It's a combination I think of the fact that he talks utter rubbish during interviews, and secondly that the commentators and the British press even kiss his arse just because he's British. He was SOOO NOT the driver of the day today, he really wasn't - he was in the right place at the right time and kept it on the road; sure, that's a good achievement, I'll grant him that - but it wasn't "driver of the day" material. I'd have put forward either Ralf, Kimi, one of the Saubers or Monteiro as one of the best performances.
Button's a solid driver; but he's now completed as many races as Sir Jackie Stewart did in his entire career, and hasn't got a single win to his name. His two passes on other cars were good passes, but the cars he was after were significantly slower than he was. But there it is; the primary reason I dislike Button and don't rate him is because most people OVER-rate him simply because he's the Brit.
I'm a Williams fan through and through, I have blue and white blood running through my veins. As for Jenson Button and the contract saga, I wouldn't let the snotty little nosed p1llock anywhere near one of Sir Franks cars, let him drive for BAR if he wants to. Just a reminder Jenson, is it Williams or BAR who are ahead in the WCC? Is it Williams or BAR who have won more races and had more poles? Another reminder for next season, Cosworth V8 engines are proven and have powered F1 world champions, still want to join BAR numbnuts???? So join BAR and when next year Williams are wiping the floor with BAR AGAIN, dont come whinging to Sir Frank.
It's a combination I think of the fact that he talks utter rubbish during interviews, and secondly that the commentators and the British press even kiss his arse just because he's British. He was SOOO NOT the driver of the day today, he really wasn't - he was in the right place at the right time and kept it on the road; sure, that's a good achievement, I'll grant him that - but it wasn't "driver of the day" material. I'd have put forward either Ralf, Kimi, one of the Saubers or Monteiro as one of the best performances.
Button's a solid driver; but he's now completed as many races as Sir Jackie Stewart did in his entire career, and hasn't got a single win to his name. His two passes on other cars were good passes, but the cars he was after were significantly slower than he was. But there it is; the primary reason I dislike Button and don't rate him is because most people OVER-rate him simply because he's the Brit.
There is an element of truth in what you say, General. Because Jenson Button is the only Brit in a competitive car there is a tendency by the British commentators and press to hype him up too much. He has shown his potential over the last eighteen months and if he retains his seat at BAR for 2006 he must deliver victories. It could well be make or break for him next year.
Well there we are: The end of the season, and I'd like to say that both Renault and Alonso deserve their respective victories. Shame for Kimi, who is equally as good, but his team's failure to tackle the reliability issues in the McLaren is what has let him down. I'd just like to say what I thought of the final two races of the season -
The Japanese Grand Prix was probably the best race I've ever seen (being born in '83 I'm unable to remember some of the classic Senna Vs Prost battles and the like). It really was fantastic, with some brilliant over-taking and a spectacular finish.
I think much of this was thanks to the topsy-turvy starting grid:
1 - Ralf Schumacher
2 - Jenson Button
3 - Giancarlo Fisichella
4 - Christian Klien
5 - Takuma Sato
6 - David Coulthard
7 - Mark Webber
8 - Jacques Villeneuve
With the big guns (minus Fisi) right at the back, who knew what would happen? My prediction before the race was that Fisichella would get away cleanly and take the lead, winning the race as the others struggled to get through the pack. This is what happened for the first part of the race - but Raikkonen is just stunning in that McLaren. I couldn't believe Fisichella's pathetic defensive manoeuvres - and had he decided against them he might have denied the Fin victory.
Japanese Race Results:
1 - Raikkonen
2 - Fisichella
3 - Alonso
4 - Webber
5 - Button
6 - Coulthard
7 - M Schumacher
8 - R Schumacher
Fantastic performance from Raikkonen, and I don't think Fisichella deserves the criticism that he's gotten for that second place. His tyre wear problems were obvious and there was little he could do. Well done to Alonso for getting that far up - and Webber gave one of his best performances. He really showed up the somewhat pathetic and completely overrated Button who started five places ahead of him on the grid in second and fell back to fifth (where he loves to finish) before the end.
I hate to say it but Coulthard has REALLY grown on me during this season; he has always been consistent, yes, but this year he's shown he still has some aggression and out-and-out pace left in him. He hassled Button throughout the race and was generally quicker in what is generally a slower car. I say it again - Coulthard is our Number One Brit, still! Feel a little sorry for Ralf who made a good effort and I'm almost feeling sorry for Michael now. He's really had a crappy season but perhaps he deserves it.
Takuma Sato makes me angry. I've said it before and I'll say it again! Why was he not gotten rid of before? Without a doubt one of the worst drivers I have ever seen. Absolute rubbish.
The Chinese Grand Prix was also odd in that, after two safety cars went out, everything was crazily jumbled up and it was difficult to even predict who would win the race.
The Grid was fairly normal:-
1 - Alonso
2 - Fisichella
3 - Raikkonen
4 - Button
5 - Montoya
6 - M Schumacher
7 - Coulthard (Good effort once again)
8 - Barrichello
Off the line, other than that absolute fool Sato jumping the start, the only major position change was Montoya pushing out Button for fourth place. Everything seemed to be rather processional - Alonso speeding off, Fisichella comfortably leading the two McLarens and Button trying to shake off Coulthard a little way back.
