Formula 1 2013

[djr81]

Is it true that webber is leaving f1 to join porshe for Le Mans next year??

Yes it is completely accurate.

If you ignore the fact that Porsche themselves have denied it.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/porsche-denies-mark-webber-deal-20130415-2hvns.html

Or not denied it.

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/porsche-not-denying-webber-rumours/

But either way he may or may not drive for them. Depending on who you believe.

[ctjet]

one less dead weight slowing the bulls down

marko next

Edited April 16, 2013 by ctjet

[ctjet]

I've always been a fan of Vettel. The debut with BMW was impressive, as were his wet performances with Torro Rosso, including their only GP win. He is very good

He is exceedingly excellent

Im all for ripping on people and their idiosyncrasies, shit, im about as ruthless as people come. But if you dont like Seb, its because you're just a straight up hater.

So he sticks his finger in the air... its not in anybodies mum. People need to relax a little. He's a personality, as much as i adore Kimi... a whole field of them would almost instantly kill my interest in the sport. Where as the thought of 22 Seb's out there is something i might stick around and watch

quick question - was this stat from before or after Malaysia? lol

dont be that guy

those straws, you are better than them

[Roy]

He is exceedingly excellent

Im all for ripping on people and their idiosyncrasies, shit, im about as ruthless as people come. But if you dont like Seb, its because you're just a straight up hater.

So he sticks his finger in the air... its not in anybodies mum. People need to relax a little. He's a personality, as much as i adore Kimi... a whole field of them would almost instantly kill my interest in the sport. Where as the thought of 22 Seb's out there is something i might stick around and watch

You have to be kidding! The way a sportsman behaves in victory (fail with that arrogant finger), in defeat (badly..sooking like a brat when beaten...but to his credit he takes being cheated by mech failures etc like a bloody champion) and how they respect their peers is a huge factor in whether I like a sportsman.

He fails on so many counts...despite the fact that I want to believe the Top gear Vettel is the real Vettel...he is no doubt a nice enough guy and personable to be around but if I worked with the likes of him...i would not be able to do my job as he is demanding of all the focus and attention and spoils...DOG!

[ctjet]

So what you're saying is... he's not perfect?

Is that about the crux of your point?

Because if that's right, than I'm okay with that

[Roy]

I am saying his particular character traits suggest we would not get along. Coulthard, champion. Vettel dog. Wish DC wasn't so over it and the old boy comvo of Webz and DC were hammering it out in RBR colours

[ctjet]

they'd make coming in second an artform

[sh@un]

*chuckle*

The why's and how's are irrelevant. Its the results that matter. Isnt that right schui fans!

the end always justified the means to the Schu Mk.1

Vettel seems to be taking up his mantle without missing a beat

[89CAL]

Enough.... really

Sick of coming in here and hearing nothing but Vettel talk. Love him or hate him he aint going anywhere anytime soon. Malyasia is over, lets look to the future

Dissapointed that I probably wont get to see Bahrain GP till next wednesday when I get home from work. Lotus were strong there last year, hoping there is a repeat, although I dont have high hopes with how rediculous this year is for picking who's going to be on form

Hoping one Australian gets well up in the top ten, Dan to make it 2 decent points finishes in a row?

[ctjet]

its sexy when you put your foot down like that

[sh@un]

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/8643812/Pirelli-scrap-soft-tyres-for-Bahrain

might not turn into a tyre conservation marathon after the last change... maybe just a fuel conservation one

[hrd-hr30]

Mediums and Hards for Bahrain, just like Malaysia. In Malaysia, Mediums were still the preferred race tyre because the Hards were so slow and still only lasting the same amount of laps as the Mediums...

And the drivers are doing nothing but conserving to make the Mediums last for a three stop strategy...

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/04/tyre-situation-splits-the-formula-1-paddock/

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh, who saw his driver Button forced to let drivers through rather than defend his position in China so that he could make their strategy work, said: “It’s quite excruciating, trying to save tyres non-stop from start to finish. It seems to go on forever. It feels painful, and however bad it is for me, it must be a lot worse if you have to drive like that.”

“It was so difficult, I would radio in and say ‘Can I fight them?’ They’d come back and say ‘Yes, fight, fight!’ And then ten seconds later ‘No, you need to look after the tyres and get to our target lap.’ You don’t want to look like you’re not fighting but for us the best thing to do was to have clean air and not destroy the tyres. It’s not the most exciting way to go racing but we got 10 points because we did that.”

Mark Webber, who started from the pit lane and failed to finish the race, said: “It will all look good in the first five or six laps, having everyone fighting, but it’s a little bit WWF [referring to the wrestling sports-entertainment brand] at the moment. Whatever fuel load you have got in the car, if you race people, you are in trouble. So just don’t race, put the tyre on and just try and get home.”

Speaking about the soft tyres ahead of the race, Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg said: “With those tyres it is more of a question of how many corners you are going to get to, rather than laps!”

Meanwhile Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda told the APA news agency: “You have to wonder if it’s necessary for the tyres to be so on the limit, when everyone has to go in the box just after starting a race. It’s so complicated, especially for the spectators.”

