The Official 2018 Singapore Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**

[Teddy Lop]

Mr Tidy said:

Teddy Lop said:

although Hamilton doesn't have McLaren to toss away the championship he's bought and paid for.

What on earth do you mean by that?

do you really need it explaining? The point (besides the dig that seems to be remarkably triggering) was Hamilton had most of a 2 race win lead with just 2 races to go, rather than 6, but that went *poof*

[RichB]

People tend to speak in English here rather than your ... "bough and paid for" nonsense.

[Exige77]

RichB said:

People tend to speak in English here rather than your ... "bough and paid for" nonsense.

It’s Teddy text speak

[Europa1]

Teddy Lop said:

Mr Tidy said:

Teddy Lop said:

although Hamilton doesn't have McLaren to toss away the championship he's bought and paid for.

What on earth do you mean by that?

do you really need it explaining? The point (besides the dig that seems to be remarkably triggering) was Hamilton had most of a 2 race win lead with just 2 races to go, rather than 6, but that went *poof*

I'm sorry, but I do genuinely need it explaining, specifically the "he's bought and paid for" part.

If you could expand on that, I'd appreciate it.

[Roofless Toothless]

I'm really having a job seeing any sense in these arguments to get rid of blue flags. I used to marshall races at Brands and I have waved plenty of the things in my time.

The most satisfying thing about flagging is to get the race past the tail enders without being spoilt by competitors who don't know how to use their mirrors. Short of racing yourself, there is nothing better than flapping a blue flag in a driver's face, actually seeing him look into his mirrors, waking up and getting out of the way. You know you have contributed positively to the event, and a good race was not spoiled by a slower driver tootling along in a world of their own.

And if the tail ender decides to be difficult about it and doesn't get over, the blue flag is a mandatory command, not a warning, and they will soon learn that there are penalties for ignoring it.

Who on earth wants to see a race between the fastest drivers spoilt by someone who does not, or will not, get out of the way?

[Teddy Lop]

Europa1 said:

Teddy Lop said:

Mr Tidy said:

Teddy Lop said:

although Hamilton doesn't have McLaren to toss away the championship he's bought and paid for.

What on earth do you mean by that?

do you really need it explaining? The point (besides the dig that seems to be remarkably triggering) was Hamilton had most of a 2 race win lead with just 2 races to go, rather than 6, but that went *poof*

I'm sorry, but I do genuinely need it explaining, specifically the "he's bought and paid for" part.

If you could expand on that, I'd appreciate it.

After wondering what all the fuss was about and having a look it seems the more common usage of the term implies corruption, which I didnt mean at all - the one I grew up with means "all the hard works done, its cruising from here" with no sinister implication at all. Must be an old local thing.

So yeah ignore that then, I actually think Hamilton's the complete opposite of that .

And sorry for confusion.

Edited by Teddy Lop on Friday 21st September 17:46

[swisstoni]

I can sympathise a bit with the uninitiated having trouble following a GP. My first one was at Brands Hatch and I didn’t know wtf was going on.

But going all the way to Singapore and bailing out half way sounds a bit poor.

[RichB]

swisstoni said:

I can sympathise a bit with the uninitiated having trouble following a GP. My first one was at Brands Hatch and I didn’t know wtf was going on.

And in contrast to that experience, my wife and I first watched an F1 race at Silverstone in 2000. We only had general admission tickets so we chose a spot on the banking at Copse being at the end of the (then) main straight and the exit of the pit lane. Together with the big screen, other people's radios (we didn't have one) and actually watching the race we kept up perfectly. Indeed we both remarked how enjoyable it was and how easy it was to keep track of who was where, despite not having Murray Walker shouting in our ears!

[TheInternet]

Eric Mc said:

Made a special trip with some other F1 nuts . He did have pit and paddock access so that part of the weekend was enjoyable - but the race itself left him completely cold. (He's been to quite a few GPs over the years - so not a "casual" attendee by any stretch of the imagination).

It was Esteban, wasn't it?

[Eric Mc]

swisstoni said:

I can sympathise a bit with the uninitiated having trouble following a GP. My first one was at Brands Hatch and I didn’t know wtf was going on.

But going all the way to Singapore and bailing out half way sounds a bit poor.

He found other more interesting things to do. It is a "bit poor" but does it reflect badly on him or on the poor quality of the product he had travelled to watch?

[Derek Smith]

Eric Mc said:

swisstoni said:

I can sympathise a bit with the uninitiated having trouble following a GP. My first one was at Brands Hatch and I didn’t know wtf was going on.

But going all the way to Singapore and bailing out half way sounds a bit poor.

He found other more interesting things to do. It is a "bit poor" but does it reflect badly on him or on the poor quality of the product he had travelled to watch?

I don't think that necessarily follows. I went to see a sport I had little idea about. It didn't excite me. I stayed out of politeness to my host and it was clear that most people were entranced, but I missed what they found interesting. There was applause at one time for something that looked to me exactly like the play that went on just before that which generated no response.

