Although we are still reliving the joy of Australia, it really is time to start looking forward to Malaysia. I've already seen some preview quotes from the teams sneaking out, and the action gets underway again in just four days. Here's what we're talking about at the moment:
- During the live stream of F1 Debrief last night, we discussed the fact that Race of Champions isn't going to be held at Wembley anymore. The organisers say they have five options to choose from, and their could be a possibility of it staying in the UK. Where could it be held though?
- We've also been discussing whether the penalties the stewards are giving out are similar to/harsher than/more lenient than in 2008. After Spa-gate they suggested this year would be different, but we've seen a weekend dominated by protests and penalties. Is the start of another politics filled year?
- Finally, I am losing my voice, and appear to be coming down with some kind of sniffles - I didn't go outside or anything! What I want to know is, how are you recovering from the weekend? Is it just a lack of sleep? Having to spend more time with your significant other to make up for being absent? Perhaps you are still swigging champagne? I'd love to know what it's like where you are the morning after the... um... morning before.
That'll do it for now. It's been an awesome weekend and the comment count has shot up, so I expect more of the same through the week. I'll see you in the comments.
Did the Google Phone give you a virus?
For info:
Very variable sound levels from the unedited playback of the panel.
Not much you can do about that I guess, unless you capture each caller on a separate channel
nope. hence why it's only up there for those who really want it. for everyone else, christine will work her mixing magic and it'll come out t'other end sounding ace. tues/wed probably.
we could invest in equipment to sort the problem, but it's a long, long way down the list.
I'm surprised you even have money to invest in that kind of equipment - they don't come cheap.
erm, we don't :)
but even if we had the money, the quality of the live streaming audio is good enough at the moment, that changing what we have isn't even on the (imaginary) roadmap.
fixing video buffering has to be the number one priority, and today no-one appeared to have that issue. one small step for sidepodcast!
i cannot believe christine beat me in the sofaf1 pole poll too:
http://www.sofaf1.com/2009/03/sofaf1-championship-2009-round-1.html
:(
I know Lou already has a Brawn wallpaper, but in case anyone else is interested:
http://www.f1fotos.be/races2009/melbourne/melbourne-A (133).jpg
Unbelievable thing happened to me upon arrival from Melbourne. I went to Bacardi office to ID myself as asked in email from them. Then a lady and guy came all smiles telling me I won a ride of my life ... So guess what. May 13 I will be in Malaga at Ascari track getting a ride with Michael Schumacher ... Holy cow !
You.Have.GOT.To.Be.Kidding. :O
No.Absolutely.No.Way. :O
Anything you have in mind to ask him? A sneaky interview, perhaps? :D
that is what I wanted to tell to those Bacardi people. but they made me do all the paperwork already :-) seems like they are not kidding :-)
still digesting the news :-)
Ab.so.LUTE.ly.UN.be.lie.va.ble. :O
That's just... wow. How lucky can you get!
Just realized... two super-LUCKY stuff happened to you. First, the bump up to business class. But that was nothing compared to this! :O
Some people have all the luck, eh? ;)
well, exactly. I am worried, too much luck ... have to watch out to make sure something does not hit the fan :-)
Fantasy Racers update: If you want Button in your team better hurry up. He costs 9,80 now
Wow, with the world economy as it is, his stock is the only one going up in price (bah, dum, cing!)
Wow. Congrats. Just be sure that Williams is not also on the track or else you may want to think twice before getting into the car. He has been know to ram those things.
Even though Rubens run a demolition derby for much of the race his stock has also gone up from 6.3 to 8.6.
He still DID manage to finish 2nd after qualifying 2nd. He is still a title contender, with such a robust car.
Here is yet another photo convincing me that Mark Webber was at fault at the start of the race. Look a good F1 driver he blamed Rubens because it is not longer a sport and under all circumstances you blame the other guy.
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/webbers-an-idiot-jpg
Note all the front end damage to Mark's car - sure they touched and he got spun around and into the BRAWN. Laws of physics he must have turned into Rubens who had been touched by Kovy. In the case of Kovy it is easy to have made the mistake - Rubens start was dreadful. Mark's accident was avoidable and wreaked Heidfeld's race as well. The wrong driver at Red Bull gets the penalty as the more I look at it Robert was being to impetuous with his crash with Vettel. He also blamed
I am over the moon about Rubens - he was actually faster than Jenson when it did not count. Thinking about it - he drove really well in a damaged car and after a poor start. There was luck but Rubens remained focussed.
Morning all,
Somewhere indoors, please! Maybe the 02 arena or the NEC?
When have we had a year in F1 that isn't full of politics? It's what keeps people talking about F1 inbetween the races, rightly or wrongly.
Noooo!!! Don't lose your voice otherwise we will have to listen to F1 Minutes and Digests with the Text-to-speech Robot!
As I get up at 5am normally, I just felt the same dizzy tired and crap way that I do every Monday. I missed my train by 10 seconds and it's cold, but do you know what? I don't care, because F1 is back and the racing was brilliant! Therefore I'm grinning like an idiot and I'm buzzing with excitement :-D
Actually, that I would pay to hear, it would be rather funny :D
But seriously, I hope you feel much better soon.
This is a good opportunity to plug the paypal button on the homepage ;-)
Rubens tried to go down the inside of turn 1 way too fast - an almost impossible maneuver and he should have known better with all of his experience. I think you are a bit harsh blaming Webber like you do and very unfair to call him an idiot :-(
http://www.mynameisirl.com/2009/03/prosecution-rests.html
The prosecution rests in the case involving 'The prat who dances' ;-)
Morning all, @tis monday after the 1st race weekend and I'm depressed, don't get me wrong, loved the race, loved the coverage, both on tv, and yourselves at SPC. I'm depressed coz I'm getting beaten in Fantasy racing by my 7 year daughter. Years following F1 reading the regs, following the form and I'm reduced to being giggled at by a 7 year old over my snap, crackle and pop.!!!!!
That sounds like the situation at Sidepodcast Towers right now... ;-)
How long has Mr C been watching F1? Christine has been watching F1 since... 2003?
Some say that he has been watching since 1950 ... and he provides Steven Roy with all the answers...
All we know is that he's called Mr. C. ;-)
Brilliant. :)
I have to say (without pouring salt on anyones wounds) but I'm pretty happy with my fantasy racer set-up :) I'm joint first :D
Wish I could drop sutil lol
I have Sutil - did he score more than 50 points (and therefore score more than having the money in the bank)?
Rubens was first hit from behind by Kovy so he might have not had full control - we cannot say. Why I am hard on Mark is that he puts the blame on Rubens when clearly he turned into Rubens - analyse the video. This is not the first or even second time that Mark blames other people instead of himself. I am afraid that Mark looks set to follow DC's last few seasons by over-driving, crashing and scoring few points.
But Mark was on the racing line and Rubens wasn't?
I suppose you blame Kubica in his collision as well then?
Morning everyone.
I had to go pretty soon after the race and I haven't watched it back. What was the eventual view on Vettel / Kubica?
I thought it was pretty 50 : 50 at the time.
50-50. It was a crazy move by Kubica and Vettel should have given him more room. But that's racing!
The stupidest part was both drivers overdriving their cars after the collision which led them straight to the scene of the accident and throwing away vital points!
The penalty on Vettel is too harsh - but both drivers deserve a 'clip round the ear' for that one!
Good. That's what I thought. I wasn't sure if there had been a revelatory camera angle.
I don't like these kinds of penalties but if they are handing them out they should have given the same to Kubica in my opinion.
This will mean we get a good indication about the new level of information we will be getting from the FIA after incidents.
The report hasn't been filed yet but will be here when it arrives: http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/f1_media/Pages/post_event.aspx
'
I do agree on giving the team a fine, however. It was very dangerous for him to continue with a wheel flapping about like that!
Absolutely!
I think Ross Brawn's line does just about sum up the weekend: "It's unbelievable. It doesn't get much better than that."
Have any of you listened to Sportsweek this week? It had quite a few people from F1 after Jenson's win, but they had a journalist called Patrick Collins from the Mail on Sunday who professed to know nothing about F1 and continued to call F1 a farce and just poured scorn over the drivers, teams, cars, rules etc.
What a cynic! I would have thought the BBC would have least brought in a journalist with at least a little interest. Where's Maurice Hamilton when you need him?
Already had Jenson & Rubens! Get in!
Has to be the Millennium Stadium doesn't it?
John Hindhaugh from Midweek Motorsport just said that Sebastien Buemi looks like "Mr. Potato Head"! Do they listen to sidepodcast, I wonder?
!!
mind you, he really does :)
hehe.
about 1984/85.
You're up early today sir!
1984/85 = 23.34
You've been watching since the third way point of the 23 AD season!
That is a long time ;)
a different angle:
http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2009/03/unfair-advantage.html
:D
:D
:D
*gulps*
That is something ... I hope it goes well!
