F1 specific (chit chat thread)

[murf]

One of the new Williams owners is the other half of Pippa Middleton, an upgrade on Clare Williams in my eyes. He used to race in Formula Renault apparently so knows the sport a bit so hopefully not just in it for money - good sign.

[Mystery]

One of the new Williams owners is the other half of Pippa Middleton, an upgrade on Clare Williams in my eyes. He used to race in Formula Renault apparently so knows the sport a bit so hopefully not just in it for money - good sign.

Had to look him up but he was no mug as a driver to be fair. Won British and European Formula Renault in 1994 beating Gonzo Rodriguez (went to Indycar) and Tommy Erdos (3 Le Mans class wins). Better than Christian Horner at least

[murf]

That is quite impressive - didn't Horner get to F3000 (or whatever it was then)? - solid enough driver but has proved to be a better team manager than driver!

EDIT - just checked Horner's record on Wiki and he won in F Renault befor moving up. Liked this bit:

"During a pre-season test at Estoril, Horner followed Juan Pablo Montoya through the circuit's high-speed first corner and realised that he was not capable of replicating the level of commitment shown by the Colombian driver. As a result, he decided to step back from driving at the conclusion of the season in order to focus on developing the Arden team"

[Mystery]

That is quite impressive - didn't Horner get to F3000 (or whatever it was then)? - solid enough driver but has proved to be a better team manager than driver!

Yeah he did but looking at his history I'm not wholly sure how he got there (unless he was richer than I realised). CH was 2nd in British F3 in 1993 beaten by karting specialist Jamie Spence. He did worse in 1994 and 1995 but somehow found a British F2 slot in 96 and came 5th behind Gareth Rees (touring car commentator of a few years ago) and the earlier mentioned Rodriguez. Partial F3000 season in 97 then a fuller one in 98 but only got in the points once. Think he qualified quite well in one of the Birmingham Super Prix as I recall.

Not a bad driver by any measure but F3 was about his money's worth.

[MoSe]

#IStandWithLewisHamilton

[eagle224]

Grosjean lucky to get away with a few minor burns today, though some reports say he has broken ribs from the impact. Amazing escape when you see the car cut in two by the barrier he hit.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/55122594

[forestfan]

Yeah, the initially much-maligned halo probably saved him. Retaining consciousness and the composure to free himself from the burning car likewise.

Just a freak accident, he clearly didn’t see Kvyat was there when he swerved to the right to avoid potential trouble ahead from cars that had bunched up and made contact in the midfield. But the car splitting in two and piercing the barrier will be cause for concern.

[murf]

The more I watched that the more horrific it became. The worst looking crash I have seen for many a year, if not ever.

So glad they said he was out before showing any replays.

How he went through about a 1 inch gap between the first and second row of armco is mind boggling.

[RomynPG]

"And there goes..." Murray Walker

RIP Murray.

[blahblah]

A Mars a day etc.....

[murf]

He was, and still is, a legend.

RIP Murray

[blahblah]

The more I watched that the more horrific it became. The worst looking crash I have seen for many a year, if not ever.

So glad they said he was out before showing any replays.

How he went through about a 1 inch gap between the first and second row of armco is mind boggling.

Senna one was the worst for me.

[murf]

The more I watched that the more horrific it became. The worst looking crash I have seen for many a year, if not ever.

So glad they said he was out before showing any replays.

How he went through about a 1 inch gap between the first and second row of armco is mind boggling.

Senna one was the worst for me.

? That was a nothing crash. He was just very unlucky.

Announced this week that Grosjean had been subject to 67G.

[bluenosey]

The more I watched that the more horrific it became. The worst looking crash I have seen for many a year, if not ever.

So glad they said he was out before showing any replays.

How he went through about a 1 inch gap between the first and second row of armco is mind boggling.

Senna one was the worst for me.

? That was a nothing crash. He was just very unlucky.

Announced this week that Grosjean had been subject to 67G.

Piquest went off I there, think in 1987, looked far worse and who can forget Gerhard Berger's fireball crash, maybe the corner before, which looked as though he had died instantly only to get away with burns to his hands. Senna was extremely unlucky. It was just fate.

[bluenosey]

He was, and still is, a legend.

RIP Murray

Absolutely. Back as a nipper in 1981, I was round a mate's playing football and the heavens opened so we went inside and switched the TV on. I can remember this fairly exciteable voice taking about Vee-ul-nerve and Jones. And that's where my interest more or less started, with the sport the sadly soon to lose the uncomparable Gilles Villeneuve but Murray's commentary would live on.

"And Alboreto's dropped back up to fourth", "Watch Alesi's head..left..right", "And a RAVING lunatic runs across the track", "look at the great ROOSters of spray", "and LOOK at that....that's Mansell" and the infamous moment with Rene Arnoux in his final master blocker days not letting anyone past at Monaco, Murray making a comment, dismissed by James Hunt as "bullshit" live on BBC2 on a Sunday afternoon. One can only imagine the scenes in the commentary box. I looked at my Dad and said "did he really say that ?"

Loved the guy to bits. I only live about 4 miles from where he was born, in Hall Green. It just wouldn't have worked with a Brummie accent . Coincidentally, one NIgel Mansell also moved to Hall Green as a nipper, which gives Brum an unlikley motorpsort connection. I also loved Mansell but knew he was an awkward bigger. Murray was always rooting for him, like most British fans and the Tifosi, topped only by his relationship with Damon Hill. Possibly when you've commentated on his late father and seen Damon overcome those demons and win the world title, that must have been moving. That no doubt heralded the famous "I'll have to stop now because I've got a lump in my throat" line. About the only time Murray was quiet.

