tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43345795334779519782024-03-06T05:25:32.549+00:00I've never met Ron Dennis !Dispatches from the hinterland of motor sportJulianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.comBlogger320125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-90115561228607605462016-10-19T17:30:00.001+01:002016-10-19T17:30:19.403+01:00I might be back ... I might well start commenting on what's been happening in the world of F1 again.<br />
<br />
Lewis apparently throwing a big hissy fit. The very real possibility that Nico could win the whole damn shooting match. Ferrari imploding and Vettel being shown up for the petulant man child I always suspected he was really. Bernie selling the gig to the Americans.<br />
<br />
No racing you understand. That's still just as dull as it ever was.. round and round and round and round progressively emptier industrial estates in increasingly ratty third world dictatorships.<br />
<br />
Japan this year, who can give the Italian and British fans a solid run for their money on the "crazy obsessive petrol headed nutters" 24 laps sprint race. didn't seem to be all that bothered about turning up to the F1 race this year. I have no idea how much a weekend ticket was at Suzuka, but i'm guessing you could have a pretty good family holiday in uptown Osaka for the price of four start line grandstand tickets.<br />
<br />
Anyway, it's America this weekend. If Nico wins it's all over as a spectacle, it'll just be a pissing contest for the rest of the season. A Lewis win with Nico standing next to a smoking car behind the armco and we have something to look forward to. <br />
<br />
Roll the dice, lets see who comes out fighting.<br />
<br />
more later ....Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-58936204158281016972016-10-08T13:25:00.001+01:002016-10-08T13:25:31.256+01:00Its finally happened<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmlmHSRFdEi5bNEAKmy2Rb9iYVhRAIJ52nLQ_oo5c0Nx_9heie4kjKsfdSK1x1hfr3ZqeQwbf2YJ12VjK_kEgqBDaB1Xtuo_jGT14onhi3dT7aZIqIF1IbDd5wVqoCEaMvWo7b9NOt18/s1600/Full+Nigel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmlmHSRFdEi5bNEAKmy2Rb9iYVhRAIJ52nLQ_oo5c0Nx_9heie4kjKsfdSK1x1hfr3ZqeQwbf2YJ12VjK_kEgqBDaB1Xtuo_jGT14onhi3dT7aZIqIF1IbDd5wVqoCEaMvWo7b9NOt18/s400/Full+Nigel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Lewis has gone full Nigel now.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-67318613223567115572016-03-31T16:54:00.002+01:002016-03-31T16:56:14.949+01:00time for a new t shirt i think ....<a href="https://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/design-your-own-t-shirt-C59/design/15417168" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://image.spreadshirtmedia.net/image-server/v1/designs/15417168,width=190,height=190,version=1359585962.png" alt="powered by Spreadshirt" title="powered by Spreadshirt" style="width:190px; border:0;"/></a><br/><br />
<span>powered by</span><a href="http://www.spreadshirt.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;">Spreadshirt</a><br/><br />
<a href="https://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/design-your-own-t-shirt-C59/design/15417168" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" rel="nofollow"><strong>Classic Porsche</strong></a>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-62961871604784983562015-12-01T19:14:00.002+00:002015-12-01T19:14:31.493+00:00It's all a numbers game really.Here's a fun one for you, the 2015 season in numbers from the BBC.<br />
<br />
It underlines just how much Lewis and Mercedes dominated the the year and how much Ferrari and Vettel bounced back from their previous poor years.<br />
<br />
But ultimately .. Mercedes 703 points, the highest ever points haul in F1; a feat not even Redbull in their pomp could achieve, says it all. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://bbc.in/1lsioQM" target="_blank">The 2015 F1 year in numbers.</a>Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-75721882064195196482015-11-29T19:27:00.000+00:002015-11-30T15:33:25.563+00:00At last, its all over ...<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
And so it all comes to an end, it’s been a long year this one, we’re
traversed the world a dozen times to some far flung places to watch cars go
round and round past half empty grandstands. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We’ve listened to Redbull bleat on endlessly about its engine woes, how
the Renault was so bad, how no one would give them an engine. Then we had the
frankly ridiculous sight of the team owner of one of the richest teams in the
sports history, who owns a company that makes more money per minute than most
third world countries spend on healthcare, whining that Mercedes and Ferrari
wanted upwards of 30 million Euros for a year’s supply of engine. An engine with a winning pedigree you will note and ultimately
this complaining about having to spend too much money by the richest team on
the grid lead the FIA to propose plans for a Tescos value engine in 2017. Other
value brands will be available, check local stores for details.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Thankfully the budget plan was binned and the engine manufactures
agreed to lower the cost of their engines and share the supply round a bit
more. Redbull went back to Renault and
pretty much begged to buy unbadged French engines with no yellow logos or Infiniti
sponsorship. If they think they had a bad year in 2015, next year is going to
be all kinds of pain.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This year was yet another where the racing was over shadowed by talk of
money. Who had it, who wanted it, and who was taking it out of the sport? But then, it didn’t take too much to
overshadow the racing this year. One poor punter even attempted to find
something interesting to watch by walking on the track during the race at
Singapore.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Far too often our eyes drooped lower and lower as the processional
races dragged on. Cars simply can't follow and over take one another unless
there is a massive difference in top speed. The fact that a McLaren 20 mph in a
straight line less than a Williams can't be passed at a place like Abu Dhabi,
tells you everything you need to know. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Formula one continued to keep
all the goodies to itself unless you were prepared to pay a hefty wedge for it.
The £20 for the app was the tip of the iceberg, Germany bailed when it couldn’t
afford to pay the sanctioning fee and later the circuit of the Americas in
Texan said they were going to struggle when state funding was cut next year. F1
is moving further and further away from its European heartland. Next year we’re
going to Azerbaijan and a new street circuit round Baku, because of the rich
and vibrant heritage of motorsport in the former Soviet satellite state.</div>
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But given how close it is to the hot spots of the Middle East and with
the horror in Paris still fresh in our minds, let’s see if we actually go next
year shall we. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The BBC are making noises about not showing any live F1 next year. With
the need to cut cost as licence fee negotiations drag on with the government,
an expensive program carting a ton of equipment and personal around the world
looks like an unnecessary expense to the suits in Whitehall. With Bernie’s
absolute reluctance to countenance any live internet feed that can’t be
monetised soon the only way you’ll be
able to see a race live will be through satellite pay walls. F1 is getting
expensive and someone has to pay to keep the whole mess rolling along. </div>
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<br /></div>
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What has struck me the most this year has been the startling lack of
fans in the stands. Hugh swaths of seating were empty on Friday and Saturday
and only marginally livelier on Sunday for the race. If you watched any of the GP2 action this
year, there were times when a driver would be lucky to see a handful of
spectators as he raced around. Now I don’t have any figures to hand because
it’s a big faff to go hunting for them but I’ll put good money on this year
being seen by the fewest people since the 80’s, well maybe the Vettel and
Schumacher years had lower numbers. But my point is F1 is dying as a spectator
sport, it costs too much to go and watch the show live because Bernie is
screwing every dime out of the circuits and promoters. Then you can’t watch it
live on TV unless you’re paying Sky or whatever local service you have, who are
also paying through the nose to Bernie. </div>
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<br /></div>
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F1 was always a pretty exclusive, but these days the only people that
can afford to follow it are the sort that turn up to the hospitality box after
the port and cheese course around lap 40.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
We, the muddy scum, are pushed back further and further behind more and
more advertising hoarding and asked to pay higher and higher entrance fees.
It’s almost like they don’t actually want us there! Go to a WEC race and you
can wonder the pits during the race. Talk to drivers and sit where you like.
Sure. I know there are far fewer people at an endurance race that isn’t Le
Mans. But you feel like the ACO who organise the race want you there, actively
encourage you to follow drivers, teams and the championship. This year Porsche beat Audi to win the
drivers and constructors title, it came down to the last hour of the last race.
It was fantastic and it was everything F1 wasn’t.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
F1 racing in 2015 was mostly dull, prescribed and artificial. The rich teams were out the front and the
poor teams (and McLaren) were at the back. Customer teams never challenged the
works squads, it was difficult to see a team other than Mercedes winning and
generally that was Hamilton. Nico rallied at the end with a career best three
in a row, but it was far too late to make a difference to the entertainment.
Ferrari did win races, but only when the Merc had problems, the German winning
machine was never raced for the lead or beaten for pace. Well maybe in
Singapore.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Reading that back it all seems a bit depressing doesn't it? Let's have
a look at the drivers and see if we can find something a bit more upbeat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
So in reverse championship order, this is how they did.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Will Stevens - Marussia - Zero points. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Not as much fun as Super Max was last year, Will was sort of there and
couldn't beat his regular team mate Merhi. He apparently has enough money for a
seat next year when the team gets the Merc engine. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Alexander Rossi/Roberto Merhi - Marussia - Zero.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Merhi seemed to be last an awful lot but actually got a 12th at
Silverstone and Rossi also got a 12th in America. Again both where sort of
there, mostly getting out of the way of the big boys of the upper sixth form. I
can't remember them doing anything much of note, well maybe we should give Rossi
some props for turning up and not being yet another awful American driver. I
thought he did alright to get in the car and be as competitive as Stevens was.
We might see either of them again, but as usual it will depend on who has the money.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Marcus Ericsson - Sauber - 9.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Marcus showed some moments of class, but more often than not was out
shone by his team mate. his best result of 8th was in Australia and it wasn't
until Italy before he got close to that, usually he'd finish somewhere between
12th and 14th, nothing exciting, just a solid driver in an average car.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Fernando Alonso - McLaren - 11</div>
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<br /></div>
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Hey look it's the end of the season and here we are wondering if
Fernando will be on the grid next year yet again! But can you blame him? Abu
Dhabi saw him passed by two Ferraris racing for third place whilst he plodded
on to a lowly 17th. He was in that car last year and now here he is tooling
around in an ill handling car at the back of the grid, he only just beat
Ericsson in the Sauber. He only troubled the top ten twice all year 5th in
Hungary and 10th in England. This was not the plan when he told Ferrari what it
could do with its 2015 racing plan. He kept a lid on things until Japan when
the frustration burst forth to tell the team just what he thought of the Honda
power unit. Poor old Alonso, he is a great talent, but he's getting old and
another season like this will be his last. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Jenson Button - McLaren - 16</div>
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<br /></div>
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Where Alonso got grumpier and grumpier as the season wore on Jenson's
grin just seemed to get wider and wider. Sure he was scrapping with the Saubers
and Marussias, but he always managed to find something positive and still be
honest with the media and fans. Sure the car was a dog, but he had fun and made
it to the top ten four times. He just
got on with things and accepted this wasn't going to be a glorious season. You
had to admire him, and if you watched each interview carefully you could see
him hitching the Bonhomie up just before checking the stiff upper lip was in
place. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Yes a year to forget for McLaren, but it's in the past now and things
can only get better. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Carlos Sainz - Torro Rosso - 18</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Carlos was in grave danger of being lost in the hubbub of Verstappen
praise at time this year in any other year and he would have been Rookie of the
year, but a four race mid season dip just as Max hit his stride saw Sainz fade
into the background. Which was a shame because where Max was balls out gungho
glory is forever, Sainz was measured and tried to guarantee the points rather
than go out in a blaze of glory. He is a
talent and I can see him and max fighting for titles in years to come, he just
needs a bit more of Lady Lucks attention.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Pastor Maldonado - Lotus - 27</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I still don't know why Pasto has a super licence! Than man proved yet
again this year that he is a liability in any car you put him in. He doesn't
appear to be able to learn to be sensible and the just accept the car in front
is in the way of him. Too often we saw bit of carbon fibre hanging off
Maldonado's car and another driver left behind facing the wrong direction or
scrapping bits of carbon fibre off the road. The word is Lotus has now been
bought by Renault for a bag of chips and a boiled sweet, so this nutcase and
his massive pay check are free to race again next year ... no, i have no idea
why either.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Filipe Nasr - Sauber - 27 </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I think Nasr get the place above Maldonado because he isn't an idiot. He's entirely forgettable, but he's not a
danger to other drivers. Filipe did alright, again another rookie that showed
promise, nothing too exciting but good solid mid table skills. He'll be in a
Williams or Force India in three or four years. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Max Verstappen - Torro Rosso - 49</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
It took just one move at one race to nail him tot eh title "best
rookie since Hamilton, maybe even Senna". Round the outside of Nasr at Spa
as they raced through Blanchemont! That one move, that moment of sublime skill
made the big boys sit up and take notice. That was a move that required more
than blind luck and steady nerve. You need the skills to make a move like that
out there. Get it wrong and you're lucky to walk away to pick the bits up. He'll
be a F1 champion one day. He's the real deal.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Romain Grosjean - Lotus - 51</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Grosjean had a difficult year with a team on the edge of going under at
any second. Lotus had bailiffs ready to kick the door in numerous times all
year. There were times when they didn't know if the car would make it through
the front gate without someone demanding payment for work undertaken of parts
delivered. Yet Romain raced his little heart out and scored a memorable podium
at Spa. And then as the only French driver on the grid he had to speak for the
people of Paris after the terrorist attack in November. Next year he's off to
the Ferrari satellite team of Hass, an America team build its cars in America
far, far away from the carbon triangle in the UK where everyone else (Except
Ferrari) builds or runs their cars from. I hope it's a success for him because
the lad deserves a break.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Nico Hulkenberg - Force India -
58</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Went to Le Mans on his weekend off and won the race with Nick Tandy and
Earl Bamber. So as far as I'm concerned he's brilliant. A mixed season in F1,
always hamstrung with Force India's weird race strategies, he showed he can run
at the front when he has a works car it was just a shame it had Porsche written
on it. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Sergio Perez - Force India - 78</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Yeah okay Perez did a good job this year, he reminded everyone why
McLaren though he as the next big thing. He isn't, but he can keep a car on old
tyres racing longer than anyone else out there. The third in Russia was well
deserved and even a bit feisty. There were actually moments where I started to
warm to the guy, I might even start to like him eventually.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Daniel Ricciardo - Redbull - 92 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Last year if the Mercs dropped the ball, Riccky would be there to take
the win. This year he just didn't seem to have the car under him to give him a
chance. He picked up a third in Hungary when everyone else was messing around,
but Redbull seemed far more interested in complaining about how unfair it was
they weren't winning rather than getting on with trying to race. Ricciardo did
alright, but he was racing with a car that didn't have much grunt and was
apparently made from chocolate. I think they had almost as many grid penalties
as McLaren for engine changes this year, not what you need to mount a challenge.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Daniil Kvyat - Redbull - 95</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Daniil sort of grew into a roll he wasn't expecting to be in last year.
