Jump to content

Photo

F1 Season so far - Spoiler Alert

- - - - -

  • Please log in to reply
12 replies to this topic

#1
Danny Steyn

Danny Steyn

    Zulu rain warrior

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,439 posts
  • Location:Fort Lauderdale
  • Region:FL
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:39
WOW - just wow - this year is proving the be the best Formula 1 season I can ever remember.
  • Seven races - Seven different winners - Button, Alonso, Rosberg, Vettel, Maldonado, Webber, Hamilton..... who's next????
  • Championship points - top 3 drivers separated by 4 points (Hamilton 88, Alonso 86, Vettel 85)
  • Lotus in 3rd place in constructor points ahead of Ferrari - who would have thought they would be this high so soon - above Ferrari and Mercedes AMG????
  • And especially the new talent - Perez, Grosjean, Maldonado .....
Talk about getting the Spec right - this is harder to predict than a Spec Miata national - and remember only a few years ago in teh Schumi years when you would watch the start, go and do something and then come back to watch the finish. Now its not decided until the final lap..

Absolutely friggin brilliant.

Danny
Danny Steyn Racing | DSR YouTube Channel
Danny Steyn Photography | Adept Studios | Ocean MachineryOPM AutosportsRossini Racing Engines | G-Loc Brakes | 

 

2 x SCCA Runoffs Champ | 1 x NASA National Champ | 6 x June Sprints Champ | 10 x ARRC Champ

1 x SCCA Super Sweep | 2 x Triple Crown | 4 x Hoosier Super Tour Points Champ | 6 x Majors Points Champ | 5 x SEDiv Driver of the Year

 

 

June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Majors Winner - BFG Supertour Winner -

#2
William Bonsell

William Bonsell

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 398 posts
  • Location:Poulsbo, WA
  • Region:Northwest
  • Car Year:1999
Incredible race! I guess Alonzo should have come in for tires. And Vettel running the fastest race lap at the end all the while finishing 4th. Wow, indeed!!

Bill
Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+ Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#3
Jim Drago

Jim Drago

    East Street Racing / 2 Time National Champion

  • Administrators
  • 6,566 posts
  • Location:Memphis, Tn
  • Region:Mid South
  • Car Year:2005
  • Car Number:2
crazy, best season by far.

East Street Auto Parts
Jim@Eaststreet.com
800 700 9080

NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner Hoosier Super Tour points Champion - Hoosier Super Tour points Champion ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata BFG Supertour Winner - Majors Winner - Circuit of the Americas Winner - We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America

#4
DES4

DES4

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 141 posts
  • Location:Orlando, FL
  • Region:Central Florida
  • Car Year:1993
  • Car Number:93
I'm not sure if what's been achieved here is parity, but there's certainly no clear dominance this season. Everyone seems to be searching for a means to exploit any opportunity overlooked in the rulebook.

... and it was satisfying to watch the Alonso/Ferrari lead fade into a fifth place.
Dave Stine


"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed," -Eleanor Roosevelt

#5
Bench Racer

Bench Racer

    Different strokes for different folks : )

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,508 posts
  • Location:Wauwatosa, WI
  • Region:Milwaukee
  • Car Year:1990
  • Car Number:14
Even tho they continue to spend a gazillion dollars to construct each car there have been many things taken back/changed (not allowed to do or use) over the last few years. Love those 3 1/2 second pit stops. A couple driver errors leaving the pit box. In fact one belonged to Hamilton, don't remember who the other was.
Broken record - You are starting to sound like a broken record. Donor - Made PayPal donation Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#6
Jim Boemler

Jim Boemler

    Veteran Member

  • Moderators
  • 852 posts
  • Location:Mukilteo WA
  • Region:NWR
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:30
Well, we have a certain amount of racing welfare going on. The guys behind are nearly guaranteed to be able to pass the guys ahead, due to DRS. Yeah, that makes for lots of passing and "excitement", but it's also just a little phony. Before long we're going to be watching the WWF of racing, which I find a bit sad -- even if more "exciting". I wonder if the excitement of artificial passes will wane over time?

I was excited to watch one of my favorite drivers pull out the win, mostly through real talent (although DRS played a part as well). But by time Perez sailed by Alonso, it seemed like Fernando had the bad luck to be doing well, and the positions were just handed to those behind. I thought he got hosed by the spectator-focused (read money-driven) welfare system.

At some point we're going to see "race strategy" devolve into the equivalent of Ebay sniping -- drivers holding back until the closing laps in order to use the DRS to slingshot past the competition, before they can become victims of the same strategy by others. It's just hard for me to call it "racing" at that point.

