F1 Racing

[Duncan Glenday]

We're definitely looking forward to the start of the season! My local ESPN is only showing FP-3, qualifying and the race. FP1 and 2 might have been fun to watch, as the teams and drivers go through their first-outing shakedowns.

This is a friendly reminder that the F1 season starts this weekend (thank the Gods) at Bahrain.

You're welcome.

LOL




My wife and I just got through watching the Drive To Survive series.

It was better than the first 2 series, though it still scratches the surface and leaves a lot out.

Worth a watch, though. Ten episodes, of about 35 minutes each.

[Burley Wright]

According to ESPN.com https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/2...2021-f1-season

the schedule for the weekend is

F1 Show - Thursday, March 25 - 1pm - ESPN3
Practice 1 - Friday, March 26 - 7.25am - ESPNU
Practice 2 - Friday, March 26 - 10.55am - ESPNU

Practice 3 - Saturday, March 27 - 7.55am -ESPN2
Qualifying - Saturday, March 27 - 10.55am - ESPN2

Grand Prix Sunday (pre-race show) - Sunday, March 28 - 9.30am - ESPN2
Bahrain Grand Prix (live) - Sunday, March 28 - 10.55am - ESPN2

Race (re-air) - Sunday, March 28 - 5pm - ESPNEWS
Race (re-air) - Monday, March 29 - 12am - ESPNEWS

[Duncan Glenday]

Many thanks!

...
Practice 1 - Friday, March 26 - 7.25am - ESPNU
Practice 2 - Friday, March 26 - 10.55am - ESPNU
...

I didn't think to look in ESPNU - and don't think I've ever viewed that channel.

My stupid Xfinity system did not return those listings in a search.
However, my clever Xfinity system had tagged FP-1 and -2 for recording anyway, so it turns out I would not miss it.

Looking forward to the weekend's viewing!

[SteveSly]

LOL




My wife and I just got through watching the Drive To Survive series.

It was better than the first 2 series, though it still scratches the surface and leaves a lot out.

Worth a watch, though. Ten episodes, of about 35 minutes each.

As a more casual F-1 fan I really enjoy the series and find it very informative. I am 3 episodes into the new season and digging it a lot.

[Hal...]

As a more casual F-1 fan...

C'mon Steve, get with the program.

[SteveSly]

C'mon Steve, get with the program.

I will say that the series has definitely given me more interest in F-1. I have been a race fan for years, but more U.S. circle track stuff than F-1, but I am paying more attention to F-1 these days.

[Burley Wright]

At the risk of coming off as an F1 snob, I say that F1 is the prog of auto racing. All the emphasis on the engineering - power delivery, aerodynamics, physics etc, - makes it an order of magnitude more interesting than other series to me.

[Duncan Glenday]

...I say that F1 is the prog of auto racing...

OMG - I love that!!

[SteveSly]

At the risk of coming off as an F1 snob, I say that F1 is the prog of auto racing. All the emphasis on the engineering - power delivery, aerodynamics, physics etc, - makes it an order of magnitude more interesting than other series to me.

I am a big fan of sprint car racing on dirt and have often called that the prog of auto racing. Sprint cars are a subset of a subset of auto racing in the U.S. (and Australia) and dirt as opposed to pavement is even another subset. Racing sprints on dirt takes an incredible amount of skill and having success is much more dependent on the driver than it is the machine. People who are into sprint car racing are really into it, there are not many casual fans. What prog is to mainstream music, sprint car racing on dirt is to mainstream auto racing.

Regarding F-1 I can see the same comparison. I think there is no doubt that when it comes to technology and general advancement that F-1 is the leader in just about everything. The cars are the most amazingly engendered machines in all of racing. The fact that the series races all over the world in different countries is also unique to F-1. F-1 is an elite racing series of the absolute best drivers in the world and the fans are very into it. So, I guess the bottom line is that I can see calling F-1 the prog of racing makes a lot of sense too.

There was one episode of “Drive To Survive” either last year or the year before where one of the drivers on the Haas team (Niko maybe?) got to do a few laps in one of Tony Stewart’s sprint cars on a dirt track. That was a fun episode for me.

