I have decided to Increase my activeness on this forum, annoyingly for you, but good for me, as it makes me feel "Special". (Go figure...)

Anyway, to mark this, I have decided to make a thread about one of the subjects I know best: Formula 1(TM).(It's a motorsport.)

And what better time to do it than at the start of the new season?

Anyway, Recently the FIA (The blokes what run F1) have Revealed some Controversial Ideas (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73745) for the new season and those that follow it.

There is a new team on the grid, replacing Honda is the new Brawn Grand Prix team (http://www.brawngp.com/).

I will also Upload pictures with some of my posts, reflecting recent news within the world of F1. I will also do reports of each race, for those who don't watch or are too busy.

This time in the Gallery: Some images of the new Brawn GP team, lead by Ross Brawn, Mclaren and their troubles, Red Bull's striking new Pullrod suspension car, Renault's new sponsor, and Red Bull's new Pullrod suspension car.

Helpful F1 sites: http://www.autosport.com/f1/ http://www.itv-f1.com/Home.aspx http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/motorsports http://www.formula1.com/# http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/

Team Websites: http://www.williamsf1.com/# http://www.bmw-sauber-f1.com/en/index.html#/homepage/ http://www.forceindiaf1.com/ http://www.ing-renaultf1.com/en/_2009/team/index.php#/team/home_team/ http://www.redbullf1.com/ http://www.saf1.co.jp/en/ (Note: The Super Aguri Team Is Defunct, but I thought i'd add it anyway for good measure.) http://www.mclaren.com/index.php http://www.brawngp.com/ http://www.toyota-f1.com/en/

My mother loves Formula 1 and is an avid watcher. Sometimes I watch it with her since it is always more fun with someone else there. :) I root for Hamilton, which annoys her to no end since she dislikes him. Before that I rooted for Schumacher, who she also disliked. :p I swear it is a coincidence!

While I am not sure I would call myself a "fan" per se (I hate sports, and even then F1 strikes me as one of the more repetitive/boring ones), I kind of enjoy watching it, if only for the banter (Both sofa-wise and commentator-wise).

What do you think about the new system for winning the championship? (Most races as opposed to most points)

Thank god it's back on the BBC but a shame they decided to take a dump on the points system.

Thank god it's back on the BBC but a shame they decided to take a dump on the points system.

All the new system means is that the guy who wins the most races wins the championship. I'm quite against it, because the points system is one of the key things in F1 and this will confuse me. See reactions of key drivers:

Drivers react to champion points plan
March 18, 2009 by James Allen

Some fun responses from the drivers in the paddock at Jerez, where Brawn and Renault signed off their testing yesterday, responding to the news that the FIA has changed the system now rewarding the driver with the most wins as world champion.

Nico Rosberg said, “What nonsense is this?”, Jenson Button, who could well end up benefitting from it said, “I understand the logic behind it and it’s interesting. It’s an incentive to try to win but it also looks risky to me. After 9 races you could get a driver who’s already won the title and can take the rest of the season off, while the driver in second is only 18 points behind!”

Lewis Hamilton said a curt, “I have no opinion on this.”

Meanwhile a delighted Bernie Ecclestone has tipped Button to be a factor under the new rules: “I suppose an awful lot will depend on these [new] regulations, but if Brawn has got it right, then there is a chance that for the first three races we could maybe see Jenson winning.

“Now that it is not points that decides the championship, if he has three races in his pocket then it is not bad - although I suppose in the end you have to look at the old timers like [Fernando] Alonso, Kimi [Raikkonen], Felipe [Massa] and Mr [Lewis] Hamilton.”

I worked at several Grand Prix across Europe as security guard for many years and the whole circus gets so boring really fast. :p

I worked at several Grand Prix across Europe as security guard for many years and the whole circus gets so boring really fast. :p

That depends how you look at it really.

EDIT: For those still with slight interest in F1, see this:

Analysis: Reading between the times

By Randeep Singh Thursday, March 19th 2009, 12:26 GMT


Brawn GP's stunning start to testing has left observers and rival teams in no doubt that the outfit will be contenders for victory when the new Formula One season kicks off in Australia next week.

But although its headline-grabbing pace has made it fairly straightforward to judge its potential, behind Brawn GP the picture has not been so clear with teams delivering varying performances at different stages of their pre-season preparations.

Last week's test at Barcelona in Spain, however, offered the best chance so far to judge where the teams stand.

