The guest top ten by Greg yesterday proved very popular – if you fancy writing a guest article of your own do get in touch by emailling me, using Twitter or leaving a comment below.
Here’s today’s round-up:
Links
In praise of?óÔé¼?ª Fernando Alonso (Who Are You, Anyway?)
“Here is the real weakness of the reliability formula in which each driver has a restricted quota of engines and gearboxes to last the season. A driver taking a more corporate, long-term view of the championship would have coasted back to the garage and parked in the hope that his engine and gearbox could be salvaged. Not Alonso, though.”
Pick your classic Grand Prix – race four
Argentina 1980 and Long Beach 1983 look like the best choices to me.
FIA: Ride height devices would be illegal (Autosport)
“Any system device or procedure, the purpose and/or effect of which is to change the set-up of the suspension, while the car is under parc ferme conditions will be deemed to contravene art 34.5 of the sporting regulations.”
Think positive! (Felipe Massa)
“I heard people in Malaysia on Sunday saying that Red Bull was now by far the quickest car and it is true they were in the first two rows of the grid. But over a race distance, I believe the story is a bit different and you have to remember that in Sepang, they were racing pretty much on their own as the two teams who would have pushed them hardest, started from so far back. You need to keep that in mind when assessing the race. They are definitely not unstoppable, but we need to improve a bit to be in a better position to stop them.”
Comment of the day
Yesterday’s 25th anniversary of Minardi’s first F1 start prompted this reaction from GeeMac:
There always has been, and there will always have to be, a place for the little guy in F1. The advent of modern, ultra competitive, ultra professional F1 has made it impossible for small teams to exist. Teams who just want the honour of competing at the highest level, teams of racers who don’t have 50-strong PR and Marketing teams and massive motorhomes and a fleet of attractive grid girls. The fact that their aren’t more little teams is incredibly sad and it just isn’t right.
GeeMac
Happy birthday!
No F1 Fanatic birthdays today. If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is by emailling me, using Twitter or adding to the list here.
On this day in F1
Gilles Villeneuve won the United States Grand Prix (West) at Long Beach on this day in 1979. Villeneuve dominated the race in every sense, setting pole position and fastest lap, as well as leading every lap on his way to victory.
But by the time he scored his next Grand Prix win Ferrari team mate Jody Scheckter had already beaten him to the drivers’ championship.
Read more: Gilles Villeneuve: His victories remembered
Icthyes
8th April 2010, 0:23
Salut Gilles!
Every night when I walk home from work I pass the Canadian Walk of Fame, and always check out Jacques Villeneuve’s star before moving on.
Scribe
8th April 2010, 12:49
Salut Gilles!
Of all the tributes to the many great an less well know F1 drivers who died in their cars. This one has always been the best in my eyes. It’s a memorial that makes you happy, on what would now be his home circuit.
Stephen
8th April 2010, 0:57
What happened to your YouTube channel, Keith?
David A
8th April 2010, 1:08
I didn’t even know he had one lol. I may well subscribe if I find it.
Stephen
8th April 2010, 1:18
He did have one. Seems to be suspended now. Has Keith been naughty? :P
http://www.youtube.com/user/keithcollantine
macahan
8th April 2010, 3:34
he probably posted F1 race clips ;)
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
8th April 2010, 8:46
There was an accidental copyright infringement – a piece of video I’d received which I was told had been cleared for use had in fact not been and the copyright owners complained to Youtube. Youtube have a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ rule for this kind of thing but as the video was in several parts they considered it multiple violations instead of one and closed the account. I’ve been trying to get it re-opened but am having difficulty getting a response.
It was an honest mistake made in good faith. Sadly there seems to be no tolerance for human error in their policy. I may just have to cut my losses and start a new account but I don’t want to do that until any hopes of reviving the original account, which had a lot of material on it, have been exhausted.
macahan
8th April 2010, 13:10
ouch. that is kinda brutal. best of luck..
LewisC
8th April 2010, 13:54
Ouch. Sounds slightly unfair. Maybe they’re sulking because of USF1. ;)
Plenty more video hosters out there…
wasiF1
8th April 2010, 2:20
I think the Red Bull have the pace both in the race & qualifying, because remember in Australia Webber though was in the middle of the pack was doing some good overtaking maneuver in the race.It does suggest the Red Bull this year has the quickest car on the grid so far.
Scribe
8th April 2010, 11:26
Wet track though, last years redbull was said to suffer badly in dirty air. We’ve also yet to see if Vettle can fight his up from a less adequate grid position. An he might never have to if Redbull can keep there developmental noses in front. Still if they don’t especially in qualifiying, an the Redbull doesn’t seem to have race pace particularly faster than McLaren or Ferrari his title challenge will depend on him becoming highly adpet at a skill he’s not yet displayed.
What fun.
macahan
8th April 2010, 21:58
so the critics said. But for most part they didn’t find themselves in places where they had to fight through the race or they made position the safer way by strategy or the poor guys got stuck behind a KERS car. Mark (on Alonso in Malaysia before the rain) and IIRC Button was the only two non kers cars that managed a on track overtake of a KERS car (under NORMAL conditions because we know rain is the equalizer of cars).
