New Grand Prix Season Is Almost Upon Us!!!

[Jagdtiger14]

That's cool capn...I didn't really get it either until I watched that video. Live on TV I really didn't know how it would go concerning the Stewards. Lauda gave me a hint when the announcers mentioned his opinion.

Lulu's on shaky ground...one more warning and he gets a big penalty.

[AndyG1]

Do a search on you tube for 'Hamilton Rosberg crash analysis'. Oh dear, now the real reason comes out. Rosberg chose the wrong staetboption on his wheel, into turn 3 it started harvesting and he lost power, mid turn he's looking at his wheel to change the settings and defends without even knowing where Lewis was. Now who's at fault!!!

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: AndyG1

Do a search on you tube for 'Hamilton Rosberg crash analysis'. Oh dear, now the real reason comes out. Rosberg chose the wrong staetboption on his wheel, into turn 3 it started harvesting and he lost power, mid turn he's looking at his wheel to change the settings and defends without even knowing where Lewis was. Now who's at fault!!!

warspite1

AndyG1, its entirely up to you of course, but I really wouldn't bother getting into an exchange on Lewis Hamilton with you know who.

As you know he has admitted in his own words that he "hates him so much he cannot be objective about him" - and then continues to prove it with the one-sided contradictions he spouts. Example from two different incidents:

I disagree with the stewards decision on Botas at the start...

Stewards take it easy on Lulu...one more warning and...

So basically regardless of what the stewards (experienced former F1 racers) say Lewis is in the wrong. Notice too that in talking about this incident he cannot admit that Rosberg made a mistake and selected the wrong start mode or that Lauda was too quick to state his opinion (i.e. before he saw that Rosberg had made a mistake in mode selection).

Of course it continues with

Will Lulu continue his unsportsmanlike attitude

while once again ignoring Mr Vettel. Loved Martin Brundle's response to the German's reaction to Ricciardo's passing move - "Oh shut up moaning" [&o]. Ricciardo also made suitable comment on this post race. But hey, apparently Vettel can moan and sulk and demand that people not be allowed to try and overtake, and that's fine, but Lewis.....

So as I say, entirely up to you - but if I was you I would simply rise above it and ignore it.

[AndyG1]

No worries Warspite. Just wanted to make people aware of other things happening leading to the incident, other than your basic TV view.

Yeah, I too loved the Vettel whinge responses from Brundle and Ricciardo:).

[Speedysteve]

My view on the Hamilberg incident is both were at fault for different parts of it and as such can see how the stewards claimed it as a racing incident - I.e no 1 party was more to blame than the others. The body language of both of the drivers in post race interviews was interesting. I genuinely that Hamilton was close to tears in interview where as Rosberg looking fuming. Will be I terestig. To see how this plays out now....

[warspite1]

Once again I liked Brundle's mature, grown up approach. He said that Mercedes have to expect this sort of incident occasionally - it is unrealistic to expect otherwise.

Rosberg made a mistake, Lewis tried to take advantage, Rosberg moved over to block but sent Lewis onto the grass. Racing incident.

I blame Rosberg more than Lewis for the simple reason that he KNEW (because of his mistake) the speed differential was huge and his moving over was aggressive - and in taking the action he did he was compromising the team. E.g. if Lewis had backed off to stay behind, chances are Ricciardo would have taken 2nd - or even 1st.

But that is not necessarily (in the heat of battle) Rosberg's concern as he wants to stay ahead. So I agree it was a racing incident.

[Orm]

I blame Rosberg more than Lewis for the simple reason that he KNEW (because of his mistake) the speed differential was huge and his moving over was aggressive -

I lay what blame there is on Rosberg. However, with that said, I do not think there is much blame that needs allocating. Rosberg probably looks fuming because he knows it was caused by his earlier, stupid, error.

[Jagdtiger14]

Warspite should have Lulu as his avatar.

AndyG1, if you go back to the previous page, you'll see that I linked the analysis.

I never denied Rosberg made a mistake, why should I "admit it"?...obvious by linking the analysis (which discusses that mistake in detail) in essence that would be "admitting it" if that was important.

