Formula 1 2009 Season

[Silum]

Well we dicussed the rule changes in a different thread. Anyone else watching the season so far? If your not into F1, THIS is the year to start watching, everything is different, its on BBC for one, and the overtaking has been crazy so far!

Recap after 3 races:

1 Jenson Button 21pts
2 Rubens Barrichello 15
3 Sebastian Vettel 10
4 Timo Glock 10
5 Mark Webber 9.5
6 Jarno Trulli 8.5
7 Nick Heidfeld 4
8 Fernando Alonso 4
9 Heikki Kovalainen 4
10 Lewis Hamilton 4

Its been pretty awesome so far too with Brit Jenson Button dominating for two races and getting 3rd last weekend. Lewis Hamilton in a fairly slow car was still managing some impressive driving and now that the car seems to be competitive, im looking forward to how he does in the next few races.

Lewis Hamilton getting disqualified because he accidentally let someone by him and took 4th instead of taking the 3rd he should have had? Am I the only one who sees the crazyness in that? He supposedly purposely misled the officials but does noone else see that he just made a mistake...I mean he should have got 3rd, it was a mistake that forced him to LOSE a place, not gain one!

Anyway...F1 2009...thoughts? Discussion?

 

[Flannen]

I don't know that much about it, but I have been keeping up with who's winning and watched some of it. Usually at 7 in the morning when I wake up and the telly's still on!

I'm really pleased Button is doing so well. Its about time he got some recognition, and I think Lewis Hamilton was getting a bit big for his boots. But any Brit winning is good enough for me!

RE: Lewis Hamilton - didn't they actually come out and say they did mislead the officials? I may have that wrong, but I thought I heard it on the news...

 

[Silum]

RE: Lewis Hamilton - didn't they actually come out and say they did mislead the officials? I may have that wrong, but I thought I heard it on the news...

Yes, but there is very little else you can do in that situation. Either apologise for it (even the slightest of errors) or you face FIA going ape shit with fines and disqualifications.

When Lewis had 4th in hand when he should have had third, sure he should have made it clear that he deserved 3rd...but there was so much confusion that Lewis clearly didnt know if he was supposed to be 3rd or 4th and, with the instructions of his team, he didnt say anything.

It just doesnt seem like he 'deserves' being stripped of a 3rd (or 4th) place after all the effort he and every engineer on the team made. He came from LAST place to 3rd, and after all that, he had it stripped...imo its just FIA exerting power because they feel embarrassed that they were made a 'fool' of...in fact their press releases are essentially to this effect when they explain why McLaren dont deserve any points. But how is that motor racing? FIA is a governing body, not a toddler. Mistakes are made, some severe, some lapses in judgement...and hundreds of engineers pay the price for that.

 

[Flannen]

I do think that they are punishing Hamilton because they don't like him, hence the change in the rules, which is really unfair. And if something like that was to happen in an Englsih football league, a lot more would be said about it.

Like I said, I don't know enough about it to have actually understood what happened in that situation, but I do get it now, so thanks 🙂

 

[sk]

Hamilton got disqualified for lying to the officials, that is a rather bad thing to do so I have no problem with that.

If he only had told the officials the true story, that he stopped and let Trulli pass him again because the team wasn't sure his original pass was legal or not, nothing would have happend.
In worst case he would have got the forth place.

But instead they changed their story and said that he had no intention to let Trulli pass again. Even though Hamilton had already told the press the original story and the radio traffic between Hamilton and the team confirms it.
The whole team should be banned for stupidity... 😉

But yeah, it has been a fun season so far. Great to see some new teams at the top for a change.
My guess is that Brawn GP won't be able to keep it up for the whole season though. Don't think they have enough money to develop the car enough during the season.
I kinda hope I'm wrong... would love to see Jenson winning it all.

/SK

 

[Silum]

The whole team should be banned for stupidity... 😉

Agreed. But its hardly motor racing. It should be just about whats going on on the track, not politics. There are so many decisions like this that just remove any twinge of respect I have for the FIA.

My guess is that Brawn GP won't be able to keep it up for the whole season though. Don't think they have enough money to develop the car enough during the season.
I kinda hope I'm wrong... would love to see Jenson winning it all.
/SK

Im not sure to be honest. They clearly had the advantage with their rear defuser...and they built a car in a month which is more competetitve than everyone...I'd say Brawn have it right and this is Jensons best hope for a win. Red Bull are pretty exciting too though now that they've got the rear defuser sorted, and im sorta happy for them getting their first win aswell as a 1-2. But Braun GP with 3rd and 4th are obviously not going anywhere soon... exicting stuff anyway!

 

[sk]

Agreed. But its hardly motor racing. It should be just about whats going on on the track, not politics. There are so many decisions like this that just remove any twinge of respect I have for the FIA.

It's true that the last couple of years has been hopeless. Way too many penelties for every little thing.
I do think though that lying to the officials are pretty bad.

Im not sure to be honest. They clearly had the advantage with their rear defuser...and they built a car in a month which is more competetitve than everyone...I'd say Brawn have it right and this is Jensons best hope for a win. Red Bull are pretty exciting too though now that they've got the rear defuser sorted, and im sorta happy for them getting their first win aswell as a 1-2. But Braun GP with 3rd and 4th are obviously not going anywhere soon... exicting stuff anyway!

Sure, if anyone can do it so is it Brawn.

