RE: Motorsport On Monday: 17/3/14
Monday 17th March 2014
I love racing - I'll watch anything with an engine and driver try to outdo another machine if I can. So going cold turkey over the winter break, on the run up to Saturday I was positively clucking in anticipation of the return of F1 to the telly.
Rosberg and Merc dominated in MelbourneBut when the race finally arrived, I was really rather underwhelmed. Like most PHers, I have a healthy interest in the technical side of the sport, as it's this that defines the wheel-to-wheel aspect of the competition itself. And while it was interesting to see how the cars faired throughout practice and qualifying, come the race there wasn't all that much different to observe compared to recent seasons.
Ricciardo produced a great drive...Such is the infancy of this new era of F1 that Melbourne was effectively another very public test for the teams, and with the cars all developing at different rates it meant the action on track wasn't all that - at least we did get some overtaking but, Bottas in the Williams excluded, places were generally conceded through mistakes rather than taken by brilliant driving.
... only to be disqualified after the finishIt wasn't the lack of overtaking that didn't thrill, rather that the majority of battles were more staccato. But once the teams get a handle on the engine package and the rate of development plateaus ever so slightly - to the point where opposing cars and drivers are more on a par with each other - we should see more dicing, hopefully proving 2014 won't be a Red Bull re-run but with a silver car dominating this time.
Only three laps to capture pics of Vettel!This season didn't get off to the electrifying start it might have been billed as delivering beforehand, and while there's still some scepticism over the new rules, this year (thankfully) almost certainly won't be a Sunday afternoon snooze slot like recent championships.
Motorsport On Monday: 17/3/14
There were decent odds on no cars finishing at all in F1's opening race...
Rosberg and Merc dominated in Melbourne
Think about it. We had a car that was by far and away the class of the field clear off into the distance from lights out, only to repeat the procedure after a safety car.
A few retirements in the mid-pack followed (although these were mainly due reliability, granted), Ferrari put in a lacklustre performance when it really needed to show strongly, Kamui Kobayashi crashed out and a Marussia finished last.
For me, the racing just wasn't close enough. Thankfully though, I don't think this will be the case all year.
Ricciardo produced a great drive...
Notable performances included Rosberg's imperious domination; Valtteri Bottas, who passed half the field and then had to do it all again after a puncture from whacking the wall on the exit of turn 10; Kevin Magnussen, who scored a podium on his debut for McLaren, following in the footsteps of none other than Lewis Hamilton; and Daniel Ricciardo, who took to the second step of the podium after an impressive drive on his debut for Red Bull, only to be disqualified six hours later due to "consistent irregularities" with his car's tightly monitored fuel flow rate, wiping that beaming smile away no doubt. More technical trouble for Red Bull, it seems.
... only to be disqualified after the finish
The Mercedes is clearly the class of the field. If Rosberg's dominance didn't prove it, Lewis' most un-Lewis-like comments when he retired due to engine problems showed that, after leading the way in free practice and sticking his F1 W05 on pole, he knows he's got a quick car underneath him this year. That or getting engaged to Nicole Scherzinger would probably do it...
Last year's champion had a torrid weekend, proving that 2014 could be the year that really tests Vettel's mettle. Eliminated in Q2 after putting in a time only good enough for 13th, and retiring after three laps due to problems with his Renault power unit, the four-time world champion spat out, "this is ridiculous, guys," over the team radio. There's no doubt the RB10 is fast, it's just finding the key to unlock the speed for Seb that will be the issue. That and reliability.
Only three laps to capture pics of Vettel!
Once the updates come and reliability drops into place, teamed with drivers getting used to the difference in brake feel from the energy recovery system, as well as learning the best strategy to deploy all that torque - reducing what look like some rookie errors but are actually very difficult concepts to master - we'll see some closer racing.
The variation in tracks should see some variation in the finishing order, too. The long straights of Monza, tight twists of Monaco and high downforce requirements of Silverstone should mix things up.
