2012 Spanish Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Posted by madotter
loque Wrote:
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> Has anyone else got this niggling doubt that what
> we're seeing is somehow not authentic?
>
>
> Hmmmm.
It's no more un-authentic than 1997, 2003 and 2005 were.
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> Has anyone else got this niggling doubt that what
> we're seeing is somehow not authentic?
>
>
> Hmmmm.
It's no more un-authentic than 1997, 2003 and 2005 were.
I was thinking the whole time of the year 1997, this race had something nostalgic 
Ferrari vs Williams Renault, only without Schumacher and Villeneuve.
I'm still speechless
the second race that I've really enjoyed (after Malaysia)
The Real Story of the Race was that the Renault's fell apart and the Ferrari's didn't.
Rosberg headed for the sliproad and retired, probably because of Nicotin starvation they have still not given him a helmet with a little hole in it.
Ferrari vs Williams Renault, only without Schumacher and Villeneuve.I'm still speechless
the second race that I've really enjoyed (after Malaysia)The Real Story of the Race was that the Renault's fell apart and the Ferrari's didn't.
Rosberg headed for the sliproad and retired, probably because of Nicotin starvation they have still not given him a helmet with a little hole in it.
I thought such trophies were banned??!! They are hardly trophies! Why haven't the drivers said anything? If you're Vettel you must be pretty pissed off, he's won so many races in the last 3 seasons that he will have so many similar looking trophies! They wont be special in a few years because he won't know which is which! Anyone who has watched the F1 legend stuff on Sky will see some of the trophy room's the guys have are amazing, each trophy is individual.
As for the question of how authentic is the racing... Well, they all deal with the same issues, same rubber. As it's been mentioned, 97 is a similar example. Take the obvious race, Hungary 97. That Arrows was really not good... at all. Yet at Hungary in Hill's hands in hot weather it was pretty dominant!
People forget that tyres have always been the #1 factor for a car's pace.
The difference today is that we have several teams who are close on pace, look at the Q2 at Barcelona. Was it a 0.1 from 5th to 11th or something like that? Not only that but we have drivers in top cars, spread evenly across top teams. Then we have exceptionally good drivers in OK cars, like Perez... We also have teams who are these days are as professional as each other with similar equipment and tools available. That has not always been the case.
It's all too easy to point at just the tyres but theres a lot to look at, and the spread of driver talent across top teams, and of course the tightness of the top teams has been an equally large factor in deciding races this year.
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
As for the question of how authentic is the racing... Well, they all deal with the same issues, same rubber. As it's been mentioned, 97 is a similar example. Take the obvious race, Hungary 97. That Arrows was really not good... at all. Yet at Hungary in Hill's hands in hot weather it was pretty dominant!
People forget that tyres have always been the #1 factor for a car's pace.
The difference today is that we have several teams who are close on pace, look at the Q2 at Barcelona. Was it a 0.1 from 5th to 11th or something like that? Not only that but we have drivers in top cars, spread evenly across top teams. Then we have exceptionally good drivers in OK cars, like Perez... We also have teams who are these days are as professional as each other with similar equipment and tools available. That has not always been the case.
It's all too easy to point at just the tyres but theres a lot to look at, and the spread of driver talent across top teams, and of course the tightness of the top teams has been an equally large factor in deciding races this year.
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
What is more remarkable about this race was that there weren't really any super weird events. No safety car. No rain. No exceptional oddity.
Maldonado owned this weekend from Qualifying onwards. Much like Vettel at Monza, and we all know what that did for his maturity.
I am not saying Maldonado is suddenly going to be a multiple world champion overnight.
I liked him before, there is something very JPMontoya about him and his driving style. He is a racer, a real fighter with emotion. I like that, he isn't a corporate doll like Lewis is.
But to follow up that qualifying session with a flat out storming win; whilst still being a relative F1 rookie; having a teammate who was nowhere at all; with Alonso chasing down on your back AND in a Williams that isn't the best car in the field. That's special.
