The Formula 1 Thread

[Oz_X]

The 2012 F1 season starts tomorrow morning with practice in Melbourne for the Australian GP on Sunday. I have been following closely F1 for 2 seasons and now my wife is really into it as well. We have been both jonsin' for our F1 fix.

I think F1 is the premiere Motorsport event. It is the most money spent and highest technology you can get in a racecar. Ferrari's F1 budget is estimated to be about $800 MILLION Dollars a YEAR. It is also, arguably, the most physical demanding sport on the planet. Yes, I'll say that again, the most physically demanding sport on the planet, of ANY sport. The drivers endure up to 5gs turns 17-20 times a lap, usually about 50-60 laps which can last 2-3 HOURS. F1 is not big in the US but that may change with a new track this year in Austin, TX.

If you haven't been into F1 its a good time to start with the season beginning. F1 is also in the middle of somethin that happens once a lifetime the phenomena know as Sebastian Vettal. He is on his way to being the best all time F1 driver. He has been F1 Driver's champion 2 years in a row and keeps adding records to his name, (youngest this, youngest that). He's amazing and RED BULL RACING seems to be unstoppable. Really a lot going on in F1. Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of the money that is in F1, McLaren was fined $100 MILLION dollars by the FIA (F1's Governing Body) for using leaked secret technical documents belonging to rival Ferrari. Ya, there are high stakes here.

Anyway if you're a fan, I would like to chat about the season here with like-minded F1 fans.

BTW my fave driver is not Vettal, but Jensen Button (Mclaren). Last year at the Canadian GP he came from LAST place on a rainy track to win on the very last lap. Moved up like 17 positions!

 

[TheFauxFox]

I followed Vettal in 2010 a little, but I have no way to watch F1. All I get are highlights and stats...

 

[J Everett]

Last I had heard, Ecclestone was pulling the F1 contract from Circuit of the Americas; I think that was in November or so. Did they resolve the contract dispute? I haven't been following F1 that closely the past few years. Been getting back into WRC.

I also heard there was going to be another F1 race on the schedule in the New York/New Jersey area. We also used to have the Long Beach Grand Prix race, which was a street race like Monte Carlo through Long Beach California, but F1 hasn't run there in a few years.

 

[Oz_X]

Last I had heard, Ecclestone was pulling the F1 contract from Circuit of the Americas; I think that was in November or so. Did they resolve the contract dispute?

Its 19th on the schedule - you can't buy tickets yet but I think they are putting people on a list for purchasing. I think its still up in the air

 

[Oz_X]

This is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_of_the_Americas :

In November 2011, Bernie Ecclestone expressed what he called "minor" doubt over the future of the United States Grand Prix in Austin after "disagreements inside the [management] company".[20] These issues were later confirmed when construction of the circuit came to a halt because of a dispute between the circuit owners, promoter Full Throttle Productions, and Formula One Management.[21] Promoter Tavo Hellmund admitted that his company had been in breach of its contract with Formula One Management since May 2011. The situation further escalated when state comptroller Susan Combs described the planned Grand Prix of America as a threat to the race in Texas, and said that the first $25 million payment from the state sports fund would only be made available after the first Grand Prix at the circuit, despite having previously promised to make the funds available in time for the inaugural event.[22] Bernie Ecclestone later issued an ultimatum to the owners and organizers: find a solution before the December 7 meeting of the FIA World Motorsport Council or else risk being removed from the 2012 calendar. Eccelstone emphasized that if the Circuit of the Americas were removed from the calendar, it would not be added again at a later date.
On December 7, 2011, the World Motorsport Council released the final calendar for the 2012 season, with the Circuit of the Americas retaining its November 18 date. Further details revealed that the race investors, McCombs and Epstein, had reached a new arrangement with Ecclestone, with work on the circuit scheduled to resume immediately.[23] As a part of the arrangement, organizers paid the sanctioning fee for the 2012 race one year in advance as a show of good faith.

 

[RATTFINK]

Wooohoo F1!! Can't wait.

I love WRC too

Sent using telepathy.

 

[J Everett]

That's awesome! Compared to the other F1 race locales worldwide, Austin is in my (technically, all of our) backyard. I will finally have the chance to live out a dream of attending a race in person!

 

[Oz_X]

Ok after today's qualifying it looks like the Red Bull domination has ended. And there's a level playing field again. Kudos to Mclaren but I will be really bummed if Hamilton is the points leader all year.


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[Oz_X]

Either way I am happy the F1 season is back. It's truly the epitome of man and machine, technology and skill


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[RATTFINK]

Ok after today's qualifying it looks like the Red Bull domination has ended. And there's a level playing field again. Kudos to Mclaren but I will be really bummed if Hamilton is the points leader all year.


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This I like. This should be a great season.