2011 F1 Thread

[NickR33]

yep but only because Vettel shut the door on him and Webber wisely gave it up... he was going to pass him at some stage so team orders don't make any sense... you can look at it from either position, tell Webber to stay back or tell Vettel to move over... or just let nature take its course and actually entertain the viewer for a change... I thought it was great seeing Mark have a go

yeah me and Bernie go way back............. just adds another dimension, its great watching the teams scramble and think on their feet... and really it brings out driver talent

they should just combine F1 and WRC... put some gravel tyres on the F1's and let 'em loose through the trees... shit I'd pay to watch every race;)

[sh@un]

somewhat unrelated, but the mp4-12c has apprently done quite well around the top gear track

depending in what spec they're talking about, it may have topped the board

at least tehy're topping something eh

I wish that episode of Top Gear would hurry up and get broadcast

[sav man]

I downloaded it today. Vettel was on....and he was very likable. I hate him even more now

[260DET]

............................................................

So when are they actually allowed to race? That all said, Mark has himself to blame, even allowing for having the slippery side of the track (rubbered in racing line in the wet is worse then dirty side in the wet) he should have gotten away better and been leading Vettel...not chasing

Agree. Mark lost the start to Vettel, I think he is getting a bit desperate.

[mickey]

I think rbr should have asked vettel to move over, I mean he's practically won this year's wdc so rbr could make it a 1-2 in the wdc, since Webber, alonso, button and Hamilton are essentially playing for 2nd assuming vettel doesn't dnf the next 5 gp's.

Come on rbr make it a little more interesting

[hrd-hr30]

Harry, not from this season but makes the point, his philosophy has nothing to do whether team orders are legal or not....its how he views the sport....

of course it matter if team orders are legal. they're hardly going to admit to using team orders when they're illegal.

you don't see them going on about it this year now that orders are all above board.

and despite the team owner's protestations, they clearly did use team orders last year, as has pretty much every other team in history.

at that stage of the race with no chance of cathing the 1st place guy or being caught by the 4th place guy, and seperated by 5 seconds (or whatever it was) with 5 laps to go, they should have just settled in to conserve their engines and boxes. I don't see anything wrong with the engineers telling them that. probably happens all the time without anyone hearing about it. Its only newsworthy because Mark ignored them and made an issue of it.

[wolverine]

Its only newsworthy because Mark ignored them and made an issue of it.

MW didn't make an issue of it, he was asked a question and he answered it straight.

It's newsworthy because the media likes to stir shit and because the rest of us like to see drivers racing each other.

[Roy]

I think with half the season yo go 3 points is 3 points and Webber is yet to outscore Vettel in a single race. There is a strong chance Vettel will have a DNF before seadons end and one poor result. Webber neefs to win and take a few points out of him when he can...if he gives up the points chase now then he doesnt deserve a seat in the WDC team.

And Webber and Vettel have shared the track and positions at plenty of GPs. It has only ended in tears once in 2.5 seasons. Let them race as McLaren and Renault do

[wolverine]

If you add in the Torro Rosso time for SV then you can add one more 'end in tears' moment in Japan while driving behind the safety car.

The world champ has a history of running into MW. No wonder Horner wanted to maintain the gap.

They will all be friends by Germany

[sh@un]

the mp4-12c has apprently done quite well around the top gear track

depending in what spec they're talking about, it may have topped the board

1:16.2- Very nearly 3 seconds faster than an Enzo and a 458

The only thing that's been around quicker on road-legal rubber is the Ariel Atom V8

[N1GTR]

And the Ultima GTR but they won't recognise the time as they didn't drive it themselves.

[hrd-hr30]

I think with half the season yo go 3 points is 3 points and Webber is yet to outscore Vettel in a single race. There is a strong chance Vettel will have a DNF before seadons end and one poor result. Webber neefs to win and take a few points out of him when he can...if he gives up the points chase now then he doesnt deserve a seat in the WDC team.

The points chase situation is this -

Mark is 80 points behind

There are 10 races to go.

So Mark needs 8 points more per race.

Points for each race are: 25 18 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 1

So basically, Webber need to win every remaining GP and have Vettel finish 3rd in at least 4 of those races! If Webber finishes 2nd, Vettel needs to finish 5th!

but as you say Webber has yet to beat Vettel at all, and Vettel has yet to finish worse than 2nd, whereas Webber is a solid 3rd to 4th place finisher this year. And we're basically half way through the season... you're asking alot.

So you're right, Webber basically needs Vettel to have a few retirements, while Mark has none. I just don't see Vettel being any more likely to have DNF's than Webber.

Edited July 12, 2011 by hrd-hr30

[tweety bird]

1:16.2- Very nearly 3 seconds faster than an Enzo and a 458

The only thing that's been around quicker on road-legal rubber is the Ariel Atom V8

yer but the stig should 'know the mclaren well'

^ cwutididthar

[Roy]

I just don't see Vettel being any more likely to have DNF's than Webber.

I dont think for a second that Webber has a shot at the title. But if he stops trying to win or beat a slower car in front then I want to see him hang up the helmet.

Something I have always said about Webber, and like about him is if his performances are not up to par he generally looks at what has to be done and goes about improving. He doesnt do a JV, Hill, Button etc and blame the car. So he has to keep on pushing and believing that he can bridge the gap and on his day beat the other guy.

Years ago MS crashed and broke a leg and missed races. More recently Perez crashed and missed races. Alonso had a hell of a 2nd half of the year and almost won the WDC. I dont think Webber has a shot, but if Vettel bins it like he did in the sphincter of the universe and Canada and bangs up his leg etc...then who knows. You got to keep pushing and get the maximum result...being an Aussie it may be the only way he will win it is when someone else throws it away

...and will have to agree to disagree re team orders. After the legality of team orders was announced last year the owner of Red Bull publically made a point to come out and say we will never be Ferrari, we believe in the sporting aspects of F1 and will never adopt team orders. Pretty clear in my book what he think the basis of his team is about. Shame with their success they are now just another political machine full of spin and BS

Come on Danielson in the HRT. I know what shirt I am buying next weekend in Germany

[sav man]

does hrt have any merch?

[Tangles]

I feel Webber loses races on his own - due to his poor starts. He just cant seem to start the RBR fassssst off the line, always seems to bog down & lose position(s).

Hopefully the team orders saga gets Webber thinking about moving on. Id LOVE to see MW taking Massas seat at Ferrari....

[Marlin]

The Webber/Vettel thing wasn't remotely the "biggest" part of the race for me...... I found the entire race fantastic, I was on the edge of my seat for all of it.

[sh@un]

Who would have thought a real race circuit could produce some decent racing, eh?

[sh@un]

I just don't see Vettel being any more likely to have DNF's than Webber.

Both Vettel and RBR are dead certs now for taking out their respective championships again.

Lock it in Eddie; there's no need to phone a friend.

[hrd-hr30]

lol this time last year Mark publicly supported Ferrari's use of illegal team orders for Massa to let Alonso past...