Alex, what are you on about?
is she any good at maths?
i am concluding that this year's fantasy racers will dominated by those who enjoy and understand mathematics.
i'm actually frightened to make changs to my team this morning, because i know what ever i do, i'm going to lose out. like doing a deal with bernie.
/ = divide... no?
:)
Apparently the only non-Brawn F1 driver to make an appearance at the the BrawnF1 after party was Robert Kubica...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/f1mole/2009/03/whos-joining-the-brawn-party.html#more
Should we start the rumours now?
Just reading GP Week and they've suggested that the teams are considering their strategies with regards to the option tyre usage.
It's likely that in future, if the safety car makes an appearance, teams will call their drivers in, fit the softer set of Bridgestones and then call them back in again one lap later to go back to primes.
Well that's one work-around I guess? :-D
oooh harsh: http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1672&Itemid=26
you mean like this:
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2008/06/09/about-that-safety-car-pitstop-by-button/
yup, that will work. and it'll work even better this year with the changes in regulations.
But slightly true!
Didn't autosport used to have a lapchart after every race where you could compare the lap times of different drivers?
I nearly made myself look like an idiot then as I went straight to the text (avoiding the HONDA) picture and I was shouting in my mind that the safety car hadn't been deployed!
Man, I need to read things properly first!
Daft though isn't it? Fits in with the 'F1 must go green' rather well.
They still do? Unless it's a subscription only feature these days?
http://f1.autosport.com/2009/laptimes1.php
It's all about the context, which the author has completely missed. They may be rich, but they're not car companies, are they?
The article is rather... silly.
*blushes* I need glasses or sth
it's one of those things that people probably should have had the foresight to figure out before the season started, but didn't managed to join the dots.
steven will probably have a field day with this, but all that's happened is people have turned up to a race, realised that the two-step tyre difference is going to cause them problems and are now looking to do everything they can to avoid the situation.
most likely bridgestone will be asked to reconsider the tyres they bring to races, because yesterday was stupid and dangerous.
It is a comedy website to be fair.
Do we have a definitive answer on if the post Malaysia appeal can retroactively remove the points from Oz and Malaysia? Or is it simply about what they are allowed to bring in the future?
I have heard it both ways but I haven't seen anything official sounding.
Oh no, Maths!
Funny thing I noticed today: the British papers are all over Jenson's new girlfriend Jessica Michibata.
There's just a small problem - they've been together for a while now. They first became an item before 2008 even ended.
Yep, Button is back, all right. Where has he been all this time? ;)
It seems everyone assumed the super-softs would be all right. Apparently, the issue with the degradation on long runs only came out on Friday.
And on Sunday, the front-runners were definitely never going to try it - they didn't want to risk their good positions.
Interesting possibly F1 related thing. GM or Chrysler or both might be offered up for sale to Fiat in the next few days. It would be interesting for Fiat to own a US car manufacturer wouldn't it!
That's a marriage of craptastic build quality right there!
Maybe we'll see Hummer F1 ;)
Good morning everyone :) Just about.
Finally got a proper nights sleep! Nice and refreshed.
Funny thing is, GM used to have some shares in Fiat, in an effort to save the Italian marque. There were also rumors that Fiat was going to return the favor by buying a significant stake in GM - something that angered some Americans because they didn't like their US companies getting bought by foreigners.
Question is - after that backlash, is Fiat still interested? It's LDM's call, really.
quick plug for mike garth (the chap from the porsche center, i know it feels like a lifetime ago). anyhow, a tv show he's appearing starts in the uk on dave this saturday. it's called:
GT Academy
and the blurb says:
"What happens when you take a bunch PlayStation geeks who play Gran Turismo to obsessive levels and give them a chance to race for real? The GT Academy, that's what."
think gamesmaster featuring dave gorman, and you're probably half way there. basically, can armchair drivers become real race drivers?
it sounded interesting when the man discussed it, although i suspect now he's a big tv star, we'll never be get him on the show :(
more: http://dave.uktv.co.uk/shows/motoring/gt-academy/
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=37388
Pitpass using a GMM article as a source (see yesterday - someone linked the original article)
To be fair, the GMM article had a source, while Pitpass is using another source.
Not sure if anyone's mentioned this:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74072
Trulli is saying Hamilton pulled over and left him no choice but to pass.
This is interesting. If this is true, it means that Trulli did not intend to pass him, but got caught out by McLaren's instructions to Lewis. The stewards may have to rescind the penalty.
you fell asleep in the middle of the show, didn't ya?
:D
Oh, yeah. :D What did you guys say about it?
And now Nick Daman has referred to the 'Trulli Train'.
Now I am worried!
in fairness, we didn't make that one up :)
paranoia averted then ;-)
My betting coffers are at a lowly £5.75, having bet £10. Time Glock saved the day! Belgium still in the horizon, just...
http://tinyurl.com/betstobelgium
that none of the video available told us what we needed to know, and where were all the fia steward enquiry angles, we were promised post-spa?
sam michael on kers at williams:
"It's a very valuable tool to have to promote overtaking and we want it on our car as soon as possible"
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=45400&PO=45400
I finally managed to catch up on all my Sidepodcast and F1 Minute broadcasts yesterday afternoon while doing some design work - no doubt as soon as I sync my phone again tonight a bunch more will start downloading!
As a McLaren and Hamilton fan I'm beeming like a Cheshire Cat, also for Jenson Button - nice to have a couple of Brits doing so well but gutted I never put any Brawn GP drivers in my fantasy team.
I'm investigating flight prices. I can't handle the thought of not going to another race for 12 months!
Great to hear that Steve :-)
more cool and geeky race graphs from tom, who commented yesterday:
http://ouseful.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/visualising-lap-time-data-australian-grand-prix-2009/
sounds like an addiction!
Andrew emailed me a movie clip of McLaren. My favourite bit is the guy saying: "Did you get that?"
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/mclaren-spinning-mov
:)
Why are addictions so expensive!
My investigations have uncovered there being no chance of me affording a trip this year.
Plus, it would mean using my annual leave from work that my parents expect me to use for a trip home at Christmas, and since I didn't make it home last Christmas, they'll kill me if I don't this year!
Just realised that Kubica has never finished the Australian Grand prix...
Wow, statstastic mate!
:D
on the plus side, you had a grandprix experience like no other. a second gp likely couldn't live up to that one anyways, right?
Unfortunately I don't think I can afford to go to a Grand Prix this year - but I am going to Le Mans in a campervan :-D
I learnt last year that even the first night race ever couldn't live up to the excitement of the first race of the year, so something pretty major would have to happen to top it this year!
Hi guys, I'm still smiling and revelling from yesterday's awesome season opener. For me, that's the best top 3 available :D
Anyway, non-F1 related, if anyone likes talking animals, then I seriously suggest you watch this. Absolutely hilarious. My favourite bits are the marmot shouting "ALAN! ALAN! ALAN! AL! ALAN!", the scratching badger DJs and the monkey shouting at David to "TURN THAT RACKET OFF PLEASE!" :D
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jp7ss/Walk_on_the_Wild_Side/
I have a comment that needs unmoderating :P
Got it.
Scott's back then ;-)
Not quite. As soon as my laptop is now fixed, the home hub has now gone kaput so we need a new one from BT. So it's the library computers once again at the moment. :(
I just noticed this from Alonso, perhaps it has been mentioned already, I don't know:
"With the KERS I didn't feel a big difference and I was a little bit disappointed at how it worked."
Yeah I saw that, but dismissed it as him having yet another whinge :-(
Perhaps. It comes in a quote where he's relatively happy about sixth place though, so I didn't think he was just being miserable about it.
But of course, there have been stories that have spun it as a negative - probably the same as those who saw fit to quote Lewis as wanting to leave McLaren last week!
Compare it especially to Glock who said he couldn't pass Alonso, because Alonso kept using his KERS everytime he tried. Perhaps it works better as a defence than an attack.
I would have thought that Alonso would be happy enough with that!
Have heard a lot of reports and opinions from different places that have said that Kovalinen was to blame for the first corner crash. Personally I thought it was Webber and Barrichello fault. What do others think of this?
Looked like Barrichello from what I've seen..
I'm rewatching the race at the moment and have rewound it 4 or 5 times, but none of the camera angles on the broadcast make it very clear. Without an onboard from Kovalainen, I can't tell.
me posted this earlier: http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2009/03/unfair-advantage.html
I've only seen Rubens hit people, but he said a Macca hit him from behind, which has to have been Kovi because Hammy was so far behind
Thats what i thought.
Hmmmm..... coverage might be getting better in UK but still need more angles really.
His diffuser completely broke pparently from the incident so surely Kovaleinen hit him. or so I've read about the diffuser breaking anyways...
From that footage, i'd say it was a bit more Kubica's fault than Vettels, but still a racing accident that didn't need punishing.
Vettel was on the inside, and not on the optimum line, if you go at the angle he was, you have to run wide, and Kubica did not give him room.
I totally agree. Kubica gave him no room at all.
Seconded.
