Anyone here an F1 fan?

[FIFARay007]

I just got into it a few years back when I won a trip to Indy to see the first Grand Prix race in the US in 16 years. I never liked car racing before, and I still have no respect for the "I only take left hand turns and race for 500 laps" people, but there's something about F1 that's intriguing. Didn't know if I'm alone on this, so are there any more fans out there?

[mhtwins113]

Used to be, but my interest has cooled. I was really a front-running Schumacher fan, so since his dominance has declined, so has my interest.

[King-James]

Used to be, but my interest has cooled. I was really a front-running Schumacher fan, so since his dominance has declined, so has my interest.

Same here.

I've been turned off by the rule changes of the last few years too. Difference in points between winning and 2nd is the same as 2nd and 3rd, which is lame IMO. Thought the tire manufacturers began to be far too important - basically turned into a coin toss as to whether your tire manufacturer was having good times or not, to determine how well your team would do. And it became more and more impossible to pass. It's really lame to me to see a race result determined mostly by pit stops, qualifying, and the first 1/10th of the first lap. I found it was just as interesting to just pay attention to the internet live timing as it was to watch it on tv!

[johno]

BMW WILLIAMS FOR LIFE!!!

JPM and FA are my favorite drivers... MS ain't bad either... I think he'll be better this year than last, but he won't be the top dog.

[FIFARay007]

BMW WILLIAMS FOR LIFE!!!

JPM and FA are my favorite drivers... MS ain't bad either... I think he'll be better this year than last, but he won't be the top dog.

Alonso is still amazing, but if Kimi's car can keep up with him this year, I think he'll take the whole thing. Look at the first race, started in 22nd, and worked his way up to 3rd. Last year the only reason he didn't win was cuz his car crapped out a few races. Hopefully he'll do better this year, and then hopefully next year too with Renault! Of course since Red Bull bought out the Metros, I'm wondering if I have to change my alliegiance from Renault to Red Bull. :rolleyes: Well, maybe I'll wait til they start finishing in the top 8.

[Achtung]

I've been following McLaren for about six years now. Really got into them because of Hakkinen, he was just so cool and a perfect foil for the arrogance of Schumacher (who, I must admit, is a brilliant driver himself). I was so pissed last year every time Kimi couldn't win a race because his car crapped out on him, and it doesn't seem to be a lot better for him this year, although I guess at least a crash was to blame. Kinda makes me wonder if he's a bit overhyped. Rumor is that he might go to Ferrari and leave JPM and FA at McLaren in 2007.

Right now Renault just seem so hot, though they do seem beatable unlike Ferrari a few years back. Consistency is the key, just like in any sport really.

[Toon³]

BMW WILLIAMS FOR LIFE!!!

JPM and FA are my favorite drivers... MS ain't bad either... I think he'll be better this year than last, but he won't be the top dog.

It's not BMW Williams anymore, its either BMW Sauber or Williams.

Plus Frank Williams is a Newcastle supporter.:D

[Achtung]

Of course since Red Bull bought out the Metros, I'm wondering if I have to change my alliegiance from Renault to Red Bull. :rolleyes: Well, maybe I'll wait til they start finishing in the top 8.

I'm keeping an eye on Toro Rosso (Red Bull's development team) since they have Scott Speed, and its kind of cool to see an American in F1.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

I love F1 and particularly the new rule changes. I'm a BMW guy, so my allegience is now with BMW Sauber. Hopefully they will be able to get back into the swing of things and improve with the new backing.

[prymetyme]

I must admit its pretty cool to watch, nascar sucks.

[Jay44]

Yeah, I am a fan. I liked watching Schumi and Ferrari. I do find some of the rules changes kind of lame. Like no changing tires throughout the race and the lack of passing kind of sucks. But F1 racing has the sexy globetrotting image that overcomes a lot of that stuff.

[FIFARay007]

Yeah, I am a fan. I liked watching Schumi and Ferrari. I do find some of the rules changes kind of lame. Like no changing tires throughout the race and the lack of passing kind of sucks. But F1 racing has the sexy globetrotting image that overcomes a lot of that stuff.

Well they brought back the tire changing this year, and to be honest, I first thought the new qualifiers was a bad idea, but after watching a few of them, I think it can work.

If anyone caught the first race, it was very exciting, with Alonso cutting off Shumi during the last lap, and Kimi coming from last place to 3rd. Can't wait for Melbourne this weekend!

[Jay44]

How are they doing qualifying now?

[FIFARay007]

The qualifiers now are broken up into 3 parts.

Part 1 - All cars are on the track trying to set fastest lap times. At the end of the 15 mins, the 6 cars with the slowest lap times fill grid lanes 17-22.

Part 2 - After a 5 min break, the remaining cars go out again, and after 15 mins, the 6 cars with the slowest lap times fill grid lanes 11-16.

Part 3 - After another 5 min break, the remaining 10 cars go out for 20 mins to determine who fills grid lanes 1-10.

The fuel strategy is very important here, as those drivers knocked out in the first 2 parts can refuel to any level they want before the race. For those competing in Part 3, they must start the session with the amount of fuel they want to start the race with, and therefore will be refueled after qualifiers. So if they run very light on fuel before Part 3 in order to get a quick lap time, they will have to start the race low on fuel and have to pit early.

I think this method truely identifies the drivers who are best on a course, as they have a few laps to get a fast time.

[Uniteder]

me Iam a huge fan was even to the recent f1 grand prix in Bahrain awesome sounds :D

[FIFARay007]

Renault 2nd and 3rd in the grid! Race is on Speed TV at 11pm Eastern time.

[King-James]

With having all the cars out for qualifying, can't teams just draft off of each other to get a faster time? I know the draft slows them down 99% of the time, but surely if they timed it right (which has been done years ago) they could make it so they just got the effect on the long straightaway. I remember teams doing this at Indianapolis (F1) a while back.

[johno]

Alonso and Renault will run away with things again this year, if this keeps up the constructor's championship might be done in a couple months!

[bestbecks]

I've been wondering if anyone 'round here liked F1. I love it, personally. I liked BMW-Williams, but we all know how that relationship ended up. Jenson Button and Jacques Villaneuve are my favorites, but JV sucks(although he has had a decent start to the season), and Button just needs to change teams. I was ready for his switch to BMW-Williams, was highly disappointed when I found out it wasn't happening. This year I'm going for BMW (I've always liked them the most) and Honda, I'm having so much trouble deciding who is my number 1 favorite.

PS. Did anyone catch the Aussie Grand Prix? ******** Button, why? Dear God why?

[FIFARay007]

With having all the cars out for qualifying, can't teams just draft off of each other to get a faster time? I know the draft slows them down 99% of the time, but surely if they timed it right (which has been done years ago) they could make it so they just got the effect on the long straightaway. I remember teams doing this at Indianapolis (F1) a while back.

Yea, and that's kind of the point. Previous years where you were given one lap to set a fast time, it wasn't true race conditions. Now, you essentially give teams a few laps to belt out one fast lap time. Plus, fuel weight becomes more of an issue. I personally like it.