Depends whether you like mathematics or human endeavour. I prefer the latter. Even in my day at Mclaren, knocking on for two decades ago, testing a new race car involved sticking it on trestles and firing it up from a laptop, and every part of it apart from steering was checked over from the same laptop, some tefal-head blipping the throttle from the next room...
You must be an Adrian Newey fan. I understand he still uses a drawing board! That same process now means our bikes have to be understood by the latest software. Progress in a way but there is always something inviting about a carb with a couple of scews to adjust.
I dunno, I just think that electronics has got in the way of enjoyment, in bike racing as well as cars. In F1 the racing takes place in the pits, where human error and endeavour still count; on the race track it may as well be scalectrix. I'm all for progress, just not when it spoils the fun.
I agree. I happened to watch a bit the other day. First time in years. It mildly piqued my interest till I cottoned on to what DRS is and the rules around it. How ridiculous.
Some good racing at Bahrain today, mostly down the field as the result was never really in doubt. Have to question what is happening with Webber thou. Last two years he's been on it, this year, he's second class :frown:.
Spoke to a few Mclaren boys this weekend, and the shit is hitting the fan in Woking about now. Most other teams decided on an evolution of last year's car, but Mclaren went for an all new design. It'll pay off in a year or two, but sponsors and shareholders can't wait that long. Rumour is a couple of directors are for the chop soon...
F1 Barcelona (spoiler) This is turning into a good race if you like Ferrari plus Raikkonen doing well. I still cannot believe the ludicrous rate of degradation on these Pirelli tyres, they are turning into qualifying tyres now - 2 changes by lap 22 this race on some cars. Spanish winners for last MotoGP, 2, 3 and now F1 - must be some kind of record.
Dull, dull, dull. F1 has become a race of who can go the slowest quickly. Most boring season for quite a few years
them along with Ron's testicles I reckon. The Company's decision to now 'go after'* the other manufacturers with the P13 brings back all the memories of what happened at Panther Cars (amongst others) except with far more at stake. EDIT 30 May - I did try and tell everyone :- http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mclaren-supremo-dennis-demoted-report/
Watched the race yesterday and it was fairly dull. My problem is that I don't like The Toxic Dwarf (Alonso) and I've gone off Vettel ever since he didn't man up about overtaking Webber and winning the race a couple back. He should have said "Yes, I heard the team orders, but I just didn't care. I'm a racer and I want to win races" instead of lying through his back teeth. But the real problem is the obsession with tyres. It's all about tyre management, not about racing. The whole point of racing anything, is to go as fast as you can and faster than the next guy. Bike racing is still pretty much like this. But F1 is all about systems management (brakes, tyres etc). It's not endurance racing, it's racing and you should be able to spend most of your time wringing your car's neck, rather than listening to management consultants over the team radio. They sound just like middle managers the world over, with their insincere "one-mnute manager" praise and their gentle encouragements and their "well done. Lovely job". Makes me want to scream.
Not the most satisfying race! Pirelli have said they will reduce pit stops to 2 or 3 max per race by Silverstone which should get away from the Barcelona wacky tyre races. In fairness to them though, they have really mixed things up and prevented any one team dominating which has been a good thing. It was also what Uncle Bernie had instructed..... So will strategy be the only way to get past the Mercedes roadblock in Monaco?
Just read a press release from Honda, who are saying they will be teaming with McClaren and supplying the engines etc for the 2015 season :smile:
I overtook a Porsche Carrera GT in our hire car going into Rascasse. Did him on the brakes... easy!.... at 10mph
F1 is an amazing spectacle populated by highly skilled drivers, engineers and designers, but as a racing series it doesn't make sense any more. And, as Glid made the point very well, managing tyres just isn't very interesting.