The end of day times released can be very misleading with regards to car pace, as teams run vastly different programmes, vary the parts on the car and, of course, change drivers between days.

However, a more accurate estimation of relative pace can be achieved by taking long-run data and correcting it for various factors such as tyre degradation and how fast the track is due to weather conditions and grip levels.

An analysis by autosport.com of the entire week's data from Barcelona has delivered the first detailed hint of where teams stand.

In terms of demonstrated pace, the field is separated by around 1.8 seconds - with Brawn GP leading the way and McLaren bringing up the rear.

Such an outcome tallied in with the general feeling from the test, but as the graph below shows, it is interesting to see that Toyota and BMW appear to be Brawn GP's closest challengers - enjoying a couple of tenths advantage over Ferrari who is in fourth place.




Of course it is impossible to be 100 percent sure that the results of the test tally with an ultimate car's performance, because there is a chance that some teams could be 'sandbagging' or running super light for added speed.

This particular set of results is also slightly marred by the fact that several teams, most notably McLaren, only brought new developments partway through the week and the testing times with older revisions were slower.

Comparing only the fastest times that each team demonstrated sees Brawn GP still leading the field, with an eight tenths advantage over their nearest challenger Williams, with Toyota in third.




* There is further analysis of the Barcelona testing times in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, demonstrating how Brawn GP's long run pace leaves it well clear of its rival at the end of stints.



P.S. The two diagrams are below, as is a diagram of a poll on the website of the guardian neswpaper (It looked like that when I saw it.):

And yet everyone complains when I make a cricket thread :p.

And yet everyone complains when I make a cricket thread :p.

That was different.:rolleyes: Formula 1 is far better humor-wise, (See pics below) and I put TM in brackets next the title: Formula 1 (TM).

And yet everyone complains when I make a cricket thread :p.Yeah well this is a sport where we might actually win something:cool::cool::cool:

Also, is this the year the cars have to go back to using slicks? (I gather it is from the photos above).

Yeah well this is a sport where we might actually win something:cool::cool::cool:

Also, is this the year the cars have to go back to using slicks? (I gather it is from the photos above).
Yup. Slicks, stupid small & tall rear wings and nice first-corner-smashing wide and low front wings.

Yeah well this is a sport where we might actually win something:cool::cool::cool:Oi, England are in the final of the Women's World Cup, thank you very much!

That was different. Formula 1 is far better humor-wise:

You're kidding.

Oi, England are in the final of the Women's World Cup, thank you very much!



You're kidding.

Don't worry, I guess you aren't the only one that thinks that 60 laps on the same track end up getting boring.

I like all motorsports but Formula 1. I just think it's boring... just like MotoGP is getting boring.
I'd recommend Superbike and Supersport. Because it's just awesome. And for you british, you could win something. :) Cal Crutchlow is awesome.

Schumacher races in the IDM Superbike now, he doesn't do as good on a bike as in a car though. :(

Incidentally, Chaminda Vaas and Danny Vettori joined the "test cricketers with 3000 runs and 200 wickets" list recently. There's now 12 people on it (stats up to date as of this afternoon):

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/795/3000runs200wickets19mar.png (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3000runs200wickets19mar.png)

(yes, I wrote that up in Notepad. I'm that worst of cricket fans, the statto :p)

The funny part is, seven of those cricketers (from Chris Cairns onwards) achieved that milestone this decade. It's been an all-rounder-y era.

You're kidding.

F1 has these kind of delights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku57JZqZ9So (warning, NSFW due to language and I should probably infract myself for posting it)

That was when Schumacher was being presented with a lifetime achievement award and Kimi Raikkonen had just lost the championship to Schumacher (I think)

Glen McGrath and Eddo Brandes:

McGrath: Why are you so fat?
Brandes: Because every time I shag your wife, I eat a biscuit.



Mark Waugh and James Ormond:

Mark Waugh: Mate, what are you doing out here, there’s no way you’re good enough to play for England
James Ormond: Maybe not, but at least I’m the best player in my family

Come on Paul, no need to compete. :p

Yeah well this is a sport where we might actually win something:cool::cool::cool:


Since when is Sport just about winning?:-/

Since when is Sport about winning?:-/

This statement confuses me.

This statement confuses me.

Sport is about PARTICIPATING, not simply winning. In a competitive industry such as F1, If you competed only to win, and came 2nd in the first race, do you quit because you didn't win? If the 19 "Losers" Quit because they did not win, then they are not realy sporting are they. In Layman's terms: Sport is not just about sucsess. One takes the highs and lows as they come.

