke. Marussia and Caterham are teetering of the brink. Sauber lucked out with giving Perez a shot and having Slim give the team a fuck load of money (which is why Gutierrez is there now).

[Dylan]

Thank you.

KC native, any reason why or any thoughts on the new Pirelli's this season? I've noticed some teams have had nothing good to say about the tires so far.

And then, finally your thoughts on Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton writes an exclusive column for BBC Sport. This week he was asked 'to name one driver currently racing in F1 that inspires him in some way'

"Fernando (Alonso), really. He feels to me like he's the most complete driver here. And with pure speed, he is rapid. He is such a quick driver but he's also very, very smart in how he does it. I really admire him for that.

"Fernando is always there. He has been the most consistent driver apart from Sebastian, who has also done an awesome job but he's been in the most dominant car.

"Before I got into F1, Fernando was the driver I most admired. Having driven alongside him and then been in the sport and seen him progress, it remains the same.

"Back in 2007, we were both immature and misbehaved. We took a long time to recover from that. Fernando probably said a lot of things through anger, as I did, and that got twisted and turned in the media which impacted on the fans. So there are people who don't like me and people who don't like him.

"He will go down as a legend. He will win more world championships. And to be in an era when there's a legend and to have him say such positive things about me, is a really cool feeling."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22209168

Hamilton had some very interesting things to say about why 'racing has become more strategic' this season, and on Perez and the way he was driving in the Chinese Grand Prix.

Thanks!

[PornChief]

Seems like a 100 years ago that I went to Adelaide to see the 1st Australian GP (well, 1st of the modern era at least). That track was the best street circuit ever, and that race had Gods like Mansell, Piquet, Prost, Senna, Rosberg and Berger. I was young and we drank a lot so I don't remember much except I met Prost, he was cool, must have been about 5 feet tall.

[PornChief]

also, Vettel is gay.

[KC native]

Thank you.

KC native, any reason why or any thoughts on the new Pirelli's this season? I've noticed some teams have had nothing good to say about the tires so far.

And then, finally your thoughts on Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton writes an exclusive column for BBC Sport. This week he was asked 'to name one driver currently racing in F1 that inspires him in some way'



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22209168

Hamilton had some very interesting things to say about why 'racing has become more strategic' this season, and on Perez and the way he was driving in the Chinese Grand Prix.

Thanks!

Two of my best friends are Lewis Hamilton fans. I've never been too keen on him. He's a great driver. He's just never really been likeable to me however he has matured and become much more tolerable over the last couple of years.

He is right about Alonso. He is the best driver out there IMO. Vettel is a phenom but Adrian Newey has given him the best car by far for the last 3 years. Ferrari gave Alonso chicken shit to start the year last year and he still managed to challenge for a championship. If ol' Crashy McCrasherson, Romain Grosjean, hadn't put him out on the first lap of one of Alonso's DNFs then Alonso may have won the championship last year.

On Perez, I understand them being ticked but I understand why he was driving that way. Whitmarsh told Perez prior to the race to be a lot more aggressive but McClaren hasn't given Perez the car to be more aggressive with. McClaren's lack of pace has been the real surprise of this year so far to me. Neither Button nor Perez have been able to put together a good race yet.

I love the new tires. It has made the teams react and respond. They can't just hit autopilot. The only teams complaining about the tires right now are the ones that can't get them to work properly. It has lessened the impact of Adrian Newey's aerodynamic dominance which I think is good for the sport.

[KC native]

Seems like a 100 years ago that I went to Adelaide to see the 1st Australian GP (well, 1st of the modern era at least). That track was the best street circuit ever, and that race had Gods like Mansell, Piquet, Prost, Senna, Rosberg and Berger. I was young and we drank a lot so I don't remember much except I met Prost, he was cool, must have been about 5 feet tall.

That is fucking awesome. lucky bastard.

[Dylan]

KC native: I really appreciate your willingness to respond to my questions. Thanks!

[bandwagonjumper]

It might be a stupid question but how do NASCAR and Formula 1 compare? How much do the top drivers earn and could top drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton compete in NASCAR?

[PornChief]

It might be a stupid question but how do NASCAR and Formula 1 compare? How much do the top drivers earn and could top drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton compete in NASCAR?

F1 drivers are paid way more, Alonso gets 30m euro, drivers on crap teams get a lot less, around 500,000. Mark Webber gets 10m euro which is about average. They'd make it easily in NASCAR, but that would be like Peyton going to the CFL.

[Al Bundy]

Good win for Sato in the Indy car series.

[KC native]

It might be a stupid question but how do NASCAR and Formula 1 compare? How much do the top drivers earn and could top drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton compete in NASCAR?

F1 drivers are paid way more, Alonso gets 30m euro, drivers on crap teams get a lot less, around 500,000. Mark Webber gets 10m euro which is about average. They'd make it easily in NASCAR, but that would be like Peyton going to the CFL.

Yea, and that's before sponsorships. F1 top drivers make a fuck ton of money. Michael Schumacher used to pull down more than Michael Jordan when he was at his peak.

[KC native]

Fantastic race again today.

Alonso showed some grit. 3 pit stops in the first 30 laps because his wing was broken, but still managed to pull out 8th spot.

Perez went out there and gutted it out too. Tough defensive drive and nice finish. Out drove Button by a lot.

Vettel is Vettel. I wish Fernando wouldn't have had the technical problems. Should have been a great fight between them at the front.

Paul Di Resta ran a fantastic finish for himself and Force India. Can't believe he pulled off P4. He was almost on the podium but Crashy McCrasherson pulled out a great race.

[KC native]

Race is at 6:30 AM CST for the early birds. I will be DVRing this per my usual.

Should be a great race.

Nico Rosberg beat Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The German took his second consecutive pole by 0.254 seconds from Hamilton, with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel third ahead of Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso could manage only fifth on the grid in front of his adoring home fans, just 0.001secs quicker than team-mate Felipe Massa.

McLaren's Jenson Button was only 14th with team-mate Sergio Perez ninth.

Scot Paul di Resta was 10th as the top 10 was completed by Lotus's Romain Grosjean in seventh and Red Bull's Mark Webber in eighth.

Brazilian Massa was subsequently handed a three-place grid penalty for blocking Mark Webber during the Red Bull driver's timed lap in the second session, relegating the Ferrari driver to ninth on the grid.

"Congrats to Nico - really happy for the team," said Hamilton. "It's down to all the great work from the guys at the factory. But we've got to approach tomorrow with caution because it's going to be tough. I didn't have two option tyre sets, but I think Nico was quicker today."

Since 1997, the Spanish Grand Prix has been won from pole position every year bar one, when Vettel won from second in 2011.

But Mercedes have struggled for race pace this year and team principal Ross Brawn sounded doubtful when asked if they could win the grand prix, admitting others had been in better shape during the race-simulation runs in Friday practice.

However, world champion Vettel said: "Mercedes were in a league of their own. We were surprised by the pace they had today. I am happy to sit in third right behind them because they were out of reach.

"I expect them to be strong in the race because they have been quick all year on this track and I expect the people behind to put some pressure on, Lotus and Ferrari. We will have to look after ourselves and our own tyres and then see what we can do."

The improved Toro Rossos of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne were 11th and 12th ahead of Force India's Adrian Sutil.

"The car didn't feel too bad in Q1," said Button of his poor qualifying. "I got held up on my lap and lost about 0.3secs in last corner from this morning but then in Q2 I just didn't have the grip on my last run. The tyre pressures came in massively high. We're just looking now to see if they were set properly."

On whether he was surprised by team-mate Sergio Perez's pace, he said: "I am considering where we are. He did a good job, obviously got everything right."
Williams continued to struggle - both cars failed to get past the first knock-out session despite a major upgrade package.

Valtteri Bottas was 17th, 0.058secs ahead of team-mate Pastor Maldonado as the corner-entry instability that has plagued them all year seemed to still be a problem.
Deputy team principal Claire Williams said: "It's not why we come racing to not get drivers into Q2. The boys all work really hard, and we've got to improve. You never panic in these situations. The grid is so tight, we were only one tenth off getting into Q2 so I don't think it's time to panic."

Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez was handed the same punishment as Massa for impeding Kimi Raikkonen and will start the race in 19th position. The Mexican was previously given a five-place grid penalty for the last grand prix in Bahrain for his part in an incident with Adrian Sutil during the Chinese Grand Prix.



