Is it just me, or has the actual "racing" been far superior this year? I thought both Malaysia and China were awesome races! Not used to having this quality twice in a season, never mind twice in a row.
Peter - perhaps the problem is which part you watched. I've noticed that the first 1/4 to 1/2 of the race is quite similar to those of old - processions. But once some fuel gets burned off, things tend to pick up quite a bit. There is a LOT of passing, and tire wear definitely affects strategy plans. Each race so far this season has seen someone go from way deep in the field to a points position by race end. Sometimes - as was the case in China, a driver who positioned himself well in 2nd place for a good part of the race, started to drop like a stone once the tires wore out. It was quite dramatic to see just how much they affected the race outcome overall, and how positions within the points are changing right up to the checkered flag. Suggest perhaps watching the last half, rather than the first half - you might find it more interesting. But definitely - this year is the best in a very long time!
Sorry Jock. Guess I'm past it !! Boring as hell . Oh the commentators try to get it really "there!!" but you can tell by their voices they don't really care either.
Will say it was nice to see Williams get a win again. Other than that ?? Nah
Peter, as I sat watching the Spanish Grand Prix, I thought of this subject in the blog, and then thought to myself "Gosh! I hope this isn't the race Peter chooses to pay attention to my suggestion!" In all honesty, I have to agree with you on this particular race. It wasn't much to write home about in comparison to the previous races this season. Nice to see a Williams on the top step again, nice to see a different driver once again win a race, nice to see Hamilton buggered once again, but no comparison to the previous races this year.
Earl - I have to agree that overall, this has been the best racing season inwell over a decade....however....Barcelona has once again proven to be the yawner of all yawners in comparison to the rest of the season thus far. What the heck is it with Barcelona? Even if the teams do not test there in the earlier part of the season, it still seems rather boring in comparison?
Have to say Peter, this was true in Spain, but not so much in the previous races this year. That may have contributed to my disappointment with this race in particular vs the season as a whole thus far.
Bahrain wasn't as good as the first three races, but still pretty decent. Can't complain with four winners from four races but I am somewhat mystified by the varying form of the top teams!
Yes - that is surprising me as well Earl. I wasn't expecting Lotus or Mercedes to be doing better than Force India this year. Sometimes, things are just getting really mixed up. I think Lotus is showing its potential now, and it could be in the running after all, but it did surprise me. But I think the biggest surprise this year is Sauber! Man! Where the heck did they come from? There doesn't seem to be a clear line of top 3 teams like it has been in the past - still seems all over the map.
I guess with the stable rules (pretty much) they will all close up. That and the somewhat tricky tyres from Pirelli make it more interesting. I read that Schumacher was unhappy with the tyres... could that just be that the W03 is hard on tyres ;-))
I didn't think that Barcelona was too bad... it was decent edge of the seat stuff to see if Alonso could get past Maldonado - made more exciting by the fact that Maldonado could be up for their first win and Williams could get back to the front. It was a good race to try and read - with differing strategies...
For example, I found that race a lot more interesting than China or Bahrain...
But then again, my penchant for endurance may alter my perspective...
The races certainly have been more entertaining this year...I'm actually enjoying the F1 season this year...
ReplyDeleteI watched part of todays Bahrain GP.
ReplyDeleteBORING !!
Shut it off.
Will try when we get back to Europe
Peter - perhaps the problem is which part you watched. I've noticed that the first 1/4 to 1/2 of the race is quite similar to those of old - processions. But once some fuel gets burned off, things tend to pick up quite a bit. There is a LOT of passing, and tire wear definitely affects strategy plans. Each race so far this season has seen someone go from way deep in the field to a points position by race end. Sometimes - as was the case in China, a driver who positioned himself well in 2nd place for a good part of the race, started to drop like a stone once the tires wore out. It was quite dramatic to see just how much they affected the race outcome overall, and how positions within the points are changing right up to the checkered flag. Suggest perhaps watching the last half, rather than the first half - you might find it more interesting. But definitely - this year is the best in a very long time!
DeleteJust finished watching Spain
DeleteSorry Jock. Guess I'm past it !! Boring as hell . Oh the commentators try to get it really "there!!" but you can tell by their voices they don't really care either.
Will say it was nice to see Williams get a win again. Other than that ?? Nah
I think anyone not enjoying Formula 1 this year, just doesn’t like Formula 1 :-))
DeletePeter, as I sat watching the Spanish Grand Prix, I thought of this subject in the blog, and then thought to myself "Gosh! I hope this isn't the race Peter chooses to pay attention to my suggestion!" In all honesty, I have to agree with you on this particular race. It wasn't much to write home about in comparison to the previous races this season. Nice to see a Williams on the top step again, nice to see a different driver once again win a race, nice to see Hamilton buggered once again, but no comparison to the previous races this year.
DeleteEarl - I have to agree that overall, this has been the best racing season inwell over a decade....however....Barcelona has once again proven to be the yawner of all yawners in comparison to the rest of the season thus far. What the heck is it with Barcelona? Even if the teams do not test there in the earlier part of the season, it still seems rather boring in comparison?
DeleteUntil they get rid of the aero these races are going to be boring.
DeleteSimply because as soon as one car interferes with another's airflow the whole thing goes for a crap.
Have to say Peter, this was true in Spain, but not so much in the previous races this year. That may have contributed to my disappointment with this race in particular vs the season as a whole thus far.
DeleteBahrain wasn't as good as the first three races, but still pretty decent. Can't complain with four winners from four races but I am somewhat mystified by the varying form of the top teams!
ReplyDeleteYes - that is surprising me as well Earl. I wasn't expecting Lotus or Mercedes to be doing better than Force India this year. Sometimes, things are just getting really mixed up. I think Lotus is showing its potential now, and it could be in the running after all, but it did surprise me. But I think the biggest surprise this year is Sauber! Man! Where the heck did they come from? There doesn't seem to be a clear line of top 3 teams like it has been in the past - still seems all over the map.
ReplyDeleteI guess with the stable rules (pretty much) they will all close up. That and the somewhat tricky tyres from Pirelli make it more interesting. I read that Schumacher was unhappy with the tyres... could that just be that the W03 is hard on tyres ;-))
ReplyDeleteI didn't think that Barcelona was too bad... it was decent edge of the seat stuff to see if Alonso could get past Maldonado - made more exciting by the fact that Maldonado could be up for their first win and Williams could get back to the front. It was a good race to try and read - with differing strategies...
ReplyDeleteFor example, I found that race a lot more interesting than China or Bahrain...
But then again, my penchant for endurance may alter my perspective...