Formula One

[Rubber Bullets]

Last season Schumacher had wrapped up the title with about 6 races to go, and the constructors totle was equally boring. people were switching off in their droves.

This season with a few races to go the top 3 drivers are 3 points apart, the constructors championship is wide open and worldwide audiences must be higher than for many years. The rule changes at the beginning of the year have really worked.

I used to love F1, I was even lucky enough to go and see a couple of British grand prix back in Nigel Mansells time (boring arrogant man that he was he could really drive). For the last few years I have watched the first couple of laps of each race, then switched off to avoid being put into a coma.

This year I am finding myself watching whole races again, it has been really great.

So in view of all this I really find myself wondering what the fuck Ferrari think they are doing and what the FIA can be thinking by letting them get away with it.

F1 was dying due to processional races and single driver dominance. This will take us back to those days and worse.

I also wonder what the atmosphere is like at sunday lunch with
Mr and Mrs Schumacher and the boys.

RB

 

[xane]

I was into F1 around the Mansell days and I totally disagree with you, he was not a good driver as he simply used the sheer power of the Williams car, which was way ahead of all the others. The only overtaking maneuvers he did were on straights using superior acceleration, none of the old days when Senna and Proust battled it out over the turns and chicanes using driver skill alone.

Remember that Williams were where Ferrari were in the last few years, having unbeatable cars that even a monkey like Mansell could win in.

Senna was the true ace of the track back then, Mansell was only in it for the money, IIRC Senna actually approached Williams when they were in negotiations with Mansell over a new contract and said he'd do the job for "£19 million less than Mansell".

As far as Ferrari are concerned, I don't think disputes like this will destroy the balance that F1 seems to have achieved, I vaguely remember way way back a dispute over a car that had two bloody great big fans mounted in the back that sucked the car onto the track, when asked by an official they were described as "air cooling", or the infamous six wheeled Tyrrell.

 

[Tom]

Thing is, Keke Rosburg had the same car, and he didn't win the Championship. And ltos of people forget that if it wasn't for a dodgy team call, and a de-laminated tyre, Mansell would have 2 championship titles.

Mind you, I think Rosburg holds the record (still) for the fastest qualifying lap ever.