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Cojawfee posted:What they should have done was hold the race on Saturday or cancel it. But TV and money. no, they should've done it earlier in the day. The race didn't start until late afternoon and by the time Bianchi wrecked it was really dark out -- not helped by the rain and clouds but in years past, it's been well into dusk by the time the race finished. There was a lot of rain out there but lack of daylight was definitely an issue, and for races like Japan, Malaysia and Australia they need to stop running into dusk without track lights just to get it into European TV windows. That is no excuse to be so risky.
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Dec 31, 2014 16:55
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| # ¿ Apr 24, 2024 04:51 |
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Mitsubishi motors is just the small poor pet project side of one of Japan's biggest mega-companies, it's only a question of how long the main company wants to keep them afloat. I think it's still a manner of pride for them too, they don't want to shutter something even if it's below par. I just wish they would make interesting cars and trucks again. Same goes for Honda. But at least the Fit is selling like gangbusters.
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Jan 5, 2015 19:39
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Alain Post posted:I don't know if it shows up in photos, but the shade of blue the Prosts used in 1998-2000 was amazing. they were a much nicer shade of blue than the Ligiers, I have a 1/18 of one of those cars and it's a beautiful blue. [edit] the old 2009 Toyota wasn't too bad either, I always liked the red/white and Panasonic of those a little.
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Jan 13, 2015 13:09
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cgfreak posted:
helps that that's possibly the most aesthetically pleasing car design in Formula 1 history, certainly for the last 25 years or so.
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Jan 13, 2015 13:20
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be nice wicka posted:the RA107 owned bones too and idk how people hated it it looks like a livery that the hippie dude in the iRacing group made for his car.
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Jan 13, 2015 23:23
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For what it's worth, an MP4/4 was also at Honda's booth at the Tokyo Auto Salon last weekend, and was in promo pictures when the McLaren-Honda deal was announced. It's an iconic car from an era when Japan loooooooved F1 the most, of course it'll be used.
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Jan 14, 2015 07:18
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Kamui looks red as a tomato in that picture too, drunk as a skunk.
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Jan 18, 2015 00:31
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Alain Post posted:You should change your username to "Wolfgang Von Tropes", btw. I guess I'm going to spend my night trying to find a gimmick F1 name change to best that. Wowzers.
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Jan 23, 2015 10:04
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no Total on there now that they're running Mercedes too I noticed.
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Jan 26, 2015 15:35
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Wirth1000 posted:
I can't decide if it looks more like a modern men's razor or a Soviet satellite. So glad the rules changed after that year.
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Jan 27, 2015 14:35
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it looks good, but let's hope they announce a sponsor soon. I mean that may not happen soon but here's to hoping.
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Jan 29, 2015 13:53
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1500quidporsche posted:Bringing back national racing colors might cause the first death by OCD. They'd all be green except for Sauber, Torro Rosso and Ferrari.
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Jan 29, 2015 23:00
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Dubs posted:Ron just announced that the current livery is just for testing and we should expect a different look, and different sponsor, for the first race. I'm trying to be optimistic for uncertain reasons but even I can't read that and think "that's what they said last year too."
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Jan 30, 2015 10:03
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Brainwrong posted:Did Larousse or Prost run a yellow and blue car? Larrousse had a few that were riots of color and involved Camel sponsorship, so maybe that. Ligier in 1996 had Parmalat as a sponsor so a lot of white, but not so much yellow. That Sauber looks quite good too. I like the paint scheme, chassis still kinda eh. I figure most of the back-half of the grid are gonna have noses like the Sauber does. Also, looks like the color scheme is reminiscent of their last four or five years' worth in terms of the angles (like on the side pod), but with new colors. I dig it.
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Jan 30, 2015 11:01
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Alain Post posted:Yeah. It's funny when it gets brought up as some kind of glory year because it was a lovely-rear end season lol. 1999-2004 cars but with current style tires on them would be perfect IMHO. I hated Ferrari so much during the Schumacher reign of terror too, but it's hilarious and awesome to see them turn back into an Italian team the last few years. Alonso also made them a like able underdog the last few years as well.
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Feb 13, 2015 12:16
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NOTICE ME If only because I'm bored tonight and want to write, I can handle all of the tracks from Canada on unless that's frowned upon in which case I'll write about a couple to be chosen later.