Driver Car Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1 Nico Rosberg 9 Mercedes 1:21.913 1:21.776 1:20.718
2 Lewis Hamilton 10 Mercedes 1:21.728 1:21.001 1:20.972
3 Sebastian Vettel 1 Red Bull 1:22.158 1:21.602 1:21.054
4 Kimi Raikkonen 7 Lotus 1:22.210 1:21.676 1:21.177
5 Fernando Alonso 3 Ferrari 1:22.264 1:21.646 1:21.218
6 Felipe Massa 4 Ferrari 1:22.492 1:21.978 1:21.219
7 Romain Grosjean 8 Lotus 1:22.613 1:21.998 1:21.308
8 Mark Webber 2 Red Bull 1:22.342 1:21.718 1:21.570
9 Sergio Perez 6 McLaren 1:23.116 1:21.790 1:22.069
10 Paul Di Resta 14 Force India 1:22.663 1:22.019 1:22.233
11 Daniel Ricciardo 19 Toro Rosso 1:22.905 1:22.127
12 Jean-Eric Vergne 18 Toro Rosso 1:22.775 1:22.166
13 Adrian Sutil 15 Force India 1:22.952 1:22.346
14 Jenson Button 5 McLaren 1:23.166 1:22.355
15 Nico Hulkenberg 11 Sauber 1:23.058 1:22.389
16 Esteban Gutierrez 12 Sauber 1:23.218 1:22.793
17 Valtteri Bottas 17 Williams 1:23.260
18 Pastor Maldonado 16 Williams 1:23.318
19 Giedo van der Garde 21 Caterham 1:24.661
20 Jules Bianchi 22 Marussia 1:24.713
21 Max Chilton 23 Marussia 1:24.996
22 Charles Pic 20 Caterham 1:25.070

[Dylan]

Sunday, May 12 at 8 a.m. ET - That is better than 6 a.m. :D

Who is going to win the Spanish Grand Prix?

Red Bull have always been strong in Spain. I think Vettel will be hard to beat.

Kimi is strong in Spain. He has won this race twice. Kimi is 10 points behind Vettel after four races. Would like to see him win the race.

Alonso has not won here since 2006-not a good track record. Then again, he finished second last year.

Mercedes - Have they improved their race pace? Not sure.

Pirelli will bring medium and hard compound tires to Spain. Supposedly, they tweaked the hard compound tires so they hold up longer. But will they be durable?

I find the tire strategy confusing...I am not sure how long the driver can push the new tires.

My picks

1st place: Vettel / Kimi - Each driver will receive half a trophy..
2nd Alonso
3rd: Webber

[KC native]

Finally got around to finishing the race.

Phenomenal drive from Alonso and Massa. Ferrrari decided they would just drive it hard the whole race and make 4 stops. Game changing strategy and it will be interesting to see if they keep it up. The mantra this year has been protect your tires as much as possible and Ferrari said fuck that and went for it. This will make the strategies later in the season much more interesting.

Kimi was Kimi. The mad Fin was excellent as usual. He has a great chance to win the driver's championship. There are mounting rumors that he could be headed to Red Bull to replace Webber next year. I don't know if I see Kimi at Red Bull. He really hated all the extra shit he had to do at Ferrari and Red Bull would have the same requirements for him.

Mercedes is fucked. They can pound out a fast lap to qualify high but they have problems with tire wear and they don't look like they are getting any better. They locked out the front row during qualifying and both Hamilton and Rosberg finished outside the top 5.

McClaren is also in a similar situation. Perez was faster than Button again and they made him stay behind him at the end of the race. Their lack of performance has been the biggest head scratcher of this season.

[Donger]

The Pirelli tires are just ridiculous. Four stops, really? I read that the guys are so worried about degradation that they are seriously backing off. Something like three seconds a lap SLOWER than GP2 on the same track. That isn't F1.

[alpha_omega]

Damn...busy weekend and i totally forgot this was on.

[Donger]

Damn...busy weekend and i totally forgot this was on.

That's okay. It really wasn't a race.

[KC native]

The Pirelli tires are just ridiculous. Four stops, really? I read that the guys are so worried about degradation that they are seriously backing off. Something like three seconds a lap SLOWER than GP2 on the same track. That isn't F1.

Pirelli gave the FIA what it wanted for F1. After the delaminations this week I think there will be changes to the tires. Most of the races will still probably be 3 stoppers though.

[Donger]

Pirelli gave the FIA what it wanted for F1. After the delaminations this week I think there will be changes to the tires. Most of the races will still probably be 3 stoppers though.

Yeah, just reading that Hembery pretty much acknowledged that yesterday was stupid and will make the tires harder. It really is a shame. I watched the race by DVR yesterday and I pretty much played it back at 5X speed.

[KC native]

Yeah, just reading that Hembery pretty much acknowledged that yesterday was stupid and will make the tires harder. It really is a shame. I watched the race by DVR yesterday and I pretty much played it back at 5X speed.

I like the increased degradation but yesterday's race was ridiculous. Monaco with these tires will be interesting.

[Donger]

I like the increased degradation but yesterday's race was ridiculous. Monaco with these tires will be interesting.

It won't be as bad as Spain. There aren't any high energy corners at Monaco

[KC native]

Hamilton to pole position

By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Monaco
Nico Rosberg won a close fight with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton and the two Red Bulls to take pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix.

It was Rosberg's third consecutive pole position as Sebastian Vettel edged out Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber to take third.

Vettel's title rivals, Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, were fifth and sixth. McLaren's Sergio Perez and Jenson Button took seventh and ninth.

Force India's Paul di Resta failed to make it past first qualifying and will line up 17th.
Rosberg, who has been the form man all weekend, was just 0.091 seconds quicker than Hamilton. The Englishman edged out Vettel by just 0.013secs.

The first two parts of qualifying were run in mixed conditions, with tyre choice between 'intermediate' tyres and dry-weather slicks tricky. And although the weather dried up for the top 10 shoot-out, and the drivers were able to use slicks throughout, spots of rain did return in the closing minutes.

"The conditions were all over the place," said Rosberg. "Then it started drizzling again so the lap times got a lot slower. It was changing so much - you have to be on the right tyres at the right time. Everything when to plan and the last lap went OK."

Raikkonen and Alonso were separated by just 0.002secs but both were almost a second off pole position.

Completing the top 10, Force India's Adrian Sutil was eighth and Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne 10th.

"I didn't expect to be here," said Hamilton. "I've been struggling all weekend. The first time I've have that in Monaco. Very happy to be here and lock out the front row."
"I was very close. Mercedes were very quick all weekend," added Vettel. "There was a bit more than a tenth missing and I think I had that today. It didn't come together on the last lap, I can only blame myself for that.

"But I am very happy there is not a Ferrari or Lotus ahead and I think we have a good chance tomorrow to win the race."

The top 10 shoot-out was run in dry conditions after rain affected the first two parts of qualifying.

Caterham's Giedo van der Garde took a career best 15th after making it through first qualifying, helped by Ferrari's Felipe Massa not running.

Ferrari were unable to repair the car in time after the Brazilian had a heavy crash in final practice.

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean, who also crashed in final practice, did just make it out on track and drove extremely well to make it through with just one flying lap.

But he was knocked out in the second session and ended up 13th, blaming traffic. He said he had the pace to qualify on the first two rows.

Force India's Paul di Resta failed to make it past the first knock-out session after his team failed to bring him in for a fresh set of tyres for a quick lap at the end. The Scot ended up 17th.

"I apologise for that; that was a mess," his engineer said over the radio after the session.

Qualifying result:

1. Nico Rosberg - Mercedes - 1:13.876
2. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes - 1:13.967
3. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull - 1:13.980
4 .Mark Webber - Red Bull - 1:14.181
5. Kimi Raikkonen - Lotus - 1:14.822
6. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari - 1:14.824
7. Sergio Perez - McLaren - 1:15.138
8. Adrian Sutil - Force India - 1:15.383
9. Jenson Button - McLaren - 1:15.647
10. Jean-Eric Vergne - Toro Rosso - 1:15.703.

[KC native]

Oh, and expect more Red Bull whining

20 May 2013 Last updated at 10:48 GMT
The FIA reject Pirelli's proposal to go back to last year's tyres

By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Formula 1's governing body has rejected a proposal from Pirelli to go back to last year's tyres in the wake of concerns over the state of the sport.

After the last race in Spain, Pirelli said it wanted to make changes to the tyres amid complaints their fragility had made tyre-management too important.

It proposed reverting to the tyres run in 2012 but F1's governing body, the FIA, says this would break the rules.

Only changes to prevent the series of recent failures will be allowed.

The FIA said going back to last year's tyres would not be allowed as it amounted to a change of specification.

Article 12.6.3 of the technical regulations dictates that it would require the agreement of all the teams for such a switch to happen.

Another part of the rules, article 12.5.2, gives the FIA leeway to ask the tyre supplier to change the tyre specification if it proves to be "technically unsuitable", but the governing body does not consider this to apply in this case.

World champions Red Bull, who feel that the performance of their car is being held back by needing to look after the tyres, have been pressuring Pirelli to make the tyres more durable.

Mercedes, who are having problems with excessive rear tyre usage, are also keen on a change.

Lotus, Ferrari and Force India, the three teams whose cars use up their tyres the least, do not accept that a change needs to be made.

The FIA has been concerned by the number of tyre failures in recent races and has asked Pirelli to modify the tyres to prevent this happening.

There were four similar failures in the last two races, where tyres that had been cut subsequently overheated and the tread tore off the carcass.

The issue is with the bonding between the tread and the carcass.

Pirelli will have to find a way to make that bond stronger without overly influencing performance. A source said that should not be particularly difficult.

A Pirelli spokeswoman said: "We are looking at what the change will be and trying to minimise its effect, so as not to advantage one team over another.

"We are trying to find the best solution that makes the least change in itself, hopefully will lead to (just) three pit stops, and to prevent the delaminations, which are not a safety issue but which don't look good."

