F1 Fanatic round-up: 2/8/2010

Posted on

| Written by

I spent yesterday at Renault’s factory in Enstone, as part of the team’s new ‘Race Days’ fixture.

Guests pay £175 a head for a chance to see a race from within the team’s factory, complete with live links to the track, pit stop challenges and an F1 simulator.

Before the race we heard from Renault’s Jeremy Scoones, who said, "All eyes will be on the pit lane and strategies".

Here’s today’s round-up:

Links

Exclusive: FIA set to clamp down on ‘flexible wings’ by Belgian GP (Adam Cooper F1)

"The FIA is to clamp down on so-called ‘flexible wings’ – or at least attempt to clear the air on their use – by introducing more stringent load tests by the next race in Belgium."

Brawn: Schumacher not dangerous (Autosport)

"Mercedes GP team boss Ross Brawn has insisted that Michael Schumacher did not make any deliberately dangerous movements when trying to block Rubens Barrichello in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

‘I don’t think for a moment that Michael was trying to put Rubens in the wall – but he was trying to discourage him from coming down the inside because he thought that was where he would be vulnerable.

‘But at the end of the day he gave him enough space. You can argue that it was marginal but – tough racing.’"

Team order ban ‘incompatible with reality’ – Ferrari (Motorsport.com)

"Team boss Stefano Domenicali is quoted by Spain’s El Mundo newspaper as insisting that Felipe Massa should not be downtrodden after moving aside for Fernando Alonso at Hockenheim.

‘I like basketball, and I understand that whoever assists has as much or even more value than the one who scores the goal,’ he said.

‘F1 is a team sport, with the team working as a unit to achieve the best results. This should be said clearly to the public, rather than having an artificial rule that does not reflect reality."

Williams member escapes serious injury (Autosport)

"The Williams mechanic hit by the flying wheel from Nico Rosberg’s car escaped serious injury after the incident during the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The wheel careered down the pitlane and knocked down Williams’s pit crew member Nigel Hope."

F1 can do without another new team, says Brawn (Reuters Canada)

"Formula One can do without another new team and should make sure it retains the ones it already has, according to Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn."

Lewis Hamilton admits he can’t keep up with Red Bull racers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber (Daily Mirror)

"Jenson and I look at the onboard footage from their cars and we just laugh," said Hamilton.
"It’s insane how fast they are going."

Superleague Formula 2010 Brands Hatch Van Der Drift’s Massive Accident Replays (YouTube)

Chris van der Drift escaped with a broken ankle following this shunt. He hit the back of Julien Jousse’s car before going into a bridge at 100mph.

Comment of the day

Michael Schumacher was lapped by Mark Webber during today’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Alias J explains why we shouldn’t dismiss him just yet:

I am a Schumacher supporter, ever since his Senna days. Regarding his performances this year, I simply can’t explain it too, and it’s a bit confusing, amusing and stressful at the same time.

On one hand, there were the majority of races where he was extremely slower than Rosberg, 4 tenths, 6 tenths or 8 tenths – consistently slower! Naturally, at first everyone assumed it due to him being rusty (Lauda, Prost), then perhaps that he simply wasn’t used to the tires (Sutil, Hamashima), perhaps that the car totally opposes his driving style (Button, Herbert) and everything he tries to set-up around it simply makes it extremely worse (Schumacher), or perhaps he’s simply lost the fire and the determination he had before (Hamilton), and so on.

But then, what about the races when he’s equally quick or even quicker than Rosberg? Considering that Australia was only just the second race of the year, and only Schumacher’s second race in four years, and he was only 0.014 seconds slower – which is almost a hair’s width. How quick is that?

This is a 41-year old, 90% ability Schumacher, less ruthless and less ambitious, driving in an under-performing car, without the benefits of testing, and he’s still ABLE to match Rosberg – 5 out of 10 races, (50% of the time).
Alias J

From the forum

What would your F1 team look like?

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Nefer and Daniel!

On this day in F1

Jochen Rindt won his last race on August 2, 1970, at the German Grand Prix.

The race was scheduled to be held at the Nurburgring, but the drivers insisted at the last minute it be moved to the upgraded Hockenheimring. On the day Rindt went from second on the grid to win by just 0.7 seconds. It was his fifth win of the season.

Two race weekends later, Rindt was killed in a violent crash during practice for the Italian Grand Prix. He is the only driver to posthumously win the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship.

57 comments on “F1 Fanatic round-up: 2/8/2010”

  1. Sush Meerkat
    2nd August 2010, 0:15

    Congrats to Nigel Hope on averting disaster!, according to Ted Kravitz he went for the tyre and caught it “wicket keeper style” to stop it hitting anyone else.