US_Peter
8th April 2010, 2:54
So ride height adjustments are illegal, and upon close scrutiny this weekend the FIA ruled the Red Bull is legal. Does that mean they’re just that fast in qualifying, or have they duped the FIA somehow? Also, does this affect McLaren’s planned ride height adjustment upgrade for China? Hmmm…
Mike
8th April 2010, 7:16
I’m not sure the Red Bull’s actually are “that fast in qualifying” Looking at how Vettel has easily lead all three races, maybe they are just that fast anyway!
Scribe
8th April 2010, 12:06
Well it does seem like the Redbulls are a lot faster in qualifiying comparitivley to how fast they are in the race. Where they arn’t miles ahead.
Both Ferrari an McLaren frequently display pace simular to the Redbull on tyres not disimular during race conditions.
macahan
8th April 2010, 13:29
actually I gotten the feeling in the race that they seem to pace themselves. When Webber for example sets fastest lap right at the end of the race when all others where setting 1.38 or 1.39 times. They had for all of the race a comfortable lead that even allowed a pit stop with small errors to still keep them in front. Only time it looked like they didn’t control was in Bahrain after the first pit stop then it looked like Vettel had problem keeping the comfy distance to Alonso whom manage to start closing in slowly. Until the failure occurred which at that point there was not much he could do anylonger.
Calum
8th April 2010, 16:59
Ah, but mclaren have a new super suspension ride height adjuster that will gain them 1/2 a second per lap;) >sarcasm<
RFB
9th April 2010, 0:31
Have you actually seen the Red Bull drivers in a position where they could push, and had a reason to, during a race ? Vettel has always been in front and controlling, and Webber always following another car.
LAK
8th April 2010, 3:01
Speaking of Alonso, guess what I got for my bday!! A Ferrari t-shirt by him at the Bahrain race! I got it from a very sweet friend who gave it to me, I know you’re probably not reading this but thank you SK! :D
Apparently Massa has been blogging for a while, just found out lol! I completely agree with him, yes Red Bull did perform really well in Malaysia but the main challengers were too far away. The next few races will prove how good they really are.. They certainly got some pace..
Before the season started I was afraid that a driver would rack up lots of points and then winning the championship early, but now since the “no more overtaking” hoopla is over I’m very happy to see how things are progressing towards the championship. The drivers are really keeping us on our feet, shaken up grids are nice once in a while and shows us who are the real racers are.. Of course rain is also a guarantee of an interesting race. It’s funny how we all pray for rain, and when it comes we hope we don’t get too much rain in fear of the race being red flagged lol
LAK
8th April 2010, 3:02
Opps I meant to say signed by him*
Phil
8th April 2010, 4:09
Pardon my ignorance and going off topic, but where has the Top Forum Threads link gone off the home page ? It was the best part of the site. Its not as if there is no room for it!
Prisoner Monkeys
8th April 2010, 6:56
There’s no forum threads link because there’s currently no forum.
Prisoner Monkeys
8th April 2010, 7:05
Two things I’ve picked up overnight:
1) Bernie Ecclestone has decided he wants a Russian Grand Prix to go with a race in Manhattan/New Jersey, and has touted Moscow or the resort city of Sochi (to be the scene of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games) as a possible host. He seems to want both races by 2012 – but he’s also fixated on twenty races being the ideal number. That means we’re going to have to lose a few of the current races to make way, but it’s not as bad as it sounds: Ecclestone has said he’ll review the current races, specifically the two in Spain. It could be that we’ll lose Barcelona or Valencia, or see them alternate.
2) It seems that the organisers of the new Jaypee Group Circuit in India forwarded the plans for the circuit on to the teams, who provided feedback on how to make the circuit more conductive to overtaking. A representation (an exaggerated one, I must add) of the circuit’s inclines has appeared on the ESPN Formula 1 siteand it’s not looking too bad, especially the way the track falls away after the frst corner and then climbs pretty steeply through the second and around the third. I’ve also been led to believe that the bottom corners (turns ten and eleven for those of you playing at home) could very well be banked.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
8th April 2010, 8:47
The Russian Grand Prix, like a race in New Yoek, is one of Ecclestone’s longest-standing obsessions. This from 2008:
Fresh rumours of a Russian Grand Prix
Prisoner Monkeys
8th April 2010, 8:54
Mr. E has been working on it since 1982. He originally wanted to have a “Monaco of the Soviet Union”, a race around the streets south-west of the Kremlin. It didn’t look too bad, either, but the project fell through. That’s how we ended up with the Hungarian Grand Prix in the first place: when the Russians didn’t take to the idea, Bernie went elsewhere because he wanted the sport to at least have some presence in Eastern Europe.
