I've been well impressed with DC's drives over the last 2 races. Previous race he was up to 6th before the car expired and he was flying in comparison to the people around him... he also put a few cracking overtaking moves on.
This time round he was clearly catching Kubica (and Alonso.. although he was on the option tyres at the time) until the last stint... when I guess the gearbox issues got in the way. I mean, he lost over 7 seconds in 1 lap... so it was great damage limitation from then on. I actually agree with him being driver of the day.
The Spanish GP ain't the best for overtaking, and I don't think changing the layout made any difference to that.
Unfortunately... Monaco being Monaco... I guess we can expect much the same.
F1 GP
I agree with GregR there and could add another half dozen of names to that list...but overtaking on the track has been replaced with 'overtaking' in the pits. Too much strategy and not enough racing.
If that's what a takes to make F1 safe enough, then what's the point? As I remember it, F1 went downhill when re-fuelling was introduced.
If that's what a takes to make F1 safe enough, then what's the point? As I remember it, F1 went downhill when re-fuelling was introduced.
I am all in favour of safety, as you say, too many of the world’s greatest drivers died in cars that they would have survived in today. The norm for the Fangio and Moss era was shirt sleeves, cloth helmets, and no seat belts. And they were still doing upto 200mph.
The problem is that you cannot turn back the clock on technology and invention. Once they have been incorporated into the car, it is very hard not to go on using them, and build in even more.
It is good to see that many of the drivers would like to get back to actually driving and having control over their cars. All the modern safety features could be kept in place, in fact increase the minimum weight and make them stronger, the penalty is the same for everybody. And if they are slower and without the multitude of wings and spoilers that are multiplying, then slipstreaming would return, and overtaking would be on the cards again.
But at the same time start stripping out all the electronic gizmos. They can still be incorporated into production cars where they belong, to help drivers stay out of trouble, but racing cars should be exactly that, racing, which is why we watch it.
At present, assuming equal performance cars up at the front, the result is almost decided in the pits with STRATEGIES. 5 litres of extra fuel are equal to so many 100ths of a sec, 1 stop, 2 stops, 3 stops etc can decide the outcome as opposed to the driver or car being better or faster than the others.
And speaking of safety, get rid of the 20 pit crew for each car so that they can have 8 sec or less stops. Apart from cutting down on the cost, you would not get repeats of the Ferrari fire yesterday, and the BMW wheel nut rolling down the pit lane. Bring in a compulsory 20 sec timed stop for everybody so that it is not a circus act. Even better, if it is not feasible to do away with pit stops all together, start all cars with full fuel before qualifying, then fill up before the race. Allow one pit stop for re-fuelling and new tyres, based on 20 secs.
I may have got it all wrong, but I think that way it may get back to being watchable again at most tracks, as opposed to the one or two a year if we are lucky.
tut
ps Greg, I meant to say where are the likes of those drivers today.
Again, I know that times change, but with the massive amounts of money involved now, very few drivers with personalties seem to emerge, as they all have to take it so seriously. Did you see the section on the Teams hospitality suites yesterday? They made tut towers look like a semi.
The problem is that you cannot turn back the clock on technology and invention. Once they have been incorporated into the car, it is very hard not to go on using them, and build in even more.
It is good to see that many of the drivers would like to get back to actually driving and having control over their cars. All the modern safety features could be kept in place, in fact increase the minimum weight and make them stronger, the penalty is the same for everybody. And if they are slower and without the multitude of wings and spoilers that are multiplying, then slipstreaming would return, and overtaking would be on the cards again.
But at the same time start stripping out all the electronic gizmos. They can still be incorporated into production cars where they belong, to help drivers stay out of trouble, but racing cars should be exactly that, racing, which is why we watch it.
At present, assuming equal performance cars up at the front, the result is almost decided in the pits with STRATEGIES. 5 litres of extra fuel are equal to so many 100ths of a sec, 1 stop, 2 stops, 3 stops etc can decide the outcome as opposed to the driver or car being better or faster than the others.
And speaking of safety, get rid of the 20 pit crew for each car so that they can have 8 sec or less stops. Apart from cutting down on the cost, you would not get repeats of the Ferrari fire yesterday, and the BMW wheel nut rolling down the pit lane. Bring in a compulsory 20 sec timed stop for everybody so that it is not a circus act. Even better, if it is not feasible to do away with pit stops all together, start all cars with full fuel before qualifying, then fill up before the race. Allow one pit stop for re-fuelling and new tyres, based on 20 secs.
I may have got it all wrong, but I think that way it may get back to being watchable again at most tracks, as opposed to the one or two a year if we are lucky.
tut
ps Greg, I meant to say where are the likes of those drivers today.
Again, I know that times change, but with the massive amounts of money involved now, very few drivers with personalties seem to emerge, as they all have to take it so seriously. Did you see the section on the Teams hospitality suites yesterday? They made tut towers look like a semi.
- Any idea if/when they are being shown this year?? Looking forward to some more comments like "I'm having him" 
Agree with all of your comments Tut, but my BIGGEST complaint is James Allen. He irritates me so much that I can barely stand watching even a good race.
It's a shame you don't have Sky. I do and it's purely for the US racing & A1GP.
A1GP is pretty much as you described in your post above. A great format some pretty good up and coming talent in equal cars. Only one guy on each wheel at a pit stop. Also the best ever commentary team of John Watson & Ben Edwards.
One of the best things about the US racing - other than the passing on the track
- is that it is generally on at 9pm or 10pm on a Sunday night. At least that way if the race is crap you have not wasted 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon in the summer and you can just roll over and fall asleep.
Stewart
It's a shame you don't have Sky. I do and it's purely for the US racing & A1GP.
A1GP is pretty much as you described in your post above. A great format some pretty good up and coming talent in equal cars. Only one guy on each wheel at a pit stop. Also the best ever commentary team of John Watson & Ben Edwards.
One of the best things about the US racing - other than the passing on the track
- is that it is generally on at 9pm or 10pm on a Sunday night. At least that way if the race is crap you have not wasted 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon in the summer and you can just roll over and fall asleep.Stewart
