where has the time gone?

I can't believe that F1 2011 is history.   I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, despite Sebastian Vettel's dominance from moment the lights dropped in Melbourne.

I managed to post my first Top Ten list last year.     I found this season much harder to qualify.    Don't hesitate to comment with your own thoughts if they differ.  

Here's Vol. 2:

1)  Sebastian Vettel    

I hold no contempt toward this adolescent world conqueror even though I very much enjoyed his early departure in Abu Dhabi!  

Ok, fair enough, he's no longer an adolescent.

He is, however, a rare talent.   With the exception of Montreal, I'm having trouble recalling a single mistake that Seb made all season long.    I must acknowledge that consistency.    Seb has obviously demonstrated an uncanny knack for finding the quickest, grippiest line.

2)   Fernando Alonso

I feel like an idiot putting a number 2 in front of Fernando Alonso's name.     Let's start this again.


1)  SEBASTIAN VETTEL & FERNANDO ALONSO

If Alonso is one thing, he is that supreme pilot who can raise his game above it's already lofty perch when the occasion demands.   He is also one of very few drivers who can drive a car to race finish well beyond it's mechanical and aero threshold.  

Fernando is the best driver in the world.     Despite Seb's innate skill, I believe Alonso would beat him in equal machinery.

Several moments come to mind.    His starts in Barcelona and Monza.    His tenacity in England and Abu Dhabi.

2)  JENSON BUTTON

Button may not be the most exciting guy to watch at times but his race craft is becoming legendary.    Very much his own man . . . he gets my vote as the sportsman on the 2011 grid.
 
Stepping into McLaren Jenson has silenced his skeptics and dominated his teammate, never once displaying the slightest insecurity.     He's driving better now than when he won the title with Brawn, and I suspect he will continue to grow stronger.

I feel very fortunate to have witnessed his amazing drive in Montreal first hand.

3)  NICO ROSBERG

I find it interesting to compare Nico with his father.     I sometimes feel that he is actually a more naturally gifted driver, but wonder whether he lacks Keke's fighting instinct.     Keke Rosberg clawed his successes in F1 from drivers such as Senna, Lauda, Prost, Piquet, Mansell.

To the contrary, Nico appears to qualify ahead of Schumacher with apparent ease.    Those qualifying results aren't necessarily translating into race pace, and although I feel both he and Schumi are currently handicapped against Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari, the question remains:   Is Nico too nice a guy for F1?

I greatly respect Nico for his skill and maturity, but he resides at this level on my list by default.

4)  MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

Schumi had an inconsistent season, but managed to give us a few glimpses of his old self.     I personally found several of his better drives to borderline on sublime . . . granted all sub podium results, they were beyond the reach of lessor drivers.

I can't add too much other than to express my hope that AMG Mercedes will give him a more competitive car in 2012.     His 20 years in F1 have been a gift, and I will certainly break down to pathetic heap if he finds his way back to the top step.

5)  MARK WEBBER

Geez this was a tough call.      

I've joked that Mark Webber has spent too much pre-race time prepping for his post retirement broadcast career, but the serious truth is that he had a rough year.  

Mark has never been the most consistent driver on the grid . . . I've found him prone to brain fade over the years.    However this season he seemed to develop a strange habit of making those mistakes only at the start then recovering with controlled, solid drives to obtain reasonable results.

It's a mixed bag.    His incredibly brave pass on Alonso into Eau Rouge was a season highlight.    However, the late race recoveries contrast the manner in which he was so dominated by his teammate.    

6)  LEWIS HAMILTON

Another very tough call.     A solid argument can be made as to why Hamilton was not one of 2011's top ten drivers, and I came very close to expressing that belief.

That said, I don't want to belabor the ridiculous infantile moments of 2011.     Let's just say that within his wretched year I found a couple of noteworthy performances.  

I will be very interested to see how 2012 shapes up.

7)   SERGIO PEREZ

Perez demonstrated to me that he is controlled, relaxed, smooth, and exceptionally quick.    He's demonstrated that he can take care of his tires.     The on-board moments prior his crash in Monaco were something to behold.

I'm convinced that he is a force to be reckoned with in the coming years . . .

8)   PAUL DI RESTA

I don't have quite the same handle on di Resta's talent . . . I'm lacking thorough insight into why I find him impressive.     He did not finish the year as well as he started, but again I don't fully understand the reasons that he fell behind his teammate.

Despite my need to study this topic further, I've no doubt that di Resta has merited this spot in my top 10.

9)  KAMUI KOBAYASHI

Selecting a driver for this spot was a toss up.

When I ranked Kobayashi 9th on my list last year, I wondered if he'd garner similar notice in years to come.      

Kamui had a formidable teammate this time around and pretty much held his own.    It's fair to say that given the equipment, he probably could not have risen above mid-field, but I'm again curious as to how I'll rate him next year.

I hope to see more growth, less I fear he risks his potential becoming diluted to just another fixture on the grid.


Other drivers of note . . .

Nick Heidfeld.     I'm afraid we may have seen the last of quick Nick in F1.     It's sadly too easy to forget his amazing start and podium in Malaysia.      Had he survived the year I probably would have rated him, but that did not happen.

Adrian Sutil.     I've never fully understood Sutil's potential.    He started to impress me in the final races, but I'm wondering if this was coincidental or due to the threat of losing his job?    

Rubens Barrichello.     I'm sure Rubens deserves more credit but despite his experience he appears incapable of lifting Williams from disarray.    

Felipe Massa.     In all fairness, Felipe spent the year proving that it does in fact take two to tango.    He may have been the victim more often than Hamilton, but he made enough bad judgment calls to prevent my rating him for 2011.    I saw fleeting glimpses of the Massa I knew pre-Hungary 2009, but it would be a stretch to describe this as a year of growth.     I'm fairly certain 2012 will be his last season with the Scuderia.

Thoughts?

Monkey Business

I found this interview with Texas Comptroller Susan Combs revealing.  

I've questioned Bernie Ecclestone's agenda and modus operandi many times over the years, but not this time.    To say that I have a pretty clear idea on where the problem actually lies with F1 in Austin would be an understatement.

Although the USGP has proven a tenuous venture since the days when F1 was a gentlemen's pursuit, Tavo Hellmund's vision for this purpose built permanent home was in my mind genius.  

I believe the Austin iteration of the US F1 Grand Prix was destined to become a fixture for many years to come.     F1 would finally have a worthy home on US soil; a circuit which could provide a real challenge to the drivers and allow US F1 fans a chance to see the pinnacle of automotive technology perform on the absolute limit.

The annual F1 GP accompanied by the Moto GP and V8 Supercar series pretty much assured that the Circuit of the Americas would prove a boon to the region's economy.

Business is business, I respect that.     However I'm sensing, much as sports franchises are hustled from city to city with practically no regard for the paying fan, a suspect lack of stewardship.     Mr Hellmund almost pulled off a miracle, and I can't see it succeeding without his continued involvement.

Worth watching . . .

Here's some truly inspirational filmmaking from both sides of the pond . . .

24HOURS MOVIE TRAILER from STEREOSCREEN on Vimeo.

The Racer's Group: 2011 Finale from TRG on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

2007, four years on . . .

I haven't had much to say about Sebastian Vettel in my occasional ramblings on the 2011 F1 season.     I guess it's because I've not found much to add to a success story so cut, dry, and free of scandal that thinking about it induces sleep.     Just about the only really intriguing question arising from Vettel's 2011 walk took the form of fantastic manufacture by bored pundits promoting nonsensical doubt over the über-quick German's ability to fight, defend, overtake.  


This is not to say that I've already forgotten 2010's intra-team squabbles at Red Bull, Istanbul, the fate later callously dealt to Mark Webber by the Austrian hierarchy, nor the sensational manner in which Vettel dominated the season's final two GP's to steal the 2010 title from Fernando Alonso's and Ferrari's late season charge.   Nor have I forgotten Vettel's almost ridiculous shrill "thank you boys" over the radio as he took the chequered flag and became the youngest World Driving Champion in history.


