F1 Grand Prix of Europe - Qualifying - *Spoilers*

Consider, new qualyifying proceedure so we don't know anyone's fuel load. Ross Brawn is excellent at pit strategy. Micheal Schumacher set the fastest time in the last 3 of 4 GP's. If Kimi beats Fred again, then that reduces the runaway points lead by Renault. But then someone else like Toyota or Williams will have to begin beating Kimi AND Fred, to give Ferrari any ray of hope to win either the constructor's or drivers's championship. Or even to come in second.

F1 is really exciting this year, albeit disappointing so far.

 

Awesome! If all goes well, I think NH will be on the podium again, but I'm still not sure on Webber. He might fall back again, but I'm glad to see both Williams qualifying well.

 

After the Renaults, Toyotas, Mc Larens now we have even a fast Williams team. What a fantastic season! We could have yet another new winner. How cool is that?!

Way to go Quick Nick! BRAVO!

PS: I wonder about the BAR team: Do they suck because they're out of practice or because now they have to run cars with the legal limit? And what does that tell us about the value of their performance last year?

 

Michael made a small error but he is very heavy on fuel. Remeber that Michael knows every aspect of Nurburgring and has a better chance of overtaking though strategy and on the track than anybody else.

 

I agree with the fuel load statement.

In general I also agree with his familiarity of the track, but does that really matter? Especially in his case: He is normally even fast on a track he never has seen. Anyway, related to this I was wondering since the Speed TV commentators also mentioned Nick's familiarity with the track:

How much does that really matter on this track? The track is for the most part pretty much straight forward (except for the chicane, which separates the boys from the men). However the new complex after s/f is pretty tricky and changed the nature of the track dramatically, it basically is like a whole new section with several new and tricky turns. That part is about equally familiar to everybody as it is relatively new.

Not to pick on you, just wondering whether this "home advantage" argument is truly still valid for the latest rendition of the Nuerburgring.

 

There are some changes to Nurburgrng this year too. I am not neccesarily saying that Michael has "home advantage". I am saying that he is the most experienced on that track and is more capable of overtaking than anyone else.

As for Michael's home track:

Autodromo Nazionale di Monza

That is his home track.

 

Hate it that way.

Very true.

 

I'm really happy for Quick Nick! His lap was very good. Even MS congratulated Nick on his first F1 pole. He is definitely one of the smoothest F1 drivers.

BAR ...
Maybe they're loaded, maybe the car is no good or maybe because the qualifying system is
no good. Seing good cars running early in qualifying is not a good idea (IMO)
It takes 2 races for a good car to bounce back.
Imagine the last race of the year....Raikkonen is leading by 2 points over FA...Alonso had to retire the last race and he is 1st or 2nd to do his qualifying lap. He can forget it. The best spot he can get is midfeld.

I read that the first 5 cars out usually give away about 4 tenths to the eventual pole sitter.

2003 was much better...practice order.

 

Brawn may be excellent at pit strategy - but it certainly hasn't been showing this season. They've used the same pit strategy every race, and it has worked once.

I am as big a Ferrari fan as everyone (barring imperial), but all I can say about this season is that I am feeling depressed.

 

there does seem to be something going on in the background we know nothing about but I'm getting back into that 21 years depressed state as well and turning the TV off early

I hate years like this, if you think this is exciting because Ferrari aren't winning then go to another forum, I'm worse than Imperial as I want a 1-2 EVERY race and NOBODY else to finish to make up for 21 years of misery and stick it to the "garagisti"

No, this season sux big time and there is something going on we will find out about in a few years from now...just my conspiracy theory subconscious bubbling to the surface

 

A non garagisti is leading the championship and one of the garagisti teams pays some handsome money to the Scuderia for engines.


But I'm with you on the garagisti argument otherwise: Teams that build the entire car deserve much more respect in my book.