Sport is about PARTICIPATING, not simply winning. In a competitive industry such as F1, If you competed only to win, and came 2nd in the first race, do you quit because you didn't win? If the 19 "Losers" Quit because they did not win, then they are not realy sporting are they. In Layman's terms: Sport is not just about sucsess. One takes the highs and lows as they come.

I think you took my post a little too literally.

Since when is Sport just about winning?:-/

Let's face it: The only times you're happy not to win are when you weren't expecting to do as well as you did. Sport, by nature, is competitive and everyone strives to win. What would be worse than spending your entire life striving for a win and upon retirement have nothing to show for all your effort?

Tell me with a straight face that you'd be glad to come in the bottom 5 out of 20 for several years in a row.

Anyway the FIA has shelved the plans for the new scoring system: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7955790.stm

Happy now, Star Worms? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/womens_cricket/7957519.stm)

Glen McGrath and Eddo Brandes:

McGrath: Why are you so fat?
Brandes: Because every time I shag your wife, I eat a biscuit.



Mark Waugh and James Ormond:

Mark Waugh: Mate, what are you doing out here, there’s no way you’re good enough to play for England
James Ormond: Maybe not, but at least I’m the best player in my family

Who was it who asked "how are your wife and my kids"?

Who was it who asked "how are your wife and my kids"?

Rod Marsh, to Ian Botham

Botham's response: "The wife's fine, the kids are retarded."

Happy now, Star Worms? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/womens_cricket/7957519.stm)

Pfft... women's sports don't count :p

Happy now, Star Worms? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/womens_cricket/7957519.stm)
One of the women in the England squad lived in my block in uni halls 2 years ago. And in that same year in the same block also lived the daughter of a Formula 1 commentator and former F1 driver.

One of the women in the England squad lived in my block in uni halls 2 years ago. And in that same year in the same block also lived the daughter of a Formula 1 commentator and former F1 driver.

I guess you officially win the thread then.

I guess you officially win the thread then.
Yup. Both the off-topic and on-topic sports covered in one go :D

*Wins*

One of the women in the England squad lived in my block in uni halls 2 years ago. And in that same year in the same block also lived the daughter of a Formula 1 commentator and former F1 driver.

All we got at York were stuck-up c***s who were rejected from Oxford and Cambridge. Sons and daughters of rich businessmen and women who think they own the place.

But then again, if you're at Loughborough it wouldn't really make sense not to meet people who would be in sport in the future.

Yup. Both the off-topic and on-topic sports covered in one go :D

*Wins*
Now go an win both of the girls.

Now go an win both of the girls.

Not sure he could do that. He doesn't have much luck with women, and there'd be a few legal matters too...

In other words: go get'm Thomasp ;)

The First race of the 2009 Season Kicked off today with the Australian Grand Prix in the lake/Hybrid-street circuit at Albert Park. In Britain, Fans were in for a treat as Formula 1 Returned to the BBC after 11 years of being shown on ITV, Those many years of Advert breaks, and the absence of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" were shattered into several Million pieces this Morning as I woke to The BBC's CGI F1 Intro Followed by Children's TV Presenter Jake Humpheys, Ex driver David Coulthard, and Ex Team Owner Eddie Jordan all out bantering to entertain us. This is How Formula 1 Should be.

In Pole Position was Brawn GP driver Jenson Button, Followed by his teammate, Rubens Barrichello. Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull Occupied 3rd, Followed by the rest of the field. Lewis Hamilton had to Change his gearbox in Qualifing, he started 18th, While the Toyotas of Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock Started from the pitlane after their Rear Wings were found to be too Flexible.

After the Warm-up lap and when the 5 lights went out, the race was GO! Jenson Button led first through the first corner, while his teammate wasn't so lucky. Starting Second, Barrichello Stalled temporairilly, got going, was hit from behind, bumped into Kovalienen, (Mclaren) who Knocked into Webber, (Red Bull) Who Knocked into Heidfeild. All 3 Retired, though Adrian Sutil was Also Involved, but survived, and Barrichello's Front wing took a bruising. Button was Trailing away, with Vettel Second, Felipe Massa in third,(Ferrari) Followed Close Behind by Nico Rosberg's Williams, Kimi Raikonen's Sister Ferrari, and Robert Kubica's BMW. Lewis Hamilton Meanwhile, was up to 10th by Lap 4. On lap 9 Nico Rosberg Responded to A call from his team telling him of a Podium Position Availible if he Passed Kimi Raikonen (Who was ahead at that point.) He responded accordingly. Barrichello, who was behind Rosberg in 7th, Also came past Kimi, Damaging his wing some more in the process. However, A couple of teams gambled on soft tyres at the start, to their cost: This is a learning experience for everyone in race one and that goes to show that Ferrari, McLaren and BMW Sauber made a mistake in starting on the super-softs. They gave the drivers nice zip off the start but grained so quickly - just 11 laps into the race - that they had to come in a lot earlier than they hoped. Advantage lost."
BBC Sport's pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz

