So...

Quali was crap and they are reverting to last years format (a kid of 10 could have told them that, or even Eddie Jordan!!).

Mclaren are crap and still can't provide a decent package to compete.

Alonso will be thinking...... 'What the F**k am I doing here'?? I bet he's glad they didn't enforce the 'driver cage' previously mooted!!

Channel 4 will be counting the revenue pennies from the interminable, inane adverts which punctuate the racing.

Hamilton will be watching his back on future visits to Aus if the podium reception was anything to go by.


Nahh It's back to BTCC, Rallycross, F1 Stocks and club racing for me.

 

pretty crap

 

As far as I am aware, watching Formula 1 is optional. If you don't like it, don't watch it. Better still, don't bother making inane posts about it.

Well, at least McLaren are slightly less uncompetitive than they were last year. They should be able to mix it with the midfield, at least.

Alonso is a very lucky boy. Not too long ago a crash of that magnitude would have invoked a minute's respectful silence and a sombre review of his career. The gravel trap may have caused the car to dig in and roll, but as he had no brakes an asphalt run-off would have resulted in a very heavy impact with some barriers. The incident might cause the FIA to think again about "Halo" devices.

Other than the retirement of Gutierrez, Haas can be satisfied with their first Grand Prix, a mature drive from Grosjean netting them a good points finish. But the encouraging news is that Ferrari have enough race pace to worry Mercedes, and can make softer tyres last longer. I was pleased that the addition of a third tyre option seems to have opened up more strategic options, and should shake the natural order up a bit.

The Torro Rosso boys had a good race, despite Verstappen's all too obvious frustrations. He needs to remember what happened last season when he refused to let Sainz past when he was holding him up, and cut out the whingeing. And on that subject, Lewis Hamilton needs to realise that when he's made a poor start he can't really start whining about being stuck behind other cars. He's starting to sound like Nigel Mansell. Somebody needs to have a word with him.

Bahrain next. A featureless Tilkedrome, in the middle of a desert, but one which has some overtaking opportunities. Bring it on.

 

Better still, don't bother making inane posts about it.

I reserve the right to make inane posts as I see fit and will defend the right of others to do the same.

 

Even without brakes, or indeed without wheels, asphalt would still have slowed down Alonso's car a lot more than air.

That was where Brundle had his famous crash, which if anything was worse, and not only walked away but ran back and restarted the race in the spare car. And that was 1996 - 20 years ago. I'm not sure why people are so surprised that Alonso was okay after a similar crash after another 20 years of safety developments.

 

I agree that it's to be expected, given the developments. It still doesn't stop it being surprising to most people, given the carnage around the safety cell. Pretty amazing stuff really.

It would be interesting to do some maths to work out statistically how many hours driving a F1 car a driver is expected to survive vs different periods. And then a comparison with other professions and hobbies (flying light aircraft, microlights, nutter base jumpers, other extreme sports etc), just to see how much truth there still actually is in Alonso's statement "we risk our lives every time we race".

 

Having watched Brundle's crash i don't think it was worse. A lot of the energy was dissipated by the car skidding along the ground, through the gravel and tumbling along the ground as opposed to Alonso's car hitting the barriers once at speed and then again after flying through the air.

Brundle's subsequently admitted he never should have restarted the race.

Either way, both were bad crashes and the drivers were both lucky to walk away.

 

Having watched Brundle's crash i don't think it was worse. A lot of the energy was dissipated by the car skidding along the ground, through the gravel and tumbling along the ground as opposed to Alonso's car hitting the barriers once at speed and then again after flying through the air.

Brundle's subsequently admitted he never should have restarted the race.

Either way, both were bad crashes and the drivers were both lucky to walk away.
[/quote]

regarding walking away etc etc.

On a slightly different point those are the things that make F1 and racing in general compelling viewing and don't happen often enough in F1 and they want to make it safer!. When it's too safe, one dominant team, aero affecting the car behind, no overtaking, crap tyres by design and processional driving around 20 cloned mundane circuits a year, is it any surprise no-one wants to watch F1 and everyone including a lot of the drivers think it is broken?

 

??? Are you really British or American? that seeming idea that the fun of watching car racing is seeing the guys crashing is not very European (and I certainly do not share it).