The 2012 Motor Racing Thread (F1 & More)

[mc_squared]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13029061.stm

 

So annoying. There was a time when you could watch a race and you knew the result. Not anymore. What happened to normal racing incidents?

 

Hamilton's race had been pretty much ruined, anyway. He'd lost enough places as it was.;)

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13029061.stm

 

So annoying. There was a time when you could watch a race and you knew the result. Not anymore. What happened to normal racing incidents?

 

An utter piss take. It cost him a point and in f1 every point matters as we saw in the 2008 and 2007 seasons with Raikonnen and Hamilton winning the title by the skin of their teeth. And have you seen what Hamilton was penalised for? The lap before the incident with Alonso, Hamilton defended his position going into the first corner. The stewards adjudged Hamilton as having "moved twice" in defending his position which means he's not allowed to change position across the circuit more than once. It's a barbaric, embarassing rule and without doubt one of the most pathetic in sport. What's worse is if you watch the "offence" from Hamilton here from 5.35 on the video below it looks like a simple and easy defensive move.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9453362.stm

 

Yes ladies and gentleman that is what f1 drivers get penalised for these days. For driving their cars basically. Penalised by gutless, ignorant and downright thick men who read, write and interpret the rules. They are otherwise called stewards.

 

And as for Alonso running into Hamilton - no penalty either. Simple racing incident but a sad sad day for the natural racing driver and fans of racing if this is the trend by stewards which it better not be. F1 is about racing each other and not a sensitive, processional, politically correct nonsense fest. Sadly some people are hell bent on wanting that for f1.

[mc_squared]

They are otherwise called stewards.

 

Bar stewards?:rolleyes:

[Maurotaurox]

A Ferrari fan here!

 

I haven't watched F1 this season (only two races though) I just don't feel like waking up at 4:00 am in the morning to see them. I might do so one time though, I want to see how my scuderia is doing. That being said, I don't like Alonso. He is too arrogant and cocky for my taste. I prefer Felipe Massa even though he hasn't been at his best since that injury. I also admire Petrov, Vettel, Hamilton and I love Schumacher but he is done already and he should just retire.

[mc_squared]

Schumacher is done already and he should just retire.

 

I agree. He's a pale shadow of his former self. He should quit before it becomes embarrassing.

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

A Ferrari fan here!

 

I haven't watched F1 this season (only two races though) I just don't feel like waking up at 4:00 am in the morning to see them. I might do so one time though, I want to see how my scuderia is doing. That being said, I don't like Alonso. He is too arrogant and cocky for my taste. I prefer Felipe Massa even though he hasn't been at his best since that injury. I also admire Petrov, Vettel, Hamilton and I love Schumacher but he is done already and he should just retire.

 

Put Schumacher in a Red Bull and he'd still win races. It's just that he's obviously not as good as he was and that was always going to be the case. I still believe he has something to offer.

 

I love Ferrari as well but I was more obsessed with them when Schumi drove for them. I just was in absolute awe at how he could do the impossible and win and wasn't afraid to break the boundaries of what was allowed in the sport! That's proper. Greatest driver of the modern f1 era, better than Senna in my opinion. Ferrari of today are good but nowhere near where they were 10 years ago. Alonso is a fantastic driver although is hard to like at times.

Equally love McLaren and Williams as well. Lewis Hamilton is the most exciting driver to have come out of f1 in recent years and Jenson Button is a driver I just absolutely love. Incredibly cool guy on and off the track.

 

But I do dislike Red Bull I'm afraid. I think the team personnel, Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, Mark Webber, Seb Vettel etc are all incredible people but it's just the image of a drinks company branding itself as an f1 team which doesn't do anything for me. When they were Jaguar and Stewart GP it was great but today not so. Hate Toro Rosso as well. Loved them as Minardi (one of my all time favourite teams) but I won't accept them as a Red Bull feeder team/B team.

 

But I'm much more of a supporter of drivers than teams.

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

Wow! That was one of the best races I have ever seen. Unbelievable! What a victory for Hamilton!

[mc_squared]

Wow! That was one of the best races I have ever seen. Unbelievable! What a victory for Hamilton!

 

And what an exciting, eventful race overall! All the new rules have definitely improved F1 immensely. Hopefully boring "processions" will now be a thing of the past.:cool:

[deaths_friend]

very proud of Webber today. to go from 18th to 3rd is an achievement in any car.