#7
Jim Drago

Jim Drago

    East Street Racing / 2 Time National Champion

  • Administrators
  • 6,566 posts
  • Location:Memphis, Tn
  • Region:Mid South
  • Car Year:2005
  • Car Number:2
JB
I couldn't disagree more.. Funny I am taking the "welfare" position and you the conservative one :) The downforce on the cars in the past 5-10 years had gotten so bad that the second place car could not pass less being 3-5 seconds a lap faster. The DRS has made F1 better than anytime since I started watching ( early 90's) I applaud the efforts made and really enjoy the racing. the tires have done more than the DRS IMO. Funny, crappy Pirelli tires are what is making the season so good :)

East Street Auto Parts
Jim@Eaststreet.com
800 700 9080

NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner Hoosier Super Tour points Champion - Hoosier Super Tour points Champion ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata BFG Supertour Winner - Majors Winner - Circuit of the Americas Winner - We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America

#8
DES4

DES4

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 141 posts
  • Location:Orlando, FL
  • Region:Central Florida
  • Car Year:1993
  • Car Number:93
Jim B.;

I'd suggest that if the FIA were "spectator-focused", you'd see the rules weighted more heavily toward Ferrari. Keep in mind that the largest percentage of fans are Tifosi, and Ferrari has (on several occasions in the past) used the threat of pulling out of Formula 1 to gain leverage as a bargaining tool, knowing full well that everyone realizes they'd be taking the bulk of the gate receipts with them. Obviously, I have little love for the politics of the Scuderia, so I'll concede that my point is possibly a little subjective.

Beyond that, I think the FIA fiddles with the rules too much. As Jim Drago pointed out, the tires seem to have accomplished what the complicated rule set could not.
Dave Stine


"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed," -Eleanor Roosevelt

#9
dstevens

dstevens

    Veteran Member

  • SMembers
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,404 posts
  • Location:Vegas
  • Region:LVR

Funny, crappy Pirelli tires are what is making the season so good :)


The tires are meant to degrade over the runs forcing more strategy. That was one of the design specs from Formula 1, don't make tires that last so long every race turns to a single stop affair. The parity is largely due to the teams not having reams of tire data from which to design and tune the car. Add in the testing ban and resource restrictions and they don't have the ability to develop at as quick a pace as they have in previous seasons. When testing was unlimited Ferrari had 3 full time test teams. An engine test team, an aero test team and a suspension/tire test team.

It's a great season.

#10
Marc Cefalo

Marc Cefalo

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 159 posts
  • Location:Northeast Pa
  • Region:NEPA
  • Car Year:1997
  • Car Number:#00
On my way back from montreal and all I can say is f1 in person insane! While qualifying was interesting the last twenty laps of the race were fantastic. Unless you're there I person, you'll have no idea just how well they brake, accelerate and sound!

I'm not crazy about the new engine rules for 2013 but last i heard they are postponed.

Marc Cefalo

www.planet-miata.com

 

570-262-1013 direct

#1 source for new and used Miata parts and accessories.

We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#11
HoneyBadger - BrianW

HoneyBadger - BrianW

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 416 posts
  • Location:Dallas, TX
  • Region:Southwest
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:59

On my way back from montreal and all I can say is f1 in person insane! While qualifying was interesting the last twenty laps of the race were fantastic. Unless you're there I person, you'll have no idea just how well they brake, accelerate and sound!

I'm not crazy about the new engine rules for 2013 but last i heard they are postponed.


+1. I am still in Montreal and it was an amazing race to watch in person. I think the combination of tires and DRS makes for some great excitement.
Make it Rain - Made Paypal donation of $100+ Bona fide - A bonafide Spec Miata driver

#12
Jim Drago

Jim Drago

    East Street Racing / 2 Time National Champion

  • Administrators
  • 6,566 posts
  • Location:Memphis, Tn
  • Region:Mid South
  • Car Year:2005
  • Car Number:2

The tires are meant to degrade over the runs forcing more strategy. That was one of the design specs from Formula 1, don't make tires that last so long every race turns to a single stop affair.


I know and that was pretty easy task for Pirelli :)
  • dstevens likes this

East Street Auto Parts
Jim@Eaststreet.com
800 700 9080

NASA Champs Winner - NASA Champs Winner Hoosier Super Tour points Champion - Hoosier Super Tour points Champion ARRC Champion - Won the ARRC Race in a Spec Miata Series Champ - Won a points based series in a Spec Miata BFG Supertour Winner - Majors Winner - Circuit of the Americas Winner - We have a Winnah! - Won their 1st race... Congratulations! June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner June Sprints winner  - June Sprints winner SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America SCCA National Champion - Won SCCA Runoffs at Road America

#13
Jim Boemler

Jim Boemler

    Veteran Member

  • Moderators
  • 852 posts
  • Location:Mukilteo WA
  • Region:NWR
  • Car Year:1992
  • Car Number:30

JB
I couldn't disagree more.. Funny I am taking the "welfare" position and you the conservative one :) The downforce on the cars in the past 5-10 years had gotten so bad that the second place car could not pass less being 3-5 seconds a lap faster. The DRS has made F1 better than anytime since I started watching ( early 90's) I applaud the efforts made and really enjoy the racing. the tires have done more than the DRS IMO. Funny, crappy Pirelli tires are what is making the season so good :)


I don't disagree about the extreme aero being the source of the problem. But with my "conservative" hat on, I have to suggest fixing the problem itself, rather than covering it up with silly band-aids. Remember that all the aero aids are spec'd in the rules -- dial back on that aspect of the rules, and they could really race again, rather than each car depending on opening its EBT flap. ;)




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users