A very good maiden win. And a brilliant podium photo on Kimi and Nandos shoulders - really amusing!
Speaking of Kimi, how long until he wins this year? It's a case of when, and not if. Only 3 and a bit seconds off at the finish line. Imagine what a few more laps could have done!? The Kimster has lost none of his edge! :D
Jenson drives it like he owns it; Lewis drives it like he stole it
Maldonado owned this weekend from Qualifying onwards. Much like Vettel at Monza, and we all know what that did for his maturity.
I am not saying Maldonado is suddenly going to be a multiple world champion overnight.
I liked him before, there is something very JPMontoya about him and his driving style. He is a racer, a real fighter with emotion. I like that, he isn't a corporate doll like Lewis is.
But to follow up that qualifying session with a flat out storming win; whilst still being a relative F1 rookie; having a teammate who was nowhere at all; with Alonso chasing down on your back AND in a Williams that isn't the best car in the field. That's special.
A very good maiden win. And a brilliant podium photo on Kimi and Nandos shoulders - really amusing!
Speaking of Kimi, how long until he wins this year? It's a case of when, and not if. Only 3 and a bit seconds off at the finish line. Imagine what a few more laps could have done!? The Kimster has lost none of his edge! :D
It days like this (except the fire, that was nasty) that makes me feel good for never deserting Williams. Once a Williams fan always a Williams fan. But dammit I'd actually given up all hope of them ever winning another grandprix so you could imagine that I'm deliriously happy to be proved wrong. I just hope they don't make us wait another 8 years for the next one :P
What's more.. It was a relatively normal race (Pirelli mix up aside) and the only question mark is if Hamilton would have been too much to contain from pole, his drive was also excellent but Pastor took on argubably the best all rounder in F1 (Alonso) and beat him fair and square, it was a throughly deserved win. Good finish by Kimi as well.. The tension created by the slight variation in stint length and tyre life of the top three made for a very tense finish, as a Williams fan I felt like I was shitting a brick.
Good race all in all, not the most exciting this year, but as Barcelona races go it was a corker, some good moves out there notably by Kobayashi who I envisage simply screams "BaaAAAAARRRRGHAHAHAHAHAHAH" inside his helmet and then banzai!
McLaren really need to sort out their mistakes, they've squandered a lot of points this year already and Button also needs to sort himself out his form has evapourated the last 2 races.
What's more.. It was a relatively normal race (Pirelli mix up aside) and the only question mark is if Hamilton would have been too much to contain from pole, his drive was also excellent but Pastor took on argubably the best all rounder in F1 (Alonso) and beat him fair and square, it was a throughly deserved win. Good finish by Kimi as well.. The tension created by the slight variation in stint length and tyre life of the top three made for a very tense finish, as a Williams fan I felt like I was shitting a brick.
Good race all in all, not the most exciting this year, but as Barcelona races go it was a corker, some good moves out there notably by Kobayashi who I envisage simply screams "BaaAAAAARRRRGHAHAHAHAHAHAH" inside his helmet and then banzai!
McLaren really need to sort out their mistakes, they've squandered a lot of points this year already and Button also needs to sort himself out his form has evapourated the last 2 races.
I think Lotus are just really weary of what happened in China! Kimi went from a strong result to be being passed by 6/7 cars in 5/6 corners.
The strategy at Barcelona was probably too conservative, a lap or two earlier and he could have won. But I think what Lotus expected was the Ferrari and Williams to slow each other up with on track battling. Or at least they expected both car's to fall of the pace like Alonso did. That wasn't the case and it almost appeared as if Pastor had sand bagged most of the race and simply controlled the final stint, maybe going faster if need be?
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
The strategy at Barcelona was probably too conservative, a lap or two earlier and he could have won. But I think what Lotus expected was the Ferrari and Williams to slow each other up with on track battling. Or at least they expected both car's to fall of the pace like Alonso did. That wasn't the case and it almost appeared as if Pastor had sand bagged most of the race and simply controlled the final stint, maybe going faster if need be?