A leading engineer told BBC Sport that the number of pit stops would likely naturally reduce from now on as the first five races were on some of the most demanding tracks in terms of tyre wear. He said that, of the remaining races this season, only Japan's Suzuka circuit compares with Malaysia, Bahrain and Barcelona.

Pirelli entered F1 in 2011 with a remit to supply tyres that wear out and/or degrade at a rate that will guarantee two or three pit stops at most races.

Guide to the tyres in Formula 1

In Spain on 5 May, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso made four pit stops on his way to victory, as did Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in winning in Malaysia in March.

Alonso and Vettel each made three stops on their way to victory in China and Bahrain, while Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen made two in winning the first race of the season in Australia.
Pirelli has changed the construction and compound of the tyres this year in a way that makes them behave differently.

The teams were all provided with a set of 2013-specification tyres to try at last year's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

Those who are against a change argue that all the teams have had the same data from Pirelli and that it is up to them to adapt their cars to suit the tyres.

[KC native]

Canadian Grand Prix is on NBC right now. WATCH IT YOU FUCKS

[Dylan]

Canadian Grand Prix is on NBC right now. WATCH IT YOU FUCKS

Vettel is the new Shumacher -

Three World Championships and only 25 years old...

It does not look like they will slow down any time soon - They have an amazing package.

[KC native]

So Vettel is the new Shumacher?

It does not look like they will slow down any time soon - They have an amazing package.

Yes. Vettel's success is unprecedented. Just out of curiousity, I want to see how he performs outside of an Adrian Newey car. That's not meant to take anything from him. Mark Webber is in the same car and has not had the same success as Seb.

[Prison Bitch]

First F1 race I ever watched, and it was boring.

[KC native]

First F1 race I ever watched, and it was boring.

Because you're a dipshit. Today's race was badass.

[Prison Bitch]

Because you're a dipshit. Today's race was badass.

Sure, whatever. Pole sitter leads wire to wire, never once threatened, and wins by 15 seconds. If that is "badass" then you have a weird concept of what racing is.

[Donger]

Yes. Vettel's success is unprecedented.

:spock:

Mark Webber is in the same car and has not had the same success as Seb.

I wouldn't be too sure of that. At least not the exact car.

[Donger]

Sure, whatever. Pole sitter leads wire to wire, never once threatened, and wins by 15 seconds. If that is "badass" then you have a weird concept of what racing is.

Did you notice the other 21 cars on the track?

[alpha_omega]

Damn, I missed it again this week.

[Prison Bitch]

Did you notice the other 21 cars on the track?

Not really, although TV did spend an inordinate amount of time on the 8-9 battle. Pretty engrossing stuff there finding out who would eke out the 8 spot. I just think wire-to-wire winning is lame but maybe you enjoy that type of racing?

[Donger]

Not really, although TV did spend an inordinate amount of time on the 8-9 battle. Pretty engrossing stuff there finding out who would eke out the 8 spot. I just think wire-to-wire winning is lame but maybe you enjoy that type of racing?

Sure, I enjoy watching the race unfold behind the leader.

[Prison Bitch]

Sure, I enjoy watching the race unfold behind the leader.

Fair enough. I thought the AFC West race was lame last year but I can see why others might've enjoyed how it unfolded behind the Broncos.


In other news, I do love the look of the Red Bull cars. Probably the best paint jobs in racing history, honestly:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Sebastian_Vettel_overtaking_Mark_Webber_2013_Malaysia_2.jpg/800px-Sebastian_Vettel_overtaking_Mark_Webber_2013_Malaysia_2.jpg

[KC native]

:spock:



I wouldn't be too sure of that. At least not the exact car.

At his age, it is unprecedented. Youngest 3 time world champion. #3 (IIRC) on all time wins list. He is a machine.

And no, not the exact but similar enough that Webber should be winning more races than he does with a Newey car.

[KC native]

Damn, I missed it again this week.

Should be rebroadcast a couple times during the week on NBC Sport Network.

[KC native]

Not really, although TV did spend an inordinate amount of time on the 8-9 battle. Pretty engrossing stuff there finding out who would eke out the 8 spot. I just think wire-to-wire winning is lame but maybe you enjoy that type of racing?

And you missed Alonso's fabulous drive to go from 6th on the grid to 2nd on the podium. DiResta's and Massa's drives were also phenomenal. Even a backmarker team, Scuderia Toro Rosso, put a car in the top 10.

[alpha_omega]

Should be rebroadcast a couple times during the week on NBC Sport Network.

I had a lot going on this weekend, so i might have missed it anyway...but they need to do a better job of advertising the times/channels.

Thanks, ill be on the lookout for the rebroadcast.

[KC native]

I had a lot going on this weekend, so i might have missed it anyway...but they need to do a better job of advertising the times/channels.

Thanks, ill be on the lookout for the rebroadcast.

I just set my DVR to record everything F1 and have it as a high priority on the series manager.

[Donger]

At his age, it is unprecedented. Youngest 3 time world champion. #3 (IIRC) on all time wins list. He is a machine.

And no, not the exact but similar enough that Webber should be winning more races than he does with a Newey car.

Meh, don't care about the age part. Much of his success is because of his car. Friggin Alonso win win every race in a RB.

[KC native]

Meh, don't care about the age part. Much of his success is because of his car. Friggin Alonso win win every race in a RB.

I agree. Adrian Newey is a genius. Alonso is the best pure driver on the grid IMO.

[Donger]

I agree. Adrian Newey is a genius. Alonso is the best pure driver on the grid IMO.

Most complete driver (car skill, tire management, intelligence, not seeing "red"). I'd say that Kimi is the most talented car handler. Lewis for sheer speed.

[KC native]

Most complete driver (car skill, tire management, intelligence, not seeing "red"). I'd say that Kimi is the most talented car handler. Lewis for sheer speed.

I would put Kimi before Lewis. Kimi is a beast. The pace he has pulled out of the Lotus has been nothing short of amazing. If you give him a car that doesn't chew up tires then he always has a shot to win the race.

[houstonwhodat]

I had a lot going on this weekend, so i might have missed it anyway...but they need to do a better job of advertising the times/channels.

Thanks, ill be on the lookout for the rebroadcast.

Keep a mental note.

Indy 500 weekend is the start of F1 with Monaco.

Every weekend thereafter until it ends.

[Donger]

Every weekend thereafter until it ends.

That's wrong. There are some GPs that are scheduled consecutive Sundays, some are two Sundays apart, and some up to three weeks between.

For example, the British GP isn't until June 30.

http://www.planetf1.com/race-hub

[Donger]

Webber icky:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F0vdLNVLW4E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[houstonwhodat]

That's wrong. There are some GPs that are scheduled consecutive Sundays, some are two Sundays apart, and some up to three weeks between.

For example, the British GP isn't until June 30.

http://www.planetf1.com/race-hub


Yeah but you get the idea.

Just start watching beginning Indy weekend.

[Donger]

Yeah but you get the idea.

Just start watching beginning Indy weekend.

The Formula One season starts in March.

[houstonwhodat]

The Formula One season starts in March.

Yeah I know.

But I don't start watching until Monaco.

I do like the Melbourne race however.

[KC native]

Yeah I know.

But I don't start watching until Monaco.

I do like the Melbourne race however.

You're missing great races if that's your starting point. Spain, for example, is awesome.

[Donger]

Best circuit (track for you mouth breathers)?

Spa.

[Donger]

Eau Rouge...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_fpMxuY05IM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Donger]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K2cNqaPSHv0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[KC native]

Best circuit (track for you mouth breathers)?

Spa.

Yes, Eau Rouge is fucking awesome.

[KC native]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K2cNqaPSHv0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

that is awesome. It's staggering how much faster they are. The Ferrari Challenge guys and Porsche GT3 Cup racing that were the support races for F1 in Austin looked like they were go carts in comparison.

[JoeyChuckles]

Honest question: Saturday night I caught a glimpse of not Nascar cars on a circle race track in Dallas that I thought was interesting. I then tried to watch the Montreal thing yesterday but could not keep interest. What is the difference in the two that I watched?

I've never seen a Nascar race either, so I guess I am just confused in general. Perhaps I should Google it instead.

[Donger]

that is awesome. It's staggering how much faster they are. The Ferrari Challenge guys and Porsche GT3 Cup racing that were the support races for F1 in Austin looked like they were go carts in comparison.

I'm trying to talk the wife into having a date weekend for the US GP this year. You went last year, yes?

[Donger]

Honest question: Saturday night I caught a glimpse of not Nascar cars on a circle race track in Dallas that I thought was interesting. I then tried to watch the Montreal thing yesterday but could not keep interest. What is the difference in the two that I watched?

I've never seen a Nascar race either, so I guess I am just confused in general. Perhaps I should Google it instead.

F1 is a very different beast. Honestly, if my Dad hadn't gotten me up at the crack of fucking dawn to watch when I was a boy, I probably wouldn't watch now. It's an acquired taste to be sure. It is the epitome of motorsport, however, at least from a ME standpoint.

[houstonwhodat]

I'm trying to talk the wife into having a date weekend for the US GP this year. You went last year, yes?

