F1 update: Bahrain Grand Prix

yellow911turbo · 04-04-2004, 08:54 AM

How many of you are F1 fans? For the last few years I've been following quite passionately. Thing I remember the most is watching Jenson Button racing (then in the Renault) and it may sound strange, but I liked his style. The race I remember the most was when he was in 4th and ended up going out with a hydrolic problem with like 3 laps to go. Well, I've been following him the most of any driver and I think he's capable of a lot... Second podium finish in a row which now puts him in 3rd (15 points) for the driver's championship and tied with Williams for the constructors championship with 19 points.

Well, Ferrari took 1-2 again. Michael with 3 wins and 3 pole positions. Not a surprise to anyone. Most people think he's cocky... I think he's just THAT good (and having a great car/team with great sponsors helps as well.)

Surprises/upsets: Mclaren with only 4 points so far this season. Of 3 cars not to finish today, 2 were McLarens. [u[Kimi Raikkonen is yet to finish a race this season.[/u] His season isn't looking so good and same goes for the team. Williams had a tough time as well. Ralf got hit by Sato in turn 2. They put the blame on each other but I think it was just racing and if anyone is to be blamed, I'd say it's Ralf's fault unless he absolutely didn't see Sato beside him. Montoya was in 3rd with ~10 laps to go and lost gear after gear eventually losing all but 4th and rolling over the finish in 13th.

Renault's Trulli finished 4th with a relatively clean race with little excitement but Alonso showed his skill and balls with a poor grid position and then a mishap on lap one causing him to pit and come out 30 seconds behind everyone and finishing up in 6th.

Well, I could go on, but I think that's enough. Those that want more, would probably read up on it themselves. The race was fun to watch... especially with the Italians in the restaurant screaming at every driver for doing something wrong and even when they did something right. You're one of them, huh, Milu?

Three weeks till Imola.

Comments?

Happy motoring,
Serge

bell · bell's Garage

shuey is that good......he can be cocky at times but mostly comes across as humble, that translates to him being a proffesional and an excellent spokesman for ferrari......i forsee him taking over F1 when he retires.
button is finally getting his break, the rule changes have helped honda so expect to see him frequently on the podium......very happy for him

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

well, you just ruined the ending for me (I tivo'd it), but it isn't like there was that much mystery. I'd say the biggest surprises this year is Kimi/McLaren sucking serious wind, and BAR being competitive. It would have been nice to see Jordan make the same leaps as BAR but it hasn't happened (are their cars twitchy or what?).

jyl · jyl's Garage

I was hoping for Weber to do better. Williams will be looking for drivers next year, with Montoya going to McLaren and Ralf going to Renault (not sure), I'd like to see Weber get a shot at a good car. The Jaguar just not competitive, although he's clearly driving it hard.

Montoya must be biting his nails as his next-year team, McLaren, keeps blowing up engines like it is July 4th. I figure the late-laps problems with his Williams must be good training for the DNFs he has to look forward to at McLaren.

By the way, why was Montoya classified 13th? I though he ended the race 7th or something like that - did I miss something on the very last lap?

Speed hardly bothered to show the Ferraris. Can't remember the last time I've watched a F1 race and seen so little footage of the leaders. Don't blame the network - there was nothing to see up there.

I also recently watched the 1994 GP at Imola, shown on "F1 Decade". What a horrible race - huge accidents and deaths right and left. Interesting, though, to see today's F1 drivers as young pups - many members of today's grid were early in their F1 careers when Senna's ended.

bell · bell's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by jyl

I also recently watched the 1994 GP at Imola, shown on "F1 Decade". What a horrible race - huge accidents and deaths right and left. Interesting, though, to see today's F1 drivers as young pups - many members of today's grid were early in their F1 careers when Senna's ended.

senna was one of the greatest imo......that was a very very dark day for F1 and the racing community in general.

Zeke · 04-04-2004, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bell
shuey is that good............i forsee him taking over F1 when he retires.

Really. I see him enjoying life like Nigel Mansell. Maybe a ride or two at LeMans. Although anything will certainly be anticlimatic, unlike Zanardi who has/had some unfinished business. Shuey will have done it all.

GrindingGears · 04-04-2004, 08:13 PM

I noticed I was really annoyed as I watched the Bahrain race. I dont know what it was... maybe it was the way they had the televisions cameras setup or the minimal passing areas in the track design? Wierd

Mercedes, what pieces of $hit, how embarrassing.