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
Saying that, though, many many drivers have impressed me this year. Before the first race, when I was looking at the list of drivers, I thought to myself "except for two or three people, every single person on the grid genuinely deserves their place", those exceptions being Kartikayan and (as much as it pains me to say) Massa. The grid has so much talent on it this year, it's unbelievable! It was almost like looking at the dream grid.
I think people underestimate how big an effect confidence can have. To me, it explains the rise of Webber in 2010, the fall of Massa, Hamilton's off-colour last few years, the way Schumacher and Rosberg seem to be quicker than each other at some races, and even Maldonado this year. I never write-off a driver from one or two bad performances, so I never really saw the negativity towards certain drivers. Again I think most of the time people are too quick to shout "he's a $%!£ driver, what's he doing in F1" when in reality he's just having a bad day in the (very exotic) office...
On the subject of the race, though, Red Sam you could not have picked a better race to watch live! This was the first time for a very long time that I've been so nervous watching a race, since Brazil 2008 I'd say. I was shaking and squeeling like a little girl in the closing laps, and panicking when Maldonado had to pass traffic!
It's pure magic! Only F1 could do this to you.
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You know you want to. [judgegrudge.mybrute.com]
I think people underestimate how big an effect confidence can have. To me, it explains the rise of Webber in 2010, the fall of Massa, Hamilton's off-colour last few years, the way Schumacher and Rosberg seem to be quicker than each other at some races, and even Maldonado this year. I never write-off a driver from one or two bad performances, so I never really saw the negativity towards certain drivers. Again I think most of the time people are too quick to shout "he's a $%!£ driver, what's he doing in F1" when in reality he's just having a bad day in the (very exotic) office...
On the subject of the race, though, Red Sam you could not have picked a better race to watch live! This was the first time for a very long time that I've been so nervous watching a race, since Brazil 2008 I'd say. I was shaking and squeeling like a little girl in the closing laps, and panicking when Maldonado had to pass traffic!
It's pure magic! Only F1 could do this to you.
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You know you want to. [judgegrudge.mybrute.com]
He handled that final stint superbly. He overtook Kimi when it mattered and knowing that Alonso was on fresher tyres he paced himself brilliantly. He let Alonso close in but never let him get close enough to make a move by making sure he was fast enough in the right places and he also handled the lapped traffic very well, it'd only have taken the slightest of fumbles and Alonso would have been through like a rocket.
Who'd have thought it eh? Maldonaldo in a Williams, lapping a Red Bull on his way to victory. I bet some jammy bastard made a killing at the bookies.
Who'd have thought it eh? Maldonaldo in a Williams, lapping a Red Bull on his way to victory. I bet some jammy bastard made a killing at the bookies.
I guess its like they all say... These drivers have been winner's in everything upto F1... For the most part, they are most comfortable leading from the front because that's what they've done most of their careers. Jenson and Nico good examples of that. Leading a GP is the natural place for these drivers.
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
Firstly Button, Webber and Grosjean consistently 20, 30, 40 seconds behind their team mates?
Button beat Lewis last year, and the two podiums Button has this year are better than the podiums Lewis has got. Webber almost beat his team mate to the title in 2010, lost the plot in 2011 possibly due to car development, but he is certainly back to a better level this year. Grosjean, well we've had only a few races to judge but in the races they've finished together he was about 10 seconds down in Spain, and 7 down in Bahrain. And of course they're about equal on qualifying with Grosjean arguably the more consistent.
Schumacher is not mediocre, but Webber, Button and Grosjean are that far from their team mates.
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
Button beat Lewis last year, and the two podiums Button has this year are better than the podiums Lewis has got. Webber almost beat his team mate to the title in 2010, lost the plot in 2011 possibly due to car development, but he is certainly back to a better level this year. Grosjean, well we've had only a few races to judge but in the races they've finished together he was about 10 seconds down in Spain, and 7 down in Bahrain. And of course they're about equal on qualifying with Grosjean arguably the more consistent.
Schumacher is not mediocre, but Webber, Button and Grosjean are that far from their team mates.
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL
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