I’m at a press conference features Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button today so expect more from that later. Here’s today’s round-up:
Links
Button-Hamilton F1 fight will boil over says Damon Hill (BBC)
“It’s just been on simmer so far and it will start to boil over. Between the two British drivers in possibly the best car you will have a very close and fascinating battle.”
First shot of new GP2 car (Autosport)
Ugh. Out with the well-proportioned, clean lines of the old GP2 car, in come the distorted dimensions of post-OWG F1 cars. In fact, it looks like little more than an HRT F110 painted white. Hardly surprisingly, as they’re both made by Dallara…
Farewell to The Glen? (MotorSport Magazine)
“‘It’s like Spa,’ said [Will] Power after his victory. ‘It’s the nicest track we race on. You can pass here – it’s a flowing track with fast, banked corners. It’s a real dream to drive, especially when the car is working. I’d be really disappointed if we don’t come back here.'”
Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton takes it slow in rift with father (The Guardian)
“Everything was not 100% in the past. But we’re definitely continuing to build on the relationship and things are moving slowly. We’re letting things take their time and move progressively and move naturally, rather than forcing things. It’s generally positive. He’s always sending me positive messages before the race and we spoke before the race in Montreal and pretty much every week. Since quite a long time ago now we’ve had a message every week.”
Jenson Button has been on another triathlon.
F1 2010?óÔÇ×?ó – Developer Diary Video No.4 (Tracks and Cars)
Comment of the day
Some interesting thoughts on exhaust-blown diffusers from feynman:
I was kind of under the impression that the move-away from the classic old-school blown diffusers was not so much about the throttle-off instability problem, but in the end more to do with engine manufacturers increasingly needing shorter and shorter exhaust lengths as they revved higher and higher?óÔé¼?ª this of course was back when F1 was really F1, pre rev-limit, 21k V10s, yowzer.
(Anyone that knows anything about engines could jump in here and put me straight on that).
Therefore, the new blown diffusers aren’t really like their ancestors that deeply drove down and through the car and diffuser, they are more about tidying and directing airflow at the rear end, to help create an efficient environment for a reasonably large diffuser to live in ?óÔé¼?ª not actually ‘driving it’ as such, well at least not like they used to.
Either way, you can bet someone got sent down into the MTC basement with a torch to have a proper look at the last few Newey blown diffuser McLarens, see if there are any institutionally-forgotten neat tricks hiding in the cobwebs.
feynman
From the forum
Will Nick Heidfeld be back in 2011?
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to John H!
On this day in F1
Lewis Hamilton won what many consider the best victory of his career so far at Silverstone two years ago today. In pouring rain he finished over a minute ahead of second-placed Nick Heidfeld.
Hamilton had been under pressure from Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, but his rivals got a crucial call on tyres wrong, leaving Raikkonen to fight back to fourth.
Eventual title rival Felipe Massa had a dreadful race, suffering a series of spins in the tricky conditions. He was far from the only one – all the retirements that day were drivers who had spun.
Hamilton’s win created a three-way tie at the top of the championship table between himself and the two Ferrari drivers, with Robert Kubica just two points behind.
Read the original race report: British Grand Prix 2008: Lewis Hamilton scores home win as Ferrari flounder
Hare (@hare)
6th July 2010, 0:40
The Hamilton/Button relationship will be interesting to watch. I’m not convinced it’ll blow up, it may boil over, but that will allow for things to simmer down after.
Seems like Button is hard not to like at the moment. He’s at peace with himself, he’s achieved the goal he came to F1 to do, maybe everything from here on in is a bonus. Even the Alonso/Ferrari fans don’t seem to have a problem, and some have said nice things about him on here.
So unless something untoward’s happens, perhaps Lewis and Jenson will be life long friends having shared an exclusive experience of driving in this particular era of F1 Champions, a British McLaren lineup.. and some engineering brilliance on the part of Newey and McLaren.
The good news is, Button and Hamilton will probably be in F1 for many years to come. So we’ll see how it goes.
Karan
6th July 2010, 8:10
All we need is one close battle between Hamilton and Button, then things will really start to get fiery.
Todfod
6th July 2010, 9:29
Exactly. One more scrap like they had in Turkey will definitely get things started. I have a feeling, that a couple of mistakes from Lewis might see Jenson leading the championship again, and then we will see how Lewis reacts to the pressure.