My main sport it rugby. Many people wander along and have no idea what's going on. Without that, the game seems weird. Once it starts to become clear why everyone jumped on the flanker, understanding starts and enjoyment begins. A kick to touch often generates applause: for accuracy, for tactical awareness, for kicking under pressure, for being kicked by the loose head prop. To someone at their first match, it's a kick.

[Eric Mc]

He didn't go to a sport he "had little idea about". He's followed F1 as long as I have - and he's been to far more GPs than me.

He just found this one deadly dull and gave up watching.

[DodgeeDave]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Perhaps the FIA should get rid of blue flags.

When Grosjean and Sirotkin were not paying attention it really was epic to see the leaders struggling and closing up.

I actually though Verstappen was going to go for a dive bomb but it was just at the wrong part of the circuit.

Blue flags gone would make things exciting for us fans but a nightmare for the leaders.

I think this is actually a very good idea!!

[LDN]

DodgeeDave said:

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Perhaps the FIA should get rid of blue flags.

When Grosjean and Sirotkin were not paying attention it really was epic to see the leaders struggling and closing up.

I actually though Verstappen was going to go for a dive bomb but it was just at the wrong part of the circuit.

Blue flags gone would make things exciting for us fans but a nightmare for the leaders.

I think this is actually a very good idea!!

Problem is; sister / customer teams being seen to aid their bigger brothers; whether they actually do or not. It wouldn't work and there does have to be some kind of 'one rule for all'.

Imagine; a Torro Rosso holds up Vettel for a lap; or even worse; clips him... Verstappen wins... cue conspiracy theories galore. Whether true or not, wouldn't even come into it.

[Mr Pointy]

It surprises me that these posters who come up with genius ideas like no blue flags, more tyre suppliers or change the qualifying format think that it hasn't already been done & things are the way the are because an attempt was made to cure severe issues in the past.

I also suspect they'd be the first to start whining when yet another race turned into a dull processional train because the leader couldn't get past a lapped backmarker - as Bottas couldn't in Singapore. If Bottas had been flagged through then he might have had a chance to attck Vettel & we would have had some real excitement towards the end of the race. As it was Vettel was protected & we just got to watch him crawl around protecting his tyres.

[Exige77]

DodgeeDave said:

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Perhaps the FIA should get rid of blue flags.

When Grosjean and Sirotkin were not paying attention it really was epic to see the leaders struggling and closing up.

I actually though Verstappen was going to go for a dive bomb but it was just at the wrong part of the circuit.

Blue flags gone would make things exciting for us fans but a nightmare for the leaders.

I think this is actually a very good idea!!

You may as well just flip a coin to decide the winner then ?

Or random number generator to give all drivers the same chance of a win ?

[Eric Mc]

The negotiation of back markers was always part of the skills of motor racing. Indeed, it was always touted of one of Ayrton Senna's great attributes. Of course, in the modern era, F1 drivers no longer need that particular skill.

I'm not advocating the abolition of blue flags. They are an important aspect of track racing. It's just the "uber compliance" required by back markers in the current application of the "blue flag" rule that's the problem.

And, of course, it's just one more element of unpredictability neutered under current rules.

[Eric Mc]

Senna (and his contemporaries) didn't just have to deal with the ultra-slow qualifiers.

Of course, an issue today is that the aero packages make getting past a back marker even more difficult. And we all know what the solution to THAT issue should be, don't we.

[Exige77]

Eric Mc said:

The negotiation of back markers was always part of the skills of motor racing. Indeed, it was always touted of one of Ayrton Senna's great attributes. Of course, in the modern era, F1 drivers no longer need that particular skill.

I'm not advocating the abolition of blue flags. They are an important aspect of track racing. It's just the "uber compliance" required by back markers in the current application of the "blue flag" rule that's the problem.

And, of course, it's just one more element of unpredictability neutered under current rules.

The aero issue is much more severe now than ever before. In the “olden day's” it was much easier for a faster car to pass back markers.

We would just end up with a procession of front runners stuck behind a couple of fast engined slow cars, I mean Williams off course. See last weeks race.

[anonymous-user]

Mr Pointy said:

It surprises me that these posters who come up with genius ideas like no blue flags, more tyre suppliers or change the qualifying format think that it hasn't already been done & things are the way the are because an attempt was made to cure severe issues in the past.

I also suspect they'd be the first to start whining when yet another race turned into a dull processional train because the leader couldn't get past a lapped backmarker - as Bottas couldn't in Singapore. If Bottas had been flagged through then he might have had a chance to attck Vettel & we would have had some real excitement towards the end of the race. As it was Vettel was protected & we just got to watch him crawl around protecting his tyres.

So does that mean I am a genius? Thank you

FYI it was not something I came up with but just repeating what has been said by a number of ex F1 drivers and the media

Derek Warwick stating in 2017 that he wants blue flags scrapped is just one example.

Perhaps because he no longer races.