Barcelona Blues 28/04/2008 I really dislike the Barcelona track and have done since its inception. It might be great for testing but, since Nick Heidfeld is the only one able to find a way to overtake on it, we should not really call it a race circuit. With a bit of luck, Valencia will prove a huge success and the Spanish GP can move there in future.Nick HeidfeldMention of Nick is bound to warn you that I am incensed that the idiotic safety car regulations continue to interfere with the race results. The moment I saw the proposed changes, I pointed out the weakness in them, but still we have to watch drivers being unfairly and illogically penalized through no fault of their own. Nick had three laps worth of fuel on board when the safety car came out. Three laps! And still it was insufficient to get him through the closed pit period.I hate the safety car enough as it is, without increasing its malevolent influence by these stupid pit closure rules. At a race where Heidfeld had never managed to get the car set up to his satisfaction, he nevertheless drove an outstanding race, picking up a couple of places at the start (BMW's Achilles' heel at the moment) and was about to profit from taking a long first stint. The team missed calling him in before the safety car by mere seconds, apparently, and that was enough to undo all his hard work. It could not have been more neatly done had Jean Todt's hand been on the safety car button.The solution is simple and involves simplification: outlaw refueling. Since no-one will hear of kicking out the safety car and going back to the old system (that worked perfectly well), we have to consider putting a stop to refueling. It is a danger point anyway, and we are lucky to have avoided any serious fires to date, coming very close on occasion. Boot it out and let's see cars that can go the full distance again.Robert Kubica did a good job for BMW, confirming that all they need to do now is improve their starting procedure. He kept up with Hamilton all the way and never put a foot wrong. In fact, many commentators are now assuming that Robert is the number one BMW driver but I do not write off Nick so easily. In the words of Arnie, he'll be back...Looking at other unsung heroes, I was pleased to see Kazuki Nakajima doing so well. So far he has finished every GP he has started and surely no other Japanese driver can boast that sort of record. In the race he dropped behind his team mate at the start but stayed with him until Rosberg's engine failed. Williams could hardly ask more but I expect young Kazuki will be ahead of Nico in some of the later races this year.Button did well, plugging away manfully and rewarded with sixth in the end. I would be more enthusiastic about his performance, however, if Honda would kindly remove those awful bunny ears from the car. Surely there must be a better looking way of making it go quickly.And so to Crash Coulthard. A word of advice, David: whether or not the collisions are your fault, you are getting a reputation - for the next few races you need to leave the gap open, even if you get called a loser for doing so. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.Alonso did his best as usual for Renault but it was no surprise that he could not hold on to his excellent grid position. There is only so much he can do, even with a light car. I do not think Renault have made a huge leap in performance and Piquet's race underlines that. They are obviously proceeding on the right lines, however, and could become a factor later in the season.Otherwise, Barcelona was the usual borefest. What? The Ferraris and McLarens? Nothing new there, it is a Ferrari track so of course they won at a canter. Hamilton did well to stay with them but he was only there on sufferance - they could have eased off into the distance had Kimi so wished. Hopefully, there will be more of a battle in Istanbul, in spite of it being yet another Ferrari circuit.One more thought, this time having nothing to do with the race. I see Todt is making his bid for Max's position when he goes. Naturally, that should fill our hearts with dread but there may be a plus side to it. Surely he would have to be very careful to avoid the obvious and admitted Ferrari bias so expected of the FIA? His continuing employment with Ferrari must mean that he would be watched for such favoritism and might even have to bend a little the other way to deflect criticism.Or am I just being an optimist...?