Who is Martin Brundle?

Rosberg was fuming because if Lulu had not hit him, he would have gotten points for a 1st vs Lulu's DNF. Rosberg was in the right to make his defending move to the inside. Warspite conveniently ignores Lulu's aggressive blocking from last year that also could have compromised the team...Rosberg being the team player avoided Lulu back then...what did Lulu do here?...not thinking about the team.

[Hotschi]

Rosberg can be blamed for one thing only; switching into the wrong engine mode after the start and thus losing power. His manoeuver to defend his postion, to slamm the door shut to the car trying to overtake him, was perfectly legal according to the rules. It was a brutal manoeuver, yes, but not uncommon in F1, and every race-driver worth his salt would act in the same way. Twice (Japan and Austin) his opponent pulled off the same stunt last year, which was equally perfectly legal (and brutal), and nobody made a fuss. Perhaps because no car was forced out of the race.

Here are two videos of the incident, one an analysis from Sky Sport, the other a top-down view.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWU2DZjDEeM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6vrWWD3ro8

The drivers have to make split-second decisions in F1, and apparently Hamilton's decision was wrong this time. NOT the decision to try to overtake, but his decision to press on regardless - he had the chance to back off before hitting the grass, but he chose not to do so. In backing off, he might have lost a place - temporarily maybe - to an opponent behind him, but at least he would have stayed in the race (and Rosberg too). To quote Massa, Hamilton should have used his brain...

The race stewards, at least this time, issued the only sensible verdict: it was a race incident, no further action, case closed. A nice surprise btw, because these guys are renowned for inconsistency in their decisions. But since in every race there are different guys acting as race stewards, and not all of them are ex-drivers, this inconsistency has to be expected. Whether this is a good thing or not, is another issue.

What I absolutely dislike is Lauda's first interview right after the crash, where he openly condemned Hamilton, in the style of a grumpy old man (oky, that's him, at least he wasn't acting...). Whatever happened, you simply do not thrash your own driver openly and in public, no matter his name! Whether it's Rosberg or Hamilton on the receiving end, is irrelevant. With this, Lauda only adds fuel to the fire. Such statements as Lauda has made should be made internally, without a microphone in sight, period. At least Wolf has learned this lession, for last time when Mercedes had a double-DNF because one of their drivers acted stupid, both Wolf and Laude grilled the guy in public - with the result that the driver being critiziced, afterwards performed like a lame duck and acted more like a apprentice in a large company rather than as a race-driver. No good idea, Lauda!

Okay so we have seen a race where both top competitors for the title didn't finish - what could this mean for the ongoing season? In my view, it definitely means bad news for Lewis Hamilton, less so for Rosberg. Rosberg's misfortune consists only of not having been able to try to prolong his winning series (but who cares about statistics in the long run anyway). Since Rosberg has a comfortable lead in the championship over Hamilton, it means one race less for Lewis to catch up. Add to this that Hamilton has already accumulated 2 warnings this year (a 3rd earns him a penalty), and adding that Hamilton has already spent more of his allowance on engine parts than any other driver, Hamilton's chances to get penalties for the starting grid are adding up. Which isn't very helpful when one has to catch up, and especially in Hamilton's case, who is prone to act imaptient or even stupid when under pressure - and I don't care whther this is washing down well with Hamilton fans.

Who knows, maye we witness some sort of "Hamilton 2011 reloaded" this year - not that this is something to be desired, but the stage is set...

[warspite1]

EDIT: To Jagdtiger14 - I promised myself I was not going to get into a debate with someone who clearly cannot have a mature, grown-up conversation about a certain driver, and who ignores what is written to suit his own ridiculously biased arguments. I am angry with myself that I broke my own promise. So please feel free, without reply, to continue with your "hilarious" [8|] "Lulu" comments.

[CarnageINC]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

EDIT: To Jagdtiger14 - I promised myself I was not going to get into a debate with someone who clearly cannot have a mature, grown-up conversation about a certain driver, and who ignores what is written to suit his own ridiculously biased arguments. I am angry with myself that I broke my own promise. So please feel free to continue with your "hilarious" [8|] "Lulu" comments.

