F1 2009 megathread

[NSXrebel]

Barrichello will win the race from pole position tomorrow. I am expecting a Brawn #1/#2.

I wouldn't expect a Brawn 1/2 tomorrow. One thing for sure is, Brawn will secure the WCC tomorrow. With a potential Barrichello win, Button needs a 3rd place to secure the championship, but as of now, that is highly unlikely. The WDC will be decided in Abu Dhabi.

Vettel is pretty much screwed out of the WDC, unless he manages a 2nd place finish at least.



go Forza Brawn!!!

 

[goldNSX]

Barrichello will win the race from pole position tomorrow. I am expecting a Brawn #1/#2.

I'm not sure about that. Tomorrow, if the weather is like today we'll see a lot of SC phases and a very astonishing may will result. There will be a lot of carbon fiber to dispose.

 

[myhui]

Jenson Button has been fingering Andrew Shovlin for the past few races saying his qualy failures are all due to poor choice of tires / setup / etc., and he does have a point, especially today's big oops. I'm most heartened to hear that Jens still believes in his own skill, as he's saying he can overtake here, as if implying every other driver can't overtake as well as he can.

It would be sweet success if the Rubens Barrichello and Jock Clear team stages a come from behind charge to claim the WDC. Then Jock Clear will have guided two WDC to victory in his career, and that is quite a unique accomplishment.

Imagine Brawn GP dropping Jens in favor of Rubens next year, and pairing him with Jacques Villeneuve.

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: Yep, comes with the territory

Hrant;1235172]Yesterday during practice, Peter Windsor made the following comment after noting that all the changes made for 2009 still didn't help the cars pass one another (the others commented that the better drives always found a way): "But F1 is much much more than that [referring to passing] ...."

Can someone decipher what that means? For the most part I find Windsor's insights and grapevine nuggets refreshing but I also hear no so subtle elitist perspective. Perhaps that comes with the F1 territory.

Well, while it comes with the territory, they are actually working on the "passing show". The reason why it didn't work this year, as Hobbs was saying, is that the Brawn double diffuser ruined the whole FIA aero plan designed to enable more passing. And as Posey said, the KERS is, unfortunately, used more defensively than offensively and it too spoils the passing "show".

But it occurs to me that F-1 does not totally belong to the casual American fans. Maybe other cultures don't care as much? But actually, Windsor's implied statement is probably indicative of many F-1 industry people who work 75 hrs/week doing their particular job. There are so many parts of an F-1 team and race production and each guy has their own job to do and they love the competition that relies on their piece. They want their piece to gain in importance compared to the drivers' hands. They don't care about what we couch-potatoes want as much as they want to play their own game day to day. So, it means that they don't want simple racing, NASCAR style passing and cowboy driving. That would diminish their job; whether it's being a tire changer, a team engineer/strategist, or say the Bridgestone tire engineers. They like that F-1 is complicated and winning comes down to far more than just "passing."

Hobbs and Matchett later said something to the effect that this has always been the complaint about F-1, but [shrugging] "passing in F-1 is hard and that's just the way it is."

I like close racing as much as anyone, but I wonder if this strong feeling (that racing always has to be a big obvious visual show compared to more of a chess match) maybe an American thing; one that explains NASCAR popularity???

I agree that was a cryptic comment that they could have easily followed up on and explained; too bad (or not) they didn't because you and I will be debating this for another, oh...................6-7 years? :biggrin:

just my 2 cents

 

[syam]

wahoo!!!

go jenson and brawn gp!

bad luck for rubens though...

 

[docjohn]

At least the results I was hoping for have occured:biggrin: So much satisfaction for those BAR Honda team members that stuck it out through the weak years to now have so much success come thier way with the brilliant Brawn at the helm,Bravo!!!!!! I was ohhnooo every time JB made those early race passes......... And what did I hear about next season,no refueling during the race ,so so much pit strategy will now only be about tires

 

[NSXrebel]

Congrats to Jenson Button and Brawn/Mercedes/Honda!!!!
Button was racing his ass off, pass after pass, after pass!!! :bowdown:

So unfortunate about Rubens though, and had to get a punctured tire. Even if he would have won the race, Button finished well enough in the points, he was still gonna take the championship.

Forza Brawn!!

 

[Ponyboy]

What a great great race! And with so much on the line. Did I see actual passing?

Congratulations to Button and Brawn GP! You guys deserve it!:biggrin:

 

[Motegi]

Congrats to Button and Brawn GP!

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: Good show

Ponyboy;1235491]What a great great race! And with so much on the line. Did I see actual passing? ;......

I've been asking around, so I may as well pose the question here.

Who was driving Button's car? Certainly didn't look like that limp-dick Jens we've come to know and laugh about. $heeeet, he made it look like he could drive.

And nobody was having more fun than that Kobayashi dude. :tongue: What a hoot !!! He was throwing wild blocks like he was Webber's understudy. (Or maybe Bergmeiser..........if you watched the ALMS race)

 

[Liquid]

Yesterday during practice, Peter Windsor made the following comment after noting that all the changes made for 2009 still didn't help the cars pass one another (the others commented that the better drives always found a way): "But F1 is much much more than that [referring to passing] ...."

Can someone decipher what that means? For the most part I find Windsor's insights and grapevine nuggets refreshing but I also hear no so subtle elitist perspective. Perhaps that comes with the F1 territory.

Qualifying should be interesting in the pouring rain!

I would speculate he's talking about the car vs. driver thing. Meaning, a lot of the performance comes from the car, not just the driver.

