F1 2011-2012 Season

[Pyre]

I was looking forward to a good race from Button but perhaps qualifying was an indication of what was to come. He really has been stuck in reverse since Melbourne and shows no sign of getting out. McLaren as a whole have lacked pace or have stayed still while Ferrari, Red Bull and even Lotus have made notable progress. The only thing that McLaren did get right and finally was the pit stop. As a McLaren fan, I just hope they can sort out their troubles before it's too late for them to do anything.

[boris]

..., especially since webber won!! It was a great pass on alonso but what impressed me was alonso's onboard replay of the pass - countersteering with webs on his outside wheel was pretty impressive.

well if webber's pass had been on maldonado he probably would not have won as he would have been pushed out the race - like it happened to perez.
webber and alonso really show respect for each other on the track. i don'T remember a situation where they crashed althogh there were some tough fights and "hard" passes.

[DoozerUK]

Maldonado need a ban I reckon. He's a bit of a liability and proper punishment.

[readonly]

If Williams' working atmosphere is still the same as in the 90s / 00s, times will soon get tough for both Maldonado and Senna. Some Friday practises will be done by test driver Valtteri Bottas, this is seen as a subtly pressure especially on Senna.

By the way, everybody heard of that almost fatal crash of Marussias test driver Maria de Villota? As far as I remember, this ist the worst injury in F1 since Massa (2009 Hungary, head injury after his helmet was hit by a suspension spring), M.Schumacher (1999 Silverstone, broken leg, crash asfter having a sticking gas pedal) or Panis' crash in Canada 1996 (two broken legs). How could that happen?

[DoozerUK]

By the way, everybody heard of that almost fatal crash of Marussias test driver Maria de Villota?

Yeah. apparently she suddenly accelerated and went under a support truck. Nasty!
It was her first time driving the car, so might have had a foot slip on the accelerator or something.

[hemingway]

Yeah she lost her eye unfortunately so probably no more racing for her.

[boris]

the reason for that horrible crash is easy to find.
a few years ago test drives in f1 got banned due to financial reasons.
there are just a few km straight-line allowed. for those rides the teams get on airfield or small airports. as there are no pitlanes the trucks for the cars and logistic stuff are right beside the track.
that's just why this could happen...

it would be much better to have a test day after every 2nd or 3rd race on the race track on monday. that cannot be that expensive because all the teams' stuff is right there...

[readonly]

There's an article in the print version of SPEEDWEEK. The loading ramp was opened at half level (approx. 70cm high, a F1 is max. 95cm), it's an easy rule every truck driver learns in their education: never do that! A team member of another team said: "During our aero tests our service trucks are parked in a way that a collision is impossible."

De Villota had to make a 120° turn from the track towards the truck, then should have stopped and pushed backwards into the team tent. According to the article, most people think of a handling error: the anti-stall-system that prevents the engine from stalling by a temporary raise of engine speed may have surprised de Villota. So the car accelerated up to 50kph and crashed in an angle of about 40° into the truck ramp. Others believe that she might have pulled the clutch too late.

[boris]

as seen it not impossible. unfortunately.

racing cars have to ride on the race track and not on airfields...
pitlanes are essential for the safety of drivers and mechanics. not to imagine she would have crashed into the team's tent.

[hemingway]

anti-stall doesnt turn the gearbox it pulls the clutch at the same time. These cars are very difficult to drive so it could be driver error as easilly as it could be a malfunction.
Doesnt matter either way - it's a shame that she's hurt but fortunate that she survived.


edit: Driver error - http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/07/marussia-report-car-not-at-fault-in-di-villota-testing-accident/

[DoozerUK]

edit: Driver error - http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/07/marussia-report-car-not-at-fault-in-di-villota-testing-accident/

Oh dear.

[hemingway]

Another close race in Germany last weekend, although alonso drove well and took the win from pole. Looks like Ferarri are hitting their stride mid-season. Vettel and Button had a good scrap in the closing stages, but Vettel passed Button off the race track and was later penalised 20secs which dropped him to fifth or so. Good news for Kimi Raikkonen who got promoted to 3rd.

Kobayashi drove a great race in the sauber to finish fourth which is great for him. Perez also got the other sauber into the points finishing 6th which is a good boost for the team. 20 points in the constructors championship puts them well ahead of their nearest rivals williams and force india.

Looking forward to the Hungarian GP this weekend. Not a great track really but I'm sure it will be tight at the front as usual for 2012.

[DoozerUK]

It was good to see Jensen up there and scraping again.
I think Vettels penalty was pretty harsh!

[hemingway]

It's just a drive-through, but because it happened within the last 5 laps he gets 20secs added instead. His pace was superior to buttons at that stage of the race anyway, so if he had been a little more patient (I know, not a common trait in racing drivers right?) he certainly would have passed before the finish.

Bottom line is you must have two tyres inside the white line to execute a pass. Even if he went off to avoid a collision, he would have had to conceed the position... and Jensen certainly wasn't leaving any room on the outside

[boris]

jenson actually left him space as he did not accellerate hard. just after seb left the track jb opened the throttle. but it was too late. seb passed.
seb could have stayed on track and ride on the curbs and take the pass on the brake in the next corner.

but +20 sec are too hard. 10 would have been enough - just to get back behind jenson on 3rd.