And hopefully will Red Bull not mess up their car that seems pretty good without that special defuser.

Very curious to see how fast Ferrari and McLaren can create something similiar.

/SK

 

[Silum]

I do think though that lying to the officials are pretty bad.

That's where fines come in. Taking points that were legitimately won where Lewis puts his LIFE on the line racing around a track at 200mph doing his team proud...seems ludicrous to me.

FIA's a winy little toddler, they need to grow a pair

 

[sk]

But who cares about a fine? They can afford that. Especially a team like McLaren.
Taking points away is much more effective and is actually a real punishment for them. Which I think they deserv in this case.

/SK

 

[Atren]

Misled? Hamilton outright lied to the officials...twice! Not only he lied, but also Mclaren as well. Just one point? Oh, so you convinently forgetting the fact that Trulli lost all his points as well as his integrity was questioned? He should pray to whatever god he believes him that disqualified is the only punishment he will get.

Mclaren situation is darker, Ryan has taken the blame for it and now been sacked. Whitmarsh is now also in line of fire and the entire timing of this incident is very bad for Mclaren. Their probation ended at end of 2008 if I recall right and now this in the very next race after probation is not good for them. I doubt they will be banned from the championship, but they wont get away without punishment I am certain.

 

[XDruX]

I miss Schumacher. I started watching F1 a long time ago, when I was still a kid and I always enjoyed to see what they called in France "le diable rouge" (the red devil).
Then, Alonso started to annoy me and Schumacher retired...

But I have to admit that this new season seems to be indeed very different and have some promises in it. The old F1 with great races. I think I'll try to watch it again (while trying to forget about all the stories, cheats and so on that are hiding behind those races...) 😀

 

[Silum]

Misled? Hamilton outright lied to the officials...twice! Not only he lied, but also Mclaren as well. Just one point? Oh, so you convinently forgetting the fact that Trulli lost all his points as well as his integrity was questioned? He should pray to whatever god he believes him that disqualified is the only punishment he will get.

Mclaren situation is darker, Ryan has taken the blame for it and now been sacked. Whitmarsh is now also in line of fire and the entire timing of this incident is very bad for Mclaren. Their probation ended at end of 2008 if I recall right and now this in the very next race after probation is not good for them. I doubt they will be banned from the championship, but they wont get away without punishment I am certain.

See, do you think all that is appropriate for a sport? Shouldn't motor racing be bigger than that?

Things done after the race (lying in this case) shouldnt effect what happened in the race. The problem with the FIA is that they hold the points over your head almost like a treat for doing well.

Its the equivalent to a football player doing something terrible on the pitch but getting away with it, then lying about it later...the team doesnt lose the win or have goals subtracted. The sport should be what it is without the FIA imo degrading the sport... not necessarily on this alone, but on so many of their decisions.

 

[Friendly Lurker]

Button injured in horrific F1 accident

Damn, that looks pretty bad.

 

[Silum]

3 out of 4 for Jenson!

He's doing his country proud.

 

[Fusions2]

Am I the only one who finds Lewis Hamilton quite annoying?

I know he's a great driver and won last year but sometimes I feel like they give him too much praise. Poor Jenson Button has been really overshadowed by his arrival until this year. I think its fantastic that Jenson is finally winning races, he's had some crap years on the Grand Prix and now is having his turn to shine.

Also not sure what the hell is going on with Kimmi this year he seems to be doing even worse than last year, I've barely heard anything from him in the races so far. Still much better now its all changed it makes F1 so unpredictable.

 

[Silum]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyn_mi1jHoE"]YouTube - BBC F1 Title Sequence Theme 2009 Full (Official)[/ame]

^^ God i love the BBC.

So... Jenson with 41 points. Even after the recent wave of technical improvements and adjustments, Brawn are still on top!

 

[Friendly Lurker]

I haven't really been watching Formula 1 but Michael Schumacher is replacing Massa on Ferrari so that should be pretty interesting!

 

[sk]

Wow, that's a suprise. Never thought he would do that.

But I do think it's great, should be very interesting to see. 🙂

/SK

 

[Silum]

I haven't really been watching Formula 1 but Michael Schumacher is replacing Massa on Ferrari so that should be pretty interesting!

I very much highly doubt that, Shumi's done his thing, and there are plenty of ferrari test drivers who are ready to step up. It is a rumour thats running around though.

So....


Big news in F1:
End of the road for BMW F1

Eh, not sure they'll be missed.

Last GP:

Congrats Hamilton! Totally deserved it, within a couple laps he had passed who he had needed to and was making good use of the revitilised McLaren. Was great to watch, no more oversteeering hell from the last row for Lewis, and every point he wins is a help for Button. Come on England!

01 Jenson Button 70
02 Mark Webber 51.5
03 Sebastian Vettel 47
04 Rubens Barrichello 44
05 Nico Rosberg 25.5
06 Jarno Trulli 22.5
07 Felipe Massa 22
08 Lewis Hamilton 19
09 Kimi Räikkönen 18
10 Timo Glock 16

 

[sk]

I very much highly doubt that, Shumi's done his thing, and there are plenty of ferrari test drivers who are ready to step up. It is a rumour thats running around though.

That's what I thought.
But the news is both on the Ferrari site and Schumacher offical page so...

It's too bad about BMW. I'm sure they could have bounced back next year.
But yeah, formula one (and I) will survive without them...

/SK