Australia wasn't the thriller we might have hoped it would be then, but the signs are positive.
Discussion
Burn him... you can only comment on the Australian Grand Prix of you thought it was great 
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
perhaps he should take the rose tinted glasses off when he thinks about last season. If he likes wheel to wheel racing, as he says he does and he likes 'battles' then he should have enjoyed the side by side and round the outside stuff that I enjoyed yesterday infinitely more than people pressing buttons and driving straight past each other that was so utterly spectacle destroying last season. It isn't the quantity of passes that are important to proper racing fans, it is the quality of them. DRS and KERS pass on a button was just a crap solution to all the idiots who wanted 'more overtaking and whatever cost'.
I am hopeful, and it is far too early to say how dominant Mercedes are, different circuits, different development patterns some drivers still very green, I'll be tuning in again for sure.
I am hopeful, and it is far too early to say how dominant Mercedes are, different circuits, different development patterns some drivers still very green, I'll be tuning in again for sure.
I agree with the above. That race had a lot more going for it than the Red Bull show of previous seasons. Having a Force India end up where a Ferrari should be; McLaren on the podium (2nd and 3rd in retrospect) when they didn't land anything last year; Mercedes showing off their engineering capabilities; that stunning Martini livery on Sauber.
I like this season more already.
To say that overtaking only came from driver error - duh! At this level there's very little else that allows for a pass.
I love that there is so much that can go wrong in these cars. 'Reliability issues aside' pfft, this is first and foremost about good engineering, the winning car doesnt have to be the highest paid driver, the biggest spender or the one that attracts the sponsors - it has to be the one that finishes in the highest place the most times. But it has to finish.
The fact the Red Bull is struggling with reliability is good! We know the quality of the driver, but a team is about more than that one person.
This season is going to be good. If only because there's so much unknown about it.
I like this season more already.
To say that overtaking only came from driver error - duh! At this level there's very little else that allows for a pass.
I love that there is so much that can go wrong in these cars. 'Reliability issues aside' pfft, this is first and foremost about good engineering, the winning car doesnt have to be the highest paid driver, the biggest spender or the one that attracts the sponsors - it has to be the one that finishes in the highest place the most times. But it has to finish.
The fact the Red Bull is struggling with reliability is good! We know the quality of the driver, but a team is about more than that one person.
This season is going to be good. If only because there's so much unknown about it.
Mr Carson, how many overtakes were done by brilliant driving last season? Admittedly I stopped watching it part way through the season (exactly for this reason) but 99% of what I was seeing was someone pressing a button and driving past and I saw a helicopter shot of just that and that is exactly when the penny dropped for me "I'm not watching racing anymore."
Within the first handful of laps in Australia you had overtakes around the outside and some good side by side stuff - I can't remember exact names and cars I'm afraid because I was watching highlights on iplayer when I should have been asleep but the fact I stayed awake for half the race is encouraging I reckon.
Within the first handful of laps in Australia you had overtakes around the outside and some good side by side stuff - I can't remember exact names and cars I'm afraid because I was watching highlights on iplayer when I should have been asleep but the fact I stayed awake for half the race is encouraging I reckon.
The lack of engine noise was a problem, they might as well play backing music now...
Also, thinking about Mr Carson's argument even more, I want to see overtakes due to driver errors, I want to see the cars hard to drive and pressure being exerted by the guy behind leading to mistakes. That is what wheel to wheel racing is isn't it? When the cars are so flattering and faultless that they just take every corner at 100% it isn't surprising no-one ever used to stick their nose in up the inside (not least because they couldn't get close enough to do so)
Also, thinking about Mr Carson's argument even more, I want to see overtakes due to driver errors, I want to see the cars hard to drive and pressure being exerted by the guy behind leading to mistakes. That is what wheel to wheel racing is isn't it? When the cars are so flattering and faultless that they just take every corner at 100% it isn't surprising no-one ever used to stick their nose in up the inside (not least because they couldn't get close enough to do so)
Hi Zebedee,
First of all, thanks very much for the comments – much appreciated.
