***The Official 2011 Formula 1 Thread***

[Eric Lindros]

Congratulations to Sebastian Vettel :hatsoff:
He's the youngest two times world champion in history.

 

[Petra]

I loved how Vettle just ran off...I'm sure there were some FIA guys going nuts. ;-)

 

[HyperSexual]

Great race and result for Jenson, and a well won 2nd world champion title for Seb. I did like how Schuey drove up alongside Seb at the end and gave him a little congratulatory wave! It'll be interesting to watch the last few races of this season as the battle for 2nd place in the title continues, as well as those vital constructors points... I'm with McLaren all the way, so just hope Jenson carries on as he has been, and that Lewis gets back to form.

 

[Petra]

Pretty cool video. Really shows how littlethey see in their mirror.

 

[jlm555]

I told you all Vettel would repeat LOL

 

[FreeOnes_Anders]

Saw the graphics for the India GP track on BBC, holy hell, its a proper rollercoaster!

 

[siffert]

One word - Bollocks
They do not pay F1 drivers the way that they do because they are second best.

just because they're paid the money, doesn't mean they're worth it. I wouldn't give the majority of this seasons f1 drivers the steam off a prototype drivers piss. too much chaff and not enough wheat.

 

[FreeOnes_Anders]

just because they're paid the money, doesn't mean they're worth it. I wouldn't give the majority of this seasons f1 drivers the steam off a prototype drivers piss. too much chaff and not enough wheat.

If all your going to do is complain about the drivers in F1 I would like to propose the following:

 

[Supafly]

Abu Dhabi GP coming on...

Hamilton shines in the desert sun as Brit clocks fastest ever lap at Yas Marina

Lewis Hamilton is poised to deprive Sebastian Vettel of outright ownership of one of Formula One's longest-standing records.

Hamilton clocked the fastest lap ever seen at the Yas Marina Circuit across any session - practice, qualifying and the race - ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old, in search of the perfect weekend in a bid to put behind him all his troubles of late, posted a time of one minute 38.976 seconds.

...

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...on-clocks-fastest-lap-ever.html#ixzz1dUlNqosN

Here's more on the track and race:

http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/abu_dhabi_847/

 

[larss]

Shame he couldn't do it in qualifying. A stunning lap by Vettel gives him his 14th pole of the season, matching Mansell's record from the 1992 season, so Hamilton starts from second.

 

[ShikokuKichiguy]

Nice finish in quali by Seb!

 

[Rey C.]

just because they're paid the money, doesn't mean they're worth it. I wouldn't give the majority of this seasons f1 drivers the steam off a prototype drivers piss. too much chaff and not enough wheat.

Most of the top prototype drivers got their start in the open wheel ranks. All of the top guys in F1 and ALMS/Le Mans are well conditioned and very capable racers. But drivers typically migrate to sports cars when the door to F1 closes or it never opens for them: Jacques Villeneuve, Alan McNish, Sebastian Bourdais, Jan Magnussen, Eddie Cheever, Johnny Herbert, et al. All of these guys had varying amounts of success in open wheel... and then at a certain point, they did some sports car racing. Over the decades, that's just how it's typically been. Modern prototypes are heavier and have less horsepower than modern F1 cars. But they're much more reliable than prototypes back in the 70's and 80's... or even the 90's. Now they go balls to the wall from the start. Years ago, they had to nurse the cars at Le Mans to get them to last. But Le Mans is now a 24 hour sprint race... and that's great.

Some of the best races I've been to have been sports car races. But as much as I enjoy them, I wouldn't put Tom Kristensen up against Lewis Hamilton or Sebastien Vettel - I respect Kristensen too much to suggest something like that. I'm sure there are sports car drivers who could beat certain F1 drivers (like Maldonado or D'Ambrosio maybe). But generally speaking, F1 teams select drivers (whoever they are) for their speed and race craft. And then they pay them... quite well. Outside of Peugeot and Audi, most sports car drivers have to bring a budget to cover their ride. The sports car driver who has speed and race craft will be an F1 driver - because like most professionals, he expects to get paid. And when age catches up with him, he'll go back to sports cars. And IMO, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

If you like racing, it's all good. It really is. :hatsoff:

 

[larss]

Very well put, Rey. Most eloquent :hatsoff:

 

[D-rock]

Most of the top prototype drivers got their start in the open wheel ranks. All of the top guys in F1 and ALMS/Le Mans are well conditioned and very capable racers. But drivers typically migrate to sports cars when the door to F1 closes or it never opens for them: Jacques Villeneuve, Alan McNish, Sebastian Bourdais, Jan Magnussen, Eddie Cheever, Johnny Herbert, et al. All of these guys had varying amounts of success in open wheel... and then at a certain point, they did some sports car racing. Over the decades, that's just how it's typically been. Modern prototypes are heavier and have less horsepower than modern F1 cars. But they're much more reliable than prototypes back in the 70's and 80's... or even the 90's. Now they go balls to the wall from the start. Years ago, they had to nurse the cars at Le Mans to get them to last. But Le Mans is now a 24 hour sprint race... and that's great.