I tell you what i'm most worried about.....Kubica crashed into a wall...it wasn't a particularly nasty crash, but a wheel teather failed!!! Surely its easy to sort them out? They've been around for ages
They should've been sorted a long time ago, as per the regs. But perhaps it got damaged by the initial hit with Vettel?
It really shouldnt have made a difference, plus i think it was the front left wheel that came off, and vettel hit the front right
the tethers did there job.
they took all of the g-forces out of the tyre, and dissipated the energies. the freed tyre bounced innocuously a couple of times and came to a stop. what more could they do?
if you watch the onboard of kubica, vettel initially brakes earlier and harder. he just about disappears from kubs peripheral vision.
at that point in kubs mind, there was no need to give vettel any room, it was his corner he was ahead.
vettel then makes a late comeback and places his car right into an already committed kubica. coulthard-esque in fact.
vettel never had a hope of making the apex and instead looked to be using the bmw as a brake (see piquet in canda).
they're meant to keep the tyres onto the monocoque, they were brought in because drivers/spectators/marshalls got hit by tyres when they crashed
"In 2001 at Melbourne Australia, an on track collision led to Villeneuve’s wheel flying off at tremendous speed at killing marshall Graham Beveridge. These incidents bought in the age of wheel teathers in F1, which hold the wheels on during big impacts. However, after these were introduced it was evident that they were not strong enough as wheels continued to fly off with great force. The Zylon materials were thickened to counteract this and so far have done a great job."
This is what they're meant to do
they're not actually. it's not that simple nor black and white. the fia's website states:
"Wheel tethers are used to prevent wheels from flying off the cars but they also have to have enough elasticity to stop the car taking off with the wheel."
yeah, but they were brought in because of deaths to marshalls, i know what they do do, but if kubicas tyre had hit him then there could have been serious injurys. and it does say "used to prevent wheels from flying off the cars" but wheres the point where we say, 'the tyre can come off at this g-force' kubicas crash wasnt as bad as some others we've seen, so where the line?
But Kubica hadn't quite cleared Vettel yet, so he still had to give him room.
DC's 2007 mishap was different in that it was DC trying to make the pass rather the one trying to defend, and that he wasn't as far alongside as Vettel was this year.
there isn't a "line". every crash is different and you cannot anticipate every possible outcome and account for it. watching the replays, i'd argue the tether did it's job very well.
you said earlier that the wheel tether "failed", but the point is, it has been designed to fail under a certain load, and for good reason.
he had if you watch his onboard camera (which likely not only is higher, but likely has better peripheral vision than kubica would have in the cockpit wearing a helmet).
apologies, i wasn't picking a specific coulthard incident. merely referring to the times in 2008 when DC would come back at a driver after initially conceding a corner.
i wonder if it has something to do with the way RBR has implemented it's braking systems?
if its to slow it down then yes i agree, but they were also put there to stop tyres being fired off into people, drivers included.
he wouldnt have seen him, but i don't think that gives kubica the right to the road, vettel was still very much by the side of him, vettels wheel was by his sidepod.
it didn't fire anywhere? it just bounced a bit.
kubica is wearing a helmet. yes, the tyre could've still hurt him, and no doubt the fia will look back at what happened, but unless you're seeing something i'm not. i say job done.
i'm just not sure vettel would've slowed down in time to make the corner though? the bmw being there allowed him to make it.
here's a thought for you... why did the bmw tip around like it did? anything to do with the new tyre regulations that means all the weight is in the front?
i'm not saying that it didnt do its job, im just saying that it could become dangerous in a crash, but i don't know how you'd increase its strength on the car without causing other problems
i think he would have made it, maybe run a bit wide, but nothing out of the ordinary. however, both cars were very loose, so that wont have helped either.
just a racing accident i think
Isnt kers in the back though. If the bmw was built to acommodate the KERS system and Kubica doesnt have it then maybe his car is to front heavy....
fair enough. i think vettel expected the bmw the react differently to a "light tap" and found something completely different happened. last year i reckon he'd have got away with it.
also, the cars are very front end grippy anyway, if you make a massive front wing and a smaller rear wing then you get more front end grip
i'm thinking we could see a lot of cars facing the wrong direction this year. and maybe more trampled noses.
almost definitey
Monaco could be alot of fun :D
Front wing heaven or hell depending on driver or spectator
A wet Monaco could be very interesting... :P
Now im getting excited..... :p
I would do, but Monaco marks the start of my exams....not something i particularly want to get excited about!
However saying that....the British Grand Prix marks the end of my exams, so now all bad :D
:)
Hope it doesnt start the mark of my exams.... Australia marked the end of one of them.... I hope each exam is followed by a race at the week edn that would be awsome :D
*not
I'm unimpressed that my birthday falls on a Sunday and there is no race that weekend. I love birthday races!
I don't think that I have ever had a race on my birthday... But that might change now that Abu Dhabi has a race in the last weekend of October :-)
Oh, its the Spanish GP for me, my first French on is on the 11th. Boo.
aww i hope you feel better soon Christine!
Not sure i really need to recover :D i'm perfectly happy as i am. okay, so i'm still happy and bouncing around, and really really looking forward to next weekend! But other than happy, i'm pretty tired, and sadly so far today has been filled with school work and revision.
Are you 'Mr T' in that list then? and if so.... why? don't you like being called Mr C anymore? ;)
wow! that's awesome F1Wolf! I hope you have a good time
See, i knew having Button in my team would pay off :D
I don't like maths, and am not too good at it.. but i'm 14th... everyone above me is joint 1st....
ah lucky! The Spanish GP marks the start of mine... 11th May = ICT Unit 1 exam (eeeekkk)
I haven't had one since I turned 12 back in '98. Fingers crossed for 2015!
You know, I'm loving this argument - because the F1 season hasn't Trulli started until we start arguing about who hit who :-D
That sounds good to me ;-)
Yay!
Then why do I suck?
because the advantage doesn't start until this week when prices fluctuate.
Yay!
I'm going to beat 148th this time out. Its going down.
Button costs 10.30m now..
hurumph.
At this rate he'll be worth more than the entire conomy by the end of the day,
Question, why did I pick Barrichello instead of Button?
aw, who have you got in your team?
Rubens is 8.90m he isn't doing too bad ;) the fact that i have both just makes me smile :D
True, I'm happy with my 6 anyway.
it doesn't matter, my objection is last year FR was simple enough even my mum could understand it, and now even i have no idea what's going on?
It;s quite cool realy that I only put Rubens in originally because of how much I wuv the guy and now he's actually 100% worth being in. :D
Its easy. Now all you have to do before I tell you is get a calculator out, a pen and paper might be hepful, dunno if you'll need a pencil for the graphs...
I have both, and Vettel, Glock, Kubica and Sutil.
I am convinced by the end of the season my score will be 5 pints of awesome!
I have all them but instead of Button, Alonso.
Not you too? What are you confused about?
here's something else i've noticed.
lewis started last on the grid, we know he had one of the lightest fuel loads on the grid and that he was sat near to two cars who were not only using the same engine and rear end as him, but who were also heaver.
he also had a longer run to the first corner than everybody else and was driving a kers capable car.
so how come, that by the time the man arrived into the first right-hander, he was still plum last (toyota's excepted)?
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/lewis-first-corner-start-jpg
did he just have a bad start, or does kers not make the slightest bit of difference, even from all the way at the back. how could he not have made up a single place?
and like it said...
hurumph.
Maybe he was trying to be cautious, ie avoid the inevitable first corner crash?
i'm not confused. i'm unhappy.
i get it, it's just waaay to much effort.
is it time to start blaming Steven?
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2008/10/20/well-have-to-win-it-now/#comment-132600
HA!
love it :D
Perhaps he showed some restraint and made a conservative start for once? If so, we really underestimated how well he drove. Or it could just be that KERS blows chunks :-D
3 days, 10 hours to go. wow. i thought the offseason was long, but this is crazy. that's all I have to say today. Work=busy :)
Scott in Italy, I'm really hoping you saw my Flight of the Conchords link I posted yesterday...
Oh dear. Steven, you'd better have a good response for this one :-(
Just pluck from thin air, I think this year its best to get in earlier than the rest or stick with your past drivers.
and i shall do, or i might stick with one line-up and see how they go.
I think Kimi said that Kers doesn't make a bit difference at the start in Melbourne because the straight is too short
agreed. from where kimi started. but look where lewis was.
can you repost. easier than me finding which thread. i don't always read all the comments because I never have the time. when there were less discussion I had a good chance, but now! and i'm not complaining, it's growing in a great way.
I'm worried my name is mixed up in that comment!
Will do later as I am on the train at the mo...
so you started it?
okay. I'll check tomorrow. I'm going home now.
in fairness steven knew exactly what he was suggesting, when he says:
"It would be a lot more complicated to run it that way but I think it would add something."
and he's right on both counts, it is more complicated. so much that i'm probably not willing to put the effort in. but also, it will likely add something.
already i can see the people who put the most effort in, will get the most reward. and there are more variables, strategies and things to discuss.
if people are willing to put effort into batracer, this is still a piece of cake and a good idea. i'll likely be a spectator than an active participant though. much like i am with batracer.