[MudShark22]

While I truly have not paid attention to F1 since maybe 83-84; when I was living in England in late 70s - I became enamored of the Lotus Team amd their 'futuristic' for the time JPS Lotus 77 & 78s.

As an american overseas, I became a HUGE Mario Andretti fan, bought scale models of his Lotus cars... was an awesome time.

I did get to meet Mario in 1992 when a fraternity prank sent me and a bunch of brothers to his house in Nazareth to get a pic with him. He was very very cool about the whole thing too. Perhaps not the first time it had happened.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

[Hal...]

While I truly have not paid attention to F1 since maybe 83-84; when I was living in England in late 70s - I became enamored of the Lotus Team amd their 'futuristic' for the time JPS Lotus 77 & 78s.

As an american overseas, I became a HUGE Mario Andretti fan, bought scale models of his Lotus cars... was an awesome time.

When active, Mario was my favorite driver closely followed by Alain Prost. Unfortunately, I never got to see Mario drive in F1 so all my experience watching him came from the Indy 500, CART, and Le Mans.

BTW, did you know that George Harrison wrote the song "Faster" about Mario? At least, that's what I read 40+ years ago.

[Rulo]

Hi guys!! Here I am another big F1 fan.

Excellent start of the season and we had a sensational race for 1st place, and it looks it will continue to be so during the rest of 2021. Checo is fast becoming familiar with his new and competitive car, despite the embarrassing situation at the end of the formation lap that cause him to start from the last place (again!), he managed to finish P5.

[Hal...]

Yeah, my thought toward the end of the race was, "Albon might have finished in the points had he still been in the Red Bull."

[NogbadTheBad]

Great first race, Mercedes have their hands full and Red Bull seem to have 2 drivers

[Duncan Glenday]

Hi guys!! Here I am another big F1 fan.

Excellent start of the season and we had a sensational race for 1st place, and it looks it will continue to be so during the rest of 2021. Checo is fast becoming familiar with his new and competitive car, despite the embarrassing situation at the end of the formation lap that cause him to start from the last place (again!), he managed to finish P5.

Welcome aboard the F1 train.

Perez deserved his driver of the day!

The Hamilton/Verstappen fight at the end was classic!

It was fun to watch the early-season match-ups between new team mates. My predictions:
- I think Sainz will compete well against LeClerc, but won't beat him.
- Vettel will be s disappointment. I'd like to be wrong about that, but we'll see.
- Norris showed Riccardo a clean pair of heels, and I'd bet those 2 will be just as closely matched as Norris/Sainz were last year.
- Gasly will have his hands full with Tsunoda, but will beat him in most races and qualifiers.
- Schumacher will easily out-race Maze-Spin - the Russian will only keep his seat for as long as Haas needs Daddy's Rubles.


Looking forward to an excellent 2021 season!

[Rulo]

Welcome aboard the F1 train.

Thanks Duncan I will be here offering my comments/opinions. Promising F1 season indeeed!

[Hal...]

- Vettel will be s disappointment. I'd like to be wrong about that, but we'll see.

We've discussed this before but why the hell does Seb still have a seat? Ever since the rules changes for 2014 that drastically changed the cars, he's had only two real competitive seasons in '17 & '18 (one of which was lost mostly due to poor team strategy, imo). And when you compare 2013, the last year he won the driver's championship, to 2014, he finished two places and 71 pts behind teammate Danny Ric. I think he's past his prime.

Conversely, I'm of the opinion that if Alonso was driving with one of the top three teams, he'd be up front with the others. As it was, for most of the day he was running in the points while his teammate finished a lap down.


And speaking of team strategy, I felt Red Bull cost Max the win.


I got to see the tribute to Murray Walker. I know the name, of course, but I never heard him call a race. I don't think I'd ever even seen a picture of him before.

I thought the tribute was really touching. It also made me lament that F1 isn't taken seriously enough in the US.

[Duncan Glenday]

Conversely, I'm of the opinion that if Alonso was driving with one of the top three teams, he'd be up front with the others. As it was, for most of the day he was running in the points while his teammate finished a lap down.

