I'm not sure that people are saying it's "unsporting".
Speaking only for myself, my grip is with the FIA not writing the rules clearly enough, and allowing this farce to occur.
Stewards have declared them LEGAL!
Now one hour for Ferrari or Red Bull to lodge their intention to appeal. Oh the drama...
Now one hour for Ferrari or Red Bull to lodge their intention to appeal. Oh the drama...
Well, the diffuser protests are in:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73901
Regardless of the outcome this evening, one thing is for sure: there will be an appeal. If Brawn, Toyota, and Williams continue to race using their current diffuser and the FIA ICA decide in a month's time that they're illegal, it will cost them a lot of points (assuming they do well enough to get many points).
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73901
Regardless of the outcome this evening, one thing is for sure: there will be an appeal. If Brawn, Toyota, and Williams continue to race using their current diffuser and the FIA ICA decide in a month's time that they're illegal, it will cost them a lot of points (assuming they do well enough to get many points).
In terms of raw dollars, yes they would have been much cheaper. But if you calculate inflation into it, probably not.
Group B cars were cutting-edge at the time, much like WRC cars 3-5 years ago.
WRC's problem is the lack of revenue and very high cost. The cars cost several million dollars under the current regulations, and manufacturers aren't willing to shell out that much money on a series which provides very little public exposure.
Rallying just doesn't lend itself to convenient TV coverage, which means less exposure, therefore less marketing potential.
The switch to S2000-based cars aim to reduce the cost by an order of magnitude. WRC needs a revival, or it will surely become extinct.
Rallying just doesn't lend itself to convenient TV coverage, which means less exposure, therefore less marketing potential.
The switch to S2000-based cars aim to reduce the cost by an order of magnitude. WRC needs a revival, or it will surely become extinct.
Mark Webber fails at his attempt to quietly dispose of his new team mate.
The best drivers will adjust their styles to suit the car. So all this talk about how Driver X will suffer while Driver Y won't, is a bit academic. Some of the lesser drivers might have difficulty, but the better drivers will find workarounds.
Alonso definitely won't suffer. He is the most complete driver on the grid, and I think he has demonstrated his ability to adapt to any car.
Massa might suffer, but he might not. I think he's probably less naturally talented than Raikkonen, but he seems to be the type of driver who can be coached to perform very well. He has certainly developed lot since his Sauber days.
The stereotyped "smooth" drivers probably won't have a problem: Button, Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Sutil, et al. Their ability to conserve tyres may be advantageous.
Lewis and Vettel like their oversteer. If they are as good as they are hyped, then they will adapt.
Rosberg used to brake-late-turn-in-sharp-and-hope-for-the-best, but he seems to be developed quite a bit since then.
Let the GP come, and we'll all see who has the better right foot.
Alonso definitely won't suffer. He is the most complete driver on the grid, and I think he has demonstrated his ability to adapt to any car.
Massa might suffer, but he might not. I think he's probably less naturally talented than Raikkonen, but he seems to be the type of driver who can be coached to perform very well. He has certainly developed lot since his Sauber days.
The stereotyped "smooth" drivers probably won't have a problem: Button, Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Sutil, et al. Their ability to conserve tyres may be advantageous.
Lewis and Vettel like their oversteer. If they are as good as they are hyped, then they will adapt.
Rosberg used to brake-late-turn-in-sharp-and-hope-for-the-best, but he seems to be developed quite a bit since then.
Let the GP come, and we'll all see who has the better right foot.
He's already won a race, so that's not an issue.
The issue is whether Button is good enough to win the WDC.
He had good potential in 2004. Does he still have the spirit?It seems to be the popular pick.
I just hope that Brawn, Toyota, and Williams, don't get their ass kicked in Melbourne for flaunting "illegal" diffusers.
It's the C4, not C3.
Yes, he is indeed "that" good. He's quite an impressive all-rounder: WRC, Le Mans 24 hours, Race of Champions, F1 (testing), etc.
There are offensive things he said which could have been better worded without sounding like PR nonsense. Perhaps it's his age, lack of experience, etc. But when he doesn't have a PR script to follow, he needs to think before he speaks.
Brawn sounds like a pretty safe bet. But McLaren showed good pace at Jerez yesterday with Kovi at the wheel, as did Williams with Kazuki.
Last year I said "throw out the form book". I think I might say it again this year.
Last year I said "throw out the form book". I think I might say it again this year.
It sure is fair.
Think of the alternative:
* Driver A wins 3 races but DNFs 5 times.
* Driver B doesn't win any races, but consistently scores podiums and has no DNFs.
Under the old rules, Driver B wins the championship. Under the new rules, the dumbass who won 3 times but DNFs 5 times is the champion.
Who is the better driver? Should a world champion DNF 5 times, or should he be able to keep his car on track? IMHO, Driver B is more worthy - he's fast and consistent. Driver A is fast, but has nothing else going for him. A Formula 1 Grand Prix is a test of speed and consistency (that's why races go for 1.5 to 2 hours, instead of the usual 30 minutes to 1 hour of most other racing series). If you can't be fast and keep up the pace, you don't deserve a WDC. No one wants a "lucky" champion - champions should earn their gold. Unfortunately the new rule will award drivers who luck into top step of the podium, instead of those who are consistently excellent.