Congratulations to Brawn and especially to Jensen. Must feel SOOOOO good after enduring the media frenzy. He raced an amazing race, one worthy of the championship. I suspect his "limp dick" was more a function of ensuring that he didn't get a bunch of DNFs and protecting his points lead. Rubens was amazing in qualifying (unfortunately I didn't see it since my TIVO cut off while still in rain delay) but again, he didn't race like someone with nothing to lose and a championship to gain. Either way, he showed great character to celebrate Jensen when it must have been so bitter for him to lose that race and the championship. Well done on him.

 

[swbatte]

I inferred that Windsor was refering to the technologies of the car, the ability to carry speed through corners of varrying radii, massive braking, the 100's of gear shifts and the strategies used in fuelling, tyres, pitstops etc.

F1 is way more than overtaking. NASCAR has tonnes of overtaking, but they set up vitually identical spec cars to turn left, get into top gear, floor it. I'm not dissing NASCAR - the drivers are talented, and it's a very well run series, but overtaking is a much larger part to that series than F1.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

And nobody was having more fun than that Kobayashi dude. :tongue: What a hoot !!! He was throwing wild blocks like he was Webber's understudy. (Or maybe Bergmeiser..........if you watched the ALMS race)

Kimi on fire, Alonso crashing, Jenson driving like a mad man, Kamui blocking...couldnt have asked for a better race. Congrats Jenson!

 

[Dr.Honda]

Congratulations to JB! Been a long time coming! The whole Brawn/ Rubens/ Jenson story is a testimonial to perseverance. i would have loved to have seen JB and Rubens on the podium together and have Rubens win his home GP, oh well, glad to see Jenson clinch the championship.
Hate to see the two of them split up next season but that seems to be the rumor...

 

[Ponyboy]

Re: Good show

Who was driving Button's car?

I'm thinking it had to be Button's evil twin b/c he finally drove with a sense of urgency. And boy, did he drive well.

Some are calling it his best driver ever. I like Hungary better but, whatever, he won and I'm happy for him.

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: Button's trick

Button's evil twin b/c he finally drove with a sense of urgency......And boy, did he drive well.

I sent him an Email suggesting he try my pre-race routine: Chug 2 Red Bulls, pop a Viagra and listen to Bruce Springsteen's "No Surrender". It never actually works for me, but maybe it did for him. :biggrin:

 

[JohnJW]

Yes congrats JB and Ross B. Wish Rubins had a better shot. jarno trulli fined 10k for acting like an idiot. adrian sutil still has no luck, I always secretly pull for A. Sutil. Was prob my favorite race of the year.

 

[Ponyboy]

Yes congrats JB and Ross B. Wish Rubins had a better shot. jarno trulli fined 10k for acting like an idiot. adrian sutil still has no luck, I always secretly pull for A. Sutil. Was prob my favorite race of the year.

I liked Sutil until he started running like a girl.

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[Honcho]

Really happy for the Brawn/Honda team, and especially the drivers. I have not seen JB drive with such passion all season- it's like he finally woke up! I would have liked to see Rubens win his home race, but in all it was a great season. Now, what does the future hold? Does Brawn keep its world champion? Or does it make a play for Kimi?

And HOW BOUT that Kobayashi dude! That guy was driving like it was HIS world championship on the line. Great to see and I think he's got a bright future in F1 if he can be consistent.

I am holding out hope that Honda will at least become an engine supplier again, but until then I will continue to follow Brawn...and maybe Peter Windsor's new USF1 team.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

I liked Sutil until he started running like a girl.

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LOL, I love routing for Sutil but after this... I dunno, ha j/k.

I am holding out hope that Honda will at least become an engine supplier again, but until then I will continue to follow Brawn...and maybe Peter Windsor's new USF1 team.

Anyone else psyched to see the preview of USF1 with Windsor during the Abu Dhabi race? Kinda bummed he wont be doing his broadcasting duties but I hope they are successful in their rookie season.

 

[Miner]

Really happy for the Brawn/Honda team, and especially the drivers. I have not seen JB drive with such passion all season- it's like he finally woke up! I would have liked to see Rubens win his home race, but in all it was a great season. Now, what does the future hold? Does Brawn keep its world champion? Or does it make a play for Kimi?

There is no Honda in Brawn GP. Honda may have paid much of the bills this season, but that is it. Judging by the performance of the Mercedes powered teams, it was the deciding factor in this year's WDC and WMC.

Miner

 

[Miner]

I liked Sutil until he started running like a girl.

I think the correct phrase is "He runs like a Frenchman.":biggrin:

Miner

 

[92 white 0650]

Re: Brawn: Jens and Nico

Does Brawn keep its world champion? Or does it make a play for Kimi?

Although I hear there is pressure to keep Jensen's salary down there where it is, I don't think he'll be going anywhere. His performance since Silverstone demonstrates that he needs a good car and setup to do well. He's no Fred, that's for sure and that fact should be understood by all teams.

I'm pretty much buying the Rosberg to Brawn rumor.

About Kimi, I tend to think that if there's smoke, there's fire, and that Ross (and the team) would not take well to Kimi's personality and shortcomings.

My 2 cents.

 

[Hrant]

Re: Brawn: Jens and Nico

About Kimi, I tend to think that if there's smoke, there's fire, and that Ross (and the team) would not take well to Kimi's personality and shortcomings.

My 2 cents.

Especially after the purported rumor that he would not agree a total of 10-12 days of appearances on behalf of the potential new sposnors! What a joke, and David Hobbs called him on it ..... I think Kimi has more shelf life as a boozer and womanizer than a true F1 racer. And that is my $0.02 as well

 

[NSXrebel]

There is no Honda in Brawn GP. Honda may have paid much of the bills this season, but that is it. Judging by the performance of the Mercedes powered teams, it was the deciding factor in this year's WDC and WMC.

Miner

Like it or not, there IS Honda in Brawn GP. They didn't just pay the bills, they designed the car.