F1 2013 Championship

[Geckothan]

Well Fingerboy has managed to ruin what is usually one of the highlights of the season. The championship is probably over for Kimi, Alonso is gradually falling out of realistic contention, and Hamilton was never in with a chance of the title (four poles in a row is pretty damn awesome, but the car is still shit when it matters).

Anyway, time to watch some BTCC, and overtaking!

 

[MacLeod]

I don't think that this years race will go down as one of the classics at the circuit. And perhaps they should think about changing the pit entry and bring it forward a bit to before the chicane starts.

But the Championship isn't over yet, all it takes is one DNF, a bad pitstop and Vettel could lose his lead.

 

[MacLeod]

Well the provisional 2014 calander is out with 3 new races (Mexico, Austria and Russia)

16 March: Australia (Melbourne)
23 March: Malaysia (Sepang)
6 April: China (Shanghai)
13 April: Korea (Korea International Circuit)
27 April: Bahrain (Sakhir)
11 May: Spain (Barcelona)
25 May: Monaco (Monaco)
8 June: Canada (Montreal)
22 June: Austria (Red Bull Ring)
6 July: Britain (Silverstone)
20 July: Germany (Hockenheim)
27 July: Hungary (Budapest)
24 August: Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
7 September: Italy (Monza)
21 September: Singapore (Marina Bay)
5 October: Japan (Suzuka)
19 October: Russia (Sochi)
26 October: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)
9 November: Mexico (Mexico City)
16 November: USA (Austin)
30 November: Brazil (Interlagos)



Though 3 are provisional Korea, Russia and Mexico.

 

[Avon]

ooh mexico city! hermanos rodriguez is one of my favorite circuits from playing various racing games. they better not let tilke at it.

not bothered about korea if it goes. and i hope they do something to the austrian track. a-1 ring configuration was rubbish compared to the old circuit.

 

[MacLeod]

Yep don't want to see another Tilkedrome, most of them have been rather boring.

 

[Geckothan]

Glad they scrapped that stupid 'New York' (sorry, New Joysey) joke race. Next thing they need to do is scrap Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Russia (they're just in it for the money/tourism), and then bring back Imola, Estoril, and perhaps a French circuit.

 

[MacLeod]

At least Valencia is not on the list for the Spanish GP.

 

[Geckothan]

Yawn.

 

[MacLeod]

Sutil's been a naughty boy and gotten himself a 3 place grid penalty for impeding another driver.

 

[ITL]

Strange race. The Red Bull/Ferrari stuff at the front was a lot less interesting than the midfield battle involving Raikkonen and Hamilton and a few others. Hamilton finishing 9th after starting 12th and making one more stop than most of the field was great stuff - and all because his early stop enabled him to run in clear air as the rest of the midfielders held each other up!

 

[MacLeod]

Well as you say the front of the race did have it's moments between the Ferrari's and the Webber's Red Bull did have it's momnets. But the action was Hamilton and Raikkonen carving their way from the back after they had to pit earlier than planned. Just think what could have been had they qualified further up the field. But the Merc defiantly had the pace on race day as Hamilton set the fastest lap.

 

[Geckothan]

Enjoyed watching Lewis and Kimi at the end, but a pretty crap race overall. The Vettel booing is getting a bit boring tbh, even for a Vettel-hater like me, though it was to be expected at Monza anyway.

 

[MacLeod]

Well it was Italy and the Italian fans were unlikely to cheer anyone winning but either Ferrari or an Italian driver preferable both.

But as for the boo-ing of Vettel, as was said some of that might be down to the fact that Vettel hasn't done anything to help his popularity. Disobeying team orders when told to hold station with MW to name but one. Crashin into MW a couple of years back and blaming MW for it. Incidents like that don't earn your points. It was the same for MS, Hitting DH in 94(?) and JV(97?) either taking themout or trying to take them out in order to win the championship.

 

[Geckothan]

Massa out, Kimi in!

 

[MacLeod]

Not exactly a shocker. The question is now who gets the spacre Lotus seat. And who will be number 1 driver. Not sure if Grosjean is ready to be a number 1 driver just yet.

So who will be at Lotus next year, Surely they'll want a top driver. So will Massa move over to Lotus, will Di Resta move Force India, what about Hulkenberg. The driver merry-go-round contiunes.

 

[Geckothan]

Massa leaving isn't such a shock, but Kimi joining is, considering that they pretty much paid him to leave last time in order to make room for Alonso.

Hopefully this is the end of Ferrari having a clear #1 and #2, now that they have two out of the three best drivers on the grid (the other one being Hamilton, not Vettel LOL), as it would be a shame to see one of them being forced to hold back.

Hulkenberg really deserves a decent team and a decent car. Maybe Lotus should snap him up? I don't think he has any connection with any of their sponsors or Renault, but they'd put all of that aside if they had any sense.

 

[MacLeod]

It's just a shame that other races don't have the kind of overtaking we saw at Monza after all quite a few were done in non DRS zones. But next year should be interesting, as Ferrari have the strongest driver line up on the grid.

 

[Geckothan]

Congratulations Adrian Newey.

 

[Geckothan]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110075

What a load of shite...

 

[MacLeod]

Come on I remember Mansell giving Senna a lift.

But I think Mercedes missed out on a podium today, in the later stages it seemed as if Lewis had the faster car and had they swapped the cars he might have been able to catch Kimi.

Horner's been complaining about Vettel being booed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24198503

Perhaps some of it could have been avoided if Horner had suitable chastied Vettel for failing to obey team-orders (In Malaysia). Sometimes it's as important how you behave on track as much as the results. For example Schumacher whilst remebered for breaking the F1 records, is also rembered for events such as Adelaide 94 (indcident with Hill) and with JV in 97. Ignoring a Black Flag at the British GP one year.