Gotta love Bruno Mantovani's pic of the day:
http://mantovani.zip.net/images/charge_australiaF1_blog.jpg
I hope he makes something similar for Vettel's mix-up with Kubica.
Great. Now I wonder why I bothered learning how to say all those ridiculous names.
*sob*
'Coz you'll be beating them all. ;)
I love that for the rest of the season Rubens is going to be "Barrichello Monster" with the zombie eyes
But shouldn't that be the way?
nooo, it's all good. i'm not suggesting we stop or anything. there's more to discuss. i'm just going to be last :)
absolutely.
Damn. :)
I like this:
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/parking-png
:D
aww, i think it'll appeal to more people this year. more chance for those behind to catch up and probably more changes for the lead.
i'm still stuffed as a competitor though :)
He's just making excuses because I'm beating him.
That reminds me of my driving lessons.
Uh... that's worrying?
:D
there is that.
And that's why i;m still learning! :D
Ah, I thought maybe you were carrying a blow torch around with you.
Not on good days. :P
Nah, we always have a part in my lessons where we tend to go into this busy carpark, and well I'm still not a very good bay parker yet. I'll leave it at that. ;)
Over the years I've developed a thick skin, so don't mind a bit of criticism. That said, I've had dozens of positive comments from players, and only a couple negative. So I still think it's heading in the right direction.
Personally, I would have been delighted with it if Brawn GP weren't so dominant - as I can see how those who didn't pick them from the start could be at quite a disadvantage. But who's to say their early form will last?
(I know, I know - just grasping at straws)
Hi-di-hi :D
Lo-di-lo. :D
Have I missed anything exciting in sidpodland?
Mr C is sulking about Fantasy Racers, Lukeh carries a blow torch with him on his driving lessons, and Lou is still smiling.
None that I'm aware of. :)
Nothing? .. oh well can I ask a question.
Do you think the McLaren is sandbagging or not, they've certainly been complaining about their pace often enough in the F1 literature, but are they just waiting to pounc?
To get a podium from the back of the grid must mean their car isn't too bad or did Lewis outdrive the car
Why, why and good for you Lou!
:D possibly one of the best comments :)
for the wiki?
I'm still *concerned* about the blow torch
:D:D
Christine posted a crtoon of an angry man with a blowtorch from someone's bad parking and now I've dug myself into a hole by saying it reminds me of my driving lessons ;)
They can't be sandbagging anymore; why would they want to qualify 12th and 18th? Surely, they'd go for pole. Lewis got 3rd partly due to other cars falling out in front of him. Otherwise, he'd struggle to get a point.
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/parking-png
agreed. as a competition, it's moving forward, and looking from the outside in, it offers more scope for interest and excitement and it'll still be fresh at the end of the season.
my issue isn't really with someone being dominant, that's out of your hands anyway. it's just that i can't explain the concept in less than 10 seconds any longer, and it's basically outgrown me, in terms of effort versus reward.
To put fantasy Racers into focus, only one person/team is actually above the benchmark for a low scoring team. Almost like the entry requirments to get into M.I.T!
I think they are. They just dont seem like they are being fully truthful with us, maybe they want to save all their secrets until the guys at the factory have the brawn style diffuser ready and then go straight to pole... Maybe thats just wishful thinking :)
The obvious question now is are you angry on your driving lessons?
oh no not usually. I'm just bad at bay parking and the car park we use is over very busy, the queueing cars waiting for me to hurry up give me really angy stares usually. That's just why it reminded me :)
Aw poor Lukeh, it will get easier with time .. says she who never had to do that as part of her driving test hehe
Was it Gavin who posted that link to writing for the Times Online WBLG?
done. :D
Afternoon.
I like how, after being faced with 700+ comments to read through in each daily and race thread over the weekend, 240 doesn't seem like all that much. :)
Amazing news. Am looking forward to hearing what happens. :)
'Me', do you know where I could watch Kubica's onboard? Is it on the race repeat on iPlayer?
I only remember seeing Vettel's onboard and it looks like Kubica is mostly to blame from that view, but I'm not entirely sure until I've seen both...
That's me out of the running then...
First of all, I had both Vettel and Kubica in my Fantasy Racers team, so That was a lot of points gone out the window.
Second. Kubica had the better car, on the better tyre and was catching both Vettel and Button. YOu know that Vettel was driving for all he was worth but he was not catching Button. Maybe Button had something a little more in the car but Button sure was not having a walk in the park like the BBC suggested. I would say that he was going at the least 98% of his and the car capabilites.....Kubica obviously had a very decent shot of the win.
Third. both drivers did what I expected them to do. Vettel to defend his position and Kubica to attempt to pass. When Malaysia comes Vettel and Kubica will be out of my doghouse. Glock is boarded up in my doghouse from Brazil last year for not defending his position from Hamilton last year. When a guy like Vettel is toast liek that, you nail him in the straights, not the turns.
Fourth. I do remember Gilles driving around Montreal for lap after lap with three wheels and getting 4 points for third place. So why is Vettel stupid for doing the same thing Gilles did?
Fifth. You call that a penality? I am sure the interest on the finanical award for getting 2nd place would have been worth way more than the 100 k that Vettel and Red Bull got hit with. That's a better F1 joke than some of Christine's Fantasy racer picks last year.....
Oh bugger. I don't choose him to start with because he wasn't avaliable, then I forget to change my line-up before the race, then Kubica + Vettel who were in my team both retire and I get an awful score, and then I forget to choose the Brawn drivers before they go up in price massively.
I'm still gonna get Jenson though...
According to Jake's blog, rain is predicted. I don't want rain until at least round 6 when you have a solid idea of the team order :(
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/2009/03/final_reflections_on_a_memorab.html
According to the BBC it's going to be raining in Malaysia up to Friday at least. Perhaps we will get a wet race sooner rather than later!
Agreed on Glock, but I can't blame Kubica for making a move on Vettel. Der Seb made a mistake, Kubica had to punish him for it. Had he given Der Seb more room, he would've been able to make a clean pass. If he had waited for the next straight, Vettel would probably have held him off.
What year was this? Regardless, that was then, this is now. The current safety regulations are much more stringent compared to back then. And driving the way Vettel did was completely wrong, in my opinion. Parts falling off his car can damage other cars and cause bigger shunts.
The 50K isn't that much of a penalty, true, but Vettel's 10-place grid penalty is VERY much a penalty. And for RBR, whose car may actually become a title contender if they play their cards right, that will hurt.
Default weather prediction for KL is always rain. Wait for predictions closer to the day.
My favourite big picture so far: http://www.f1minute.com/2009/03/29/button-barrichello-and-brawn-celebrate-victory/ :)
yay!! Darren Heath has updated his website so it now includes pics from the Australian GP! :D woot!
Link, please. :D
sorry i got too excited :D
link - http://www.darrenheath.com/portfolio.htm?year=2009&cat=1&sub=49
Made a wallpaper out of it :)
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q127/Lukehmuse/brwin.jpg
The 50K is for crashing into Kubica. The 10 place grid drop is for being stupid enough to admit to making a mistake.... And that is not F1. Just watch your car insurance rates skyrocket for thinking that you could have moved your car to a vacant parking spot 20 feet away and not been involved in an accident when some idiot crashes into your park car....
Friday, Saturday and Sunday are currently forecast for scattered thunderstorms, with all days having a 60% chance of rain according to weather.com.
i just read your dent... gooo jackie!
ace. we can compete against each other :)
He outdrove the car!
I just heard the radio advert for F1 from Saturday. It was also really good. Must have been wide coverage as it was on 6 Music!
I think the day before he had said something about it and I said, "like Celebdaq" but I don't think I said it was a good idea. But I don't remember.
The thing I would say is that while that was true it was only true because of the safety cars. How many races were safety car affected last year?
But what was the 10 place for? The three wheel stuff or the move?
admitting fault.
three-wheeled business, netted the team a fine.
Yeah. I can't help but feel that even if, as you seemed to suggest earlier, that it was mainly Vettel's fault it didn't deserve a penalty.
Look at that guy just released from prison after spending 20+ years in prison for a murder he didn't commit.. he said he did it but was later shown to be innocent, people say things in times of stress .. surely there must have been more proof that Vettels' radio transmission
it wasn't for admitting fault over the radio.
he went to see the stewards, and then admitted fault.
but why do it again? did the team tell him to? surely, they'd have advised him NOT to? Ala Fuji 2007?
maybe he actually felt it really was his fault?
he's the driver, he'll know more than us.
wouldn't he have been able to see the video prior to his trip to the stewards?
don't know to be honest. why are you assuming that didn't?
because given everything that we saw, i don't see why he'd blame himself for the whole thing. it was a racing incident, nothing that can really be blamed on him.
i still say his early braking was odd, and that he tried to use the beemer as a brake.
my he felt the same?