2011 has been very different, and for those hoping to experience a repeat of 2010's down to the wire title contest, it has served as a reminder of the days when Schumacher redefined perfection with 5 titles in a row at Ferrari.   It's been a great year nonetheless, but I for one hope that someone at Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, etc. can come up with a car as easy on tires and easy to pivot around a corner as Adrian Newey has at Red Bull.     Otherwise Seb's record setting pace might continue at all of our expense.


2011 has also drawn strict contrast between Vettel and another driver who essentially entered the sport at the same time:   Lewis Hamilton.


I've been fairly outspoken in my criticism of Hamilton, but I want to express understanding for the predicament in which he now resides.    Given the manner in which the British media went completely overboard on his arrival into F1, it was impossible that his career would proceed with any degree of simplicity . . . simplicity that might manifest in and allow for the pure, cut, dry, and boring ascent realized by Vettel.


Both drivers in four years time have become World Champion.     However as I sit typing the contrast between their immediate futures appears sharp.     Vettel appears to have only begun, whereas Hamilton has become unraveled.    Hamilton now languishes in virtual chaos . . . his aura penetrated by constant altercations with Felipe Massa and by being dominated by his soft spoken teammate Jenson Button.


I imagine Lewis is a good guy . . . I value his contribution to F1 and hope that the events of the past year make him stronger as opposed to taming his dynamic will to compete.     I'm brave enough a critic to acknowledge that he is an exciting driver, and that F1 is better with him on his game than off.


Unfortunately, I suspect Lewis has suffered from sensationalism and poor management.     It would be foolish to dismiss the youth factor here.     Although I will freely admit that both of these men are far more mature than I was at their age, I can't ignore the differences in how their careers have unfolded.      My guess is that Hamilton can not escape the distraction of ridiculous media hysterics on both sides of the pendulum.      I think it is fair to admit that some . . . not all . . . but some motor sport media personalities still froth just a bit too much at the mouth when it comes to assessing the 2008 World Champion.     


Consequently I've noticed more than one online reference this week that the Suzuka podium was populated by the moment's three best drivers in F1.     I agree with that assertion.     Who would've guessed some 18 months ago that Lewis Hamilton would not be one of those men?


Who also could have foreseen the depth and width of the chasm between the fates of Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton scantly four years on from 2007?

Forza Fernando

Fernando Alonso's performance in yesterday's Italian Grand Prix was epic, and his stunning move past Hamilton and Vettel to take the lead into the Prima Variante will stand time as one of his finest moments in F1.    He almost always starts well, but following a remarkably similar jaw dropping performance earlier this season at Catalunya, Alonso's place among the all-time greats must now be firmly cemented.  

Through sheer force of will and extraordinarily disciplined car control, Fernando managed to gift the Scuderia and the Monza Tifosi a podium finish that almost certainly was not on offer.    

The F150 in Massa's greatly improved hands has proven a midfield runner at best.    Given the strength of Red Bull and McLaren, it is mind boggling to consider that the European season has closed with Alonso lying 2nd in the championship.    Given Ferrari's endless struggle with tire temperature and compounds, it is hard to grasp how Alonso has managed to keep up with everyone else chasing Vettel.

Fernando was certainly aided in his quest by Michael Schumacher, who served a significant part of the GP as yet another thorn in Lewis Hamilton's wayward season.      I have to feel for Lewis, as though I much enjoyed Schumacher's drive among the front runners, Hamilton was probably robbed the opportunity to close on Alonso and eventually assume his spot on the podium.     I don't subscribe to the suggestion that Schumacher was driving dangerously, only that he pushed boundaries as he always has.

I did find it curious, however, at how effortlessly Button managed his way past Schumi when Lewis continually found himself blocked.

Finally, Liuzzi had no one to blame but himself for the season's best display of a F1 car posing as a bowling ball.       Having sat right at that spot in 2006 and 2010, I can't imagine what it must've been to witness first hand that errant HRT skittering across the grass!

All in all, another fantastic race in what has been a season full of memorable Grand Prix moments!

Looking Back: Monza '06

Watching the Italian Grand Prix this morning had me thinking back to my first Grand Prix at Monza - 2006.  We stayed in a little town called Cinesello Balsamo, which is just a train stop away from Monza. This is the trip I think of as our “planes, trains and automobiles” trip, though in reality it was more like trains, busses, cabs, shuttles and a whole lot of walking, and when I say a whole lot of walking, I’m not exaggerating even a little bit.


Our first Grand Prix ever was in 2004 at Imola, also in beautiful countryside much like Monza, only in Imola our lovely host drove us from our apartment right up to the race track. Staying in Cinesello Balsamo, we thought, how much trouble could one extra train stop be? Well, for starters, a bus ride was required from our hotel to the train station, and then from the train station in Monza either bus or race shuttle to the track entrance – and when I say entrance, that’s a loose term. The bus dropped us off at the far edge of the Parco di Monza – what seemed about a 3-mile walk to the actual entrance to the track. But I digress, we were excited to be there, no matter how much walking was required, I was just glad I had brought good shoes.


The good thing about the walk into the track was that all along the way were lots of places to get cappuccino, espresso, panini and brioche. The park is also quite beautiful and as we walked around, checking out the track and getting the lay of the land, I’ll never forget how astonishing it is to see the old banked track in person. The steepness is like nothing I’ve ever seen and can only be fully appreciated in person, particularly after the race when the fans are allowed to climb up and over it to get out onto the track.

Aside from the walking, the other thing that stands out is how good the food was at the circuit – pomodoro e mozerella and prosciutto e formaggio panini – the latter being my favorite. Even after the race weekend was long over and we were on our way to Tuscany, I still thought about how wonderful those simple sandwiches were - on bread that is nothing like anything you can find in a US grocery store.


On Thursday, after the pit walk, as the crowd was shooed towards the exit at the end of the day, we followed signs to a place that will, for us, always be a part of our Monza experience – The Pit Stop. A little bar tucked away off the beaten path, far enough off, in fact, that we thought somehow the signs were wrong. Just as we were wondering if we’d made a wrong turn, we saw the small patio with six tables. Inside was a bar with a few more tables, and not crowded like you would think, a friendly, welcoming place to rest our feet and have a beer.


When we were unable to successfully get a cab from The Pit Stop back to our hotel, we took the bus to the Monza centro storico where we made two great discoveries. The first being a wine shop that sold some fantastic wine from Italian F1 driver Jarno Trulli, the second Prater Pizzeria where we had a great dinner, but I think the dinner the following night at Ristorante Costa was our favorite.


On Friday, after making our way back to Cinesello Balsamo from a long day at the autodromo, the concierge at our hotel recommended Ristorante Costa to us for dinner. Not wanting to do any more walking, we asked if he could call us a cab. To him, my request made no sense, as he assured me this restaurant was only 50 meters from our hotel, just a few short blocks. He even wrote the brief instructions on the back of the hotel business card – make a left at the light, walk 50 m to the square where the restaurant is.


This is where we learned how true our Italian instructor’s joke about the Italian term “due piedi” is. The term literally means “two steps” and as she explained to us, when you ask for directions in Italy, you are often told the destination is only “due piedi” when in reality, it’s quite a hike. After twenty minutes of walking, we were just about to give up when we saw the restaurant on the far corner of a square. Glad we didn’t give up. We got a great meal, even with my super limited Italian – fortunately my Italian vocabulary is strongest when it comes to food. In addition to the great food and a particularly good tiramisu, they also had a man on a tiny stage playing keyboards who was very entertaining. When we first arrived, we was playing The Beatles and James Taylor. Later he was joined by a woman who sang Italian songs.  


On Saturday we decided to forget the bus to the train to the shuttle to the edge of the park ritual, and hired a cab to take us right to the entrance of the circuit for qualifying. This was a good call, not just for saving our feet, but also because that’s how we met our great friend Jon who, along with his traveling companion, was also looking for a more direct route to the track and was more than happy to share a cab with us.