[mc_squared]

very proud of Webber today. to go from 18th to 3rd is an achievement in any car.

 

True. Both he and Lewis were superb.:cool:

[mc_squared]

Hamilton ends Vettel's winning run as McLaren star takes victory in Chinese Grand Prix

 

 

By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 10:56 AM on 17th April 2011

 

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Lewis Hamilton ended Sebastian Vettel's winning streak in Formula One with a superb battling victory in today's breathless Chinese Grand Prix.

 

The McLaren driver started third on the grid in Shanghai and had to battle past team-mate Jenson Button before finally overhauling Vettel for the lead with just four laps remaining.

 

In the end it proved as much a tactical victory for Hamilton as it was one of power and nerve, his three stops to Vettel's two proving the way to go on the notoriously low-wearing Pirelli tyres.

 

He's done it: McLaren driver Hamilton celebrates as he takes the chequered flag in Shanghai

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vettel held on to take second place while his Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber compiled a stunning drive from 18th to snatch the final place on the podium from the second McLaren of Jenson Button.

 

The result saw Vettel denied a third win in a row at the start of the new season, and a fifth dating back to last year.

 

For a delighted and emotional Hamilton, it was a first victory since last August's Belgian Grand Prix and a result which moved him into second place in the drivers' standings.

'That was amazing, thanks so much,' Hamilton told his McLaren colleagues over the team radio.

 

The 15th victory of his F1 career takes Hamilton onto 47 points, 21 behind Vettel, while Button (38) is down to third place and Webber (37) fourth.

 

Hamilton becomes the first ever two-time winner in Shanghai since the inception of the race in 2004, and he said: 'I think today the strategy that we came up with definitely helped.

'The pit stops were fantastic. The car felt great and I was trying to nurse my tyres while picking up pace.

'It was one of the best races I've experienced. It feels amazing to be able to bring home a victory for the guys in the factory.'

Nice one son: The McLaren team start the party as Hamilton crosses the finish line in China

 

Hamilton also had a small drama before the start when his car would not start in the garage, making him the last driver to join the grid.

'I was in the car nice and early but then we had a problem,' he said. 'I'm not sure what went on but fortunately everything came together very quickly.'

Vettel admitted that he had perhaps gone the wrong way on strategy, and revealed that Red Bull's KERS trouble, so much a feature of this season, again reared its head.

'We can learn a lot today,' he said. 'I'm the only one with two stops [on the podium] so that's something to look into tonight.

'We had a problem with KERS so it wasn't a trouble-free race. Once we decided to go two-stop we had to be patient.'

Pole man Vettel fluffed his lines at the start to allow Button, who made a perfect get-away from second place, to move comfortably ahead of the Red Bull going into the first corner.

Champagne moment: (from left) Vettel, Webber and Hamilton get a bit wet on the podium

 

But the trouble was not over for Vettel, and going into the braking zone the German diced dangerously with Hamilton who forced his way into second.

The trio held station until just before the first round of pit stops, when things quickly unravelled for Button.

Moments after Vettel had used his car's DRS system to pass Hamilton for second, both he and Button pitted together.

But Button committed the baffling error of pulling up alongside the Red Bull mechanics. Although he was quickly waved on to his own berth, the incident cost him time and Vettel duly moved ahead.

But the surprise package of the opening stops was the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg, who had been running fourth but stopped on lap 13, earlier than the top three, and got the jump on the Red Bull and both McLarens to lead by lap 20.

 

At this stage, with strategies unclear, the battle for the lead involved six cars, with the top four joined by the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso in a heated battle.

What a mover: Webber snaked his way on to the podium after starting back in 18th position

 

 

Button stopped for the second time at the end of lap 24 to drop to eighth but was soon powering back up the order with a pass on Force India's Paul Di Resta, who had started in eighth.

Vettel pitted from the lead at the end of lap 31 - his final stop - and rejoined on hard tyres in sixth place, behind both McLarens and Rosberg.

Hamilton put a brave move on Button a lap later to move into second. Hamilton picked up a good tow down the start-finish straight and although Button jinked aggressively to close the door, he thought better of it and Hamilton was through.

Button made his third and final stop from third place on lap 38 while Rosberg pitted from the lead on lap 40, emerging right in front of the charging Hamilton.

