2012 Formula 1 Off-weeks Thread

[007MCoupe]

I can't take it. I need my fix! 3 weeks until I can see another McLaren lockout? 3 weeks until I get to see what has developed on the cars? 2 weeks before a thread gets started for China?!

lol but really I figured I'd add a place to chat during the season when there wasn't an official GP thread going.

- I'm interested to see what Sauber will do to STAY competitive. It really seems they have good pace to contend (I had to put that carefully) for the third spot in the constructor's.

- I'm interested, obviously, to see what RBR will do to get Seb back in it. Seems like he's struggling with the tires this year, or what?

- What will McLaren do to stay on top? their car is super fast, has great pace, and it's showing.

- What will Ferrari do with Massa??? (No I don't think they'll let him go after just 2 races, but you have to think he's on a hot seat)

It'll be interesting to see what comes out of this stretch of development for teams like Mercedes (to get race pace to match quals) and Lotus (moreso to keep Grosjean on the track longer than 10 laps, and keep pace with MBAMG).

[justinnum1]

Mclaren needs to practice pitt stops and there strategy.

[DESMO748]

I feel you; 3 weeks is way too long!

1. The rain in Malaysia made for an exciting race with unexpected results. Great to see Perez get a podium ; good to see Alonso keep Ferrari in the game (kinda ); and we saw the usually-cool Seb lose it [out of frustration ]. Rain is the great equalizer.

2. McLaren's pit stop performance in Malaysia was painful to watch. That rear-jack mechanic...what was he thinking?

3. I think Ferrari will give Massa a maximum of 4 races (a quarter of the season). If in the 4th race he does not finish in the top 8, Ferrari has no choice. SF can try to salvage the season at that point with Perez

4. I don't know what's wrong with Mercedes, but they're almost "there". Perhaps, it is the rear eating up the tires.

5. I'm wishing Grosjean well. I like the kid.

[MrClean335i]

By now people should know that Vettel was all car. Any other F1 driver would have won the last two championships given the same cars; even Narain Karthikeyan. Anyone who thought Vettel he had special talent doesn't know the sport.

[Itgb]

Originally Posted by MrClean335i

By now people should know that Vettel was all car. Any other F1 driver would have won the last two championships given the same cars; even Narain Karthikeyan. Anyone who thought Vettel he had special talent doesn't know the sport.

And the fact that Vettel destroyed Webber last year with the same car meant nothing?

I'm not a big Vettel fan, but you're disillusion.

[MrClean335i]

Originally Posted by Itgb

And the fact that Vettel destroyed Webber last year with the same car meant nothing?

I'm not a big Vettel fan, but you're disillusion.

You are stupid if you think they had the same car... I bet you think Alonso and Massa have the same car as well.

[EINSER M]

3 weeks is torture but tonight i had a forum member here ///1M help me out with 795 pictures of pure F1 porn

[BrokenVert]

I bought a McLaren sweater and im really disappointed in the quality. I spent legitimate cash on this thing and it feels no better than a $10 sweater I could get in a flea market.

Really disappointed.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by MrClean335i

You are stupid if you think they had the same car... I bet you think Alonso and Massa have the same car as well.

Yeah, the team has no interest in having both drivers succeed so they give one driver a fast car and the other driver the slow car. They obviously would rather have one driver finish 1st and the other 12th. It makes total sense.







In reality, what happens is that they design the car around their best driver and hope that the second driver can score with it as well. It was very public information that Schumi was driving a car designed around Button during the first year with MercedesGP. The one I really wonder about is McLaren... Button and Hamilton couldn't have more drastically different driving styles but they both do very well. In their case, I suppose the car is very good but tire management and finesse vary in importance from track to track.

[KingOfJericho]

Also, was Vettel "all car" when he won in a Toro Rosso? You're talking about a 2x world champ, the same as Alonso. Is Alonso all car as well? I don't think so. There is no reason to discredit Vettel one iota this season or any other. Hell, he finished second in the first race! The second race was a bit of a shit show which really shuffles the cards when it comes to winners and losers. Don't you think the stupid person is the one who makes judgements after only 2 races?

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by MrClean335i

You are stupid if you think they had the same car... I bet you think Alonso and Massa have the same car as well.

But you do need the other car to be competitive to win the WCC...
why would team want to cut their other leg off to favor one driver and give up WCC?

You cannot take credit away from vettel just because the car is superior compare to other teams. Teammates are always the best benchmark of how well you've done in a season.