When Vettel flounced off to Ferrari with barely a backwards glance, Kvyat was
push in front of the media to learn he was going to be the replacement. The year
started a bit shakily, but as it went on he grew in confidence and started to
put some good weekends together, the highlight was a second place in Hungary (a
race I still haven't seen so I have no idea how much he did to earn it). He was
solid all year and managed to get more than Ricciardo out of the car. Luck, or
skill ? I'm not sure.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Filipe Massa - Williams -121</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Massa again, did alright with a team that failed to capitalise on last
year's form, but it was a solid year with few fireworks and plenty of social
media pictures of his lad. You know I've said it before that there is nothing
wrong with being a solid midfield driver, but Filipe isn't getting any younger
and a driver like Verstappen in a Williams on song would be perfect. Massa is a
nice guy and all but it's time to pack the kit bag away now lad. Go out on a
high of two third places, nothing embarrassing about that.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Valtteri Bottas - Williams - 136</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Bottas is my most disappointing driver of the year, two thirds and a
handful of fourth places were just sort of insipid and lack any real guts. He is
a better driver than this and he sould have been up there fighting for wins.
Williams seemed surprised that Ferrari had leapfrogged then and just didn't
have an answer, they didn't try anything spectacular, it was just a case of
"the computer says no" and Bottas drove for the points finishes. Then
there was Kimi who seemed to get on Valtteris wick, they spent too many races bumping
into each other. Mostly it was Kimi doing the bumping, because he was going for
it and trying to get some extra points. Bottas was just boring for large parts
of the year.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari - 150</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Kimi on the other hand was his usual "Not giving a toss what you
think buddy" self. He had probably his best year in a while, but once
again rocked up had a laugh, did some racing, stared blankly at interviewers asking
stupid questions and collected the Ferrari pay check. He got the usual Italian
press "You're not trying hard enough" headlines but continued to not
care. We used to think he was invincible, the best driver with more fastest
laps to his name than anyone in history .. EVER. Probably. But he has become
the consummate Solid number two driver. He gets out of the way, doesn't
complain and picks up his pay packed. Where Alonso did nothing but complain
about every little thing wrong, Kimi smiled, grunted and now he's got 150
points and Alonso has 11. Who do you think had the better game plan in the end
?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Sebastian Vettel - Ferrari - 278</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Sebastian was the only creditable challenger to Mercedes all year, but
only when they dropped the ball. He was there; aided by the team telling Kimi
to get out of the way, to take three wins and generally do a good job of repairing
the credibility he lost last year. And you know what, I warmed to the guy, sure
he waved that finger around, but he didn't ponce around the paddock reminding
everyone he was a four time world champion, he didn't make a big deal out of
doing so well, he answered questions and remained a pretty grounded individual.
He had some pretty witty one line put downs for Rosberg in the post race
interviews and didn't seem to be taking things too seriously; he looked like he
was having fun watching the Merc boys fronting up to each other. I'm sure
behind closed doors it was all a bit more shouty and demanding, but the team
seem to have warmed to him and they appreciated it when he gave them the credit
for good results. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The truth is, Vettel is a damn good driver and this year proved he
doesn't need to have Redbull logo on his chest to win.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Nico Rosberg - Mercedes - 322</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The Merc boys were just miles ahead of everyone else all year and the
only thing they raced was each other. Nico lost the title this year because, I
personally suspect, his wife was pregnant. The car suited Lewis more at the
start of the year, but Nico just didn't seem to be there some weekend, which is
a complaint I've had throughout his F1 career. I said at the start of the year
this season was going to come down to who had the most off circuit distraction,
and it was Nico and his concerns for his wife; which is all perfectly
understandable. Its still a shame really, if he had got his act together just a
couple of races earlier we might have had a different to the season, but alas
no. How much the end of season was down to Lewis not caring or pushing for that
final 100th of a second we'll never know. But the last three race weekend were
totally dominated by Nico, he looked like a champion for those weekend, he just
needs to do it for a whole year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes - 381<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After last years, “Have at it lads!” which got rather out of
hand towards the end for which the drivers required a stiff talking to, this
year was far more sanitised. Mercedes had a 968 page book of “Do’s and
definitely don’ts chaps” each race. Written in large bold type on page
one was the legend, “Don’t drive into your teammate you numpties!”. Underneath
that it said in slightly smaller type, “Yes, that included you Lewis. No, don’t
say anything buddy, just don’t do it!”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
For much of the season Lewis and Nico kept a very respectful
distance between their cars. But as the season wore on and it became more
obvious that Lewis was going to win it eventually, the gap got narrower and
narrower. Now, depending on weather you are #TeamLH or #teamNicoWasRobbed, Lewis
was making sure of the pass or Nico was lucky to avoid being driven into the
wall, The move in Japan was a touch close, but the nudge in America Lewis menat. It was intended to say, "Enough now little boy, this is my title". Lewis didn't have any self doubt this year, it was a lesson in winning a championship, he just know it was his for the taking and nico wasn't going to get in the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
At times it all looked so easy. He
wasn't off the podium until race 10 in Hungary, only retired once in Singapore
when a thrupeny bit failed. If he didn't win he was still picking up points he
was fast, consistent and lucky. That all you need to win a championship. He has
a team of people around him that support him and make him feel special; he does
a lot of charity work, keeps sponsorships happy and knows how to have a good
time. He won with ease this year and it always looked like a "when"
not "if" championship run. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
But the hat thing irks me still
and the chains and the pious attitude.
I'm sure when he hangs out with his mates he's great company and a generous
chap. But I just can't put my finger on what it is that is starting to irritate
me about Lewis. He was far and away the
best driver of the year; you don't win titles back to back by winging it. Maybe
it's just my English reserve that's getting in the way, his need to demonstrate
the trappings of success, that cherry red jet, rather than talk of taking the mechanics
out for a curry and beer in Brackley. He
never failed to thank the team for all its hard work and made the point that he
wins because of their hard work, but you sort of get the feeling he'd rather be
in Miami have a good time than shaking hands in a cold Northamptonshire factory
of a Monday morning. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I still love his driving, his
never give up attitude and the way he just keeps going without compromise. I want
drivers to race, and I want them to be annoyed that all they can do is follow
the car behind. Lewis does all that, he want to be the winner; he argues with
the team to give him the best strategy and makes damn sure that if given a
sniff he'll take the points. Right now, he is the best driver in F1. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Okay. Maybe not a classic year then but, well the right man won the
title and Mercedes completely dominated. Next year might be different, who
knows. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
And now the personal bit. </div>
<br />
This has been a difficult year for me and my family. As you know we lost our baby for the second time and it was the last chance we had for another child. It's not a particularly nice thing to happen to anyone and to have it happen twice in quick succession is extremely hard to deal with.<br />
<br />
But there is a charity that supports families and helps them come to terms with the loss.<br />
They are called SANDS - the Stillborn and neonatal death charity. They are very kind people and don't get nearly as much recognition as they deserve.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.uk-sands.org/" target="_blank">The SANDS website.</a><br />
<br />
Thankfully most families never need to call on them for support.<br />
<br />
If you have enjoyed this years prediction game and my rambling words then please help us support the local SANDS group by donating to help them raise money for a memorial garden at Aldershot Crematorium:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.justgiving.com/FarnboroughSandsGarden/" target="_blank">A special Garden project.</a><br />
<br />
In memory of Clara and Jamie Bowdidge.<br />
<br />
Thank you.<br />
<br />
<br />Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-89767692261572724572015-11-23T22:12:00.000+00:002015-11-23T22:15:33.343+00:00Crank it up one last time <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hurrah, it's the last race of the season. The longest in
living memory, you though Mao took a long time to march from one end of china
to the other, well that's nothing compared to how long this season has been
going on. I was a young, vibrant man in the first flush of 44, my prime years
many would argue when this started. And here now this interminable season is almost
finally over as I begin my 45th year. This season has literally aged me one
whole year. A year I will never get back ... thank you Bernie .. Thanks for
nothing !!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtiA9e2leX7lYAXBHfFuWowJCDl8acV7XwyKCAdg-m5fPiOILvJR7ptSP6WVpsGxVzSb1FF3FT1YEZO9JeBOKx5DrQk76JYeeuiDfJTf5lKN-bq7ZjNKndOpSd8eBDMdPe48PAGFTgBY/s1600/one+last+push.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtiA9e2leX7lYAXBHfFuWowJCDl8acV7XwyKCAdg-m5fPiOILvJR7ptSP6WVpsGxVzSb1FF3FT1YEZO9JeBOKx5DrQk76JYeeuiDfJTf5lKN-bq7ZjNKndOpSd8eBDMdPe48PAGFTgBY/s640/one+last+push.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"Come on lads, almost there "</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the holy beard of Jenson
Button I can't wait for this season to end so I can spend Sunday afternoon
asleep on the sofa rather than dragging out this raw passionate (often badly
spelt I'll grant you) prose, for you my dear an loyal readers. Without who,
this would only be read by my brother (possibly) and maybe one or two people
stumbling around the back reaches of Blogger late on a Sunday evening.... They
say man is the sum of the things he leaves behind. I think I add up to a
damaged liver and a vented spleen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But passionate prose, yes if nothing it's passionate prose,
I've meant every word of this too. I hope I have entertained you this year, and
helped to cast some light on those at the back of the grid. It has been fun to watch Sainz and Verstappen
rock up and impress with their grit and determination. It's been sad too with the utter failure of
McLaren, who have gamely got on with things and never stopped trying. Drivers with lesser metal would have packed
up and walked away complaining to anyone who would listen, and to be fair to
Alonso here, he only really let it all spill out by Japan, when everyone had
realised how much of a mess it all was. By the time they got to Japan, we all
knew the engine wasn't up to it, no point denying it anymore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope I have encouraged some of you to follow Webber and
Hulkenberg to Le Mans. Maybe catch a bit of the Australian V8's and perhaps
look beyond the jaded horizon of Formula One. The WEC had possibly one of the
best years of racing I've ever seen. If
you went looking for good racing it was out there, Bernie didn't kill
everything off. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But yes we have one more race this year in Abu Dhabi and the
Yas Marina circuit. It's the day night race, round the harbour and that
building that lights up .. yeah you know the one. It was quite dramatic last
year with Nico losing the title to Hamilton. You're not going to get that much
drama this year. There is nothing left to race for now; I think all the pride
might have been raced for too. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But F1 cars do look pretty nice under a gazillion watts of
street lighting, even if the track does look somewhat empty at times during the
race. And the sun going down makes things a little bit more dramatic. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it'll all be worth watching, come on, one last go. See if
you can get your highest score this week. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_K8Gl8a8UPhDJdxwrjnuum_7GIMBG2ItPP9N_nkyBuBGbA0p1xhvuVMIkRw4aDJn4xh0eb0LFimWjIHhw3rP0FSwynfIHgeIeiQaYTcogd9talXzUTuiiS0ikoMVDnDxyzCqlSwBsOQ/s1600/imagemas-836c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_K8Gl8a8UPhDJdxwrjnuum_7GIMBG2ItPP9N_nkyBuBGbA0p1xhvuVMIkRw4aDJn4xh0eb0LFimWjIHhw3rP0FSwynfIHgeIeiQaYTcogd9talXzUTuiiS0ikoMVDnDxyzCqlSwBsOQ/s640/imagemas-836c.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">ooooh is it my turn again !?!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good luck.</span></div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-59344012168802802612015-11-18T19:38:00.001+00:002015-11-18T19:38:17.192+00:00Where is Alonso now ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTzjrI0XIAAnBOC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTzjrI0XIAAnBOC.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-15356099089055776782015-11-15T21:46:00.000+00:002015-11-15T21:46:31.105+00:00End of season larks.<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Okay so not the most exciting race for the win really
but there was some cracking action for the minor places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If only Nico could
do this sort of thing for a whole year and not just when is doesn't matter
anymore. Yes I know he's not had the rub of the green this year with more
mechanical issue than Lewis. But like a lot of his career in F1 he just spent
some races sleep walking though the weekend. And yes I know his wife had some
issues with the pregnancy and that would obviously take his mind off the gig.
But after last year and having the thing go down to the last race. This year
has been something of an anticlimaxs. Only Vettel has made it interesting at
times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">But all that's for the end of year final rant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well done
Nico on a top of the draw race result. Pole was pretty easy after Lewis had
sort of dominated the practice sessions; and it was much like last year in that
respect Nico taking the spoils after Lewis won the battles, a Lewis who had
turned up under something of a cloud too. A bit of late night partying left three
cars with damage and the recently crowned world champion advised to rest up for
a day or two with his "fever". Not very media friendly and Mercedes
were at pains to limit any adverse publicity; Lewis waved it all off as just a
bit of thing and it didn't appear to affect his performance on track. But being
beaten yet again to pole, the fifth time in a row, Hamilton didn't bother to
stand out front with Nico and Vettel for the obligatory photo call. You could
call it petulance, I couldn't possible comment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Maybe he was
off enjoying the latest Alonso meme to go viral</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now you may
not have noticed, but McLaren are having a bit of a bad year. Yes, that's why
the boys haven't been seen around the podium much this year. And to give them
their dues, neither Jenson nor Alonso have really thrown a tantrum about.
Alonso made few disparaging remarks about the Honda engine in Japan for which Big
Ron had to confirm Jenson was going to get a drive next year in an attempt to deflect
some of the flac. But generally the lads
have been honest in front of the media and just said "Yeah sure, the car
is a bit of a mess and the engine needs some work. But the whole team is
working on this and it is a problem we'll fix together". They've tried to
put a bit of positive spin on an otherwise hopeless situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Until now that
is, it seems Alonso has had enough of jumping out of a smoking car and when the
car expired yet again at the start of qualifying he cried "enough".
