The F1 2014 thread

[EauRouge]

Since the last one was about last season, here's a shiny new one! I haven't even seen quali yet, I've been so busy today Who's getting up in the middle of the night?

Eau - you may want to give it another try: I seem to remember you were a Juan Pabs fan and he is one of the F1 Legends featured in the current series, was watching it last night.

Personally, I like all the extra programmes you get with the sky package about racing, not just the current F1 races, so for example they are showing the season reviews again, starting with 1970 when poor Jochen won the WDC posthumously, there is the F1 legends series and so on.

Getting ready for Malaysia - will be watching press conferences later today and then getting ready for practices tomorrow. Cant wait!

I love the early morning races, I can leave the DDs and DH in bed and watch the first few laps in peace. No Mothers' Day lie-in for me!

Going to be a very interesting race I suspect, from the bits of practice sessions I have managed to glimpse today, the added excitement of humidity, temperature and possible rainfall could make it another to remember.

Last year, we had Multi 21, Lewis going into the wrong pit box, Force India retiring because of problems with wheel nuts, Alonso going off because he chose to ignore the damaged nose and ended up sleighing into the gravel trap. Aahhhh, the memories!

Dear God! just seen that Christian Horner is supposed to be dating Geri Halliwell. Geri Halliwell - has the man taken leave of his senses? Apparently, she has been 'stalking' him for some time and has finally dug her claws in and they are now a couple, despite a reconciliation in December between Christian and his partner Beverley (who is also mother to his baby daughter). That one is going to take some living down in the paddock that's for sure!

Williams not living up to earlier promise shown, not helped by Bottas getting a grid penalty for impeding Ricciardo (apparently there is some 'history' there from the earlier racing series, as the normally, happy, smiling Ricciardo said he was going to go and 'have a word' with Bottas!!!)

DH happens to be working in Bahrain for a few weeks and he and some colleagues have got tickets for next weekend's F1. Very lucky.

Wow, make sure he takes loads of photos!

Interesting about Bottas and Ricciardo. I love a good driver rivalry.

What I don't love is lingering camera shots of F1 WAGS, which we will surely get if CH is shacked up with Geri (or a bloody interview. Ugh). I know the production crew are trying to make F1 seem glamourous, but it's won and lost by computer geeks these days. They should give up the 1970s attitude.

Still in shock that Christian Horner is dating Geri Halliwell, sorry but don't seem to be able to get beyond that one. Am hoping that it will all turn out to be a bad dream........... a very unlikely couple!!

Watched a good item by Mark Webber on the beebs website about how drivers prepare for places like Malaysia, where temperatures are ridiculously high. But my absolute favourite by a long way from the Malaysian Grand Prix was Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill's version of Multi 21 using golf carts.... If you get the chance to watch it, it is so, so funny.

It was also noted by the presenters that the term 'default 13' was said by the Red Bull pitlane - coincidence that Seb is number 1 and that Dan is number 3?? I think not! so Multi has been replaced by Default for this season!!!

Looking forward to Bahrain now - be interesting to see how that pans out as a night race.

I was watching the Mark Webber bit with 3yo DD2 and she kept asking 'why is that man bare naked?' and 'why he lying on the floor?' so I was laughing through a lot of it. DD1 got up shortly after and they both enjoyed the Professor Nico bit.

Is Bahrain being a night race new? All I can remember is that it's very dull.

yup, this is the first time Bahrain is a night race - suspect that it has been changed to that because as you say, it is dull and secondly, because of high temperatures during the day.

Wonder if Ricciardo is regretting his move to Red Bull, seems like the 'poisoned chalice' that was given to Mark Webber has now moved on to him - podium for the first race he is unlikely to keep and then the awful pit stop with the loose wheel which has cost him a 10 place grid penalty for Bahrain, so his first three races for his new team have been spoilt through no fault of his own. The only comfort he can take is that he did his best and the general consensus seems to be that he was the right choice and has done at least as well as and better than expected.

Worried about Kimi - seems to have gone off the boil somewhat and the car just doesn't seem to suit him (but then it would have been designed around Alonso presumably, as he was last years 'keeper') Either that, or his new girlfriend is giving him something else to think about other than F1!!!

Cant believe the Pit wall message to Felipe - Bottas is faster than you!! Bet he was having deja vu there with the thought of Smedley's message of Alonso is faster than you....... Poor Felipe - that would never have happened had Pat Symonds been at the race that weekend. Have a feeling that could sour the whole blossoming relationship between the drivers and Williams if they are not too careful.

Lewis seems to have settled down and decided he wants to be F1 Lewis rather than rapper Lewis, was really impressed with how he drove as he hadn't finished a race in the new car until then. He is a much more gracious winner than Nico, giving praise to the team and including Nico in the compliments, whereas Nico is much more full of himself and less inclusive with his compliments. Think he has decided that he is going to go all out to win championship this year as it is obvious that the team have the upper hand at the moment and Red Bull still have some catching up to do.