I totally agree with you about last season, and many years before that during the ‘Vettel era’ in fact. That’s why I referenced previous championships as a “Sunday afternoon snooze slot.” Manufactured, artificial racing is not what we PHers want to see, which is why in a previous piece here (http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=29441) I mentioned that F1 could learn a thing or two from a series like Rallycross.
As I mentioned above, notable performances from Rosberg, Bottas (a stunning drive), Magnussen and Ricciardo meant there was plenty to be enthused about, but for further down the line this season in my opinion.
As it was, it appeared that as many of the cars are at different stages of development with teams working on different things, there weren’t many continuous dices with drivers swapping positions lap after lap. It was more a case of pass the car, thank you and good night.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather see ‘real’ racing than paint being traded because of functions like DRS, but the gaps between the performance of the different cars meant, at the first round at least, continuous close racing wasn’t really apparent. I’m sure it will come as everyone gets on a level.
As for the points made by other people about driver error and reliability: it’s true that driver error does often allow for a pass. However, Bottas round the outside at turn three, for example, was pure skill, made possible by a quick driver in a well setup car with plenty of confidence who lined the other guy up expertly – most of the guys he picked off couldn’t do anything about him as his car was simply faster and him more in tune with his machine maybe. It’s a shame we didn’t see more overtakes of this nature.
As for the lack of reliability, it does add excitement as that unpredictability creeps in. But for the pole sitter who was so quick in quali and potentially the only man who could have given Rosberg a run for his money at the sharp end to retire due to engine problems, it was a shame. I think there’s a happy medium when it comes to reliability and that we’ll see it this season.
If we do see breakdowns, I’d rather see it because the driver is pushing the car to its absolute limit, let’s say, later on in a race to either catch someone or keep them at bay – not after a few laps going backwards through the pack when he and the car showed so much potential during the weekend prior to the problem.
I think we’re certainly in for an interesting season ahead and observing how it pans out will be fascinating. With so many first-rate drivers on the grid, I’d just like to see some lengthier, continuous competition throughout a race. Just my two cents anyway…
Thanks again to all for the comments.
Sean
First of all, thanks very much for the comments – much appreciated.
I totally agree with you about last season, and many years before that during the ‘Vettel era’ in fact. That’s why I referenced previous championships as a “Sunday afternoon snooze slot.” Manufactured, artificial racing is not what we PHers want to see, which is why in a previous piece here (http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=29441) I mentioned that F1 could learn a thing or two from a series like Rallycross.
As I mentioned above, notable performances from Rosberg, Bottas (a stunning drive), Magnussen and Ricciardo meant there was plenty to be enthused about, but for further down the line this season in my opinion.
As it was, it appeared that as many of the cars are at different stages of development with teams working on different things, there weren’t many continuous dices with drivers swapping positions lap after lap. It was more a case of pass the car, thank you and good night.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather see ‘real’ racing than paint being traded because of functions like DRS, but the gaps between the performance of the different cars meant, at the first round at least, continuous close racing wasn’t really apparent. I’m sure it will come as everyone gets on a level.
As for the points made by other people about driver error and reliability: it’s true that driver error does often allow for a pass. However, Bottas round the outside at turn three, for example, was pure skill, made possible by a quick driver in a well setup car with plenty of confidence who lined the other guy up expertly – most of the guys he picked off couldn’t do anything about him as his car was simply faster and him more in tune with his machine maybe. It’s a shame we didn’t see more overtakes of this nature.
As for the lack of reliability, it does add excitement as that unpredictability creeps in. But for the pole sitter who was so quick in quali and potentially the only man who could have given Rosberg a run for his money at the sharp end to retire due to engine problems, it was a shame. I think there’s a happy medium when it comes to reliability and that we’ll see it this season.