*maybe*
Hmmm... wasn't it Kubica who braked early? Besides, what you said would be contradictory. If Vettel did brake earlier than expected, then that would mean that it would be more likely he'd make the corner?
not from the replays, no.
you need to see the replay. vettel braked very early, then looked to release his brakes before letting the car slide into kubica. or at least was unable to brake hard enough a second time in order to control the car.
we're talking about this footage, right?
http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2009/03/unfair-advantage.html
When's Me's birthday again?
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/8f52/
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/5d6a/
or
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/7029/
i (heart) the third one :)
Maybe this one for Christine: http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/womens/a1ed/
I'm looking forward to reding this tomorrow. Andrew benson posted this on the BBC's site:
Leading F1 journalist Mark Hughes has written us a piece that deals with that very subject. It will be published tomorrow morning. Why not come back and have a read when it's up on the site?
Should be n interesting read.
Oops I should say, it's about Brawn GP and if they'll carry on their momentum and for how long or so he thinks.
There is one there which just says, "meh" ;)
which subject?
ahh, right ;)
Hmmm... That would be a very odd mistake to make. Very odd incident, very odd actions on Vettel's part.
if you pause the overhead replay as both cars reach the apex of the corner, kubica gave a cars width on the inside. vettel just didn't make that corner.
i say vettel was right to admit blame, because he was at fault and i respect him for doing that. as i hope kubica does.
in yer face gmm:
"Rumours emerged during the Australian Grand Prix weekend that the circuit... could be replaced as there were delays with the construction of the circuit."
"...progress on the construction of Yas Marina Circuit... is on track and there are no concerns regarding delivery deadlines" the circuit said in a statement on Monday."
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74100
MEINE EYEZ!!!
Red Bull have won something already this year. The worst piece of team merchandise: http://tinyurl.com/yummytop
I'll take two please!
And we thought Eddie was wearing blinding blue on Sunday morning...
So he was making a statement?
I like this one http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/991e/
OH MY GOD?! that's erm.... bright.... *puts sunglasses over normal glasses* and people say the Brawn is bright...
Isn't it a prerequisite that you have to play Dungeons & Dragons and talk in binary to be able to buy that? :-D
Does anyone on here regularly buy F1 merchandise? I think I perhaps buy one cap per year if that?
did you just mention binary?
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/frustrations/5aa9/
I'll get a beer:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/frustrations/90bc/
I do actually, get the normal BMW cap a year and the odd t-shirt.
Really, I just think it's kinda interesting
I'll answer that once we get some Brawn GP stuff to buy ;)
*faints*
I have a DC cap, a Schumi cap and a Kimi t-shirt .. do you think I'm confused?
Aaahh, people people, its all about winning F1 related stuff.....currently....i have the biggest selection of Motorsport hats in the world....
2006 Renault F1 Hat
2007 Renault F1 Hat
A Generic Renault F1 Hat
VW Motrsport Hat
Team Eurotech BTCC Hat....and the piéce de resistáncé....
A Christian Albers Spkyer Hat :D :D
Oh and i don't like Renault, so don't ask why i have so many Renault Hats
*free motorsport hats
I have a little f1 car keyring from renault, and the honda shirt i was given for christmas (which i wore yesterday :D hehe), i'll certainly get some Brawn stuff when it comes out in June... but most of what i see is just expensive...
Oooh, Fernando Alonso 2004
Jarno Trulli 2005
Renault 2005
BMW 2007
BMW 2008
Set to get BMW 2009
Team RAC cap
I'll give you a fiver for it.
On second thoughts, I'll give you 1p.
:D
Ta, i also have a Hammy Mclaren shirt from last year and a BRCA (British Radio Car Association, yes i am cool) too
that actually works?
i've just thought.... do you think Brawn will bring out a brightly coloured 'winners' shirt? isn't that the 'in' thing to do ;)
ouch.
haha, flouresant yellow...niccccce
Uhm, Maaaaaario. You've forgot to do something.
sorry i've just been on the phone to one of dad's friends who had an arguement with me last year about how awesome Lewis was, and was just them trying to shove down my throat how awesome Lewis was yesterday (which i kinda agree with he did well) and how Jenson only wins because of luck :/
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/confusedcountry-jpg
I've discovered this picture of a British GT car....Can anyone spot the deliberate mistake
I've had the son of Lewis, as in my friend just blab on and on and on about how he was sooo awesome and how BMW didn't score owt even though we were quicker etc.
There is no longer a Bank of Scotland :D
how odd.
:D
You should tap into the whole 'Brawn' punnage and make your own line of T-shirts (obviously without infringing trademarks because you might get a letter or two...)
'The Brawn Supremacy'
'Brawn to be wild'
'Brawn again'
'Kubica says go "Brown"'*
(*anyone else pick up on his pronunciation?)
They make a good case for Rubens getting a penalty - but when were the stewards ever consistent in F1?
chaaaaaaaaavtastic!
I don't think you have to worry about being last Mr.C especially if my drivers keep on crashing into each other.
Grrrrr. Kick off time on Sunday, 10:45. Grrr
Just watched most of the race back again and have decided the BBC coverage was brilliant. :)
Still really want to see the forum that was on after the race though...
me too :(
it is available on the web, just not on the iPLayer ;-)
New game for Sidepodcast to play on via Computer Weekly
Winner gets to go on a Silverstone driving experience.
Tip: it's easier to play using 'Shift' to accelerate. Quickest lap I've done is 39.210
can you link me please....im...umm...struggling :P
39.8
Lewis Hamilton is annoying, crashed into him. I blame the fact I was Alonso
I cannot get this to load!
The Force India Podcast felt Kubica was more to blame (Maurice Hamilton and Ian Phillips). Personally my assessment as well but I am biased towards DeSeb (in my book Robert is a complaining git).
Now onto Trulli has any one seen/heard Hamilton admitting he was told to give back position to Trulli - here is a quote....
Source:http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=105474
check your mail.
ooh, that sort of web.
ooooh
Sorry Mr. C, thought it might be better just not to discuss it here - not that it's anything most of us don't know about already though ;-)
35.312 fastest time I've done on that game now.
appreciated.
yay, new game!
am on it.
35.8, grrr
A bit lame, TBH :-(
So is Maurice Hamilton and Ian Phillips' podcast a Force India thing this year as I can't seem to find their usual Formula 1 Inside line podcast anywhere?
ta
holly and ian did the last one?
Oooh I hope so as I liked that one :-)
Has anyone listened to the Gareth Jones On Speed podcast? They just did an Australian GP one and it was pretty funny :-D
33.8 for me :D
aw the new game wont load for me... ah well, i'll just do some more revision.
try reloading it, it didnt work for me either first time
I drove more like Piquet than Alonso on my first attempt...
My firefox seems to hate this new game, keeps crashing. It's probably just my assignment trying to stop me from having fun.
wow it worked :)
yeppy :D
oh... spoke to soon, it's loading, except it's at 1%... still...
36.9 is my best so far.
I really like Force India's podcast and Ian Phillips is really generous to Brawn GP - sounds a really nice guy - but thinks that Ferrari are no where at the moment in this season and says Macca are in a stronger position. He was very impressed with the Red Bull design and Vettel as a driver.
34.9
Do BMW still not have a podcast?
Does this mean im winning with my 33.803?
Grrr... I keep crashing...
Is it on iTunes?? I regret typing "Force India" into itunes podcast search...
without a screenshot in drop.io... it didn't happen :)
http://feeds2.feedburner.com/cast/forceindiaf1
you, my friend, suck. :P back too it :D i'm gonna beat y'all twice
:D
:D
34.8, catching slowly to Jon.
it's all lies.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/5d6a/
That's silly - There's no place like localhost? :|
I like the others though.
34.715 i can prove!
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/jonwsidepod1-jpg
you won't appreciate this one either then:
http://www.amazon.com/127-0-0-1-Home-Heart-Geek-Wear-Computers/dp/B001NO8DF6
arse! must.try.harder.
niceee :D
My wife just asked "how do you know it means home?"
But then again, she's the anti-geek :-)
now we know how piquet feels....
She's right as it means localhost. A better T shirt would have the homepage icon from Firefox on it.
there's no place like firefox?
Me too - 52 seconds was my best lap time. Bah.
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/me-best-lap-png
impressed!
what exactly are you doing? you using shift for accelerator right? and not trying to get the turbo before maggots/beckets?? avoiding hte oil?
aww man :( first run and i got stuck in the gravel trap...
use hammy or massa, they're faster and have better handling
but i don't want to be either of them?
i admire your dedication :D
ooppps.... looks like i've learnt from Rubens... i just keep ploughing into people...
it might just pay off :D
34.6, I'll prove after my next go.
am ever so slightly concerned by a recent comment from rf1pp, to commenters on the renault blog:
"Remember that you are talking directly to the team and that nobody wants to win more than we do. When we visit the blog we want to read comments supporting the team, so please do bear this in mind."
oookay.