Again I feel sorry for Michael, who had an awful race, but you just know he'll be back to annoy us next season. Sato was rubbish, burning out his own gear-box (which I laughed hysterically at I admit).
But after the safety car went in, everything was completely shaken up, craziness set in. Suddenly we had Barrichello holding up Webber and Button. Coulthard raked them in - notice how Webber and Button couldnt get past Barrichello until his mistake - but Coulthard made light work of him and caught Button before the end of the race.
Final Positions:
1 - Alonso (Good Drive)
2 - Raikkonen (Not a great day for Kimi)
3 - R Schumacher (Fantastic)
4 - Fisichella (Sums up his season)
5 - Klien (Brilliant)
6 - Massa (Brilliant)
7 - Webber (Very Good Effort)
8 - Button (Hahahaham sucker!)
Driver of the day - Ralf Schumacher - lightning lap times for his car and a real tactical effort made him really deserve that podium.
Shame about Coulthard who was so quick and lost out amid the fiasco with the two safety cars.
Overall, all I can say is that I hope 2006 matches or beats what we've seen this season (minus races like Indianapolis). Lots of interesting changes amongst the teams and drivers for next year. Speaking of which, I'm sad to see Jordan, Sauber and particularly Minardi go - they're legendary teams and Minardi will always be remembered for their inability to finish anything other than last in most of their 340 races.
Yet AGAIN Jenson Bottom failed to deliver in a race and finished behing a team he reckons are inferior to BAR. Every time JB finishes behind any Williams I'll be laughing my arse off at him. Already looking like being THE biggest mistake of JBs career to date I bet Sir Frank will be laughing all the way to the bank, lololololol.
Aye, well we're off again; the third race of the season having taken place early this morning (I'm now regretting pulling myself out of bed at 4:45am).
Today's Australian Grand Prix was just about as eventful as they come; crashes, failures, and mistakes saw the safety car called out four times, and countless overtaking manoeuvres.
Some of the highlights of the race;
First of all, I was glad to see that Button held his position in to the first corner. After Fisichella stalled on the line and was out of the way, I thought Button might be able to keep Alonso back, and that's just what he did; even if not for long. Massa really has to concentrate more in the race; he's far too careless and prone to accidents. This resulted in the first of four safety cars, and when the race restarted; Alonso jumped Button! With the situation with the tyres, Button can hardly be blamed, but I'm sure enough that had Montoya been faced with the same problem, he'd have been much more aggressive by comparison.
Felipe Massa (Ferrari) making his quick exit from the race.
This season I'm really disappointed that Toyota haven't made an impact. Considering they have the biggest budget in F1, you'd think they would be challenging for wins by now. Though Ralf Schumacher's valliant effort highlighted an improvement in the car since the last two (dismal) races.
Disappointed to see Webber go out as he did; the Australian leading the race infront of his home crowd, and then suffering a gearbox failure. Also felt a bit sorry for Michael; I mean as if he wasn't having enough trouble when he smashed his car into the wall. I think this marks the beginning of the end for him, personally.
Michael Schumacher's destroyed Ferrari.
Average performances by the McLaren boys, plus Fisichella. Barrichello is crap; he needs a kick in the rear. Villeneuve needs to realise that his teammate Heidfeld is showing him up badly, and get a move on also. I simply can't leave Button alone; he's just so average isn't he. The headline before the race on teletext was "Button Confident of Maiden Victory" - it's the same every bloody week! Maybe if he didn't talk so much rubbish he might surprise himself and finish above third place for once. He has finished 4th, and 3rd so far - and would have been 5th today if his useless Honda hadn't blown up on the last corner of the last lap (and I had to laugh when that happened).
Still, I'm impressed with and enjoying the 2006 season a lot so far! Looking forward to Imola. Has anyone else any thoughts on the drivers, teams and the season so far?
Haha, I seem to be far and away the most active member in this topic. Wondering at the moment if anyone else saw the incredible Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday?
An exciting, but chaotic Grand Prix which saw retirement after retirement, and then the most UNPREDICTABLE podium for years!
Results:
1. J Button
2. P de la Rosa
3. N Heidfeld
4. R Barrichello
5. D Coulthard
6. R Schumacher
7. F Massa
8. M Schumacher (though he didn't actually finish)
9. T Monteiro
10. C Albers
Only 11 cars actually made it to the end, but Button drove a fantastic race to do something I had never expected - win! It was probably the greatest race in years, which saw Michael Schumacher get completely beaten up, before recovering to look like a threat to win the race -- and then retiring three laps before the end after being knocked off by Heidfeld.
Too bad Schumacher got taken out; he could have made some serious gains on Alonso.
Sadly Formula 1 has almost no presence in the USA, other than the USGP of course. And I must say, what coverage I do happen to catch is very poor and downright boring as you never really get a feel for where everybody is on the track.
