F1 2008 Season Thread

Discussion in 'Automotive' started by Raul-7, Jan 10, 2008.

  1. IvanIV

    IvanIV King of all He purveys

    Apr 8, 2006
    TN
    Club:
    Sheffield Wednesday FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    me too.

    vettel did well in the rain. but one race doesn't a career make. time will tell. i'm not ready to hand vettel anything yet.
     
  2. EstebanLugo

    EstebanLugo Member

    Mar 18, 2007
    N of your DB
    Club:
    Millonarios Bogota
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    1st Black Champion and hopefully 1st Black US President. Great Weekend.
     
  3. benztown

    benztown Member+

    Jun 24, 2005
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    Well, maybe I'm jumping the gun here...anyway, I was really impressed with him this season, it wasn't only the Monza race that was impressive. Just look at this race in Brazil and how he fared against the big boys.
     
  4. Argentine Futbol

    Argentine Futbol Red Card

    Feb 21, 2003
    Old Greenwich, CT
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    why is it that his color is brought up? I really did not care or really noticed but Some of the Media pointed it out? Why don't we ever here, the First Hispanic, the first Asian? A Apart of me hopes Obama win so the Blacks won't have an excuse anymore. No more racist this and that and another part I hope he loses especially after his wife stated I finally fell American? Like tell me c.unt Obama, where has the black man prospered more than in the USA? central or south America? how about Europe or Asia? fv.ck how about AFRICA?
     
  5. IvanIV

    IvanIV King of all He purveys

    Apr 8, 2006
    TN
    Club:
    Sheffield Wednesday FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i'm hearing this at another board as well. i agree with ya' somewhat.
    but still not 100% convinced. i'd also like to see some other guys who have been the next "F1 IT" guy get their due. Nick Hiedfeld to name one...
     
  6. benztown

    benztown Member+

    Jun 24, 2005
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    Don't know if Heidfeld ever was an "it-guy". Before he entered F1, he had a couple of good tests with McLaren which got him good press, but once he was driving for Sauber, Kimi immediately beat him.

    Unfortunately, we won't see Vettel's real potential until he joins a top team. Still, the last drivers that did so well with a mediocre car were Alonso and Schumacher.

    Kubica also seems to be a bright prospect, although his last couple of races were somewhat sobering.

    Anyway, I'm looking forward to next season...with the new rules in place, we should see an even more competitive season.
     
  7. Mr Hanki's Throne

    Mr Hanki's Throne New Member

    Mar 13, 2001
    Wellington, Colo
    For few years there, it seemed a novelty driver was being introduced every year. First Indian driver. First Polish driver. First Black driver. Next year it will be something different. It seems a conscious marketing decision by F1.
     
  8. benztown

    benztown Member+

    Jun 24, 2005
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    Bernie has been saying for years that he wants a Chinese driver in F1...
     
  9. Argentine Futbol

    Argentine Futbol Red Card

    Feb 21, 2003
    Old Greenwich, CT
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    A conscious marketing decision? Does the FIA decide what drivers are eligible base on race and color? and believe me, the black population around the world is not going to drop everything and become f1 fans. Just like the black population will not get into nascar.
     
  10. benztown

    benztown Member+

    Jun 24, 2005
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    Well, first of all a driver has to be good enough...but having said that, I'm sure that Bernie is happy that Hamilton is black. It's a nice marketing gimmick. It might not have a huge effect on the popularity of F1 amongst blacks, but I'm sure there is an effect. Although I guess that nationality is a bigger factor.

    Just look what Schumacher caused in Germany or Alonso in Spain in terms of F1 enthusiasm.
     
  11. Argentine Futbol

    Argentine Futbol Red Card

    Feb 21, 2003
    Old Greenwich, CT
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    i don't think bernie cares if he's black or not. Have an effect on who's black population? the U.K? Germany and Spain are Huge to F1 regardless of Alonso and Schumacher.
     
  12. Prawn Sandwich

    Oct 1, 2003
    Bhutan
    That's just wrong - Spain didn't give a shit about F1 until Alonso came along
     
  13. benztown

    benztown Member+

    Jun 24, 2005
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    Well, I am German and I have been a big F1 fan for as long as I can remember, but with Schumacher, interest in F1 has multiplied...believe me, I was there...

    Also, keep in mind that Schumacher was the first German F1 champion ever. The only other hot German prospects before that were Stefan Bellof in the 1980s (who died in a crash before his F1 career could take off) and Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips who was really close of securing the 1961 championship, but died in the penultimate race.
     