That left Vettel out in front and seemingly well on course for his third win of the year, but Hamilton was setting an ominous pace behind.

And they're off: McLaren's Hamilton (left) and Button (2nd right) have Vettel between them at the start

 

The Briton made it past Rosberg on lap 42 and three laps later was up to second as he passed Massa across the start-finish line.

Button passed the fading Rosberg on lap 45 while Webber's stunning recovery drive was really gaining impetus as he took Alonso for sixth on lap 46.

 

But the real interest was at the head of the field with Hamilton now taking chunks of time out Vettel.

The gap was down to less than a second with six laps remaining as the three-stop strategy suddenly looked the smart move.

At the end of lap 50 Vettel repelled an attempted overtake at the end of the back straight, but two laps later the deed was done, Hamilton pulling a brave move into turn seven before pulling clear.

Webber's sterling drive saw him climb to fourth on lap 54 as Rosberg's slide continued, but the fired-up Australian was not done yet and he completed the drive of the day by snatching third from Button on the penultimate lap.

Elsewhere, Rosberg had to be content with fifth, Massa took sixth ahead of Alonso, while Mercedes' Michael Schumacher, Vitaly Petrov of Renault and the Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi completed the top 10.

Di Resta's afternoon ended in frustration, the Scot coming home in 11th place and the subject of a post-race investigation by the stewards after a clash with Nick Heidfeld's Renault.

Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari was the race's sole retirement, the Spaniard's right-rear tyre working loose after a pit stop on lap 10 and forcing him to pull off.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-1377757/Lewis-Hamilton-wins-Chinese-Grand-Prix.html#ixzz1Jm48fZgU

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

The fact there was only one retirement today (Alguersauri through no fault of his own because of the pit crew not putting a wheel on right) showed the class and quality of racing throughout the field barring Perez's ridiculous assaults on Heidfeld and Sutil showing his inexperience. Button and Alonso were a bit off kilter today though. They'd be the two drivers I'd expect would make the most of a very opportunistic race.

[mc_squared]

The fact there was only one retirement today (Alguersauri through no fault of his own because of the pit crew not putting a wheel on right) showed the class and quality of racing throughout the field barring Perez's ridiculous assaults on Heidfeld and Sutil showing his inexperience.

 

Yes, as the commentators kept mentioning, it was a very "clean" race.:cool:

[[email protected].]

heavy crash during the qualifying in monaco. i hope perez is okay.

[Petit Prince]

heavy crash during the qualifying in monaco. i hope perez is okay.

 

He's conscious and talking. Really hope he'll be ok.

[[email protected].]

I just read that he said in the hospital that he wants to take part in the race tomorrow. We'll see. At least he will be okay again..

[[email protected].]

what a crazy and chaotic monaco race :freak:

 

i usually dont watch F1 very often but this weekend i stumbled upon it and i dont regret watching it so far.

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

what a crazy and chaotic monaco race :freak:

 

i usually dont watch F1 very often but this weekend i stumbled upon it and i dont regret watching it so far.

 

So disappointed the safety car came out and stopped the race meaning Vettel and co got to put new tyres on. Alonso and Button I sensed were going to launch an incredible grandstand finish on Vettel's thinly worn tyre car. Still a fantastic race. Lucky lucky Vettel, but you create your own luck!

 

 

And I just saw Hamilton interviewed on the BBC. Wow that man is pissed off. Pissed off at always getting what he sees as the blame of the stewards. Lee McKenzie just asked 'Why do you keep getting penalised?' Hamilton responds laughing 'Maybe cos it's I'm black...heh heh that's what Ali G says'. He is so angry!

[[email protected].]

It was all Hamilton's fault^^ He has nothing to complain about. This dude is ->:facepalm:

 

I think Vettel would have won anyway even if the race wouldn't have been stopped..

Amazing performance as usual :smug: He deserves that luck.

 

But the one thing the commentators on RTL were not sure of is if they were allowed to change the tires in the end!?!?!

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

It was all Hamilton's fault^^ He has nothing to complain about. This dude is ->:facepalm:

 

I think Vettel would have won anyway even if the race wouldn't have been stopped..

Amazing performance as usual :smug: He deserves that luck.

 

But the one thing the commentators on RTL were not sure of is if they were allowed to change the tires in the end!?!?!

