Justin: 24 hours after saying his title hopes were finished, Lewis Hamilton stated that "of course he would still fight for the title". Eh? Ok, theres saying something in the heat of emotion after a race, then theres saying something and meaning it then being told be either your management team or your employer to reverse your comments asap! Fernando hasn't retracted his statement about the title being out of reach this year.
Reading this blog by a BBC reporter, Mark Hughes, is bloody interesting...especially where it states "someone who should clearly know said that Hamilton was one unhappy bunny at Mclaren and would leave tomorrow if he could" - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13935658.stm
So, what do we think? Hamilton to Red Bull and Webber to Ferrari? I've heard a lot stranger goings on.
Speaking of Mark, he has been at Wimbledon over the last couple of days.
Jake Humphrey has been in Italy filming with Alonso for the BBC - yey!
Martin Brundle, DC, Jenson and Lewis are all fannying around in the Thames for British motorsport week apparently.
Thats all for now.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Monday, 27 June 2011
Valencia
Justin: Well, it was my fault I guess. I labelled qualifying a bit dull and then said we should hope to look forward to a more interesting race. On one hand, I'm going to say it was a rather dull race compared to others frankly. On the other though, there was plenty of interest up front as Vettel, Alonso and Webber stayed within 3-5 seconds of each other until the final pitstops.
Vettel made an excellent start whilst Lewis dropped from 3rd to 5th, being swamped by the two Ferrari's. Massa backed out of a move on Webber in turn two and Alonso pounced around the outside. From then on it was a story of Vettel maintaining a small advantage whilst Webber, Alonso, Massa and Lewis pushed each other behind him. At one point during the race the first 6 cars were no more than 6 seconds apart. The front 3 eventually dropped the other guys and we then had a battle on our hands, or so we thought.
Webber was second, followed closely by Fernando going for a win in his home race. Alonso pulled a gutsy (as we saw, the DRS zones weren't as beneficial as they normally are on other tracks) overtake on Webber to take second place. Later on though Webber got the place back via the first pit stops. It was as you were after the first stops, with Vettel 3 or 4 seconds ahead of Alonso in 3rd, with Webber between them. Whilst it looked a lot like Webber was catching Vettel at one point, given what Vettel said afterwards ("managing the tyres whilst going as fast as possible") you suspect he was going as fast as he needed to and nothing more. That must be entirely deflating for those trying to beat him frankly, and since the end of the race both Lewis and Fernando have conceeded that the title is all but done for this year.
At the second pit stops Vettel pumped in a series of flying laps to increase his gap to a comfortable 9 seconds. Webber pitted for the hard tyres first hoping they would be better used softs, but they weren't and the others stayed out on softs for a couple more laps, able to do better lap times. Alonso jumped Webber back into second via the second pit stops, by which time Vettel was gone.
Other than the front 3 keeping things intriguing, there wasn't much else going on.
Lewis Hamilton sounded very frustrated in his car. When his engineer mentioned to him that he'd just done two fastest sectors but he needed to manage the tyres and pace himself, Lewis replied "I can't go any slower guys". When they asked him to speed up later on he replied "This is as fast as I can go guys", in a deadpan voice. Who reckons he will leave Mclaren sooner rather than later eh?
Vettel has by far the best car, that much is certain. What is setting him apart from Webber in the same equipment is that he is much more comfortable with the car on the new types of tyres. Webber himself has said he struggles to get much out of the first stint of tyres. Lewis tends to race off and burns his tyres up so he can't go fast later on a stint. The Ferrari's are kind to the tyres but arent on the same pace as Red Bull right now.
The happiest guys in the pitlane aside from Vettel are probably Webber and Alonso, though when I mean happy I mean...satisfied in Webber's case....I doubt he is happy being Red Bull number 2 these days. Webber seemed pretty satisfied yesterday and called it his best race of the year (possibly because he kept within touching distance of Vettel or possibly because he tussled with Alonso throughout the first stint and kept his tyres in better order). Alonso has stated he is driving the best he has ever driven and a second in your home race whilst splitting the fastest cars out there would bring a smile to your face.
So, what of the title race? My co-blogger stated long ago that it was Vettel's title. I now reluctantly agree with him.....I've given up hope, as have Lewis and Fernando it seems. At least I'm in good company.
