I don't think that's controversial at all. Largely speaking, the only people who'd disagree are Raikkonen and Schumacher fanboys (for various reasons).ONe of the best races I have seen from recent memory, so many duels happening together. Hamilton deserved the win; when it comes to a duel between him and Rosberg, I expect Hamilton to come out on top 9 times out of 10, I think he is that much better a driver (controversial opinion, but one I have held since these two have started out). The Mercedes domination is a big joke, just by seeing the way they both pulled away after the SC left.
Which brings me to Maldonado. My least favourite driver since watching the sport, and someone I think should be kept away from F1 as far as possible, before he gets someone seriously hurt. The man has been in more incidents than I cna recall, and yet again this one was 100% him to blame. The term "spacial awareness" does not exist in his head. Seriously, get him out now.
I don't think that's controversial at all. Largely speaking, the only people who'd disagree are Raikkonen and Schumacher fanboys (for various reasons).
That's a separate point, but also true (if we're still talking in HUGE broad strokes).Raikkonen fanboys are disappointed Ferrari has gave him a shit car, Raikkonen was never going to win loads of world championships as he doesn't actually give much of a shit.
That's a separate point, but also true (if we're still talking in HUGE broad strokes).
The main thing we can agree on is... it's a brilliant thing that Vettel is struggling.
Not if it means we're getting an all-Mercedes season.
A bit off topic from the race but any thoughts on the possible American F1 team coming into the series? Will the go with an American driver?
They won't, unless Mercedes have a major development issue they're going to walk it. As long as they let the two drivers race for the WDC I don't think anyone can complain, they dominated the race but also made it entertaining to watch.It's almost second per lap between mercedes and the rest. I have no idea how they will cover it.
Ummm, the Red Bull car of a couple of years ago?
That was not nearly as dominant as this year's Mercedes. In fact, on several occasions it was slower then the McLaren or the Ferrari.
If anyone of you knows. Do Force India and Williams get the exact same engine as the factory car?
It ain't all engine, I mean yes they are the works team so there are benefits to that but they are pounding the other Merc engine teams into the dirt too. It's doing them bit of a disservice to just say they have the best engine, I think they probably have the best chassis, low end and mid level downforce. Only really the Red Bull matches them in the high speed downforce as per Malaysia.
Supposedly they have a new nose that keeps failing crash tests but when its ready its another step forward for them.
McLaren 1988 with the MP4/4 probably.
The whole field is more strung out now though I think. In relative terms the MB is only as dominant as Vettel in 2011 or last year.
Hopefully it'll be like McLaren in 1998. Walking away with the first few but then someone got on terms (albeit that was Schumi and none of the chasing pack have his talent or Bridgestone giving him amazing tyres either)
McLaren 1988 with the MP4/4 probably.
The whole field is more strung out now though I think. In relative terms the MB is only as dominant as Vettel in 2011 or last year.
Hopefully it'll be like McLaren in 1998. Walking away with the first few but then someone got on terms (albeit that was Schumi and none of the chasing pack have his talent or Bridgestone giving him amazing tyres either)
I actually think this factoid isn't well known enough. I still find it staggering that Schumacher got custom tyres that nobody else got anywhere near.
This is the first time I hear something like this. Schumacher blew every single team mate he ever had out of the water in both qualifying and race pace. Suggesting that his supposedly custom made tyres made him look better than he was is preposterous.
Edit: Schumacher's Ferrari was on Goodyear's for the 1998 season.
Schumacher used to do crazy amounts of laps around Ferrari's Fiorano Test track too when F1 testing was unregulated.
I mean nobody is doubting how good Schumacher was but for a decent spell there he had everything going for him, best car, unlimited testing, custom tyres, soft teammate, FIA support.
"Supposedly"?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/19998444
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/29/michael-schumacher-retirement-speed
http://literalf1.com/2012/11/24/michael-schumacher-modern-f1-personified/
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/michael-schumacher/
Schumacher had Bridgestone tyres that were made specifically for him. Nobody else -- not even his team-mate -- got to use them. Yet everybody else on Bridgestone had the same tyres.
Also, please point out where I said that it made him look significantly better than he was? You're reading something into my post that's not there. I'm simply saying that it's funny how no-one remembers that.
That said, having custom-made tyres is going to have helped him be better than the rest. Whether that help was significant is unknown, and I think it's fair to say that Schumacher probably would have shown his class anyway - he was the most talented driver on the grid regardless. But it's a factor that has to be considered.
I'm not entirely sure what relevance this has? Schumacher didn't win the title in the 1998 season. Also, at no point did I say Schumacher had custom-made Bridgestone tyres throughout his whole career.
Alesi, Berger, Prost, Mansell, Masa, Barrichello, Alonso, Kimi, Alboretto etc have all driven for Ferrari, with its many alleged advantages. You can add up all their victories for Ferrari, and they will fall short of Schumi.
We did say nobody is doubting Schumachers talents did we not? The period in question I was talking about was the 2000-2004 years, F1 at that point was a free run for Schumacher to absolutely crush the opposition.
If you compares his win totals to anyone from any era they will fall short, Schumacher built Ferrari back to the top of that there is no doubt, its a massive achievement. Alboretto, Alesi, Berger, Prost, Mansell all were way before Ferrari got its shit together though and Alonso and Kimi came post regulated testing if we are going to be pedantic about it.
Barrichello was very much the Mark Webber of teammates, on his day he would challenge but for the majority of the season its a B talent driver backing up an A* talent. That's the one thing I wish Schumacher had dealt with in his prime, go head to head at Ferrari with a talent atleast comparable to himself which to be fair in the early 00's I'm not sure anyone was up for other than perhaps Kimi from 2002 onwards.
Agreed not Schumachers fault that the talent level wasn't as high in his dominant spells, I'm also not saying he blocked any teammates, more of an observation and a wish more than anything. I think we are lucky to be witnessing such a talent rich grid in F1 right now.
I'm not sure the custom tyre speculation could ever be proven but Schumacher and Ferrari did have a very strong affliliation with Bridgestone. I seem to recall there being talk of bespoke tyres for Schumacher around the 2001 season, have to remember that back then tyre wars were happening so teams and certain drivers did get priority on development paths, its not an outrageous claim to say he might have got custom tyres, especially when reputable sources are stating it as fact.