    Top stuff Nigel!

    How ironic that Renault themselves say “all eyes on the pit lane”

    1. Magnificent Geoffrey
      2nd August 2010, 0:50

      Seriously, the mechanics in the pit-lane really don’t get the credit that they deserve.

      1. That is true – yesterdays pit-lane problems highlighted once again how vital the pit-crew is to a good race, and how much pressure to perform there is for these guys.

  2. The problem with these extra tests at belgium is that the teams will know if their cars can pass this test. If it cant, they will introduce a “new” non-flexi front wing and will simply get away with breaking the regs in the last two races. In a championship so close that could be crucial. What the FIA should have done was carry out these tests after today’s grand prix and if the teams failed the tests then they should be disqualified from the last 2 races. It’s not good enough to basically say to teams “yeh you can cheat, just stop it when we catch you and you can get away with it”.

    Then theres always the possibility that the cars will pass the new tests aswell, however, does this really mean they are legal? No, it doesn’t. It is clear as day that these wings break the rules by exposing a loophole in the way the FIA carries out their tests. As my Dad said earlier this weekend, “show me a man who says that front wing isn’t flexing more than its meant to and i’ll show you a dog in a flourescent jacket standing next to him”.

    1. That’s ridiculous. They already told those teams that their cars passed muster. To go back now and deem them illegal would be a farce, a manipulation of the results if you will. The fact that the engineers are more clever than the clowns that write the regulations is a testament to the engineers. I find it slightly comical that the F-duct and the double diffuser were both deemed legal, but as soon as a development comes along that a few teams say “we don’t have a clue how to implement that…” then all of a sudden it’s banned.

      They should have either banned it the first time it appeared, or write it into the regulations for next year, but banning it mid season like this really seems a bit suspect to me.

      1. There is a key difference between this and the F-duct or the Double Diffuser. Both of the latter exposed a loophole in the way the rules were written and therefore didn’t technically break the rules. However, these wings DO break the rules, it is a loophole in the way these rules are implemented that is being exposed, which to me seems wrong.

        1. perhaps regulated is a better word than implemented

    2. The cars past the test that was valid at the start of the race.

      It’s quite something that they can change the tests during the season. During a race weekend would really be too much.

      Still, it does allow for cheating yes. So it’s up to the other teams (and FIA) to keep a close eye on the on board footage of these cars.

      I saw a picture already of Vettel’s China pole lap showing the wings flexing. How on earth does it take McLaren (et al) 3 months to catch up with this news? And then only because a photographer noticed something.

      1. Article 3.17.8 of the F1 Technical Regulations, states that the FIA can do extra tests whenever they suspect a car of having flexing parts. They clearly suspect it this weekend, and therefore this s when the tests should be carried out. And if the teams fail these test, just like they would if they failed any other tests, the team should be disqualified from the race.

        1. Jake, as much as I would hate to see teams get a DQ, you are right, a rule is a rule, the wings are not allowed to flex, clearly teams are breaking that rule.

          Congrats on your arguments, well put.

      2. At that time it was suspected that Red Bull had ride height control which circumvented the regulations, smoke and mirrors really when the flexing front wing gave a similar appearance of lower ground clearance and similar benefits of “ground effect”…

        Reminds me of the games Lotus and Brabham used to play during the ground effect era, trying to conceal or obsfucate their advantages.

        1. Red Bull and Ferrari passed two scrutineerings and both times their wings passed the tests. Therefore, cars are legal.

          1. No, the cars are not found illegal with current tests. Similar to the Michelin tyre thing, and Ferrari’s earlier flex-floor stuff: that is why there is the explicit provision for improving the tests if they are found not to be rigorous enough. Passing does not make it legal – but it does mean they can’t be proven to have been illegal, so the results will stand. Much better for F1, as we don’t want after-the-fact changes, but the rules can react to new issues being found.

        2. No, the guy who made the animation was looking for a flexing front wing:

          http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/381/rb6china.gif

          http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A66719037

      3. I think he was an amateur photographer at that.Was he working for Maclaren :)LOL

  3. Jake. Brilliant! :)

  4. If only it was the 2nd January :( This year’s gone soo fast!

    1. Indeed! Fixed..

  5. Glad Williams’ mechanic escaped any real serious injury, but what was he thinking catching a 40 lbs. tire instead of just ducking out of the way and letting it go?

    I think Ross Brawn is right about the new team, instead of adding another uncompetitive team, every effort should be made to insure that the teams we have now can make it in the long haul, and be within the 107% pace… The last thing we need is a team starting next season like HRT did this year, with the 107% rule in place.

