Quote from AndreABG :

can anyone point me to the stewards decision page from the FIA, cant find it^^

http://www.fia.com/championshi ... nd-prix-event-information

Click "Stewards Decisions".

Quote from BlueFlame :

It's true the 2nd DRS zone at Bahrain is a very good placement but they said DRS would allow a slower car to be passed but another DRS zone following allows that slower car to repass (not the case for Bahrain really but meh). So the FIA muted their own point.

I don't think it will be so easy. The pit DRS zone is probably long enough to let cars pass quite easily. But the other DRS zone is quite short, so unless the overtaking car has a very clear advantage, it won't be able to make a safe pass there.

Quote from sinbad :

What annoys me is his crocodile tears afterwards. "Wahh I'm so sad that I did it, it doesn't feel like a win, I regret it, it was a mistake". Balls. If you have 20 minutes to continue to contemplate your decision, whilst leading a race after making a quite sternly defended overtake against the instructions of your team, at least have the guts to stand by your decision, don't turn on the puppy dog face and pretend it was a brief moment of madness.

+1000 to that!

Hopefully Vettel will grow a spine strong enough to back his desire to win races. At 25 years of age, there is still time for that.

Quote from Mustafur :

from a race perspective i didn't mind it, but its highly disrespectful to his employer what he did.

He wouldn't be the first, and won't be the last to disobey team orders. Webber has already committed that sin more than once. Many others in the past have done the same, even among current drivers in recent years.

Far from judging the wrongness or righteousness of either driver, the only thing clear from the most recent fracas is that team orders suck.

Quote from DevilDare :

Ahem. Turkey 2010.. Button pretended not to understand very similar team instructions.

Then again, maybe they really didnt mention anything to him. Never did find out...

What I'm thinking is this: if a team wants to have a triple WDC (or even any WDC) in their stable, and a driver equally hungry for a WDC, they'd be extremely naive to think that their orders will be followed by both drivers. History shows how ill-placed that sort of faith is.

This is less of an issue between Vettel and Webber, and more about Horner's management of his drivers. Both drivers have disobeyed orders in the past, and will continue to do so. He should be prepared to give up on orders and let them race, or else put his foot down and impose real sanctions.

Poor form from Vettel, if he ignored team instructions to hold station. Mark is right to be pissed.

But then, I can't think of any WDC other than Button or Damon Hill who would have obeyed in the same circumstances.

Interesting grid. Fast-starting Ferraris right near Vettel. Both Mercs in front of tyre-saving Raikkonen. Hmmm...

Just joined. Weird system, but let's see how it goes.

Humans are adaptable, multi-skilled, can provide help if the car breaks down, and can assist with administration and management of the competitor's schedule and vehicle.

There is also the added element of teamwork that has been present in most forms of rallying through history. The idea of having a driver and navigator working as a crew is a well-established tradition in the sport.

Kamui Kobayashi joins AF Corse in the World Endurance Championship!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105958

Good job, mate!

Ferrari always downplays their car's performance potential. That way, they always have a ready excuse if their drivers do not deliver a good result, and it also helps to maintain or improve Alonso's stock.

Last year, the Ferrari was usually within podium-winning pace, if not outright victory. Its issue was qualifying but the car had awesome straight line speed, solid reliability, and was an all-round good car. It was not the dog that Alonso and Ferrari management made it out to be.

Nice design. Love the new paint scheme!

The new nose is much lower than the C31 of last year. They've also moved the exhaust outlet lower, and the rear bodywork appears smoother. The air intake design also seems to have changed. They've also changed the rear-wing end plate to have a straight horizontal bottom piece, rather than the angled one seen in the C31, as well as smoother contours on the leading edge.

By the way, are they still sponsored by Chelsea?

Quote from S3ANPukekoh3 :

Interesting that McLaren has gone to pullrod suspension similar to Ferrari's car last year...

I wonder why?

Not sure. But I notice in the comparison pic that this year's car seems to have more severe rake compared to previous cars (at least in show trim). Notice the high ride height, and the steepness of the floor. Maybe they've copied Red Bull's philosophy rather than Ferrari's.

All of the cars so far look awesome, except the Lotus, which seem to have rejected the "nose job".

The Force India looks especially cool.

Quote from The Alien :

Vettel was already angry when Alonso said that he was fighting Adrian Newey not Vettel,so i wonder how angry he was that the team bosses taught that Alonso was the best driver...

I suspect that the former would be more annoying than the latter. Team bosses' opinions are just opinions. Alonso's remark about fighting Newey was a psychological attack. Big difference between the two.

Targa Tasmania onboard with Dean Evans in a Lotus Exige Cup 260:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxARf74Refg

Quote from GianniC :

Grosjean stays at Lotus.
Kobyashi gives up on 2013 seat chance.

Source: Autosport.com

No surprises there. Grosjean was always candidate #1 at Lotus, given his French connection. I'm disappointed about Kobayashi - the fact that he hasn't been able to secure an F1 seat, but also that he isn't interested in driving in any other category. He could at least try to race in WEC or similar, to keep his skills up as well as to promote himself to other sponsors.

Nurburgring onboard footage from 1967:
http://youtu.be/n6aNnZ4q80s

Love the music!

Fangio onboard:
http://youtu.be/FKKrEzT_s8k

Quote from Bmxtwins :

Thats a shame, i was hoping some young drivers could get an oppurtunity

HRT wasn't fielding young drivers.

Were you thinking of Minardi?

Formula Holden (ie. F4000) 2002 Australian Drivers' Championship, featuring Will Power when he was still trying to make it big. He won the championship.

http://youtu.be/iyzJTgt1E4w

Quote from Mustafur :

Now just deduct the reliability from kobayashi's finish rate and give him a 20% boost in points finishes because hes not driving a Lotus and then it would be more accurate.

All statistics have to be interpreted in context.

In Kobayashi's case, the figures should be interpreted in the context that the Sauber was a worse car than the Lotus this season, and not a competitive car in previous seasons. Added to that is his string of car-related DNFs in 2011. So he has been less lucky, yet more reliable in bringing home the points, than Grosjean.

Having said that, Grosjean's French connection is probably way too strong for Kobayashi to break. Added to that is his raw speed, which is probably better than Kobayashi's.

Quote from englishlord :

Aren't flags and lights the same thing displayed differently...

Signal priority depends on the supplementary regulations for each event. In Brazil, Charlie Whiting's instruction to the drivers was that whatever signal is encountered first, is the signal that the drivers should apply.

In Vettel's case he crossed a flashing yellow, then a waving green, then a flashing green. He passed Vergne after the waving green, so there is no case to answer.

Quote from CrAZySkyPimp :

Wait a minute, who of Grosjean and Kamikaze falls under the reliability category? Both are nutters

Grosjean F1 career race finish rate: 64% (9 retirements from 25 races)
Grosjean F1 points finish rate: 40% (10 points finishes in 25 races)

Kobayashi F1 career race finish rate: 75% (15 retirements in 60 races)
Kobayashi F1 points finish rate: 45% (27 points finishes in 60 races)

Last edited by samjh, Thu, 29 Nov 2012 12:02.

Good season, ladies and gentlemen.

Too bad we didn't win the subleague championship. We were there twice before, but not this time. Better luck next season!

(Oh, and w00t, 4th! Although a bit bummed out that I lost 3rd after Austin. )

It's clear over Sao Paulo right now. There is a chance of light rain, but probably nothing dramatic.