At the end of the end of the day, we returned to what would become our favorite post race hang out, The Pit Stop. Too tired and hungry to imagine making a trek anywhere else, we ordered a meat plate where I was first introduced to the mysterious cold cut called “speck.” Delicious, but I had a hard time figuring out exactly what it was. It was only later that I learned that it is cured ham – similar to prosciutto. We also ordered some pasta, nothing fancy, but both the torchetti pesto and the tagliatelle Bolognese were surprisingly good for what was basically bar food.


Race day was the perfect combination of everything I think the Monza experience should be – the weather was beautiful, Ferrari won (this particular race it was Schumacher – his last win at Monza, at least up to now) and after the race was over, we celebrated with a bottle of Jarno Trulli’s wine with our friends on the patio at The Pit Stop. Wish I was there right now.

Traci Carroll

"Senna" Discussion Pt.3

CAUTION:  SPOILERS

I was reminded by a friend that I can find a dark cloud around any silver lining.    I've heard that so many times before that I'm sure that my reputation is ripe in that regard.    I'm also sure that to some my comments on "Senna" fall perfectly in that category.

Oh well, I might have suggested to my friend that he take two pills and call me in the morning . . . but a more productive suggestion might have been that he go back and reread what I've offered with his own negative filters turned off.

Ayrton Senna had an enormous impact on my life.    I can't say that he became my all-time favorite F1 driver, but from a distant vantage I was captivated by the manner this man scantly 14 months my elder so intensely attacked the world's greatest, most challenging form of motor sport.

I remember that it was right around Senna's 1985 season with Lotus that on-board cameras began to appear in sparse use.     It was the dawn of a sensational new era for those who followed the sport and Senna was taking center stage.    In the following years television audiences worldwide exploded.

Yet despite those staggering numbers, F1 has remained largely overlooked in the cinema.     Very few motor racing films have been made, and most are arguably disappointing.    "Le Mans"and the racing sequences in Frankenheimer's "Grand Prix," (both made prior Senna's era), are the most notable exceptions.
  
With this in mind, the movie "Senna" is a remarkable accomplishment simply in the fact that it arrives as one of the stronger films on the topic.      

I could have focused on those things which work so well . . . the unbelievable archival footage, the fantastic score, the fluid editing, and poignant ending.      No doubt, I am fully appreciative of the film on many levels.     Perhaps I should have left my commentary on that point.

However, my broader reaction to the film is almost identical to the contradictory nature I sometimes recognized in Senna's career.    If the film and ensuing discussion serves to keep Senna's impact on motor sport vibrant, then let's have at it.

I want to leave the topic with two further viewing recommendations.  

"A Star Named Ayrton Senna" is a noble documentary effort that comes close to presenting a more complete picture of the man, albeit with some handicaps such as a very weak score.  

I would also recommend Senna's 1989 qualifying lap at Suzuka as presented on the DVD "50 Years of Formula 1 Onboard."    The fascinating aspect to this narration free clip is not the lap alone but the intensity clearly evident in Senna's approach as he studies his competitor's times (probably Prost's!), climbs into his car, and pulls on his gloves.    Stunning.

SPA

Has Spa-Francorchamps ever produced a boring Grand Prix?     I highly doubt it.  

Despite the fact that Sebastian Vettel has pretty much run away with the title, I continue to find each round in this year's championship incredibly exciting, and Spa was no exception.  

This year's weather brought back memories of our trip there in 2008.

 
I can't wait to return!

"Senna" Discussion Pt. 2

CAUTION: SPOILERS

I kicked this thread off stating that I'd lost some contact with the sport at the time Senna moved to McLaren.    That was actually a half truth worthy of clarification.  

Despite the fact finer details may have slipped my grasp, my interest in the sport had far from waned.   I was paying attention; the problem is that I began to despise Ayrton Senna during his days at McLaren.

For everything Senna had done on track to clearly demonstrate that he came to F1 to win, I was less than impressed by his off circuit posturing, even when his gripes held merit and were for the betterment of the sport as a whole.

When Senna later chose to address his complaints behind the wheel of a race car, I'd had enough.

Last year, "Top Gear" presented a tribute to Senna in conjunction with the film's initial release in Europe.    Jeremy Clarkson . . . another walking contradiction . . . wrapped up the excellent segment on the "driver's driver" admitting that he was at the time never a Senna fan, but that he instead (to paraphrase) thought Villeneuve the greatest.    Frightening as it maybe to admit any alliance with Mr. Clarkson, I shared his perspective.

I was also never a Prost fan.    I found his "smooth is fast" precision boring.    I much preferred the style of those such as Senna and Villeneuve who slid closer to the edge, even when their sensational efforts were counter productive.  

However, as 1994 arrived and Senna moved past his war with a now retired Prost, I found myself greatly anticipating the year ahead.

I must have been sub-conciously aware that this great driver was back to business tackling the challenges which made him the center of the greatest sport on earth.   The pure aspects of racing . . . the quest to win F1 Grands Prix . . . developing a car not quite ready for the front row . . . and driving beyond that car's limits in a fashion of which legends are born . . . that's what we paid to see and Ayrton Senna was back.   Adding the rise of an amazing new talent in Michael Schumacher, it was going to be a fantastic year.

Therefore, when I sat down for my first screening I brought a set of expectations that were spot on consistent with my own cinematic inclinations.    Director Asif Kapadia's claim "we don’t need anyone else to tell Senna’s story except Senna" was a modus operandi I adored with great anticipation.   I was ready to have my socks knocked off by a director who in his own words claimed commitment to the visceral experience.

The letdown came in the form of a less than visceral narration, and whereas the film may not show talking heads we certainly hear them.   Too often I found the narration skimming over and distracting those aspects of the story which inspired a deeper curiosity.    

My point is to not beat up the principal narrator, John Bisignano.   Dissecting troubling comments such as "one word to describe Senna and that word is fast" only confuse my point.  

Kapadia could have and should have placed greater emphasis on telling the story through Senna's own voice.   As a filmmaker, I feel that if I subscribe to "show me don't tell me" then I can't go back to relying on telling the viewer what is happening much less what to think.   It's that simple.

I find it ironic that every other choice Kapadia made succeeded in creating an exceptionally visceral exposition of his subject, but the effort ultimately stumbles because the subject Ayrton Senna remains elusive . . .

Utilizing the former ESPN commentator may draw sentimental memories of an era, but Bisignano's first person insight almost prevents our forming our own unique impressions of Senna as if allowed to observe only from safe broadcast distance.    Is it too cynical to suggest that I did not need a former (although passionate) commentator retelling a story he'd already told me over the air years ago?

My point is demonstrated in the manner Kapadia brilliantly recovers as the story draws to conclusion.   In treating the events of Imola '94 with dignified "hands off" finesse and wrapping the film on Senna's own words, the director returns to his stated commitment, and poignantly closes on a central spirit . . . not only of the film but more importantly of the man himself.

I personally feel Senna's coming of age and subsequent war against the political forces within F1 can be seen as an example for many.   Having faced and often failed at the challenge of tempering passion along my own professional journey, I have not lost sight of this film's value beyond a strict motor racing audience, even if I feel that audience may not get to know the sport nor the man as well as I'd imagined.

"Senna" Discussion Pt 1

CAUTION SPOILERS!


"Senna" the movie, much like Senna's own journey cut way too short, is at once captivating, mesmerizing, yet an incomplete document of an individual who transformed the sport he loved.

The film introduces a complicated and complex provocateur to those who may have never followed F1, and does so in a fashion fitting of the man and those who competed against him.

Yet for everything the film does so well, it leaves more questions about the three time World Driving Champion than it answers, and fails, IMHO, to adequately define the significance of the proscenium in which he excelled.  

I would find it impossible to fully distill Ayrton Senna within the scant confines of a two hour movie.   Here we have all the ingredients for a story long overdue to the big screen, but movies rarely succeed following divergent story lines, characters which can not be simplified, and far less as audio/visual cliff notes.  Ironically, it is in fact the filmmaker's requirement to identify and extrapolate a manageable narrative from Senna's broad impact on motor sport (albeit executed here with methodical technical precision) that left me somewhat unfulfilled.