  6. When Brawn says that Schumacher gave Rubens enough space, then how does he measure space?

    The lines at the edged of the track denote the edge of the track that the drivers are allowed to use. Pushing another driver over this line means he pushed the driver ‘off track’.

    Rubens’ car was pushed fully over this line while being fully on the right side of it when he started his move on Schumacher.

    So by any stretch of the imagination, Schumacher did NOT give Rubens enough space.

    1. Sideshow Bob
      2nd August 2010, 1:58

      He says Michael gave Rubens enough space because Rubens made it through – simple as that.

      I’m a Schumacher supporter, but I won’t deny that I thought it was a bit too tight when I saw it on television. Nevertheless, I would never believe Michael would set out to hurt Rubens. I also happen to agree with Brawn, that if anything Rubens is the one with the baggage from Ferrari days. Last time I checked the score was five-nothing, in titles that is.

      We all know Rubens is a bit emotional and impetuous. I think Michael is getting unfairly hammered for this because of his reputation, and there are those who love to brand him an old hack and cheater whenever they get the chance.

      I will say that looked like one hell of a scary ride from Rubens’ onboard cam, though.

      1. I think Michael is getting unfairly hammered for this because of his reputation, and there are those who love to brand him an old hack and cheater whenever they get the chance.

        I’ve never jumped on the Schumacher hating bandwagon, but in this situation I can say without a doubt he is being justly hammered for driving like a complete jerk. Anyone who thinks that that sort of move is okay needs to have their vision checked. Ruebens was lucky that the wall ran out when it did, as Schumacher was continuing to move further and further over. I’m a little surprised he wasn’t given a black flag immediately, and a 10 place grid penalty is getting off easy.

        1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buArrMpQgGo

          Freeze it at 0:06 , and Webber leaves half a car width. Was he black flagged? Or even given a drive through? No, he was allowed to win the race.

        1. It looks like that sign (the 60 with diagonal stripe) is facing away from oncoming traffic – wonder what it’s for?

          And I can’t believe those guys on the wall (marshalls or photographers I can’t tell from the tabards) are missing the pass looking in the wrong direction!

        2. Don’t they have the picture one frame later? When Barrichello is actually a hairs width away from the wall?

        3. And what if somebody exited the pit at the same time?

          1. he’d be going 100mph slower. SHU would have seen anyone leaving the pitlane and pulled left probably. he’s not that psycho.

        4. Looks as if that wall has seen a fair amount of tyres scrubbed up against it in the past…

    2. Now even Schumi himself said it was too harsh a reaction (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85828).

      Is he getting weak hearted, or did he remember he still owes Rubens something?

  7. The same video should be seen by Schumacher the same could have happened to Barrichello if not worst.It was a very bad move by him he shouldn’t do things like that again in his life in the future.

    Happy to hear that the Williams mechanics is OK & hope he is in the pit in the Belgium GP.

    The new team should be a deserving one,a team like Lotus which dispite been slow in the opening season can promise a lot for the future.

  8. the problem with Michael isn’t that he’s just not keeping up with Rosberg (lets be honest here… when he’s beated, he’s half a second slower… when he’s ahead, Nico’s just hundreds behind) and he’s past it…

    We’re talking about a 7 world champion who’s regarded as the best f1 driver ever (on paper at least), not Vitaly Petrov’s inability to match Kubica’s pace consistently.

    Why would the world be happy with what Michael is doing? we want more because he’s worth a lot more. I never liked him but i want him to do good, because he’s the most succesful driver ever, but what he’s been doing this season it’s just below average for a guy like him.

    Yes, he’s 41, it’s 3 years since he last competed, and so on. But I’m sure Kubica or Heidfeld would be better than Michael right now in that car.

    And you can’t wait for him forever… he’s 41.

    1. Sideshow Bob
      2nd August 2010, 4:51

      Michael is too determined and savvy a man to walk away with his tail between his legs. He will sort this out, even if it doesn’t happen until next year. There is absolutely no way he quits in the middle of this. He’s deadly serious about winning an eighth title.

      1. I agree, and one year later we could be looking at a very different situation. Look at a two time champion like Alonso last year in a very uncompetitive Renault. He finished 9th, which is right where Schumacher is placed currently. This year Alonso is within striking distance of the title. If Brawn can sort out the car and tailor it to his driving style, Schumacher could well be winning races next year.

        1. People are hasty to put Schumacher down, but what’s to say it isn’t simply Rosberg doing an unbelievable job?

          It’s probably a combination of both, but it’s harsh on Nico to constantly say that the gap between them is because Schumacher’s not up to speed rather than because Nico’s driving excellently.

