F1 2015

etifosi wrote: In reply to alfadriver: If I wasn't drunk I'd be offended by the inference that I would cheer for crashes. Whatever kind of shiny happy person you think I am, I'm not THAT kind of shiny happy person.

It did kind of suck that the Ferrari crowd did cheer that pretty wildly. I even had a McLaren/Mercedes shirt I got there on.

My wife really enjoyed the win- but she is an Alonso fan, not a ferrari fan. The day he won his first drivers championship, we were in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Everyone cleared into the streets when he won, and many were shocked that my wife not only knew, but was just as happy as they were.

Now she is back to being a McLaren fan. Whew.

alfadriver wrote: Now she is back to being a McLaren fan. Whew.

Nothing has tested my McLaren fandom more than resigning him!

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

alfadriver wrote: Now she is back to being a McLaren fan. Whew.

Nothing has tested my McLaren fandom more than resigning him!

I can't figure Alonso out. Early on he seemed to mostly have trouble with Spanish to English interpretation. He just didn't speak english well enough to realize he was saying things that sounded rather crass. Then it seemed like "insiders" would say more and more that he was crass. The whole blow up in 2007 seemed just weird.

IDK I think he may still be the best driver in F1 but seems to have just made bad decisions since Renault.

etifosi wrote: In reply to Advan046: Passion, balls, money: These are the 3 things one must possess in order to survive in F1. You must maintain sufficiently monstrous levels of all 3 at all times. I went to the "Monsters of Rock" Tour as a teen, wanting to see Eddie Van Halen play guitar brought me into the gate. Should Dokken have gotten the same Cheddar? (I soon realized that Metallica should have made the most based on how awesome they were that day.) Remember again that the guy who sold F1 2X that I know of, and still somehow controls it, would not give them a cent let alone extra $ if they didn't demand and command it. Ferrari just happens to Command it by being the headliner. Think of the Exorbitant Tifosi Tax as a perfect attendance award for being there pre-Bernie. I too would like to see a more just distribution of assets in Formula One to ensure sustainability and the happiness of everyone in our whole society in general. But as it remains, I can merely sit back and watch. At least F1 I want to watch and pay attention to as it doesn't make me furious (usually) as compared to our whole society in general. It appears as if the F-Troop will lose fans merely by my support.*see alfadriver & Adrian's previous reactions + Browns fan + go ELIO!

I think the only response I have to you man is; meh? I would slowly ramp down their payment to match what every other team gets and let Ferrari choose.

You know, see if they have enough passion balls and money to stop taking the money and race on an even playing field. Kind of odd to be so passionate about being the best when you are getting your cash advantage every year.

EDITCouldn't remember the guys name but now I do. This all reminds me of Lance Armstrong. Everyone is happy to sing praises while ignoring the regular injections he got. Ferrari just gets a different injection. Also, in this case the Ferrari injection is legal.

admittedly Lance was / is an shiny happy person, but what injections did he get … I figured he was blood doping, which really can't be tested for very well ? was it HGH ?

after it looked like he was going to fall by the wayside, I stopped following the saga

Advan046 wrote:

etifosi wrote: In reply to Advan046: Passion, balls, money: These are the 3 things one must possess in order to survive in F1. You must maintain sufficiently monstrous levels of all 3 at all times. I went to the "Monsters of Rock" Tour as a teen, wanting to see Eddie Van Halen play guitar brought me into the gate. Should Dokken have gotten the same Cheddar? (I soon realized that Metallica should have made the most based on how awesome they were that day.) Remember again that the guy who sold F1 2X that I know of, and still somehow controls it, would not give them a cent let alone extra $ if they didn't demand and command it. Ferrari just happens to Command it by being the headliner. Think of the Exorbitant Tifosi Tax as a perfect attendance award for being there pre-Bernie. I too would like to see a more just distribution of assets in Formula One to ensure sustainability and the happiness of everyone in our whole society in general. But as it remains, I can merely sit back and watch. At least F1 I want to watch and pay attention to as it doesn't make me furious (usually) as compared to our whole society in general. It appears as if the F-Troop will lose fans merely by my support.*see alfadriver & Adrian's previous reactions + Browns fan + go ELIO!

I think the only response I have to you man is; meh? I would slowly ramp down their payment to match what every other team gets and let Ferrari choose. You know, see if they have enough passion balls and money to stop taking the money and race on an even playing field. Kind of odd to be so passionate about being the best when you are getting your cash advantage every year. EDITCouldn't remember the guys name but now I do. This all reminds me of Lance Armstrong. Everyone is happy to sing praises while ignoring the regular injections he got. Ferrari just gets a different injection. Also, in this case the Ferrari injection is legal.