Going to be an interesting season I think!

Yes, that Fernando Valtteri is faster than you message must have given him the rage.

Interesting you say that about Lewis, I've always been irritated by his thanks to the team 'and all the people back at the factory' because they sound so insincere and rehearsed. I much prefer Nico, he seems a lot more genuine.

I thought that of Lewis too and felt the same about Nico, but changed my mind after the race in Australia. I have a feeling that the friendship between the two of them is going to be somewhat strained by the end of the season as I think Nico has decided he no longer wants to be number two driver and sees his opportunity to have a decent stab at a world championship with this years car.

Unfortunately with the two cars being so good, if the majority of the podiums are divvied up between the two of them and Seb consistently scores podiums too, it is likely that he will be the one that comes out on top, so I cant see Mercedes running the 'free to race' directive for too long. There will have to come a point where they prioritise one over the other if they want to stand a chance of winning the double.

I also think that Red Bull are going to come good before too long, so the usual suspects will be fighting for the top 4 places in whatever order they finish, so again, think Red Bull are likely to want to prioritise Seb as winning 5 on the bounce which in terms of records and statistics will look better for them than letting Ricciardo win his first title. But - who knows? They may see Ricciardo as being the future of the team and Seb being on the way out as drivers are getting younger and younger. As Damon Hill pointed out, he didn't start his career until he was in his thirties and now drivers are retiring in their thirties after a 10 year or so career!

Yes, it's all very well saying that you don't favour one driver over the other, but when the chimpionship's at stake then it's a different story.

It was never going to be long before RB caught up, Adrian Newey's not exactly a moron, is he? And they've got shitloads of money. You're right though, they're going to want Seb to beat Schumi's record in the long run. That's their aim.

I know chimpionship was a typo, but am really liking the idea of it - in some cases, very apt description!!! Banana instead of champagne, anyone?

At the end of the day, Red Bull favour aero because at the majority of circuits it does give them the edge. There are a few which are more of a power circuit which would favour Mercedes on the straights, but its swings and roundabouts as what you gain in one area, you lose in the other and Red Bull are prepared to take the gamble that although they may not have the outright speed, the balance of the car compensates for it at the trickier turns.

Slightly off track (pardon the pun!) for a moment, but have recently managed to get hold of a copy of Ginny Williams book A Different Life about how they coped with the aftermath of Frank's accident and how life was before. It is a riveting read - so much so that I received it in the midday post and stayed up till 1.30am to finish reading it. It is an incredible story and she writes well, so if you can get hold of a copy, do so. I have a whole different understanding of the Williams team and family after reading it, its a very powerful and moving story.

OMG, chimpionship Whoops!

Massa and Bottas are friends again. I agree with Massa, it was a bit off having team orders so early in the season and when neither one of them is going to be fighting for the championship.

Poor Felipe, must be sick to the core that the same situation occurred again, and no matter what is said, I am sure he feels really let down that the team orders situation raised its ugly head so early and so unnecessarily this season. At least he will have his buddy Rob Smedley there this week, he was due to finish 'gardening leave' with Ferrari and take up his new post this week.

Am going to settle down and watch some of the practices shortly........ then looking forward to qualy tomorrow. Am getting used to the new engines really quickly after being pretty negative about them initially.

I think it is because I can see that the drivers are having to work harder to drive them, so it is a little like a blast from the past and reminding me of races from the seventies where it was all a little more unpredictable in terms of performance and reliability but with the benefit of a level of safety that wasn't there then, so best of both worlds.

Worrying news about the driver who passed out - similarities between horse racing and car racing world getting a little too close for comfort if some of the drivers are having to practically starve themselves to keep the overall weight down, so talent is being overlooked because of the weight penalty the taller/bigger drivers have by being tall/bigger. So someone like Massa can stay in the healthy weight range and someone like the Hulk ends up skeletal and unwell...... Weight issue needs to be sorted this year, not next. One of the presenters was saying that one of the taller drivers had told him, in confidence, that he was now at a negative body mass index. DH and I were commenting on how much weight a lot of the drivers had lost when we watched one of the first pre-race shows.

Just heard about this on the radio. Encouraging news, although I'm still cautious about getting too over-optimistic.

The weight limits are fucking stupid, there are drivers limiting their fluid intake before races and that is putting lives at risk. Something needs to be done now. Remember how awful Kubica looked when he was in F1? He looks so much better now. Webber looked better as well when he did that feature last week- not as gaunt and knackered-looking (although that was probably stress as well).

Sutil has caused a stir in the paddock by saying that he will do without his drinks bottle during the race to save weight. Hopefully, by making such a statement it will make the powers that be realise how stupid the current weight restriction is. He will no doubt be aware that some of the important F1 bods who make the rules in the sport are meeting in Bahrain this weekend and is hoping that it will come to their attention that something needs to be done. The rate they are going, in the crusade to keep weight down, I can see them putting blow up doll versions of the drivers in the cockpit and controlling the cars by remote control!!!!