Congrats F1 Wolf. Enjoy.
WOOOW. thats amazing
45secs isn't too bad....
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/jonwsidepod2-jpg
Jon's Kick Ass Lap :D
33.429. bow down! :D
Sh...
i haven't got up after your last effort.
:D
It's true but don't tell anyone. It will ruin his anonimity
I want this (the third one) - but for 'ouch, hurty yellow thing' reasons.... so maybe with a big hood and long sleeves (please Andy... :-) )
Or maybe its just time to go and buy some t-shirt printing paper and a white/pale ink cartridge and DIY? :-p
LPG - who is wondering if the wifi one could be delivered by Sunday/'someones' *big* birthday.... (ducks and runs!)
i shall stop :D
i should be working anyway. who needs A-Levels eh!?
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/ac0b/
big? oooh.
I am saying nothing. Although bleeding obvious springs to mind. If we could predict the problem why couldn't those with all the computing power?
No one once they've got the degree out of the way :=S
(unless you intend to teach, that is, lol)
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/interactive/a5bf/
ive thought about it, and if i do it will be Primary, so all is good :D
Well yes, I noticed that they had mentioned that it was on the same day as the next GP... but not which birthday it was...
LPG is glad that she already has had tea made, as she suspects it may be the last cup that is made for her for some time ...
He could have slowed down and let Lewis back through. Alternatively he could just have braked and not moved till Lewis did.
I love the fact that Ian Philips says "the winner in all this is Formula 1"
i love it when people say that :D
Right, I am well and truely back now. Laptop is all sorted and so is the home hub and connection. Now, what's the hot topic, as I am that lazy to look? :P
Its been strange without you
howdy
http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/03/26/235410/competition-play-our-f1-racing-game-and-win-a-silverstone-driving.htm
if you can beat 33.4 ill be impressed :D
Aww really? :P
Not really, we've had party after party after the odd f1 race ;)
You will never have wheel tethers that work 100% of the time. You have to think about the load involved and in some cases multiple contacts and multiple loads. All they can ever do is limit how fast the wheel leaves the scene of the accident.
awesome :D
Yeah. oooh
:)
I'm in solid second with 34.2
:( Just wish I'd been there
My comment clearly blames Alex. I rest my case
Well I now really like Timo Glock and still have to sing the YMCA.
Oh and Jon.
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/rgsuperquik-jpg
:D
:)
woah.
:(
Somehow I just pulled a tab from Google Chrome into its own window. Does that happen with other browsers ?
oooh nice, i was on for a 32 when a stupid Renault got in my way coming onto the main straight, i still got a low 34 even though he spun me
Chrome does that, its very cool. Only Chrome i think though
now that just makes my 45secs seconds looks silly ;)
nope just with Chrome. another reason why i like it :) very useful for race weekends :D
is does in safari... now. but google got there first.
RG my fine friend
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/jonwsidepod3-jpg
:D :D :D
I cannot beat that in the life of me.
x2 new podcasts:
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2009/03/30/f1-digest-2009-australia-gp/
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2009/03/30/episode-99-he-could-walk-and-talk-for-a-start/
x1 panel show tomorrow and then we'll look forward to malaysia ;)
AND i came across traffic in the Brooklands complex, crashed into them :D
my best time is now a whole 10seconds slower than that... i'm may have to give up soon...
i've beaten you to that one.
Safari 3 does it too.
choose Massa or Hammy (i know it hurts, but they're faster), use shift to accelerate, only go for hte turbo on the middle straight, and only if your on a straight line, and you can start before the lights go out to move past the others, that way your time starts when you cross the line, rather than when the lights go out, means you get to use your first lap properly
you sure? i take the bit about google being first back then.
I'm pretty certain. I can't tell as I stupidly installed Safari 4 - hate the tabs in the top of the window look as it breaks the look/feel of the OS. Hope that this will be optional in the release version.
it does break the feel of the os, but i think it makes it a better os. takes up less screen space.
Perhaps, but I would prefer the option to turn it off. It's no big deal though as I primarily use Firefox.
No point going there then
Safari 3 does allow you to drag tabs around and into new or existing windows.
I hope there's no rain for the weekend, don't want the picture muddied up yet :(
Also, anyone know a good mkv file editor? I have the BBC coverage of the race on my HD and want to nab BBC-exclusive bits like the segments they did y'see. I'd rather not have to take ages converting it into avi or something else either.
Hello everyone - for the first time today.. :(
I thought I'd finished decorating the kitchen. WRONG!
Sink decided that it didn't want to hold any water today. :( So today I've been learning the mystic art of plumbing.
Yuch.
did you put an engine in it?
You start by learning how to suck your teeth while shaking your head slowly
then continue to "what idiot put this in then?" followed by "six sugars in mine, love"
That just belongs in the bath.
It has had the innerds of a gearbox in it though. ;)
Just went to Fantasy Racers to change my team. I thought dump Raikkonen, get Button and see what I can do with the spare cash. Button now costs 0.5 million more than Kimi
who came up with that daft idea then?
:D
Alex I think
ahh yes.
Some thoughts of my own about yesterday's brilliant season opener:
- SO SO SOOOO thrilled and delighted for Brawn GP, Button and Rubens! They couldn't have deserved that result more than anything in the world after the crap that they've all had to suffer over the past 6 months or so. That really was 2 fingers to everyone who doubted them and I would be overjoyed if JB made it 2 British champions in as many seasons.
- Surprised and also quite happy for Hamilton too. 3rd place in a less-than competitive car is very respectable. In fact, that's pretty much my ultimate top 3 at the moment - both Brawns and Lewis. For obvious reasons of course :D
- Other notable results include Toro Rosso. Seemingly off the pace as well and yet it's double points for them! Great job by Buemi all weekend as well for consistently out-pacing Bourdais, a 4-time Champ Car champion. All a bit embarrasing for him but still, all good nonetheless.
- Pretty much all 4 of the "top teams" were off the pace: Ferrari were there or thereabouts but never really made a big impact, BMW had mixed fortunes, McLaren the same and Renault were just average.
- Kubica was completely at fault in the incident between himself and Vettel. Sure he was faster and Vettel claimed it was his fault, but even I wouldn't try going round the outside at that corner. AND he completely turned in on him. Whether Kub still thought he was there or not I dunno, but where the hell was Seb supposed to go? Rob only brought it on himself I feel.
That's it on that front I guess. Roll on Sepang! :D
I thought BMW under Kubica was quick as owt. Heidfeld, I don't think the start line crash helped him at all, hard to tell as he had KERS on. I dunno
loved these last year and now they're back... dan's power rankings:
http://www.racingeagles.com/2009/03/f1-power-rankings.html
I'm off now, dunno if I'll be on tomorrow, got a really busy day tomorrow, ie organising a press conference for the Newcastle Eagles. Nothing major.
hehe. good luck bud.
have fun!!
good luck RG :) night
You know apparently our broadband speed is about 5mb according to the BT engineer who came out this morning, but looking at the connection details it's showing 54mbps! :D
5mb is the speed of you routers connection with the outside world
54mbps is the speed of your wireless network.
2 completely unrelated things. ;)
Meh, still good in my opinion :P
How did you get that job? Have fun and if you are stuck for something to say just sing YMCA
My internal network here is mainly 1gbps.
Wireless is 108mbps *wireless N*
Physical internet connection - depends. usually 22mb - if the experimental link is working *rarely* 100mb
If anyone wants any BBC bits then ask, hopefully this video editor is decent.
Whoop!
1) My headset arrived today
2) It works! :D
What editor you got?
Can I have Kate Humble? ;)
:D
No.
Well, it's faster than how it was before so I'm happy. )
Haha. I'm torrenting the AVS Video Editor as I need something that can do mkv files. Hopefully the crack works.
Has anyone got this new music programme called Spotify? You sign up for free, download the software and it lets you listen to millions of songs for as long as you want and you only have to see/listen to 1 advert every 30 mins. Genius :D
MKV is just the container, depends what file types are contained in it.
Not used Spotify, but I've used Deezer many times. Don't need to download anything and it has absolutely no ads.
That > Spotify.
It's not bad. Created a few playlists. Really want someone to get a XBMC plugin for it made.
Just starting up a playlist of song which I think are good to drive/race to. First song in the list? The Chain of course :D
Butterflies and Hurricanes by Muse. Not that it's necessarily driving music but it just reminds of Formula 1 and building up to a race...
They used that in the intro for Formula 1 '05 on PS2. :P
I knooooooooooooow :D
My favourite F1 game intro.
:D
That was such an awesome opening cinematic. F1.com used Knight of Cydonia for the Brazil 2008 video as well.
Evening all btw.
My favourite F1 summary video :d
The coincedental Muse connection is mere coincedence
Mmm, it was good, all a bit James Bond-ish in parts but still, pretty good.