Clive
Number 38 There's no doubt Heidfeld was outright screwed by the safety car rule but he's not the first and I'd like to know what is taking so long to correct this obvious flaw in the regs. This flaw and the unresolved customer chassis issue, and, and, who's running the show? Why aren't these major issues being addressed? I've got no probem with refueling, I don't see much benefit in racing tank trucks, but the business of driving into a closed pitlane has to be addresssed. Perhaps an associated issue is to let Q3 cars qualify "light" and refuel as the Q1 and Q2 groups do. Perhaps I'm blending two issues here but both need to be addressed. Todt replacing MadMax? His Ferrari background (as Clive pointed out) may temper some PERCIEVED bias and at this point, MadMax is taking F1 to oblivion, probably anyone could improve our position and Todt surely could. I'm open to other offers but Todt would be acceptable. Date Added: 28/04/2008
Alianora La Canta The rule's taking an age to fix because the legislative parties are too busy arguing about other parts of the rulebook, like KERS and wing mirrors (I'm sure Coulthard would love better wing mirrors to be mandated, as I think that's most of his problem).Unfortunately, banning refueling on its own wouldn't stop cars getting penalised for necessities - you could imagine someone needing a tyre change and getting penalised for doing something that would otherwise pose a safety hazard, especially if a car inadvertently ran over the debris of a Safety Car-triggering accident. How about imposing a mandatory speed limit on anyone not behind the Safety Car (the pit lane speed limiter could be used for this?)As for Todt, I can see his proximity to Max causing a bit of a problem come election time. Never mind the Ferrari bias (which should have been enough to exclude him, but won't be), being too similar to a disgraced president will shoot his campaign down for him. Date Added: 28/04/2008
Clive I think you're right to bring the matter of qualifying into the equation, Number 38 - it does have a lot of bearing on this whole issue. The underlying fact is that the rules have become so complex that any tweak made in one area can have known-on effects elsewhere and lead to even more problems. What F1 needs desperately is for the rules to be simplified drastically and then frozen for several years (with exceptions for clear safety issues).And I tend to agree with you that anyone would be better than Max as FIA president. Date Added: 28/04/2008
Clive I hope you're right about Todt, Alianora, but the FIA seems to live in a world of its own and does as it pleases. Actually, that's why we need a new president...Essentially, I'll agree with anything that makes F1 rules simpler, instead of this constant complication we have suffered for so long. If we have to have refueling, why not just go back to the way things were before the new safety car rules? I know the reasons for introducing them but it was all to cover an event that had never actually happened. Instead, we have races ruined on a regular basis. Date Added: 28/04/2008
Haplo Couldbehard is ok. I have a bet going with a friend, we try to guess who's going to get sacked by him this time. It was like Rofl in his best days.Did you read that AAA and ADAC are threatening to leave FIA is that laugh of a president does not quit?I think Todt would be an excelent choice, he knows things from the bottom up, for sure he will get rid of some stupid rules, like the safety car and pits one. Date Added: 28/04/2008
David Safety cars were easily accomplished under the fear factor. As usual, those in charge today didn’t bother (or are ill-equipped to bother) with how such a move would inevitably evolve, or how it would affect the myriad of other thoughtlessly instigated rules either.F1 success is increasingly dependent on politics and strategy, together with interpretation and manipulation of the rules, which are so complex they just plead for abuse. If it’s entertainment they want, then Mad Max should be awarded an O.B.E. as a retirement present. If it’s a superior racing venue they wish to maintain, then weed out the incompetence, give Max his rule library as a retirement present and return the venue to what it purports to be. Yes, I’m incensed over what happened to Heidfeld, but no more so than if it had happened to anyone else on the grid. One could ask, since Heidfeld’s chances of gaining points thereafter were slim, why didn’t he just run out of fuel and park his car on the track. Think of the advantages: one less car in competition, leaving only 12 to finish; an extension of the the exciting safety car period; running time saved on the car's ‘need to last beyond one race’ components so they can be preserved for whatever foolishness may come next. You see how simple it really is? Just blame the driver! Date Added: 28/04/2008
Clive Yes, I read about the AAA and ADAC threatening to set up an alternative to the FIA, Haplo. Almost wish they would. But it's clear that Max is doing huge damage the longer he stays. If he had any care for the sport at all, he'd resign now. Date Added: 28/04/2008
Clive Yes, I thought about the wisdom of just allowing the car to run out of fuel, David, if only to demonstrate the idiocy of the rule. But I guess there's always the chance that a whole bunch of cars could retire before the end of the race, leaving points up for grabs. Love the "blame the driver" point! Date Added: 28/04/2008