Onto Silverstone we go.
Vettel made an excellent start whilst Lewis dropped from 3rd to 5th, being swamped by the two Ferrari's. Massa backed out of a move on Webber in turn two and Alonso pounced around the outside. From then on it was a story of Vettel maintaining a small advantage whilst Webber, Alonso, Massa and Lewis pushed each other behind him. At one point during the race the first 6 cars were no more than 6 seconds apart. The front 3 eventually dropped the other guys and we then had a battle on our hands, or so we thought.
Webber was second, followed closely by Fernando going for a win in his home race. Alonso pulled a gutsy (as we saw, the DRS zones weren't as beneficial as they normally are on other tracks) overtake on Webber to take second place. Later on though Webber got the place back via the first pit stops. It was as you were after the first stops, with Vettel 3 or 4 seconds ahead of Alonso in 3rd, with Webber between them. Whilst it looked a lot like Webber was catching Vettel at one point, given what Vettel said afterwards ("managing the tyres whilst going as fast as possible") you suspect he was going as fast as he needed to and nothing more. That must be entirely deflating for those trying to beat him frankly, and since the end of the race both Lewis and Fernando have conceeded that the title is all but done for this year.
At the second pit stops Vettel pumped in a series of flying laps to increase his gap to a comfortable 9 seconds. Webber pitted for the hard tyres first hoping they would be better used softs, but they weren't and the others stayed out on softs for a couple more laps, able to do better lap times. Alonso jumped Webber back into second via the second pit stops, by which time Vettel was gone.
Other than the front 3 keeping things intriguing, there wasn't much else going on.
Lewis Hamilton sounded very frustrated in his car. When his engineer mentioned to him that he'd just done two fastest sectors but he needed to manage the tyres and pace himself, Lewis replied "I can't go any slower guys". When they asked him to speed up later on he replied "This is as fast as I can go guys", in a deadpan voice. Who reckons he will leave Mclaren sooner rather than later eh?
Vettel has by far the best car, that much is certain. What is setting him apart from Webber in the same equipment is that he is much more comfortable with the car on the new types of tyres. Webber himself has said he struggles to get much out of the first stint of tyres. Lewis tends to race off and burns his tyres up so he can't go fast later on a stint. The Ferrari's are kind to the tyres but arent on the same pace as Red Bull right now.
The happiest guys in the pitlane aside from Vettel are probably Webber and Alonso, though when I mean happy I mean...satisfied in Webber's case....I doubt he is happy being Red Bull number 2 these days. Webber seemed pretty satisfied yesterday and called it his best race of the year (possibly because he kept within touching distance of Vettel or possibly because he tussled with Alonso throughout the first stint and kept his tyres in better order). Alonso has stated he is driving the best he has ever driven and a second in your home race whilst splitting the fastest cars out there would bring a smile to your face.
So, what of the title race? My co-blogger stated long ago that it was Vettel's title. I now reluctantly agree with him.....I've given up hope, as have Lewis and Fernando it seems. At least I'm in good company.
Onto Silverstone we go.
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Team Name.....
Justin: In response to my co-blogger asking me for suggestions for karting team names, I have come up with the following:
Shunt
That is all...keeps up the homage to James Hunt theme, and it still rhymes with stuff...and of course the irony is that with a name like that, you won't have an accident...unless Gavin is around and you pile into him.
Hardly inspiring I know....or is it?!
I can't help but wonder, based on my co-bloggers stag do karting, if his team are getting a DC when really they want a Fernando Alonso...tell them I am available...and I will of course expect everything to revolve around me ;-).
I saw Senna for a second time the other day, not to rub in my co-bloggers sold out woes, and it was even more emotional this time. I was this close to shedding a tear when you see footage of Frank Williams crying at Senna's funeral.
Valencia quali was boring yesterday lets be honest. On their final run's only Webber improved whilst Lewis and Fernando both pitted before completing their last hot laps....how dull. It was probably the least exciting quali this year frankly...Lets hope the race delivers as every other one has this year so far.