Nico Rosberg's first pitstop was dismal and dropped him to 11th, But bad turns to worse for Williams as Kazuki Nakajima in the other Williams makes a slight error on the exit of turn 4, which causes him out of shape for turn 5, which results in a fairly large shunt for the Williams man. He was unhurt but caused the safety car to be deployed, meaning Jenson Button Loses all his Lead over Vettel at the front. The Team uses the saftey car period to repair Barrichello's Damaged front wing. Massa's Brakes were showing signs of smokes as he broke into the corners, as was Kimi's. The saftey car pulled in at the end of lap 23. At the restart Jenson Got away perfectly, prouncing away from Vettel. While attempting to overtake Nico Rosberg at the restart however, Nelson Piquet Jr. (Renault) Spins out. He later claimed: "My Brakes just went crazy." On lap 32 Rob Smedley (Racing Engineer) tells Felipe Massa he has to push it now as Kimi Raikkonen and Robert Kubica "have seven more laps until they pit". Lewis Hamilton is losing pace, now, and Fernando Alonso who has previously been quietly gaining ground, is looking for an opportunity to pounce. On the Screen, I could see Lewis's KERS battery and how much he had left and how he was using it. On lap 34 Kubica (Who isn't running KERS at the moment) began to gain ground on Vettel, reeling him in slightly. Lap 38: Sebastian Vettel pinches a 10th of a second off Jenson Button's lead, with Robert Kubica 1.5 seconds further back. Further back, meanwhile, Sebastien Buemi has moved past Nico Rosberg and up into sixth, while Lewis Hamilton finds the best lap of his race - a 1:29.422 - in moving into eight and the points. On lap 43, Hamilton pits, and emerges Ahead of Massa. On the same Lap, Raikonen Hits the wall, and I was fairly certain that at that point his race was over. Lap 44: Sebastian Vettel Pits and emerges just ahead of Barrichello, who passes him the next lap. Rubens still needed to make another stop though, as Massa struggled for pace near the back. Massa has a problem and retires, not a good day for Ferrari. Lap 46: Button has a scruffy stop, but comes out ahead crucially. Lap 50: Race leader Jenson Button does have enough to get through to the end of the race, but he is given a stark warning from his crew: "Robert Kubica is on the prime tyres and could be a threat, he could be a threat," they scream. Lap 51: Rubens Barrichello goes in and comes back out in fifth behind Nico Rosberg. Fernando Alonso also goes in, while Timo Glock went in in the previous lap. Lap 52: This is looking like an extraordinary finish as Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica battle it out at the front for victory in the season-opener. The top 10 have all pitted twice, now, and Rubens Barrichello is breathing down Nico Rosberg's neck for fourth. Lap 53: With Robert Kubica lapping faster than both Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel, Rubens Barrichello passes Nico Rosberg. Jarno Trulli - what a race from the Toyota driver, given he started from the pit lane - is now pushing Rosberg for fifth. Lap 54: BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica is motoring now and he is taking chunks out of Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull, who in turn is tearing lumps out of race leader Jenson Button. This is set up for a remarkable finish. Lap 55: But hold up! Vettel has oversteer on the exit of turn 1, as Kubica gets ever closer into turn 2, and suddenly: WHAM! Both lose their massive front wings, as They attempt to continue, Kubica Bins it, and Vettel loses a wheel, but attempts to keep going. "Sorry guys" he says on the radio. Safety car is deployed. No-one else is close enough to Button.

JENSON BUTTON WINS THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

Lap 57: Confusion as Jarno Trulli is now third - the suspicion now is that Lewis Hamilton may have passed the Toyota in error behind the safety car and had to concede the position back. Still, a fantastic - and unexpected - result for the Briton.