97 though. A great innings. Another doyen of classic british commentary leaves us. Maskell, Johnston, Mclaren (no pun), Wolstenhome, Lowe, Carpenter, O Sulleven, Waddell, Alliss. Only really Barry Davies is left and a few very good ones have retired (Brendan Foster, Keith Huewen for Moto GP). With a lot of the guys I've mentioned their tones conveyed the sport they commentated on. Bill Mclaren commentating on a flowing Welsh try, Peter O Sulleven fast talking his way as the horses approaceh Beechers Brook at the National, Whispering Ted at the Crucible and so on.

As Murf summed up prefectly, he was and still is a legend.

Thanks Murray for all the fun

[Mystery]

Lovely tribute BN. He was the voice that introduced me and lord knows how many more to motor racing. Rest well, Murray

And to steal his own words (as many others have already) "And I've got to stop, because I've got a lump in my throat"

[forestfan]

Yeah, one of a kind and a big part of F1’s appeal in its televised golden era from the 70s to the 90s. Many of those quotes will live on forever.

Agree there aren’t many iconic and distinctive commentators these days, I know the saturation coverage of sport means there’s dozens of them on rotation for every major sport across the channels now, but there’s probably only a handful of voices I’d instantly recognise in terms of people who are still on air today, and most of them are quite old (Tyler, Bumble, Agnew, Brundle, Cram, Virgo etc.) Most of the modern commentators are just generic journalists coached to speak the same way I think!

[bluenosey]

Very sad news indeed

https://metro.co.uk/2021/03/17/sabine-s ... -14257644/

51 is no age

RIP Sabine

[murf]

Brilliant documentary on Murray Walker last night on BBC. Also on iPlayer.

Was probably made a few years ago but I must have missed it then. Well worth a watch. Scary to think he commentated for the BBC on the British Grand Prix in the late 1940s, before there was even an F1 World Championship, and he was still active 70 years later.

[forestfan]

Were the Grand Prix cars pulled by horses in those days?

[murf]

Were the Grand Prix cars pulled by horses in those days?

Yep. I think Murray's first commentary was on the horse and chariot race later recreated in the film Ben Hur.

[bluenosey]

Famous name, sadly passed:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/57757338

RIP Carlos Reutemann. Formidable on his day, and really should have been 1981 World Champion. 12 wins to his name. Not too shabby by half. Always seemed perma tanned with white teeth is the way I remember him. Moved into politics after he left F1 in 1982.

[Malrom]

Famous name, sadly passed:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/57757338

RIP Carlos Reutemann. Formidable on his day, and really should have been 1981 World Champion. 12 wins to his name. Not too shabby by half. Always seemed perma tanned with white teeth is the way I remember him. Moved into politics after he left F1 in 1982.

Yes, I remember him well! He was from Argentina, which made him special for me at the time!
His move from Ferrari to Lotus for the 1979 made it possible for Jody Scheckter (my favorite driver) to win the WC that year!

RIP Carlos Reutemann!

[murf]

Yep, big name from my past. Knew he had been ill and it was on the cards. RIP.

[forestfan]

Makes me feel young as I don’t remember him racing… know the name though. Sounds like one of the unluckiest bar Moss never to be World Champion.

[murf]

Makes me feel young as I don’t remember him racing… know the name though. Sounds like one of the unluckiest bar Moss never to be World Champion.

Certainly one of the best records without winning a title but not sure he was 'unlucky', just had the wrong mentality to be consistent enough.

[forestfan]

12 wins doesn’t sound a lot in this day and age when Hamilton has nearly 100… but only two drivers (excluding Verstappen who will surely win it soon, if not this season) have more wins without a world title. Different game though with the number of races, reliability (which I’ve been saying for years is the biggest problem with today’s F1, too many finishers!) and bigger gaps in car performance.

[murf]

Reliability is tied to the cost cutting issue. They are only allowed so many (5?) of each bit of the engine and drive train so can't afford for them to break.

Plus the sheer number of points for finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc makes a win or (literally) bust tactic less appealing for a championship.

Was it Rosberg Sr who won the Championship with just one win that season?

[forestfan]

Reliability is tied to the cost cutting issue. They are only allowed so many (5?) of each bit of the engine and drive train so can't afford for them to break.

Plus the sheer number of points for finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc makes a win or (literally) bust tactic less appealing for a championship.

Was it Rosberg Sr who won the Championship with just one win that season?

Yes, I think so. Some unfortunate circumstances (one potential title contender killed and another seriously injured) contributed to that I believe, and a lot fewer races, but still remarkable. I think last year’s MotoGP champion only won one race as well, though again, an unusual set of circumstances.

Cost-cutting is fair enough but take away the unpredictability and the spectacle suffers. Not sure we ever quite had this golden age of easy overtaking and evenly-matched racing, but the best cars didn’t always finish so things got mixed up. Monaco was always a bit of a procession unless it rained, but when only 6 used to finish it was still exciting. And don’t get me started on tarmac run-off areas. “Track limits” shouldn’t have to be a consideration, if you leave the circuit you should end up in a barrier or beached in gravel.

[bluenosey]

Famous name, sadly passed:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/57757338

RIP Carlos Reutemann. Formidable on his day, and really should have been 1981 World Champion. 12 wins to his name. Not too shabby by half. Always seemed perma tanned with white teeth is the way I remember him. Moved into politics after he left F1 in 1982.

Yes, I remember him well! He was from Argentina, which made him special for me at the time!
His move from Ferrari to Lotus for the 1979 made it possible for Jody Scheckter (my favorite driver) to win the WC that year!

RIP Carlos Reutemann!

Jody Sheckter now owns a farm somehwere in England. He popped up on a repeated episode of Escape to the Country fairly recently !