Without even a look back at the failed McLaren Honda, he trudged up the hill and
sat down on one of the marshal's chairs to calmly watch the rest of Q1. But then the chair was moved and Alonso had
an impromptu photo shoot in the sun with qualifying for a backdrop. Rather than
throw a strop and flounce off to shout at someone, he sat and he waited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD9Pr3J4g5cFD88J3tjNQqKyXm2xLPZBG877A7pg2bYptVOva0aLOrJ4u08WZ6FtrfqcYoz0g87Oz24ui20LzzY2L8VeF5GBtkTJZoyC40uVPRL__yD8Rr8qtVtFadjdXkd0nIT-_lR4/s1600/CTyQ17XUcAAYerp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD9Pr3J4g5cFD88J3tjNQqKyXm2xLPZBG877A7pg2bYptVOva0aLOrJ4u08WZ6FtrfqcYoz0g87Oz24ui20LzzY2L8VeF5GBtkTJZoyC40uVPRL__yD8Rr8qtVtFadjdXkd0nIT-_lR4/s640/CTyQ17XUcAAYerp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A lazy afternoon in Brazil</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Looks relaxing
doesn't it. He looks peaceful, at rest in a turbulent world, the cares of a
career falling apart and three world titles forgotten in the mire of racing
against year old Marussias.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This image
was too good to resist and before Nico had taken pole the #wherewouldalonsoratherbe
meme was going viral across the internet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwq2eygdiPDm8a8v0BwZCNeI1rC9dUmmwn5zs9CI6nh5ioyEv_10Q7U05xWGK-mivJKF2P2kromyNRzbeEcX1lkqrHI7dpR5pmhsbGS2nC4ZyzsGjdyCDfNxqm_YX595WotEUyUr_H1o/s1600/tumblr_nxtsphvtaJ1rb2fzoo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwq2eygdiPDm8a8v0BwZCNeI1rC9dUmmwn5zs9CI6nh5ioyEv_10Q7U05xWGK-mivJKF2P2kromyNRzbeEcX1lkqrHI7dpR5pmhsbGS2nC4ZyzsGjdyCDfNxqm_YX595WotEUyUr_H1o/s640/tumblr_nxtsphvtaJ1rb2fzoo1_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Relaxing with friends earlier<br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then to cap
it all the boys staged a podium invasion, just to remind themselves what it
used to be like standing on the top step. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpia8A04BGTGrSeKwp3RzwENMFtxHJZwckGH6E7qKMCS24EvGB7KgRQyeJ2Z7Ffcgz5kVHsJGj_29Xkki6P150XCjdO2KswvadxBZmSkgtIVrSpljY6FSke3Ve4LzIitS2TfZfUVNvQY/s1600/2E715E3600000578-3318589-image-a-45_1447522665646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpia8A04BGTGrSeKwp3RzwENMFtxHJZwckGH6E7qKMCS24EvGB7KgRQyeJ2Z7Ffcgz5kVHsJGj_29Xkki6P150XCjdO2KswvadxBZmSkgtIVrSpljY6FSke3Ve4LzIitS2TfZfUVNvQY/s640/2E715E3600000578-3318589-image-a-45_1447522665646.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px; text-align: start;">What a jolly good wheeze.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And so to the
race; Well Nico won, Lewis tried to catch him but couldn't pass him and Vettel
had the team tell Kimi to get out of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The only
highlight was Verstappen over taking anyone who got in his way and is looking more
and more like future world champion with every lap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It wasn't
the most exciting race I've ever watched, but it was interesting to See Nico
give Lewis a bit of a lesson on how to control a race. But there wasn't much
Lewis could do really, after last year and the accusations of unfair team
tactics, this year booth cars run exactly the same strategy so neither can accuse
the team of favouritism. The only way Hamilton could pass Rosberg is if he
changed his strategy and tried a short of long middle stint. The team told him
that wasn't going to happen so he had a half hearted attack and settled for
second. Not as I say terrible exciting, but Merc want to make sure of the PR
result. Not "drivers take each other out" headlines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So then Nico
won and made it look easy. The result secured second place in the championship.
Which is nice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lewis made
it look hard work in second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vettel had a
lonely race to third after Kimi got out of his way. He has now secured third
place in the championship, which is a damn sight more than he would have got
with Redbull this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kimi was the
perfect team mate in fourth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bottas was
William only saving grace as it turned out in fifth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was Hulkenberg's
turn to be the best Force India driver this week in sixth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kvyat was
hamstrung with a Renault engine in seventh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now.... on
the road Massa was eighth. But according to the result from the FIA he has been
excluded for a technical infringement. What happened was; the FIA take the
temperature and pressure of random cars just before the race starts. This week
it was Massa's turn and to quote technical document 40 from the FIA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">"</span><span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT;">On the grid the tread temperature and minimum
tyre starting pressure of the right hand side rear tyre was checked on car
number 19 after the “5-minutes” signal was given.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT;">The temperature
measured on the tread of the right hand side rear tyre of car number 19 was 137°C,
27 °C above the maximum tread temperature of 110 °C allowed by the official
tyre supplier. The corresponding tyre pressure at 137 °C was 20.6 psi, 0.1 psi
above the minimum starting pressure"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Which basically means the tyre was too hot and the pressure too low. When
the race started and the tyre cooled down the pressure would drop below the minimum
required by Pirelli to stop teams' whinging when they explode. Now you might
ask why only one tyre was that hot and clearly that must mean there was a
problem with the tyre blanket. Tyres should just not be that hot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But rules is rules and the FIA do like to throw their weight around to
remind everyone that actually they're the ones in charge .. Not Bernie or the teams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So now Grosjean is eighth and jolly well done to him on what must have
been a difficult weekend for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Verstappen makes it to ninth and was the most exciting driver out there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And Crazy Maldonado was tenth despite getting a five second penalty for
being an arse yet again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Stevens beat Rossi for a change so the America is our last placed
driver four laps behind the Mercs. That's got to hurt hasn't? All that money
and effort to still be a country mile away from the action!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bem-AFxsr7AUl2RvXbFulBgJVyDi0vyBISpC3wxJ08NW3J98tUiZAdf8a6KAEHo0O8cqHfE1ON3F9SltnSQ8yLFWAA6Fj2jJH6yF8nziqw4YyL0_rqZHWbQ1O9HP6djqcYkcl-Sf9aU/s1600/tumblr_nxtcnp1mpe1rb2fzoo3_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bem-AFxsr7AUl2RvXbFulBgJVyDi0vyBISpC3wxJ08NW3J98tUiZAdf8a6KAEHo0O8cqHfE1ON3F9SltnSQ8yLFWAA6Fj2jJH6yF8nziqw4YyL0_rqZHWbQ1O9HP6djqcYkcl-Sf9aU/s640/tumblr_nxtcnp1mpe1rb2fzoo3_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not even going to bother qualifying. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-54881239401457554572015-11-11T20:03:00.000+00:002015-11-11T20:03:24.313+00:00Here she comes .... This might give you some idea of what a rally is like to watch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-32559140217581611622015-11-10T20:38:00.000+00:002015-11-10T20:42:13.116+00:00On and on and on and on ... will it never end ?!!?!?!<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s November already … damn it November and we still have
two races to go. Two pointless races let’s not forget, effectively live test
seasons for next year for pretty much everyone. Well maybe not Nico, he’s got
something or other to prove to whoever picks up his contract in a year or two’s
time. We could all pack up and go home now, nothing is going to change, no one
is going to pull out an amazing update to go two seconds a lap faster all of a
sudden. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the circus has rocked up to Brazil, so I suppose we
should take a look at the boys and girls, see what is on offer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First up and Suzie Wolff has announced she is no longer going
to pretend that she was ever going to get a ride in a William on a race weekend.
Now I personally think this is a bit of a shame, from what I’ve seen of her
career she was tenacious and single minded enough to earn the right to be there
on merit. She might not have been the kind of driver you just watched because
you knew she could pull something special out of the car. But she wasn’t tooling
around at the back of the pack getting in the way of the leaders trying to lap
her. Solid midfield, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that at
all. For every Lewis Hamilton there are
15 Ericcson’s and <span class="SpellE">Grosjean’s</span>. Drivers that could have
the odd extraordinary race once in a while, even Maldonado won a race once, so
to dismiss Mrs Wolff as a rubbish for just being a girl is narrow minded
and rather pathetic. I think she would
have been a good ambassador for the sport, erudite, informative and
knowledgeable. The sport needs people like Mrs Wolff, but alas it is the usual
tale of not enough money for that final step. Hopefully the next lady to
arrive with a race suit and the talent will finally get the backing she
needs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Redbull’s 2016 engine saga took a new twist this week with
the news they plan to make their own engine now. Quite why a drinks manufacture
, yes a very successful and possibly the biggest drinks manufacture in the
world, needs an engine making department is anyone’s guess. Maybe they want to
put it into the Vettel signature edition Infiniti FX50. Yeah that crazy ultimate
street SUV you’ve never heard of that no one wanted, not even the driver with
the signature on the dash board. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8uxO-Q1_wpKpGA2zG7qBvQlQHHk4y7QQ0LFoTCctfByDvOJUsq_aZjRJ1RHYb8YIVYF1frdexBsQvVZj__24Pm7iL7ybz4z-uF4MIiShZGJehS_PmxgIGfOmH_mvNQ4tWOPhrRQqhvQ/s1600/Infiniti-FX50-Sebastian-Vettel-Edition-2011-Photo-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8uxO-Q1_wpKpGA2zG7qBvQlQHHk4y7QQ0LFoTCctfByDvOJUsq_aZjRJ1RHYb8YIVYF1frdexBsQvVZj__24Pm7iL7ybz4z-uF4MIiShZGJehS_PmxgIGfOmH_mvNQ4tWOPhrRQqhvQ/s640/Infiniti-FX50-Sebastian-Vettel-Edition-2011-Photo-06.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">About as desirable as piles ...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ferrari makes cars, McLaren makes cars, Mercedes even makes
cars whilst Williams and Sauber sell engineering know how to car manufactures.
Redbull makes a sickly brown fizzy liquid that rots your teeth and keeps you
awake all night. They do not in any way, shape or form sell anything engineering
… unless it’s how to put little bubbles into metal cans and sell the resulting
toxic waste to all and sundry. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure Redbull as an extreme sport, “high five dude, that was
gnarly bro” brand. But that’s just on cloths, baseball caps and snappy paint
jobs. It’s not the tinkering in shed out back mob, those people that know which
end of the spark plug goes in first, they’re all for a mug a tea and bacon
butty. Partying all night with a tray of Vodka Redbull is something the kids get
up to. And the muddy scum standing on the backing at Monaco and Monza are most
certainly not dreaming of the day they breeze into an Infiniti dealership and
drive out with a new low slung whip. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">So why are Redbull going down the own brand
engine route. There was talk of Aston Martin poking around looking for a bit of
qualify F1 branding a few months back. They’ve got a bit of Arab oil money these
days and need something a bit more high profile than GT cars at Le Mans. Their
attempt to design their own engine and top flight LMP1 car for Le mans was an
utter disaster, a mess from start to finish and almost destroyed the companies
reputation. So if they stump up a bit of cash to Redbull, let them use the
design centre at Aston martin and stick their name on the engines. Redbull gets
a prestige motor manufacture name on the side of the car, they get to design an
engine specifically for themselves with no compromises to any other team and if
it all goes wrong they can blame someone else, Redbull don’t have to build an
engine design centre, they just use the one Aston Martin already have. If it all
goes right, then everyone comes out of it smell off high grade four star. win
win.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">The next few weeks could be
interesting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Then they announced they’re going to apologies
to Renault and gracefully accept their engines next year. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Right Brazil then, which i believe might
have had a bit of a makeover. Well it was supposed to be having a one, the plan
was to move the pits to the lower section of the circuit and tidy up the bumps
and stuff. But I can’t find anything online to show the result, so maybe they
didn’t change it after all. </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Anyway, I think Nico might win this, he’s
got pride as his co pilot and Lewis has his name on the trophy. The rest ...
much the same as before ... But still not predictable enough for some of you.
Good luck kids </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>Don’t forget to update your predictions before Friday.</o:p></div>
</div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-26036188010573035712015-11-08T00:33:00.001+00:002015-11-08T00:33:00.574+00:00Here you go, this is what I mean ......<br />
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<br />Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-36327244659814643052015-11-05T20:48:00.001+00:002015-11-05T23:41:17.405+00:00Rallying is for true petrolheads<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It’s not all
grandstand seats and five course meals in hospitality you know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There are the
rally boys and girls. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">These are the
real bedrock of any national motorsport scene, and what I love about this
disparate subset are the fans. Sitting on the windswept banking of Silverstone
watching a two hour F1 race once a year doesn’t qualify you as a real proper
petrol head I’m afraid. That sort of fandom just takes money, the ability to
carry a cool box of beer for half a mile to your chosen viewing spot and a
willingness to queue for three days to get out of the car park.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">No, what
sorts the hospitality ponces from the muddy scum fan is a willingness to cling
to the edge of a windswept hillside for six hours watching a ramshackle
collection of historic cars and yesterdays international high tech machinery
slide around a freezing wet muddy forest track which usually after the first
half dozen cars, is less a track and more a rutted ditch of mud and gravel.
These are my kind of people, the ones out in all weathers, standing around
chatting to each other, jovial voices raised in laughter between snarling,
spitting Imprezas and Mk2 Escorts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">With circuit
racing you roll up to the windswept disused airfield in central <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region> then
sit watching race after race spin round the circuit for lap after lap. It is
all presented nicely for you and there is no real need to move away from the
cool box full of beer and sandwiches. It is all too easy. The toilets even have
comfy bum bog roll in (well during the morning at least) and the burger van
still has some sugar left for your brew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">To be a
spectator of a national rally, requires skill, daring and a willingness to
stand around a damp forest with little to no idea of what, when or if the next
car will arrive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There are no signposts
in the forest, other than the odd length of tape to stop the stupid from
getting too close to the action. The event website might have a spectator guide
for you to download, but that usually just points you towards the expensive car
park next to the health and safety approved spectator “entertainment” zone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The diehard rally
fans can be found clambering over lichen covered fences and jumping putrid
ditched of mosquito-infested water deep in the forest. Now and again a ragtag
assortment of orange jackets “marshals” and mates of a mate of a mate who knows
someone whose co driving car 131 will be positioned at a junction or tricky
corner and they will point out the the best place to stand and not get killed.
