I can't see anyone other than Vettel taking the title. The RBR has been solidly the best car to have over the last 3 years, no reason why it won't continue this path.

The last test McLaren pulled out a mega lap, and equally in this test Hamilton did a mega lap on hards + highish fuel. So it's hard to read into anything too much

Jann Mardenborough has been given a drive with Carlin racing for F3 Euro Series. Pretty good stuff from the GT Academy winner.

Everyone seems pretty pumped for the new Formula Ford, but it's a tad pricey

Well the heat can actually help the tyres. Barcelona had high-deg in the 2012 tests but Melbourne was much better. but if they had a race tomorrow we'd be looking at 5-6 stops.

Last edited by Intrepid, Thu 21 Feb 2013, 09:34.

Hamilton did a very impressive lap on hard tyres and 10 laps worth of fuel. It was at least competitive. Can't read too much into it.

Tyres seem to have mad degradation at the moment (cold track possible explanation). Vettel did a race sim in the afternoon and it looked like the tyres were lasting no longer than 10 or so laps. it seems to be affecting everyone. Should be better come Melbourne... should.

Last edited by Intrepid, Thu 21 Feb 2013, 09:02.

Kers, DRS of course. I suspect we'll see some rear suspension failure at some point, and of course gearbox. I think Mercedes will be lucky to turn 3 figure laps this testing season.

Rear brake failure. No more running today. Seems Mercedes bought the driver and his luck with him lol

Last edited by Intrepid, Wed 6 Feb 2013, 12:36.

Looper - Started good got progressively duller.

Quote from NotAnIllusion :

Turbo F1 engines - How they started

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbB1qwhKaaE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqfVAGOaGEc

Modern F1 needs more of this. Imagine that kind of access now?

Quote from Knight_Atack :

As ugly the stepped nose was, it's strange seeing them without it this year as I got used to it.

ahhh this is what I call the 'shit factor' . let me expand on this scientific point. If you stuck a couple of wings and tyres onto a piece of shit and called it f1, eventually after about a week or so no one would notice that what you are actually looking at is a piece of poo.

Right now driver development plans are certainly using sim racers to measure and evaluate how talent develops and how to improve upon it. However, this data is used to help drivers who already have the funding to go racing.

So the idea of going from sim racing to fully funded drive is still quite a rare occurance, though it's only because of funding issues. the concept of professional or fully-paid drivers for ANYONE are pretty much extinct now.

Quote from sinbad :

I wasn't too impressed by this, really.
The previous two were better, except for the cringe moment where the editor thinks showing Tiff Needell understeering whilst he describes what it is to Sir Patrick Stewart is not entertaining enough, so whilst he explains how the car doesn't want to turn into the corner and the nose pushes out wide, we see the wild oversteer slides he later initiates as an illustration of how to deal with it.

This episode just felt like Chris Hoy on an experience day, with a "yes, his reckless attitude may have contributed to the death of himself, his son and their friends, but never mind, he's still a legend" tacked on the end. No other insight into his career, really.
I was only left thinking that most people, legend or otherwise, would be vilified to a much greater extent.

The way they dealt with the helicopter crash felt false. They obviously didn't want to open old wounds (I wondered if the wife/mother of the father and son that perished with the McRaes was watching) but after watching this, I question their decision to make this show in the first place really. I felt for Jimmy McRae who is obviously a great guy and it can't have been easy for him to do this.

Generally agree with everything you said there.

As for the actual series concept, I get the feeling it's all rather getting a bit overdone. This hero worship is all getting a bit tiresome. I think it started with Senna The Movie, which in my opinion was a complete let down.

Is motorsport becoming that shit that we have to continually have programmes on about all the old stars?

I don't get it? He screwed up because he took a risk? This is F1, team principals take risks, sometimes they work (F-Duct, flexi-wing etc..., double-decker diffuser) sometimes they don't (DDRS, front exhaust etc...). Risk is part of the game.

Django Unchained was great. I can see why some people wouldn't hook into it, but I am a fan of QT anyway. I know a film is good when I hold in the urge to piss for over 2 hours... Cinemas really should have a piss break

where did you see that? UK release is 19th?

Quote from chanoman315 :

I agree, but as a rally driver you expect those things, people who do strange things to distract or patrocine (?) you, and you should act mature and as a rally driver. And as a rally driver you should be more aware of what surrounds you, you should not be distracted by such stupid things, because (as a rally driver) you know that an error can cost a lot of lives, including your own.

Well a driver might act in a perfectly sensible and rational way i.e braking and taking avoiding action to a potential risk, yet put themselves in extreme danger consequently.

Stupid stunts like that aren't funny, they are just ****ing dangerous and stupid.

The drivers should also be aware of their surroundings to take in and assess risk. risks which will effect their choices on the road. if in their peripheral they see what appears to be a half-naked chick standing on the exit of the a fast corner, then they can't be blamed if it's enough of a distraction to cause a crash. The driver in this case slammed on his brakes because for all he knew there was a silly half-naked bird ready to run into the front of his car.

not all drivers are Sebastian Loeb and can assess and process such information sensibly. it's stupid, childish and dangerous. If I were the organiser I'd find who put it there and ban them for life.

Am I the only one who thinks that's incredibly stupid and dangerous?

Straw Dogs - poor
Total Recall - poor remake with OK action here and there

Quote from The Very End :

The new Hobbit movie - It's ok I guess, but I think 3 movies of one book is a little overkill. Seems like they are just going to waste time with endless fighting sequences. Not that I have anything against that - but it's getting a little bit borring at the end of the movie IMO!

I think if you make a film for Hobbit fans then you need the length. If you ever read a book you do need more than 2 hours to portray in film. If you've read the book then no matter how good the movie is you've always got the thing in the back of your brain going "missed that bit... that's bits different etc...."

Of course if it's for the mass market you're correct.

Moonrise Kingdom - If you like Wes Anderson you'll like this. stellar cast too.

No surprises that Max Chilton is racing for Marussia next year

Dried Mango is the ****ing tits.

http://jalopnik.com/5965507/ho ... h-as-a-pro-racecar-driver

doesn't mince his words

Hamilton has done a big favour to Vettel by moving to Mercedes. Can't see Vettel not getting his 4th title. Only thing stopping that is whether Newey starts to get bored.

Guys, it's F1. Not some airy fairy view of sportsmanship. You see a possibility that you can nab a WDC you take it in any form you can. I'd do exactly the same thing without thinking twice, and if you didn't like I'd release a press release saying you can suck my balls . Same with the technical regulations. That's all F1 is at the end of the day - playing the regulations.