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Mar 7, 2015 10:22
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NOTICE MY TRACKS Round 7 - Canadian GP - Circuit Ile Notre-Dame/Gilles Villeneuve  4.361 km (2.709 mi), 70 laps The Canadian Grand Prix has been a staple of the Formula 1 calendar for years, with the round taking place at its current Montreal location since 1978. Much like Australia’s Albert Park, Montreal is a park in the middle of the St. Lawrence River that you can take the subway to during the rest of the year (the island also holds Montreal’s casino). Similar to Monza, it’s a simple course layout separated by slow corners that means both high speeds and very high brake usage -- there have been a number of high-profile brake failures in years past, including Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the Jordan in 1999 and both Mercedes cars in 2014 (Rosberg held on, Hamilton did not). The Canadian Grand Prix is usually one of the best rounds of the season -- safety cars are a common sight, and despite often being held in June, there’s a good chance of a rainstorm coming through and causing havoc. A favorite of the drivers and reportedly a hell of a party every year, the Canadian GP is deservedly a fixture on the Formula 1 calendar. Last year, a typically surprising finish to the race saw Daniel “Australian Dan” Ricciardo rocket to the front in the last few laps and take a famous first race win. Round 8 - Austrian GP - Red Bull Ring  4.3 kilometers (2.6 miles), 71 laps Even the cynics around here applauded when Red Bull helped bring the Austrian Grand Prix back last year. Despite being one of the shortest laps on the Formula 1 calendar (the circuit is 4.3 kilometers, similar to Montreal, yet last year’s pole time was 1:08.75), the Red Bull Ring has one of the best layouts in the year, owing to its heritage as an edited version of the old Österreichring. While more people know the Nurburgring as “the famous old track that killed a lot of people,” the O-ring also had a pretty grisly reputation, including claiming the life of American legend Mark Donohue in 1975. The original layout hosted the race from 1970 to 1987, and by its last season, the track was second only to Silverstone in speed. The current layout was introduced as the A1-Ring and hosted the Austrian GP from 1997-2003. This includes the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, where Rubens Barrichello was forced to do an “After you, Michael” move and let Herr Schumacher past on the last lap to take the win. After the 2003 race, there were plans to lengthen the track, and Red Bull purchased it and proved to do gently caress-all with it until 2008, when they finally rebuilt the grandstands and pits. The current Red Bull Ring retains the same tiny layout as the A1-Ring, and packs in plenty of elevation change and fast corners. The revived Austrian Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 calendar last year, but Red Bull hopes were dashed and Mercedes won once again. Round 9 - British Grand Prix - Silverstone  5.891 km (3.66 mi), 52 laps Ah, the British Grand Prix. The British Grand Prix at Silverstone was the first Formula 1 Grand Prix hosted in the first modern Formula 1 season, 65 years ago in 1950. Silverstone has not always hosted the event -- from 1964 to 1986 it rotated yearly with Brands Hatch, until (of course) politics kicked in and Silverstone took control of the British round. Silverstone is, famously, a former World War II airport, the layout based on the runways built in that era. This also means it is built in the middle of nowhere, and I’m sure our British contingent of goons can better comment on that. Despite changes to the circuit after the ultra-fast 1980s and early 1990s, Silverstone remained one of the places (along with Monza) where teams would use tiny rear wings and make time up on the long straightaways. However, the renovations for the 2010 round changed the circuit (including moving the start/finish and pit lane) and made it more Tilke-style, though it still is a fearsome and fast track. A mid-summer fixture on the calendar, the British Grand Prix has been the site of many famous moments featuring British drivers -- especially a few “track invasions” after wins by the mustachioed legend, “Our” Nigel Mansell. “Our” Lewis Hamilton is the defending race winner; his teammate Rosberg retired and Lewis’ Mercedes, duly, walked off into the sunset ahead of all others. Round 10 - German Grand Prix - ???? Another one of the traditional rounds in the traditional European grand prix nations, the German Grand Prix this year is under a cloud of speculation as the season starts. First, the history: the Nürburgring hosted Grand Prix races since 1927. After the war, the German Grand Prix entered the Formula 1 calendar in 1951, and the round was held at the Nürburgring from then until 1976. 