Sadly Formula 1 has almost no presence in the USA, other than the USGP of course. And I must say, what coverage I do happen to catch is very poor and downright boring as you never really get a feel for where everybody is on the track.
Aye, the Americans seem to enjoy cars which race around literally in complete circles alot more. How exciting (?!?!).
If you don't follow Formula One, then inevitably you will find it boring - it's hard to really catch on to the sport if you haven't watched it before. But it certainly does have what I would call 'processional' races from time to time - races where there is little overtaking and where the winner is obvious from the start. But then so does almost any type of racing. The last two seasons have luckily put an end to processional races for the moment. There hasn't been as much action as this for about ten years -- before Michael Schumacher and Ferrari became dominant.
Aye, the Americans seem to enjoy cars which race around literally in complete circles alot more. How exciting (?!?!).
When oval racing is done right, it can be quite compelling since the drivers are racing each other more than the track. If you ever have a chance, I'd urge you to watch a race or two (either NASCAR or the open wheel IRL) at one of the high speed tracks. the IRL in particular puts on really great shows.
If you don't follow Formula One, then inevitably you will find it boring - it's hard to really catch on to the sport if you haven't watched it before. But it certainly does have what I would call 'processional' races from time to time - races where there is little overtaking and where the winner is obvious from the start. But then so does almost any type of racing. The last two seasons have luckily put an end to processional races for the moment. There hasn't been as much action as this for about ten years -- before Michael Schumacher and Ferrari became dominant.
I think part of the problem here in America is the presentation. The analysts are as dry as the sand in Bahrain and they never really spend any time profiling the drivers or the cars (and half the fun is ogling over those amazing cars). I've followed it for years so I can get past that but friends who see it quickly get turned off and tune out.
The processional races as you call them were killing F1. I'm a Ferrari fan but even I was bored to death by their dominance. Things have improved but I'd love to see the cars become less aerodynamically sensitive and have the tracks opened up a bit to allow for more chances to overtake.
Great win by Jenson. He is one of the top talents in F1, and now that the first one is behind him, I'm sure he has many more coming. Honda needs to make some improvements, but that entire organization has something to build on now.
I'm personally a big McLaren fan, in addition to being a fan of Jenson as a driver. McLaren really needs some shakeups. Bringing in Alonso, who I consider to be the top driver in F1, is going to be a tremendous shot in the arm. Kimi will be an unfortunate loss, but I'll gladly take Alonso over him. Pedro had a nice race in Hungary and is Spanish like Alonso, so maybe they can keep in the fold as a 2nd driver. They have an awesome driver in the wings in Lewis Hamilton, who is currently leading the GP2 circuit by 13 points.
In any case, I am giddy as a schoolgirl about Alonso's arrival next year.
Great win by Jenson. He is one of the top talents in F1, and now that the first one is behind him, I'm sure he has many more coming. Honda needs to make some improvements, but that entire organization has something to build on now.
In all honesty, I've never been much of a fan of Jenson Button. Every week I see the headline 'Button Confident of Maiden Victory', and every week I've found myself chuckling as he pulls off the track with an engine failure or makes a mistake under pressure from Michael Schumacher. This was the first race for an extremely long time -- probably since Monaco two years ago when he put immense pressure on Jarno Trulli (who went on to win) -- that I've seen Button excel himself. He wasn't afraid of overtaking, and absolutely blitzed Michael. I'm a little skeptical that this win will instantly transform him into a regular race winner, but I'm sure it will improve his confidence.
I'm personally a big McLaren fan, in addition to being a fan of Jenson as a driver. McLaren really needs some shakeups. Bringing in Alonso, who I consider to be the top driver in F1, is going to be a tremendous shot in the arm. Kimi will be an unfortunate loss, but I'll gladly take Alonso over him. Pedro had a nice race in Hungary and is Spanish like Alonso, so maybe they can keep in the fold as a 2nd driver. They have an awesome driver in the wings in Lewis Hamilton, who is currently leading the GP2 circuit by 13 points.
In any case, I am giddy as a schoolgirl about Alonso's arrival next year.
I like Pedro de la Rosa. The last time he raced for McLaren, he forced his way past cars and made some spectacular passes -- and was named driver of the day by the commentators. When he came up behind Michael, I knew he wouldn't stand for any of his usual sh*t. I'd like to see him paired up with ALonso next year. Whilst I'm sure Alonso would likely outshine his fellow countryman, I think de la Rosa would be a strong and aggressive supporting driver.
Furthermore if Kimi goes, I'd like to see him alongside Michael at Ferrari -- to give him he opportunity to show the 7 times World Champion that he's on his way out.
I like Pedro de la Rosa. The last time he raced for McLaren, he forced his way past cars and made some spectacular passes -- and was named driver of the day by the commentators. When he came up behind Michael, I knew he wouldn't stand for any of his usual sh*t. I'd like to see him paired up with ALonso next year. Whilst I'm sure Alonso would likely outshine his fellow countryman, I think de la Rosa would be a strong and aggressive supporting driver.