You’ll smell them before you see them, little knots of usually bearded men
gathered around battered Land Rovers or ancient Subaru, a grimy primer stove
cooking bacon sarnies and brewing endless cups of tea. A crackly walkie talkie sputters
into life occasionally with updates on when the next car might appear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">You can stop
to chat, check what time the next group of cars is due past and from which
direction. A marshal with a clipboard and wearing 15 coats will remind you to keep
away from the outside of corners and not stand in the way of the gravel
spraying from the back of the cars., then everyone smiles and the you moves on
to continues to hunt for that perfect view deeper in the wood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Once you find
that perfect view, you wait. There is no race radio to listen too, no diamond
vision screen to show replays of practice and the season so far. And don’t
expect to purchase a glossy spectator program to keep you informed. The marshal
told you when the first car is supposed to be due through, but this is club
rallying, time is flexible round these parts, a 3.20pm start time could well
mean 4.30pm. Therefore, you stand or sit and while away the time checking your
camera settings, cursing the alleged waterproof rating of your trousers/jacket/boots
and wonder why you are not at home in front of the TV and warm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Then the
sound of a distant marshal’s whistle breaks the silence, people get to their
feet around you and cameras are clicked to ready. You wait, tense and quite,
listening for the first car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> A low insistent mechanical noise starts up, a
growl and a pop floating on the wind, indistinct through the wet trees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Then a bang
like a firework going off and the sound of an engine angrily demanding the use
of a higher gear, grows rapidly nearer. Travelling fast through the tunnel of
trees, the noise bouncing back and forth, the turbo chatters and whines,
unspent fuel igniting in load flashy pops and bangs, the engine barks as a foot
is mashed to a bulkhead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Suddenly there
it is, rushing headlong towards you, lights blazing, flames erupt from the
turbo exhaust as the driver lifts off, dabs the brake to lift the rear of the car
urging it all to swap ends, then hard on the loud peddle the rear digs back in
showering the road with mud and gravel powering it on towards your vantage
point. You raise your camera ready to capture the ferocity of this fire
breathing beast that thunders towards you faster and faster. You catch your
breath, squeeze the shutter button, capture the moment, the light and noise
explode around you, turn away quick or get a face full of gravel spray, red
tail lights flash past, then gone, the engine still protesting deep into the dark
forest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The next car
will be here in a minuet or so, do you stay put or move, always looking for
that perfect picture, the picture that convey the majesty of a car dancing
through a dark wet forest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This is how a
proper petrol heads experiences motorsport. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This weekend
sees the annual Tempest rally around the Aldershot military land. It's easy to
go and find and definitely worth the effort. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Check out the
website for start times and maps of the special stages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://tempestrally.com/spectators/" target="_blank">Tempest rally</a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a coat and water proof shoes, its muddy out there.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-75362886747855715122015-10-28T20:33:00.000+00:002015-10-28T20:33:40.781+00:00Nice smiles or grubby hands: Which one do you like ?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Hello all, busy, busy, busy, on to Mexico. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Hamilton’s championship win has opened up
something of a debate; <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Is formula One about the Engineering or the
drivers?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
There is a camp which would have it that F1
has always been just about the teams and the desire to build faster and sexier
cars. It is a sport mostly supported by men that enjoy the mechanical and
technical aspect of the sport more than the personalities that drive the
cars. Yes, we all remember the great
drivers, those that transcend the ordinary bounds of physics that we mere
mortals have to live with and who dance with the angels out there on the
limits. But name those backmarkers that bring money to mid table teams to carve
out a career being merely ‘solid’. Things start to get a bit tricky don’t they?
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Without looking at Wikipedia or one of the
myriad F1 books of motorsport you have on the shelf behind you, name three drivers
that drove for Osella? A team that raced from 1980 to 1990, entered 253 races,
employed 17 drivers who qualified to race 172 times. They were a perennial backmarker team that
never achieved much and were pretty hopeless.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Now give me three engines that Williams F1
have used since 1980, I’ll bet more of you can do that off the top of your head.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Hamilton, and this was something I touched on
before, is stepping out of that car oriented support to connect with people
that are unsure where the engine is in an F1 car. Musicians, fashionisters,
film stars all want to be seen with him in a way they never wanted with Senna,
Mansell or Schumacher. Vettel never showed Ferrell Williams around his Redbull car,
wasn’t seen front row at Paris Fashion week or had a four page spread in GQ.
No, Hamilton is also talking to those people that think engineering is a grubby
little profession best left to men in cold sheds. ERS is what you do when the
Barista asks if you want sprinkles on the decaf mocha Frappuccino lite to go.
DRS … Isn’t he that banging DJ from NY? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Hats, yes, yes, I know back to the hat thing.
How many different hats did Hamilton wear over the weekend in America? And
which hat did he choose to show off retaining his world title? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3yRgb1hzoLcNcQGjZO5ENPYvHmn8Vi291tay9d14lJ3SBW0iECc0EpWMBgjNPeDWrDsmOt6CdjblkAgAlprHLjVeoSp_edtGyzCJifn9zcYCaJTSboUpsg2rq8BXRe0yuX8HKsEBMwQ/s1600/1445812006+_+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3yRgb1hzoLcNcQGjZO5ENPYvHmn8Vi291tay9d14lJ3SBW0iECc0EpWMBgjNPeDWrDsmOt6CdjblkAgAlprHLjVeoSp_edtGyzCJifn9zcYCaJTSboUpsg2rq8BXRe0yuX8HKsEBMwQ/s320/1445812006+_+hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A nice hat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
An America branded Merc cap. It looked quite
good actually but the point is that hats speak more to some people than the
number of laps he got out of his intermediate tyres. They’re wrong of course;
the tyres were the key to the race. But a flash hat appears to connect better
with some strange people, just ask Nico.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The number of eyeballs watching F1 is
dropping, the switch to a pay TV model has reduced the number of weekly
viewers, those that would watch it on a Sunday afternoon because there was
nothing else on have moved to cash in the attic, these days you have to pony up
if you want to witness the spectacle. And if you’re willing to pay to watch it,
chances are you’re already paying for the Football or Moto GP or even cricket.
It’s a crowded market and dull races with an odds on favourite will struggle to
raise much interested. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
So having a driver out there who is happy to
pose on a beach in Miami with a bunch of hat wearing mates who look vaguely aspirationel
, draws in the social media savvy generation with their disposable income and
appreciation of branded hats. The likes of you and me knowing Williams has used
Supertec, Honda and BMW engines or that Eddie Cheever, Nicola Larini or Alex
Caffi drove for Osella in the 80’s, isn’t enough to keep Bernie and CVC in
sharp suits and corporate jets for very long.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Yes there’s a place for the technical minutiae
of the number of elements on a Sauber front wing, but the Merc engine can’t
tell you how it felt to pass the Ferrari. The Renault engine can’t explain why
it’s not got the legs for a race on a dry track. We need the drivers to stand
there and tell us how exciting it really is. And I want a driver to tell me it
was difficult, I want to hear Alonso call the Honda engine no better than a
GP2 engine, I want Nico to throw the hat
back and look miffed by the celebration; because then I know they’re human,
they’ve got the same passion for it all that I have. I even want Hamilton to
stand there under his hat and say “Yeah, that felt good man”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDjd4Sr4-CZ3E2bjHIorNa2QS9w88JZY88St9JHPBFDMaXlTTHbF9VHErAH3evAGcBda1sVLWxULZPHhRqytTvP7f0ZDdR1FA1EGYOLy9PFn3Unj1OcPVd_4mkoV0rlGGjLlA4VZ2A-8/s1600/Winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDjd4Sr4-CZ3E2bjHIorNa2QS9w88JZY88St9JHPBFDMaXlTTHbF9VHErAH3evAGcBda1sVLWxULZPHhRqytTvP7f0ZDdR1FA1EGYOLy9PFn3Unj1OcPVd_4mkoV0rlGGjLlA4VZ2A-8/s640/Winner.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The money shot.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
So then the drivers and constructors
championships are done and dusted and there isn't much left to play for. Nico need
to get some pride back by beating Vettel, who want to build up a head of steam
to challenge Lewis next year. There is only a four point difference between
them so the race for the best of the rest will be worth watching. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
All
the big teams have drivers signed up for next year now so no one has to try and
impress the boss. Well maybe not, there is still some doubt over what engine the
Redbulls and Torro Rosso's will be running next year, or if they're coming
back. So Ricciardo, Kvyat, Verstappen and Sainz could do with keeping their
stock high just in case they suddenly have a big window in their 2016 calendars.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Everyone else is just sort of planning where
they're going to be for Christmas this year. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The smart teams will be testing 2016 bits now
and trying to avoid spending unnecessary money rebuilding 2015 cars. "Keep
it calm lads! Remember, no one needs to be a hero ok" will be final thing
the drivers hear before the starting lights go out. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I have no idea what this new Mexican track
has to offer, back in the good old days it used to have this amazing 180 degree
slightly banked final corner that would try to kill the unwary. But they built
a baseball stadium on top of it a few years ago so now we have a bit of a Mickey
Mouse ending to the lap instead. It goes under the grandstand ... woooooo
novel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The best thing about the place was the track used
to resemble a ploughed field and not in a good way. This used to be a circuit
that active suspension was designed for; few cars came back with all the nuts
and bolts still attached at the end of the race. I might be wrong but I think it was built on a
reclaimed swamp or something. So yeah, it might test some of these new blood brought
up on billiard ball smooth European tracks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5woEuOMgRmG_cL1ZKsTixlNcevbTRwBoazysABLp89hQSgKs6R8LHl7cdKyJThzdUyYxsqSeHbDPdN-5igme_BCWIpOWQLawPxX2WQsrlVo9lpIrBR7RY0u1msIC8Mj8b6gpE4dh0w4/s1600/Mexico+yesterday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5woEuOMgRmG_cL1ZKsTixlNcevbTRwBoazysABLp89hQSgKs6R8LHl7cdKyJThzdUyYxsqSeHbDPdN-5igme_BCWIpOWQLawPxX2WQsrlVo9lpIrBR7RY0u1msIC8Mj8b6gpE4dh0w4/s400/Mexico+yesterday.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mexico Yesterday</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
So it is going to be a bit of a lottery, apart
from Merc and Ferrari up front. The high altitude means the air is a bit
thinner than the usual European tracks, so engines already a bit wheezy will
struggle. Don't expect too much from the Renault boys and McLaren has already said
they're only turning up because they have too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
There you go, good luck, see you on the
other side.<o:p></o:p></div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-77849770476681236222015-10-21T22:42:00.002+01:002015-10-21T22:42:39.145+01:00The land of the free<div class="WordSection1">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saddle up compadres we’re off to the good old US or A, Yee
and indeed <span class="SpellE">Haar</span> good buddies!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, four rounds left, USA, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi – Two
good tracks, an unknown and the perpetually dull last middle eastern hurrah before three days
holiday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yeah I like the Circuit of the Americas, an unusual stance
from me I know. Sure it’s got no atmosphere, but it looks pretty good in an
empty bit of America kind of way, it’s got that lovely fast flowing section off
the start line hill, a balls out high speed straight and a technical arena
section. I even like the silly tower thing it’s all kinds of quirky. What is
especially important is it doesn’t look like a car park or an industrial estate
in some grim northern service town off the M42 near Solihull. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the racing has generally been pretty good here. It
rewards drivers willing to go out there and spank it, not sit there and wait for
the race to come to them. It’s got a bit of give in it. It’s a lot like Istanbul
used to be, which long term players will remember as a circuit that I would have
happily had in France or Germany, anywhere but Turkey, but that’s by the by. I
hope CoTA gets to stay on the calendar for long enough to get established.
