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Formula One Reminiscence Thread

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ManWithNoName

ManWithNoName

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Figured I'd make a new thread instead of clogging up the 2011 thread, plus this'll make a good thread to discuss the history of F1. Favourite races/drivers/teams/incidents etc.

Recently watched the 2004 Season Review, after having a great time watching the 2010 one, and it didn't disappoint. Even though the season itself wasn't too great, Schumi won 12 of the first 13 races, the way the reviews are done are really good. It brought back some names I'd forgotten; Sato, Baumgartner, Montoya, Ralf Schumacher etc. It was amusing seeing Webber in the Jaguar overalls again, especially when he qualifed 2nd at Malaysia only to have the worst start known to man and be in about 12th by the first corner. Some things never change.

Another highlight was when Montoya and Schumacher (Michael) came together at Imola. At the press conference afterwards Schumi described it as just being a racing incident and no big deal, Montoya said Schumi was either "blind or stupid". The journos asked Button (who was also there) for a neutral perspective. His response was "Oh I didn't see that, nope, can't see it so can't comment."

Also, this arrived today. Great read so far. Again, off Amazon, packed with info and insights into the season. And it's not just FIA written propaganda either. The book has a go at the FIA for going light on team orders. Highlight for me so far was a roundtable discussion with Martin Brundle, Christian Horner, Martin Whitmarsh and Autosport journo Mark Hughes. Great read.

IMG_0354.jpg

IMG_0372.jpg

IMG_0379.jpg
 
I thought 2004 was a rather disappointing season, actually - Ferrari practically dominated the entire year, so as a whole, I did find it a bit boring, save for Montoya winning in Brazil. I almost forgot Jaguar existed ... at the time when they launched, they were going to be "Britain's Ferrari", yet after five miserable seasons they sold out to Red Bull.

The 1990s was when I started following Formula 1, and I thought that was a far more entertaining decade than the noughties. It was the glory years for Williams, with Mansell, Prost, Hill and Villeneuve winning the driver's titles, and five constructor's championships that year. I started at the end of 1994, it was Hill v Schumacher for the title that year. So many memories - Schumacher taking Hill of the race to claim the 1994 title, tried to do the same to Villeneuve three years later but failed, Hill nearly winning Hungary 1997 in an Arrows, Villeneuve overtaking Schumacher around the outside of the Parabolica at Estoril, Villeneuve's rear tyre falling off at Suzuka 1996, Senna's drive at a very wet Donnington 1993, Mansell winning 9 races and the championship in 1992 ... I could go on, but as a Williams fan my favourite season was 1996, for the same reason I hated 2004. I loved 1996 because Williams were the dominant team that year. Driver's championship was only between Hill and Villeneuve, and Williams won the constructor's championship by a mile, winning 12 out of 16 races. Those were the days ...
 
You're right in saying 2004 wasn't that great a year, massive let down after the excitement of 2003. Now there was a fantastic season. What was interesting watching the review was that Michelen had numerous tyre blowouts at Indianapolis, including a huge crash involving Ralf Schumacher. Was very interesting seeing that knowing what was to happen in 2005.

The 90s was also when I got into F1, still remember watching the 1999 Japanese Grand Prix cheering on Eddie Irvine, but being very happy for Mika when he won. Has there been a more likeable, popular champion in recent memory than Mika Hakkinen?

Schumi - Perceived as breaking the rules
Alonso - Perceived as a prick
Raikkonen - Hardly the most likeable chap
Hamilton - Perceived as a spoilt brat
Button - For some reason a lot of people don't like him, can't work out why
Vettel - Perceived as the favourite child and spoilt brat

But I can never remember anyone saying a bad thing about Mika Hakkinen. Fantastic driver too.
 
2003 was a very good season, despite the fact that it was Schumacher's third title in a row. Raikkonen or Montoya could've won it, but I remember Montoya crashing out of Indianapolis, McLaren were quick but unreliable.

You're right about Hakkinen. I think of the recent era he was probably a "gentleman" of the sport. I may not be a Hakkinen fan, but I have a lot of respect for him. He was one of the quickest drivers around, but didn't have the arrogance of Schumacher. I'd put Damon Hill and Jenson Button in the same category of "gentlemen" champions, although neither were quite as good as Hakkinen was. All of them seem to be drivers who just shut up and got the job done.

I wonder, though, why don't you think Raikkonen was likeable? Yes, he was a man of few words, but so was Hakkinen. He's an extraordinarily talented driver, and I saw no sign of arrogance - although I did feel that he couldn't be bothered any more after winning his title in 2007. If Raikkonen were to come back and commit fully to F1 I think he can do very well indeed.
 

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People that disliked Kimi were no fun.

The guy was amazingly chill, and arguably the most talented driver since Senna IMO.
 