It's in Austin better get a room NOW.

[Donger]

It's in Austin better get a room NOW.

Getting a room won't be an issue.

[PornChief]

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/51735205" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/51735205">Grand Prix: The Killer Years</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/formula1blogger">Formula1Blogger</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

[PornChief]

You can also get the entire Senna movie at Vimeo. The Killer Years got removed from YouTube, seems i have to go to LiveLeak or Vimeo these days to find the best stuff.

[KC native]

I'm trying to talk the wife into having a date weekend for the US GP this year. You went last year, yes?

Yes, it was phenomenal. The shuttles were on point. The people were welcoming. I was impressed how smooth it went for the first time hosting it. I already have my tickets and will be going back this year too. Should be even more of a blast because there is a UT game that weekend too. Last year 6th St was a little dead when I was there because it was the weekend before Thanksgiving and UT and TCU played on Thanksgiving.

[KC native]

Honest question: Saturday night I caught a glimpse of not Nascar cars on a circle race track in Dallas that I thought was interesting. I then tried to watch the Montreal thing yesterday but could not keep interest. What is the difference in the two that I watched?

I've never seen a Nascar race either, so I guess I am just confused in general. Perhaps I should Google it instead.

F1 is all about the engineering and precision driving. NASCAR and affiliated series are what are called Spec Series. All the cars must fit a narrow set of specifications. F1, while having more specs recently, allows for whatever type of build as long as it doesn't run afoul of the rules.

[KC native]

It's in Austin better get a room NOW.

I don't know about that. There were a lot of unsold rooms last year because of how much Austin hotels tried to jack up the prices. A lot of people stayed in San Marcos, New Braunfels, and San Antonio.

[KC native]

You can also get the entire Senna movie at Vimeo. The Killer Years got removed from YouTube, seems i have to go to LiveLeak or Vimeo these days to find the best stuff.

:thumb: Rush looks like it is going to be a badass movie too.

[Prison Bitch]

Honest question: Saturday night I caught a glimpse of not Nascar cars on a circle race track in Dallas that I thought was interesting. I then tried to watch the Montreal thing yesterday but could not keep interest. What is the difference in the two that I watched?

I've never seen a Nascar race either, so I guess I am just confused in general. Perhaps I should Google it instead.

F1 is the superior circuit with the superior cars, drivers, technology, purses, and worldwide appeal. It runs on racetracks, Nascar & Indy run on some tracks but mostly ovals. It's whatever you are into.


I've tried for decades to get into road racing but it just pains me to watch it. They never pass.


A friend of mine told me he tried to watch an hour of Montreal Sunday. "It was as boring as another person's dream" he said. F1 has to find a way to get more passing.

[Donger]

Yes, it was phenomenal. The shuttles were on point. The people were welcoming. I was impressed how smooth it went for the first time hosting it. I already have my tickets and will be going back this year too. Should be even more of a blast because there is a UT game that weekend too. Last year 6th St was a little dead when I was there because it was the weekend before Thanksgiving and UT and TCU played on Thanksgiving.

Thanks.

[Donger]

F1 is the superior circuit with the superior cars, drivers, technology, purses, and worldwide appeal. It runs on racetracks, Nascar & Indy run on some tracks but mostly ovals. It's whatever you are into.


I've tried for decades to get into road racing but it just pains me to watch it. They never pass.


A friend of mine told me he tried to watch an hour of Montreal Sunday. "It was as boring as another person's dream" he said. F1 has to find a way to get more passing.

Your friend must have fallen asleep then. There were over 20 passes on Sunday. F1 cars are heavily dependent on aerodynamic down force, and "towing" actually upsets the cars' balance horribly.

Now, that being said, I HATE DRS and KERS, which were introduced to aid overtaking.

[houstonwhodat]

I don't know about that. There were a lot of unsold rooms last year because of how much Austin hotels tried to jack up the prices. A lot of people stayed in San Marcos, New Braunfels, and San Antonio.


Make sure you hit the Salt Lick BBQ when you go next time.

It's SW of Austin in Driftwood.

[KC native]

Thanks.

No problem. I forgot to even mention the track. It was awesome. There were plenty of good food vendors. It was a little dusty but that should be better by the next race because they will have the landscaping done. I highly recommend it if you are an F1 fan. Oh and be prepared to walk. So wear comfortable shoes.

[KC native]

Make sure you hit the Salt Lick BBQ when you go next time.

It's SW of Austin in Driftwood.

Yea we tried to make it there but it just didn't work out. Definitely making it by there this time.

[houstonwhodat]

Yea we tried to make it there but it just didn't work out. Definitely making it by there this time.

Also go to:

Franklin's BBQ - try to get in line before it sells out
Stubbs BBQ - good food and music
Threadgill's - where Janis Joplin started to sing
La Zona Rosa - good blues and former SRV hangout
Antoines - blues and former SRV hangout
Hippy Hollow - naked bitches everywhere
Barton Springs - 68 deg natural spring
Austin City Limits - if you can get tickets
Steve Ray Vaughan Statue - spiritual

[KC native]

Also go to:

Franklin's BBQ - try to get in line before it sells out
Stubbs BBQ - good food and music
Threadgill's - where Janis Joplin started to sing
La Zona Rosa - good blues and former SRV hangout
Antoines - blues and former SRV hangout
Hippy Hollow - naked bitches everywhere
Barton Springs - 68 deg natural spring
Austin City Limits - if you can get tickets
Steve Ray Vaughan Statue - spiritual

Went to Franklin's. Being from KC, I was not very impressed.

[Donger]

I've been to County Line on the Hill a few times. Quite good. Nice views (for Texas) too.

[HIChief]

I am an avid F1 Fan. Well, at least for the past two seasons. That being said, here are some of the things I dislike and like about the race:

Likes- The venues, particularly Spa, Silverstone, and Monaco. I always get nostalgic watching those races. The rivalries between constructors (it's been said Honda will re-enter next season). Felippe Masa and Lewis Hamilton--the two drivers I root for. The driver's women-damn! The car's-eye view and radio comms during the broadcast. The detailed info provided by the announcers about the cars, the rules, and the drivers.

Dislikes- Pirrelli Tires that all cars must use, and the mandatory tire change. Hell, if they're going to have constructors competition, then why not foster competition between the component vendors as well? DRS enabling for the trailing car--that seems unfair. No purse for the drivers--Huh?! The cash prizes all go to the constructors. The endless doting on Redbull's Sebastian Vettle by the announcers. I mean, he's a likeable guy and all, but jeeze!

But, I thoroughly enjoy F1; warts and all!

[KC native]

I am an avid F1 Fan. Well, at least for the past two seasons. That being said, here are some of the things I dislike and like about the race:

Likes- The venues, particularly Spa, Silverstone, and Monaco. I always get nostalgic watching those races. The rivalries between constructors (it's been said Honda will re-enter next season). Felippe Masa and Lewis Hamilton--the two drivers I root for. The driver's women-damn! The car's-eye view and radio comms during the broadcast. The detailed info provided by the announcers about the cars, the rules, and the drivers.

Dislikes- Pirrelli Tires that all cars must use, and the mandatory tire change. Hell, if they're going to have constructors competition, then why not foster competition between the component vendors as well? DRS enabling for the trailing car--that seems unfair. No purse for the drivers--Huh?! The cash prizes all go to the constructors. The endless doting on Redbull's Sebastian Vettle by the announcers. I mean, he's a likeable guy and all, but jeeze!

But, I thoroughly enjoy F1; warts and all!

:thumb: Nice, I like the tire degradation but it should be reduced a little. Tires are the controversy for now until the constructors find something else to argue about.

Aside from cheering from Lew Ham, you seem like an alright guy.

Ecclestone needs to die though. Fuck that greedy troll.

[PornChief]

anyone who thinks Vettel is a likeable guy doesn't pay attention.

[KC native]

anyone who thinks Vettel is a likeable guy doesn't pay attention.

This. He is a prick that knows how to win. Can't fault him for wanting to be first every race though.

[PornChief]

I don't fault him for wanting to win, they all do or they wouldn't be there. But consistently fucking over your teammates comes back to haunt you someday.

[HIChief]

:thumb: Nice, I like the tire degradation but it should be reduced a little. Tires are the controversy for now until the constructors find something else to argue about.

Aside from cheering from Lew Ham, you seem like an alright guy.

Ecclestone needs to die though. **** that greedy troll.

My limited understanding of who Ecclestone is gave me the impression he is one of the main underwriters of the sport, and it might not be around today were it not for him. Educate me, please.

[HIChief]

anyone who thinks Vettel is a likeable guy doesn't pay attention.

I guess NBCS didn't do me any favors by the profile they did on Vettle then. He must have been told to mind his P's and Q's. I'll continue to watch and see what you are talking about. It just seems to me like all the announcers ever do is gush about him. That made me suspicious, but I don't know enough to form a reasoned opinion of him as a driver or a person.