          1. jsw11984 (@jarred-walmsley)
            2nd August 2010, 20:30

            That is a very good point, in fact I think Rosbergs excellent driving is more to do with it than Schumachers bad driving. I feel that Rosberg having spent time at Williams (where lets be honest they haven’t exactly had a great car) is simply able to get more out of a bad car then Schumacher who hasn’t had a bad car since well ever maybe 1996 at the latest. So despite all his years and championships he has not had much experience in bad cars

        2. Alonso didn’t get beaten so comprehensively by his team mate though

  9. By the way, is it just me or for the last, i don’t know, since Henry Surtees fatal accident, we’ve seen some seriously horrible accidents?

    Indy, GP2, that formula that races with the WTCC, F1…

    1. no, I think that there’s just more awareness and acknowledgment of serious crashes since then

    2. I had the same thoughts Fer no.65. While we can all be glad nobody has got seriously injured so far, but it something is bound to happen, if it goes on like it has the last months.

  10. “Formula One can do without another new team and should make sure it retains the ones it already has, according to Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn.”

    Those were incredibly well chosen words by Ross Brawn…lets not forget that this time a couple of years back he was about to begin his fight to keep Honda/Brawn on the grid. Had he just said “Formula One can do without another new team” everyone would have said “You hypocrite”, but now, it looks like a measured comment. I give him the Ronspeak Achievement Award for 2010…

    1. I read the article more as Ross saying, that with time already pretty much running out for next year (making it alomst undoable for a new team) it would be better to concentrate on making it work for the new teams who are there.
      A bit of a reaction to Bernie saying it’s a waste of money to have Virgin and HRT in F1.

      1. I read it that way as well, and I think it makes sense: what team can seriously expect to do a good job in the short time available if they get a spot at the end of the current month – they have to be already far into wind-tunnel/CFD testing of the final aero solutions.

        It does seem a bit as if FIA is waiting until all of the candidates have thrown the towel down. But then they should start a procedure for a 13th team under the 2012+ regulations already this year to give a team a real shot at it.

  11. I’m also not a Schumacher fan, and I also think that his move was verging on attempted murder, however when I look at it from a different point of view my conclusions aren’t so clear.

    I remember watching Top Gear last week, especially the Senna special. The one thing they kept bringing up was his ruthfullness when i came to ensuring no one overtook him. They had an interview with Martin Brundle, who explained that the first time you tried to overtake he would literally ram you off the road. This, as Brundle explains, meant the next time you were in that situation, you would think twice about making the move. This, was what made Senna so great (according to Brundle)…

    Using this logic, its not hard to see why Schumacher races this way. Yes, it was ruthless. Yes, it was dangerous. But winners are always ruthless, and F1 is a dangerous sport.

    Schumacher is a lunatic sometimes, but the most successful lunatic of all time…

    PS – I loved his comment when asked if he had left enough room – “Yes, because he got past”

    1. I agree. The problem is that it’s a different era now, and people aren’t so ready to accept such moves.

  12. yet another serious accident at Brands Hatch..

    1. I dont think its a coincedence when theres so many bad accidents at the same track. Something needs to be done there.

      1. nothing can be done about the crash above. drivers need to be taught not to move across on each other in close proximity.

  13. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zznJjSncGCE#t=1m32s
    I was just re-watching the infamous Senna and Prost incident at Estoril in 1988, which is often cited as the point where the relationship between the two men broke down. Senna’s block on Prost mirrors Schumacher’s completely, and is in fact rather more dangerous and the pit wall is very crowded at the point that they are at and seems to lack any fencing. You can see how the mechanics have to move their pit-boards out of the way to avoid them.

  14. ‘This is a 41-year old, 90% ability Schumacher, less ruthless and less ambitious, driving in an under-performing car, without the benefits of testing, and he’s still ABLE to match Rosberg – 5 out of 10 races, (50% of the time).’

    So why doesn’t he have 50% of the podiums?

  15. Even though i read the roundup this morning, only now did i see you were at Enstone yesterday, Cari.

    I am looking forward to hear more about that. In the mean while I wanted to ask, weather Renault told you anything about the ideas behind their newest rear wing (http://www.f1technical.net/development/311)

  16. 26 days 22 hours until it all kicks off again :-(

  17. Looking at the superleauge fomula crash. Didn’t webber say after Valencia that his biggest fear while mid air was hitting a bridge. Thats a horrible crash.

  18. I liked reading this article from ‘Overdrive – Formula 1 in the Zone’ author Colin Brolin, contemplating on F1 as a sport and feeling comfortable about winning at all cost.
    http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft22478.html

    1. It’s good that we don’t have Bernie’s medal system. otherwise team orders would have been even more important.

  19. Good stuff BasCB!

Comments are closed.