Formula One

[Jonny Whizz]

Are there any other petrolheads on here?

This thread is for open for just about any F1 discussion.

[felneymike]

I was into it when Damon Hill was winning XD.

Didn't i hear that Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are both going to be in the same team? Assuming they have a decent car that'll be interesting. (And i can cheer if either one of that colour wins XD).

[Digifiend]

Yeah. Jenson signed up with McLaren, the team Lewis was already racing for. Michael Schumacher came out of retirement to take Button's old spot. Should be an interesting season this year.

[Jonny Whizz]

Plus, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are paired together at Ferrari. They've been in a few run-ins with each other in the past, and Alonso has raced against uncompetitive team-mates (Piquet Jr, Grosjean) for the last two seasons at Renault. Lewis Hamilton was his last good team-mate, at McLaren, but that ended up in a bit of a mess, and their infighting ultimately cost both the drivers' title - they'd already lost the constructors' due to the Spygate scandal.

[bustercomic]

Another petrolhead checking in.

I'm a bit concerned about the return of Schumi.....I hope it doesn't turn into a macher monopoly again, it was quite fun last year with the underdogs doing well, then struggling.

Reading some of the pre season testing reports on the BBC makes me think we're in for a cracker of a season, though.

[Jonny Whizz]

I don't think Schumacher will dominate the season, although equally he won't take long to get up to speed, and will probably be in contention for podiums and wins. Reading into testing is a mug's game; the only thing we can tell from testing so far is that Ferrari are quick, but we don't know how quick they are. I do believe Mercedes are a bit behind both Ferrari and McLaren, though Red Bull haven't launched their car yet, which is based on last year's car, which was aerodynamically the best on the grid.

[felneymike]

If you beleive the hype about Hamilton (even Schmacher said he was "impressed" if i recall) and he has a car that works, those two could possibly end up in a fierce title fight.

1994 all over again!

[bustercomic]

So, what did we make of race one?

Like many people, I thought it was a bit of a disappointment, but then I often find the first race of the season is.

What about you?

[Digifiend]

Even Jenson Button said it was boring. Says it all really.... the refuelling ban is to blame.

[brisey]

The preserving your engine for three races did not help either.At one point Vettel was unchallenged as the second and third place drivers were more worried about the next race.

Some of the changes looked good on paper-keeping costs down,more level playing field etc.But I think there may be a rethink at the end of the year

[bustercomic]

Now Australia has to be a marked improvement surely?

Perhaps making Borain the season opener was the mistake

[steelclaw]

Even Jenson Button said it was boring. Says it all really.... the refuelling ban is to blame.

Borings not the word.

[Jonny Whizz]

This weekend's race wasn't boring! I thought the Australian Grand Prix was a really good race by any standards.

I think the damp track improved overtaking but also the new section at Bahrain was no good for racing at all which made things worse, although Bahrain did produce boring races even though the old circuit was good for overtaking.

On a different note, I thought that Button, Hamilton, Alonso and Kubica were the best drivers in the race. I can't see Schumacher competing for the championship even when he gets up to speed because I think Mercedes are on about the same level BMW were a couple of years ago - producing good consistent results and scoring plenty of points but not usually fighting for grand prix wins. Still, they do have Ross Brawn.

[Jonny Whizz]

I'm bumping up this thread because we're now reaching the end of the season - just two races left (Brazil and Abu Dhabi).

Given how boring the Bahrain Grand Prix was, this season hasn't been a bad one - five drivers could still win the title (the chances of Button doing it are slim though).

Today's Korean GP was another good race, although it should have been restarted earlier as Martin Brundle said in the commentary. I can't wait for the Brazilian GP, it should be an exciting race.

I'd like Hamilton to win the title but I certainly would not mind if Webber or Alonso won (I think it's more likely they'll win it really). I'm fine as long as it isn't Vettel, who I find rather annoying, especially when he takes pole position as he over celebrates coming out on top in qualifying (e.g. Yes! Yes! P1! P1!) - when he still has to win the race.

[Digifiend]

The McLaren cars haven't been very reliable recently have they? Hamilton didn't finish in Hungary, Italy and Singapore, and Button crashed out in Belgium (although Hamilton won that race).