It's a sorry state of affairs for F1 GrandPrix "racing"

[djr81]

You have to be kidding! The way a sportsman behaves in victory (fail with that arrogant finger), in defeat (badly..sooking like a brat when beaten...but to his credit he takes being cheated by mech failures etc like a bloody champion) and how they respect their peers is a huge factor in whether I like a sportsman.

He fails on so many counts...despite the fact that I want to believe the Top gear Vettel is the real Vettel...he is no doubt a nice enough guy and personable to be around but if I worked with the likes of him...i would not be able to do my job as he is demanding of all the focus and attention and spoils...DOG!

Well if anyone wants an example of how a sportsman should conduct himself have a look at Sebastian Loeb. Absolutely dominant and universally respected. Makes Vettel look like the dog he is.

[hrd-hr30]

Loeb's not a successful German in F1...

Edited April 17, 2013 by hrd-hr30

[djr81]

Loeb's not a successful German in F1...

Cheers Harry. That is probably why I had trouble picking which part of the fatherland his accent was from. Somewhere west of Alsace Lorraine?

No he isnt in F1 but he is a giant in the rally world. And, arguably, a huge loss to F1. Shame he didnt follow up on the TR thing.

[hrd-hr30]

that's the reason Seb is hated...

F1 fans need to have a villan character. It has been that way since at least the 80s.

F1 fans are conditioned to hating successful Germans.

Vettle fits the mold - the fact that people can get so worked up about his finger victory celebrations just goes to show how little there actually is to hate about him!

And the other thing that makes him "a dog" is the same thing other drivers have been applauded for... You just can't do it if you are a successful German...

[ctjet]

Dont try and sell that SV and SL are not comparable, both cheat to whatever the rules allow. There just happens to be more scope for shenanigans in F1

how many times has Loeb's 'team mate' (Sordo?) been sacrificed by running first and sweeping the road for his more illustrious team mate?

Its the french accent, its so damn loveable

[djr81]

that's the reason Seb is hated...

F1 fans need to have a villan character. It has been that way since at least the 80s.

F1 fans are conditioned to hating successful Germans.

Vettle fits the mold - the fact that people can get so worked up about his finger victory celebrations just goes to show how little there actually is to hate about him!

And the other thing that makes him "a dog" is the same thing other drivers have been applauded for... You just can't do it if you are a successful German...

The dog reference is about him agreeing to one thing pre race (Multi 21 or 12 if he had been leading) and then reneging on the agreement when it no longer suited him. Not unlike what Carlos Reutemann famously (or infamously) did to Alan Jones. It is not a German thing, hell Stefan Bellof was damn near a god in many peoples eyes. It is just that people dont like arrogance (Which they choose to ignore in drivers they like, as all good sports are arrogant - youd have to be to believe you are the best in the world) But more than that people dont like duplicity and dont enjoy the self serving justifications put up afterwards.

Anyway I dont remember many drivers being applauded for reneging on agreements. Senna got smashed for bailing out of Toleman to use just one example.

Dont try and sell that SV and SL are not comparable, both cheat to whatever the rules allow. There just happens to be more scope for shenanigans in F1

how many times has Loeb's 'team mate' (Sordo?) been sacrificed by running first and sweeping the road for his more illustrious team mate?

Its the french accent, its so damn loveable

Tactics and cheating arent the same thing. Never have been, never will be.

[hrd-hr30]

The dog reference is about him agreeing to one thing pre race (Multi 21 or 12 if he had been leading) and then reneging on the agreement when it no longer suited him. Not unlike what Carlos Reutemann famously (or infamously) did to Alan Jones. It is not a German thing, hell Stefan Bellof was damn near a god in many peoples eyes. It is just that people dont like arrogance (Which they choose to ignore in drivers they like, as all good sports are arrogant - youd have to be to believe you are the best in the world) But more than that people dont like duplicity and dont enjoy the self serving justifications put up afterwards.

Anyway I dont remember many drivers being applauded for reneging on agreements. Senna got smashed for bailing out of Toleman to use just one example.

That's not what happened though. Mark said himself that during the race he was wondering how the team would deal with the situation and was ready for a sprint to the finish - not something you would say if there was a standing agreement before the race about exactly how it was going to play out. They made the Multi21 call during the race. All Vettel did was the same Mark did at Silverstone - ignore team orders during the race to hold station. When Mark did it he was the little aussie battler showing some trueaussiegrit by sticking it to the man or some nonsense, Vettel returns the favour and everyone goes off....

Worse still, Mark did the same thing in Brazil last year witht he championship on the line for Vettel - he was a fool to think Vettel wouldn't do the same to him when the chance came!

I say good on him. It was an unsporting team order that served no actual point to the team or drivers. Until there is a clear championship contender to support, it should be best man wins, not some old blokes behind the pit wall calling the race off with a quarter of it still to run. Let them race. Stupid orders should be broken.

Edited April 17, 2013 by hrd-hr30

[hrd-hr30]

besides, with how close the championships have been in recent years, every single point counts. Particularly when your main championship rival from last season is out of the race, it's time to capitalise on that mistake, not cruise around and settle for 2nd place - that's no way to win championships. Which is what the sport is all about, after all...

Edited April 17, 2013 by hrd-hr30