I didn't mean I didn't like him, just that he wasn't the most universally liked due to his lacking a personality. My favourite F1 quote of last year was by Kimi. He was speaking about the new Abu Dhabi circuit at an official dinner with politicians, members of the royal family, corporates etc.

"Kimi, what do you think of the track?"
"The first sector is okay, the rest is a bit shit"
 
ManWithNoName said:
The 90s was also when I got into F1, still remember watching the 1999 Japanese Grand Prix cheering on Eddie Irvine, but being very happy for Mika when he won. Has there been a more likeable, popular champion in recent memory than Mika Hakkinen?

But I can never remember anyone saying a bad thing about Mika Hakkinen. Fantastic driver too.
Click to expand...

His first Championship in 1998 was exactly 1000 days since he first got into a car after Adelaide 1995. I got into F1 thanks to the Adelaide GP in the 90's and our school had classes take it in turns to go to the Friday Quali every year. 95 was my year and my class ended up sitting on the same corner as his crash - we were in tears because we didnt believe he could of survived that....but he did :D

I loved the battles between Mika and MS - they have the greatest respect off the track and never asked for an inch on it. No one has ever said a bad word about Mika & he had the best sence of humor. Oh and you cant have a thread on Mika vs Michael without this....

[YOUTUBE]Tercg5Z7u_Q[/YOUTUBE]
 
roostersgal4eva said:
I loved the battles between Mika and MS - they have the greatest respect off the track and never asked for an inch on it. No one has ever said a bad word about Mika & he had the best sence of humor. Oh and you cant have a thread on Mika vs Michael without this....

[youtube]Tercg5Z7u_Q[/youtube]
Click to expand...

Indeed. That was one of the best overtaking manoeuvres that I've seen in my time watching Formula 1. While we're on the subject of good overtaking manoeuvres in the past, here's a few more:

[youtube]a7P0MvAj8hQ[/youtube]

[youtube]oLfPZts08WQ[/youtube]

[youtube]lK7OCLlQKg0[/youtube]

[youtube]SpPnhzk665o[/youtube]
That wasn't a particularly good video of a fantastic move. I couldn't find any others.

Best of all time:
[youtube]kl2tIFxSEGA[/youtube]
 
[youtube]V2g1yrGputA[/youtube]

This one here is my favourite overtake of all time. Mansell against Berger in Mexico 1990. One of the best races ive seen too with Prost coming from 13th to win by half a minute.
 
My Amazon package arrived yesterday with my '07, '08 and '09 Season Review DVDs. Watched '07 last night.

Good season. It reminded me how good Kovalinen can be, it was his first season and he beat his teammate Fisichella at Renault, even managed to get onto the podium.

Really enjoyed seeing that race at the Nurburgring, rain was insanely heavy and cars kept going off at turn 1 before the race was red flagged. What I don't think was fair though was that Hamilton had flown off right into the back of the gravel trap, and he got the crane to pick his car up and put him back on the track. Did enjoy seeing debutang Markus Windelhock leading the race for a period in a Spyker, due to having the foresight to come in and change to a wet setup after the parade lap.

This DVD did however remind me what a prick Alonso is. Whinging about his teammate, asking the team to tell Lewis to let him past, and holding him in qualifynig at Hungary. Pathetic and immature is what it was.

Did like at Japan that Vettel took out Webber, some things never change. (Although this one was absolutely not Vettels fault).

Highlight was probably the race after Kubicas huge crash at Canada, at the press conference:

Journo: So have you managed to see the accident on TV yet?
Robert: Well yes, but I also saw it live, when I was there

And I miss Kimis press conferences, just for kicks:

5304690672_b04aea2bcc_o.jpg
 

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ManWithNoName said:
Highlight was probably the race after Kubicas huge crash at Canada, at the press conference:

Journo: So have you managed to see the accident on TV yet?
Robert: Well yes, but I also saw it live, when I was there

And I miss Kimis press conferences, just for kicks:

5304690672_b04aea2bcc_o.jpg
Click to expand...

:D

Kubica is a jet, and probably most like Kimi in the personality (or lack of it) stakes as well. :D

They talk pretty much the same.
 
NSWCROW said:
O rly?
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
It was when they were behind the safety car in torrential rain, Hamilton was leading Webber and Vettel. Hamilton slammed on his brakes for some reason, which meant Webber had to slam his on to avoid overtaking him, and Vettel behind him never had a chance. Visibility was non-existent.

Reading Marks 2010 book, I'm up to the chapter about Hungary and the safety car incident:

"Maybe he was trying to screw up Fernando by backing him up and giving me a nice jump-start. Hang on, he'd never do that!"
 

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BomberFletch31 said:
Never said that. Racing incident, no more, no less. If anyone's to blame it's Hamilton, but as the leader of the pack he had the right to control the pace of the field. He slowed, cars bunched up, shit happened.
Click to expand...
So you're just shit-stirring then.
 

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