Sensational endeavors unfortunately provide more easily condensed narratives.    Thus it is no surprise that the narrative here centers on Senna's openly public feud with Alain Prost.    Those of us who have followed F1 know this story well and understand why it would serve as the eye in this storm of documentary.

On the surface it provides the most obvious path toward condensing Senna to the screen.  The stage was simple.  Alain Prost was the man to beat.   Senna placed Prost on the highest pedestal above all others.  Even as he entered the 1988 season as Prost's teammate at McLaren, Senna could not hide his desire to defeat this man.   He lived and breathed that quest as if it was the only manner in which he could find his place in the world, perhaps even peace within his soul.

There we have it.   A protagonist, an antagonist, and a catalyst:  Jean Marie Balestre!  

Given the miles of material under which director Asif Kapadia must have almost drowned (that would be some problem to have, huh?), he manages to champion and include amazing glimpses behind the curtain that are shocking, funny, human.   The movie treats us to absolutely stunning behind the scenes footage of driver meetings, pre-race briefings.

Kapadia and his editor put us in the room in a manner I'm dead certain that even the most ardent F1 fan has never seen.   We see Senna navigating his way with trepidation into the political side of a sport where his adversaries were serious, both competitively and politically.    No doubt, this is what many of us came to see, and on that count the film does not disappoint.

In these moments, I saw these F1 "gods" as not quite gods at all . . . but instead pawns who also live and die by the political sword . . . yet the irony is through fully exploiting the objectivity of time, the film at once shatters and rebirths the epic myth through this incredible footage.  

The film also takes advantage of the conflict between Senna's passion for the purity of racing against the politic of human endeavor . . . but too conveniently sidesteps the fact that those same politics afforded him the opportunity to earn millions of dollars in the process.    

Herein lies the dilemma.    As F1 fans, we know it.  We know it because this story is repeated every single season.  It may take different forms, but it is always there.   Senna was not the first to meet it head on, however he might have been the quickest to adopt its practice to his own advantage.

I contend it is fair to say that Senna was not stupid.    Once he snapped from naivete to realize he could summit on talent alone, he utilized every opportunity to point woeful scrutiny and political tides against his adversary.

I believe Senna so despised the political realities of the sport that he was probably unaware that he'd subscribed to their practice.   Perhaps unwittingly, he was fighting fire with fire.

Unfortunately the film does not question Senna's motivations in a completely objective fashion.   I also wonder if those outside and now being introduced for the first time to Ayrton Senna, F1, and his impact on the sport any real depth on the matter?

A little movie called "Senna"

CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD

As James Hunt so aptly stated, I will never forget the "arrival" of Ayrton Senna.  

I had been incredibly fortunate to discover "Grand Prix International" (what probably remains to this day the greatest F1 magazine ever published) on the shelves of Atlanta's Oxford Books in 1984.    It just so happened that over the following two years I monthly carried home carefully selected pristine copy after pristine copy of this sacred publication . . . at a time which charted Senna's meteoric rise and his 1985 season at Lotus.

Among numerous demonstrations of sheer jaw dropping skill, Senna's dominant first victory in the rain at Portugal, his immediate attack out of Tamburello into Tosa at Imola, and his literal "drive the wheels off," bonsai performance in the season ending Australian GP at Adelaide stand out in my memory.

Senna grabbed my attention, for certain.   By the time 1985 past, he'd already blipped my "all time greats" radar.   Senna, however, was still learning.   By the time his third and final season with Lotus in 1987 arrived, it was clear success at the pinnacle of motorsport came not on sheer skill alone.

Things grow a bit foggier for me from that point forward.     Senna arrived at McLaren . . . and fortunately for me this is where "Senna" the movie picks up.    No doubt I was still following F1 with the same zeal I have now, but for some reason . . . perhaps life . . . I could not devote as much energy to the pursuit and therefore lost some of the fascination with Senna the driver that I'd started out with.

How odd; I was practically asleep during one of F1's most memorable eras and thanks to "Senna," I've a worthy retelling of those lost memories!     This brings up an important point about the movie, one of which I will elaborate on shortly . . .

. . . in the meantime, I wanted to use the film's recent wider release to stimulate some discussion on the film and the driver.     To get the ball rolling, I am soliciting your thoughts on the film.    Make no mistake, I've got plenty . . .

Fantastic Budapest

It would be hard to imagine any F1 fan not being captivated with envy witnessing Lewis Hamilton's attack on Sebastian Vettel in the opening stages of the Hungarian Grand Prix.    Sliding all over the slick, greasy asphalt, Hamilton provided a display of wheel to wheel combat as it has always been idealized in F1.

Unfortunately for Lewis, his efforts were ultimately derailed by a combination of poor tire strategy and impatience.     The Hungaroring is an exceptionally tight circuit.    With the race in his pocket, Hamilton spun the car around.   The time and place of his mistake and "uh oh" recovery maneuver brought another dance with the FIA stewards and thus a costly drive through.  

The truth is that the drive through did not cost him the race, the tire strategy did.  However, the aggressive manner in which Hamilton dumped the clutch to spin his McLaren around 180 degrees did not aid that cause nearly as much as one deep breath might have allowing oncoming traffic to pass.    

Once again, we've another contrasting example of Hamilton's skill and bravado losing out to patience, maturity, and race craft.

Given the manner in which Lewis opened the proceedings, it is easy to understand why so many F1 fans love him.    To his credit, he handled this disappointing result with a braver face than we've seen lately.   Hopefully this is a sign that he is in fact growing.  

Speaking of race craft, Jenson Button, as he has done so often of late, bided his time.   He chose his tires carefully, and then took care of them to maximize the investment.     I believe there is an expression that suggests when one is truly good at something, they refine it down to nothing.    Is it unfair to suggest that Jenson has done just that?     Maybe.

Button did in fact have a couple of spirited dices with his teammate.   It would be inaccurate to simplify his tactics as passively waiting for the folly of those ahead.     Jenson may not provide the same show as Hamilton, but there is no debating his results.     I don't know that he's the most underrated driver on the grid, but he is surely the most underrated world champion in recent memory.

On the other hand, Fernando Alonso wound up with a very important podium finish because of his tenacity.     Perhaps Ferrari will one day build a single seater that does not drive like it is on ice, but Alonso continues to overcome a twitchy, errant race car with old fashioned work ethic.  

Although the F150th Italia did eventually manage to get away from him, he had set a quick enough pace to cushion the fall and rejoin the race in calm, controlled fashion.

Another great race . . .

British Grand Prix

When I think about all of the colorful and many times laughable characters who have populated the F1 paddock since the mid-70's, I doubt those new to the sport are being treated to the same level of entertainment that the crustier among us may have become accustomed.

As Bernie transformed F1 from a gentleman's pursuit to big business, we should have expected to see teams run by marketing companies and masters of business administration.  Heck it happened to the movie business, why not F1?  

Thus the Silverstone squabble between Christian Horner and Martin Whitmarsh was hardly the most exciting thing we've seen, and regardless of blame being simultaneously directed toward Red Bull, the FIA, and Ferrari(!), I found the entire debacle a snoozer.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure both are great gentlemen.    Horner brings many years in motor sport from his days as a driver, and Whitmarsh is a highly educated engineer.    Unlike this blogger, they are true insiders with many years dedicated to motor sport as a profession.

Unfortunately Horner is also charged as the mouth piece and primary corporate communications entity for a team that exists as result of a massive brand marketing strategy.   Red Bull is nothing if it is not a marketing enterprise, and probably one of the more ingenious at that.  

As so eloquently described here, service to such corporate interests requires one being able to speak fluently out of both sides of their mouth.    Christian Horner has perfected that art, and Mark Webber truly deserves better.

Fernando Alonso once again demonstrated why he is largely regarded as the best driver on the grid.     His performance was measured, controlled, and as one might have overheard at Silverstone, brilliant.

He bided his time, turning on the after burners when it counted.     Considering the diverse skill set that a driver must draw upon to be successful in F1, Alonso continues to demonstrate that his is the complete package.

Overall, the race served up plenty of great moments.     The pendulum swung around between Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren until everything started to go awry for the home team.     I really had to feel for the McLaren faithful who must have been "gutted" after being so close to witnessing a victory on home soil.  