I think we'd all like to see that. But I think etifosi's point isn't that it's fair for Ferrari to get extra money, just that that's the way it is. They bring in a lot of fans and attention to the sport. Bernie and the powers that be need those fans and attention, so they give Ferrari extra money. It's worth it to them. Is it fair from a sporting standpoint? Hell, no! But it's business, and they are free to conduct it any way they want. If the other teams don't like it, they can find another sandbox to play in. And if you're Ferrari, you are damn sure going to take the money, too!

Of course, it's also a perfectly legitimate reason to root against Ferrari, as well. As legitimate as any other reason we pick the teams we like and don't like.

wbjones wrote: admittedly Lance was / is an shiny happy person, but what injections did he get … I figured he was blood doping, which really can't be tested for very well ? was it HGH ? after it looked like he was going to fall by the wayside, I stopped following the saga

He admitted to blood doping.

In reply to Advan046:

You would never even have known about the Exhorbitant/Extortional Tifosi Tax (ETT) if the billion dollar Bernie hadn't leaked the fact in order to splinter FOTA. He likes your plan & and I feel that just like you, alpha & adrian, he would let me know where I rank with him:

I will reiterate: Bernie likes the ETT less than you but he isn't Bernie Hood who will steal from the rich to give to the poor. Are you trying to say that Bernie is helpless to help the little guys because Big Bad Ferrari cleaned him out? Did BMW & Toyota leave as a sign of their commitment to Formula Socialism?

You know, there's this thing called "the unfair advantage"....You NEVER give it up, unless mandated to do so.

Ferrari has appeared in every GP in the modern era. The only one they didn't show for was the first one, they didn't show up because of a disagreement over......STARTING MONEY! So they have a long precedent of bending promoters over the barrel....

Do you think the guy who took back the dude who cost him $100,000,000 would take extra money from Bernie? Would Toto tell MB's board to tear up the same check if it were mailed to them instead of the F-sters? How about Ernst Stavro Blofeld and his Global Domination Energy Drink Team or Frank Williams (I respect him so won't call him a funny name)?

And....have you SEEN the price of Van Halen tickets? $65 to sit on the lawn in Camden New Jersey? Someone should ramp them down.....

Anyway, I don't want to be too serious & I can almost understand 1/2 the reasons why some people hate Ferrari. I can also 1/2 way understand why some people are gay too, you can share a wardrobe, don't have to worry about the toilet seat orientation, etc.....

Mostly I just recognize the fact that between the teams & manufacturers, they spend over $1 billion to put their cars on the grid for this spectacular stoopid show that we love. Do I think that Bernie & the gang should loosen the purse-strings to ensure healthy competition up & down the grid - yes. Do I think that Ferrari deserves more money than others for being the bluest-blue chip stock in the whole exchange, yes.

Tom_Spangler wrote:

wbjones wrote: admittedly Lance was / is an shiny happy person, but what injections did he get … I figured he was blood doping, which really can't be tested for very well ? was it HGH ? after it looked like he was going to fall by the wayside, I stopped following the saga

He admitted to blood doping.

that's why I was asking what injections he was taking … when I think injections, I think something like A-Rod or Ryan Braun … or any number of football players

help me with the timeline … did he admit after he was stripped of his titles ? or before then … I know he admitted prior to being subpoenaed to appear before … what was it ? congress ?

Tom was essentially correct with one glaring exception:

Properly: your team picks YOU somehow, like Cupid's arrow when it rings true. Think Pepe Le Pew. And I don't believe a true fan of racing should root "against" any driver, that's the 2nd thing Dale Earnhardt taught me.

Our sport is randomly & ruthlessly deadly, it is physics and the clock and the track we are fighting.

(+1 internet beverage to the first to correctly guess Dale lesson #1!)

If in doubt.... Floor it?

In reply to wvumtnbkr:

No, Jean Pierre Sarte in "Grand Prix" taught me that!

Actually, Ferrari running every GP is a bit of a myth - in the early 1960s they skipped the first couple of GPs at the Glen because it was the end of the season and the championship had been determined and Enzo didn't want to spend the money. I was at the race in '63, and no Fazzaz. In 1964 Enzo sent a car, but it appeared in blue and white under the NART banner. A minor point, though.

In reply to etifosi:

No hate on Ferrari just think it lame that they think they are so awesome, the core of F1, when the only reason they stayed was if they get a handout. LOL. Like being paid to stay married makes you the more loving partner.

I like your posts, you are always welcome by me to be hype about your team! Just like the crazy guy painted blue at the Detroit Lions Game!

Go Ferarri! Go McLaren! Go Williams! Go F1!

Thank you Jim, I forgot that info & am sorry you didn't get to see Fazzaz. I can understand YOU having issues with them! I'd love to hear your F1 memories!

Advan046: I'm not sure the "only reason" Ferrari stayed was for the hand-out. Gotta love that the company sold cars to race on Sunday instead of the other way around. It doesn't deflate the myth in my eyes to remember that Enzo made the poseurs pay and bow while he secretly needed the dough so he could turn around and burn it up in racecars which he could hardly bear to witness be sacrificed at the alter of speed.

