Official 2024 Chinese Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Derek Smith]

Leithen said:

Derek Smith said:

I view him as similar to Piquet. Both tremendously naturally talented, with Piquet edging it, but both talents were wasted to an extent due to their own actions. Alonso allowed his emotions, and belief he should be treated as special, get in the way. He could have had lots more WDCs, and should have. The same with Piquet. Both drove their best in the latter section of their careers. Both seemed to go walkabout at times.

Piquet was at his best in '83 and never entirely recovered from his '87 crash at Imola. His results for Benetton were a testament to how good he was regardless.

Alonso is a far more rounded driver, and I'd argue the better of the two. But unreliability and bravery, with a large dose of accompanying madness, were the hallmarks of the '80s and it is so hard to compare with today.

I was at a dinner party and was introduced to a bloke, and was told, "You two have a lot in common. You both like motor racing." Normally the end of the evening, but he wanted to talk, helped by being 3/4 drunk. Ex-Brabham mechanic and one of Piquet's. He reckoned that after winning each WDC, he'd not bother the second season, just enjoy the #1 on his car. He said he and the rest of the team would work all hours trying to discover the cause of the lost performance, while he spent his time on the beach. He reckoned it was his second year 'off' that made them twig.

I said I was told that the mechanics loved him. He said up until they discovered they were taken for mugs. Piquet's generosity only went so far.

He was bitter, but still sang his praises as a driver.

[paulguitar]

He was clearly a very quick and accomplished driver, but an unpleasant person. Mansell gave him a shock at Williams and Nelson reacted by getting nasty, up to and including insulting Nigel's wife.

Not cool at all.

I think his three titles rather flatter his ultimate level.

[Murghee]

Just happy rosberg was commentating to stop all the garbage croft was spewing

[Red9zero]

Murghee said:

Just happy rosberg was commentating to stop all the garbage croft was spewing

We need him every week. It was quite amusing at times.

[paulguitar]

Red9zero said:

Murghee said:

Just happy rosberg was commentating to stop all the garbage croft was spewing

We need him every week. It was quite amusing at times.

I tend to watch with the sound muted, so I don't have to deal with Croft. it's not as if I am missing any lovely engine sounds by doing this...


Sounds like Rosberg was entertaining though, so next time he is on I might unmute.

[ChocolateFrog]

I think the point made earlier that there's very little leverage against Rosberg therefore allowing him more freedom to say what he wants is valid.

He's got nothing to prove and I doubt he'd be that arsed if the F1 took his revoked his pass.

[Chasing Potatoes]

I met Rosberg at a wedding once. Took me a while to realise it was actually him as it wasn't where you'd expect. The groom (they'd been at school together) introduced us as he knew we both enjoy road cycling and we had a very nice, easy chat about bikes and riding for about half an hour. I came away with the impression that he's a genuinely nice man and was quite happy to chew the fat over normal stuff. I have a lot of time for him.

[vaud]

Chasing Potatoes said:

I met Rosberg at a wedding once. Took me a while to realise it was actually him as it wasn't where you'd expect. The groom (they'd been at school together) introduced us as he knew we both enjoy road cycling and we had a very nice, easy chat about bikes and riding for about half an hour. I came away with the impression that he's a genuinely nice man and was quite happy to chew the fat over normal stuff. I have a lot of time for him.

I was a guest of Williams when he drove for them and ok he was on work duty but he was very easy to talk to, very funny and engaging.

[heebeegeetee]

Forester1965 said:

I think Alonso is overrated. I like his enthusiasm for racing and his cerebral approach, but ultimately for all his scheming it hasn't got him anywhere. His reputation relies on Michelin being better than Bridgestone. That and blackmailing Ron Dennis and insulting Honda.

Good driver but not a great one.

You have got to be kidding.

https://youtu.be/iy8p3XkVpto?si=nhOp6KR2ZKAQbb7E&a... Imola 2005, fabulous performance.

https://youtu.be/m-ZMQpdX9HQ?si=Znbkle_mtniEBR6A&a... Great stuff in the rain at Hungary.

https://youtu.be/gJyB51pnSL8?si=qNrrMlqijJ3hmItR 10 of the best.

This is not the stuff of "good" drivers.

[Murghee]

Its all about tyres which i know has been something in formula 1 for decades but this season and last seaon there is so much focus on tyres.

Rather they make 2 tyre compounds one that will last the race one that wont and let the teams decide how many compounds they want to use. This rule of having to use two different compounds is just daft let them use what they want.

Also they should have unlimited sets of whatever compound they want.

Getting bored of every race being determined about tyres

[paulguitar]

heebeegeetee said:

Forester1965 said:

I think Alonso is overrated. I like his enthusiasm for racing and his cerebral approach, but ultimately for all his scheming it hasn't got him anywhere. His reputation relies on Michelin being better than Bridgestone. That and blackmailing Ron Dennis and insulting Honda.

Good driver but not a great one.

You have got to be kidding.

https://youtu.be/iy8p3XkVpto?si=nhOp6KR2ZKAQbb7E&a... Imola 2005, fabulous performance.

https://youtu.be/m-ZMQpdX9HQ?si=Znbkle_mtniEBR6A&a... Great stuff in the rain at Hungary.

https://youtu.be/gJyB51pnSL8?si=qNrrMlqijJ3hmItR 10 of the best.

This is not the stuff of "good" drivers.

Yes, Alonso is an absolute all-time great in my view. Dodgy character, fantastic driver.

He was every bit a match for peak Michael Schumacher.

[vaud]

Murghee said:

Its all about tyres which i know has been something in formula 1 for decades but this season and last seaon there is so much focus on tyres.