If we do see breakdowns, I’d rather see it because the driver is pushing the car to its absolute limit, let’s say, later on in a race to either catch someone or keep them at bay – not after a few laps going backwards through the pack when he and the car showed so much potential during the weekend prior to the problem.
I think we’re certainly in for an interesting season ahead and observing how it pans out will be fascinating. With so many first-rate drivers on the grid, I’d just like to see some lengthier, continuous competition throughout a race. Just my two cents anyway…
Thanks again to all for the comments.
Sean
Sean Carson said:
Thanks again to all for the comments.
Sean
I agree with everything you've said. As I mentioned above, overtaking a much slower car is not racing. Sadly my patience with F1 has been tried too much in the past few years and I'll not be bothering with the rest of the season.Sean
zebedee said:
The lack of engine noise was a problem, they might as well play backing music now...
The next step will be > no noise . . . due to all electric F1. EF1 . . .So with the races being dull, dull and dull there will be enough opportunity to place commercial messages.
Well done Bernie? I've had my share of 70s and 80s F1 spectacular: it is burnt in my mind and will never dissapear.
Totally boring, and the commentators are crap now as well
It's no longer or has never been for many years about who's the best driver. Give them an engine and a manual box and let them race, oh wait..,.touring cars! Which will benefit greatly from an even more enhanced level of boring F1
It's no longer or has never been for many years about who's the best driver. Give them an engine and a manual box and let them race, oh wait..,.touring cars! Which will benefit greatly from an even more enhanced level of boring F1
A couple or three of initial comments -
1) The Williams look very quick - big thumbs up
2) I think it may take a couple of weekends for "The Finger" to modify his driving style - for the last three years he has been the best at dumping loads of revs mid corner to get the blown diffuser working and sticking the car to the road, with next to no torque this is fine. This year - no blown diffuser and loads of torgue to control - if he does not get it right it will end up with an armfull of opposite lock at every corner. That said the RB looked to have a good base, add in another 50hp of reliable power, SV reprogrammed and they will be back up the front before Silverstone.
3) the sound - Meh !
Just my pennies worth.
1) The Williams look very quick - big thumbs up
2) I think it may take a couple of weekends for "The Finger" to modify his driving style - for the last three years he has been the best at dumping loads of revs mid corner to get the blown diffuser working and sticking the car to the road, with next to no torque this is fine. This year - no blown diffuser and loads of torgue to control - if he does not get it right it will end up with an armfull of opposite lock at every corner. That said the RB looked to have a good base, add in another 50hp of reliable power, SV reprogrammed and they will be back up the front before Silverstone.
3) the sound - Meh !
Just my pennies worth.
[quote=Vantagefan]I agree with the above. That race had a lot more going for it than the Red Bull show of previous seasons. Having a Force India end up where a Ferrari should be; McLaren on the podium (2nd and 3rd in retrospect) when they didn't land anything last year; Mercedes showing off their engineering capabilities; that stunning Martini livery on Sauber.
"that stunning Martini livery on Williams." There, fixed it for you.
I agree with XJR500bhp - commentators are a bit poor. I think the BBC pitlane reporters are good but Suzi Perry is still either very wooden or just plain wrong a lot of the time, despite now having a year's experience. I thought Lee McKenzue did a top job when she filled in for Jake Humphrey; I can't understand why she didn't get the gig when he moved to BTSport.
"that stunning Martini livery on Williams." There, fixed it for you.
I agree with XJR500bhp - commentators are a bit poor. I think the BBC pitlane reporters are good but Suzi Perry is still either very wooden or just plain wrong a lot of the time, despite now having a year's experience. I thought Lee McKenzue did a top job when she filled in for Jake Humphrey; I can't understand why she didn't get the gig when he moved to BTSport.
Well DRS seems to help no one now for some reason. At least Bottas livened up the spectacle and showed that overtaking is possible. But seriously, didn't someone think to re run some of Kobayashi's past idiotic behaviour and think, "gee if we put him in an seriously uncompetitive car, won't he be even more desperate to perform?" At least Grosjean seemed to learn his lesson fairly quickly, Kobayashi just reverts to type!