[PornChief]

Of course Vettel comes across as lovely in interviews and TV appearances, most of them do because they get paid unholy sums by their sponsors etc. It's on the track and in the pits the real dude comes out. He isn't very popular with anyone.
Kimi Raikkonen is the exact opposite, it's hard not to like him and he's probably the most popular driver among his peers. Loose Hamilton used to be an enormous dick but he's grown up some and learned to get over himself.
I'm a Ferrari man and wish they'd get Kimi back, though Alonso is pretty cool. Give Kimi a car equal to Vettel's and I'll put my money on Kimi winning.

[PornChief]

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2009/def/2009-Ferrari-F60-Kimi-Raikkonen-1600x1200.jpg

[KC native]

Of course Vettel comes across as lovely in interviews and TV appearances, most of them do because they get paid unholy sums by their sponsors etc. It's on the track and in the pits the real dude comes out. He isn't very popular with anyone.
Kimi Raikkonen is the exact opposite, it's hard not to like him and he's probably the most popular driver among his peers. Loose Hamilton used to be an enormous dick but he's grown up some and learned to get over himself.
I'm a Ferrari man and wish they'd get Kimi back, though Alonso is pretty cool. Give Kimi a car equal to Vettel's and I'll put my money on Kimi winning.

I would love to see a Kimi and Alonso team. I don't think Kimi can handle the Ferrari promotional commitment again. That's a big reason why he quit after winning the championship. Lotus doesn't ask him to do nearly as much as Red Bull and Ferrari would.

I love Kimi though. He is my 2nd favorite driver. I love that he came back to F1.

[KC native]

Aweseome gif on Alonso's pass on Hamilton from Montreal

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18qenjod1ppongif/ku-xlarge.gif

[KC native]

My limited understanding of who Ecclestone is gave me the impression he is one of the main underwriters of the sport, and it might not be around today were it not for him. Educate me, please.

Might not be around, but Ecclestone has lined his pockets with F1 money while there are constructors who struggle to find funding every year.

He also sanctions races that should never happen (Bahrain for example) and is unwilling to negotiate substantial reductions to sanctioning fees for historic grand prix.

[HIChief]

Might not be around, but Ecclestone has lined his pockets with F1 money while there are constructors who struggle to find funding every year.

"... for historic grand prix.

Oh, FIA underwrites the historic races as well? I was thinking about going to Nice, France next year so that I could catch the Monaco De Historiques before the actual GP. Anything I should know before I plunk down the plane fare?

[Donger]

Well, the British GP was a farce. Nothing like tires exploding to spice up a race...

[HIChief]

Well, the British GP was a farce. Nothing like tires exploding to spice up a race...

I kind of got discouraged after both my favorites were "blown" out of the race--Hamilton and Masa. Fortunately, it wasn't a total loss, as Vettle and RedBull finally got that dose of bad luck Alonzo said they were due for. And, Nico Rosberg added another win to his 2013 campaign. Gotta hand it to Weber too. That was a brilliant comeback from a lousy start. Though I guess you could argue the cautions helped him.

[chefsos]

Well, the British GP was a farce. Nothing like tires exploding to spice up a race...Correct me if I'm wrong, but in this thread it must be spelled, "tyres". :)

Anyway, I was watching this race this morning, with Spanish commentary and the typically cryptic F1 graphics, so I was even more clueless about what was going on than I usually am. I couldn't even figure out where they were. I did guess, "Silverstone, maybe..." to myself, so yay me.

The commentators were having a good laugh about Vettel breaking, though. I understood that.

[KC native]

Well, the British GP was a farce. Nothing like tires exploding to spice up a race...

Just finished it a couple mintues ago. Holy shit. Pirelli really screwed the pooch. Glad to see a dnf for vettel though.

[chefsos]

Nonsensical Bump!

Just about every Sunday morning I'll flip through the bullshit on TV and often land on F1 on one of my five Spanish language channels (blow me Comcast) and I'll play a little game called, "Where the hell are they this week?"

Well, it's just past halfway through and the place looks kind of exotic, the sun has set and they are night racing. That in and of itself is pretty awesome; never saw that before. So, I guess it's in the Far East. Singapore, maybe? I'm not gonna Google it for a while.

Vettel has a big lead. Never saw THAT before, either:rolleyes:

[chefsos]

Eh, I think I've got time differences all screwed up. It's probably Monday morning in the Far East. I also see Arabic writing on some signage. So, like, Bahrain or something. Final answer.

[Dylan]

NBC

Vettel wins fourth World Championship and wins historic ninth consecutive race win in a season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix

Vettel, 26 is the youngest four-time Formula 1 champion.

[WhawhaWhat]

Michael Schumacher in critical condition after skiing accident (http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/29/sport/motorsport/michael-schumacher-skiing-f1-motorsport/index.html)

Michael Schumacher, the most successful driver in Formula One history, is in critical condition after suffering "severe head trauma" in a skiing accident in the French Alps on Sunday, hospital officials said.

[KC native]

Michael Schumacher in critical condition after skiing accident (http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/29/sport/motorsport/michael-schumacher-skiing-f1-motorsport/index.html)

Michael Schumacher, the most successful driver in Formula One history, is in critical condition after suffering "severe head trauma" in a skiing accident in the French Alps on Sunday, hospital officials said.

Sucks. Schumi is who got me into F1. Hope he ends up being ok.

[alpha_omega]

Wow! hope it turns out ok for him.

[GloryDayz]

Stunning news. Wow... Awesome race car driver, sad news...

[Dylan]

Michael Schumacher in critical condition after skiing accident (http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/29/sport/motorsport/michael-schumacher-skiing-f1-motorsport/index.html)

Michael Schumacher, the most successful driver in Formula One history, is in critical condition after suffering "severe head trauma" in a skiing accident in the French Alps on Sunday, hospital officials said.

Beyond words, how sad.

[Prison Bitch]

He is right about Alonso. He is the best driver out there IMO. Vettel is a phenom but Adrian Newey has given him the best car by far for the last 3 years. Ferrari gave Alonso chicken shit to start the year last year and he still managed to challenge for a championship. If ol' Crashy McCrasherson, Romain Grosjean, hadn't put him out on the first lap of one of Alonso's DNFs then Alonso may have won the championship last year.f Adrian Newey's aerodynamic dominance which I think is good for the sport.


Alonso is taking on Indianapolis this Sunday. Never has run an oval, and nothing at these speeds (230mph laps).


He has been flawless in practice and in qualifying, he's in the middle of Row 2. I don't follow F1 at all but whoever this guy is, he's a goddamn badass.

[eDave]

Alonso is taking on Indianapolis this Sunday. Never has run an oval, and nothing at these speeds (230mph laps).


He has been flawless in practice and in qualifying, he's in the middle of Row 2. I don't follow F1 at all but whoever this guy is, he's a goddamn badass.

https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/8/87/Rickybobby_alig.jpg

[Demonpenz]

Yeah Alonzo was the best driver in the best league in the world twice. He is the goods. Monza is a track that has little to no turns so it's not like it's too tough to tame indy for him.

[Dylan]

We have a Formula 1 thread LMAO

Holy Shit!

Ferrari P1 and P2

First time in 16-years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Throw some water on your face!

What posiition is Alonso in - in the Indy 500?

[Dylan]

Grazia, Grazia :D

Vettel

Kimi

Ricciardo

Bottas

My boy Verstappen

[Hydrae]

That was a nasty looking accident. Castronevas (sp?) going under the flying car had to be a pants shitting moment. :eek:

[Dylan]

J.C...Missed the crash - caught it at the end on replay - However, these cars carry too much speed to be racing on this ancient oval /round circuit ...

Unbelievable...

[Dylan]

I remember Michael Schumacher saying years ago that drivers have to be crazy to race open wheel at Indy 500 - There is no run-off - nothing...

I remember one year Formula 1 drivers boycotted right before of the race because of tire compound and safety issues - They never went back - They left the fans sitting in their seats...F1 now races at the beautiful COTA in the U.S.

[Dylan]

Wow, IndyCar is garbage!

I keep turning the channel - When I turn back to Indy, there is a safety car on the track. The only reason I am watching is to see two-time F1 champion Alonso sit in that God-awful IndyCar.

This is the first time Alonso has stepped into an IndyCar and he is running second with a bad road crew - Looks like his pit crew are rookies - no?

Oh boy, bad restart for Alonso and he drops to P12 - Could spell trouble for Alonso now he is in a pack that races like amateurs.

God Bless Alonso come back to Formula 1 - This sport is way beneath his racing talent...Oops another caution.

Too bad McLaren Honda F1 car sucks - This is the reason Alonso did not race in Monaco today and hopped into a Honda IndyCar.

When does the racing start?

Oh Lord, car parts flying in the air again...

Rant over.

[Dylan]

Another Honda is out of the race -

With all these cars stopping and starting - Hard to pick a winner...:D

Alonso on the move! Putting on a clinic ... Save yourself Alonso, IndyCar is not worth your life.

[Dylan]

OMG! Alonso engine blew!

Honda! LMAO

OMG - Alonso HATES Honda...Just like he hates driving for McLaren-Honda in F1.



EDIT: Wow, 5-car crash!

Open wheel should never race on this track - What a cluster. The back fillers are now leading... Yikes.

Come On Sato! Win this race...! Former F1 driver

Let's go Sato! Beat those IndyCar boys!