Shunt
That is all...keeps up the homage to James Hunt theme, and it still rhymes with stuff...and of course the irony is that with a name like that, you won't have an accident...unless Gavin is around and you pile into him.
Hardly inspiring I know....or is it?!
I can't help but wonder, based on my co-bloggers stag do karting, if his team are getting a DC when really they want a Fernando Alonso...tell them I am available...and I will of course expect everything to revolve around me ;-).
I saw Senna for a second time the other day, not to rub in my co-bloggers sold out woes, and it was even more emotional this time. I was this close to shedding a tear when you see footage of Frank Williams crying at Senna's funeral.
Valencia quali was boring yesterday lets be honest. On their final run's only Webber improved whilst Lewis and Fernando both pitted before completing their last hot laps....how dull. It was probably the least exciting quali this year frankly...Lets hope the race delivers as every other one has this year so far.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Sold out
Phil: Imagine my annoyance yesterday evening on getting to the cinema, only to find a note reading, 'Senna 8pm sold out' stuck to the door. My annoyance only lasted for a moment before turning to something of a warm glow as I realised how many fellow F1 fans there must be in a small town in Gloucestershire, and how much interest in a driver who died before some of them were born. Definitely booking my tickets in advance next time though.
In other news, I've been picked for the karting team at work! We are taking part in a one off karting event, competing against other accounting firms in the region. We've been asked to choose team names. I've been told my suggestion - Rhymes with 'James Hunt' - is inappropriate and would welcome any suggestions my co-blogger might have.
In other news, I've been picked for the karting team at work! We are taking part in a one off karting event, competing against other accounting firms in the region. We've been asked to choose team names. I've been told my suggestion - Rhymes with 'James Hunt' - is inappropriate and would welcome any suggestions my co-blogger might have.
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Canadian GP Final Lap Grandstand Finish
Justin: Well, it's been a week since the amazing race in Montreal. We've had some time for it to sink in and reflect upon what was the best race of the year (there have been many of those but usually with a predictable winner...not here though!) and in many ways it gave us the grandstand finish the red flag/ safety car robbed us of in Monaco.
Button's drive from last to first was clinical, classy and brutally quick. At one stage near the end of the race he was over 2 seconds a lap faster than Vettel in the lead.
This race had everything! Hamilton providing overly enthusiastic overtakes, punting Webber into a spin as well as being involved in a 50/50 with Button. Button was taking his racing line, but as other bloggers on the BBC website have stated, you can quite clearly see Button looking into his mirros twice just before the two cars touched. Whether he actually saw Hamilton, who knows. I suspect Jenson genuinely didn't see him. Hamilton was not right alongside Jenson at all, so you could say Jenson was just following his line and thats that frankly.
There were safety car periods galore, not to mention the two hour wait for the rain to calm down a bit. This was the longest F1 GP in history at just over 4 hours!
We had a resurgant Michael Shumacher driving like a man possessed in the 15 or so laps towards the end of the race. He was running in second and he, Webber and Button were chasing each other and actually catching Vettel. I for one was actually dissapointed we didn't see Schumi get a podium....oh how times have changed!
We had Button and Alonso touching as they diced their way through the field. This was a racing incident, with no guy really to blame. Button was not fully alongside Alonso on the inside as they turned into the chicane. With Alonso on the outside going in, he would have had the inside line going out. So Button said "I'm coming through, you decide if we touch or not"...Alonso said "You're not coming through, I have the line, but theres room for two"...and bang, Alonso is out and Button gets a puncture.
Watching those final few laps as Button hunted down Vettel made the hairs on my neck stand on end. What a truly amazing finish to an extraordinary race! 0.9 seconds on the last lap, Button swarming all over the back of Vettel's exhaust, then Vettel spins and Button slides through to take an immense victory and fully deserved one at that too.
I could write about this race for hours, but the best way to review the race and enjoy it to the max isnt to read about it here, but to go and watch it again!
Mark Webber amused me in the press conference, as he usually does with his down the line assessement of the day. He said each of the guys on the podium deserved what they got today. He was basically saying "yeah, amazing drive JB nice one"...but at the same moment you could see Seb thinking "what the fuck? I was leading all the way and I deserve second?" It's the same sort of thing as when Hamilton won when Webber claimed it was good for F1 and the others chasing that someone else had won a race. From a driver view I totally agree, but would Red Bull like this?
