Club Arnage

http://www.football.virginmedia.com/page/Motorsport/Headlines/0,,12555~1561686,00.html (http://www.football.virginmedia.com/page/Motorsport/Headlines/0,,12555~1561686,00.html)

Can't wait to see Jensen Button giving an interview with Virgin written accross the front of his race suit :laugh:.


Hhmmm, could be worse he could have virgin written on his helmet.

But look, she pops up everywhere at the moment

Well ,they didn't quite buy the team, as far as I'm aware, but Richard Branson was very visible and looking very chipper with his major sponsorship as Brawn sealed the front row in Oz. Jaw-dropping stuff, with McLaren and Ferrari well off da pace. BBC coverage also very promising so far. Might even be a watchable season!

I thought practice was very diverting and it was great to see Brawn get a 1-2 on the grid in their first GP. Such things makes sport what so intersting. Ignoring that it's largely a Honda chassis, I wonder if any other new entrant has come in with such a bang?

I'm still not convinced about the new cars though, I wonder if we'll just see a dull procession tomorrow, or have they finally got it right?

How painful would that be  ;D

Good to see him up there.

>Martini...

I know that modern day finances  normally require it, but it was nice to see a car going round the track which didn't look like a advertising hording.

March in 1971 with Jackie Stewart driving, being whipped along by a chap called Mosley.  I wonder whatever happened to him.

I can't see it being a good day for Brawn GP tomorrow, as you can't expect a Virgin car to go all the way

Nah - somebody needs to explain to the Beeb that while they were away F1 converted from a track sport to a courtroom drama. They need the cameras in the stewards hut and FIA HQ boardroom to really show how the season develops.

Is it just me or do the F1 cars this year look bloody stupid ?

The front wing looks like it's oversized like a snowplough & the backend is even worse like your watching the tv in the wrong format.
I cannot see a good side to any of this years cars eesh  ;D

What the BBC really needed is not umpteen pundits & presenters they just need John Hindhaugh  :)

Thought it great to see the applecart upset, with The Brawn lads up front, and McLaren not making it out of P2.  Can't help but think once everyone builds their own interpretation of the Brawn, Williams, Toyota diffuser, the grid will be more what we're accustomed to, but that's the fun of season opening races, the uncertainty of it all.  Regarding the aesthetics of the new cars?  F1 cars haven't been things of beauty since the late eighties-early ninties. and these certainly aren't going to win any prize for looks, but I do like the cleaner, less cluttered look, without all the little add-on bits, ears, deflectors, etc.  Also interesting that after all of the sweeeping regulation changes, the new cars are still considerably quicker than last years machines.  Just curious to see how many front wings are being replaced after the opening lap tomorrow.
Fax

My penny's worth,

The only reason Brawn is  in 1 & 2 is not because they have suddenly got a better car,it is because the others are crap, due to the design of the rear wing. Hence the appeal last week from the other manufactures, McLaren have to be whiter than white as they are still hated by the poison dwarf. So it comes down to the reading of the rules and codes for the design.

So if you base it on that, then McLaren & Ferrari will redesign their wings and will get better traction and down force. So it will be race 2/3rd that will bring them back to the front.So the question then is will Brawn step up the work and keep ahead of the competition, as they have a big advantage at present.

I also wonder why Virgin only now announce their sponsorship? Looking at the other cars and thier sponsorship - e.g RBS, as we now nearly own the bloody company (the tax payers), how long they can carry on. And if they do own them do we get discount on ticket, and entry to the VIP section with the long legged blonds  :P

So thats my rant!, you can disagree as I'm drinking red wine ( Rioja - Berberana (no relation to Hana Baba)) and don't really care tonight. ;)

Nah... not '69 Mr L, Tyrrell nailed pole & 2nd in the first race of '71 in the TRO-001, IIRC ??? (March car was '69)

Quite a nice circle completed tho, Tyrrell became BAR, BAR became Honda... & Honda becomes Prawn GP ;D

It was Kyalami 1970, JYS in a Tyrrell entered March.
Fax

Not wings NPN, diffusers :o

The others have missed a huge opportunity & are hugely embarrassed. Russ Prawn has designed a great car! Honda/Prawn GP have been developing this car for 15 months. Bar about 3/4 weeks in December/Jan this is a works Honda, as they've (Honda) have developed it for months prior to their departure.