Furthermore if Kimi goes, I'd like to see him alongside Michael at Ferrari -- to give him he opportunity to show the 7 times World Champion that he's on his way out.
Pedro is a quality driver. If he keeps his pace up, I think he'll find himself with the other seat at McLaren.
I'm about 99% sure that Kimi won't be back at McLaren. I don't think he wants to have to fight for supremecy on his team: I think he wants a scenario in which he is the unquestioned #1 guy and will receive the support of the team. Ferrari and Renault will fight tooth and nail to get him, being that he's the best up for grabs, but I think ultimately, he'll be drawn by the legacy of Ferrari. Additionally, Ferrari has ascended quite well, with the exception of the debacle at Hungary, so he'll be attracted by that.
As for Renault... I think it's time that, being the pride of France, they do the right thing and finally give native son Sebastien Bourdais, one of the top-5 or 10 drivers in the world, the long-awaited F1 seat. It probably won't happen, but it darn well should. I personally find the rumor that he could be a tester for BMW Sauber to be quite a degrading short-change of his abilities.
Reading a motorsport magazine, the championship looks to be rather exciting already.
They had compiled a list of the top 8 teams, in order of who appears to be the quickest. Data taken from various sources including test times, tyre degradation, and reliability.
1. BMW Sauber
Perhaps a shock title-contender this year. Good news for the talented and fiery drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica.
2. McLaren
Judging by this, it was a wise move for Alonso to jump to McLaren this year. His new partner, Hamilton, should keep him on his toes.
3. Ferrari
Though Raikkonen is one hell of a fighter and this team is know for their consistency, I can't see Massa being a real force.
4. Renault
Kovalainen could put the more experienced Fisichella to shame. Renault are having trouble adjusting to Bridgestone tyres.
5. Williams
Fifth-fastest is quite reasonable considering all of the bad news which has surfaced for this team. Rosberg and Wurz have set very fast test times.
6. Toyota
Looks like the one-lap master, Trulli, and the improved Ralf Schumacher have their work cut out in what looks like to be another midfield car.
7. Red Bull
Coulthard and Webber make a well rounded team. It's a shame they don't have a car with a few more guts beneath them.
8. Honda
Honda are apparently faced with all sorts of problems. Particularly, though, for Button whose driving style isn't suited to the car at all. Barrichello has apparently gotten on better.
I'm assuming Toro Rosso, Spyker, and Super Aguri followed in 9th, 10th and 11th. I must say, I'd love to see BMW as surprise title contenders this year. For once it throws in a bit of unpredictability.
Yes, the speed of the BMW Sauber in testing may surprise a lot of people. But as we know, testing is one thing racing is something else. I would expect the drivers title to be fought between Fernando Alonso of McLaren and Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari.
I understand the new Ferrari is something of a radical departure compared to it's predecessors. There is always some risk involved in this, but early indications appear to show it has the pace to compete.
I'm new to this forum, and I didn't even realise that an F1 thread even existed. But I'm glad it does. I've followed F1 since the end of 1994, and I've been a Williams fan since. My favourite driver is Jacques Villeneuve, but sadly, he is not likely to be driving an F1 car again anytime soon. Of the current drivers, I sincerely hope that Raikkonen will bring home that elusive championship he's been trying years to get.
This year should be a better year from Williams' point of view. Last year was a disaster, but so far their testing times haven't been too bad. Sometimes I still wonder whether Williams made the right choice in signing Toyota - before they signed with Toyota, I was hoping that they'd be able to score a Renault deal, and relive the glory days of Williams Renault back in the 1990s. So far, Toyota haven't shown to me that they are the real deal, and I'm not sure if they're going to favour their own team more than Williams. Time will tell, however, it's been a decade since Williams last won a championship - that's their longest championship drought since their founding! I can't see Williams winning the championship this year, but if the Toyota engines are up to the task, then perhaps in a couple of years time Williams will be able to put an end to this drought.
I'm new to this forum, and I didn't even realise that an F1 thread even existed. But I'm glad it does. I've followed F1 since the end of 1994, and I've been a Williams fan since. My favourite driver is Jacques Villeneuve, but sadly, he is not likely to be driving an F1 car again anytime soon. Of the current drivers, I sincerely hope that Raikkonen will bring home that elusive championship he's been trying years to get.
This year should be a better year from Williams' point of view. Last year was a disaster, but so far their testing times haven't been too bad. Sometimes I still wonder whether Williams made the right choice in signing Toyota - before they signed with Toyota, I was hoping that they'd be able to score a Renault deal, and relive the glory days of Williams Renault back in the 1990s. So far, Toyota haven't shown to me that they are the real deal, and I'm not sure if they're going to favour their own team more than Williams. Time will tell, however, it's been a decade since Williams last won a championship - that's their longest championship drought since their founding! I can't see Williams winning the championship this year, but if the Toyota engines are up to the task, then perhaps in a couple of years time Williams will be able to put an end to this drought.
Hello, DEFIANT 74205.
I have been a fan of F1 since the mid-1970's and have seen all but a few of the Grand Prix's since then.