So that's a stunning Brawn GP one-two, third for Toyota's Jarno Trulli - who started from the pit lane - and fourth for reigning champion Lewis Hamilton, despite starting from 18th on the grid. They are followed home by Timo Glock, Fernando Alonso, Nico Robserg and, brilliantly, rookie Sebastien Buemi.

(Trulli was dropped to 12th after being penilised for supposedly overtaking Hamilton under safety car/red flag. They are yet to appeal.)

(All results are provisional, until the diffuser case just before china (3rd race)

Just, er, why are you posting this here, particularly?

Are you reffering to the thread or the singular post? sorry, i'll just correct the faulty bits now.

Just, er, why are you posting this here, particularly?

You might as well ask why I make posts about cricket, to be honest.

You might as well ask why I make posts about cricket, to be honest.
We already know that's a very bad question to ask :p

It seems the court case (http://tinyurl.com/c792gg) has been hurried up and 3 of the teams have had to retire from this season just days before the Malaysian Grand Prix.

It seems the court case (http://tinyurl.com/c792gg) has been hurried up and 3 of the teams have had to retire from this season just days before the Malaysian Grand Prix.
:( Such a shame, and when BGP looked like they were going to stay on top form for quite a while.

Hopefully they can redesign the diffusers and be allowed to re-enter the championship with legal cars. Not really going to be much of a race with only 14 drivers on track.


Yet again, politics screws F1 over.

I'm really getting fed up with all this regulation. Hamilton has now been disqualified from the Australian GP and Trulli is now back in 3rd: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7978186.stm

I'm honestly questioning whether I can be bothered to watch this sport any more.

I'm really getting fed up with all this regulation. Hamilton has now been disqualified from the Australian GP and Trulli is now back in 3rd: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7978186.stm

I'm honestly questioning whether I can be bothered to watch this sport any more.
And the Ferrari International Assistance strike again :rolleyes:

Oh, I had assumed StarWorms was April fooling us :p
ZoneAlarm was blocking tinyurls and I couldnt be bothere dto find out

Here's a clip of the McLaren radio: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7980602.stm

As Hamilton let Trulli pass I can't see why they've disqualified him. What's he supposed to do, park his car, cause a bottleneck and wait for Trulli to come back on the track?

Hamilton and McLaren's penalty is fully justified in my opinion, given that they blatantly lied to the stewards (they told the stewards, who had not thought to listen to the in-car radios, that they had NOT instructed Hamilton to let Trulli through.). And that's coming from a lifelong McLaren fan.

Hamilton and McLaren's penalty is fully justified in my opinion, given that they blatantly lied to the stewards. And that's coming from a lifelong McLaren fan.

Woah, you devoted your ENTIRE LIFE to Ronzilla and Co.? Bet your house isn't as clean as the Mclaren Technology Centre...On the other hand it proberly is, given the most recent car to come out of there has underperformed. And the lies. Mclaren has lied before, ya know. :eek:

Woah, you devoted your ENTIRE LIFE to Ronzilla and Co.? Bet your house isn't as clean as the Mclaren Tachnology Centre...On the other hand it proberly is, given the most recent car to come out of there has underperformed. And the lies. Mclaren has lied before, ya know. :eek:
Err, what?

Err, what?

In the end, this is what all responses to CJH boil down to.

Err, what?I think he said Mclaren aren't that trustworthy (to have lifelong fans anyways), deep in a sea of bizarre analogies. :p

Incidentally, is 'Formula1' a trademark?

Yes. Might as well be. Putting 'TM' after something doesn't mean a damn thing anyway.

Incidentally, is 'Formula1' a trademark?

Bernie Eclestone says "yes".

And Thomasp, When I said "Mclaren has Lied before" I was reffering to The Spy Scandle in 2007, where Info was hid by some members of Mclaren. (I.e. Alonso+Dela Rosa's MSN messages regarding ferrari info from Mike Coulghan.) Mclaren's Technology Centre, which was opened by her majesty the Queen in 2004, Is Always kept in pristine white condition by Ron Dennis, (A.K.A. "The Ronster"/"Ronzilla") But evidently since he left, things have gone wayward and Martin Whitmarsh must have forgotten to wash the walls every 2 days or so.

Anyway, I am very rushy at the moment, So my report on the Malasian GP will have to wait, however, here's some pics: (P.S. Button won again!)

I like the "singing in the rain" shot.

Looks like Brawn have themselves a challenger. It also looks like it's going to be between Button, Vettel, and possibly Webber (though I doubt he will out-muster Vettel).