Agree about Webber looking better in the feature on the Beeb - puts it into context when he said that he had gained only 1% body fat, yet the difference is immediately obvious.

News re: Schumacher, it was talked about at the top of P1 on sky, everyone pleased to have some news and positive news at that, although it goes without saying that there is a long way to go yet - but any progress in the right direction is good to hear.

Am still struggling with the Christian Horner/Geri Halliwell thing - just got to be a wind up?? Talk about opposites attract!

Nice to see Smedley on the pit wall at the practice sessions today. Getting a really good team together are Williams - just hope it pays off for them this year and they score some good points at long last.

I don't know much about Christian Horner tbh. Or Geri Halliwell for that matter. I know she's been in the gossip rags a lot over the last decade and a bit so she must have a fairly eventful personal life.

I can't wait to hear Smedley's voice over the radio again, him and Massa make such a great pair. I hope they have retirement flats next to each other when they're old

Wow! Nico on pole this time. looks like they are unintentionally alternating with who gets pole position. Dan is doing really well, 3rd on the grid before the penalty is applied and Seb is languishing in 11th but will move up to 10th - so both Red Bulls starting mid-field. Nico has definitely got the bit between his teeth and wants his first championship, so I can see there being less harmony in the team later on in the season when it comes to a point where one will be prioritised over another......

Am amazed at how quickly Dan has made the transition from Torro Rosso to Red Bull, but his attitude has been fantastic despite the bad luck that has dogged his first three races, bodes well for the future and looks like Seb is going to have some real competition on his hands with his new team mate as he is still his usual cheerful self, but is showing he is going to be no pushover. Will be good for Seb to have some real competition both inside and outside the team as the Red Bull will improve, but at the moment, he is not used to being out of qualy and starting from mid-field or not being in the fight for pole.

Well done to Williams for their achievement of getting both cars in the top ten. Nice to see Smedley there!

Well - have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the race - works really well as a night race for starters and has lots more atmosphere and then the race itself - fantastic! Plenty going on from the front to the back of the grid, good call by Mercedes at the end to let their boys race and only telling them to make sure they bring the cars home. Reminds me of the 88 season when the MP4/4 dominated and only lost one race - Monza - where Gerhard Berger won. Other than that, Senna and Prost were sharing the wins and second places and then it was the best of the rest - so almost the same situation with two races going on simultaneously.

Williams should be disappointed that they didn't do better, was expecting them to finish a lot higher, they don't seem to manage to deliver in the race, but then compared to last year, they are well ahead already with consistently scoring points.

Ferrari - wow, have a feeling heads will roll over their performance so far this season. Not looking good at all, Kimi just doesn't look comfortable with the car and Alonso seems to be dogged by problems of one sort or another, 9th and 10th was not what the team were looking for at all.

Force India - brilliant! really pleased for them. Lotus, still a long way to go and Maldonado just needs a 16 race ban I think, starting from China............. the man's a menace - collision at the start and then flipping Guttierez (sp?) car.......... Was really worried for a while as he didn't move, had visions of Senna all over again as he didnt move and then his head jerked back a little. Must have been stunned and then thank god, he was able to get out of the car.

Interesting that it is Vettel's car that seems beset with problems rather than Ricciardo's - this week Vettel was the recipient of the infamous (insert name of driver) is faster than you message, but to his credit, he moved out of the way and let Ricciardo through.

Lotus are going to get plenty of publicity with Maldonado at the wheel, but not really the sort they want sadly. The after race report with Crofty was going mad with people commenting on his latest 'incident'. Special mention to Max Chilton for finishing 13th - he said second half of race went a lot better. Apparently he had been told to change settings to optimise running and he managed to improve things, so a lesson learned for his next race, he needs to get a grip and start racing!! Makes you wonder what he has been doing for the last season and a bit really - I know he is nicknamed the mobile chicane, but he is there to race, not just to keep his record of finishing all the races (usually last!).

Shame for McLaren that both cars had to retire, same for Sauber with Maldonado flipping one of their cars and Sutil retiring but on the whole, more cars are finishing than I thought would be the case, so reliability has been a lot better than I thought it would be and we are getting more racing up and down the grid.

Lots of milestones this weekend too, Jensons 250th race, Lewis has equalled Fangio's number of wins, 5000 (think I am right that that is what the pundits said?) grand prix this weekend, etc.

Looking forward to the next one............

I think it's 23 wins not 5000!!!!!!!!!!

Great race - so good to see so much team wheel to wheel action. And I loved it as a night race - very impressive.

soz Magi Lewis has equalled Fangio's number of wins (which was 25) and it is the 5000th grand prix this weekend - the comma separated the two things, the 5000 went with the number of grand prix, not Lewis's wins (if only!!!!)

My nails are ruined. Ruined .

Bloody Maldonado. He shouldn't be allowed in F1.