I knew there was a partnership I missed! Yep - I (also) predict that Alonso will leave Ocon in the dust. I've never been impressed by Ocon - and Alonso will prove me right

And speaking of team strategy, I felt Red Bull cost Max the win.

I agree!

He could have soldiered on with those tires, driven defensively at the bitter end to prevent an overtake, and would probably have won. Pitting him with 15 (??) laps to go was just as dumb as Mercedes pitting Russell at the end of last year. (Though in retrospect, I think that Russell incident may have been deliberate sabotage.)

[Sunlight Caller]

I got to see the tribute to Murray Walker. I know the name, of course, but I never heard him call a race. I don't think I'd ever even seen a picture of him before.

I thought the tribute was really touching. It also made me lament that F1 isn't taken seriously enough in the US.

I'm pleased you got to see that, it was a very moving tribute to the voice of F1 in the UK, a man clearly loved by all.

I really enjoyed the season opener, it bodes well for a far more competitive season, and I feel Max is going to be a constant threat to Lewis, they are very evenly matched in ability. Both are natural racers who clearly relish going wheel to wheel.

[Hal...]

I agree!

He could have soldiered on with those tires, driven defensively at the bitter end to prevent an overtake, and would probably have won. Pitting him with 15 (??) laps to go was just as dumb as Mercedes pitting Russell at the end of last year. (Though in retrospect, I think that Russell incident may have been deliberate sabotage.)

You seem to be forgetting that Lewis is one of the best two or three passers for the last decade or more. (I agree about the Russell pit last year)

I think RB should have pitted Max the same lap or the lap after Merc pitted Lewis. Lewis would probably have undercut Max in the second scenario but RB would then have two options. IIRC, Max was on mediums after the second stop so, for option A, he could have just bided his time, saving his tires, and built up a gap greater than the pit delta once Lewis pitted. Or, w/option B, Max could have easily stayed within striking distance of Lewis, matching his lap times and saving his tires in the process, pulling within a second or two toward the end of his stint, and then pitting a few laps before the expected tire deg forced Lewis to pit, thereby undercutting him. The danger then becomes Lewis staying out on a one pit strategy. But by the end of the race, Lewis' tires would be absolute shit and Max should have had no problem passing him.

As for the first scenario, it would force RB to react to Merc, letting the latter dictate the race, yes, but I could see three things happening: (1) Max keeps his lead; (2) Lewis takes the lead and we're back to the two options mentioned before; or (3) Merc pulls a fast one and opts to keep Lewis out. In situation (3), RB now gets to dictate the race because they have effectively undercut Merc since Lewis would still have to pit.

I hope you followed all that. Sorry for not laying it out more clearly.

And then, of course, is what Martin Brundle said: that Max didn't have to give the position back immediately and should have waited for a more opportune time.

But I can't believe we're still talking about this. When they first implemented the required tire change rule, I recognized very early on that whoever pits first almost always has the advantage. Ferrari has shown time and time again how disregarding that has left them in second or third place.

And Merc has shown time and time again that they're almost always the best at strategy. As for RB, I cannot recall a time in the past seven seasons they won a race on strategy the few times when the cars were more evenly matched.

You know, I should email Christian Horner. lol

I'm pleased you got to see that, it was a very moving tribute to the voice of F1 in the UK, a man clearly loved by all.

For awhile, the US had an excellent commentator (if a bit "cold") in Bob Varsha who used to call the races for ESPN and then Speed. He was teamed with Brits David Hobbs and Steve Matchett in the booth and Peter Windsor in the pit lane. Hobbs was an unsuccessful F1 driver in the late '60s and early '70s and a Le Mans/GT driver from '62-'72. Matchett was a race mechanic at Benetton in the '90s, and was won of Schumacher's pit crew when he won his first two championships. He also worked with drivers Nelson Piquet, Riccardo Patrese, Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert, Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi. So Hobbs was good with commentary regarding driving (tho not as good as Martin Brundle) while Matchett was the expert on all the tech aspects. It was a great team while it lasted.

