The F1 season 2006

I'm sorry that you disagree with me RdS but I really think the reaction (and the punishment) was a complete overreaction. I don't see it as a dirty trick, even if it was deliberate. It does look to me like he could have made it around the corner and that the correction he made which put him wide was unnecessary but it's impossible to know all the facts.

He did apologize, whilst still maintaining that it wasn't deliberate: "I am sorry that Fernando's lap was ruined and it was definitely not my intention to do that."

I agree, but then I would apply the same to Senna. The fact that he got killed in tragic circumstances has, to my mind, erased a lot of the controversy from his record.

Michael.

 

Anyone going to be at Silverstone on Sunday?

 

Most of my team but not me. I will be at the factory, 7 miles away.

Weather forecast is good so it should be a good event to attend.

Ian

 

Totally unnecedssary post

Yes, I quite agree. So, admiting the four greatest drivers were Fangio, Clark, Senna and Schumacher, we still get two honest guys... (Tripps death, of course, but I think Clark is innocent ).

 

Boring race today. It's a shame the teams feel more at ease looking to pass somebody on the stops than on the circuit.

I do hope the proposed revisions to the cars' aerodynamics solve the dirty air problem. FIS today was another case of a driver being clearly faster than the guy in front, but never having a chance to overtake. That problem should have been tackled years ago. As an immediate measure, I suggest rear wings the size of an Aspirin.

 

I think there was no doubt of that. It appears that Trips, with the possibility of becoming Germany's first World Champion, discounted the possibility that the just-overtaken Clark might try to overtake him, forgot that there are several possible lines through the Parabolica at Monza and simply didn't look.

 

I was at Silverstone at the weekend for the first time(for F1) for almost 10 years. When I was 'but a lad' in the mid 80s / 90s the annual pilgrimage to Silverstone (or Brands Hatch) was something I never missed. So what about 'then and now', the contrasts that I noticed
- so much more money!
- the racing was not as exciting as I rememember, although qualifying was good (honestly!!). The cars are much 'prettier', close up the aerodynamics are amazing. The Renaults (and to some extent the Ferraris) seem noticabley 'smoother' / more balanced on the track (car? drivers? both?) than they seem on TV
- lots more to buy!
- access to 'behind the scenes' is much more limited now. I rememember it was easy to get a pit lane pass back then!
- the after-GP party for race goers - I'm not sure how well Status Quo stack up against the band who used to play from the bacK of one of the Jordan teams transporters!

 

"Boring race today. It's a shame the teams feel more at ease looking to pass somebody on the stops than on the circuit."

Jenson was overtaking people and would have contnued had he not had his fire!

As ever the current situation w.r.t. overtaking is a consequence of lots of factors.

Ian

 

Dear Tones: I agree, but in the quote you could have left the smiley out. It was not in keeping with the particular bit you quoted.

Anyway, yes, Trips seems not to have been aware of Clark, and Clark did not have where to go.

But my point was that it is odd that Senna and Schumacher are far less sporting lots than Fangio and Clark. I'm not saying 'good old times' - too many people died - but just stressing that nowadays drivers indulge in far less straightforward antics.

 

I was referring, of course, to MSC/RAI.

 

"I was referring, of course, to MSC/RAI"

That I think was simple risk analysis, MSC knew that he could pass him on a quick in and out lap. Whereas overtaking on the track was less certain and more risky.

Ian

 

I know, and I do see the point. But it sure would be more exciting for the public if the teams were willing to take that risk.

But we have been through that before. Each individual team is doing what's right for themselves, but the sport as a whole ends up with a boring race. I'm afraid it still has not sunk in to F1 as a whole that they're in the entertainment business.

 

Oops!!! Yes, indeed:shame: But what you say is quite true, especially Senna's ramming of Prost out of the Japanese Grand Prix and then later admitting it in a temper (he later claimed to have been misquoted). Perhaps the much increased safety of modern F1 cars adds to the preparedness to do such things?

 

"I'm afraid it still has not sunk in to F1 as a whole that they're in the entertainment business."

I have to disagree there. The number of people watching is increasing. There are bigger budgets than ever. There is a plan for F1 way into the future. Everyone knows it is a show. But as engineers we don't want to make it like wrestling or Nascar etc.

Of course things could be improved and that is what people are trying to do. With so many vested interests and so much money at stake it will take a long time and a lot of negotiation to make improvements.


Ian

 

I think you are right. But Senna paid that with his life. There just is no safe thing as driving at 300Km/h.

 

a little off topic, but does anyone know when ITV might show this sunday's race, its not showing on their listings, its only displaying the highlights?

 

No opinions about Canada? I actually think it was an interesting race, if only because cars do slip in that kind of track.

 

Only that it appears to confirm the ascendancy of Fernando Alonso as new top dog. Renault seem to have hit the perfect package, top driver and top car with bulletproof reliability. One (this one anyway) wonders whether Micky Shoes has lost some of the hunger, or whether it's a case of Ferrari producing a semi-dud (as opposed to last year's complete dud).

I shall be most interested to see whether anybody turns up to watch Indianapolis this coming weekend! And Bernie would like another US race! In his dreams.

 

I dont think the Ferrari is a dud at all, its clearly a quick car and its not unreliable either. I think Alonso and Renault have got the new qualifying format better sussed for example. Good chance that Mclaren and Raikkonen will continue to improve in the last half of the season.

 

But not quick enough!