Grand Prix Season stops before it starts!

DavidKlyne
DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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edited March 2020 in Sports #1

Looks as if the Australian GP has been postponed after someone form the McLaren team tested positive for the Corona Virus. There is serious doubt about the next two races as well. Given that the F1 promoters are trying to cram in more and more races there is nowhere to move them to! 

David

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  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #2

    I’m really surprised they didn’t cancel 2 weeks ago before shipping hundreds of tons of equipment and thousands of people

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #3

    Oneputt

    I expect its down to one word "money"? I agree they should have seen this coming especially with the Italian teams!!! Simon is concerned about his trackside IT team as I think one of them might have been tested although it seems one one person from another team was confirmed with the virus. 

    David

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #4

    Of course it’s down to money but I’m sure it must cost millions to cart the circus around the world.  

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,299 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #5

    Certainly was money, there was a lot of vacillation between the hosts and the FIA and formula one over financial responsibility. They were helped in there decision though by Seb and Kimi flying back to Europe and Mercedes saying neither of their drivers would take part. Otherwise who knows what the decision might have been. Apparently Hamilton was against taking the circus to Australia,

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited March 2020 #6

    Disappointing though it is, it is comforting that I shan't have to endure interminable football on TV. Every cloud and all that.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,636
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    edited March 2020 #7

    No one forces you to watch "interminable football", CY, you can ways swap channels or even switch the thing off.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2020 #8

    It seems they started to freight some equipment to Australia about a month ago and probably at that stage no one realised what would happen over the coming weeks. Four GP's cancelled thus far, they hope to resume in early May.

    David

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited March 2020 #9

    Oh no, Nell we cannot do that, You know we must get as much use out of our tele licences before they start charging oodles of filthy lucre for 'em again  money-mouth!!

  • bill
    bill Forum Participant Posts: 388
    edited March 2020 #10

    Following the times in practice sessions it does look like it will be the same boring procession as 2019.  Hopefully the changes in 2021 will make some difference.

  • bill
    bill Forum Participant Posts: 388
    edited July 2020 #11

    Mercedes one two in the practice session for the Austrian GP followed by Verstappen so no change there following lockdown.  Perhaps there will be some racing worth watching at the middle and back of the field.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited July 2020 #12

    I see Red Bull are throwing their toys out of the pram over Mercs steering gizmo.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited July 2020 #13

    I thought the 5 second penalty for Lewis's "racing incident" a bit harsh but I suppose the stewards have better access to footage and data than Channel 4 highlights to judge it by.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #14

    The trouble with the Hamilton/Albon coming together was that it was the second time in different races the same thing had happened and on both occasions it resulted in Albon being out of the race? To me it looked as if Hamilton was moving across into the path of Albon, when Albon was clearly ahead,  and that was perhaps the reason he got the penalty?

    The person I felt sorry for was Nicholas Latifi who came 11th and the only on in the race not to score a point!!!

    If Seb has many more performances like that will he last the season?

    David

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #15

    I’m a little surprised Mercedes didn’t tell Bottas to let Hamilton past and slow the field down to allow Hamilton to get 5 seconds clear of the third placed car to ensure Mercedes got first and second. There will be plenty of opportunity in the forthcoming races for Hamilton to let Bottas past for a win to repay the debt. Toto Wolff probably a bit to sporting, but its certainly the kind of thing Ferrari would do.

  • bill
    bill Forum Participant Posts: 388
    edited July 2020 #16

    Mercedes said that Bottas and Hamilton were permitted to race each other although both engines were turned down in the second half of the race to be fair to them and to preserve the engines.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited July 2020 #17

    why would he let Hamilton pass, he was fastest all weekend. 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited July 2020 #18

    Good to see that Alonso will be back next year

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #19

    To ensure Mercedes got first and second.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited August 2020 #20

    Dramatic end to the British GP the other week. "Three wheels on my wagon and I'm just rolling along. Cherokee(Dutch) after me..."  The Flying Dutchman did well this weekend.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited September 2020 #21

    After last weeks GP with all the upsets, we follow it this week with a demolition derby. It's certainly a strange season this year.

  • LLM
    LLM Forum Participant Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #22

    It was certainly a taxing race and as you say a demolition derby, even so I hope they use the circuit again next year hopefully without the carnage.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #23

    I quite like the Mugello Circuit it's a shame it's not in more regular use. We discovered it some years ago when we were staying on a campsite nearby.

    David

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited October 2020 #24

    Given the closeness of the Quali yesterday and the complexities of the track, it augurs well for an interesting race.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2020 #25

    I think using these alternative tracks have added an extra element to watching GP this year. Trouble is when all this is over they will just revert to the tracks that pay the bills!!! Apparently the are looking at replacing São Paulo  track because for some reason they don't pay to host the Brazilian GP!!!

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited November 2020 #26

    For Istanbul perhaps they need to change Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" for Ravel's "Bolero" wink

  •  viatorem
    viatorem Forum Participant Posts: 645
    edited November 2020 #27

    Interesting that the podium was occupied by the more experienced GP drivers, hats off to LH for being the class of the field winning by more than 30s on a track that neutralised any of the cars advantage. 

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited November 2020 #28

    It is a shame that the sport's governing body has regulated it to the extent that every car seems identical (apart from the paint job.) Few tracks encourage overtaking and they had to invent a system that helped the guy behind to do so.

    But well done to Lewis - keep going and set the bar even higher.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2020 #29

    One of the oft wrongly quoted information about Lewis Hamilton is that he is from Stevenage when he actually lived in Tewin and went to Peartree school in Welwyn Garden City as it is nearer to Tewin where he lived and parents still do in a very big house Lewis has had built

    just a bit more info Frank Warren boxing promoter also Marty and Kim Wilde also live there

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2020 #30

    The reason for this is that the FIA are trying to provide as level playing field as they can because the smaller teams can't compete on budget. Also in an attempt to become more environmentally responsible they have, over the years, reduced engine size and introduced hybrid technology which is aided by DRS. There are further changes for 2022 and much bigger changes in 2025. That coupled with quite severe budget cuts going forward will probably have a major impact on how F1 operates in the coming years. 

    David

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited November 2020 #31

    Grosjean's crash was certainly spectacular. It's incredible that he walked away practically unscathed.