I have a great admiration of Frank Williams. Not only for the way he built up his Grand Prix team, but also (particularly) for the manner of his recovery from the horrific accident which left him paralysed for life. He is a shining example to us all.
I became a fan of the Williams team during the "Mansell-mania" years. Of all the drivers in the last thirty years, Nigel Mansell is my favourite. He may not have been the most talented driver, or even the quickest, but he was incredibly gutsy and really epitomised the bulldog spirit.
It's a shame to see Williams where they are now. Going with the Toyota engine may make them more competitive but I doubt it will bring back the glory days they had with Renault. F1 history of the last twenty years shows that you need an exclusive engine deal with a top manufacturer if you wan't to become World Champion. I'm sure Toyota will do their best for Williams but their main priority will always be for their own team.
A thrilling end to a good F1 season. I thought Hamilton had blown it when he was overtaken by Vettel, but was delighted to see him pass Glock and achieve the necessary position to win the championship. To be honest, he should have won it last year as well - but still, a great achievement for such a young driver.
So, did anybody else catch that wild F1 race from Albert Park over the weekend? Ferrari falling out, a last lap collision between the second and third place cars, Brawn's BMWs taking first and second. A far cry from the prior season openers; hopefully its a sign that the series will shake things up a bit.
So, did anybody else catch that wild F1 race from Albert Park over the weekend? Ferrari falling out, a last lap collision between the second and third place cars, Brawn's BMWs taking first and second. A far cry from the prior season openers; hopefully its a sign that the series will shake things up a bit.
I readily confess to being a Formula One nut. The off season was pure torture for me, I was desperate for the opening race in Albert Park! And I'm glad to say it more than satisfied me!
I'd been closely following Winter testing and could see from the outset that Brawn-Mercedes were going to be fast. While I was also pleased to see Williams very competitive, the real shock was Red Bull. They were very quick indeed, which is good news for my top driver, Mark Webber. Unfortunately owing to his now famous bad luck, he didn't make it through the first corner successfully. But Malaysia will give him another chance to show young Vettel a thing or two about racing.
The race overall was a very interesting one, and very unpredictable. One thing was predictable though -- a 1-2 finish for Brawn, though after Rubens' poor start I was beginning to doubt it. Kubica and Vettel's crash was pointless and silly.
Apparently the weather in Malaysia this weekend is going to be awful, so we're set to get the first wet weather race of the season it seems.
Hopefully wet weather means Alonso can make his way to the top for his 3rd championship. I am a huge F1 but am so upset no North American races this year. The most disappointing news is it seems old Bernie has finally completely lost it. F1 needs him gone bad I feel, F1 could be a lot bigger here and they need to get back racing here and have at least one american driver. The USF1 team I am waiting to see about how serious they can be. As long as though dont waste time talking about Danica ever even testing for them I will take it serious. I am glad I have a few people to talk F1 with other than the only other 2 people I know who watch it.
Last year got back into F1 after a brief 35 year lapse and what an exciting start to this year's season, though too bad Malaysia got shortened; it was just starting to get interesting! Passing, passing, and more passing! With all due respect to my fellow British members and Italians, great to see teams other than McLaren and Ferrari make it a contest. I always pull for the underdogs; here's to the kids at Toro Rosso! -{
Despite being British, I'm a big Mark Webber fan so I was glad to see the old Aussie put some great moves on Hamilton, Alonso, and a number of other drivers before the race was stopped. I hope he finds himself at the sharp end of the field on a regular basis this year. He deserves it after all the bad luck he's had.
I hope Ferrari can come back and win the Constructors title this year. I would like to see someone else win drivers other than a Ferrari or Mclaren driver. Say Vettel, Webber, Button or Rosberg, I think any of these guys really diverse it.
Away at Boot Camp, won't be back until April the earliest.
Despite being British, I'm a big Mark Webber fan so I was glad to see the old Aussie put some great moves on Hamilton, Alonso, and a number of other drivers before the race was stopped. I hope he finds himself at the sharp end of the field on a regular basis this year. He deserves it after all the bad luck he's had.
Like a lot of Aussie sportsmen Mark Webber is one cool guy and I'm trying to remember if it was Alonso or Raikkonen with whom he was battling back and forth. Great racing! I'd love to see him in the mix for the drivers championship. On to China!
Mark Webber finished second in China. It was his third career podium finish, although it would be nice if he could finish first. I'm curious, does people think he's unlucky or is he simply not a great driver?
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Comments
Button's a solid driver; but he's now completed as many races as Sir Jackie Stewart did in his entire career, and hasn't got a single win to his name. His two passes on other cars were good passes, but the cars he was after were significantly slower than he was. But there it is; the primary reason I dislike Button and don't rate him is because most people OVER-rate him simply because he's the Brit.
There is an element of truth in what you say, General. Because Jenson Button is the only Brit in a competitive car there is a tendency by the British commentators and press to hype him up too much. He has shown his potential over the last eighteen months and if he retains his seat at BAR for 2006 he must deliver victories. It could well be make or break for him next year.