Coincidentally, Muse announced they are touring in the Autumn.
Look up the song "The Distance" by Cake. It is my personal F1 anthem.
What a coincedence I was reading this before. ;)
The word coincedence is spinning me out now..
anyways, back to Scotts topic of driving music...
I've bought a helmet, Full face jobby, for my biking, im planning on painting it, has to be a simple design i can mask, but has to look good too, its so much harder than i thought it would be!!
im such a perfectionist!!
Here is a link of Cake singing the song in concert. LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKax7euEM5Q
I would actually recommend the whole album "Fashion Nuggets." A lot of good car themed songs on it.
Hasn't Top Gear already released about a dozen different CDs with driving music? With mostly the same tracks on each one...
Tuuuuuuune
Indeed, I have 2 of them. Top Gear Anthems and Top Gear Seriously Cool Driving Music.
He's going the distance,
He's going for speeeed
I reckon Tears in the Rain by Joe Satriani would be a good song to drive too, especially in the wet. :P
One hit wonder: Golden Earring - Radar Love
Yes indeed! :D
Ever heard the intro to this by Smashy and Nicey?
But Flibster, that song's post-war! ;)
I know... I don't feel well...
I asked my friend who was assigned to work in Malaysia starting this week how the weather was.
"Hot, but it rains a bunch in the afternoon."
The amount of rain varies from day to day, but it has always rained in the afternoon.
Barracuda by Heart is a pretty good one methinks.
I've dropiod it.
How about The Race by Yello :D Eurosport used to use it in their adverts for sports events on their channel.
I used to drive with the Prodigy "Fat of the Land" at full bore if hungover, it was the only way I could get through the journey to work.
Thankfully, I'm a little calmer these days
you could always use the helmet designer on Jenson's website to try out some ideas ;)
i have those :)
http://malaysiangp.com.my/story/formula-1-autograph-sessions
How odd - no Brawn? :(
You don't drive though?
They'll probably be planning their domination of the weekend ;)
rub it in why don't ya ;)
i can still listen to the music ;)
But aren't they required to make their drivers available for this?
why are there 2 sessions for force india?
Still no stewards report from the race then :(
http://fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/f1_media/Pages/post_event.aspx
Plus, shouldn't the results be provisional if there is a protest waiting to be heard?
So they can get both their fans to attend?
Tonio Liuzzi is extremely popular in Malaysia?
VERY good question. Who knows why Liuzzi has 1 session to himself on the Saturday? Surely, that's better off given to Brawn? ;)
:D
Neither do I. Well, not in reality anyway ;)
it was updated on 26th March, no doubt that second slot will go to the Brawn guys :)
Does Ross Brawn own a white cat?
Their session should be the most popular of the weekend. Everyone loves an underdog, especially an underdog that wins.
He just might... ;)
Only during a typo :D
:D :D
:D
Something tells me I don't get that... :-/
Owns a white cat [misspelling of owns a white car]
Ach. My brain is a bit slow at 7 in the morning... :D
Sorry. These are the jokes, I'm here all week.
:D
So if Charlie Whiting comes up to him on the pitwall, is he going to be stroking it on his lap saying "Ah, Meeshterr Whiting. We've been expecting you." :P
I like the idea of that... :D
MIssed the :)
Whiting: Do you expect me to just let you win?
Brawn: No, Mister Whiting, I expect you to rule our diffuser legal. And then die.
Brilliant! :D
:D
I'm not sure about anyone else, but i'm really loving Jake Humphrey's blog. such a great insight.
BRAWN - sounds like an "evil" organisation
British Raceteam Against WMSC Numpties ?
:)
i'm off to bed now. Night everyone! x
Night Lou. :)
G'night Lou
Night
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/applying-logic-to-f1-news/
Joe Saward kills the Montreal-Abu Dhabi rumor.
So much for GMM, then. Again.
didn't someone say pitpass also ran the story from a different source?
some people, eh?
That would be me as well. ;)
But then, their sources were mainstream Montreal newspapers, too. I guess they also have to share the blame, given they should know Montreal's weather better?
hehe. oops.
i didn't read the article (due to our/my current pitpass boycott), but i would guess mainstream in canada doesn't necessarily equal quality. mainstream newspapers in the uk are the daily mirror / the sun, and i don't trust a single word they print.
Good point. Funny, though - I pointed out the first time that the rumor came out that it had to be freezing cold in Canada in October, and Joe said exactly the same thing. :)
the whole weekend seems like a crazy blur, but so you did:
http://www.sidepodcast.com/2009/03/29/daily-29th-march-2009/#comment-235190
are you on ollie's list of people who need a blog btw?
Ha! :P But honestly, I don't know. :)
c'mon, they're free, easy to set up, and every once in a while an f1 team will send you senseless legal demands through the mail. what's not to like?
:D Riiiiight, then... :) Besides, I don't have enough time on my hands to properly maintain a blog. Used to have one years ago, but I just don't have enough time to run it. ;)
hmmm, i shall have a word with ollie...
What does that mean? :P
it means i'm not giving up that easily ;)
Heh. :P You cannot be put down, can you? ;)
many have tried.
Few have succeeded? :P
I think you should start a blog. It would be interesting to read the view from someone who lives in the part of the world that Bernie wants to have more races in. I must have a word with Ollie as well.
not very often :)
here's the thing. tomorrow christine's going to put up a podcast that you yourself hosted. and we're going to plug it as we always do. but how can you tell the world that you've just hosted a rather fabulous f1 podcast panel show?
if you had a blog, you could point people at it. and the next time you host one (we insist btw), you can do the same. and when you write guest posts, you can link to them too.
pretty soon you'll have a central location that lists all of your work, and when people say they want to hear/read more, you can direct them there.
But you don't even have a blog. :P And doesn't Wolf have a blog already? :D
ha! that is funny :)
I'm not the self-broadcasting type, but yeah, good point. :)
Insisting on me to host again? No problem. ;)
Exactly my thoughts. ;)
I don't need one
here’s the thing. a while ago christine put up a podcast that you yourself hosted. and we plugged it as we always do. but how did you tell the world that you'd just hosted a rather fabulous f1 podcast panel show?
:D
(i'm on roll here, where's gavin?)
Golly, is that your spiel or something? You just changed the time indicator and tenses. :P
:D
You may have noticed that I post the odd comment on the occasional website.
i can see 2470 in the past 30 days without even leaving this domain.
It was MEANT to be an understatement. :P
apparently, while lewis likes pizza, jenson is a fish 'n chips man:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-1165949/Fish-chips-lager-F1s-newest-talent-oh-Jenson-came-too.html
interesting quote though:
"his private admittance that the Brawn GP car was not remotely extended to its limit."
so brawn are sandbagging during the race?
Damon likes pizza too. ;)
I wouldn't be surprised, honestly. Had they run away and hid all Sunday, the FIA would probably get scared of the double-decker diffusers and decide to ban them.
That may also explain why Rubens publicly mentioned his diffuser getting broken after Kovy hit him at the start.
true, but rubens didn't look that fast even after they'd fixed his front wing.
point taken. but any broken diffuser would slow any F1 driver down, double-decker or not.
so, if the team are sandbagging, how are they doing it so that jenson looked consistently equal to vettel?
they were running more fuel than they needed to. so it's possible that they weren't really running on complete fumes prior to every pitstop.
I read this somewhere - was it at Clive's? Not sure if that's where I saw it, though. :)
seems like a reasonable suggestion. i guess they're not straining the car either, so reliability shouldn't be much of a factor.
Yep, they may have turned the engine revs down as well.
wouldn't mercedes know that though? in which case who are they trying to fool, the other teams or us?
Good point - that may make the extra fuel a better idea than the reduced revs.
it does. the whole "declare your weight after qually" thing, may have scuppered that plan for the first stint though. hmm.
one lap, though, a race does not make. :)
hmm, i must sleep on it. catch ya all tomorrow.
Good morning, Britain! :)
good morning and good night :-)
Huh? Did someone mention my name? ;-)
At 2:36am I was fast asleep - do I need to be on Sidepodstandby now or something?
I think Mr C wants to use his spiel on you. He used it on me and Steven Roy last night. :D
Yeah I read through that. Does he want me to start the dreaded b-word or something?
I presume so, yep.
Ah. I used to have one, but I don't have time for it. I'd rather just comment here and submit the odd 'guest article' here if people are really keen to hear what I have to say...
Exactly my thoughts. ;)
Mo and Ian have moved their show to the FIF1 podcast :-D
@ Journeyer - ready to go to Sepang ? looks like rain is in fashion down there these days :-)
So THAT'S where it is! Link? :D
Yeah! I have a friend who just got assigned to KL - he's working there for the next 3 months, and he'll watch the race this weekend. I asked him how the weather was.
It's hot, but it rains a bunch every afternoon. How much rain varies from day to day - it can be a drizzle, it can be a monsoon.
Interesting. :)
oooh Rain - I like :-D
Force India website?