M. Schumacher has lead every lap (except 10) of the three races thus far.

Every driver that has won the frist three races of the season has gone on to win the championship.

I'm rooting for Honda and Ford, why? No Porsche and I could never root for Ferrari or any of the other German engine makers.

I'm very happy to be following F1 again. The past five years at college I had NO SPEEDVISION.

vital-transform · 04-04-2004, 08:37 PM

the in car cam with Alonso was great he was driving hard all race! was lots of fun being along for the ride!

Hey...any body heading to USGP or Montreal?

Neilk · 04-04-2004, 09:39 PM

Let's ban Ferrari!! just kidding. It's too bad Ferrari is SO dominant because the fight for second (team) or third (Drivers) is so close this year.

Let me add that getting Tivo has made watching F1 a real joy. I can roll out of bed and watch the race at any time I want. I know you can do it with a VCR, but it just not the same.

MrPants · 04-05-2004, 12:51 AM

I'm rootin for Raikkonen. It seems like he's a good driver, its just those cars keep crapping out on him.

yellow911turbo · 04-05-2004, 05:36 AM

Q: (Nikhil Taneja – Young Times): This is to Mr Schumacher: so you are already six time World Champion and it seems you are all set to become the seven time World Champion. Is there anything, according to you, that you have yet to achieve?

MS: I don’t’ want to talk about what might happen or what might not happen, but the fact is that I love the sport and may I keep going as long as I love it.

Will he stay in? Will he take over Formula 1? I think the longer he races, the more of a chance of him taking over a director's position at any level.

More news: Ferrari was fined $10,000 for the incident involving Barichello and Trulli in the pits. Barichello was let out of the pit "when it was unsafe to do so" (i interpret that as "too early")and almost caused a collision with Trulli. The incident involving Sato and Ralf was blamed on Ralf. He was given an "official reprimand" ...whatever that means.

Quote:

Hey...any body heading to USGP or Montreal?

I thought I read last year that there will not be a Grand Prix in Canada because of the new laws about tobacco advertisement in sports.

Anyone know what the deal is? Did I misunderstand or was there a change?

I was a bit too young back then to care about F1 but I've done some research. Senna's trial has been cleared to reopen so we'll see what happens. No matter what the outcome of the trial, it won't bring him back.

http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/V3/L0/S25/sport_Lng0_Spo25_Sto569407.shtml

tchanson · 04-05-2004, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yellow911turbo
I thought I read last year that there will not be a Grand Prix in Canada because of the new laws about tobacco advertisement in sports. Anyone know what the deal is? Did I misunderstand or was there a change?

Bernie and Max worked out/extorted a deal with Canada last year. The Canadian GP will be June 13, one week before the new USGP date this year.

Tim

motion · 04-05-2004, 07:38 AM

I really enjoy seeing Ferrari dominate the world's best teams... and its great to see BAR and Renault emerge as the new 2nd and 3rd place teams. Schuey obviously loves his sport. I hope he continues to dominate and win the championship for another 5 years.

Jeremy Cottrell · 04-05-2004, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nostatic
well, you just ruined the ending for me (I tivo'd it), but it isn't like there was that much mystery. I'd say the biggest surprises this year is Kimi/McLaren sucking serious wind, and BAR being competitive. It would have been nice to see Jordan make the same leaps as BAR but it hasn't happened (are their cars twitchy or what?).

I think we'll be seeng more of the Michael/Rubens show this year. It will be fun seeing what used to be backmarkers able to run with the bigger teams. It's who comes in 3rd that has become the most exciting thing in F1 for awhile now.

yellow911turbo · 04-05-2004, 02:23 PM

Yeah, I agree with Motion and Jeremy. I don't mind Ferrari being 1-2. It's not their fault they are that good. With the restrictions (one-engine weekends, qualifying, etc) FIA has put on the teams this year it should have helped the smaller teams and I think it has but it hasn't slowed down Ferrari any. I read that Ferrari's last mechanical failure in a race was in '99 when they had a fuel pump failure. That's incredible... even with a budget like theirs.

Jeremy Cottrell · 04-05-2004, 02:57 PM

That one engine rule has really done in McLaren - Mercedes. I think it may be a good idea for them to bring back last years car, and keep testing the new one and make it last.