[Al Bundy]

Sato.... what a good win for that guy.

[eDave]

Hi Dylan.

[Dylan]

Congratulations Sato!

http://nerdome.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/champagne-cork-popping.jpg



Happy for him...He did not see it coming...Former Formula 1 driver wins the Indy500.

IndyCar is pretty exciting when they are not crashing out.


Hey, eDave! Happy Memorial Day!

[Dylan]

Sato.... what a good win for that guy.

So Happy for him!

On to the NASCAR race :D

[Baby Lee]

That was a nasty looking accident. Castronevas (sp?) going under the flying car had to be a pants shitting moment. :eek:

That was AMAZING. Don't think I've ever seen so much air under a car [even the famous Mercedes flip of a few years back that resulted in the undercarriage rule change]

Scarier even than the bassackwards landing on the safety cell wall was the landing flush on the cockpit protection triangle right after.

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/wwvyy/smkhvr" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

[Baby Lee]

More inspiring, amazing even, in Monaco

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/s/fnbm1/fbggfi" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

Slo-Mo of the close cutting

<blockquote class="imgur-embed-pub" lang="en" data-id="BM8kL9h"><a href="//imgur.com/BM8kL9h">hhnnnnngg</a></blockquote><script async src="//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Prison Bitch]

My live report from Indy:


*Worst crash I've seen there in 30 years. Shocked Dixon survived.
*Awesome for Sato
*Alonso is a f**** stud. Looked to the crowd after getting out, raised his arms and got a standing O

[eDave]

My live report from Indy:


*Worst crash I've seen there in 30 years. Shocked Dixon survived.
*Awesome for Sato
*Alonso is a f**** stud. Looked to the crowd after getting out, raised his arms and got a standing O

You are/were there? Nice man.

[Prison Bitch]

They won't run it if I'm not there

[Baby Lee]

They won't run it if I'm not there

Fess up, are you Jim Nabors?

[Prison Bitch]

Fess up, are you Jim Nabors?

He's been dead for some time. You of all people would know that

[Baby Lee]

He's been dead for some time. You of all people would know that

Alive and well in Hawaii.

[Prison Bitch]

Alive and well in Hawaii.

I stand corrected. He's not been at Indy in a long while

[Dylan]

My live report from Indy:


*Worst crash I've seen there in 30 years. Shocked Dixon survived.
*Awesome for Sato
*Alonso is a f**** stud. Looked to the crowd after getting out, raised his arms and got a standing O

The on-board replay was difficult to watch when Dixon's car went airborne on impact. Thankfully, he stepped out of what little was left of his car unaided.

It was a ferocious impact - Remarkably, the drivers survived a spine chilling moment.

As for Alonso, he performed brilliantly. It was amazing how quickly he learned the finer points of racing on an oval track. It was a shame - He was going strong battling with one of the fastest average lap times in P6, with twenty laps to go and Honda's engine fails. How ironic - McLaren-Honda's power units in F1 have been a complete failure.

It was an exciting race.The battle between Sato and Castroneves went right to the wire - Nice to see Sato win a historic race.

What a great race to watch live.

Caution, Caution is out - Harvick hits the wall - Takes out Al Bundy's favorite driver, Kasey Kahne got to go...

Best,

D.

[Prison Bitch]

Alonso will 'definitely' return to the Indy 500 in the future
By Edd Straw
@eddstrawF1

the last two weeks. I came here to prove myself, to challenge myself," said Alonso.

"I know that I can be as quick as anyone in an F1 car, I didn't know if I can be as quick as anyone in an IndyCar.

"It was nice to have this competitive feeling, leading the Indy 500."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129831

[Dylan]

Great article. Thanks

The top speed of IndyCars vs. F1 cars is amazing:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/27/23/40DF3C5A00000578-0-image-a-144_1495923679387.jpg

[Prison Bitch]

Alonso had the fastest avg lap speed today.

He lost time in the pits, but that's expected since F1 doesn't have fuel stops.

[Demonpenz]

Lots of crazy crashes.

[Dylan]

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3204277.1496070171!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/usa-motor-racing-indianapolis-500.jpg



Sportswriter is ‘no longer an employee’ of Denver Post after ‘disrespectful’ Indy 500 tweet

Denver Post publisher Mac Tully and editor Lee Ann Colacioppo issued a statement on Monday that sportswriter Terry Frei is no longer an employee of the newspaper one day after he tweeted that he was “very uncomfortable” with Japanese driver Takuma Sato winning the Indianapolis 500 during Memorial Day weekend.

“Nothing specifically personal, but I am very uncomfortable with a Japanese driver winning the Indianapolis 500 during Memorial Day weekend,” wrote Terry Frei, of the Denver Post.

A hail-mary apology couldn’t save former ESPN and, now, former Denver Post columnist Terry Frei after the seven-time state sportswriter of the year tweeted his disapproval of Japanese driver Takuma Sato winning yesterday’s Indy 500.

Frei’s apology, which originally featured a plug for one of his books before he revised that, again, was a clear attempt at damage control aimed at satisfying his employer; clearly, it didn’t work, as KUSA says the Post fired him today:

“We apologize for the disrespectful and unacceptable tweet that was sent by one of our reporters,” the statement reads. “Terry Frei is no longer an employee of The Denver Post. It’s our policy not to comment further on personnel issues. The tweet doesn’t represent what we believe nor what we stand for. We hope you will accept our profound apologies.”

Frei said in the apology the source of his anti-Japan angst was rooted in his father having fought in World War II. He then thanked someone who defended his original tweet.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/05/29/denver-post-sportswriter-issues-apology-after-facing-backlash-for-indy-500-tweet/?tid=pm_sports_pop&utm_term=.dcd2b65f31e7#comments
http://deadspin.com/denver-post-columnist-fired-after-racist-tweet-about-in-1795634687



Professional journalists inform - Tweets have to be retweetable. If journalists did not learn by now that social media stupidity leads to firings, they deserve to be on the street.

I cannot believe Frei's original apology included a plug for one of his books - What an moron - All the way around.

[GloryDayz]

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.3204277.1496070171!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/usa-motor-racing-indianapolis-500.jpg



Sportswriter is ‘no longer an employee’ of Denver Post after ‘disrespectful’ Indy 500 tweet


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/05/29/denver-post-sportswriter-issues-apology-after-facing-backlash-for-indy-500-tweet/?tid=pm_sports_pop&utm_term=.dcd2b65f31e7#comments
http://deadspin.com/denver-post-columnist-fired-after-racist-tweet-about-in-1795634687



Professional journalists inform - Tweets have to be retweetable. If journalists did not learn by now that social media stupidity leads to firings, they deserve to be on the street.

I cannot believe Frei's original apology included a plug for one of his books - What an moron - All the way around.

Wow... Just WOW!!!!

[Prison Bitch]

I don't quite follow his sentiment but why fire him? Can't journalists have a controversial opinion or must we all follow the same exact approved thoughts?


Btw my family was at Pearl Harbor and there were tons of Japanese tourists taking photos. Rubbed my parents the wrong way (my grandpa served in the Pacific during WWII). Is that wrong too? Maybe. But maybe not

[DJ's left nut]

I don't quite follow his sentiment but why fire him? Can't journalists have a controversial opinion or must we all follow the same exact approved thoughts?


Btw my family was at Pearl Harbor and there were tons of Japanese tourists taking photos. Rubbed my parents the wrong way (my grandpa served in the Pacific during WWII). Is that wrong too? Maybe. But maybe not

I noticed that when I was 16.

I think many people share a similar reaction. It's not disgust or hatred, just a bit of uncomfortable cognitive dissonance. Disquieting may be the best word for it.

It really is a bizarre thing to witness.

[alpha_omega]

Holy cow. Is anyone else watching?

Huge crash, huge fire. Driver is lucky to be alive. He was in the fire for a long time.

I’ll post the vid once I can get back to a PC.

[alpha_omega]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QvcLaEH3qbg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[WhawhaWhat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I just don’t get how Grosjean has survived this. Incredible. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Formula1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Formula1</a> <a href="https://t.co/OE8RH5Vd1y">pic.twitter.com/OE8RH5Vd1y</a></p>&mdash; Mitchell Turner (@MitchellTurner8) <a href="https://twitter.com/MitchellTurner8/status/1333060494182105089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[AussieChiefsFan]

Any thoughts as we approach the first race of the year?

[kstater]

Fantastic win by Verstappen today.

[wheeler08]

My neighbor has been telling me for months that I need to watch the F1
Series on Netflix. I’ve watched about half the first season and I’m addicted to it. I don’t want to watch any races until I’m caught up lol. I remember I watched an F1 race a few years ago at Monaco and never thought of it again.

[SuperBowl4]

Fantastic win by Verstappen today.F1 is a ****ing JOKE! Two laps behind a safety car and they call it a official race? Are you ****ing kidding? And then they have podium/trophy celebration and are spraying champagne! Formula Less than ZERO. These arrogant douchbags can go **** themselves! :thumb: :arrow:GO CHIEFS!:arrow:

[eDave]

F1 is a ****ing JOKE! Two laps behind a safety car and they call it a official race? Are you ****ing kidding? And then they have podium/trophy celebration and are spraying champagne! Formula Less than ZERO. These arrogant douchbags can go **** themselves! :thumb: :arrow:GO CHIEFS!:arrow:

It's a damned social media sport now. Likes, fans, ratios, etc., win races.