Speaking of drivers and teams, there have been a few rumours already about movers and shakers for next year. Red Bull and Mark Webber seem rather unsure of what they are up to. Red Bull claim Webber told them he wants to stay and they are happy to have him. Webber then said we'll wait and see. Hamilton was seen talking to Lewis at Montreal in a 15 minute "private social discussion"...yeah right. If Lewis wants to leave Mclaren, Red Bull is his only viable option.
Onto Valencia we go!
Button's drive from last to first was clinical, classy and brutally quick. At one stage near the end of the race he was over 2 seconds a lap faster than Vettel in the lead.
This race had everything! Hamilton providing overly enthusiastic overtakes, punting Webber into a spin as well as being involved in a 50/50 with Button. Button was taking his racing line, but as other bloggers on the BBC website have stated, you can quite clearly see Button looking into his mirros twice just before the two cars touched. Whether he actually saw Hamilton, who knows. I suspect Jenson genuinely didn't see him. Hamilton was not right alongside Jenson at all, so you could say Jenson was just following his line and thats that frankly.
There were safety car periods galore, not to mention the two hour wait for the rain to calm down a bit. This was the longest F1 GP in history at just over 4 hours!
We had a resurgant Michael Shumacher driving like a man possessed in the 15 or so laps towards the end of the race. He was running in second and he, Webber and Button were chasing each other and actually catching Vettel. I for one was actually dissapointed we didn't see Schumi get a podium....oh how times have changed!
We had Button and Alonso touching as they diced their way through the field. This was a racing incident, with no guy really to blame. Button was not fully alongside Alonso on the inside as they turned into the chicane. With Alonso on the outside going in, he would have had the inside line going out. So Button said "I'm coming through, you decide if we touch or not"...Alonso said "You're not coming through, I have the line, but theres room for two"...and bang, Alonso is out and Button gets a puncture.
Watching those final few laps as Button hunted down Vettel made the hairs on my neck stand on end. What a truly amazing finish to an extraordinary race! 0.9 seconds on the last lap, Button swarming all over the back of Vettel's exhaust, then Vettel spins and Button slides through to take an immense victory and fully deserved one at that too.
I could write about this race for hours, but the best way to review the race and enjoy it to the max isnt to read about it here, but to go and watch it again!
Mark Webber amused me in the press conference, as he usually does with his down the line assessement of the day. He said each of the guys on the podium deserved what they got today. He was basically saying "yeah, amazing drive JB nice one"...but at the same moment you could see Seb thinking "what the fuck? I was leading all the way and I deserve second?" It's the same sort of thing as when Hamilton won when Webber claimed it was good for F1 and the others chasing that someone else had won a race. From a driver view I totally agree, but would Red Bull like this?
Speaking of drivers and teams, there have been a few rumours already about movers and shakers for next year. Red Bull and Mark Webber seem rather unsure of what they are up to. Red Bull claim Webber told them he wants to stay and they are happy to have him. Webber then said we'll wait and see. Hamilton was seen talking to Lewis at Montreal in a 15 minute "private social discussion"...yeah right. If Lewis wants to leave Mclaren, Red Bull is his only viable option.
Onto Valencia we go!
Friday, 10 June 2011
Villeneuve
Phil: Gilles, of course.
I devoured my co-blogger's analysis of Senna, which I personally can't wait to see. I must have watched the trailer online half a dozen times now - is Barrichello's crash the one that's in the trailer, dubbed with Senna saying something like, 'if you're not prepared to take risks, then you're not a racing driver'?
We seem to be delving deeper and deeper into the history of the sport, and this week, a mere quarter of a century after my co-blogger, I got round to watching the 1985 European Grand Prix. It's on BBC F1's excellent classic F1 feature - keep your eyes open for Nigel Mansell's dad...
This week's classic F1 features Paul di Resta's top 5 favourite races, and as he's barely driven 5 grands prix in his career he's naturally picked some old stuff. The one they've gone with, as we are going to the circuit that bears his name, is one of Gilles Villeneuve's classic drives, the 1979 French Grand Prix.
And it's raining in Montreal.