Aside from Valencia and despite Vettel's almost insurmountable grasp on the championship, 2011 has been another great season.     It's hard to believe that we are scarcely half way through the calendar.

My guess it that it's going to be a fantastic run from here to Interlagos.





 

Future for European GP?

As a standalone event, the European Grand Prix has been held 23 times in Formula One history. Held at five different circuits, the event has conjured up some memorable moments which live in the memories of every F1 fan. Ayrton Senna’s classic drive at Donington in 1993, Michael Schumacher’s drive to victory at the Nurburgring in 1995 and the German’s controversial move on Jacques Villeneuve in the title decider of 1997 are amongst the greatest spectacles in Formula One history. The race’s move from the Nurburgring to the newly built street circuit in Valencia in 2008 promised so much for race fans but has instead failed to produce the magic it promised when it was admitted to the calendar. With a 100% record at producing what one can only describe as processional races, and with the event organizers struggling to find the funds to continue holding the race past 2014, question marks hover over the future of the Grand Prix of Europe, and with increased competition from other countries to host Grands Prix it is difficult for Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA to continue to justify the existence of this particular race.

 If you go back 20 years the F1 calendar consisted of 16 races and was kept mostly to the confines of the major car markets in Europe and the Americas. Although Japan and Australia also held races the competition to host a part of the World Championship was not as vast as today and with what was very much a Euro-centric feel to the season the allowance of countries to host a second race under the moniker of the European Grand Prix was much more understandable. However, the world has changed in that time and as the economies of several countries across Asia have grown so has the desire of these nations to showcase themselves to the planet through hosting a Grand Prix. Since 1999 races have been added in Malaysia, Bahrain, China, Turkey, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and South Korea with India holding its first round in October. America will return to the fold next year and Russia is also set to join the party in 2014. In the last week alone there have been mutterings that Argentina, Mexico and France all want to rejoin the sport in the near future and with the schedule for 2012 already oversubscribed it raises questions as to why the powers that be continue to allow Spain (or any other country for that matter) to host a second round.

Although one can argue that the success of Fernando Alonso means that races in both Barcelona and Valencia means that both the Spanish and the European rounds draw large crowds and are commercially successful, the fact remains that over countries throughout the world are capable of replacing one of these races and would take the sport to a new area of the globe which would allow it to become more accessible to a larger demographic. Despite the popularity of the two races amongst Spaniards there is a case to be made that the situation actually splits the potential audience between both rounds, meaning that each could potentially be more successful without the other. Neither circuit exactly sets off a fan’s excitement radar and so it could be said that visiting two dull circuits in the same country represents a case of racing overkill. It can also be argued that drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel boost just as large a domestic profile as Alonso and would attract people to a second race in Britain and Germany respectively, yet no much repeat visit awaits either country, and at the same time other countries that want a race are ignored to allow this situation to continue.

If Bernie does not want either Barcelona or Valencia dropped from the sport, then there should be no issue with alternating the Spanish Grand Prix between the two tracks. Such an arrangement works fine in Germany and an identical system with the British Grand Prix worked for over 20 years. Doing this would allow both tracks to spend less whilst retaining some F1 action, would still give Spain a race each year and at the same time would open up a space on the calendar for another country. The fans would still go and Spaniards would be kept happy, as would the nation that happened to benefit from the vacancy. And with the sport continuing to enter new territories and return to old there is no reason why the European Grand Prix should be allowed to stay with F1 as it moves into a new era.

Stephen D'Albiac

Support F1 Austin

Looking forward to attending the 2012 USGP in Austin?    

Might be a good idea to let the Austin City Council know you're coming.

As with any ambitious enterprise, the naysayers are getting a little bit noisier.    There's a vote coming up that could stifle all of our travel plans.

Certainly, anyone who has followed the Grand Prix circus for several years knows the pitfalls of dancing with one particular devil who goes by the name of Bernie.     There is good reason to approach this deal with a great deal of caution.

However, I personally believe Austin will be a fantastic venue for the United States Grand Prix.  

I also believe Tavo Hellmund and the team of businessmen behind the venture are taking the proper steps to give the USGP a permanent home that will do justice to the sport . . . and give US motor sport fans a chance to see the most technologically advanced cars on the planet perform at the upper threshold of their design.

That sort of thing will sell itself, and it would not surprise me to see the USGP at Austin top the list of all annual GP's in terms of attendance.

2 decades in . . .

I'd been meaning to post a few thoughts on Michael Schumacher, and his drive in Montreal could not have come in more timely fashion.

Schumacher did not arrive in F1 quietly.    After his stunning debut with Jordan, two world championships with Benetton, sheer domination at Ferrari, and every controversial incident along a career which has spanned two decades, one could be forgiven for not seeing what remained to be accomplished.

When 2010 proved difficult if not out right embarrassing, Schumi became a target of doubt and skepticism from many of this most ardent supporters.      As Eddie Jordan so aptly stated, "a falling god now railing against his own mortality and risking that of others," 2010 served up plenty of ammunition for those who preferred that he had remained mythologically invincible in retirement.

2011 hasn't exactly been a return to the good ol' days.    Mercedes is not on par with Red Bull, McLaren, nor Ferrari.      Schumacher and teammate Nico Rosberg have so far struggled consistently in the midfield trying to peck their way into the higher order of those trailing Sebastian Vettel.

Schumi's perseverance to carry on despite losing immortality is indeed rare in this world which we live.    His willingness to face trial, humility, and defeat might ultimately prove a stronger testament to his sportsmanship than hiding safely behind mythology in retirement.

I'm glad he's back and F1 is a better place as a result.     It is clear to me that he loves driving, competition.  I am certain that he's still determined to show the "kids" on the grid that he still has what it takes.

I don't know that it is humanly possible for Schumi to return to the driver he was several years ago, but his drive in Montreal reminded me of the world champion who won, outright, the first 3 Grands Prix I attended.  

If only the Mercedes was capable of winning this season, it would be great to see Schumi back on the podium.

Button Up

One week on from Montreal and I'm still struggling to grasp the visceral experience the Grand Prix du Canada provided.    My synapses are overloaded.   Analogies, ironies, realizations come and go.    Hopefully by submitting this post, I'll capture a few of those fleeting thoughts before they are gone.

This was my 8th Grand Prix . . . actually 7th, but I'm including one day of qualifying in the wet at Monza in '08.  

As I've purposely chosen to expend creative energy photographing Grands Prix, I've discovered that although distant, the camera somehow more closely engages me to the sport.  Every Grand Prix weekend has supercharged my mind, body, and spirit into overdrive.   Rarely have I felt alive as I do hoofing briskly around a Grand Prix circuit with a heavy bag full of camera gear, and Montreal proved no exception.

On several points, Montreal gets very high marks.    The atmosphere was palpable.   The Grand Prix drew significant numbers of seasoned hard core fans whose passion for F1 felt light years from casual.   The anticipation was contagious, and that energy made this spectacle equal to all of my Grands Prix prior.

It is fair to suggest, however, that attending the Canadian Grand Prix does not quite compare to the overall experience of attending Spa, Monza, Imola . . . all Grands Prix that I've been fortunate to witness live.   For all of the wonderful things about Montreal and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the highs of my personal experience at the 2011 GP are mapped against unexpected snags and frustrations like the throttle/brake map from Vettel's pole position lap.  

I've never been to a Grand Prix where my swings from awe to struggle occurred so abruptly.   Although I'd give the Grand Prix du Canada my stamp of approval, I would caution that it isn't quite as easy on the heart rate and wallet as other Grands Prix I've attended.   I'm not saying that we did not have a wonderful time, only that it came with a healthy dose of patience and determination on our behalf.

Specific to my photographic endeavors on Friday, I'd been well advised to pack a lunch for an all day ass whoopin'.  

Of all the Grand Prix circuits and road courses I've been to, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve must rank as the least accessible.    The general admission areas are incredibly limited and offer a poor vantage on the circuit.    The double layer of fencing doesn't help matters.    A slow shutter may defeat one layer of fencing, two is another matter.