The biggest game changer last year was the EBD excelled by RBR, which MW has it as well, but he didn't perform generally as well as SV throughout the entire season, plus a few botched up grid start, and broken KERS (that I can blame on the team instead, but SV shared a few times of issues as well). That cost him the good season to have a good result for him.

[DESMO748]

I like this thread and its healthy conversation of F1 drivers, technology, tactics, and politics!

No one will really know what RBR did in 2011. I think we'll only know once Webber retires and writes a book. He was obviously frustrated, but had to be quiet and put on a show for everyone. Maybe, he was given enough money to sign another contract so he can do exactly the same thing--be the second driver.

[johanness]

Originally Posted by MrClean335i

By now people should know that Vettel was all car. Any other F1 driver would have won the last two championships given the same cars; even Narain Karthikeyan. Anyone who thought Vettel he had special talent doesn't know the sport.

Wow thanks for your intelligent insight.

[whoosh]

Vettel being all car is ridiculous. Scored points in his first race at Indy, and the race of his career at Monza in the STR in the wet. Certainly the right car/driver at the right time determines championships, but to suggest it's all in the car is rubbish.

Massa needs to find some pace quickly. I feel he's been on the back foot since coming back from his accident. Can't blame him for losing some of his edge after something like that. Certainly the current car isn't helping but the contrast between him and Alonso was pretty stark last weekend.

[UltimateBMW]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

I bought a McLaren sweater and im really disappointed in the quality. I spent legitimate cash on this thing and it feels no better than a $10 sweater I could get in a flea market.

Really disappointed.

That is disappointing. I like the collars on those shirts. I got one from last year and it seemed to be ok.

Originally Posted by whoosh

Massa needs to find some pace quickly.

No he doesn't. I'd rather see someone else in that seat. Massa had his shot for a long time.

[EINSER M]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Also, was Vettel "all car" when he won in a Toro Rosso? You're talking about a 2x world champ, the same as Alonso. Is Alonso all car as well? I don't think so. There is no reason to discredit Vettel one iota this season or any other. Hell, he finished second in the first race! The second race was a bit of a shit show which really shuffles the cards when it comes to winners and losers. Don't you think the stupid person is the one who makes judgements after only 2 races?

+10000000000000

[whoosh]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

No he doesn't. I'd rather see someone else in that seat. Massa had his shot for a long time.

On a personal level, I agree. I've never really cared for Massa, though I do admire him for coming back to the sport after that accident. I'd like to see Perez or Kobayashi get in there. Maybe even Sutil...

[KingOfJericho]

Kobayashi in a solid car would be great fun to watch.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

That is disappointing. I like the collars on those shirts. I got one from last year and it seemed to be ok.

The collar is really nice. But the rest of it, well isnt. The patches are all poorly sewn and are blatantly visible from inside the thing (not something I would expect on a $100 piece of clothing)

The patches are also itchy and the inside lining is some cheap polyester. The outside fleece is heinous looking (the $25 Land's End fleece I had to wear in highschool is better for christs sake)

Its just a really cheap sweater...I pulled it out of the bag it shipped in (yeah a bag not a box) Ive gotten $20 tshirts that have shipped in a damned box before.


I knew I shouldve shelled out the extra $50 and gotten one of last year's Boss jackets when they were on sale...


Ohh well, thats hindsight I guess. At least I can return it.

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Also, was Vettel "all car" when he won in a Toro Rosso? You're talking about a 2x world champ, the same as Alonso. Is Alonso all car as well? I don't think so. There is no reason to discredit Vettel one iota this season or any other. Hell, he finished second in the first race! The second race was a bit of a shit show which really shuffles the cards when it comes to winners and losers. Don't you think the stupid person is the one who makes judgements after only 2 races?

Vettel's win in the Toro Rosso was a solid win in a very wet race that started under safety car. Wet races are great way of leveling the playing field and Vettel took advantage of it.

I don't think we have heard the last of Vettel. Red Bull will get their act together and I suspect Vettel will be back. Like you said it has only been 2 races. I don't even think Red Bull is as far off as everyone thinks.

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

No he doesn't. I'd rather see someone else in that seat. Massa had his shot for a long time.

Massa needs to retire in IRL. Go drive those crap-wagons.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

Vettel's win in the Toro Rosso was a solid win in a very wet race that started under safety car. Wet races are great way of leveling the playing field and Vettel took advantage of it.

I don't think we have heard the last of Vettel. Red Bull will get their act together and I suspect Vettel will be back. Like you said it has only been 2 races. I don't even think Red Bull is as far off as everyone thinks.

That's just my point. I don't think 2nd place in race 1 is anything short of excellent. People are talking like he's fighting for position with Marussia and HRT.