However, if Lewis just extends his lead on Jenson, I do not see Jenson getting all fired up. Jenson knows he doesnt have the pace to match Lewis, and he will just let it slide.
graigchq
6th July 2010, 9:38
i don’t think that Jensen just thinks Lewis is faster, or that he doesn’t have the pace, more rather that there are two different styles of top-class racer here, the all out guns blazing hamilton, and the long-game smooth and reactive button. Either way, this really is a return to the very type of battle we all watch and crave in F1 – two top-line british drivers, in the same team, at the top of the championship with little or nothing between them.
Button may have finished just behind lewis in the last three races, but the race pace actually puts button as being faster over the course of the race… starting four places behind hamilton, then finishing the race just two seconds behind – in my view – means that although he didn’t overtake lewis, he is just as fast, and just as consistent – more so even.
Scribe
6th July 2010, 10:46
I think you all and Damon are wrong. If Turkey didn’t cause a bust up why should anything else. The relationship seems to be a fantastic one, friendly but hyper competative rivalry they have seems to have scope for possible on track problems, essentially they get on well enough to agree to disagree and move on, it’s been an enourmously good partneship for the both of them.
graigchq, an why did Button get into second? Because he was lucky enough to be the first man into the pitstops when the SC came out. Hamilton had a drive through, an yet Button still came out behind because he couldn’t overtake a Sauber. Button is well aware the Hamilton isn’t just edging him in qualifying at the moment, an that Hamilton invariably stays in front during the races. Button has only won wet races due to tyre choice this year.
David-A (@david-a)
6th July 2010, 15:49
“Button may have finished just behind lewis in the last three races, but the race pace actually puts button as being faster over the course of the race… starting four places behind hamilton, then finishing the race just two seconds behind – in my view – means that although he didn’t overtake lewis, he is just as fast, and just as consistent – more so even.”
In my view, it means that Hamilton is simply better in qualifying- if you start 1st, you obviously can’t gain anymore places. If you start 3rd, behind only two Red Bulls, don’t tell me you could possibly finish 3 places higher than your starting position.
Just look at Malaysia- Button started 3 places ahead of Hamilton, but ended up 2 places behind, thanks to Alonso’s engine blowing up as he overtook Jen despite a gearbox problem.
Hare (@hare)
6th July 2010, 0:50
My AOTD (Article of the day), is from the Guardian. Paul Weaver interviews Damon Hill on the Hamilton/Button rivalry.
Damon banks for Button, as the more mature, thinking man’s driver. More opportunistic, more balanced in his approach, driving with in himself and looking at the season as a whole.
He classed the two drivers as ‘Senna-esque’ and ‘Prost-like’.. which is high praise indeed.
All in all, it whets the appetite for the next weekend a bit more :)
Hamish
6th July 2010, 5:03
Claiming the drivers to be Senna-esque and Prost-Like is a bit far fetched, albeit Lewis likes to think “hes sometimes in the car with me”. That is not a put down to Lewis or Jensen at all but more Alain and Ayrton are two of the greatest ever by opinion and satisically. Lewis and Jensen have a long way to go to get to that status.
Hare (@hare)
6th July 2010, 5:13
I see what you mean, but Damon didn’t say they were the new Senna and Prost, he presented them as drivers from different schools of thought. Hamilton, all out, no holds barred, sometimes on a different level to others type driving. Button more of a thinking, planning, a long term tactical driver..
As for Ham saying Senna is sometimes in the car with him, well, I get what he means, but it comes across a bit cringeworthy. Hamilton sometimes seems to be the star in his on movie in his own mind.
Scribe
6th July 2010, 10:49
Ham does get a little too kitch over Senna, I know he idololises Senna but really, we have to listen to this.
RobR (@robr)
6th July 2010, 15:21
In fairness to Lewis, has he actually said anything like that recently, or are we just talking about old quotes from 2007?
Ads21 (@ads21)
6th July 2010, 21:36
I don’t think we can say they’re as good as Prost and Senna yet. But the contrast in their styles is very similar to Prost-Senna, they both drive for mclaren and one has a yellow helmet based on Senna’s. The comparisons are inevitable really.