From a purely spectator point of view, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve offers a lack of elevation change, significant closed infield areas, almost non-existent accessible perimeter vantage points.  They've done a great job with the grandstand seating to combat that problem, but as the course runs like a flattened football, it can be hard to find seating that offers perspective on both speed and change of direction at the same time.  

Although we fared very well at Stand 33, one basically has to drive a few slow laps on PS3 to make an intelligent choice of seating.   I would highly recommend that should you find the GP looming in your future, get online and buy tickets months in advance, because the best stands fill up fast.

Fortunately, the drama which soon unfolded during this year's Grand Prix ran a gamut of emotion which could have been appreciated from sitting in a tree.  

Who would've guessed that what initially appeared to be one of Jenson Button's sloppiest efforts in recent memory . . . including two accidents, a drive through, and general lack of pace . . . would transform into the sort of late race charge that legends are made of?  

At the time, I could not tell whether Jenson had a purposed hand in the Hamilton affair, but I was dead certain that he'd done Alonso wrong.

With the benefit of DVR replay, I now feel pretty strongly that he was innocent in regard to Hamilton's contact, and that in coming together with Fred, blame could be assessed equally . . . purely a racing incident.

That said, Button's performance over the weekend had been far from exemplary.   Having been called off my photographic battle by Montreal's strangely zealous security, I was more than surprised upon returning to my seat to realize that he was staging a DRS enabled comeback through the field that will be remembered for years to come.

With our fantastic vantage on the high speed sweep from turn 5 into braking for turn 6 and the rotation through the chicane into turn 7, I'd noticed that Vettel was fighting his Red Bull Renault under braking.    His tires were knackered and the back end was trying to break away.   It was clear that whatever happened, he could not stray off the dry line.

Final lap.   Vettel and Button sweep hard and fast through turn 5 into our field of view, on the limit.   Vettel brakes and again the Red Bull steps out.   He immediately leaves his braking to arrest the car's wary state, but this leaves him carrying too much speed into the corner and he runs wide . . . wide enough to push his outside wheels off the dry line.

At that point I'm not certain what happened next, but Seb blipped the throttle to either push his nose toward 7 or to arrest a sacrificial slide he already felt coming.

Right before our very eyes, Vettel's certain victory slung off his rear wing like so many tiny droplets of St Lawrence rain, and Button powered through into the lead.

That single moment, merely yards beneath our seats, instantly erased the sore muscles I'd developed schlepping my camera gear around for four days.   It made the fiasco with our hotel (another long story)  trivial.   It gave me peace to accept that perhaps in this one instance, it was OK to simply enjoy being there.

Finally, I would be remiss to ignore a cautionary observation.

Despite Button's amazing surge to the top step in this out board motoring affair, it reinforces my question as to whether DRS has ultimately changed F1 for the better.   Having followed the sport as passionately as I have for so long, I think I'd prefer it shelved as a great idea that went a touch too far.

Not just racing . . .

Continuing with my efforts to encourage the contributions of others, here's a great post from Traci as we prepare to attend the Grand Prix of Canada:

F1 - Not just racing, but a cultural event

Some people are drawn to F1 by the cars. I was drawn to F1 by the locales. Before discovering F1, my perception was that all racing was basically the same. I soon realized how wrong my assumption was - F1 cars are the fastest, the drivers are the best, and the diverse international locations provide a uniquely appealing backdrop for this exciting sport.

As I began to follow F1 and its yearly trek to circuits from the Middle-Eastern kingdom of Bahrain to quaint and charming European towns such as Spa and Imola, I discovered that F1 is not merely racing at its finest, it's a cultural event. Each circuit has its own individual personality and offerings. In Monza, each morning I looked forward to getting a cappuccino or espresso and a brioche alla crema at one of the many vendors lining the way into the circuit. For lunch, nothing could beat a delicious pomodoro e mozerella or prosciutto e mozerella panino and a walk through the beautiful park between events.

At Spa I looked forward to amazing grilled sausages cooked right before our eyes, accompanied by grilled peppers or onions or both! Later, a sweet smell drifting across the circuit led me to Belgian waffles made to order at little stands around the track. No matter where I am, in the evenings, I always enjoy trying the local cuisine and mingling with other international race enthusiasts. I can't forget one night in Imola, eating simple but delicious pizza at a small restaurant near the circuit, where next to us sat a whole table of German race fans singing German songs, and drinking Italian beer.

I have made some wonderful friends along the way, and this weekend, look forward to a new city, a new circuit and new friends. See you soon Montreal.

Traci Carroll

Dear Lewis

Were you truly victimized by Alonso at McLaren, or was it your intent to simply make things appear that way?  

When you unfathomably rammed Raikkonen at pit exit in Montreal '08, did it ever occur to you that an apology might be in order?

Pointing your finger at your team and pouting about FIA double standards, was that really the most productive manner in which to address the missteps of Melbourne '09?

Do those occasional verbal radio assaults toward your team ultimately provide you with better cars and bullet proof strategy?

You are immensely talented.   Your competitive spirit burns bright.    You are admired the world over, but I must ask . . . have you looked in the mirror lately?

You fooled me.   I thought you'd matured . . . learned to respect your competitors, your team, your self.   I thought I recognized traces of growth, and started believing that you were becoming a true sportsman.

After Monaco I'm no longer quite so sure.  

I understand that you are young.   I understand that you were frustrated.    I understand that in certain moments, we all say things that we later regret.   I also understand that by referencing a fictional comedic persona, you thought you were being cynical and that everyone would recognize the absurdity of your remark.

Might I offer a suggestion for Montreal?    Spend a few moments looking across the McLaren garage to your team mate.     Spend a few moments considering the pressure he is under, listening to him, and observe how he handles the constant scrutiny of playing your understudy.  

Finally, I might suggest ripping a few of the pages from your hero's playbook.   Throw them away.   Senna was great, but many times petulant.   He was human.    No one does everything right, and what did not work for him certainly does not work for you.

Sincerely,

Disappointed
 

Misc thoughts on Monaco

Monaco

As usual, I'm very much looking forward to Monaco.    I'm glad world titles aren't ultimately decided there, but the F1 mecca certainly encompasses everything that is F1: the glamour of the Mediterranean,  cars sliding around impossibly tight corners, and dozens of internet posts about  . . . you guessed it . . . a general lack of overtaking.

When I think back over the memorable moments Monaco has provided  . . . Niki Lauda's remarkable recovery from a puncture to finish 2nd in an era when a single pit stop virtually assured one's doom . . . the nose to gearbox fight between Senna and Mansell for victory in the closing laps of '92 . . . I relish the potential these insanely tight, winding, steeply rising and falling streets have to surprise and astonish.

Perhaps then Monaco transcends annual regulation tinkering and is more about history and anticipation than the latest debate du jour.    It is a spectacle . . . one that I hope to experience very much in person one day.

Spain

Fernando Alonso's start and fight to steal the lead into turn 1 was one of the most inspired displays of raw talent I have seen in a long time.     Given Alonso's knowledge that his car could not keep pace with Red Bull and McLaren on the extremely technical Catalan circuit, I find his fighting spirit rare indeed.    There is no doubt in my mind that he is the best.    Ferrari have their man, and I can only hope that they will provide him with a capable car soon.

Barcelona certainly appeared less chaotic than the prior two Grands Prix.    I'm guessing that this is because Pirelli served up a more stable compound?    Thoughts?  

Where O' where has Kimi Raikkonen gone?

I watched my very first NASCAR Truck race . . . well let's be honest, I fast forwarded through it.    That just about sums up anything that I have to offer on the topic.

Cheers

Round 4: Great race, but . . .

In the space of three weeks and two highly volatile Grands Prix, my concern regarding the new state of F1 may have been justified at Istanbul.  

IMHO this season's recipe is an over correction.    Grands Prix previously sedated by the artificial restriction aerodynamics wrought against wheel-to -wheel combat now look vulnerable to staging a new artificiality.    Almost in an instant we've flipped from the hapless guy behind to the defenseless guy in front.   Turnpike, interstate-style overtaking is too close to becoming the new vogue and modus operandi in F1.