I won't bang on about my mantra of getting rid of aero altogether making the cars neutral relative to 'downforce' but if Bottas is anything to judge by, proof of the pudding and all that. Reduced aero and he made the most of it, not least pushing some of the more ham footed drivers into torque induced oversteer on the exits.
What I will say though is that unfortunately, PH'rs are no longer the target audience for Bernie, (nor have they been for the last 3 decades) it's the great unwashed, technically illiterate, cash splashing, celebrity loving, bling merchants who believe adverts are entertaining and intellectual interludes.
F1 was originally a manufacturers competition, latterly teams, and now celebrity drivers. Drivers were almost incidental and dispensable. Sadly that is no longer the case.
And whilst I did watch the race it was more out of curiosity. I don't think much will change during the season other then the championship might be marginally closer thanks to unreliability, but by the end of the year, the status quo will be established. It might be Vettel, or Rosberg, or even LuLu, but someone will run away with the season, situation normal.
I wasn't as bothered as I though I would be with the lack of noise however it's disconcerting as it was always a clue as to what car you were watching and what car the sound was from as Directors flicked between shots. But I suppose Hybrid, and then electric is the route to Green F1.........despite the unimaginable amounts of fuel used to transport the whole circus round the globe on fleets of Jumbo Jets.
I certainly won't miss a couple of weekends of BSB at Brands to watch F1 on the Sundays. Record and fast forward is the way to go these days.
Sad, but the sooner F1 goes bust because the 'new age spectators' get bored with it, as they do with everything else, and PH'rs have abandoned it because of it's asinine nature, the better as far as I'm concerned.
I won't bang on about my mantra of getting rid of aero altogether making the cars neutral relative to 'downforce' but if Bottas is anything to judge by, proof of the pudding and all that. Reduced aero and he made the most of it, not least pushing some of the more ham footed drivers into torque induced oversteer on the exits.
What I will say though is that unfortunately, PH'rs are no longer the target audience for Bernie, (nor have they been for the last 3 decades) it's the great unwashed, technically illiterate, cash splashing, celebrity loving, bling merchants who believe adverts are entertaining and intellectual interludes.
F1 was originally a manufacturers competition, latterly teams, and now celebrity drivers. Drivers were almost incidental and dispensable. Sadly that is no longer the case.
And whilst I did watch the race it was more out of curiosity. I don't think much will change during the season other then the championship might be marginally closer thanks to unreliability, but by the end of the year, the status quo will be established. It might be Vettel, or Rosberg, or even LuLu, but someone will run away with the season, situation normal.
I wasn't as bothered as I though I would be with the lack of noise however it's disconcerting as it was always a clue as to what car you were watching and what car the sound was from as Directors flicked between shots. But I suppose Hybrid, and then electric is the route to Green F1.........despite the unimaginable amounts of fuel used to transport the whole circus round the globe on fleets of Jumbo Jets.
I certainly won't miss a couple of weekends of BSB at Brands to watch F1 on the Sundays. Record and fast forward is the way to go these days.
Sad, but the sooner F1 goes bust because the 'new age spectators' get bored with it, as they do with everything else, and PH'rs have abandoned it because of it's asinine nature, the better as far as I'm concerned.
Curious about the rather hollow and flat-sounding engines on these new 2014 cars. V6's have usually been the more musical of the various engine configurations so a bit disappointing I have to say. I'm assuming the purity of the noise gets lost amidst the turbos and various energy retrieval systems etc.
I was looking forward enormously to the season starting ..... but I ended up falling asleep during the race. May be the boring lack of noise .... or the relative lack of dicing during the race. Not sure.
Either way it appears more like watching Formula Ford than F1. I will continue watching though and hope for some improvement.
Either way it appears more like watching Formula Ford than F1. I will continue watching though and hope for some improvement.
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