Steven Roy My only hope is that Max takes Bernie down with him. Either that or his replacement starts an investigation into some of the dodgy deals and into Max's personal finances. I really hope Nigel Stepney lets us know where the bodies are buried in time to stop Todt being elected.It must be time to put a circuit's ability to produce good races into the calculation on whether or not they should get a contract. Barcelona is a waste of space. The unloved A1 Ring was never hailed as a great circuit but every year it produced great races. Unfortunately it was a bit rural for the F1 glitterati.The pitlane rules are ludicrous. For me it is time to get rid of all the chess and get back to racing. We have a fine crop of young racers and the cars at last are becoming more human so lets get back to a grand prix being 2 dozen (preferably more) drivers leaving a red light and racing unaided to the flag. Leave all the pit stop strategy nonesense to Indy and LeMans.I see Bernie has been busy taking down the video of Raikkonen's crash from youtube. I cannot understand why someone who is supposed to have a great business brain is spending money taking down videos instead of building a website with all the high quality video he owns. He should be able to find some advertisers and make some money. Then it wouldn't matter if someone put up a pale imitation. Date Added: 28/04/2008
Clive We're getting conflicting reports over whether Bernie has really decided to dump Max or not. I think he is becoming aware of just how much damage Max can do to him and is trying to force his resignation from behind the scenes. They're a couple of dirty dealers and deserve each other, if you ask me.And the YouTube thing is so ridiculous, I try to stay away from it. All this talk of Bernie making so much money for F1 and meanwhile he's blowing such a great opportunity out the window. I agree, let's have an investigation of FIA finances as soon as we get a new president. Date Added: 28/04/2008
Pink Peril In any other forum the annoitment of the heir apparent Jean the Toad by such a laughing stock incumbent would be a poisoned chalice.Since the FIA - as someone previously pointed out - exists in it's own little world which clearly has nothing to do with the rest of us, then I don't think that will affect le Toad's bid for Presidency one bit.But could it be a case of 'better the devil you know'? I know we are calling le Toad's integrity into question prematurely seeing as though he hasn't a. got the job yet and b. has not yet demonstrated Ferrari bias but his past actions - particularly those last year - show that he is not adverse to dirty and questionable tactics. He may end up being so bad that Mad Max would look like a pussy cat in comparision.Surely a headache better avoided? But then, that would be logical thinking ;) Date Added: 29/04/2008
Clive I don't know, Peril, but for some time I have thought that Max shows signs of mental problems. If that is the case, he is only going to get worse and be a bigger problem than anything the Toad could serve up. I think we need to get rid of Max and then take whatever comes as a result. Date Added: 29/04/2008
Pink Peril I think you are spot on the money there Clive - he does exhibit some behaviours that I tend to associate with Sociopaths.I just think that if le Toad is the replacement choice, then the FIA better cover it's backside. Date Added: 29/04/2008
Number 38 Hmmmm? A few derogatory remarks about Jean Todt, but I question if they're really deserved. I did state in the first comment, "I'm open to other offers but Todt would be acceptable." No one made any other offers so don't come whining when Todt gets the post. And as far as him bringing 'Ferrari bias', haven't we ALREADY got that? Let's stay focused, Todt is not the problem, MadMax is. Halpo suggests ".... Todt would be an excellent choice, he knows things from the bottom up, ...." I'll take that as an offer, any one else.......? Date Added: 29/04/2008
Clive There are plenty of other candidates, Number 38, and most have been mentioned at one time or another on this blog. Jackie Stewart would be excellent and I think Alex Wurz would be good as a candidate that all could accept. The problem is that none of our suggestions are likely to be considered by the FIA and all voting power remains in the hands of its members.I agree that Max is the problem and the priority must be that he goes. But I do fail to see why, having suffered under a Ferrari-favoring president for so long, F1 should have to accept another one... Date Added: 29/04/2008
Alianora La Canta I'd still call for Robert Darblenet, though with the mess that Max has made of things, maybe the best thing would be if the FIA picked a random five-year-old off the street and got him/her to make a rule set from scratch. It would at least ensure some innovative thinking uncontaminated by prior nonsense. Date Added: 30/04/2008
Pink Peril Number 38, the mere fact that le Toad has prior association with ANY F1 team - let alone Ferrari should be enough to automatically disqualify him from the running.There have to be hundreds of other candidates who could do the job properly, and not bring with them the baggage that Todt will.I did say that I realise we are questioning his integrity prematurely - and we are - but this is an issue that should not even exist IMO. Date Added: 30/04/2008
lead x insurance Good Day. The dead might as well try to speak to the living as the old to the young.I am from Barbuda and now study English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "Requirements for employers to provide health insurance."Waiting for a reply 8), lead x insurance. Date Added: 18/08/2009
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