Prior the start of 2009, the FIA implemented the directives of the "Overtaking Working Group," a collection of influential FOTA members assembled to alleviate the numbing effect of aerodynamic technology upon the sport.

The cars were redesigned with smaller rear wings, smaller front tires, and bigger front wings to greatly reduce turbulent wake, improve front grip, and increase competition.   Winglets and additional aero aids were outlawed.    In theory, all should have provided the car behind an aerodynamically stable environment in which to attack the car ahead.  

There was just one problem.   Typical of F1's on-going political warfare, a couple of the slicker players discovered and exploited a loophole in the new regulations which allowed the use of super diffusers.  

The turbulence produced by these ground sucking vacuums proved that neither the teams nor the fans had gained much of anything from the zillions spent reshaping wings and cutting winglets.    Wing and tire sizes were insignificant in comparison to the ground effect advantage diffusers were known to insure.

Expensive wind tunnels may prove to be the legacy of F1's manufacturer era, but it remains striking that simple aerodynamic regulation has proven so difficult to implement with temperance.

I contend that not all of what we witnessed at Istanbul was good for the sport.    Webber's relieving Alonso from 2nd place was simply too easy.   That is but one example.  We need close racing where neither the attacker nor defender carry a handicap.

No single DRS element alone handicaps an opponent.   It appears only that when combined with tires that degrade at exaggerated rate and frequency do we see some drivers at certain times as defenseless we did approaching Turn 12 in Turkey.

F1 is on the right course.   There were plenty of dramatic moments outside of the DRS zone.    Within that zone, there were battles enabled by the 2011 mix which weren't rendered completely false in the process.

It might just be that 2011's formula for overtaking may need a simple tweak . . .

Mark Webber's still talking about it.  

Shanghaied?

This past Sunday in Shanghai was significant.    I suspect it may be looked back upon as the day F1 changed forever.

Those who have passionately followed the sport for decades have witnessed a fairly straight forward "formula" evolve into a politically charged enterprise that brings more annual legal revisions than the US Congress.

In recent years, we've become accustomed to each new season bringing a raft of new revisions to that formula.  Some stick . . . some don't, passing into obscurity under the tireless tinkering with what I might contend wasn't broke to begin with.

However, following three Grands Prix into the 2011 rule book, quickly obsolete tire compounds and a DRS enabled spectacle in China, F1 has crossed into a place from which it can no longer return . . . and I wonder what this means?

Don't get me wrong, I thought the Chinese Grand Prix was fantastic.  Regardless the loss of Bahrain, F1 2011 felt like ages in the making.   Australia was fantastic, as was Malaysia.   I'd bet the only real fear anyone had going into Shanghai was just how quickly Vettel would run away with it all.

I've personally voiced concern that F1's rules makers have grown too reactionary.    Heck I'm so old school that I still have never found a truly legitimate reason to drop the original points system of 9-6-4-3-2-1.    IMHO, it remains the perfect mathematical representation of each finishing position to the rest of the field . . . and every single iteration from that has been a digression.

Oh well.

Take a look at the attached BBC Post Race snippet.

Is Webber suggesting that the fight we witnessed in Shanghai was not real?  Is he merely playing the humble sportsman downplaying the significance of his drive through the field from 18th place?

Regarding the age old complaint over the lack of overtaking which gave us Shanghai 2011, I counter that F1 rarely makes the 6 o'clock news because it requires an appreciation born from dedication to sublime skill over slick, manipulated . . . at times scripted . . . entertainment.

Following F1 has always inspired my imagination.   As a result I've developed a suspicion that those like myself who watch from the infield may not truly experience what it is like to fight for position, wheel to wheel.

The seductress is speed, at once portending the starring role yet potentially spoiling the plot as inconsequential.    It marvels those who witness, but ultimately requires patient command from those who practice its craft.     I might argue that F1 drivers are ironically the most patient beings on the planet.

As a result, the occasional late braking maneuver of year's past was rarely casual, and I wonder if the specular shine of quickly degrading tires and DRS will  fade into the everyday ho-hum of instant gratification.

The often outspoken and controversial F1 legend Niki Lauda previously referred to DRS as the "most stupid idea."  

For now, I'm glad it's here, however I think time will tell whether Lauda and Webber are onto something.

Mini Cooper WRC launched!

Fantastic to see Mini Cooper back in the World Rally Championship.     I'll be following their progress closely.     The Prodrive effort features two solid drivers in Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke

Observations, Round 2

Perhaps it's the high definition, but I previously did not realize there was quite the degree of elevation change on the very fast left right sweeper leading up to the back straight.     IMHO, Sepang is a great circuit.    It offers at least four, arguably five turns great for overtaking not to mention two long straights excellent for exploiting tow.

Pretty good race.    I could not help but notice (perhaps due to DRS) that there was so much overtaking that it all started to look a bit easy . . . a personal fear previously noted.

Great to see Heidfeld fight so hard to live up to my early praise (LOL).    Poor Petrov.    His race looked more like the Vitaly of latter 2010.    I like Petrov.    It's clear to me that he's a good guy.    Unfortunately, he appears prone to brain fade in the mold of the Monza Gorilla, Vittorio Brambilla.    I had to laugh at Brundle's bemusement when Petrov kept his foot in it returning from his off course excursion late in the race.    

Fortunately, Petrov was not injured but it reminded me of a cynical moment in the "Road Warrior" when he found himself holding a completely useless steering wheel.

Kubica.    The Lotus Renault is strong . . . and for all we know he might be leading the championship now.     Let's hope he continues to recover and returns sooner rather than later.

Not up on the details regarding the penalties handed down to Hamilton and Alonso, but off the cuff my take on this embarrassingly awful moment was that it was purely a racing incident . . . the FIA should not penalize racing.  

I've watched the on board several times and don't see any wrong doing on Hamilton's behalf.    I simply think Alonso got caught out by underestimating his closing speed on the McLaren.     On close inspection it is surprising how slow Hamilton appears in contrast to the Ferrari.  

In the end it was a great shame as Alonso put forth an otherwise noble fight to make the podium.     As my friends across the pond might say, "its early days," but I'm hoping Ferrari can pull it together sooner rather than later.  

There was great analysis on the BBC from Coulthard, who demonstrated via recorded engine note Hamilton's ability to take one of the super quick left right sweepers flat where Alonso was clearly lifting.     My impression is that Ferrari historically struggle with grip, and much as in recent years past, the optimum setup for the 150 remains elusive.

Finally, I have to feel for Mark Webber.     I hope his fortunes take a turn for the better soon.

Enjoy it while you can

While careful to not read too much into quotations published with little context, this report strikes several tightly wound cords in my F1 psyche.

Immoderate service to TV ratings is an insult to anyone or anything unique in our world.     Ratings crave the most common denominator . . . and in all bio or mechanical machines, the most common of denominators is usually the lowest.

I must ask, however, why does the FIA care about TV ratings?    I thought that was Bernie's gig . . . his impulse to artificially tweak the entertainment factor . . . from medals to shortcuts to faux rain showers . . . are tough enough pills to swallow already.

I'd love to lay all of the blame at NASCAR's feet, but I can't.     F1 as a whole has spent too much effort in recent years hot after NASCAR's tail.    It is becoming increasingly clear that those who manage F1 may be losing sight of their true audience . . . and more importantly the sport itself.  

Every year we get a new round of massive regulation overhauls alleged to improve a show which used to play just fine on it's own.    Although I think we've been very fortunate to enjoy some exciting seasons of late, I fail to see how today's F1 is better than it was in the 90's, the 80's, the 70's . . . I can keep going back.  

If the ratings are falling, it might be because instead of focusing on F1, these powers are trying too hard to remake F1 in the NASCAR mold.    F1 and NASCAR are very different.    They attract different audiences because of those distinct differences, and if I were invited to the next meeting I might remind Mr. Todt that:

The only car number that should matter in F1 is the number 1.  

Overtaking should be difficult . . . and rare.    It means something in F1.     (I'm so tired of this battle.)