Nakajima did a 1:17.494 on a two-lap stint - the fastest lap at Jerez this winter. He did a bunch of low 1:18s and a 1:17.6 in other two-lappers. If these are Q2 simulations, it's impressive.
1. World Rally Car will be based on existing mass-produced street cars.
2. The World Rally Car will be a Super 2000 car, except the engine will be a turbo-charged 1.6 litre.
S2000 and S1600 cars are based on production (ie. street) cars, much like how Group N cars are modified street cars. Super 1600/2000 cars are developed the same way - take a street car, strip it, replace the differentials (if necessary), stick a standard gearbox in, tune the engine, etc.
Eh? Wouldn't that be Super 1600, not Super 2000? Super 1600 Turbo, maybe.
Come to think of it, that sounds pretty cool, although I'd much rather have Super 2000 cars with turbos.
I'm not sure what you mean by that.
If you are asking whether manufacturers are required to produce STREET cars under S2000 specs, then the answer is "no".
It was inspired by my efforts to learn the guitar lead for (the relatively simple) Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet (originally by The Troggs).
At the risk of sounding like an emo, I'll also nominate So Afraid by Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, during their 1997 The Dance tour. I can't find a proper clip for it (removed by YouTube, sigh), but the link is the best I can find.
Big Love is another awesome solo by Lindsey Buckingham. Totally crazy acoustic play.
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman by Bryan Adams is another nice acoustic one. Paco de Lucia played the guitar - beautiful dynamics. Love it.
Greatest Rock Guitar Solos of All Time
As we're all racing fans, I guess it's safe to presume we all enjoy some good-old rock-and-roll at least every now and again.
So, which rock music guitar solos are the best? :bannana_g
Please link to a youtube (or similar) vid of the solo, so we all know what it is.
My nomination:
Telegraph Road - Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjJzlIedCuo (solo section only; the whole song is like 10 minutes long)
So, which rock music guitar solos are the best? :bannana_g
Please link to a youtube (or similar) vid of the solo, so we all know what it is.
My nomination:
Telegraph Road - Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjJzlIedCuo (solo section only; the whole song is like 10 minutes long)
Last edited by samjh, .
Yes, we need to keep the test times in perspective. RBR, Renault, and Williams were impressively fast during the 2007-2008 winter test season, but they turned out to be mid-field runners once the green lights went up in Melbourne.
Indeed.
He's not the only one. Toyota are hanging their hopes on this season, Mallya seems a little... coy about his F1 adventure, Brawn will find themselves in the dumpster if they can't find any major sponsors, and the future of STR is dependent on whether they can fund their own design and manufacturing operation.
Unless the global recession lifts some time during this year, quite a few drivers will need to start knocking on doors.
I wouldn't be choosing anything until this week's Jerez test is over.
Melbourne could turn out to be the most unpredictable race since last season's Monza.
Brawn had been doing qualifying and race simulations all through Barcelona, and the car seems to have run without any reliability issues. If their running weight was legal, then they could turn out to be an awesome wildcard.
Anyway, there is still one more test. McLaren, Brawn, Renault, and Williams are running on the final test this week, so be prepared for the timesheets to be shuffled again.
Anyway, there is still one more test. McLaren, Brawn, Renault, and Williams are running on the final test this week, so be prepared for the timesheets to be shuffled again.
McLaren will definitely come back.
That aside, does anyone think it's odd that this season's RBR front-end looks strangely similar to McLaren's during the past two seasons?
That aside, does anyone think it's odd that this season's RBR front-end looks strangely similar to McLaren's during the past two seasons?
Drivers tend to influence setup, not design. Engineers are the only ones who have any practical measure of influence on the design of a car. Every driver wants a well-balanced car, and that's what the engineers go for.
Drivers test for balance first, out-of-the-box. If the balance is off, then they attempt to correct it using setup. If the car doesn't respond positively to setup changes, then the team's screwed. If it responds well and the car can be balanced to the driver's liking, then the battle is half won. Any of the car's characteristics that can't be corrected via setup, is in the realm of the designers.
McLaren has been testing out new underbody, right? They've also been using the 2009 rear wing a lot. This seems to suggest that their problem is aerodynamic, and regardless of the setup experiments done by Lewis or Keikki, it's not responding well. Videos seem to show that the car is very nervous (with Lewis driving) in corners. Lewis using lots of kerbage, getting on power very late, twitching upon braking and turn-in, etc. Put all that together, and the problem looks like its related to low aero grip toward the rear. Bad diffuser design? Bad rear wing? Bad undertray?
Whatever the case, none of those problems can really be solved by Lewis or Heikki. The team needs to get back to their windtunnel and CFD simulations.
They've got Jerez next week, and most teams aren't testing at Jerez. Hopefully McLaren can get some revised components and fix the problem before Melbourne. If they can't get their car in shape next week, then it will proabably be a very long and frustrating season for them.
Last edited by samjh, .
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