1976 was the year of the famous near-fatal incident with Niki Lauda, and was the last Grand Prix on the fearsome long circuit. From 1977, the Hockenheimring hosted the German Grand Prix. The “old” Hockenheim was a fantastic circuit -- along with Monza and Silverstone, it was one of the “tiny wings” tracks. It was basically a long blast through the forest, interrupted by three chicanes, and then quickly around a ‘stadium’ set of hairpin corners to finish the lap. This old Hockenheim ran until 2001; from 2002, the track was modified and built around the stadium. The intimidating flat-out forest run is no more, though I personally don’t mind the new iteration as far as Tilke circuits go. What of the Nürburgring? A number of times in the ‘90s and 2000s the new short circuit hosted the European Grand Prix (as an excuse to get a second race in the Schumacher-mad German market), and from 2007 the two would share the German round - Nürburgring in odd years, Hockenheim in even years. And so that continued until this year…and the Nürburgring is, in short, in pretty big trouble financially. And after last year’s poorly attended race at Hockenheim (why? No Schumacher; none of the current German drivers are terribly popular; hyper-inflated ticket prices? Take your pick), it appears the round this year is in trouble. Will update when there’s more news. Round 11 - Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring  4.381 km (2.722 mi), 70 laps Once upon a time, the Formula 1 circus was still centered on the traditional markets of Western Europe. Sure, there were odd dalliances out to the far-flung corners of the world (Canada, the US, South Africa, Japan) but most of the races -- and interest -- centered right around Greenwich Mean Time. Enter the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Hungaroring, built in 1985. Bernie, wily capitalist that he is, wanted a race behind the Iron Curtain; enter Hungary. The government built the track in eight months, and it’s been a Formula 1 round ever since. Honestly, the Hungarian GP is traditionally one of the snoozers of the Formula 1 calendar. It’s often a procession; sure, there was one year where Michael Schumacher managed to make an extra pit stop work by pumping in inhuman qualifying laps, but, well, that’s about it. The Hungarian GP has always been a mid-season race, so it hasn’t decided championships; since it’s usually in late July or early August, it’s almost always a dry race, too. And the windy, generic layout hasn’t lent itself to exhilarating races. Hungary is also famous as the track where Felipe Massa was almost killed by a runaway spring off of Rubens Barrichello’s car. Poor Massa. But in recent years, with the 2009-now rules, the racing has been a little better. Last year, Daniel Ricciardo made a ridiculous pass to get past Hamilton and played the strategy game well to get a well-deserved win. Round 12 - Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps  7.004 km (4.352 mi), 44 laps Classic. Belgium has hosted a Grand Prix since the 1950s, with the old Spa street circuit hosting until the 1970s when, like the old Nürburgring, it was euthanized due to safety concerns. After trips to Zolder and Nivells in the 1970s, the Belgian GP returned to the modified Spa-Francorchamps we know now in 1979. Though there’s been a few modifications since then, Spa remains a classic driver’s track -- fast, yet requiring commitment and skill to navigate its many sweepers. Most of the corners are taken at speed, in 3rd, 4th or 5th gear, which differentiates the track from many modern circuits. And of course there’s the famous Eau Rouge uphill left-right-left that still can separate the men from the boys. In recent years, the event has been the “opener” of the second half of the season, coming as the first round after the traditional August break. Spa is always a must-watch race. This is partially because Spa is seemingly always five minutes away from a rainstorm covering half the track. In 1998, a first-lap incident in major rain took out 13 of the 22 cars and caused a re-start; later, Michael Schumacher tried to use David Coulthard’s McLaren as a launch ramp, which led to the two fighting in the pits. Oh, and Jordan won its first race, finishing 1-2. 2008 was another notable race, famous for the battle between Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton in the closing laps. In recent years, the passing moves coming up Eau Rouge have gotten ballsier and ballsier. Classic track, classic event, Spa is simply a must-watch every year. Round 13 - Italian Grand Prix - Autodromo Nazionale Monza  5.793 km (3.600 mi), 53 laps Just like Silverstone, this is another track and event that have been on the Formula 1 calendar since the 1950s. Every Italian Grand Prix bar one has been held at Monza, which is the home and hallowed ground of Ferrari. Monza is amazing both for the high speeds and also the history -- this circuit has seen champions from Schumacher, Alonso and Hamilton to Fangio, Clark, Andretti, Piquet, Lauda, Prost, Senna, and more claim victory and stand atop the podium. As a circuit, Monza is an incredibly high-speed locale. Besides the three chicanes, there’s only two real braking points: the Lesmo corners and the entry to the Parabolica, which leads back onto the main straightaway. Compare the number of corners here to a modern Tilke-style circuit and boggle. Of course, Monza is famous as the home of Ferrari. Well, it is the Italian Grand Prix, after all. The passion of the Italian fans is well known, even during years when the red cars aren’t favored. There’s a famous anecdote about the gathered tifosi giggling at the 1970s-era Renault turbo-powered cars, preferring the full-blooded V12s and V8s to the turbo whistle. With more pomp and circumstance than any round bar Britain, the Italian Grand Prix is a must-watch simply for the history. Round 14 - Singapore Grand Prix - Marina Bay Street Circuit  5.065 km (3.147 mi), 61 laps Welcome to the Monaco Grand Prix of Asia. The first night race in Formula 1 history, the Singapore Grand Prix quickly became a celebrity and fan favorite after it joined the contemporary calendar in 2008. The circuit runs through the heart of the Southeast Asian city-state, with the Marina Bay hotel featuring as a landmark in the background. Because it’s a night race (one-part European TV timing, one-part unique gimmick!) and because Singapore is a real high-end place, it’s also become a magnet for celebrities and partiers of all kinds. Famous acts perform concerts after the qualifying and race sessions, and the nightlife runs late from all reports. As a race, the Singapore GP usually sees pretty heavy brake and engine usage (because it has a few wide-open areas punctuated by heavy breaking multiplied by SE Asian heat and humidity) and always has safety cars thanks to it being a tight and twisty street circuit. It was manipulation of the safety car in the first race in 2008 that cost noted speedo enthusiast Flavio Briatore his job after the “Crashgate” incident, wherein he and the team ordered noted lamp connoisseur Nelson Piquet Jr to crash and help lift Fernando Alonso into the lead. Singapore is usually a decent race, bit of a procession but something I at least hope remains on the calendar. If Monaco can be a bit boring and stay on the calendar, then why not Singapore, too? Round 15 - Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Circuit  5.807 km (3.608 mi), 53 laps Another round that’s become a classic over the years, the traditional late-season Japanese Grand Prix has seen a long history of drama at one of the driver’s favorite circuits. While a Japanese GP was held at Fuji Speedway in 1976 and 1977, the Japanese round became a fixture after 1987, when it moved to the Honda-owned Suzuka Circuit in the central region of the country. After a two-year switch back to Fuji, every round since 2009 has been back at Suzuka. Thanks to its origins as a test track, Suzuka features a little bit of everything - the technical Ess curves to start the lap, the long runs through Dunlop and Spoon Curves, the fast run to and through 130R. It also is unique in its overlapping figure-8 layout. Technical like a Tilke circuit but flowing much like Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Suzuka is a great circuit and in just about every racing video game you can imagine. Between full, passionate crowds of Japanese fans and a great circuit, the Japanese GP is loved by the Formula 1 circus. The Japanese round has also been either the final round or in the final stretch of the season since the 1987 move to Suzuka, so it’s played a part in many famous title bouts. A brief listing: 1987 with the intra-Williams battle was decided when Mansell injured himself in practice; the 1989 and 1990 run-ins between Senna and Prost; the 1996 intra-Williams battle between Hill and Villeneuve; Schumacher winning in 2000 to clinch Ferrari’s first driver’s title in a dog’s age; Schumacher coming from 14th to secure the 2003 title. Last year, the race became known for a much worse reason - the accident that almost claimed the life of Jules Bianchi. Round 16 - Russian Grand Prix, Sochi Autodrom  5.848 km (3.634 mi), 53 laps Inaugurated just last year and running a circuit around the 2014 Winter Olympic facilities in the Russian seaside town of Sochi, the Russian Grand Prix is one of the newest cash-grabs by Bernie Ecclestone. Despite attempts in the past to build a circuit outside of Moscow and run the Grand Prix up there (note that this track did get built and hosts various touring car and lower single-seater formulae), apparently some geniuses decided that the streets around the Olympic village and Olympic Park would make a fine venue for the race track, and so now we have this race, contracted through 2020. Last year’s race wasn’t much to write home about. The Formula 1 grid was in shock and low spirits due to Jules Bianchi’s accident the previous week at Suzuka, it was becoming apparent that Marussia and Caterham were in financial troubles, and the circuit was a bit poo poo. Oh, and a lot of people didn’t think a race in Russia was a good idea considering their military action in Ukraine. Lewis Hamilton won, and there was some amusement thanks to the ultra-long Turn 4 and the acres of run-off space. Sochi promises to be a lot more boring than the preceding rounds on the calendar. Pardon my lack of enthusiasm. Round 17 - United States Grand Prix - Circuit of the Americas  5.516 km (3.427 mi), 56 laps A regular event on the calendar but seemingly never held at the same location for very long, the United States Grand Prix might have found a new home at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. We’ve said that before, and may say that again, but at least it’s not a street course this time. The United States has hosted GPs throughout Formula 1’s 65-year history. Certain older fans/IndyCar enthusiasts will long for the days when Formula 1 ran at Watkins Glen in upstate New York, but that circuit last hosted a Grand Prix in 1980. The U.S. also hosted a “West” round at Long Beach in the 1970s until 1983, too, but after 1980 things get funny. Around a casino in Las Vegas, then mid-summer in Dallas, Belle Isle in Detroit, and finally, the downtown of scenic Phoenix. Formula 1 left