FORMULA 1 GROSSER PREIS SANTANDER VON DEUTSCHLAND 2009

[Notebook]

Less than an hour to first practice. What with the cricket, should be a fun week-end!

N.

 

[simonpro]

What's with the insane names these GPs have nowadays? Bernie has obviously been finding sponsors for everything in sight. I'm surprised he doesn't have a "Fly Ryanair" sticker across his forehead.

Anyway, I think red bull should have this one in the bag. Brawn need something special here, although the track is much better suited to them than the last one.

 

[Notebook]

I think even Bernie E. would keep a pitch-fork length from Ryan-Air. Given their sense of geography, you'd probably end up at a go-kart track in Frankfurt, rather than The Ring!

Nice to see this has come back again:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8143165.stm

I wonder what "Mad Max" thinks of this, he could end up having more come backs than Elton John.

Anyway, here's a nice map of the circuit:-

http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/germany_814/circuit_diagram.html

N.

---------- Post added at 10:44 ---------- Previous post was at 08:46 ----------

Friday Practice 1:-

http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2009/814/6647/

Hamiltons not getting much faster.

N.

 

[Urwumpe]

They should name it "Santander Grand Prix" instead of such a grammatical nonsense. Is also annoying that they just drive a short race, instead of the real green hell. Driving the full Nordschleife in just 10 rounds would have been a real challenge for the Formula 1...

(More correct would have been: "GROSSER SANTANDER PREIS VON DEUTSCHLAND" or "SANTANDER GRAND PRIX VON DEUTSCHLAND", the current version sounds like the trophy was donated by a noble called Santander of Germany.)

 

[agentgonzo]

Driving on the Nordschleife in formula 1 cars would be insane, and most likely end up with fatalities. The track is in no way smooth enough for modern cars, and there is no run-off for pretty much the whole course. That said, it would be amazing to watch!!!

I've driven round the Nordschleife in an F1 car in rFactor and even though it was a computer game, it was utterly terrifying.

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, that is not surprising at all, the only really exciting F1 course is Monaco today. Does somebody remember Phoenix, USA or the old Hockenheim course?

The current trend in the F1 is going towards racing on rails.

 

[simonpro]

Suzuka is a pretty good circuit, can't remember if it's on the calander this year.
Nordschleife is amazing, though. I've driven round it (once, in something slower than an F1 car) and it's a superb place. Smooth it out and then put some F1 cars down. It'd be immense.

 

[Urwumpe]

Yeah, would look roughly like that...

http://www.grandprix2.de/screens/nordschleife/nordschleife.html

 

[Saturn V]

Somebody needs to pound some sense into Ecclestone's senile head. All of the circuits that have been added in the past 3-5 years bought their way in via government contract and promises of untold $$$ being spent on new facilities...in places that don't have a fan base to support them. They remain under-attended because places like Dubai don't have the fan base that Europe does. And what's up with pretending North America doesn't exist? The Canadian & US GPs gone. Granted, Tony George (IMS) is an even bigger turd that Bernie, but c'mon, you mean to tell me they couldn't find another venue ANYwhere on this continent?

Belive it or not Bernie, the sport (not you) has fans here too...

And he's dropped the axe on Silverstone too? Besides the great racing these circuits provided, they're part of the very history of the sport. Sorry, I'm not interested in watching a "parade" through Valencia...

 

[Tex]

I've driven round the Nordschleife in an F1 car in rFactor and even though it was a computer game, it was utterly terrifying.

I can second that! It was also a lot of fun!! Best race track ever!

The new "Ring" version for rFactor is great BTW if you haven't tried it yet...
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Nordschleife The Ring 2007

 

[Notebook]

Friday Practice 2:-

http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2009/814/6648/

Be interesting if Hamilton can keep that for the qualifying, maybe McLaren have got their car sorted?

N.

 

[GLS]

Quali -> http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2009/814/6650/

Looks like it's going to be another Red Bull vs Brawn race... perhaps the weather can change things a bit.

 

[Notebook]

Should be fun, good to see Hamilton a bit closer.

N.

---------- Post added 12-07-09 at 13:16 ---------- Previous post was 11-07-09 at 20:33 ----------

That was a scrappy start, didn't do Hamilton any favours...

Lap seven: Lewis Hamilton is lapped by fourth-placed Jenson Button. The world champion has been into the pits for new tyres and a lot of fuel. He is, unsurprisingly, last.

Lap five: Mark Webber, who David Coulthard reckons was "too aggressive" at the start, is the fastest man on the track and he's fuelled longer than leader Rubens Barrichello.

Lap three: Here's the replay of the start... Lewis Hamilton touches Mark Webber's Red Bull before he goes off at the first corner, so that's where he picked up the puncture. Sebastian Vettel was swamped at the start, and now sits sixth, stuck behind Felipe Massa. Jenson Button has Heikki Kovalainen in front of him.

Lap one: Chaos! Absolute chaos. Lewis Hamilton flies off the start and threatens to take the lead - but he overdoes it into the tight first corner, and suffers a puncture in a collision with a Ferrari. Poor start from pole sitter Mark Webber - and Rubens Barrichello has the lead after one lap. Webber second, Kovalainen third, Massa up to fourth.

N.

 

[tl8]

WEBBER WINS!!!!

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI
AUSSIE OI
AUSSIE OI
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI

 

[GLS]

Webber wins!!!!!!!!!
Awesome race!!!!
Shame for Rubens, and the fuelling problem... but at least there's a Ferrari in #3!

 

[Notebook]

Race results:-
http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2009/814/6651/

N.