Some of the best races I've been to have been sports car races. But as much as I enjoy them, I wouldn't put Tom Kristensen up against Lewis Hamilton or Sebastien Vettel - I respect Kristensen too much to suggest something like that. I'm sure there are sports car drivers who could beat certain F1 drivers (like Maldonado or D'Ambrosio maybe). But generally speaking, F1 teams select drivers (whoever they are) for their speed and race craft. And then they pay them... quite well. Outside of Peugeot and Audi, most sports car drivers have to bring a budget to cover their ride. The sports car driver who has speed and race craft will be an F1 driver - because like most professionals, he expects to get paid. And when age catches up with him, he'll go back to sports cars. And IMO, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

If you like racing, it's all good. It really is. :hatsoff:

I think generally as time goes on the skill of the driver in nearly all auto racing series becomes less and less important to the success of the teams. It's sad, but I would have a hard time knowing who's the best racecar driver. It's nearly impossible to judge fairly anymore.

The people that make the big money are often the people that get really lucky, are in the right place at the right time, or are the people that are flash in the pans and get all the cash as the new flavor of the year as racing teams from all series try to throw money around to solve their problems.

 

[Rey C.]

I think generally as time goes on the skill of the driver in nearly all auto racing series becomes less and less important to the success of the teams. It's sad, but I would have a hard time knowing who's the best racecar driver. It's nearly impossible to judge fairly anymore.

The people that make the big money are often the people that get really lucky, are in the right place at the right time, or are the people that are flash in the pans and get all the cash as the new flavor of the year as racing teams from all series try to throw money around to solve their problems.

I'm not sure that it's any different now than it's ever been. Even if you go back in time, was Richard Petty really that good, or did the (special) support from Chrysler give him a leg up? Same with Fangio back in the 50's. How much was him and how much was his equipment? Don't get me wrong. I think both of these guys were truly amazing racers. But they did have equipment advantages along the way. One reason I love F1 is because even when a team has a superior car, you can still judge a driver based on how well he does against his teammate. Is Vettel that much better than Hamilton? I can't say. But I know Mark Webber is no slouch and Vettel has wiped the floor with him this season. Same with Massa and Alonso (who I can't stand - but he's one hell of a racer... and a lil prick, IMO). Same with Nico Rosberg vs. Michael Schumacher. Everyone was saying how Schumacher would give the kid a lesson or two when he first came back. But that's been anything but true. It's hard to compare people on different teams. But, at least in F1, you can judge a racer vs. his teammate - and a lot of the time, that tells you a lot.

But yeah, auto racing is filled with people who got lucky breaks or who had family connections. In order to get to F1, you have to do well in lower formulas. And to do that, you need lots of money. Just a season of shifter kart racing would break the average person. So there are people who make it to the top who are born lucky. But they also have mad skills. Even on back marker teams that fund themselves by hiring ride buyers, those ride buyers still have to be able to hit the 107% time of the front runners. Watching capable racers like Giancarlo Fisichella and Marc Gene struggle in the Ferrari, when Massa was hurt, should have told people that someone who couldn't qualify at the front of an IRL road race (Danica P@trick) wasn't fit for F1. But I got into some pretty heated debates with Danicamaniacs on racing forums about that - even one writer at a site where I've contributed some articles about racing. I expected someone like him to know better, and not let the hype (based on popularity) to cloud his judgement. They thought she deserved a test with Ferrari!

But anyway, racing isn't like, and never has been like stick & ball sports. Yeah, it takes big money (or as you said, a lucky break) to be able to work your way into F1, NASCAR, ALMS/Le Mans or even the IRL/Indy car. But just like a super model who I'll never date... by gosh, I do so love it!!! :nanner:

BTW, if any race fans on here have heart conditions, you better get the nitro pills handy before watching a replay of today's race! :eek: Great race! With the addition of DRS, Yas Marina is not just a flat gorgeous racing circuit, it's also one hell of a great track for racing! :thumbsup:

 

[larss]

Great race today. Having Vettel drop out on the first lap actually made it a little more interesting, with Alonso keeping Hamilton with 2-4 seconds until the dying laps.
Great to see Lewis getting a win today and Mclaren for the 2 on the podium. Good day.

 

[Supafly]

Yeah, it is sad that Vettel has to drop out to make a race really interesting

But Hamilton did a great job racing

 

[FreeOnes_Anders]

Not the greatest race this season...

The double drs zones just cancelled each other out making the system pointless.

 

[larss]

Not the greatest race this season...

The double drs zones just cancelled each other out making the system pointless.

But it did make for much more overtaking...

 

[saschaxx]

Looks to me like Hamilton is back on the winners - lane again, weeell done !