Rather than be tossed aside for the next third world dictator who rocks up with
a shed full of cash and a pesky human rights record that needs a bit of a PR
make over. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Give it time to establish and it’ll get an atmosphere, some
heritage and a bit of personality. And it’ll show the Americans that they don’t
need to throw a full course yellow whenever race control needs to nip off for a
cup of coffee. If you’ve ever seen any other America motorsport than you have my
sympathies, NASCAR and INDY races are generally two to three hours or so, plenty
of overtaking for the lead and if you ignore the fact they just turn left
constantly its pretty good racing. But then someone does something silly and a
bit of body work gets knocked off, in Europe that’s not a problem, wave a yellow
flag and send the work experience lad out to pick it up, everyone carries on
racing. Not so in America, they throw a full course yellow and everyone slows
down behind a pace car, then and this is the bit I don’t get, they send a
marshal out in a big Ford pickup truck, who stops next to the bit of debris picks it up and then drives back. We
then have 2o minutes of pits opening, then closing then opening a little bit
then all those drivers who weren’t fast enough earlier get waved round to join
the back of the leading pack and one lucky driver gets waved round a couple of
times. Then race control packs away the coffee things, nips to the toilet, gives
the fans a chance to get back form the beer tent (please drink responsibly) and we go racing again. A typical 2 hour INDY
street race can have at best 30 minutes of actual green flag racing. Don’t even get me started on the “yellow
flags for a dirty track but we actually need to have a commercial now” in
NASCAR.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You think we have too many safety cars in F1, we have it
lucky, we really do. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So yeah, the Circuit of the Americas, a bit of a pretentious
name, for a pretentious champion to be re crowned. Anyone following Hamilton’s
social media world will have seen his Miami beach buddies photo this week, we
are most definitely not in Stevenage now. Still, he’s earned it this year, well
really he earned all this with the last two championships, this one has been a
bit of a cruise, I think he needs a hand full of points to beat Vettel and maybe
a few more to stop Rosberg. Basically a win and he’s done it. anything less and
he’ll win it in Mexico. Vettel looks like he’s got the momentum to keep second
place in the championship, which sets 2016 up nicely if nothing else. A
resurgent Ferrari battling an all-conquering Mercedes. Vettel V Hamilton, the
finger versus the bling chains. That could be just a little bit
tasty.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Further back Force India are pushing Redbull who are chasing
Williams. Last year it was Williams swanking around the pits looking smug and
giving it the “check it out ladies” best of the rest smile to the media, they
had opportunities to beat Merc but fumbled the ball on the line but still held
their heads up high at the end of the year. 2015 was going to be their comeback
year to the top step. Except it hasn’t really happened, Valtteri has looked
pretty handy at times, but I think the interest Ferrari showed in him rather
took Williams eye off the ball and before they knew it Ferrari were past and off
up the road without even a cheery wave of thanks. Now Redbull, with a couple of
plucky mid seasons runs are starting to give the strategy boys a Williams a few
sleepless nights. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">But Force India have finally got they’re car all
peachy keen and they’re got Redbull in their sights. If only they can get both
of their drivers to have weekend to remember. Imagine the Hulk and Smiles
flanking Hamilton on the top step this weekend, wouldn’t that be something to
behold, unlikely I know, but we can all dream.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-35525860369404049432015-10-11T16:55:00.000+01:002015-10-11T16:55:31.019+01:00Not as dull as expected shocker.<div class="MsoNormal">
Well I'll be, that wasn't too bad in the end. Well okay I
did fall asleep for a lap or two in the middle. But I've been up since midnight
watching the WEC race from Japan which was, by the way an absolute belter. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, well this is going to be a bit short I'm afraid as the
France v Ireland game kicks off in a bit so I have to be ready for that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Firstly congratulation to Mercedes for securing the
Constructors world title today, they needed Kimi to t bone Bottas and get a
time penalty to achieve it, but let's be honest it was pretty much a forgone conclusion
from about Australia wasn't it. Ferrari had a go at making a fight of it, but
the only thing that was going to beat them was reliability, certainly not a Renault
or Ferrari engine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Almost but not quite there, Lewis has one hand on the big
silver trophy tonight. He needs to beat Nico by 10 points and Sebastian by 2 in
the next race in America and he's home free, given how well he's driving at the
moment, I can't see there being much
problem for him .. Once again the only thing that could stop him is reliability.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that's the tricky one it's the little things inside the
cars that's causing problems for Mercedes at the moment, Lewis failed to finish
in Singapore for want a 3 penny spring in the engine. Now Nico fails to finish because of a washer
in the throttle control. Small stuff
that ruins the race and can rob a driver of the title, so it's not all cut and
dried just yet! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So Lewis inherited his win, but would probably have passed
Nico at some point, or not, who knows. He failed to get pole as like everyone
else he couldn't dial the car into the circuit. The limited running they all
had meant they had to make a few guesses along the way and Lewis operates best
when the car is right underneath him. Nico is the one that can take a loose car
and adapt his driving style, it's probably the only thing he's better than Lewis
at. But it was all mote when the throttle stopped
working on Hamilton's only real opposition, the Williams didn't have the Legs
and Vettel was too far back to push the Merc. So it was a relatively easy win
in the end, although there was a slight question about the rear win in the
closing laps as Lewis reported it might be loose. See Lady Luck is a cheeky Minx.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vettel was second and had to remind Kimi just who was in charge.
He got the fastest lap at the end chasing Hamilton.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perez was third and looked like he'd just won the world
championship. Okay he had to rely on Kimi taking out Bottas (lots of people
will be buying Kimi a beer on the plan home tonight I suspect) but he put
himself there with a trade mark "looking after the tyres on a long run"
race. Something he's had a lot of practice at over the years and no, it's not
pretty but it gets the results and Force India deserves a break.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Massa was largely anonymous driving from the back of the
field to fourth, a poor qualifying making life difficult for the Williams driver.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Home boy Kvyat was fifth on a bad day for Renault engine
drivers. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nasr has a good run to sixth to remind everyone that Sauber
are still there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maldonado wasn't the one to smear a Lotus down the wall this
week. Hurrah, he was seventh at the end and the team felt he could have tried
just a little bit harder. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimi is eventually classified eighth, the stewards gave him
a stiff talking too about driving standards and handed him a 30 second
"stop, hold and go" penalty. I think he also gets a grid penalty for
a third stiff talking too and points on his licence or something. But I'll
check that before we get to America. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Button was ninth with a rubbish underpowered dog of a car
and engine. The McLaren headquarters has this big atrium area with all the cars
they are most proud of, Le Mans winners and the cars Bruce McLaren designed,
stuff like that. The 2015 F1 McLaren Honda should be front and centre, the very
first car all the employees should see first thing in the morning and last
thing at night. Just to remind them how badly they all got it wrong and how it feels
to fail so abjectly. No one ever improved looking at the things that went
right, you learn from the things that humiliate you in front of the world.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And finally tenth goes to Verstappen because even though
Alonso finished tenth on the road, he didn't feel the need to respect the track
limits repeatedly even after the stewards told him to stop being so naughty. So he
got a post race five second penalty and Verstappen beat him to the points by
2.786 seconds. Tough, tough but fair.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay last man standing was Will Stevens who is rapidly
becoming Max like in his ability to be rubbish. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right the rugby is about to start so I'll end it there. See you
in two weeks for the crowning of a new champion in Texas. </div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-36070525775205505422015-10-08T12:17:00.000+01:002015-10-08T12:17:26.418+01:00Back in the USSR, Crimea a river.<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello you lovely people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So the days are getting shorter as
the warm summer breeze starts to turn damp and just a bit chilly. It’s the time
of year for long walks in the woods, kicking up the leaves, collecting conkers
and big roast dinners with the family, then falling asleep in front of the TV
and thankfully the F1 circus rocks up to the interminably dull Sochi
circuit. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Russia has many fantastic cities;
Moscow with its Red Square, St Petersburg
with the Hermitage and Sochi with its errrr .. with that thing the ..
errrum. Oh yeah the industrial truck park round the back. No wait .. there’s
that big round international flag thing, yeah that was interesting. A big long
corner with no overtaking on it .. yeah. That corner was … well it looked nice,
the one between that Aldi super store and Ikea outlet depot. Its supposed to be
a the track winding its way through what is apparently the 2014 winter Olympic
village, but it just looks like a brutalist theme park to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet another track shoehorned
around an out of town shopping centre to promote a country by showing a really
dull 2.4 miles of its car parks. I mean
Russia is a pretty big place, there is an awful lot of it and not an awful lot
of people living on vast chunks of it. So why slap a street circuit around one
of the least visually appealing ones?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[insert pictures of Dollars here]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monaco works because it has the weight of history
behind it. Its slap bang in the middle of the city and it uses the landmarks to
promote the city. It looks exciting, it looks dangerous and you can see the
drivers having to work for their money. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Singapore works because it’s in
the middle of the night, its brash bright neon lit, loud, fast, dangerous and
exciting. You can’t really see the actual city but you can imagine it behind
the floodlights and grandstands as an exciting place to visit. It has mystery
and the lure of the orient about it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sochi meanwhile, looks like you
can get a good two for one offer on cabbages soup, if the highly visible,
highly armed and very mean looking troops don’t turn you away first. Oh it
looks bright and sparkly new … but would you actually want to go there? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No this weekend has far more
interesting things happening than a stodgy old race in Russia, trust me. But
I’m afraid you’re going to need satellite TV to catch it, starting at midnight
on Saturday we have the Australian V8 from Bathurst. One of the truly great
race tracks in the world. An absolutely amazing ribbon of tarmac carved up the
side of Mount Panorama in New South Wales. This is a real circuit for real
proper drivers with grit and determination. Go and look for it on YouTube, type
in Bathurst 1000 and marvel at what a car can do when its driven on the edge of
reason round a mountain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a bucket list of races I’m
going to attend before the red wine catches up with my liver. Bathurst is front
and centre top 3, behind a Le mans hospitality suite and grandstand seats over
the start finish line at the Indy 500. As events go, the V8’s round Bathurst
has to be seen to be believed. The fans drink enough booze to sink the titanic,
they even had to limit the amount of beer being brought onto the circuit to 24
cans per person. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next up and following right behind
the Ozzy V8’s, round 6 of the WEC from
the Fuji international circuit in Japan. Yes I know it’s turning into a bit of
a Porsche benefit year, but trust me, it’ll be worth getting up for, Fuji is a beautiful
circuit. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, watch those two if you can,
then when the F1 start you won’t mind if it’s as dull as an English Rugby
second half performance. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other news … Bernie reckons the
whole shebang will be sold off to the highest bidder before the end of the year
! Yes, odd news this, it might just be Bernie dangling a line during a slow
news week to the more naïve elements of the press pack. But who knows with
Bernie! Maybe CVC have had enough of teams asking for more money, they’re
currently loading the cars with all the loot they can carry, Kevin has been
sent back to check under the sofas in the staff canteen to look for any loose
change they may have missed. The Big boss is sitting in the driver’s seat
nervously checking his watch, the EU could be round any minute asking difficult
questions and he’s not the one who’s
going down for this blag.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If CVC were to sell the right to
F1 to some other shadowy group of faceless money men, Bernie would get a whole
new shed full of dirty cash and no doubt be left in charge, despite being one
hundred and eleventy stupid. oooh sure Its’s
all probably just more Bernie smoke and mirrors .. time as ever, will tell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good news for the Lotus peeps.
Renault have said they’ll buy the gig and have signed something that keeps her
Majesties customs and excise from the door until the end of the season. There is
still no actual official announcement on what’s actually been bought and whose
paying for what. There are apparently
several creditors with noses out of shape, you’d think they’d be used to that,
having bank rolled Maldonado these past two years. One theory is, Renault will
withdraw the team for 2016 so there are no Renault engines on the grid, which
means they can redesign the whole thing and restart the team in 2017 with a
brand new engine thus avoiding the whole tokens/points/money FIA mess thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because they have told Redbull and
by extension Torro Rosso what it can do with its engine contract. Tired of
being blamed for the teams problems and passed over when the glory is being handed out, Renault will
not be supplying engines to either team in 2016. Now as I’m sure you’re all
aware a car without an engine isn’t much of a race car. It’s not really a car
at all is it? it’s a sled, and that’s about it. So Redbull have been flouncing
around and waving their hands in the air and threatening to hold their breath
and generally acting like spoilt children. See they treated Renault appallingly
badly for years, and when they went knocking on the doors of other engine
manufactures “demanding” no less, that they “give them an engine and it better
be damn good mind you” No company
appears to be ready to deal with this petulant team. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They told Audi it had better give
them an engine and stop with all the WEC nonsense right away, Audi mumbled something
about being busy and winning and not needing the grief. Then VW who sort of own
Audi got caught cheating on their road car emission tests and suddenly F1 with
a team not known for hushing up engine problems, was not the place for a toxic
brand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So they went to Ferrari who said
they had a couple of old units knocking around they could have at cost. Redbull
said no Ferrari were to give them the best newest engines for free or they’d
tell Bernie Ferrari was being mean. Ferrari laughed and told them to get lost. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So Redbull knocked on Mercedes
door demanding the same engines as the works team and this time they brought
Bernie along. But Mercedes are winning and they don’t need the grief either.
Bernie wasn’t happy about this and so in Japan, quite unrelated of course you
understand, Mercedes who won the race at a canter were strangely absent from our
television screens. Mercedes just shrugged and said “No, Redbull are not getting
our engines in 2016”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s always Honda I suppose …….
Hahahahahahahahaahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok, Sochi then, Merc and Ferrari,
chased by Redbull and Williams .. Lotus now it’s got some money and Force India
with something to prove. Verstappen will be the only thing worth watching if
Mercedes don’t get any air time again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good luck<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-63769432152923865872015-09-27T21:13:00.000+01:002015-09-27T21:13:26.632+01:00This is a plea for my liver .. has anyone got a spare ??<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, not the most exciting race I've ever got up at some
ungodly hour for, especially one I spent the previous night watching England being
beaten by Wales, for. I was particularly bleary of eye and in fact I missed the
only interesting bit, the first 200 yards of the race, as I managed to sleep
through the alarm. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wcNk6E8EwRogtUdTfj9DkNpPA4frlgstsr5h_OqeI5vnBhbriffIfyYYaoALa-1RBNbhuSHk0dlAmTKEfadJ84gg6o3C_Q1cuznWOET2PYRkUXpphstTO6MM9oxf4Qi-GGahlBewIq4/s1600/passed-out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wcNk6E8EwRogtUdTfj9DkNpPA4frlgstsr5h_OqeI5vnBhbriffIfyYYaoALa-1RBNbhuSHk0dlAmTKEfadJ84gg6o3C_Q1cuznWOET2PYRkUXpphstTO6MM9oxf4Qi-GGahlBewIq4/s640/passed-out.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Musshed get up ... the race will be amazing.. mush get....up ....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So yeah, I missed Hamilton motor past Nico when the lights
went out. Much the same as I slept through the first 40 minutes of qualifying. Don't
get me wrong I really love Suzuka it's one of the world's great tracks and the
fans are up there with their Italian and British brethren. But it starts at six
in the morning and there was a lot of Rugby on Saturday night and a bottle of
Port might have been opened. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well done Wales by the way, you beat the English fair and
square, I can't really complain. But don't expect me to wake up early the next
morning and have a ready supply of bon mots for you. I'm getting too old for
all of this I'm afraid. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Errrre yeah good point, motor racing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From what I remember .. I missed the start, Hamilton over
took Nico and some people banged into each other. Okay .. And I joined the race
as Nico went into the pits in third or possibly fourth. Then I think some other people went into the
pits and Nico was second and Vettel was third.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I might have drifted off for a bit, then Alonso was making everyone
in the entire world aware that he thought the Honda engine was a pile of dung
and just about good enough for a GP2 car, which seems about right, if a little tactless
at Hondas home circuit, maybe. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then the race was over and Hamilton had got the same number
of wins as Senna (41, one less than Vettel stat fans) which seemed to make him
quite happy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I watched Big Ron turn up on Sky to play down Alonso
getting all angry about the rubbish Honda engine and the media's ongoing
attempts to crucify McLaren for getting things very wrong. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got up to go and walk the dog at that point. Watching red
faced loon's texting in to "Crofty" to stick the knife into McLaren
was too much, a company makes a mistake and some of the more unhinged members
of society seem to feel like it was some sort of personal insult to the fans or
something. The only thing more baffling is the FIA website. I really urge you
to go and see just how appalling it is, just try and find the current drivers
championship standings .. I defy you to
do it in less than 20 minutes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ho and indeed hum. Yay, Lewis won, anyone think Hamilton
isn't going to win the title now? Thought not! Sure there are five races to go,
but barring some sort of season ending injury he's pretty much home and dry
now, Nico hasn't got his game face on at all. He didn't get pole though, Nico managed that
before Kvyat smeared his car down the road in the dying minutes of
qualifying. Hamilton was going faster (I
think as I say I was kind of bleary eyed for that too). But it meant nothing as
Lewis just steamed past when the lights went out and then he drove round really
quickly and won. Easy peasy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nico was second, again, because he's a number two driver.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vettel was third because he has the next best thing to a
factory Merc engine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimi was forth because even he can get the next best thing
to a Merc engine past the best customer Merc engine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bottas was fifth with the best customer Merc engine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hulkenberg managed to avoid hitting Massa this time and made
a much better start than his team mate, he was sixth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Grosjean was seventh and has announced he's off to new boys
Hass F1 (Ferrari number 2 factory squad) next year. Because he knows that if
Lotus are quite prepared to give Maldonado a new contract then winning isn't what
they're racing for anymore.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maldonado eighth blahdy blah blah. Imagine what a good driver
could do with that lotus!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ninth for Verstappen who could be amazing in a well
funded Merc engined car, I imagine when
Redbull do finally throw their toys out of the pram and flounce off because no
one want to give spoilt attention seeking children an engine next year. There
is going to be more than an unseemly fight by the big boys for Verstappen's signature.
