The Official 2010 F1 Thread!!!!!!

[dirtysix]

They're probably pricing the locals out of it.
Shame if it did go. Definitely one of the more interesting tracks.

[Jon325i]

That's one of the reasons Turkey will probably not be on the calendar next year. Sad that Tilke's best track is also the one that will be the first to go of his, only to be replaced with another of his tracks I am sure.

Well to add to the mixed signals - the commentators on Speed were saying that Turkey is set to lock in a contract to remain on the F1 calendar for the next few years. No source was specifically mentioned so I guess it's nothing more than hearsay at this point.

The news swirling around the new U.S. venue at Austin, TX in two years' time could mean one of these European circuits getting dropped. Due to the logistics and time required for each event, the teams believe 18 or 19 races per season is about as much as they want. Not to mention additional events = additional cost. Counter-intuitive to FOMs desire to reduce costs in this sport.

Jon

[quickervicar]

Sorry - had to do it....

THAT is awesome!

I hated to see the clash (Vettel fan), yet loved to see it at the same time. F1 driving is often too "safe" these days. So this pleased me, as did the McLaren battle a minute later. We need more of this.

After reading Horner's statements and then reading Vettel's and Webber's, I am lead to believe that things are not great in the Red Bull motorcoach. Horner was upset (and rightly so), but I thought he'd be upset at Vettel, not Webber. It seems his anger was directed more at Webber. Apparently things were discussed over the radio that we didn't hear and Webber didn't adhere to "advice" while Vettel forced the issue. Recall that when Sebastien approached Horner at the pit wall he apologized, but also said "I didn't want to say anything over the radio..."

My theory is:

-Horner sat both drivers down before the race to discuss strategy. It was agreed that whoever was the faster driver would be allowed to take the win.

-Vettel set faster lap times for 3 laps prior to the overtake maneuver (IIRC), and Horner got on the radio to both drivers and said "Sebastien is quicker."

-Webber did not want to relinquish the lead and would not make it an easy pass

-Vettel felt that it was his deserved place to take & no contest was needed

-the nasty tailwinds going into Turn 9 shoved Vettel's rear to the left, forcing his front into Webber (I'd have to see replay of his hands).

It seems that the best way to describe this is that 2 wrongs do not make a right.

[323iNathan]

^Not nit-picking but they came together on the back straight leading up to turn 12.

And the on board footage of both drivers shows that neither driver steers their cars from the straight ahead, but Vettel did move to the right, so wind could explain that.

[quickervicar]

You are correct, sir. My mistake

[YAN-3]

WTF?

srs? I cant believe Vettel would do that...

[YAN-3]

I am still blown away by all that took place.

Reading on a bunch of sites, I get missed reports on what the team thinks and what Horner has to say, blah blah blah...

I didnt catch the post race show, but will have to DL and check it out maybe someone can fill me in if Vettel as officialy said anything?

And whats up with all the Lewis hate? why do we all seem to dislike the guy? Is it cuz he's black? or do we think he acts like a 12 year old?

[E30Kaiser]

There wasn't much said during the race about it, Vettel avoided the press for the most part, and Webber was very tight lipped for once. The team put out some stuff immediately that was very angry that their drivers would be so careless and selfish, but has since backtracked and stated that they are working it out and it will not happen again.

In regard to Hamilton, it is the 12 year old part, and the fact that he is English for me. I don't mind Button because at least he is positive, but I am not a fan of McLaren in general except for when they have a Finn at the helm like Mika or Kimi.

I like Vettel and Webber's personalities a lot more than the McLaren poster child, when they aren't wrecking into each other that is. Still love Kimi though and I hope he comes back so I can make more ice cream and vodka jokes, and watch him get fast lap awards and Spa trophies.

[rabbitude]

I think people can say all they want about Lewis personally, with cause, however he is CLEARLY in a league of his own in the skill dept. Like many of you I have been watching F1 for many years and I cant remember a more entertaining driver. Lewis can always slow down and be more consistent like JB, but JB cant go balls out fast like Lewis. Im just picking on JB here, but I cant remember seeing him win a race without a car thats by far the fastest on track or without some lucky bullshit pitstop strategy. Even the year Lewis won the championship he did not have the fastest car, Ferrari had the car to beat. I would rather watch drivers go out and try to win races, as apposed to the ones that drive around for 2 hours and hope that the race falls into their lap. I think Seb is the only guy on track that can even compete with Lewis is the skill dept.

[Jparkr]

I think Seb is the only guy on track that can even compete with Lewis is the skill dept.

Bullshit, Fernando Alonso is still the best driver in the field. He won both of his championships when Schumacher and Ferrari where the ones to beat.
Hamilton is like watching a rookie drive, almost every race he does something stupid.

[E30Kaiser]

Bullshit, Fernando Alonso is still the best driver in the field. He won both of his championships when Schumacher and Ferrari where the ones to beat.
Hamilton is like watching a rookie drive, almost every race he does something stupid.

I agree with this. Hamilton has a lot of skill, but so do a lot of the top drivers. I gained a lot of respect for both Button and Vettel at Brazil last year, it was almost like 2006 with Schumi starting at the back. People hype up Hamilton's wet weather driving as well, but I would say he is good, but not up to the hype, I mean he lost to a Toro Rosso in the wet at Monza and he lost to the same Toro Rosso in the final laps of Brazil which almost cost him the championship. His fight with Kimi at Spa will forever be one of my most exciting memories of F1 in his defense though.

[rabbitude]

I agree that Alonso is great...... but not as good as Lewis. I mean Lewis's rookie year he basically tied Alonso, who was a former world champion driving the same car

[tg318is]

I agree that Alonso is great...... but not as good as Lewis. I mean Lewis's rookie year he basically tied Alonso, who was a former world champion driving the same car

After stealing Alonso's set up

[naplesE30]

Yeah I would agree with this statement,,, he is reffering to driving by the way and not setup,,, no rookie is going to good at setup, their rookies and learning. But, based on DRIVING SKILL I think its was pretty amazing what he showed his rookie year and in the years following.. He also is fearless, which is what makes him fast. You have to shunt some cars to learn the limits. Does he do some stupid stuff, possibly. Is he intense, certainly, listen to his radio transmission. But that is what makes any of the great ones truely great. They care only about being the best at whatever cost.

He is the top driver at the moment based on unbiased observation in my mind. Kubica is showing signs that he is close behind if you ask me. Alonso has really taken a step backwards these last few races but he is also an amazing driver, espc in a damged or poor car, he seems to get more out of shitty cars then most. Its hard to asses Vetel as he has never been in a car that was slow at any point, however one needs to only look at how he is in the rain to see how talented he truely is. Rain really show cases a drivers skill as the field becomes equalized. Vettel, Hamilton and Alonso are three of the best in the rain.... Oddly Massa used to be horrible in the rain, but he has improved greatly.

I agree that Alonso is great...... but not as good as Lewis. I mean Lewis's rookie year he basically tied Alonso, who was a former world champion driving the same car

[quickervicar]

Rain really show cases a drivers skill as the field becomes equalized. Vettel, Hamilton and Alonso are three of the best in the rain.... Oddly Massa used to be horrible in the rain, but he has improved greatly.

I agree with this. I think it would be very interesting to see what happens at Montreal in the rain. The track doesn't have any sweepers to really allow them to shine in the traditional rain sense, but a whole lot of brake & throttle modulation would be required.