I'm liking this year already as it's nice to think your team has a fighting chance to win. They looked so improved over Australia last time out, how about the 2.4 sec pitstop!!

My wife was watching with me and said, as Quido from Cars...."pit-ah-stop."

Advan046 wrote: In reply to etifosi: No hate on Ferrari just think it lame that they think they are so awesome, the core of F1, when the only reason they stayed was if they get a handout. LOL. Like being paid to stay married makes you the more loving partner. I like your posts, you are always welcome by me to be hype about your team! Just like the crazy guy painted blue at the Detroit Lions Game! Go Ferarri! Go McLaren! Go Williams! Go F1!

I still maintain that Ferrari (along with Alfa and Renault) missed the 1980 Spanish Grand Prix, but with the help of Ferrari International Assistance it was classified as a non championship race at the height of the FOCA/FOTA war.

Advan046 wrote: I can't figure Alonso out. Early on he seemed to mostly have trouble with Spanish to English interpretation. He just didn't speak english well enough to realize he was saying things that sounded rather crass. Then it seemed like "insiders" would say more and more that he was crass. The whole blow up in 2007 seemed just weird. IDK I think he may still be the best driver in F1 but seems to have just made bad decisions since Renault.

I think the issue was that he acted like a spoiled brat at McLaren who threw his toys out the pram when he was upstaged by that young whipper snapper Hamilton. Now, to be fair Ron was every bit as guilty as he was, and I still support McLaren with Ron back in charge, go ahead, call me a hypocrite, it's fair!

The other thing is yes McLaren were caught with the Ferrari manuals, but Alonso helped throw them under the bus, and again with the FIA the punishment far far outweighed the crime and was greater than similar crimes. $100m fine, loosing their points from the 07 constructors championship which cost them more $$'s. Then when Renault did the same thing and had McLaren info and found guilty by the FIA the punishment was.....Zip, Zero, Nadda.

Then let us not forget Crashgate where old Fred benifited from another round of cheating. Piquet Jr has his little oppsie to help Fred win.

So no, I don't like Fred. He's willing to use cheating to help himself, acts like a spoiled brat when he doens't get his on way and throws others under the bus to help himself.

Now, in his defense, I think he's served penance for his 07 crimes and crashgate wasn't his doing. HE's back at McLaren and I want the best for the team. I will also defend his choices of team since leaving Renault at the end of 07. Those choices may have been poor in hindsite, but they really did appear to be the best choices at the time. HEading McLaren was certainly the right choice. Had Ron been an adult one of the McLaren boys would have won the WDC that year not Kimi. He had to go at the end of the year so Renault was the best choice and one legal win, one stolen and 5th in the WDC really wasn't bad for a transition year. Into Ferrari, while I don't like them they did win in 07, were champions for 5 seconds in 08 and looked to be on the up. By the time he left they were in disaray and shedding valuable team members like melting ice in summer time. Who really thought they would hit the ground running like they have this year. Eveyone said Hammy was nuts to leave McLAren for Mercedes, but it's worked out for him. Don't count out McLaren Honda yet. Everyone says the chassis looks to work really well, let them get the power unit sorted and he should be happy finishing 2nd to the superior Button

Honestly Irate Alonso and Hammy as the best two on the grid. Vettel a tick behind. Button and Bottas a tick behind Her Vettel with Kimi, Grosjean and Ricciardo a touch back from them.

Oh, I got to see them just fine in '66 and '67, when my man Jimmy beat them with a BRM H16-powered Lotus and a Lotus 49 with a rear wheel falling off.

I think Clark was an alien or something. He was gone before I got here and I've come to understand his greatness by how boring race reports were from his day: Clark on pole, Clark Fastest lap, Clark victorious.....for years.

Looking forward to the race this weekend! So bummed I couldn't make it in person this year...

47 Years ago today...........dang.......miss that guy!!!

In reply to etifosi:

Awesome photos. Yes Mr Clark seemed like the guy people sometimes talk about the best driver in the world that just happens to live in London but never even drove a car his whole life. But this guy, Mr Clark, got behind the wheel and did wonderful things. Just a marvel. I wish I could have seen him race moreso than Senna or some others.

Clark... and Mr. Foyt....

either could drive whatever they were put into... and drive it well.

I wonder if Jim Clark ever had a hankering, even for just a second or two... to get behind the wheel of one of the NASCAR rides of the day and see if he could compete......????

In reply to oldeskewltoy:

The flying Scott in Nascar!

There's a pdf with more info about this:

You know, a paranoid or conspiracy theorist could make something out of this story:

"Germany loses its F1 race

Ecclestone entered talks to move this year’s race to the Hockenheimring. But despite Mercedes offering to cover some of the losses the circuit might incur, having been disappointed by the poor turn-out at last year’s race, no deal was reached for the race to continue this year."

I can't imagine Bernie would seek any sort of revenge. That's just silly.