Edit: UNINTERESTING F1 GP this weekend

Rob Gaskin

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The whole weekend has shown how good the mercedes is compared to the rest of the field. from struggling to qualify 15th to being a few thousands off pole in your first drive in it.
Have you ever been told that your glass is half empty?
 

Rob Gaskin

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Yes Mercedes are the best team but what a nightmare in the pits!

It has often been the case in circuit racing. I can remember times when Lotus, Mclaren, Ferrari, Williams were dominant. It would happen in touring car racing too if they didn't have success ballast.

Remember rallying when Audi dominated in the early days of 4 wheel drive?

Technical innovation shouldn't be criticised.
 

peter_s

Club Member
Remember rallying when Audi dominated in the early days of 4 wheel drive?

Technical innovation shouldn't be criticised.
That dominance didn't last 5 years...

I do appreciate what Mercedes have done, and I'm also coming around regarding Hamilton. What a driver..

I'm really bored with F1 right now. It's sad :( Thankfully the fun circuits have spiced things up, and it sort of shows what's wrong with F1 today.
 

Rob Gaskin

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For me the cars need to lose some of their grip.

Another thing is that the speed element isn't obvious when watching on tv. The cars look like they are cruising at about half the speed that they are actually doing.

I've been to GPs (last one about 4 years ago) and the acceleration and braking is immense and so impressive. Also you don't get the sound because it's dumbed-down so that the commentators can't talk ALL the time.

Rallying and bike racing is more of a spectacle because you can seen the input from the driver/rider.

I haven't raced a car (done rallies and autotests) but I have done many trackdays. Once you have a car set-up and you know the circuit it very much becomes driving by numbers. Even though my Z on 195 tyres would understeer, oversteer and drift it would not be noticeable from the outside unless I did something wrong. Five laps at a time was enough, of course racing brings another element but very often GPs can become a time-trial.

I'm lucky to have watched GPs live in their heyday (and seen James Hunt win in a Hesketh) and the same with rallying in the 70/80s. Great times.
 
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uk66fastback

Club Member
It's changed massively and more so than anyone would believe from the technical aspect. I've been to the British GP for the last half dozen years but mainly for the weekend away rather than the actual race itself which is normally a Mercedes procession.
 

Rob Gaskin

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To comment on this race I thought it was very entertaining and benefited from being a new track and a few 'cock-ups'.

I really enjoyed it. If Mercedes or Hamilton had lost the championship through the issues it would have been devastating for them but as it was it gave Perez his first win (to think Hamilton has won 94) and Russell his first points.

I also think far from a set-back for Russell it was the perfect race and qualifying for him. He started 2nd so was able to show Bottas how to make a start, he pulled away and then after the safety car did the same. Then after the pitstop errors he was able to fight through the 'pack' and show racing skills. He kept calm throughout and didn't put a foot wrong. A great audition for a Mercedes seat.

Had he started from pole and driven to a win we wouldn't know as much about him. Yes he missed a GP win but at this stage his career is more important surely.

I feel for him if he goes back into a Williams.
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
Let's hope Hamilton also misses the final race and Russell hasn't got to go back to Williams just yet ...

I do like Lewis although he can be a bit of a nob sometimes ... (can't we all)
 
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