I devoured my co-blogger's analysis of Senna, which I personally can't wait to see. I must have watched the trailer online half a dozen times now - is Barrichello's crash the one that's in the trailer, dubbed with Senna saying something like, 'if you're not prepared to take risks, then you're not a racing driver'?
We seem to be delving deeper and deeper into the history of the sport, and this week, a mere quarter of a century after my co-blogger, I got round to watching the 1985 European Grand Prix. It's on BBC F1's excellent classic F1 feature - keep your eyes open for Nigel Mansell's dad...
This week's classic F1 features Paul di Resta's top 5 favourite races, and as he's barely driven 5 grands prix in his career he's naturally picked some old stuff. The one they've gone with, as we are going to the circuit that bears his name, is one of Gilles Villeneuve's classic drives, the 1979 French Grand Prix.
And it's raining in Montreal.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Senna
Justin: I'll be quite honest. When Senna was alive I probably wasn't his biggest fan. He played the part of pantomime villain in my house where "Our Nige" was hero worshipped through the 80's and into the 90's. Plus, when I first started watching F1 I was only 6 in 1985, so by the time Senna passed in 94 I was probably developing more of an admiration for him.
It's only after something disappears that you start to realise what you are missing. That's what I have done with Senna as I have plenty of books about him and I have his title years on video, as well as the 1993 review with THAT first lap at Donnington in the wet....the lap that Murray Walker calls the greatest ever single lap he has ever seen driven by anyone.
I went to see the documentary Senna the other day and found it to be an emotional, moving, poetic and at times disturbing film tracing the career of the 3 times world champion.
The footage is amazing, with the director having received special permission from Bernie to raid his footage material store at Biggin Hill. This consists of such things as driver briefings we have never previously seen, Senna on TV shows in Brazil flirting shamelessly with pretty woman presenters and footage shot in and around the paddock.
It starts with Senna arriving on the karting scene in Europe and from there charts his rise up to the top in Formula 1 and ends with his death at Imola in 1994. Actually the last piece of footage is quite beautiful and shows you the man behind the driven enigma of Senna....he is asked who is the greatest individual he has faced on the track (I believe this footage was from his later Mclaren years, possibly 93...)....not Prost, not Mansell, but a karting chap by the name of Terry Fullerton...because it was pure racing, no politics.
You see his infamous interview with Jackie Stewart, which until now I had only read about...hehe...funny! You see the friendly moments he had with Prost before their relationship descended into trying to run each other off the road. You see Piquet and plenty of other drivers standing up for Senna in a driver briefing, with Senna himself getting so emotional that he walks out!
I don't like agreeing with Ron Dennis, but from this film you do get a true sense of what the man was really like, on the track and away from it.
Senna's open and honest remarks about not being invincible and being afraid of dying on the track are particularly poignant and upsetting as we all know what's coming.
Obviously in a film about Senna, he won't be portrayed as anything but a true hero battling the authority of the FIA. Prost contributed to the film and probably knew he wouldn't be portrayed in the best light at times, but I must say, from what I knew of their rivalry before I would say it's not as black and white for me as it was.
It's a well put together film, with Senna himself narrating via interviews over the footage.
The pain and despair at the fateful weekend in Imola is apparent as soon as Rubens goes off at 170 mph. Of the 3 crashes his actually looked the worst, going airborne before smashing into the armco.
Prof Sid Watkins was a good friend of Senna and he asked him not to race that weekend after Rubens was injured and Roland Ratzenberger died, he said they could both retire and go fishing there and then. Senna simply replied "I cannot".
If the piece of suspension that hit Senna in the head and pierced his helmet had hit 6 inches higher or lower he would have walked back to the pits.
I actually forgot that Prost was in the Williams pit at the time of Senna's accident.
All in all, it's a brilliant film and beautifully done frankly.
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
More statistics than you can shake a stick at
Phil: Categorical proof that this season's championship battle is over.http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/interactive/2011/apr/28/formula1-championship-points-2011
About the best thing you can say is: haven't they chosen him a gay shade of indigo?
Will be back with a more detailed post soon.
About the best thing you can say is: haven't they chosen him a gay shade of indigo?
Will be back with a more detailed post soon.
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