  14. Prawn Sandwich

    Oct 1, 2003
    Bhutan
    Bellof was crazy - he still holds the lap record at the Nordschleife doesnt he? Something like 6.15
     
  15. Argentine Futbol

    Argentine Futbol Red Card

    Feb 21, 2003
    Old Greenwich, CT
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    I lived in Heidelberg from 1990 to 2001 and been to every Hockenheim race along with most of the races in Europe. I was there too but Germany was always a big F1 mecca. Just like France. when was the last time the french had a decent driver?
     
  16. benztown

    benztown Member+

    Jun 24, 2005
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    Yep, from Wikipedia:
    Another factor one has to keep in mind is how a racing driver can influence future generations of drivers.

    Bellof was Schumachers childhood racing idol and was probably a significant factor for him pursuing a career in racing. Similarly, Schumacher's success was probably a big factor for younger driver like Vettel. See, with Schumacher's success, not only F1 ratings went up, but also kart racing took off all around and more and more kids try it out.
     
  17. benztown

    benztown Member+

    Jun 24, 2005
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    That would have been Alain Prost who won his 4th and last F1 title in 1993 (which makes him 3rd most successful F1 driver of all time behind Schumacher and Fangio).
     
  18. Argentine Futbol

    Argentine Futbol Red Card

    Feb 21, 2003
    Old Greenwich, CT
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    well obviously, but that has nothing to do with today's french F1's aspirations. Just like argentina's F1 faithful. If argentina came up with another champion I don't think it will stirup that many new fans. Either you are an F1 fan or not. I can watch F1 all day but I ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT stand anyother Motorsport.
     
  19. benztown

    benztown Member+

    Jun 24, 2005
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    I obviously can't speak for the French, but I have the feeling, that in recent years, there are similarities to Italy in the sense that the majority of people aren't rooting for "their driver", but for "their team". Italy has always been Ferrari country while France seems to become Renault country.

    As for other Motorsports, I also kinda enjoy prototype racing and DTM. But of course not to the same degree as F1.
     
  20. Argentine Futbol

    Argentine Futbol Red Card

    Feb 21, 2003
    Old Greenwich, CT
    Club:
    CA Boca Juniors
    Nat'l Team:
    Argentina
    Well, I'm a BMW fan since that's all i ever owned and will ever own but Kubica is too big. In this sport every kilo and millisecond counts. He doesn't fit the mold. I think kubica lost something ridiculous like 4 kilos this year.
     
  21. XaviandXabi

    XaviandXabi Member

    May 4, 2005
    CT
    Uncompetitive? Not so much, the Ferrari engine does help it a lot not to mention the Renault chassis is decent, if they get the new Ferrari engine and design the car for it, they might be up there with the best but that will depend of the drivers they will have.
     
  22. benztown

    benztown Member+

    Jun 24, 2005
    Club:
    VfB Stuttgart
    Well, Force India also has the same Ferrari engine and look where they are. Especially since the FIA stopped further engine development, the engine has become less and less important. The money then went to improving aerodynamics.

    Also, they don't have the Renault chassis, but the Red Bull chassis. Red Bull has the Renault engine though.

    But look at Bourdais or the Red Bulls, and you see that Vettel is better than the car.
     
  23. kronic160

    kronic160 Member

    Apr 21, 2005
    Mars
    Just finished reading some of the comments. Agree with some not so with others but overall nice read.

    I think Vettel and Alonso could be a force if the renault engine gets stronger. The redbull/renault engine combo looked horrible considering what Alonso did in the last 8 races or so. So the book on Redbull Vettel will be an interesting read.

    Brazil has always been a Ferrari track so I was expecting a ferrari 1-2 regardless of where lewis finished. If the season ended anywhere else like china, Lewis would of dominated.

    And one more thing, if the stewards didn't gift wrap Spa to Massa this season would of been over in China. Since the battle was between Kimi and Lewis and Kimi crashed the penalty should of been 10 grid spots for next race. By giving the 25 seconds penalty Massa who wasn't even on pace to win got a gift. So I think the Glock gift was returning the favor.:p
     
  24. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And I'm sure like Karthikeyan he'll be a ride buyer starting on the last row every race.
     
  25. Pathogen

    Pathogen Member

    Jul 19, 2004
    Like you care.
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I miss Scott Speed. :D
     

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