Gran Premio d'Italia !

[mipuumal]

I didn't say they weren't going flat out - though with the race engineer limiting the power, they aren't - but that they aren't "on the limit" in the race, precisely because of these factors.

Let's throw another phrase out there: Were they going "full tilt"?

What I meant was that I enjoy seeing precision driving at high speeds and the drivers giving it their all.

If you like to watch cars going round the track "on the limit" then qualifying is better than the race.

I didn't say that I don't enjoy watching racing, I just said that it isn't the only reason why I watch F1.

 

[Famine]

I didn't say that I don't enjoy watching racing

Of course - why wouldn't you enjoy watching racing? After all the sport is called "motor racing" - but that's kind of my point. I enjoy watching the racing more than any other aspect of the sport and there was absolutely none in last weekend's Grand Prix, save for Alonso and Kubica dragging out of the pits. All we saw was formation driving, followed by a quick pit-stop-off between the mechanics.

It's pretty much a given that each of the drivers is a driver at the top of their game - even Scott Speed - and on any given lap they'll be pushing somewhere over 90%. Assuming each driver manages to get to the end of a 65 lap race, you'll see 1,400 attempts at each corner, but the only time that the car and driver combination is ever at 100% through that corner is the fast qualifying lap - and without passing, all F1 races are is akin to the 10 minute fuel-burn phase in Q3 - cars driving round burning petrol off, not really pushing any boundaries until their mechanics can gain them a place.

 

[TMM]

Of course - why wouldn't you enjoy watching racing? After all the sport is called "motor racing" - but that's kind of my point. I enjoy watching the racing more than any other aspect of the sport and there was absolutely none in last weekend's Grand Prix, save for Alonso and Kubica dragging out of the pits. All we saw was formation driving, followed by a quick pit-stop-off between the mechanics.

It's pretty much a given that each of the drivers is a driver at the top of their game - even Scott Speed - and on any given lap they'll be pushing somewhere over 90%. Assuming each driver manages to get to the end of a 65 lap race, you'll see 1,400 attempts at each corner, but the only time that the car and driver combination is ever at 100% through that corner is the fast qualifying lap - and without passing, all F1 races are is akin to the 10 minute fuel-burn phase in Q3 - cars driving round burning petrol off, not really pushing any boundaries until their mechanics can gain them a place.

Your right. So should we return to a time when there were no pit stop's, or only for tires, no engineer able to de-tune the engine during the race, no traction control to stop the driver throwing the car off the road, no trying to nurse the engine through to the next race?

 

[MagpieRacer]

FIA Changes blocking rule!

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=37376

Makes sense to me.

 

[Blake]

And now Renault don’t get to get themselves blocked on purpose by Michael at the next Grand Prix.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

FIA president Max Mosley defended the decision on the basis of the existing regulations but said there may need to be a rethink of what counted as impeding a rival.

Now, in a memo to the teams seen by ITV-F1.com, FIA race director Charlie Whiting has said he will no longer refer all complaints of blocking to the stewards – only those that he judges to be blatant and deliberate.

“Complaints that a driver has been impeded during qualifying will no longer be referred to the stewards of the meeting,” he wrote.

“Only in cases where it appears to race control that there has been a clear and deliberate attempt to impede another driver will the stewards be asked to intervene.”

But Whiting made it clear that he was unimpressed by Renault’s public reaction to the penalty, which included suggestions that the FIA was institutionally biased in favour of Ferrari.

“We now feel it is pointless for the stewards to engage in long and painstaking enquiries if competitors ignore clear scientific evidence and instead abuse the regulator,” he wrote.

As a Formula 1 fan, I was thrilled by Renault and Alonso last year, but I must say, I am tired of their never ending whining, and finger pointing every time something doesn't go there way. Its always a conspiracy to them and frankly I'm tired of it, and now find myself disenchanted by both Renault and Alonso. They need to grow up, show some professionalism, and focus on the things they can control. They certainly have not shown much class or maturity as champions. Alonso saying that F1 was no longer a sport has revealed his true nature, and undoubtedly cost him thousands of fans. At least he cost him one fan, me.

 

[Milliethemutt]

Is that a "we may have been wrong" from the FIA? Just change the rule after the event. Should shut up the conspiracy theorists.

They get more and more like FIFA everyday.