[EPodolak]

The Belgian event was a complete drag. The Germans drove through the Ardennes with less problem. (Dumb, I know).

On the upside I never knew this thread existed. On to the Netherlands.

[unlurking]

Glad she's all right. Didn't see any coverage of this from Sky during the what, 5 hours of race day / race broadcast? Have watched a few times at half and full speed and it makes me cringe every time. Brutal.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LelCUR5tyMs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[EPodolak]

Not a surprise today.

Coming in 4th and being a lap behind shows the dominance of the top two teams in the sport.

[EPodolak]

The one and only US race in the formula one season...Austin Texas. Should check it out this afternoon...minimal potential for incompetent defense, it's every man for himself and unlike other American races it's not just driving in a circle. Best thing on TV today.

[unlurking]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/43HCYSXZ9GI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[unlurking]

Got tickets for Spa (Eau Rouge!!!!) and Zandvoort next year. Cannot fucking wait.

[EPodolak]

What a thrilling end to the season. Really happy for Max, unbelievable end to the race.

[JPH83]

Thought it was a massive shame and a bit of a robbery, but there it goes. Find Verstappen and Horner incredibly unlikeable.

[EPodolak]

Thought it was a massive shame and a bit of a robbery, but there it goes. Find Verstappen and Horner incredibly unlikeable.

Hamilton and Wolff are Brady/Belichick to me, hence my happiness for the outcome today.

[eDave]

Salute to Kimi. He was great.

<iframe width="520" height="420" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sj5T6XZk-rw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[unlurking]

Hamilton and Wolff are Brady/Belichick to me, hence my happiness for the outcome today.
Couldn't agree more. Glad somebody "shit in Lewis's toilet".

[JPH83]

Hamilton and Wolff are Brady/Belichick to me, hence my happiness for the outcome today.

Fair enough. They've dominated and I can see why people don't warm to them. Just cannot stand RB.

[unlurking]

Fair enough. They've dominated and I can see why people don't warm to them. Just cannot stand RB.
I'm a RB fan mainly because of the drivers. I would love to see Marko disappear though, that guy is a nut job. Horner and Wolff are both assholes, but to be fair, FIA has given them both plenty to bitch about this season.

[alpha_omega]

Thought it was a massive shame and a bit of a robbery, but there it goes.....

I totally agree with this...it was nice to see someone other than Hamilton, but it didn't seem like what happened was right.



Lewis Hamilton says FIA ‘manipulated’ last lap showdown in radio message

Lewis Hamilton accused the FIA of manipulating the final race of the season shortly before losing his Formula One title to Max Verstappen, it has emerged.

The Mercedes driver was generous in defeat in Abu Dhabi after his dreams of an eighth world title controversially ended in a final lap showdown. But on that last lap, after Verstappen had passed him, Hamilton said over the radio: “This has been manipulated, man.”

After Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams on lap 53 of 58 the expectation would ordinarily have been for the race to conclude under the safety car.

However Mercedes believe there was an unfair FIA intervention from the race director, Michael Masi, to ensure Verstappen was right behind Hamilton for that final lap shootout.

Mercedes lodged two protests on Sunday night but had both rejected by race stewards. However they have given notice of intention to appeal that decision - and now have until 7pm on Thursday to decide whether to go ahead.

Meanwhile Verstappen, who was nursing a sore head after celebrating through the night which ended to the soundtrack of We Are The Champions by Queen, has admitted that the FIA may look to change the rules that led to his dramatic last lap victory.

“Always after things like this, you are going to look into what can we do, or what should have been done,” he said. “It’s the same in football. Should it have been a penalty? Shouldn’t it have not? What can we improve? These kinds of things you’ve got to bring up for sure.”

“But I and the team didn’t do anything wrong. We just raced when there was a green light so that also made it really enjoyable for us to be celebrating.”

Verstappen also revealed that he had been sent a message from the Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, saying he deserved to win the world title.

“Toto sent me a text. ‘Congratulations on the season’ and that I deserved to win it. So that was very nice of him. Of course, emotions ran very high to that last lap from both sides. Both teams gave it all to the end, and it was just an amazing battle.”

The 24-year-old, who won his first world championship, also paid tribute to Hamilton, saying he was impressed by his sportsmanship.

“Of course it helps that you already have seven titles,” he joked. “I think that comforts him a bit. I think if it’s the other way around, it would be more painful for me. But Lewis is a great sportsman in general. He came up to me and congratulated me. And it must have been very tough in that last lap.

“It also shows the respect we have for each,” added Verstappen. “Of course we had our tough times throughout the season, but in the end, you know, we respect what we were doing and we’re pushing each other to the limit the whole season. So it has been really enjoyable racing against them.”

Meanwhile the FIA’s handling of the highly controversial ending to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been heavily criticised as the sport “marking its own homework” by a leading international arbitration lawyer.

Duncan Bagshaw, a barrister at Howard Kennedy specialising in international arbitration and litigation, was dismissive of the process and said Mercedes would be in a strong position to mount legal action.

“The FIA, marking its own homework, perhaps unsurprisingly said that they stood by the decision of the race director,” he said.

Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, had asked Masi to allow the lapped cars between Verstappen and Hamilton to unlap themselves, leaving the title protagonists closed-up for the crucial final lap. It was initially stated they would not be allowed to do so but it was then announced that those five cars specifically could unlap themselves.

When racing resumed Hamilton was a sitting duck on much older tyres and Verstappen swiftly passed him to take the win and the title. Mercedes protested the handling of the safety car procedures but had their protests rejected.

“Everybody wanted to see that race finish in racing conditions but the rule makes it very clear that any cars that have been lapped by the leader have to be allowed to pass the leading cars and the safety car before the race is restarted and he did not allow that to happen,” said Bagshaw.

“It’s very important for Mercedes to give the message that racing is the most important thing to this sport,” he said.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/dec/13/lawyer-warns-fia-abu-dhabi-decision-could-be-overturned-in-court

[unlurking]

FIA has been manipulating races all season. Both teams have been bitching about it. Masi made the right call when he called for the unlap, the problem was that he didn't make that call from the start and only allowed the small group to unlap instead of everyone. His initial call not to unlap was the wrong call, and I'm guessing someone told him if he left it that way, combined with the bad no call on lap 1 turn 6 it would look like he was fixing the race for Lewis.


I'm guessing Masi just had to many interests involved with his decision making, such as not wanting to end the WDC under an SC. FIA has been super inconsistent all year. People bitching about NFL officiating have no idea. lolol

[alpha_omega]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What an incredible start to the season that was! 😱<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BahrainGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BahrainGP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://t.co/5psskLx9cY">pic.twitter.com/5psskLx9cY</a></p>&mdash; Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1505588944972484617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[unlurking]

Was a fantastic race. Loved to see how competitive it was with the new regs. Great to see Ferrari and Haas running well.

[unlurking]

Waiting for some KMag gear. :D


https://i.redd.it/lr67ab1v0do81.png

[Donger]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching last year's F1 "champion" DNF.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

My son raced karts in Europe for a few years. 3 of the current F1 pilots were in karts at that time. The tops was Max. That kid could shoe a kart around tracks like no one else.
Nice to see Ferrari might be able to bring it this year. The Tifosi was happy and the church bells were ringing in Maranello.

[DJ's left nut]

Been a fan of Sainz since he lost his seat (unfairly) at Renault.

And the prancing horse has been my ride since the Jean Alesi/Gerhard Berger days back when they were still rocking that giant Marlboro wing.

Rooting for Schumaker was fun because hey - winning is good times. But it always felt a bit like rooting for the Yankees. Vettel did all his damage w/ Red Bull so...eh.

With LeClerc and Sainz, this has been a really easy paddock to root for. Damn happy to see them come out hot with these new regs. And getting 1 and 2 means it wasn't an accident.

They might just have a hell of a car this year.

[DJ's left nut]

Waiting for some KMag gear. :D


https://i.redd.it/lr67ab1v0do81.png

Wait a minute - when did Magnussen come back to Haas? Moreover - why? Guy just isn't very good.

[unlurking]

Wait a minute - when did Magnussen come back to Haas? Moreover - why? Guy just isn't very good.
Haas had to drop the Russian oligarch money, and it's driver, Mazespin. They announced Kev a couple weeks ago. He was good enough for P5 today.

[EPodolak]

Dominant performance by the Ferrari drivers, that group made the most of the off-season. Like the new car design this year.

[unlurking]

<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The one GM I&#39;ve talked with about F1 on the record is Brett Veach, in the second half of this column, when I sat down with him and Mahomes in the same day last season. He makes a Mahomes/Verstappen comp (!). <a href="https://t.co/Myz2NChUwV">https://t.co/Myz2NChUwV</a></p>&mdash; Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) <a href="https://twitter.com/bykevinclark/status/1509242141897375752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp>

[Shiver Me Timbers]

<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The one GM I&#39;ve talked with about F1 on the record is Brett Veach, in the second half of this column, when I sat down with him and Mahomes in the same day last season. He makes a Mahomes/Verstappen comp (!). <a href="https://t.co/Myz2NChUwV">https://t.co/Myz2NChUwV</a></p>&mdash; Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) <a href="https://twitter.com/bykevinclark/status/1509242141897375752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp>

Good Read. Thanks for sharing.