The Japanese Grand Prix was probably the best race I've ever seen (being born in '83 I'm unable to remember some of the classic Senna Vs Prost battles and the like). It really was fantastic, with some brilliant over-taking and a spectacular finish.
I think much of this was thanks to the topsy-turvy starting grid:
1 - Ralf Schumacher
2 - Jenson Button
3 - Giancarlo Fisichella
4 - Christian Klien
5 - Takuma Sato
6 - David Coulthard
7 - Mark Webber
8 - Jacques Villeneuve
With the big guns (minus Fisi) right at the back, who knew what would happen? My prediction before the race was that Fisichella would get away cleanly and take the lead, winning the race as the others struggled to get through the pack. This is what happened for the first part of the race - but Raikkonen is just stunning in that McLaren. I couldn't believe Fisichella's pathetic defensive manoeuvres - and had he decided against them he might have denied the Fin victory.
Japanese Race Results:
1 - Raikkonen
2 - Fisichella
3 - Alonso
4 - Webber
5 - Button
6 - Coulthard
7 - M Schumacher
8 - R Schumacher
Fantastic performance from Raikkonen, and I don't think Fisichella deserves the criticism that he's gotten for that second place. His tyre wear problems were obvious and there was little he could do. Well done to Alonso for getting that far up - and Webber gave one of his best performances. He really showed up the somewhat pathetic and completely overrated Button who started five places ahead of him on the grid in second and fell back to fifth (where he loves to finish) before the end.
I hate to say it but Coulthard has REALLY grown on me during this season; he has always been consistent, yes, but this year he's shown he still has some aggression and out-and-out pace left in him. He hassled Button throughout the race and was generally quicker in what is generally a slower car. I say it again - Coulthard is our Number One Brit, still! Feel a little sorry for Ralf who made a good effort and I'm almost feeling sorry for Michael now. He's really had a crappy season but perhaps he deserves it.
Takuma Sato makes me angry. I've said it before and I'll say it again! Why was he not gotten rid of before? Without a doubt one of the worst drivers I have ever seen. Absolute rubbish.
The Chinese Grand Prix was also odd in that, after two safety cars went out, everything was crazily jumbled up and it was difficult to even predict who would win the race.
The Grid was fairly normal:-
1 - Alonso
2 - Fisichella
3 - Raikkonen
4 - Button
5 - Montoya
6 - M Schumacher
7 - Coulthard (Good effort once again)
8 - Barrichello
Off the line, other than that absolute fool Sato jumping the start, the only major position change was Montoya pushing out Button for fourth place. Everything seemed to be rather processional - Alonso speeding off, Fisichella comfortably leading the two McLarens and Button trying to shake off Coulthard a little way back.
Again I feel sorry for Michael, who had an awful race, but you just know he'll be back to annoy us next season. Sato was rubbish, burning out his own gear-box (which I laughed hysterically at I admit).
But after the safety car went in, everything was completely shaken up, craziness set in. Suddenly we had Barrichello holding up Webber and Button. Coulthard raked them in - notice how Webber and Button couldnt get past Barrichello until his mistake - but Coulthard made light work of him and caught Button before the end of the race.
Final Positions:
1 - Alonso (Good Drive)
2 - Raikkonen (Not a great day for Kimi)
3 - R Schumacher (Fantastic)
4 - Fisichella (Sums up his season)
5 - Klien (Brilliant)
6 - Massa (Brilliant)
7 - Webber (Very Good Effort)
8 - Button (Hahahaham sucker!)
Driver of the day - Ralf Schumacher - lightning lap times for his car and a real tactical effort made him really deserve that podium.
Shame about Coulthard who was so quick and lost out amid the fiasco with the two safety cars.
Overall, all I can say is that I hope 2006 matches or beats what we've seen this season (minus races like Indianapolis). Lots of interesting changes amongst the teams and drivers for next year. Speaking of which, I'm sad to see Jordan, Sauber and particularly Minardi go - they're legendary teams and Minardi will always be remembered for their inability to finish anything other than last in most of their 340 races.
I'm awaiting 2006!
Today's Australian Grand Prix was just about as eventful as they come; crashes, failures, and mistakes saw the safety car called out four times, and countless overtaking manoeuvres.
Some of the highlights of the race;
First of all, I was glad to see that Button held his position in to the first corner. After Fisichella stalled on the line and was out of the way, I thought Button might be able to keep Alonso back, and that's just what he did; even if not for long. Massa really has to concentrate more in the race; he's far too careless and prone to accidents. This resulted in the first of four safety cars, and when the race restarted; Alonso jumped Button! With the situation with the tyres, Button can hardly be blamed, but I'm sure enough that had Montoya been faced with the same problem, he'd have been much more aggressive by comparison.
Felipe Massa (Ferrari) making his quick exit from the race.
This season I'm really disappointed that Toyota haven't made an impact. Considering they have the biggest budget in F1, you'd think they would be challenging for wins by now. Though Ralf Schumacher's valliant effort highlighted an improvement in the car since the last two (dismal) races.