Rather they make 2 tyre compounds one that will last the race one that wont and let the teams decide how many compounds they want to use. This rule of having to use two different compounds is just daft let them use what they want.

Also they should have unlimited sets of whatever compound they want.

Getting bored of every race being determined about tyres

Won't happen due to sustainability - and all tyres are recycled after each race IIRC

[Sandpit Steve]

vaud said:

Murghee said:

Its all about tyres which i know has been something in formula 1 for decades but this season and last seaon there is so much focus on tyres.

Rather they make 2 tyre compounds one that will last the race one that wont and let the teams decide how many compounds they want to use. This rule of having to use two different compounds is just daft let them use what they want.

Also they should have unlimited sets of whatever compound they want.

Getting bored of every race being determined about tyres

Won't happen due to sustainability - and all tyres are recycled after each race IIRC

It would be more sustainable if they all used fewer tyres in the first place, and it would cut down on the shipping costs.

They only ‘recycle’ them all (turn them into pellets to avoid shipping them home) after each race, because the wheels go home with the teams and the tyres can only be mounted once. But a kids’ playground in each country gets some very fancy synthetic rubber mats, so all good!

[Nova Gyna]

paulguitar said:

heebeegeetee said:

Forester1965 said:

I think Alonso is overrated. I like his enthusiasm for racing and his cerebral approach, but ultimately for all his scheming it hasn't got him anywhere. His reputation relies on Michelin being better than Bridgestone. That and blackmailing Ron Dennis and insulting Honda.

Good driver but not a great one.

You have got to be kidding.

https://youtu.be/iy8p3XkVpto?si=nhOp6KR2ZKAQbb7E&a... Imola 2005, fabulous performance.

https://youtu.be/m-ZMQpdX9HQ?si=Znbkle_mtniEBR6A&a... Great stuff in the rain at Hungary.

https://youtu.be/gJyB51pnSL8?si=qNrrMlqijJ3hmItR 10 of the best.

This is not the stuff of "good" drivers.

Yes, Alonso is an absolute all-time great in my view. Dodgy character, fantastic driver.

He was every bit a match for peak Michael Schumacher.

I rate Alonso as a top driver too, but he's as conniving as he is charming. Briatore's influence for many years is an interesting aspect to consider. It's hard to say definitively how much it shaped him and his career, but having a snake like Flav in his ear for 20 odd years couldn’t have been entirely healthy.

[Byker28i]

honda_exige said:

Sandpit Steve said:

honda_exige said:

RBRs pit team worth a mention today - 2 double stacks and the times were 2.1, 2.0, 2.0 and 1.9.

The 2nd stops might be the fastest double stack of all time apparently.

Quite probably the fastest two stops in a double-stack, but there was 18s between the cars as they pitted, so they weren’t particularly closely stacked. It was 22 seconds from MV stopping to SP moving.

True, impressive nonetheless given how hard other teams find it to get into the low 2s

Mclaren did a 2.1

[Byker28i]

Vanden Saab said:

honda_exige said:

Danny Ricc has got a 3 place penalty for the next race and 2 points because as he was rammed, Hulk passed him so he then retook his rightful position was was deemed to be an overtake under SC conditions.

Unbelievable for this to effectively be more severely sanctioned than that worthless prick Stroll.

In which case Hulk should get the same penalty for overtaking him to start with.

Some weird decisions this weekend

[Byker28i]

Mr Tidy said:

But Lando was impressive, and George did better than Lewis - again! Probably mainly because Alonso didn't manage to catch up with him.

Did George shine this weekend? Hamilton almost caught him up after cocking up qualifying.

[Byker28i]

Nova Gyna said:

paulguitar said:

heebeegeetee said:

Forester1965 said:

I think Alonso is overrated. I like his enthusiasm for racing and his cerebral approach, but ultimately for all his scheming it hasn't got him anywhere. His reputation relies on Michelin being better than Bridgestone. That and blackmailing Ron Dennis and insulting Honda.

Good driver but not a great one.

You have got to be kidding.

https://youtu.be/iy8p3XkVpto?si=nhOp6KR2ZKAQbb7E&a... Imola 2005, fabulous performance.

https://youtu.be/m-ZMQpdX9HQ?si=Znbkle_mtniEBR6A&a... Great stuff in the rain at Hungary.

https://youtu.be/gJyB51pnSL8?si=qNrrMlqijJ3hmItR 10 of the best.

This is not the stuff of "good" drivers.

Yes, Alonso is an absolute all-time great in my view. Dodgy character, fantastic driver.

He was every bit a match for peak Michael Schumacher.

I rate Alonso as a top driver too, but he's as conniving as he is charming. Briatore's influence for many years is an interesting aspect to consider. It's hard to say definitively how much it shaped him and his career, but having a snake like Flav in his ear for 20 odd years couldn’t have been entirely healthy.

I hadn't considered that angle but yes it's a very good thought - long time since crashgate

[Blib]

Byker28i said:

Did George shine this weekend? Hamilton almost caught him up after cocking up qualifying.

The Invisible Man.

[isaldiri]

Nova Gyna said:

I rate Alonso as a top driver too, but he's as conniving as he is charming. Briatore's influence for many years is an interesting aspect to consider. It's hard to say definitively how much it shaped him and his career, but having a snake like Flav in his ear for 20 odd years couldn’t have been entirely healthy.

Alonso also chose to retain Briatore as his manager (even once Briatore's F1 ban was rescinded after the spygate fallout) though so it might well be a case of 'birds of a feather'. Utterly brilliant driver, imo probably the best since Schumacher but his own self destructive streak has been a lot of the cause of why he's not won far more championships than the 2 early ones at Renault.