Now we get the feed from Sky Sports, who have a great team. You know, I was just thinking about this yesterday: of all the sports commentators I've heard over the years, there is no one whose voice is more mismatched with their face than David Croft. Every time I see him talking, I think, "that's what he looks like?" I don't know what he should look like but it's not what he does look like. He's a great commentator, tho, as is Martin, but I love Ted Kravitz; he's funny.

[Duncan Glenday]

I'm pleased you got to see that, it was a very moving tribute to the voice of F1 in the UK, a man clearly loved by all.

I really enjoyed the season opener, it bodes well for a far more competitive season, and I feel Max is going to be a constant threat to Lewis, they are very evenly matched in ability. Both are natural racers who clearly relish going wheel to wheel.

I didn't see the tribute, and mistakenly deleted it from my DVR. I might be able to recover it.

I watched countless Murray Walker announced races - you had to love the old geezer. Great guy. I hated it when they paired him up with James hunt. Much as I liked Hunt, he was awful as an announcer.

[Sunlight Caller]

^^ Crofty used to be the sports journalist on breakfast time radio, BBC5live for a long time. He wasn’t an F1 specialist back then, but I took note of him because he supported the same football team as I do (West Ham Utd). He has certainly made a great job after his switch to F1. I really like Martin Brundle too, I liked him as a driver and he has a calm knowledge and authority.

[Duncan Glenday]

You seem to be forgetting that Lewis is one of the best two or three passers for the last decade or more. (I agree about the Russell pit last year)

I think RB should have pitted Max the same lap or the lap after Merc pitted Lewis. Lewis would probably have undercut Max in the second scenario but RB would then have two options. IIRC, Max was on mediums after the second stop so, for option A, he could have just bided his time, saving his tires, and built up a gap greater than the pit delta once Lewis pitted. Or, w/option B, Max could have easily stayed within striking distance of Lewis, matching his lap times and saving his tires in the process, pulling within a second or two toward the end of his stint, and then pitting a few laps before the expected tire deg forced Lewis to pit, thereby undercutting him. The danger then becomes Lewis staying out on a one pit strategy. But by the end of the race, Lewis' tires would be absolute shit and Max should have had no problem passing him.

As for the first scenario, it would force RB to react to Merc, letting the latter dictate the race, yes, but I could see three things happening: (1) Max keeps his lead; (2) Lewis takes the lead and we're back to the two options mentioned before; or (3) Merc pulls a fast one and opts to keep Lewis out. In situation (3), RB now gets to dictate the race because they have effectively undercut Merc since Lewis would still have to pit.

I hope you followed all that. Sorry for not laying it out more clearly.

And then, of course, is what Martin Brundle said: that Max didn't have to give the position back immediately and should have waited for a more opportune time.

But I can't believe we're still talking about this. When they first implemented the required tire change rule, I recognized very early on that whoever pits first almost always has the advantage. Ferrari has shown time and time again how disregarding that has left them in second or third place.

And Merc has shown time and time again that they're almost always the best at strategy. As for RB, I cannot recall a time in the past seven seasons they won a race on strategy the few times when the cars were more evenly matched.

You know, I should email Christian Horner. lol

Good commentary, and I did understand I'll re-read it after work. Can't dedicate too much time right now - I'm, actually on a conference call with my clients

[Sunlight Caller]

He could have soldiered on with those tires, driven defensively at the bitter end to prevent an overtake, and would probably have won. Pitting him with 15 (??) laps to go was just as dumb as Mercedes pitting Russell at the end of last year. (Though in retrospect, I think that Russell incident may have been deliberate sabotage.)

Why would they have deliberately sabotaged Russell do you think Duncan?

[Duncan Glenday]

Why would they have deliberately sabotaged Russell do you think Duncan?

Putting on a conspiracy theorist's hat - my thoughts:

Russell doing too well would (a) show Bottas up as being a weak driver, (b) challenge the theory that Hamilton is the next best thing since Fangio or Schumacher - and that it's just the car, not their brilliant drivers.

Removes stupid conspiracy theorist's hat