Erm - sorry, no idea where that is. :)
Well, it IS the default prediction for KL - but if you ask me, I'm guessing we won't see any rain during quali or race.
Clue: It's not in India ;-)
Can you do a rain dance for us?
Oh, come on! :P
I went to that race 3 times in the past. Never experienced wet race, but there was rain (heavy rain) almost every late afternoon or evening. They moved the race to 5pm this year I believe, hm ... I smell wet tyres in the air :-)
I'm confident we can get a good race, even in the dry. ;) But I'll see what I can do. :D
But this race is now slightly later in the year than the one in previous years (I think we're now later by 2-3 weeks), so the weather may be ever-so-slightly different. :)
If it DOES rain, thank heavens the stand is covered. ;)
you need covered stand even if it doesn't rain ... the heat is unbearable :-) at least the beer is cold :-)
Good - then I won't feel bad for watching and hoping for rain then :-D
Hey - if the race is later this year, does that mean we can sleep in until slightly-less-silly o'clock?
I'm from the Philippines - surely, the heat can't be THAT bad?
Yes. The race is at 5 PM local time, so that would translate to 10 AM your time. Humans are normally awake by that time. ;)
Is 10am UK time or Viking Time?
UK time, so that would be 11 AM your time.
Perhaps it would be a sensible enough time such that Mr and Mrs C can actually do a Parade Lap. ;)
Aww go easy on them - they do enough for us as it is!
'Twas just a suggestion! :) They can choose not to do it if they so desired. :D
Morning folks :)
Well I do live in very hot and humid place myself but the Sepang heat surprised me :-)
But I must say that everytime I went there I enjoyed it. I would go again, but doing 2 races in a week is a bit too much :-)
Morning, Scott! How's it going?
Especially if you're going to Malaga in May. :P
Good thanks. Yourselves?
well I am going to Silverstone in June, that has been the plan since September. The Malaga thing is just an unexpected alteration of my plans :-) but can I say no ?
I think the Parade Lap is due to return when the European season begins.
Sounds good to me - we should all be getting breakfasts/coffees/tv feeds sorted out first anyway!
Don't even think about it. :P
Fair enough. :)
So Mark Hughes seems pretty convinced that Brawn will not be caught all season! That's quite a claim... But I think he might well be right.
He says that even if they get the diffuser removed then it won't remove all of the advantage as there is no way the diffuser can be causing anywhere near all of the advantage they have now.
And finally that the Brawn has a 0.7 second a lap advantage all other things being equal.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7972046.stm
You may well have seen this already though.
Mo and Ian have moved their show to the FIF1 podcast
So THAT’S where it is! Link?
{Comment #595}
Since nobody has supplied it since Journeyer asked, here is a link to the ForceCast (where Ian Phillips and Maurice Hamilton may be found). I think they're still experimenting a bit with the podcast length because all three podcasts are different lengths.
Thank you - but it seems like they're just focusing on FI now? I liked last year's format more, where FI was mentioned, but F1 as a whole was the focus.
last year the show was funded by an independent company. i could never figure out how they afforded to make it. by becoming a force india cast, vijay can fund it and we don't lose the insight of two great people.
i'll take this over nothing.
It didn't seem any different to last year - and I thought it was a good insight into the race - Hamilton is a good journo and commentator and Ian Phillips gives a nice perspective from an independent (and cynic!)
I haven't listened to the podcast yet, but are they focusing on the sport as a whole, rather than FI alone?
Also, for the type of podcast they do, how much does it cost? They don't record in a studio - they just sit at a table in the paddock and have a nice, friendly conversation. Surely, the only costs they incur are editing and storage?
IIRC, it was mostly on the race itself. It was surprisingly balanced considering it was a Force India podcast!
a) bandwidth. let me show you our bandwidth bills one day, and their podcast is above our in itunes.
b) they're professionals. they get paid to commentate and to write, why would they do something for free?
What the flip is this:
http://drop.io/sidepodcast/asset/endeavour-to-used-it-for-the-children-of-god
Verbose Phishers?
Good point.
They were just doing their own thing last year, without influence from anyone else in the paddock. Who would pay them to do it then?
Force India?
:D
this year. how about last year?
very.
i have no idea what their remuneration was, but the independent company (who's name escapes me), clearly couldn't afford to do it again this year.
Wasn't MoHa working for the Independent when he did 'The Inside Line'? I see now that he has a column in the Guardian... any link there?
Yada-Yada Productions. But seeing as that they're not even an F1 company, I'm really curious as to why they'd fund it on their own.
hehe
It wouldn't surprise me. Jenson suggested something similar in his audio blog, also John Button after the race on five live said they basically never needed to go at their full pace throughout the GP. Plus Button was trading fastest laps with Vettel at the start and he had a much heavier full load than Vettel.
Montoya likes Pies!
It amazes me how good that car actually is though. I mean, I think you told me that Rubens raced the entire race Sunday with a broken diffuser because of the Kovi crash at the first corner... if people think Brawn are only up there becuse of the diffuser, that is only one little bit of evidence to show they have the full package.
Will it be too late for some teams to get theit act together though I'm wondering? McLaren and others are adamant by europe kicks into the F1 calendar they'll be fine, and now Red Bull have pretty much said they'll be following Brawn's diffuser style. Of course, Red Bull have alrewady shown just how fast they are so who knwos where that could lead to...
Even with the new rules, the only performance differential is how good your aero package is compared to the engines, which are frozen.
But RBR will take longer than the others to design and deploy that diffuser, because they'll have to make major changes to the rear suspension as well, which in turn may rob them of some of their speed. All that will take time.
Montoya likes Pies! {Comment #644}
And McDonald's (at least in the pre-McLaren days...)
I'll bet he hates the idea of KERS ;-)
He wouldn't care for it that much. ;)
:D
I actually really like Jackie, I just hate his 70's, Rod Stewart-like over representation of his family's cloth
Was such a shame that he sold up to Ford just as they were turning into a decent team
He knew they couldn't keep up that form against the might of Ferrari, Mercedes, and BMW. He left while he was ahead. Proved to be a good move, I think. ;)
@ Journeyer - I thought you would be in KL already :-)
ooh, are either/both of you going?
I'm leaving tonight - 9 PM Manila/KL time. :D Arriving there by 12:30 AM. :)
I don't think Wolf is going - a back-to-back is too expensive, even for him. ;) Besides, he's going to Malaga in May and Silverstone in June. Why would he need to go to Sepang? :)
fair point. i can't keep up with all you jetsetters!
i remember you saying on the panel you were going. i think i have short term memory issues too!
Yes, I AM going. Not Wolf, though. ;)
I planned to go originally as I had customer joining me in Australia and Kl would be nice stopver on his long way back to Europe. But he at the end could not make it and for me it was the choice Melbourne or KL. No offence to Sepang, I loved it there every time I went, but it is hard to beat Melbourne in a face off ...
customer?
i'd imagine albert park in the sun is nicer than sepang in the rain. good choice.
It's cheap to fly around here, only around 100 pounds per head for a Manila-KL-Manila roundtrip. Then our seats cost 150 pounds per head - and that's in front of the start-finish line! Hotel costs around 80 pounds a night for a room for 4 people. :)
VERY hard, indeed. And you definitely made the right decision - you were part of a bit of history. ;)
That's his type of work, it looks like - working with foreign suppliers/customers. Am I right? :D
I am lucky that some of my customers are F1 freaks too, so good excuse for me to make those trips :-)
@ journeyer - you are right :-)
DANG! Lucky you... :P
Knew it. My dad is in that line of work too - helps a lot when you go abroad. ;)
seconded!!
Yeah! I mean, how lucky can you get?! You have been extremely lucky, Wolf. ;)
i think only richard branson is luckier.
well, everything has its pros and cons. when I was listening to your first interview with Joe Saward hearing him talking about the air miles he collects every year, I realized that I am not flying that much less than a guy who goes to all F1 races. and that's bad
woah! do you enjoy your work though?
Jackie Stewart sold because his son Paul had cancer.
Enjoy your trip
well, it is my business, so do I have a choice ? :-) there I days I hate it, really, especially that part that involves China. but it is a new challenge every day, so I can say that I do enjoy it
Yup, that's another reason. But I still think long-term, he made the right choice.
Thank you. :)
i had no idea. f1wolf despite being an absolute legend, we know very little about you :(
So you OWN your own business? Dang... What kind of stuff do you sell?
Agreed. :)
meet me at Silverstone (or Singapore) and find out more :-)
sadly we're not going to either :(
I SHOULD'VE met you at Singapore last year, if you weren't on the other side of the circuit. :P
Silverstone - Sidepodmeetup, perhaps? :D
Who IS going, even if Mr and Mrs C isn't? :)
i know not, but feel free to start a wiki page.
Maybe we should start volunteering people like we do for shows.
hehe. ok. i nominate bassano.
Seconded. And take some photos, will ya?
I will. :D You may not see it until after I come back, though. :)