There's going to be a blood bath. Maybe that's why Big Ron was all smiles
despite Alonso, maybe he's already got the kid signed and Honda are ready to unveil
an almighty engine any minute now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yeah Sainz was tenth and he isn't Verstappen, he's the guy Verstappen
doesn't get out of the way for.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh Hamilton got the fastest lap and Stevens got beaten by
Rossi again, so he was last. Imagine (once again) you are Will Stevens and you
have been beating your rubbish team mate for 6 month, then an upstart Yank gets
parachuted in with a massive pay-check and whip yer ass two races running. That's
got to hurt, hasn't it? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two weeks to Sotchi, a race I am really looking forward too
... (no, no I'm not) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love and hugs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Julian.</div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-80848070385527417362015-09-24T12:22:00.001+01:002015-09-24T12:22:31.656+01:00Its just a balloons worth of air really. <div class="MsoNormal">
Hello<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quick one this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Japanese GP looks
like it is going to be a wet one again, so expect much tiptoeing around
following a safety car for long periods. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Air pressures are going to be the big talking point of the
weekend I am afraid. The FIA’s new random tyre pressure check now has some guidelines
and defined parameters for the teams to get all prissy about. The knock on
effect of this is Mercedes appear to have lost a good second off their lap
times. It never ceases to amaze me just how infinitesimally small the margins
are in F1, If you’ve ever played Gran Turimso or Forza or any of the myriad PC
racing games, you’ll have messed around with the car settings. Now, if you’re
honest with yourself you don’t really have much idea what you’re doing do you, whack on some off camber,
up the spring knock rate, turn down the anti-roll snaffle flange pin, lower the
ride height and stick on some big fat wings. Make any difference? Nope, though not. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet in F1, upping the air pressure by 0.5psi and suddenly
Mercedes are struggling to keep up with the Ferraris. Change the ride height by
2mm and Maldonado is skating off into the Armco … no wait that happens
whatever. So yeah, Tyre pressures will be the talking point on track.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Off track and the woes for Lotus continue, due to a “late
payment or two”. This meant there was a delay in the equipment arriving from
Singapore and a lot of standing around looking annoyed for the Lotus set up personnel.
The cars will be there on Friday morning
for first practice, just how ready they will be well, that is anyone’s guess.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition, anyone’s guess will be the whereabouts of Jenson
next year, there were many rumours floating around the media world at the start
of the week, that Button will announce his retirement from F1 this weekend.
McLaren have had a torrid time of 2015, the engine is clearly more wrong than a
Torro Rosso team order call and the car appears to have been designed by a gang
of Albanian welders high on rubbing alcohol. Basically, it’s all an utter mess
for the Woking team, so why would he want to stay, they messed him around last
year about keeping his seat and they appear to be messing him around this year
about keeping his seat. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If he’s going then most people expect him to announcing something
this weekend. I hope he goes to WEC but I expect he’ll be setting up some iron
man world series thing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This track is a bit more old school with nice flowing bits
and less stop start nonsense. I can’t see anyone touching the Merc for ole and the
win, last weekend was just a set up blip, tyre pressures notwithstanding, they’re
faster in the high speed stuff then Ferrari and Redbull. HOWEVER, if Ferrari
were to be pole or the front row, then Hamilton’s 50 point championship lead
might seem a bit too narrow for comfort on the Merc pit wall, and the Mercedes
pit wall has been known to make mistakes when it feels under pressure. ~We
might just have a race on our hands afterall.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Predictions need to be updated before midnight, good luck, <o:p></o:p></div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-52775491832817319762015-09-20T21:06:00.000+01:002015-09-20T21:06:08.318+01:00Pole and win .. No .. not a Merc this time !!!!!<div class="MsoNormal">
There you go, stick him at the front of the grid, give him
half a chance and he'll win the race for you. That's why Ferrari poached Vettel
from Redbull and you have to say given the results so far in 2015, it's going to
be worth every single penny. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On a day when the talk was of Hamilton and how he was going
to equal Senna's record of something or other, Vettel is the one that pops up
and reminds us that he is walking in the footsteps of another great, another
German that went to Ferrari and won a hat full of titles and made the template
for greatness. Senna, for all his
natural talent might be lorded as the greatest driver ever, but the stats are
dominated by Schumacher. 91 wins, most wins in a season 13 (tied with Vettel), 68
pole positions, 77 fastest laps. Schumacher finished 50% of the races he
started on the podium. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Senna had natural talent sure.. But Schumacher has the
cupboard full of silverware.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yes, I know Senna was taken too early. But I still don't
think he would have been able to beat Schumacher in the new digital age. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway .. yes Vettel, right if you want to emulate a
champion, then Schumacher would be top of the list. And Vettel leaving a very
successful team to join Ferrari is doing just that. I think next year, they could be the team to
beat. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But what of Mercedes? Well, Lewis had an off day and Rosberg
was his usual nothing spectacular self, I doubt this is the end of an era of anything
but on paper there was nothing to suggest Merc would do anything other than
win. Yet qualifying was a matter of survival and the race a case of hanging on.
Hamilton suggested he had the car to win the race before the throttle problem
but he's deluding himself. He had the third best car of the weekend there. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why though? Why did the tyres suddenly turn to butter after
a handful of laps, sure it's a hot circuit but no more than Bahrain and Spain
where the Merc were perfectly fine. Yeah
hot like Malaysia where Vettel won though .. hmm Tight and twisty like Monaco
yeah that's a street circuit like Singapore, but Hungary is tight and twisty
where Vettel won ! Maybe the Merc do have a weakness after all. Vettel is only
49 points behind Hamilton now ... Do you
think the odd of the German taking the title might have shorted considerably
tonight .. ?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, Vettel won. Nice and easy. Danny boy was nowhere near
him and even if some arse hadn't got lost looking for the toilet halfway
through the race, Vettel was going to win this. He wins races he starts from
pole, didn't Redbull remember that ? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Danny Ricciardo second, Redbulls much vaunted "Singapore
upgrade" striking pay dirt. And they didn't trouble Ferrari whose engine
they're supposed to be getting next year either. Win win. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimi third to keep the Italian media sweat for a day or two.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nico fourth, very quiet. The man is a husk of beateness.
Vettel is going to be second in the championship race, just you wait and see.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bottas, keeps Williams .. oh .. no he doesn't Bottas failes
to keep Williams dreams of second in the championship alive. And Redbull are going to have them soon
too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kvyat, I 'm not sure but i think he might have been the victim
of the safety car. To be honest i wasn't really concentrating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perez, missed talking out Hulkenberg at the start, Massa did
the job for him. Perez looked pretty handy all weekend actually. Still dull
though, you could let him drive your dear old mum with no qualms what so ever. Perfectly
safe, just don't let him smile at her, all those teeth in one mouth .. its unnerving
I tell you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Verstappen... Now, if you want to make a name for yourself,
stall the car at the start, then drive back though the field to score a hatful
of points. Extra bonus points for telling the team what it can do with its team
order rubbishness in the closing stages. That was a proper full on, "this is me announcing
myself as the real deal" drive. And he got the luck with the safety car; you
can't buy that sort of luck. If he wasn't on your radar as future world champion
material he damn well should be now. This kid is the real deal. </div>
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Sainz Jr might well not be.
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Nasr in tenth absolutely did profit from the safety car.</div>
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Danny was fastest and low and behold Rossi did beat Stevens
for last place. The American did alright there. </div>
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Japanese GP next weekend, I might have stuff to write before
hand .. or maybe not. </div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-35030885750414983012015-09-15T20:38:00.001+01:002015-09-15T20:41:03.390+01:00Lewis Hamilton, then and now.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmSC8FcxVbWB2azccTUXB3lhxCHSt7Oo3xMtktQwmz13WHp7UWgLm7GG-ave_TSH-Sj-orVmSLwAK07_nKktuW7fxVn0D9fueXXpA_BVH9Mrov5Zrg2OEHcrj0i_oc8NgFugkrpurBDM/s1600/brazilian-gp-interlagos-mclaren_3229042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmSC8FcxVbWB2azccTUXB3lhxCHSt7Oo3xMtktQwmz13WHp7UWgLm7GG-ave_TSH-Sj-orVmSLwAK07_nKktuW7fxVn0D9fueXXpA_BVH9Mrov5Zrg2OEHcrj0i_oc8NgFugkrpurBDM/s640/brazilian-gp-interlagos-mclaren_3229042.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Do
you remember this chubby faced little driver, the boy from Stevenage who done
good and won a world title?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I
used to think he was the second coming, I really did. He would get into the car
week after week and absolutely spank it to the limit where even the angels get
nervous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That
first year Hamilton rocked up there was a big hoopla about it all. This
virtually unknown kid that had won a few lower formula races and stuff, the
regular media had never heard of him, the F1 press pack kind of knew who he
was. The only thing they had for Lewis was the fabled “I done told Ron Dennis I
was going to drive for him one day" heart warming story. The day Lewis the
karting prodigy walked up to Ron at the Autosport awards and buttonholed Mr
McLaren for a job, it was precocious and heart warming all at once. How cute,
how just like Lewis. Ron was instantly smitten with this boy with a gleam in
his eye so he immediately wrote the boy a cheque and told him to come down the
factory for a seat fitting on Monday morning. “You and me lad, we’ll go all the
way. Natch".<o:p></o:p></div>
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When
you think about it though, just how many people walk up to Ron and ask him for
sponsorship of their fledging journey to F1 on a daily basis? Right now how many
dads are calling the McLaren factory looking to impress the boss do you think,
hundred? thousands? If you’ve ever called the McLaren PR department looking for
a few caps to give away as prizes for instants, you’ll know they could teach
the North Koreans a thing or two about stonewalling interested parties. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But
the reality was Lewis was picked up by McLaren and fast tracked into F1 with
much fanfare by a team riding high. He joined Alonso who was no fool and
together they got on like a house on fire, a house full of fireworks and other highly
explosive handbags. McLaren got caught cheating, Alonso spectacularly threw his
toys out of the pram, Lewis almost won the title at his first go, there were
accusation of favouritism, Hamilton and Alonso stopped talking to each other
and Kimi sneaked the title from under the McLaren drivers noses. The narrative
in 2007 was Lewis the rookie turning up and blowing the world champion out of
the water, he was no respecter of titles, he was there to win and show the
world what a plucky lad could do given half a chance. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I
always used to think that it was Alonso that threw a hissy fit that year and
Hamilton was an innocent victim of a spiteful hate campaign by the Spanish
media. After Coughlin gate and Alonso’s big huff off to Renault, that became
the accepted history, as time has gone on however, I’m starting to question
that view.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The
“Plucky young lad” image was cemented with the title winning run in 2008. He
was almost robbed of the title by The FIA sticking their oar in, Massa player
the villain to Hamilton’s young British hero role and we all lapped it up. The
Evil FIA rooting for Ferrari and the swarthy Brazilian foreign type, against by
the rules McLaren and our clean living boy next door Brit, it was a great
year with a title that went down to the last corner of the last race. It was an
amazing year and you had to take sides, you were either old school dirty
cheating Ferrari or stiff upper lip straight bat playing McLaren. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The
final image that year was a beaming Hamilton wet from champagne wrapped in the
union jack, eyes gleaming and waving to the press pack as the Brazilian fans
had gone home hours ago after witnessing Massa win the race, but lose the title
in such a cruel way. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The
years following that title winning season, were not good. Jenson rocked up in a
car still being bolted together in Australia 2009 after Honda quite at the 11<sup>th</sup>
hour and Mercedes lent the new Brawn team some second hand engines. It turned
out the Brawn chassis had a few clever tricks under its skirts and blow the
opposition away. Only Redbull in a portent of the seasons to come came close to
stopping the Brawn fairy tale that year. Lewis tried really, really hard but
McLaren had thrown everything at 2008 and failed to carry the momentum into
2009. Brawn had a good car while McLaren only had the best driver. Lewis
still went out and drove the nuts of the car each week, but he made mistakes
and too often over drove the car. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And
Lewis started to change; being champion gets you invited to swanky parties,
people who have no idea the engine is in the back of on F1 car want to be seen
with the cute kid from Englandhamshire who won that car race thing.