RBS have already announced their departure from Frank's GP at the end of the year. They're not renewing their deal & couldn't get out of their existing contract.

Shame the same doesn't apply to Fred the Shred >:( >:(

Point is (I think ???) first team to annexe the front row on debut??

Tyrrell March wasn't a new car/team in '70, Tyrrell 001 was in '71, can't remember the first race of 71 ???

There again might be talking oot me @rse ::)

(http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/ayrtonsenna_mclarenford_interlagos_1993.jpg)

Can't help thinking they look like a modern take on the late 80's/early 90's F1 cars of the Prost/Senna/Mansell era. (Fax, here's your mate at Interlagos  ;) ) They weren't exactly beauties, and the close combat racing wasn't that good either IIRC. I just wonder how much overtaking we'll see tomorrow?

Anyway, I'll be up early and watching if for no other reason than just after it finishes I've to be at Gatwick to collect Langtall and Leon, the last stragglers to return from Sebring.

SJ, March was a debut F1 car/constructor in 1970, it is the last time a new constructor took front row in the their maiden GP (Stewart and Amon, South Africa)
Stewart took pole at Mosport in 1970 in the new Tyrrell, the car actually made its debut at Monza, but wasn't raced.
Agreed Andy, those weren't beauties were they?  Seems once the raised/humped nose came into vogue things went all pear shaped from a looks standpoint.  I always thought the 1990 Ferrari 640 was probably the last really gorgeous F1 car.
Senna...what a w**k*r!
Fax

yea right - I could not spell diffusers.


Ok - tyres - When I drive to London or even to Le Mans, I only take my own tyres and one spare.

If they are trying to reduce cost in F1, why not the same?

I do not look at the weather and say "hey I must change me tyres, as it might rain at Newport Pagnal - so why not one set and one spare.?

So what does every one thing on my money saving ideas ?

There are usually two reasons for these changes.  Elf and savetee, and they're a sandwich short of a picnic.

If grooved tyres were so bloody clever, why have they got rid

Well, without giving the game away for those with it recorded but unwatched, an interesting race with unfamiliar faces at the front throughout. Qualification was not deceiving. The super-soft tyres are clearly a very mixed blessing - a dozen laps of Melbourne and they're history. Bridgestone will have to improve upon that, surely, as their use is compulsory for all cars in every race, and too many pitstops is going to make some circuits very tedious. BBC coverage excellent, with balanced and rational input from most. Can't quite get to grips with the energy-boost thing, especially if the likes of Kubica will be denied it due to being too big! What sort of innovation is that?

Lorry, I hope you are eating your hat at the moment ! LOL !

This is Formula 1, its all fixed

I see Brawn Racing won the diffuser row.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7996698.stm

Fantastic.  Ferrari deserve a smashing after all the smack talking their lawyer did during the appeal hearings.  For them to accuse Brawn of cheating is rich.  I'll bet he has a catalog of illegal Ferrari parts a foot thick.  ;D

It does seem to have been a bitchy hearing.  I can't wait for SniffPetrol's comments

here's a little taste of it  ;) interesting read...  :D

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12433_5188987,00.html

Oooooooh - this is handbags at ten paces stuff. 

Ferraris Barrister Tozzi is a little gem

"the position of the FIA is totally baffling...we urge you to save the FIA from itself".

"only a person of supreme arrogance would think he is right when so many of his esteemed colleagues would disagree".

Brawn claimed the appellants' case was "a vindictive response...that amounted to a fishing expedition".

Thank god they had proper judges - one of whom, Malta's Guido de Marco, occasionally nodded off

Hang on a minute, they've broken the FIAs first rule, Ferrari didn't win.

This could all go the same way with Audis front bodywork (sounds the a PC term for tits)