Anyway, I think it’s a good thing. With the addition of India to the calendar, Russia becomes one of two major geopolitical regions that remains untouched by Formula One, the other being Africa – and since there used to be a South African Grand Prix, Russia is the largest notable omission (there may not be an American Grand Prix, but North America is represented by Canada) from Formula 1 history.
Bring it on, I say.
Scribe
8th April 2010, 12:10
I wonder if Ecclestone would consider dropping Hungary in favour of a Russian race. An please god, don’t make it a street race. At least give us fast corners.
Prisoner Monkeys
8th April 2010, 23:52
Actaully, I wouldn’t mind keeping the Hungarian Grand Prix – it’s had seven different winners in the past eight year; statistically, it’s the most likely to throw out an unexpected result.
2 Minutes To Midnight
8th April 2010, 8:56
Well I don’t mind if we lose Barcelona or Valencia, it’s a boring track anyway. Bring Bahrain & Tilke tracks to list!
Prisoner Monkeys
8th April 2010, 10:24
There’s nothing wrong with the Tilke tracks – it’s the cars that are a problem. It’s easier and cheaper to fix the cars than it is circuits, least of all because circuit design is an inexact science.
Icthyes
8th April 2010, 13:29
There’s nothing wrong with some of them. But when Bahrain uses a worse configuration, when China is pretty much the same as Malaysia, when the necessary changes to Hockenheim went too far in the other direction (I’m talking about the rubbish that is Sector 2), we need to get rid of some.
And I would be happy to lose both Barcelona and Jerez, use Portimao, and have it as a joint venture between Spain and Portugal. Either that or improve Valencia.
Icthyes
8th April 2010, 13:33
And, just so I’m actually proposing a solution rather than “whining”, I’d say use the outer Bahrain configuration, get rid of the Chinese round, and drop Hockenheim until we get a better Sector 2 (I say just a long stretch of road interrupted by a slow chicane, for speed reasons and to create an overtaking spot, like Abu Dhabi’s). If the Nurburgring can’t afford it every year, then we just have it every other year.
macahan
8th April 2010, 13:59
Nothing wrong with the Tilke tracks besides they are mostly new built for this generation of cars and don’t offer much of overtaking which some of the traditional circuits not necessary purpose built for F1 even can offer. Or a updated Tilke Track (Bahrain) that turned out to be a disaster.
Track was design in 2004. Sepang I would say is his best one which was designed in 1998. China isn’t to bad either, designed in 04 as well. Valencia (08) is horrible I can’t stand that race. Boring I fallen asleep every time it been on. Wasn’t it for retirments and safety cars you would have same finish order as the car was at end of lap 1.
Abu Dhabi his latest raced creation didn’t show much excitement many complained it was a boring procession race. This track was built during last year with F1 in Nov as first race.
Soon we will have Korea track one of his latest creations. It seems very flat just like most other Tilke tracks. Got 2 fairly long straights with a hairpin (Malaysia design anyone? but this segment outside the circle instead of inside ala Malaysia.
With the amount of tracks built very recently you would THINK that they would be more suited to the cars since after all the cars have not changed THAT much especially from the time Abu Dhabi track design was finished and the started building.. Cars changed even less since Korea track was finished design and they started digging. I guess that will be the ultimate test to see how Tillke can design tracks for current F1 cars.
Why change the car to suite the track when you are designing and building new tracks?
Soon we will have 7 of his tracks all designed and built in the last 6 years with exception of Malaysia. In the last 6 years overtaking has NOT gone up from what it was before so that is a testament to me that his design didn’t help overtaking and rules had to be created to attempt to make it more overtaking friendly.
2 Minutes To Midnight
8th April 2010, 14:12
At the end of the day wether you agree or not, TIlke tracks will always be boring. It’s not the Le Mans circuit, Monza, Old Hockenheim (which he ruined :( ), Nordschleife, Zandvoort, Brads Hatch, Spa, or any legendary tracks.
GeeMac
8th April 2010, 7:19
My second Comment of the Day! Thanks Keith!
Jim N
8th April 2010, 10:40
I couldn’t agree more with GeeMac. F1 needs the small fry and the characters. One of my fondest memories is of the Merzario F1 team. A total disaster as a team, but Arturo Merzario’s grin was always the biggest in the paddock. (That shows my age!).
LewisC
8th April 2010, 14:05
If it wasn’t for the small-fry, there’d be no F1Rejects!
JonathanProc
8th April 2010, 21:17
I just saw Canberra Milk’s new advert.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be3-J9XtJCw&feature=player_embedded
Briliant :D
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
9th April 2010, 0:05
I can’t decide if that’s real or not. Please tell me it is!
TommyB
9th April 2010, 0:29
It is haha. Mark donated his fee to charity too.
TommyB
9th April 2010, 0:20
HUGE respect for Alonso. I really enjoyed that article and it’s exactly how I felt about Alonso that race, he had no need to go for it, his car was battered and bruised he could have settled for points but he still went for that move to get a few extra points.
It’s a shame we can’t award great racing like that but in the silly budget cuts of engines and gearboxes I fear no one will go for moves like that again now they’ve seen the consequences.