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Has Formula 1 lost it?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by GrumpyCabbie, Jul 26, 2010.

  1. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I know the US follows the Indy 500 and pretty much the rest of the world follows Formula 1, but is it me or is F1 losing it?

    There has been a lot of controversy in the past with drivers pulling over to let one of their team win the race and despite it now being banned it happened again yesterday.

    What's that all about? I thought the idea of a race was to win, not pull over and be tactical. Yeah I understand both sides of the argument here, but surely when you're driving a race car you drive it to win?

    BBC Sport - F1 - Ferrari boss slams F1 'hypocrisy' after Alonso win

    Do these sort of shenanigans go on with Indy500? I stopped watching F1 a few years back when Barrichello slowed down to let Schumacher win in the last couple hundred yards of the race. They might call it tactics - I say it stinks!
     
  2. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    I can understand it from a team point of view, but no, it doesn't make for good racing. Not that I've watched it in years - I lost interest in the circus long ago. At least they turn both directions, unlike Indy that I haven't seen in decades. (I guess I fall into the 'rest of the world' category.) :)

    I still see motorcycle racing on occasion. Sidecars are especially fun to watch.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    a lot of people like it here. i think it is just a microcosm of how the entire world and sports in general are degenerating.:cool:
     
  4. SPEEDEAMON

    SPEEDEAMON Professional Car Nut

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    This has been going on from the start of GP Racing. Rules are made to be broken, so long as you don't get caught. In Ferrari's case, they could have been a little more discrete. I have watched F1 since I was a child and still find it intriguing because of the technology. Many of it have been implemented in passenger cars. Recently because of the economy, they cannot test and develop engines like they used to. For instance the restriction on unlimited testing does make the smaller teams catch up but slows the advancement in new innovations.
     
  5. Pooka

    Pooka TIFOSO

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    a) No ... team orders have been in existence forever ...

    b) NASCAR is the most watched/ followed auto racing in USA. :(

    all i can say is that was the worst display of team orders ... (shows that FA is a good liar while FM / Rob / Stefano suck at dishonesty) - it also shows how good Schumi / Brawn / Todt were ... ofcourse (good and bad terms are relative when we are talkign about lying)
     
  6. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Formula 1 has relatively poor TV coverage in the US. Those who do watch are often rabid fans though :) I like to watch WRC (worse coverage than F1) and drift (basically no TV coverage at all).
     
  7. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Don't bicycle racers draft each other by turns, and then allow the team leader to finish at the head of their pack? I gather that these guys want one member of their team to win more races than anyone from any other team, so whoever seems to have the best chance of that gets to lead their team to the finish. Just like in bridge if your partner is doing well, you allow him to take tricks rather than taking some from him and thereby allowing the other team to win.

    I never watch racing of any sort (foot, bike, motor). When my knees were better and I wasn't as overweight, I enjoyed running foot races. But watching them? Dullsville!!!
     
  8. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Yes. There are sprinters who get led out by their teams to the finish line. Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) is a good example.

    Since we're talking F1, did anyone see that tribute to Ayrton Senna on the last Top Gear. It was great. I credit him for the excellent handling and manners of the Honda NSX.
     
  9. mojo

    mojo Senior Member

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  10. AussieOwner

    AussieOwner Active Member

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    If you stopped watching you would have missed the little altercation between those two ex-team mates in the Hungarian GP - Schumacher almost ran Barrichello off the road in a fight to finish 10th.

    You also do not see Webber and Vettel doing anything like this. In fact, they are so competitive they actually crashed while dueling for first place.

    I think that it must be a Ferrari thing.