Austin TX F1 GP

[yellowperil]

Good practice sessions, by all accounts. Wish I was there! Very close at the front with P3 yet to come. Go Ham

New nose for Lotus looks better.

[livi]

The faith of Caterham and Marussia is sad though. The economical climate in the circus is just crazy.

[yellowperil]

[5String43]

It's a mess, isn't it. Formula Prius. Teams dropping like flies because of the expense. F1 Management (Ecclestone) in complete denial. The Strategy Group, composed of the top five teams, in the Denial Tent with Bernie. Force India, Sauber both teetering on the edge. What is to be done? FIA to grow some cojones, maybe?

[herr_oberst]

Bernie's already laying track for a reduction of teams, talking about the possibility of 14 car grids in 2015 and beyond...

I doubt he'll reduce his fees commensurately.

How he sleeps at night is beyond me....

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

How he sleeps at night is beyond me....

On a big ass pile of cash with a hooker for a pillow would be my guess!

[David]

I went to practice yesterday with an open mind about the engine sound. I expected it to be different but still formula 1 sounding. I was very disappointed. The cars are so quiet a small child wouldn't even need ear plugs. The Ferrari challenge cars are much louder

[Iciclehead]

Originally Posted by David

I went to practice yesterday with an open mind about the engine sound. I expected it to be different but still formula 1 sounding. I was very disappointed. The cars are so quiet a small child wouldn't even need ear plugs. The Ferrari challenge cars are much louder

I have not heard them live, but a good friend of mine went to the Austrailian GP and absolutely hated the sound...same comments as you have made.

Personally I think the regulatory regime in place is severely effed up and needs a complete rethink, there have been a few threads that have attempted that, but long and short of it is that the cars need to get simpler and less costly, in my mind that means less aero grip and more emphasis on mechanical grip with simpler, not more complex power units.

In the mean time, it is the only game in town, we all need to wait for Bernie to be gone and then perhaps things will change.

Enjoy!

Dennis

[mattdavis11]

F1 weekend really wreaks havoc on the roads here, but that's because there is no infrastructure. However, in my 22 mile commute from north Austin to south Austin yesterday, I did something no one would see at an F1 race. I must have passed 700-800 cars, in the right lane.

Never did reach the speed limit.

[legion]

Spoilers!
















It seems like them last 5 races one of two things happens:

1) Hamilton qualifies on pole and dominates from flag to flag

2) Rossberg qualifies on pole and Hamilton passes him and wins.

It would kind of suck if Hamilton wins in Brazil and still loses it in Abu Dhabi after opening up a commanding point lead.

[URY914]

Hammy almost can't lose now.

[nostatic]

Sure he can - DNF in the last race. The double points is BS.

Looks like Rosberg has given up. His body language is not that of someone with the fire in the belly to challenge. Hamilton can be a cry-baby but he can driven and as Hobbs said, if you need someone to make a pass he's the guy.

[yellowperil]

Another good race from COTA. Mercedes had everyone covered, some good scraps farther back though. Williams most recent race winner, (Maldonado) finally had a decent race and first points this year. Next year he'll have mercedes power so he should get to the scene of the accident even quicker.

Mario is still a class act. Ham was kinda bold in asking for Mario's stetson, but he did give it up.

Rosberg looks defeated, Ham needs to be careful next two races. That final double point race could be trouble if Rosberg gets his act together. IMO

Brazil, next week, is one of those races that is always fun to watch. IMO too bad final is in ABU Dhabi, Would rather see it end on one of the older tracks.

[cairns]

It would kind of suck if Hamilton wins in Brazil and still loses it in Abu Dhabi after opening up a commanding point lead.

It would more than suck. It would be like Suzuka in 89.

[javadog]

Yeah, Rosberg has out-qualified Hambone somewhat but he has only four wins to Hambone's 10. I think I know which one ought to win the title... Let's hope there isn't a stupid Senna/Prost clash at either of the final rounds, or another random event that effects the outcome. All Hambone needs to do is finish 2nd in the last couple races.

I have to say, COTA is a good track. Lots of passing possibilities there...

JR

[5String43]

I'm not fan of Hamilton, that's for sure, but he is one heck of a driver. Rosberg's first excuse, that he was not able to get into rhythm, seemed very weak to me. His second excuse, that his grabbed the wrong setting for his KERS unit (or whatever they're calling it this year) seems equally weak - you'd think he'd know the car, the steering wheel, and the control buttons/switches completely. I'd like to see him win the title but lately I'm thinking he's just not a strong enough, a complete enough, racer.

[yellowperil]

Like one of the broadcasters said yesterday, the surprise of the year is the total collapse of Vettel and the strength of his team mate.

The Red Bull at times yesterday, had fastest lap of the race. If so, why can't they do more with this car. It can't be the dog Vettel was bit**ing about if it sets fastest time of the race. IMO

[legion]

I was a contrarion the past 4 years and said that Vettel's wins were all about the car and less about him.

For all of Hamilton's crybaby moments, he didn't leave McLaren after the first season he didn't win the championship with them--he endured 4 years of progressively worse cars before doing that.

It will be interesting next year if Honda-McLaren manage to leapfrog everyone with their new power unit. For next season, I'd kind of like to see one-car teams, 3 car teams, customer teams, and a tire war.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by legion

For all of Hamilton's crybaby moments, he didn't leave McLaren after the first season he didn't win the championship with them--he endured 4 years of progressively worse cars before doing that.

True, but what else was out there? He burned his bridges with Red Bull, Ferrari was still loyal to Massa, (and their program was losing the plot) Merc was nowhere.


McLaren and (it's storied history of domination) was his best bet.

(And I gots' ta feel bad for Rosberg, doing the grunt work for all those years.)

[legion]

When it was Schumacher and Rosberg at Mercedes, they were a solid middle-of-the-pack team. Even last year, under Red Bull dominance, they suddenly got quicker when Hamilton arrived and McLaren got slower.