Suddenly what he wore was just as important as how far up the
championship table he was. He got himself a celeb girlfriend and told his dad
he was going to get himself a new manager. A manager who could get him invited
to better parties and suddenly he was standing next to the likes of Sean Combs
and Samuel L Jackson. Most notably Lewis started sporting earring studs,
nothing to obvious or ostentatious just small black studs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There
just isn’t the same level of adulation in the UK for athletes and celebrities
as there is in America. Especially for the black stars, the whole stiff upper
lip, know your place, embarrassment thing. The biggest sporting celebration in
the UK is the BBC sports personality award at the end of the year. An event
where the 84 year old retired post mistress from Little Puddlington who teaches
wheelchair bound kids to play tiddlywinks is given a longer standing ovation
than the eventual Sports personality. In the UK being a billionaire, super fit,
highly talented and driven world champion just isn't as good as the
inspirational old lady smelling slightly of moth balls.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lewis
found he rather liked America and the adulation he gets there. He didn’t have
to be the humble plucky lad from Blighty who lived in a quite village in the
sticks any more. He could be the Formula one world champion Lewis Hamilton and
hang out with Kanye west at the MTV video awards, he could meet black America
and be accepted as an equal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Back
in the world of F1 the 2010 season was another to forget. Jenson joined him as
Brawn turned into Mercedes. McLaren built a better car, but it wasn’t as good
as the Redbull or the Ferraris this time. Vettel sneaked it from Webber
and Alonso, Lewis was distant and grumpy. Diamond studs appeared and the
tattoos got bigger and more obvious.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2011
and the wheels really started to come off the car for Lewis, the on/off celeb
girlfriend was all the media wanted to talk about when they weren’t asking why
he kept hitting Massa. He spent more time in the steward's office than the
podium that year. He replied to the press pack questioning after yet
another telling off with “maybe it is because I is black”. The red faced loons
and F1 media failed to get the reference or the joke. Vettel was
unstoppable all year long taking back to back titles.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2012
and McLaren are in full on comedy team mode, the car was pretty good but
McLaren contrived to lose the drivers title to Vettel yet again, with poor
strategy calls and a pit crew straight out of the keystone cop. As Vettel
breezed to his third straight title helped by the FIA failing to show any
backbone and Pirellis capitulation to Redbulls “safety” concerns. Lewis feeling
straight jacked by the McLaren hive mind PR machine, quit for Mercedes and a
new start. He told the press the reason was he wasn't allowed to keep the
trophies he won; he only got copies from McLaren weeks later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2013
and every team apart from Redbull were building their new rules for 2014 cars
back at the factory so weren’t really trying that year. Redbull and Vettel
romped home virtually unchallenged. Ferrari desperate as ever to appear
competitive put up a bit of a fight, but they failed as usual. Lewis
spent half the season designing a baseball cap that met his exacting standards.
A hat … ! and that hat became part of a “look” Lewis adopted, A hat that never
left his head and was used, with the big celeb dark glasses, to hide away from
the press and fans alike. The year was not a total success, but nor was it a disaster
with a win in Hungary and a handful of thirds, a respectable start with the new
team. Freed from McLarens strict PR rules, Lewis could pick and choose the
events he attended and who could interview him. The narrative changed
from humble plucky young lad to grizzled ex world champ, a loner, the intense
young man with nothing but thoughts of victory and looking cool when he wins. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Of
course there’s nothing wrong with win at all costs, just as long as you remember
shake the beaten guys hand and don’t screw over your friends. The sort of
friends you came up through the ranks with, good mates whose fathers are
themselves ex world champions. Long days spent travelling all over Europe and
beyond, sleeping in dingy hotels and more often than not the back of dad's
car. The sort of mate you measure yourself against in the beginning then
realise you can beat with ease and keep him around to make you look good.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Yeah,
don’t screw those friends over or it makes you look like a brat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In
2014 Lewis cut the ties with the old image, the old life and his friends. Nico
suddenly was the enemy and just another person to beat, all those long hot
summers learning their trade round the European tracks meant nothing when it
came to the rub. Lewis now moved in the exalted circles of the triple A
entertainment circuit. The earrings got bigger and brighter, much, much brighter.
Big fat flash gold chains became the signature symbol of success. The humble
English lad from the sticks became the humble God fearing Lewis Hamilton Brand #teamLH.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It
took a bit of effort, but he won the title in 2014, Nico made him work for it,
but it wasn’t really in any doubt. Everything he learnt as Alonso’s understudy
that first year came into play. And it was Nico that was seen to be throwing
his toys out of the pram this time. Nico that had to cheat to beat Lewis and
Nico that made all the mistakes. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But
it was Nico that, I think, came out of the season with the most respect. It was
Nico that went to Lewis before the crowning of the world champion after the
race and shock his hand. He was the first to congratulate the new champion and
it was Nico that paid tribute to Lewis.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now
in 2015 Lewis is on course to cruise to the title this year. Vettel in the
Ferrari is the only driver looking to take the fight to Mercedes as Nico is
completely out qualified and raced. Lewis has already got the pole position
trophy secures. The only race he has failed to make the podium so far was
Hungary. The third in Monaco was only third because the team screwed up in the
closing stages.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes,
I know, to win the world championship takes a certain .... ruthlessness. You
have to be prepared to sacrifice friends and loved ones to achieve the ultimate
goal in single seat motor sports. It's not an easy thing to do and doing
multiple times takes a single minded determination. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-NZ0WVZ9v6q6VApuMCah03rR5N4GJrjrr4D9mjPwiA_1_L-g0MqWjHPWJDZ0zFpaIC4Fh0Tr0bem3kRdKavsQOkn-TN4CEtHumfbdrBBEwy6AviPnnvcg6mSTJSDyCTkBGQKR8yo9sk/s1600/lewis-hamilton-chinese-grand-prix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-NZ0WVZ9v6q6VApuMCah03rR5N4GJrjrr4D9mjPwiA_1_L-g0MqWjHPWJDZ0zFpaIC4Fh0Tr0bem3kRdKavsQOkn-TN4CEtHumfbdrBBEwy6AviPnnvcg6mSTJSDyCTkBGQKR8yo9sk/s640/lewis-hamilton-chinese-grand-prix.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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But
let us turn to Vettel for a moment and the point of this little piece.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I'm
prepared now, to admit that Vettel won the title in 2010 by being better than
Alonso and Webber. Those two were looking at each other and missed the German
Lad who won the race that mattered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I will always question how legitimate Redbulls
cars were in 2011 and 2012. They were doing something clever with suspension and
ride heights. The engines were clearly using off throttle over run far more
effectively over Newey's exquisite bodywork. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In
2013 no one else turned up to the party.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But
Vettel, and this is painful to say .. wasn't that smug about it all really. No ,
no he wasn't. That's what we wanted, we wanted to dislike him because he was
winning and it all looked too easy whilst Alonso and Hamilton couldn't get a
look in. Okay he was a bit mean to Webber a couple of times. But he did it on
the track. You never heard reports of him bad mouthing Webber, and he did sort
of apologies afterwards. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yes he waved that finger around, but he only does it when he's on the podium and he's won, when he actually has the right to do it.</div>
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But
Vettel never paraded a flash private yet around or took to wearing more and
more jewellery around the paddock. Check out the instagram accounts for both
Vettel and Lewis, see who likes to display the trappings of success. For the
Singapore GP Lewis is finally releasing some of his music he's been recording
at home, the fabled rap album.</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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I
think the tipping point for me was Monza and the drivers' tribute to Justin
Wilson, and yes I know this moment has been done ad infinitum.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The camera cuts to the driver in the garage waiting to go
out and pay the tribute. All gathered together talking and smiling, apart from
the world champion who has his ear buds in, hat on and big old glasses coving
that impassive race face. Lewis was off to the side not talking to anyone as Vettel
strides in and tells Jenson that the drivers are going now. I didn't ask, he didn't
check his watch and defer to the world champion. He confidently strode in and
told the driver to start moving. </div>
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Out they troop onto the trailer to stand, heads bowed and
uncovered as a mark or respect to a fallen comrade, killed so cruelly by a bit
of flying debris a week earlier. Well almost all the heads were uncovered.</div>
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Lewis didn't uncover his because he had just dyed his hair
blonde and wasn't showing anyone his new hair colour until he'd won the race! A
little bit of me died there. It really did. His image was more important than
showing some respect. Yeah, it's just a hat, I know, I know. But he walked passed
everyone else because he was the last up there, talking on his phone, he saw
them take their hats off. If he hadn't just dyed his hair would he have been so
precious about the hat?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQQ0IAXdv6pAD1gWq36y-p3AyOZ6RulK7xANfWuCcpkPs50AjmrUoum4I_4qpg9WOZ88RK626KIw0s9rq-wOlc-le_x7pYbL1SKuzQIDeBI-qDnqhKN7wa-MtEDHHkHa6DrgcX4e-wyE/s1600/2C05257300000578-0-image-a-1_1441538681685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQQ0IAXdv6pAD1gWq36y-p3AyOZ6RulK7xANfWuCcpkPs50AjmrUoum4I_4qpg9WOZ88RK626KIw0s9rq-wOlc-le_x7pYbL1SKuzQIDeBI-qDnqhKN7wa-MtEDHHkHa6DrgcX4e-wyE/s640/2C05257300000578-0-image-a-1_1441538681685.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<o:p>Its just bad form really. </o:p></div>
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I still think he's one of the best drivers I've ever seen.
And I'll always root for him, the same as I rooted for Nigel and his endless
brummy whinging. But I'm not sure in the extremely unlikely event I'm ever
offered the chance to have lunch with Lewis I would take it now, I think Vettel
or Jenson or even Alonso would be more interesting and less self obsessed company. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Right enough slaying of idols, Singapore this weekend. Lewis
will probably win, but watch out for the Redbulls who are pinning their hopes
on a slew of updates. As Hungary showed
when top speed isn't so important they've got a sweat handling car can take the fight
to Ferrari and Williams. </div>
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Ferrari's engine update gave Mercedes something to think
about at Monza, Vettel will be buzzing after that result so I think another
podium is within easy reach. Nico will be the one to lose out again. </div>
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Williams need something to happen here. Ferrari has the
beating of them now and Redbull are up for the fight. But the boys from Didcot
are bringing their A game apparently, lots of sponsors to impress and third
place in the championship to secure.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The on going "Whose going to buy Lotus this week" story will drag on. As an engineer working in an industry facing plenty of redundancies at the moment myself, I really feel for the workers back at the Lotus factory. Not knowing if you'll have a job next month is a terrible thing to have to live with. Whilst the money men argue over "historical payment" real people have mortgages to pay and school uniforms to buy. The sooner things get sorted out the better. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Force India, Indian summer will continue as Perez continues to do a good job of reminding everyone he used to be thought off as something special.</div>
<br />
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p>The rest who cares, Mehri will we last as usual.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-90303030712240705232015-08-21T10:31:00.002+01:002015-08-21T10:31:41.729+01:00A handy tool for you <a href="http://hasmaldonadocrashedtoday.com/" target="_blank">Has Maldonardo crashed today !<span id="goog_1646669208"></span><span id="goog_1646669209"></span></a><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.radiotimes.com/namedimage/Formula_1_2013_driver_profile__Pastor_Maldonado.jpg?quality=85&mode=crop&width=620&height=374&404=tv&url=/uploads/images/original/28043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.radiotimes.com/namedimage/Formula_1_2013_driver_profile__Pastor_Maldonado.jpg?quality=85&mode=crop&width=620&height=374&404=tv&url=/uploads/images/original/28043.jpg" height="385" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I got the smarts buddy !!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-68974455728792551212015-08-19T21:11:00.000+01:002015-08-19T21:11:20.591+01:00Holiday over, on with the show.<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Hello. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
I’m back, sort of. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Let’s see, I'm a bit out of the loop now. I’ve
still not seen the British or Hungarian races yet, which is probably a mistake
as they sound like the two best races of the year so far. The results certainly
suggest interesting stuff happen in Hungary; Lewis had a bit of a meltdown,
Vettel continued to build his “SAVIOUR OF FERRARI” re brand and Redbull got
their act together on a track where good handling always pays dividends.
I imagine I'll watch them one day but probably not this year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
So, after a four week break the circus returns to
Europe for the Belgium Grand Prix.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Not a lot happened during those four weeks to
trouble the serious F1 view, even Bernie managed to keep his PR machine under
wraps and avoid bad mouthing the sport during the summer holiday. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
The teams agreed to limit pit wall involvement in
the start of the race, so no ideal clutch settings and no telling the driver
where the puddles are. Mercedes are
expected to be the big losers here, and at the British GP Williams showed they
weren't worried in the slightest. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Honda said they'd found a who bunch of speed and
were almost as good as Ferrari now, McLaren then said they'd not been planning
on using a B spec engine any time. Which suggests the engine now has the horse
power is was missing at the start of the year, let's hope they find the
reliability to go with it<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The expectation was we would hear about Kimi's replacement
by the Italian GP if not sooner. The Media have been writing him off since
Vettel started winning and the grumpy Fin didn't. Failing to win in Hungary was
seen as the last nail in Kimi's career coffin, so any day now he was going to
be farmed off to some third rate team to try and offset the money Ferrari would
pay Williams for Bottas.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Except, they didn't. ...I know, what a surprise ... or not.