MouseNightshirt
6th July 2010, 2:18
I feel sorry for HRT – Seemingly Dallara were using them as a testbed for their new GP2 chassis. You’re completely right Keith; other than the airbox intake and shark fin, they’re virtually identical, even down to the little silver tips on the front winglet supports.
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
6th July 2010, 4:33
It’d be interesting to see which of the two cars is quicker. I doubt there’d be much between them, which is worrying for Hispania…
Mike
6th July 2010, 7:27
That’s a bit disappointing, You have to feel sorry for HRT. They paid for the development of the car, so I don’t think that’s necessarily “good”. I know it’s not the same, but no one can deny the resemblance. Perhaps that was part of the deal?
Actually, disappointment might be the wrong word, disappointment is when you buy a cupcake and there isn’t quite enough fruit.
This is more of an ultimate disappointment.
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
6th July 2010, 4:32
I actually thought the new GP2 car looked more like a 2010 Sauber, but that’s probably more because of the boring white livery
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
6th July 2010, 5:44
It’s a test livery, Ned. They’re note going to have twenty-six bleach-white cars running around next year.
BasCB (@bascb)
6th July 2010, 8:35
That would be fun – trying to spot who’s who by looking at numbers and helmets :-D
The resemblance with the Sauber is there as well Ned, I see it in the Airbox and sharkfin, as well as the white nose.
Ned Flanders (@ned-flanders)
6th July 2010, 12:40
Er… yeah, I know that
James_mc (@james_mc)
6th July 2010, 18:03
Stoopid Flanders! Hahahahaha! :-p
Eric
6th July 2010, 5:39
what i like about the two of them is they are both very good at doing what is best for McLaren, one is going to chase the hell out of the opposition and hound them all day, while the other is going to wait for the opportunity or source a way around them, both are excellent drivers with a difference.
which in the long run makes them compatible and they will not Blow up.
well i hope not we will see.
superted666
6th July 2010, 7:10
F1 2010 game looks superb!
glue
6th July 2010, 8:05
it does look great, indeed, but there’s just one thing that’s bugging me, and not just about this one, but about most of them..I haven’t yet (virtually) raced on a Spa version of the circuit with the big bump at the entry to the Rivazza corner, and F1 2010 seems to not have implemented that either
George (@george)
6th July 2010, 18:21
Do you mean Rivage? The GTR2/Race07 track has the bump, I imagine rfactor does too.
glue (@glue)
7th July 2010, 16:14
yeah, Rivage, sorry about that..rFactor doesn’t have it (or the versions I’ve tried), and on GTR2 it’s less noticeable than on TV..I haven’t played Race 07 so I wouldn’t know
Christian Briddon
6th July 2010, 7:30
Silverstone 2 years ago was stunning. I was in Pit Straight B right opposite P2 on the grid. It was raining all day and we were soaked and cold, only kept going by hot coffee and doughnuts.
What a race. My wife and I will never forget it. :-)
rampante (@rampante)
6th July 2010, 8:06
I think the pairing of Hamilton and Button is one of the very best F1 has had in many years up to the point I really cant think of one better since I started (possibly Berger and Alesi). They cover the best aspects of 2 very different styles and have an age difference that even if the younger Hamilton thought he would do better will always know he can learn from his team mate. An inspired choice by Mclaren.
BasCB (@bascb)
6th July 2010, 8:40
I agree with you, it seems their “Senna-esque” and “Prost-like” styles really complement each other to make a great team for McLaren.
And Hamilton already shows he is learning from Button, while Button stated he did learn something from Hamilton about getting to the limits of the car at some places.
Patrickl
6th July 2010, 9:01
Berger and Alesi as a possible best driver pairing?!??!
Best at what then?
BasCB (@bascb)
6th July 2010, 9:07
They worked pretty good as a driver pairing for Ferrari. Both were good at different points and close to winning/podium or at least points if their cars made that possible (those were not the best Ferrari’s ever made)
rampante (@rampante)
6th July 2010, 9:18
I was not talking about success it was about pairing. They were both excellent drivers only held back by a very poor and unreliable Ferrari for years.