[unlurking]

<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">��<a href="https://twitter.com/F1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@F1</a> tonight is officially announcing that it will bring a new Saturday-night 50-lap race to The <a href="https://twitter.com/Vegas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Vegas</a> Strip starting next season, in November 2023.<br><br>�� The 3.8-mile track has three main straights/14 corners/a high-speed cornering sequence/a chicane section/top speed of 212MPH. <a href="https://t.co/c802DbMenu">pic.twitter.com/c802DbMenu</a></p>&mdash; Adam Stern (@A_S12) <a href="https://twitter.com/A_S12/status/1509357331905232897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp>

[Shiver Me Timbers]

Aussie Qualifying up in 1 hour. ESPN

[EPodolak]

<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">��<a href="https://twitter.com/F1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@F1</a> tonight is officially announcing that it will bring a new Saturday-night 50-lap race to The <a href="https://twitter.com/Vegas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Vegas</a> Strip starting next season, in November 2023.<br><br>�� The 3.8-mile track has three main straights/14 corners/a high-speed cornering sequence/a chicane section/top speed of 212MPH. <a href="https://t.co/c802DbMenu">pic.twitter.com/c802DbMenu</a></p>&mdash; Adam Stern (@A_S12) <a href="https://twitter.com/A_S12/status/1509357331905232897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp>

Didn't know Vegas was in consideration for F1.

That will sell a few tickets.

[SuperBowl4]

F1 SUCKS. The engines sound like ****. They ditched fuel strategy. And It's still as boring as ever. Plus the way they screwed Lewis Hamilton last year out of the World championship was a disgrace.

[WhawhaWhat]

F1 SUCKS. The engines sound like ****. They ditched fuel strategy. And It's still as boring as ever. Plus the way they screwed Lewis Hamilton last year out of the World championship was a disgrace.

They have fastest cars in the world around a track driven by the best drivers. Pit strategy absolutely plays a part in the races. Some races can be better than others but that's no different than any other form of racing.

They sure don't need gimmicks like adding dirt to the track in order to draw fans.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

F1 SUCKS. The engines sound like ****. They ditched fuel strategy. And It's still as boring as ever. Plus the way they screwed Lewis Hamilton last year out of the World championship was a disgrace.

Long Beach Grand Prix is happening this weekend out your way. The Porsche Cup Races are great entertainment.

[EPodolak]

F1 SUCKS. The engines sound like ****. They ditched fuel strategy. And It's still as boring as ever. Plus the way they screwed Lewis Hamilton last year out of the World championship was a disgrace.

Can't agree it "sucks", and the least boring motor sport I know of.

Also can't bring myself to feel sad for Lewis Hamilton or that the sport somehow has ever screwed him. Not even a little.

[DJ's left nut]

Lance Stroll is such a dipshit.

Wish my daddy would buy me a seat. Jesus.

[Demonpenz]

rush is a good movie

[Shiver Me Timbers]

Lance Stroll is such a dipshit.

Wish my daddy would buy me a seat. Jesus.

+1 on this take. that kid is a monobrow train wreck.

[alpha_omega]

Just watched the Australia replay. Wow, The Ferrari finished 20 seconds ahead of second.
Congratulations Leclerc.

[DJ's left nut]

Just watched the Australia replay. Wow, The Ferrari finished 20 seconds ahead of second.
Congratulations Leclerc.

Yeah, once Max broke down, it wasn't much of a race. And frankly it wasn't going to be either way. Once Leclerc held off Max on the re-start, it was all over but the crying. Nobody really had anything for him.

I was kinda hoping Hamilton and Russell would go at it a bit but there was never anything on the line. And man, Hamilton really has become a whiny bitch. Poor Sainz just had a hell of a bad weekend. Lousy luck in Q3 left him back in 9th on the grid when he was probably a 4th or 5th place car. So Ferrari goes with hards to set up a 1-stop strategy and Sainz just can't get the grip and goes off in like the 2nd lap.

Just rough luck and never really anything he did wrong.

I think Mercedes took the constructors lead back but man, Ferrari is going to be a REALLY tough out this year.

[SuperBowl4]

Just watched the Australia replay. Wow, The Ferrari finished 20 seconds ahead of second.
Congratulations Leclerc.Boring as hell. Announcers trying to make a race for 8th place sound exciting! I use to love F1 back when they had the V12's and V10's and had to take on FUEL and tires during pit stops.

[SuperBowl4]

Can't agree it "sucks", and the least boring motor sport I know of.

Also can't bring myself to feel sad for Lewis Hamilton or that the sport somehow has ever screwed him. Not even a little.I'm not a lewis hamilton fan but if you think that last race of last season was legit you are in denial. F1 even admitted it was "human error". Your "Not a little." comment in false and a bald face lie.

[DJ's left nut]

I'm not a lewis hamilton fan but if you think that last race of last season was legit you are in denial. F1 even admitted it was "human error". Your "Not a little." comment in false and a bald face lie.

In what world should they NOT have waived through lapped traffic? That's par for the course there. And it wasn't Max who caused the safety car - Lafiti screwed up (because, y'know - he's another back-marker that probably doesn't belong out there).

Additionally, when Hamilton put both wheels off the track for a pass of Verstappen, the race stewards made him 'give up the gap' instead of actually surrender the position. Which is damn uncommon.

Hamilton, at WORST, broke even in that race. It's common practice for lapped cars to unlap themselves under the safety car. Had the race stewards NOT allowed it it would've been stranger than anything. And because they dicked up and didn't allow everyone to unlap as soon as the safety car came out, they had to make the 'amended' call to allow only the cars between Hamilton/Verstappen to unlap so that there was still a lap of racing left.

But again - standard procedure just lets everyone unlap at the safety car. It was the steward's decision not to let teams unlap initially that created a problem.

Hamilton got unlucky - he didn't get screwed.

[-King-]

I'm not a lewis hamilton fan but if you think that last race of last season was legit you are in denial. F1 even admitted it was "human error". Your "Not a little." comment in false and a bald face lie.

I'm just a drive to survive watcher so I'm as casual a F1 fan as can be but yeah while that was fucked up, they also helped him earlier in the race when they kept him in 1st even though he ran the curb to pass Verstappen. At the worst they just evened it out.

[unlurking]

I'm absolutely loving the midfield racing. Yes, Ferrari ran away with this one in a commanding fashion (damn they are fast, but how the hell does Leclerc not need a neck brace?! :) ). Broadcast has had some really bad f* ups (e.g. too many replays in the last laps), but I love that there showing more midfield racing. I really hope they don't follow Indy broadcasts next year and throw up commercials. :(

[KCUnited]

The new wheels are going to take me a bit to get used to. They somehow made the cars look visually slower for me.

[SuperBowl4]

Here is a double-murder suicide F1 related story from last year -> https://youtu.be/8JSYabGPBxQ

[alpha_omega]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A reminder of our standings after three races in 2022!<br><br>Any stand-out surprises for you? 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusGP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F1</a> <a href="https://t.co/akLoGpoPVA">pic.twitter.com/akLoGpoPVA</a></p>&mdash; Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1513407750830796801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[DJ's left nut]

The mid-pack teams really are interesting this year.

Even Williams has a point. And near as I can tell they don't actually finish races. Haas is managing to not embarrass itself but that's mostly just a product of not have Mezispin anymore. I am a little surprised by how completely ineffective Schumacher has been, though.

Alpine and McLaren are likely to have a heck of a fight for 4th this year. It may come down to Ricciardo vs. Alonso. And while I think Alonso's probably the better pure driver at this point, Ricciardo has 2-3 races every year where he's suddenly just awesome and that may be good enough.

AlphaTauri has an interesting paddock w/ Tsunoda and Gasly. I'm curious of Bottas can do anything for Alfa but with a noob teammate he's going to have some serious work to do.

In the end I think you end up:

Ferrari - Mercedes - Red Bull - McLaren - Alpine - AlphaTauri - Haas - Alfa - Aston Martin - Williams

But lord man, Aston and Williams are going to be so awful this year.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

The mid-pack teams really are interesting this year.

Even Williams has a point. And near as I can tell they don't actually finish races. Haas is managing to not embarrass itself but that's mostly just a product of not have Mezispin anymore. I am a little surprised by how completely ineffective Schumacher has been, though.

Mick is not close to his dad in talent. Closer to his uncle Ralph

We spent a half dozen race weekends in Kerpen Germany at Michael and Ralphs home kart track while my son was racing. "Kart Klub Kerpen" on the outskirts of town. Mick is a good driver but never really impressed me too much. He went off to F2 because of his name. Same thing Haas is doing.

If you are ever bored look up Kerpen Germany. Michael built a race themed entertainment center there. Rental Karts, Arcade and a couple of restaurants that are darn near 5 stars. That is where our team would end up in the evening. Good times.