Formula 1

[chaggle]

Bit like The X Factor

[Matt]

I wonder if Formula 1 is the only sport in which the qualifying stage is usually vastly more exciting than the actual race?

Having now watched yesterday's race do you wish to update your comment or did I miss some very exciting qualifying?

[Tony Williams]

Having now watched yesterday's race do you wish to update your comment or did I miss some very exciting qualifying?

Actually I missed almost all of the race as I was away from home and saw only the last fifteen minutes or so; but I gather that it was a lot more exciting than usual

[Matt]

Actually I missed almost all of the race as I was away from home and saw only the last fifteen minutes or so; but I gather that it was a lot more exciting than usual

That said I've read a little more about the qualifying and that by all accounts was extraordinarily close.

All good for the sport and the championship looks more open again.

[chaggle]

Ferrari cheated again. Team orders are not allowed. They have been fined $100,000 - chicken feed.

These two I normally have some time for:

Schumacher himself took the opposing viewpoint, arguing that Ferrari as they had done with him back in 2002 were concentrating on the only important issue at stake – the drivers' title.

"I understand 100 per cent and I would do exactly the same – what are we here for? We're fighting for the championship."

Retired F1 driver David Coulthard agreed.
"For me this whole rule about team orders is ridiculous. You shouldn't stop teams being able to control their race result. Like video evidence at the World Cup, it is time to change that rule."

But this time they are wrong.

Ferrari cheated - of that there is no doubt. They have been referred to the FIA.

About Schumacher

Here’s an easy way to decide debates about sporting morality. 1. See which side Michael Schumacher’s on. 2. Take the other side. Rarely will you be in the wrong.

[Tony Williams]

There's no doubt they broke the rule, and did it quite blatantly. It should be borne in mind, however, that the rule is relatively recent - there is a very long tradition in F1 of a team's second driver giving way to the first when required. The rule against this was only introduced because such switching of places was unpopular with the spectators.

In fact, given the importance of winning the world title, there is no doubt that it will continue to happen anyway, it's just that the teams are likely to be more subtle and not make it so obvious. It's easy enough to make the message a lot more coded (or simply sort it out privately in advance), and to arrange an apparently genuine passing manoeuvre.

[Croydon Bob]

On the F1 Forum after the race, Coulthard kept clouding the issue. There were two seperate points: 1, should the rule exist? 2, did Ferrari break it? Couthard didn't seem to be able to grasp that it shouldn't be ignored just because he thinks it is a silly rule. The rule is clear, and that Ferrari broke it was very clear, as other team owners, ex-team owners, drivers, ex-drivers and the Stewards said.

A fine of $100,000 is a pathetic punishment. If Alonso wins the WDC by less than the 7 points he gained by cheating then it will be worth $millions to Ferrari. The damage this incident has done to F1 as a brand is also going to be $millions.

It is extraordinary that with Schumacher still around, Alonso now has a reputation as the biggest cheat in f1.

[panama]

Bloody Scalextric!

[polomint38]

This is way better than F1

World Land speed record for a dining table

[Tony Williams]

Well, it's over for this year. The longest contest (in terms of the number of races) and one of the most closely-fought, with no fewer than four drivers in with a chance of winning the title at the start of the final race. The outcome was a surprise, with the driver only ranked third overall at the start winning the race and the title. Sadly, the actual race was dull, dull, dull. I don't recall a single significant overtaking manoeuvre; it was won or lost depending on when the teams decided to pull in their cars for their one mandatory tyre change. The rest was a procession.

A big part of the problem was the Abu Dhabi track, which made overtaking very difficult. This was in complete contrast to last week's Brazilian GP, which had the most exciting dry racing (as opposed to racing in changing conditions, which is always exciting - as I started this thread by observing) I can recall - because the track design encourages overtaking. The final race should have been held in Brazil, but I suppose that money talks.

[chaggle]

I'm just glad cry baby Alonso got nowhere. I usually support Spanish sport after England has been knocked out but I can't stand him.

I hoped this might explain his apparent ire with Petrov

Alonso clarifies Petrov gesticulation

When asked by BBC Sport to explain his hand signal, Alonso replied:

“I tried to pass him once, it was very aggressive but that’s the way it is. He drove very well, with no mistakes, and I think next year we’ll try again.”

[Croydon Bob]

I'm just glad cry baby Alonso got nowhere. I usually support Spanish sport after England has been knocked out but I can't stand him.

Apparently there were T-shirts available at Abu Darbi saying:

A B A
Anyone But Alonso

Vettel is a popular World Champion because he is not Alonso. Just as Alonso was initially popular because he wasn't Schumacher.

I don't support F1 drivers because of their nationality, never liked Mansell and supported Prost against him. I don't really mind who wins next year as long as it isn't Schumacher or Alonso. If I was a betting man I'd put money on Rosberg right now while the odds are good.

[Tony Williams]

I usually support Spanish sport after England has been knocked out...

So you support Spain most of the time, then?

[Tony Williams]

Apparently there were T-shirts available at Abu Darbi saying:

A B A
Anyone But Alonso

Vettel is a popular World Champion because he is not Alonso. Just as Alonso was initially popular because he wasn't Schumacher.

I don't support F1 drivers because of their nationality, never liked Mansell and supported Prost against him. I don't really mind who wins next year as long as it isn't Schumacher or Alonso. If I was a betting man I'd put money on Rosberg right now while the odds are good.

I'm not an Alonso fan, but I do have sympathy for Ferrari simply because they're the only supercar firm which has consistently put their reputation on the line, season after season. If any one team can be said to represent the heart of F1, it's that one.

I would have liked Mark Webber to win, simply because he's been around for a long time and this was probably his last chance. I was also delighted with Button's win last year, as he had been slogging in the wilderness for years and seems a nice guy. I must be somewhat ageist, as I'm not a fan of either Hamilton or Vettel - too cocky.

[farmersboy]

A big part of the problem was the Abu Dhabi track, which made overtaking very difficult. This was in complete contrast to last week's Brazilian GP, which had the most exciting dry racing (as opposed to racing in changing conditions, which is always exciting - as I started this thread by observing) I can recall - because the track design encourages overtaking. The final race should have been held in Brazil, but I suppose that money talks.

I see that the last race for next year is indeed Brazil.

Not too disappointed with the result as it wasn't Alonso, but I would have preferred Hamilton or Webber (in that order).