 

Hamilton in my view is the most fantastic driver to watch. He is the most pure racing driver of them all and because he is so racy it means he tries stuff that doesn't quite come off. The Massa incident wasn't Massa's fault but I felt it was Maldonado's fault because he didn't give Lewis the room and actually squeezed Lewis off the track. Lewis wasn't prepared to clobber the bollard and take his wing off so stuck his ground. Maldonado should have given him more room. A great driver is Lewis and a great guy but he just didn't have a great day. But I do agree with Lewis that f1 is a racing sport and if you're getting penalised for being racy to the extreme then they might as well not bother go racing.

 

They were and they did change tyres at the end. Every driver did. Vettel I don't think was amazing today but he was in the right place at the right time when the safety car came out (twice). Jenson Button was in my opinion driver of the day and was a man and a team who did nothing wrong throughout the race. Unluckiest man on the grid today. His driving and effort this year deserves a victory. Hopefully in Canada Jenson.

[[email protected].]

i agree. hamilton is a good racer but that take over manoeuver was just too optimistic. i can't help myself but i don't like to see him winning a race. :shrug:

button was unlucky today. without the safety car he would have won!..

nevertheless the best and most constant driver will win this years championship in the end - sebastian vettel.

[Black Rose]

Drivers overtaking at Monaco?

 

Now that's a shocker

[mc_squared]

Drivers overtaking at Monaco?

 

Now that's a shocker

 

Whatever next?:rolleyes:

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

i agree. hamilton is a good racer but that take over manoeuver was just too optimistic. i can't help myself but i don't like to see him winning a race. :shrug:

button was unlucky today. without the safety car he would have won!..

nevertheless the best and most constant driver will win this years championship in the end - sebastian vettel.

 

I love it when Lewis wins races. He always does it in the most fantastic entertaining way. The Chinese Grand Prix which he won this year was arguably the best race I have ever watched in all the years I've followed the sport and no doubt one of the best drives ever, along with his incredible win at Silverstone in 2008. That win in the wet was like Schumacher's amazing performances in Spain 1996 (in a shockingly bad Ferrari) and Monaco 1997.

 

Agree about Vettel. He's on top of his game at the moment. He's having to work for these victories but he and his team are doing everything right at the moment. Great driver but also in a truly great car. Would like to see Webber make more of the car though but he's had not much luck this year. Unlike Seb he just can't string a good weekend together yet. Only the second driver since Schumacher (Button being the other in 2009) who I can confidently say will win the title this early on in the season.

[mc_squared]

'Is it 'cos I'm black?' What F1 driver Lewis Hamilton asks race officials after penalties

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

 

Last updated at 10:18 PM on 29th May 2011

 

 

 

Lewis Hamilton appeared to accuse Monaco Grand Prix officials of racism in a furious tirade yesterday after he was given penalties over two incidents.

After being called to see the stewards regarding the second penalty, the Formula One star said: ‘It’s an absolute fricking joke. I’ve been to see the stewards five times out of six this season.

‘Maybe it’s because I’m black. That’s what Ali G says. I don’t know,’ he added.

 

Dejected: Lewis Hamilton asked 'is it 'cos I'm black?' after he was hit with penalty points in the Monaco GP yesterday

 

However, it wasn’t long before Hamilton was forced into a humiliating retraction and apology after F1’s governing body, the FIA, suggested he could be charged with bringing the sport into disrepute.

It led to a further meeting with race stewards where the 26-year-old tried to repair the damage.

 

He added afterwards: ‘What I said was a bit of a joke, which wasn’t funny at the time.

 

'I made them [the stewards] aware that when emotions are high, and it’s very intense at the end of those kind of races, you don’t always say the right thing, and the joke didn’t come at the most appropriate time.’

 

Action: Hamilton was called before the stewards given penalties over two incidents during the race in which he finished sixth

 

‘So I went there, made that clear to them – we’ve made our peace.’

Ali G, the comic creation of Sacha Baron Cohen, was famous for using the catchphrase ‘Is it ’cos I is black’ when criticised or censured.

During the race Hamilton was given a penalty for a brush with Felipe Massa, which led to the Brazilian crashing out, and a further 20-second penalty when he clashed with Pastor Maldonado.

Afterwards, Hamilton added: ‘These drivers are absolutely fricking ridiculous. It’s stupid.’