F1 remains the best arena for technical innovation; if the FIA intends to use this fertile ground to sway public opinion, it best do so with a looser grip that allows for more creative ingenuity, and unique variations on the theme.

Simple concern over ratings prioritizes the casual . . . those who arrive late, leave early, and might not come back . . . above a historically astute worldwide audience that will not be fooled.    It's hard to fathom building audiences on a watered down iteration of what I hope won't one day be described as a formerly grand pursuit.

my tower is wobbling . . .

Thought I'd highlight this morning's post from The Axis

This additional article  . . . if true . . . only further confuses me.     Wha . . . ?

I remain completely baffled.    It's tough being a closed minded elitist these days . . .

Dare I suggest . . .

Autosport reports that Kimi Raikkonen will indeed begin testing trucks this week for Kyle Busch at a small oval just NE of Atlanta (my hometown).

Kyle Busch sounds confident in his new alliance, but I can't help but read between Busch's quoted lines in this report.  

It's fair to draw a bit of contrary perspective, and I'm more than happy to do so.

Racing is far more than squirreling around with low down force on pavement at high speed.  

I have no doubt that a driver's ability to quell such an unsettling sense of instability and master the state of "yaw" to competitive advantage merits great respect.

That respect should be however tempered by the ironic truth that braking has always and will always remain the true test of speed.  

Sliding all over the place on a banked oval is very different than dealing with the multitude of physics which work against the ticking clock under braking, trail braking, accelerating through, and out of an apex.

I don't need to overstate the obvious.     NASCAR requires a skill set just as everything else.    To suggest, however subtle, that Raikkonen is taking a step forward rather than across is nothing more than skilled corporate communications.

Another GREAT clip

If you followed F1 last year, I'm sure you'll enjoy this clip from the BBC, narrated by Eddie Jordan.

Of note, I love the shot of Schumi powering out of severe oversteer with sublime grace.

BBC 2010 clip

Cheers

Mystery man to NASCAR?

Kimi Raikkonen marches to his own engine map, no matter how far off tune it may be from what most expect and where those who appreciate his innate skill prefer.

I was alerted to this report in Autoweek by a good friend and often sparring partner in the business of comprehending the sensationally talented yet mysterious Finn.   Proven accurate it would be the latest in a series of puzzling turns in a career which has seen more chicanes than Hermann Tilke's dreamscape. 

Take a look at this feature from Motors TV WRC coverage from Portugal (make sure to catch the clip's closing flyby . . . Whoa!):

Kimi in Portugal

Raikkonen struggled with consistent pace in last year's WRC campaign.    He was quick but crashed a lot, sometimes heavily.    In the two events he's competed this year, he's demonstrated remarkable maturity and appears poised to exploit his driving skill to the fullest.

I submit that it would be a shame to see him shift focus to another very different form of motor sport at a time when he seems to be getting a handle on the lessons of the prior 14 months. 

Dining on my words, Round 1

Vitaly Petrov showed me up.    Two solid drives in a row without going off . . . good for him.

Truly enjoyed the Melbourne race.    Found the early battle between Massa and Button an extended wheel to wheel contest worthy of the highlight reel.  

Vettel's pace was frightening.      It's too early to tell whether Red Bull are going to run away with everything this year, but he certainly seemed well out of reach.  

Alonso and his Ferrari were quick.    He somewhat recovered from a first corner that went awry, and managed to stay close to the front despite a zillion pit stops.    Both of the Ferraris appeared to lack grip and I can't help but wonder if Ferrari are going to have a lot of trouble with tire temperatures this season.

Several disappointments . . . Massa . . . Schumacher (I really expected more) . . . Heidfeld (is making me choke on my words) . . . and finally Webber, who I really wanted to see win what might be his last home race.  

Not sure what to make of Barrichello's weekend other than suggest it was a disaster.      Unfortunate to see HRT disqualified but I support the 107% rule.     Doubly sad to learn that Sauber were also disqualified, but I guess the rules are the rules.

Highlights must center on the Sauber duo . . . with rookie Sergio Perez setting the fastest lap in his very first Grand Prix.     He also managed to use his tires so well that his only stop was for the obligatory compound swap.   Amazing.    McLaren also looked very strong.    I think from now on I will stop paying any attention to pre-season testing analysis.

Cheers

Mild surprise at early McLaren pace

Given all that I'd read leading into this first GP, I'd never guessed Button and Hamilton to wind up at the top of yesterday's P2 time sheet.

Nowadays it's impossible to take too much from Friday practice.     Strict limits have turned these sessions into test runs where setup variations probably stretch beyond the weekend and circuit at hand.

Comparing P2 from last year in remarkably similar conditions, one can surmise that F1 isn't getting any slower.     A quick glance at 2010's time sheet might suggest otherwise, but if one considers that the teams entered Melbourne last year with one race at hand and tires that they understood, the numbers tell a different story.

The gap from the front to the back seems to be growing, a gulf probably due to those back markers not running KERS?    If this trend continues, don't be surprised to hear more griping from those in front as the year progresses.

At risk of sharing details better left alone, I've not been able to break 1:31 and change from the comfort of my living room.     Slinging real cars around a very real and slippery Melbourne circuit fully six seconds quicker is something that I can't quite grasp.     They make it look so easy on television.

Final note:     Stoked to see F1 in HD for the first time, I found myself slightly let down.  I was reminded at the start of Fox's commitment to 720.    They do not broadcast in 1080.  

I hate to sound like a grumpy "glass half empty" sort . . . oh well.

2011 . . . a refresher course

Executed in stunning fashion

. . . the year ahead

It sounds funny saying that now.    Late March, no really . . . late March.   I'm already looking at 2012.

We begin in Melbourne.     The F1 season should start in Melbourne.    It is perhaps too convenient to simplify events in the Middle East as westernization,  but in light of Ecclestone's insatiable thirst to push the sport east, it is ironic.

So under clouds of worldwide political turmoil and catastrophic events, F1 moves into a new season . . . and not a moment too soon.    We need this spectacle, the ultra violent pitch of 18,000 rpm, especially now.

I have not kept as keen an eye on winter testing as normal, but there is much to be excited about.     My observations are not unique, but I hope they may help turn focus away from turmoil if only for a brief moment.    

Off the cuff, here's my head space as we enter the 2011 campaign

Testing suggests that Mercedes have in fact built a car to Schumi's liking and that he will thus be competitive.      I would love to see BOTH Mercedes drivers win this year . . . Nico is due his first race win.     Seeing Schumacher back on the podium . . . the top step of the podium . . . might erase the short term memory many formed about the driver previously remembered as a 7 time world champion.

The season hasn't started and I already miss Robert Kubica.   I find his fortunes incredibly cruel.    The (Lotus) Renault was the first F1 car built specifically for him and it has looked very strong in testing.     How tragic would it be that Kubica could have in fact been a top three contender for the title?

I can't help but wonder that should Kubica return mid season, whether we'll see him reunited with Heidfeld for the remainder of the year.     Despite his disciplined drive in Abu Dhabi 2010, Petrov left me with more questions than answers concerning his place on the grid.

Despite their version of the F-150 looking very strong, Ferrari have their work cut out against Red Bull.      Massa must perform this year.      He must consistently place on or just off the podium this year to stem the points haul Red Bull look set to claim.      

No matter how great a driver Alonso clearly is, should Red Bull overcome their technical woes of 2010 ( brake and engine), he probably will not be able to defeat them alone.

Should the new McLaren fail to keep pace, it will be interesting to see how Button and Hamilton get on.   

Speaking of getting on, Webber may find himself on the back foot if he doesn't start strong.    This weekend, he may start to feel the true pain that comes from losing the title to his teammate. 

Unfortunately, I've not much comment on the latest overhaul in technical regulations.     

Good to see Pirelli back in the sport but I can't help but wonder if the purpose built obsolescence of their tires will do more to destroy great drives than create artificial drama. 

I don't know.    It seems nowadays that they rewrite the rule book every year . . . but after 35 years I keep coming back.     They can't shake me and they can't destroy one the greatest spectacles of modern competition.