It was announced today (Wednesday) that Kimi has been retained for next year at
least and I suspect until Bottas or Hulkenberg are out of contract.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay then, things to watch this weekend. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lewis: More madness or level headed points gathering.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rosberg: What excuse will he use to explain being beaten
this time?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ferrari: Flash in the pan or second coming?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kimi: Will he be less grumpy now he has a 2016 contract?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
McLaren: will they
get both cars home and in the points, will the new engine hand together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Renault: trimmed out for the straight bits, hanging it out
on the twisty boys. New shiny engine bits.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Williams: will be looking for a podium at the least here,
expect Bottas to be gungho for pole.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Update your predictions before Friday :)</div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-1568355596557140952015-07-05T22:16:00.001+01:002015-07-05T22:16:29.000+01:00Sorry about this.<p dir="ltr">Hi, sorry about this. Due to a massive family emergency I'm going to have to suspended the prediction game for the foreseeable future. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I'll give you more details later but for now I have more real world problems that need me.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Sorry again.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Julian </p>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-80593336385866977542015-07-01T12:59:00.000+01:002015-07-01T15:06:44.851+01:00Ramble on ... <div class="MsoNormal">
Ok then, time for a bit of perspective. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is Formula one in trouble …. ?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, yes of course it is. Half the teams are spending more
time fighting creditors off with a finely tooled carbon prop shaft than chasing
championship points. The racing is restricted by tyres that go off way too
fast, fuel flow meters mean drivers have to lift and coast rather and nail it
where the angels fear to tread. The muddy scum on the banking are kept well
away from any contact with those paid to entertain them. Social media is a
dirty word as other racing series fall over themselves to throw information at
the punters, overload them with data and behind the scenes footage. F1 inc is
taking down fans Youtube clips taken from six miles away on the banking,
banning online F1 games that haven’t paid for the rights to use the drivers
names or results of the races. There’s no attempt to engage with the audience,
it’s only available to those prepared to pay through the nose for access and
information. And that access and information is tightly controlled by just one
man, a man dismissive of anyone that doesn’t have the money to buy a seat at
his expensive race day tables. And a man who isn’t too concerned just where
that money will have come from either. Dodgy third world dictator, not a
problem, questionable attitude to human rights, come on in. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The only people telling you there isn’t a problem are those
with a vested interest in things staying exactly as they are; Anyone connected
with Mercedes, Bernie and his various tame media outlets, the FIA, Pirelli
tyres, Ferrari. But not Redbull, especially not Redbull who are lying on the
ground kicking their heels, throwing their toys at any passing media and
screaming red faced at absolutely anyone that will listen about how unfair it
is that they aren’t winning anymore. It’s
all particularly unseemly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So yes, on and off track, it’s not looking too clever
really. Talking of clever, where are the F-ducts and mass dampers? Those clever
bits of thinking that can turn a midfield garagista into a front runner ….
Banned. The only difference now is
buried deep under the carbon fibre skin, electrical systems tick and fizzle
with innovation. KERS and ERHS powering man and machine faster for less fuel,
more bang for your bucks. But all kept oh so secret, until it explodes then the
fingers start pointing and shoulders are shrugged. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All this would be fine of course if there was a BUT next
wouldn’t it ….. Nope I can’t think of one. The absolute highlight of the season
so far, the biggest talking point, was Mercedes calling Hamilton in when he was
leading the Monaco GP, oh and Maldonado crashing a lot. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did you catch any of the other motor sport events I mentioned
at the start of June ? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It all kicked off with the Canadian GP; Hamilton was the
fastest, some cars almost hit some local wildlife. I fell asleep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following weekend was Le Mans and possibly one of the
best races of the past decade, Porsche and Audi scrapping it out for the win,
Toyota completely outgunned, Nissan getting a rude awakening and a social media
kicking, the plucky KCMG squad from Hong Kong taking the LMP2 win with a
faultless run ahead of much more experience teams. Then Corvette taking the
honour in GT pro after a race long battle with Ferrari and a fleet of Aston
Martins. Heartbreak for Aston in GT am with a crash for the leading car with
less than an hour to go, Dempsey making in onto the podium in second behind the
SMP Ferraris. It had everything this
year, racing all race long, beer, Audi
beaten at last, baguettes, Corvette winning, roast chicken. I hardly slept for
24 hours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Austrian GP: Roseberg was the fastest, I was in London
having a good time with my son. So I didn’t fall asleep during the race this
time, I fell asleep watching the highlights instead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And finally I couldn’t find any live streams of Pikes peak.
But I did watch the Formula E race from London, the final round of this new
championship and it was an absolute belter. Buemi looked like he’d cruse to the
title, but Piquet Jr drove a spectacular second race to hold onto the
championship lead by two points. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Formula E is an odd thing, because the cars will only do
half the race they have to swap cars at about half distance. So the driver has
a choice weather to lift and coast to save power so they can get an extra lap
to have more power with the second car at the end. Or go hell for leather at
the start, build a big lead and then eak out the power of the second car to
defend the lead. Where F1 is dull because the drivers are having to lift and
coast from pretty much lap 4, Formula E manages to make this racing exciting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Putting up temporary circuits in cities around the world has
brought the racing to people who wouldn’t normally see any live racing, okay
the design of the circuits needs a little more thought. They were often too
narrow for the bumpy city roads and parks and didn’t always promote much
overtaking. But the cars looked fast on the narrow tracks, overtaking had to be
about picking the right moment and often muscling past defensive minded
drivers. They might not have sounded
very interesting, but the cars look different and the racing was exciting. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With both Le Mans and the Formula E races, social media was
all over them like a rash!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I watched Le Mans from the comfort of my sofa, I had my nice
big tv with its HD picture showing the two days of practice, and the entire 24
hour race. I had my PC set up showing a full timing service, Tweetdeck
following all the major players who tweeted constantly, Facebook with various
motorsport sites running race long threads. I watched live feeds from the 3
Nissan in car cameras with Nismo TV’s youtube feed. They had live reports from
the pits, the cars, a studio at the back of the garage. Nissan had a great
social media race if not an actual race.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Formula E actively encourages fans to get involved with
their “Fan boost” via the FIA website.
Fans vote for their favourite driver and the top three get a five second
power boast. It’s a bit simple, relies on the driver or teams PR department
ability to reach out and do the FIA’s promotion for them. But as a direct
result of this I’m now following Instagram feeds for Buemi and Bruno Senna and
added dragon racing to my facebook time line. I’ve not watched the whole
season, but I’ve watched races that I stumbled on whilst flicking though the tv
channels. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, formula one didn’t really shine in July, when the
highlight of the month is Jean Todt telling Bernie to stop bad mouthing F1 to
the Media and who is going to buy the rights to the series … you have a
problem. There is no positive news from any of the teams or drivers or even the
people charged with promoting the whole damn mass !<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have no idea what answer to all this is, but what F1 needs
right now is someone to lead the thing whose primary concern isn’t his own ego,
legacy or bank balance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, enough grumpy complaining .. We have the British GP this
weekend to look forward to.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well we do, and if you like watching Kimi being evasive in
front of a frenzied media witch hunt you’re in for a proper treat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last few weeks have seen Kimi struggle to
qualify well and then keep up with either of the Merc or his team mate Vettel.
Normally this wouldn’t be too much of a problem, a number two driver is
supposed to be there or there about’s and not put the highly paid number one
under too much pressure. But this is Ferrari and any sign of weakness is jumped
upon by the Italian media and eventually the rest join in. It’s a quite month,
not a lot of on track action to write about, let’s pick on a driver make him feel bad about his perceived lack of performance. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So the media have been rumbling for a week or two now about
how badly Kimi was doing, the usual “Ferrari number two poison chalice” stuff. If
Ferrari isn’t coming first and second than clearly it’s the number two drivers
fault. Then Arrivabene held a press conference to say no they weren’t looking
to sign Bottas any time soon despite not being asked that question, and the
interest in Kimi ramped up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vettel is doing a good job of looking renewed and exciting,
he got a win and Kimi has failed to win anything and is thus now over the hill and
ready for a job at Marussia apparently. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And this week, apparently Ricciardo thinks it’s “nice” that
Ferrari are interested in signing him at some unspecified time despite a rock
solid contract with Redbull. So the media circus is chasing Kimi around asking
him when he’s going to be fired and why is he so rubbish now. Kimi, not the most
charismatic media presence, is hiding behind his big glasses and muttering “no
comment” whenever he’s asked about his future. Expect this weekend TV coverage
to be dominated by this total non-story.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Right, yes, Silverstone .. total power circuit, so Merc win,
and Ferrari close behind, the same as Austria and Canada really. I should
imagine that Hamilton would like to get a win on home soil, it’s a circuit he
likes and knows well. Nico will probably be right in his wheel tracks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Errr Ferrari (Vettel) the Williams boys looking to put on a
good show, Lotus with renewed vigour and I thinks its Perez’s turn to do well
this weekend. Throw in a Torro Rosso for the laughs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Things to look out for, how many engine changes Renault have
across all their teams. How many laps the McLarens complete all weekend long
and how many grid penalties they get starting from Friday practice one. Will Kimi
make it to Q2. And how many minutes Redbull last before they start complaining
about their Renault engine. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once again, I have father/son duties to perform with a party
for him and his mates. So the results might be a touch late. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Good luck. <o:p></o:p></div>
Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334579533477951978.post-54258695238461559332015-06-21T21:54:00.002+01:002015-06-22T21:40:29.158+01:00Happy fathers day.And yes it was, because I didn't subject myself to that tedium. No I was off enjoying some quality time with my boy a the Royal Academy Summer exhibition, and having a very enjoyable afternoon lunch above Covent gardens.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmfOS39MBvdg9rmWvrMvpJStFjKb4ngllVW4nw27zhyphenhyphenLouKgGdq1HIXiM0y40JFZ_c4XN4_lWzFl_XcKfybLmXffpNd2KG5S7v9Nif7BQo9lsX7kODlmtSwMTyZtOL0y9VmqfEYKvy5o/s1600/DSC_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmfOS39MBvdg9rmWvrMvpJStFjKb4ngllVW4nw27zhyphenhyphenLouKgGdq1HIXiM0y40JFZ_c4XN4_lWzFl_XcKfybLmXffpNd2KG5S7v9Nif7BQo9lsX7kODlmtSwMTyZtOL0y9VmqfEYKvy5o/s640/DSC_0347.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No dull motor racing here thank you.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
OK, I did watch qualifying, which was interesting in a "just how did Kimi mess that up so badly!!" kind of way. And wondering just how McLaren were going to be penalised 25 grid slots when they struggled to get out of Q1.<br />
On a serious note here, yes I know it was supposed to stop teams slapping in a whizz bang qualifying engine on Saturday morning and changing it for a nice solid race engine on Sunday. But Honda have produced an utter piece of garbage! Cut the guys some slack, cut all the back marker teams some slack. Redbull are on their eleventy billionth engine I think, they're not troubling the front of the field so let them burn through engines till they find a solution.<br />
<br />
So yeah Lewis lucked a hot lap after trying far to hard to catch Nico. Tried to defend it and spun yet again, only to be saved by Rosberg spinning try to beat him.<br />
<br />
Come the race day I was in London with a glass of wine trying to make sense of modern art.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieCq7GSzo0pBJaAqcOu8p5VP_eRbdulgMS2uZvT-rVhjBXpJ4aqeOAB1wioy9V_MG76yW4DiJOwsIqdcw7XYHu6gpTWIoCWYNIEzE1iWDmeB5Y75EODX9L6JRBBryW0yGGwHiACMMMas/s1600/DSC_0336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieCq7GSzo0pBJaAqcOu8p5VP_eRbdulgMS2uZvT-rVhjBXpJ4aqeOAB1wioy9V_MG76yW4DiJOwsIqdcw7XYHu6gpTWIoCWYNIEzE1iWDmeB5Y75EODX9L6JRBBryW0yGGwHiACMMMas/s640/DSC_0336.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is it the right way up ??</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
which made me question the struggle man has with nature ... I think ? I wasn't too sure. To be honest the wine was very nice, chilled perfectly and cheaper than the £10 they wanted for a Gin and Tonic.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVW5Ab8oriIJVfUQSNi0oPjKYWkl8XV7xhNil1FWDlyozQfVXXFTa7isxha5QWfOJmzFrw7ZcWYGgxarjJZrQP8DxZIK-AHhnymwgoUNydvfqKBWHHdp3VTTZ0gDrTsCo_fnLOVNLHzw/s1600/DSC_0330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVW5Ab8oriIJVfUQSNi0oPjKYWkl8XV7xhNil1FWDlyozQfVXXFTa7isxha5QWfOJmzFrw7ZcWYGgxarjJZrQP8DxZIK-AHhnymwgoUNydvfqKBWHHdp3VTTZ0gDrTsCo_fnLOVNLHzw/s400/DSC_0330.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">£60,000 to you guv'ner.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I did check the F1 and some stage, The McLaren's went out early, Kimi tried to assault Alonso. eruum Hamilton wasn't as fast as Rosberg, err some stuff. I gave up and went back the art, which appeared to be mirroring my thoughts on F1 these days ...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8eGbWKx60MjS3NK-FY-XdXXcCJJwT0MQ_E-tFuNXEwfNii-W1N_IXPQPfE9GXXtJjpJeFsraYxZj8a3_K2O4G3zuJB81-6mnGtfhwbEGYnA5oQEplrNNmHt3D5mW2Chyphenhyphen1i3pLnFGQ6k/s1600/DSC_0337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8eGbWKx60MjS3NK-FY-XdXXcCJJwT0MQ_E-tFuNXEwfNii-W1N_IXPQPfE9GXXtJjpJeFsraYxZj8a3_K2O4G3zuJB81-6mnGtfhwbEGYnA5oQEplrNNmHt3D5mW2Chyphenhyphen1i3pLnFGQ6k/s640/DSC_0337.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, yes you can polish art it seems.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But enough japes;<br />
<br />
1. Rosberg - Very fast.<br />
<br />
2. Hamilton - Not as fast<br />
<br />
3. Massa - Bring your kids to work day<br />
<br />
4. Vettel - Sticky nuts<br />
<br />
5. Bottas - Somthing something pits<br />
<br />
6. Hulkenberg - Second career starting nicely<br />
<br />
7. Maldonado - Still fully loaded.<br />
<br />
8. Verstappen - Max attack.<br />
<br />
9. Perez - Nice smile<br />
<br />
10. Ricciardo - Still smiling<br />
<br />
Lewis got pole.<br />
<br />
Nico got a fastest lap to prove a point<br />
<br />
and Merhi continues to act as a mobile chicane in last place<br />
<br />
Right, it's Silverstone next for the British GP and I promise to take more interest and try to be serious for that one, unless the misses goes into labour way too early. But until then, I'm going to the shed at the bottom of the garden to practice my Jackson Pollocks.<br />
<br />
Good night.Julianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05895837227978912793noreply@blogger.com0