from 1992 until returning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2000, where the race was re-booted and seemingly found a home…until 2005 happened. The USGP at Indianapolis was canceled after 2007. But since 2012, we’ve had a new USGP, held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The Circuit of the Americas is an interesting and busy modern design, mixing a fast flippy-floppy first segment with a long straight and then a technical second half of the lap. There’s plenty of run-off area, and it’s all quite nicely designed and wonderfully 2010s Formula 1. It’s pretty standard current Formula 1 action, but at least it’s here and back in the United States. Round 18 - Mexican Grand Prix - Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez  4.484 km (2.786 mi), 67 laps After hosting a Mexican Grand Prix in the 1960s and then again from 1986 to 1992, the Formula 1 circus returns to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for the 2015 season. Though the circuit hasn’t been used by real top-level international racing in a few years, the largesse of Carlos Slim (the reason that Mexican drivers Perez and Gutierrez have been on the grid in recent years) has brought the track up to standard and the tour back to Mexico City. The track is known well for a few reasons -- first, its long, classic, sweeping layout and fast speeds mean it sits with tracks like Monza, Spa and Suzuka in the old-school group. Second, Mexico City sits over 7,000 feet (2,800 meters) above sea level, meaning it may be a challenge for the drivers’ fitness and for the cars. Last, because the circuit runs through a goddamned baseball stadium. Crazy. Round 19 - Brazilian Grand Prix - Interlagos  4.309 km (2.677 mi), 71 laps Another of the traditional modern rounds of the Formula 1 season, the Brazilian Grand Prix has been at Interlagos for more than 20 years. Held in Rio until 1990, the move to Interlagos coincided with the height of Ayrton Senna’s powers. The track is another of the calendar’s classics - if Spa is a long, languid run through the forest, then Interlagos is a high-speed chase through a cereal bowl. Long corners that go up and downhill make the circuit - you guessed it! - a driver’s favorite. The Brazilian GP has been the site of many recent dramatic finishes, especially since the race moved from its traditional early-season spot to the end of the year. The 2003 race saw rain hit late on and Jordan driver Giancarlo Fisichella win in bizarre circumstances. In 2008, Lewis Hamilton got past Timo Glock on the final corner of the final lap to secure his first World Championship, right as Ferrari’s Brazilian Felipe Massa won the race and thought he’d done enough to win the title. Currently undergoing renovations and recently seeing the circuit re-paved, Interlagos will only get better. Round 20 - Abu Dhabi GP - Yas Marina Circuit  5.554 km (3.451 mi), 55 laps If the Monaco Grand Prix is the jewel of the European rounds, and the Singapore GP the Monaco of Asia, then the Abu Dhabi GP is trying to be the Monaco of the Middle East. The Yas Marina Circuit is part of a sprawling motorsport complex slash theme park built in the bay of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. It’s also notable for being a dusk-to-night race, with the grand prix starting as daylight fades and the circuit’s permanent lighting system kicking in to finish in dark. Debuting in 2009, the event has become the new finale for the season, proving to be the title decider in 2010, 2012 and 2014. The 2010 championship was down to four drivers - Red Bull’s Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, with McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton mathematically still eligible but a long shot. Alonso and Webber lost the strategy game, Vettel won and became the youngest World Champion. In 2014, it was down to the Mercedes teammates of Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and though the German lost out due to car troubles, he gained fans thanks to gamely trying to finish the race instead of park early. As for the circuit itself, it’s a Tilke-designed modern circuit with plenty of variable turns and some long straightaways. It has a unique pit lane, with the exit being a tunnel under Turn 1. It also runs under and around a posh hotel that looks like a jellyfish being lit from beneath. Mid-pack in terms of excitement and on-track action, thanks to its placement at the end of the season the Abu Dhabi GP remains a must-watch.
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Mar 10, 2015 03:59
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pik_d posted:No one is ever reading this FrankenOP we make I see it as both A. something that at least one person may be interested in and others may want to read as a major database of knowledge, and B. something we can copy and paste into future years, especially the track stuff that won't need to be changed every year.
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Mar 10, 2015 04:10
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| # ¿ Apr 24, 2024 04:51 |
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Doc Morbid posted:excuse me, that hotel is supposed to be called the Dickwhale Hotel I'll take that into consideration.
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Mar 10, 2015 06:00
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