F1 season gets underway!

[davetlv]

Actually Ferraris actions make lots of sense for Ferrari. They're pissed with Paul Stoddart and his campaign to limit testing and his outspoken views on the role of Ferrari in F1.

The thing which they don't seem to understand is that all the accusations about Ferrari which have thrown by Stoddart are being reinforced by their current position.

This is likely to turn into a PR nightmare to Ferrari, one which to be quite honest they have brought on themselves. They need to finally realise that Formula 1 is more than just Ferrari, no matter how long they have been in it or even led it. Clearly they have a superior package, one they have spent years building up, but if in three years time they only have themselves to race against, it will mean diddlysquat!

[ForceFed]

I didn't know some of you lot watch F1. I love F1 as well as WRC Unfortunately, my apartment has a contract with a very exclusive (read: obscure) cable company and their cable rates are out of this world. So I don't get Speed channel here and consequently don't get to watch some of the races. Instead i'm forced to go to Hooters, drink beer and catch some WRC and F1 races there (awww shucks!).

I know some of you guys will find this funny but I've actually got a set of Fila FMS02 Schumacher race shoes that I wear when I drive my RX-7, mainly because I find the pedal feeling MUCH more comfortable than my K-swiss trainers. The K swisses make heel/toe downshifts difficult too whereas the Filas are a joy. BTW, I used to road race a MKIII Toyota Supra back in 96-97 at Watkins-Glen, Lime Rock, NE and Mid-ohio
Cheers!

[fishingnut]

nice^^

[muggeh]

Re: F1 season gets underway!

Guys you can bash Shumacher all you want the fact remains he is the best driver out there. And calling a guy a cunt who gives so fucking much for charity like the tsunami disaster isn't a cunt in my book.

Don't get me wrong though i REALLY want some good competition going on at the top and i am by no means a schumacher or ferrari fan.

[ForceFed]

Muggeh, I agree. If I didn't like Schumacher I would have a legit reason for it. For example if he were a dirty driver, made bad press remarks or was socially unattached then yes I think those are all good reasons not to like him. But I think if the man is succesful and humble at the same time well then good for Schummi.

I don't follow F1 nearly as closely as some of you, however I have heard other drivers complain and the media make remarks that Schummi is simply driving a better car than everyone. If THAT were true, then I guess other teams might have to start coming up with better cars? I've heard alot of other drivers are thinking "If I were in that car(Ferrari), I could have won...." Kind of makes me go hmmmmm

[Kobe]

You can't separate one from the other. Schumacher is successful because Ferrari is so good, but Ferrari is so good thanks to Schumacher.

Ferrari was basically shit when he arrived there, they had won a single race in 4 years. Since then they have been dominant-- 6 WDC's, 7 WCC's countless race wins.

Schumacher is far more than the guy who drives the car, he is the central figure at Ferrari. He brought in Brawn (technical director) and Byrne (designer), he developed the car, he motivated everyone to work their best, and he delivered the results.

Jealous rivals cannot simply expect to step into MS's seat and reap all the benefits of his hard work, that must be earned and built from the ground up.

As for his media persona, MS is calculating and a master of spin. He thinks before he speaks (most of the time) and usually has a plan for what he wants to accomplish with his comments. I have always found him appropriately humble and complementary when necessary, and critical when the times called for it. Those that appreciate someone who speaks from the heart, like Montoya does, will not like MS's measured approach, and vice versa.

[jeffrey collins]

Schumi was a fantastic driver ever since he got into F-1 and you can see that in the old F-1 Decade shows they have on Speed Channel. He was kicking up Mr. Hill's ass back when he first started. And Damon was the man back then.

[TomTom]

You can't separate one from the other. Schumacher is successful because Ferrari is so good, but Ferrari is so good thanks to Schumacher.

Ferrari was basically shit when he arrived there, they had won a single race in 4 years. Since then they have been dominant-- 6 WDC's, 7 WCC's countless race wins.

Schumacher is far more than the guy who drives the car, he is the central figure at Ferrari. He brought in Brawn (technical director) and Byrne (designer), he developed the car, he motivated everyone to work their best, and he delivered the results.

Jealous rivals cannot simply expect to step into MS's seat and reap all the benefits of his hard work, that must be earned and built from the ground up.

As for his media persona, MS is calculating and a master of spin. He thinks before he speaks (most of the time) and usually has a plan for what he wants to accomplish with his comments. I have always found him appropriately humble and complementary when necessary, and critical when the times called for it. Those that appreciate someone who speaks from the heart, like Montoya does, will not like MS's measured approach, and vice versa.

True.dat. Other drivers are drivers. He?s a driver and an engineer. He is involved in the process of making the car better like no other car driver on the Formula 1 circus. People telling that he?s only good because Ferrari is good are wrong. If he would change the team he would be nr. 1 in a year or 2 as well because he would push things forward.

[djwizard84]

Re: F1 season gets underway!

i?ll be following the championship

it could be a great year, with that changes lets look what can ferrari makes. and of course the other teams

GO MONTOYA

[Simon Preston]

I'm hoping Mark Webber has a good year this season. I've had him marked ever since he got that Minardi home in 6th place in Melbourne 3 years ago.

[davetlv]

Re: F1 season gets underway!

Interesting race. . . loved the new qualifying process. . .

Great result for Red Bull and DC, interesting tactic by BAR to retire their two cars on the last lap so they can use new engines at the next race.

If this race is the way things are going to go this year, we might have a more eventful F1 calender then in previous years.

Australian Grand Prix result (57 laps)

1. FISICHELLA Renault 1h24m17.336s
2. BARRICHELLO Ferrari +5.5s
3. ALONSO Renault +6.7s
4. COULTHARD Red Bull +16.1s
5. WEBBER Williams +16.9s
6. MONTOYA McLaren +35.0s
7. KLIEN Red Bull +38.9s
8. RAIKKONEN McLaren +39.6s
9. TRULLI Toyota +1m03.1s
10. MASSA Sauber +1m04.3s
11. BUTTON BAR +1 lap
12. R.SCHUMACHER Toyota +1 lap
13. VILLENEUVE Sauber +1 lap
13. SATO BAR +2 laps
15. KARTHIKEYAN Jordan +2 laps
16. MONTEIRO Jordan +2 laps
17. FRIESACHER Minardi +4 laps
18. M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari +15 laps
19. HEIDFELD Williams +15 laps
20. ALBERS Minardi +41 laps

[Slim]

the only reason why it was so eventful was because of the rain in quali. big ups to renault with fisi criusing out front and alonso gighting his way through the pack. they look like real contenders this year and malaysia shoudl be good too with both bar's having new engines.

[beto]

way to go Renault!

I hope they keep it up for a while...

[davetlv]

the only reason why it was so eventful was because of the rain in quali. big ups to renault with fisi criusing out front and alonso gighting his way through the pack. they look like real contenders this year and malaysia shoudl be good too with both bar's having new engines.

I agree, the weather had a hell of a lot to do with the outcome of the race. . . but with the fact that so many races take part in europe where the weather changes so dramatically from one day to the next, hopefully we will see more interesting races.

[thesightless]

as much as i want a more level playing feild, you really can t bash ferrari, you need to bash everyone else. they do their best and go the extra step.

what the rest of the teams are doing to them is like if the NBA had a guy who shot 90% from 3 point range and they eliminated the 3 pointer because of him and its the same the thing the NBA did after chamberline. they alter the rules to stop the best......

LETS GO RUEBINO!!!!!! :P :P :P :P :P

also wanna see Kimi come on strong, the kid is a class act and a brilliant driver, expcet him to beat JPM alot this year.