I may not agree with you all the time but well said Warspite. I don't like Hamilton but Jagd trollish behavior is ridiculous. I don't even read what he has to say on any thread because of what hes doing on this one.

[Jagdtiger14]

Carnage, you reading my other threads means a lot to me[&o] So please...tell me what I should do to make you happy.

[Jagdtiger14]

To Jagdtiger14 - I promised myself I was not going to get into a debate

Probably a good idea Warspite!

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Jagdtiger14

warspite1

To Jagdtiger14 - I promised myself I was not going to get into a debate with someone who clearly cannot have a mature, grown-up conversation about a certain driver, and who ignores what is written to suit his own ridiculously biased arguments.

Probably a good idea Warspite!

warspite1

Indeed.

[Gilmer]

The fact of the matter is both drivers seem pretty childish. You can criticize Rosberg all you want about being in the wrong engine mode, but he is doing something right. He owned in the previous 7 races.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: H Gilmer

The fact of the matter is both drivers seem pretty childish. You can criticize Rosberg all you want about being in the wrong engine mode, but he is doing something right. He owned in the previous 7 races.

warspite1

I think there is mixing of two different things here.

That Nico is driving extremely well is not in doubt, although as Lewis has pointed out - on all three occasions this season that his engine maladies have actually allowed him to compete in Qualifying 3, he has claimed the pole - not Nico. Lewis problem (and it is a problem in a formula where staying behind someone is too hard on tyres) has been starting - not speed. As all F1 fans know, when starting in the pack there is more chance of getting involved in accidents. Twice Lewis has started from lowly positions through no fault of his own - and because of the engine rules, he will have to face this again. Nico has yet to face that (if indeed he even does).

Nico's fine racing does not mean the basic error he made at the start should not be commented upon (by the way he too got a bad start in Australia if you recall - it just wasn't as bad as Lewis's).

As for the two being childish, I know what you mean but I think this is perhaps a little harsh. These are two supreme athletes at the top of their game fighting for one crown in a sport where having a race winning car (let alone a championship winning one) can be taken anytime. The difference between victory and error is measured in thousandths of a second, the speed that everything happens is beyond us mere mortals comprehension. They are living on the edge.

Compare their behaviour in times of stress with any other driver in comparable situations - the bitching, the sniping, the claims of favouritism, the he did this, he did that mentality; Senna vs Prost, Hill vs Schumacher, Mansell vs Piquet, Jones vs Piquet - essentially whenever you have two fast, committed racers in the same space, the nature of the beast says there will be fireworks...

[Speedysteve]

I agree Warspite. I think most people out there (regardless of who they support or are fans of; if they're honest) will acknowledge that Lewis is probably a few tenths of a second per lap quicker than Nico. At least historically that is. I'm intrigued to see if this is a new and improved Nico! Somehow I suspect Lewis still has the edge. As Warspite says you've got 2 top drivers at the top of their game and I suspect at the ages they're at they're eeeking out all they can of the car and their ability and as such if Lewis is just naturally a bit quicker than that is likely how it would remain all things being equal. I say this not as a Lewis fan I might add (don't like his or appreciate his lifestyle but respect its his choice), as Senna was my hero and always will be, but as an F1 fan.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: CarnageINC

Bravo Max! WOW, what a win!

warspite1

Indeed - what a lot to take in! The guy is 18..... 18! He drove with such maturity under pressure - and was totally unruffled afterwards. Incredible. He's 18! Did I mention that?

Felt really sorry for poor Ricciardo though - another puncture. But Verstappen... 18! He could dominate the sport for the next 20 years.....

warspite

....and for Max, from Hero to ....

It will be interesting to see what he can do from the last row of the grid.

Let's hope for a wet/dry race.

[Orm]

So when does the season begin? I waited years now. [;)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

So when does the season begin? I waited years now. [;)]

warspite1

Just be patient.... it will be soon.