Maciek
6th July 2010, 8:06
I read those Hill comments yesterday and I gotta say it sounds to me like he’s doing his best to sell whatever tickets haven’t been sold yet – I mean, going with what we’ve had so far, I don’t quite see what he’s basing himself on to say that the two McLaren drivers will ‘boil over’, and even less so why it should particularly happen at Silverstone – though, granted, if McLaren are at the front, the bragging rights of winning at Silverstone will raise the stakes between Hamilton and Button; just as long as neither one pulls a Vettel…
BasCB (@bascb)
6th July 2010, 8:42
Well, he is the president of Silverstone’s owners, so he should do his best with ticket sales.
But what he says makes sense, i think there is a driver experience in seeing Silverstone as the midway point where you start to see who’s where between teams and teammates.
Ilanin
6th July 2010, 13:15
One might point out that Hill was both Prost and Senna’s last team-mate in F1, so when he speaks of those drivers, he knows what he’s talking about.
Macca (@macca)
6th July 2010, 8:51
An Aussie one-two in Indy Car on the weekend. Doesn’t get much better than that. :)
Dane
6th July 2010, 9:35
Lets hope Webber wins @ Silverstone
Scribe
6th July 2010, 10:51
booooosheliarooooooooo- Patriotic Jibe.
Brit 1-2 for the home Grand Prix, send the crowd wild.
BasCB (@bascb)
6th July 2010, 9:05
It would be really sad to see Watkins Glen fall off the Indycar calender. To me it seems to be part of a conflict between NASCAR connected circuit owners and the IRL, probably money involved as part of that.
And talking about money and circuits, i found this about the money behind the Austin bid (speculation) – http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=41308
Did you hear anything about this Keith? Or maybe our special reporter Scalectrix (thank you for following the Austin GP news)?
PeterG
6th July 2010, 9:17
Keith,
Holiday season is starting. Would it be possible to enter both British and German GP in prediction game this week?
John H
6th July 2010, 9:27
Thank you for the birthday wishes Keith.
The specter of 30 is upon me at last!
BasCB (@bascb)
6th July 2010, 10:14
Have a nice birthday John! It’s not that bad being over 30, wait till you almost get to 35 8-)
rampante (@rampante)
6th July 2010, 10:44
and the rest! Happy birthday.
BasCB (@bascb)
6th July 2010, 10:13
You just have to like Webber commenting on F1, here’s some quotes from an interview on Autosport.com (Webber not ruling ouf Ferrari yet):
I suppose they would put salt in each other’s tea there!
graigchq
6th July 2010, 10:28
or cyanide… perhaps
Hare (@hare)
6th July 2010, 14:36
It’s good to see Webber would save a drowning Vettel.. I’d like to put the same Question to Alonso… when he’s feeling a bit emotional ( after he’s been overtaken by Hamilton perhaps ). That would be a corker suspect :P
James_mc (@james_mc)
6th July 2010, 18:05
The pertinent question is though; would he keep his race suit on when he dives in to rescue him?
Jacob
6th July 2010, 16:36
also a story about a hotel 10/20 mins away from silverstone that has caught on fire. At a very unfortunate time ! http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Firefighters-called-to-deal-with.6401977.jp
thespuditron (@thespuditron)
6th July 2010, 18:24
So they’ve gone and butchered the GP2 cars aswell. What did they want to go doing that for now??
They were sweet looking cars.
But at least F1 2010 is looking good. Only about two more months! Nice!!
James_mc (@james_mc)
6th July 2010, 19:29
I presume that the press conference which you attended is the one which is going to be run on GMTV tomorrow morning?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdHBfOe9TOI
P.S. Assuming it is, it would be awesome if you could do some kind of reality vs transmitted “reality” post comparing what you saw and what went out? :-)
nick
6th July 2010, 19:47
Re: the new gp2 car looking like the HRT, my thoughts exactly
No wonder the HRT car does GP2 laptimes it is pretty apparent now its GP2 technology with a few bells and whistles.
PeterG
6th July 2010, 21:41
Just to let you know the Dutch made it to the Finals.
Scribe
6th July 2010, 23:02
Yes, but my god the Dutch are skittles, every oppourtunity they’re rolling around on the floor.
I’ve bitten the bullet and decided to support Germany, they’re playing wonderfull and exciting team football, it’s like watching Clough and Taylors Nottingham at it’s peak.