Disappointed to see Webber go out as he did; the Australian leading the race infront of his home crowd, and then suffering a gearbox failure. Also felt a bit sorry for Michael; I mean as if he wasn't having enough trouble when he smashed his car into the wall. I think this marks the beginning of the end for him, personally.
Michael Schumacher's destroyed Ferrari.
Average performances by the McLaren boys, plus Fisichella. Barrichello is crap; he needs a kick in the rear. Villeneuve needs to realise that his teammate Heidfeld is showing him up badly, and get a move on also. I simply can't leave Button alone; he's just so average isn't he. The headline before the race on teletext was "Button Confident of Maiden Victory" - it's the same every bloody week! Maybe if he didn't talk so much rubbish he might surprise himself and finish above third place for once. He has finished 4th, and 3rd so far - and would have been 5th today if his useless Honda hadn't blown up on the last corner of the last lap (and I had to laugh when that happened).
Still, I'm impressed with and enjoying the 2006 season a lot so far! Looking forward to Imola. Has anyone else any thoughts on the drivers, teams and the season so far?
An exciting, but chaotic Grand Prix which saw retirement after retirement, and then the most UNPREDICTABLE podium for years!
Results:
1. J Button
2. P de la Rosa
3. N Heidfeld
4. R Barrichello
5. D Coulthard
6. R Schumacher
7. F Massa
8. M Schumacher (though he didn't actually finish)
9. T Monteiro
10. C Albers
Only 11 cars actually made it to the end, but Button drove a fantastic race to do something I had never expected - win! It was probably the greatest race in years, which saw Michael Schumacher get completely beaten up, before recovering to look like a threat to win the race -- and then retiring three laps before the end after being knocked off by Heidfeld.
Sadly Formula 1 has almost no presence in the USA, other than the USGP of course. And I must say, what coverage I do happen to catch is very poor and downright boring as you never really get a feel for where everybody is on the track.
Aye, the Americans seem to enjoy cars which race around literally in complete circles alot more. How exciting (?!?!).
If you don't follow Formula One, then inevitably you will find it boring - it's hard to really catch on to the sport if you haven't watched it before. But it certainly does have what I would call 'processional' races from time to time - races where there is little overtaking and where the winner is obvious from the start. But then so does almost any type of racing. The last two seasons have luckily put an end to processional races for the moment. There hasn't been as much action as this for about ten years -- before Michael Schumacher and Ferrari became dominant.
When oval racing is done right, it can be quite compelling since the drivers are racing each other more than the track. If you ever have a chance, I'd urge you to watch a race or two (either NASCAR or the open wheel IRL) at one of the high speed tracks. the IRL in particular puts on really great shows.
I think part of the problem here in America is the presentation. The analysts are as dry as the sand in Bahrain and they never really spend any time profiling the drivers or the cars (and half the fun is ogling over those amazing cars). I've followed it for years so I can get past that but friends who see it quickly get turned off and tune out.
The processional races as you call them were killing F1. I'm a Ferrari fan but even I was bored to death by their dominance. Things have improved but I'd love to see the cars become less aerodynamically sensitive and have the tracks opened up a bit to allow for more chances to overtake.
Great win by Jenson. He is one of the top talents in F1, and now that the first one is behind him, I'm sure he has many more coming. Honda needs to make some improvements, but that entire organization has something to build on now.
I'm personally a big McLaren fan, in addition to being a fan of Jenson as a driver. McLaren really needs some shakeups. Bringing in Alonso, who I consider to be the top driver in F1, is going to be a tremendous shot in the arm. Kimi will be an unfortunate loss, but I'll gladly take Alonso over him. Pedro had a nice race in Hungary and is Spanish like Alonso, so maybe they can keep in the fold as a 2nd driver. They have an awesome driver in the wings in Lewis Hamilton, who is currently leading the GP2 circuit by 13 points.
In any case, I am giddy as a schoolgirl about Alonso's arrival next year.
In all honesty, I've never been much of a fan of Jenson Button. Every week I see the headline 'Button Confident of Maiden Victory', and every week I've found myself chuckling as he pulls off the track with an engine failure or makes a mistake under pressure from Michael Schumacher. This was the first race for an extremely long time -- probably since Monaco two years ago when he put immense pressure on Jarno Trulli (who went on to win) -- that I've seen Button excel himself. He wasn't afraid of overtaking, and absolutely blitzed Michael. I'm a little skeptical that this win will instantly transform him into a regular race winner, but I'm sure it will improve his confidence.
I like Pedro de la Rosa. The last time he raced for McLaren, he forced his way past cars and made some spectacular passes -- and was named driver of the day by the commentators. When he came up behind Michael, I knew he wouldn't stand for any of his usual sh*t. I'd like to see him paired up with ALonso next year. Whilst I'm sure Alonso would likely outshine his fellow countryman, I think de la Rosa would be a strong and aggressive supporting driver.
Furthermore if Kimi goes, I'd like to see him alongside Michael at Ferrari -- to give him he opportunity to show the 7 times World Champion that he's on his way out.
Pedro is a quality driver. If he keeps his pace up, I think he'll find himself with the other seat at McLaren.
I'm about 99% sure that Kimi won't be back at McLaren. I don't think he wants to have to fight for supremecy on his team: I think he wants a scenario in which he is the unquestioned #1 guy and will receive the support of the team. Ferrari and Renault will fight tooth and nail to get him, being that he's the best up for grabs, but I think ultimately, he'll be drawn by the legacy of Ferrari. Additionally, Ferrari has ascended quite well, with the exception of the debacle at Hungary, so he'll be attracted by that.
As for Renault... I think it's time that, being the pride of France, they do the right thing and finally give native son Sebastien Bourdais, one of the top-5 or 10 drivers in the world, the long-awaited F1 seat. It probably won't happen, but it darn well should. I personally find the rumor that he could be a tester for BMW Sauber to be quite a degrading short-change of his abilities.
They had compiled a list of the top 8 teams, in order of who appears to be the quickest. Data taken from various sources including test times, tyre degradation, and reliability.
1. BMW Sauber
Perhaps a shock title-contender this year. Good news for the talented and fiery drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica.
2. McLaren
Judging by this, it was a wise move for Alonso to jump to McLaren this year. His new partner, Hamilton, should keep him on his toes.
3. Ferrari
Though Raikkonen is one hell of a fighter and this team is know for their consistency, I can't see Massa being a real force.
4. Renault
Kovalainen could put the more experienced Fisichella to shame. Renault are having trouble adjusting to Bridgestone tyres.
5. Williams
Fifth-fastest is quite reasonable considering all of the bad news which has surfaced for this team. Rosberg and Wurz have set very fast test times.
6. Toyota
Looks like the one-lap master, Trulli, and the improved Ralf Schumacher have their work cut out in what looks like to be another midfield car.
7. Red Bull
Coulthard and Webber make a well rounded team. It's a shame they don't have a car with a few more guts beneath them.
8. Honda
Honda are apparently faced with all sorts of problems. Particularly, though, for Button whose driving style isn't suited to the car at all. Barrichello has apparently gotten on better.
I'm assuming Toro Rosso, Spyker, and Super Aguri followed in 9th, 10th and 11th. I must say, I'd love to see BMW as surprise title contenders this year. For once it throws in a bit of unpredictability.
I understand the new Ferrari is something of a radical departure compared to it's predecessors. There is always some risk involved in this, but early indications appear to show it has the pace to compete.
This year should be a better year from Williams' point of view. Last year was a disaster, but so far their testing times haven't been too bad. Sometimes I still wonder whether Williams made the right choice in signing Toyota - before they signed with Toyota, I was hoping that they'd be able to score a Renault deal, and relive the glory days of Williams Renault back in the 1990s. So far, Toyota haven't shown to me that they are the real deal, and I'm not sure if they're going to favour their own team more than Williams. Time will tell, however, it's been a decade since Williams last won a championship - that's their longest championship drought since their founding! I can't see Williams winning the championship this year, but if the Toyota engines are up to the task, then perhaps in a couple of years time Williams will be able to put an end to this drought.
Hello, DEFIANT 74205.
I have been a fan of F1 since the mid-1970's and have seen all but a few of the Grand Prix's since then.
I have a great admiration of Frank Williams. Not only for the way he built up his Grand Prix team, but also (particularly) for the manner of his recovery from the horrific accident which left him paralysed for life. He is a shining example to us all.
I became a fan of the Williams team during the "Mansell-mania" years. Of all the drivers in the last thirty years, Nigel Mansell is my favourite. He may not have been the most talented driver, or even the quickest, but he was incredibly gutsy and really epitomised the bulldog spirit.
It's a shame to see Williams where they are now. Going with the Toyota engine may make them more competitive but I doubt it will bring back the glory days they had with Renault. F1 history of the last twenty years shows that you need an exclusive engine deal with a top manufacturer if you wan't to become World Champion. I'm sure Toyota will do their best for Williams but their main priority will always be for their own team.
I think I almost died of a heart attack last night...
Me to, I was screaming. Go Hamilton {[]
Toyota probably got payed to take the full
I readily confess to being a Formula One nut. The off season was pure torture for me, I was desperate for the opening race in Albert Park! And I'm glad to say it more than satisfied me!
I'd been closely following Winter testing and could see from the outset that Brawn-Mercedes were going to be fast. While I was also pleased to see Williams very competitive, the real shock was Red Bull. They were very quick indeed, which is good news for my top driver, Mark Webber. Unfortunately owing to his now famous bad luck, he didn't make it through the first corner successfully. But Malaysia will give him another chance to show young Vettel a thing or two about racing.
The race overall was a very interesting one, and very unpredictable. One thing was predictable though -- a 1-2 finish for Brawn, though after Rubens' poor start I was beginning to doubt it. Kubica and Vettel's crash was pointless and silly.
Apparently the weather in Malaysia this weekend is going to be awful, so we're set to get the first wet weather race of the season it seems.
"Your contact?" "Not well."
http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj258/monza860/
"Your contact?" "Not well."
http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj258/monza860/