Miscellaneous thoughts on the 2010 season

[Genghis]

Best ever season: no.

There seems to be a lot of people banging on about 2010 being the best ever season. Sorry, but no. It's true that we still had four championship contenders going into the final race for the first time ever, but the racing in a lot of races was quite humdrum and quite dull - even Brazil was boring and that's always a cracker. Adu Dhabi was a little bit of an anti-climax as well, although it didn't stop me chuckling at Alonso's total inability to get past Petrov.

The closeness of the championship race kept the interest going, but we've had better seasons. In fact, I think the 2008 was a better season - only two championship contenders, but some fantastic races, lots and lots of controversy, moments of pure comedy (the Ferrari fuel hose at Singapore ;D) and a very dramatic final race and indeed final bend.

And best ever season? Well from 1983 onwards (the time I've been a fan of F1), I would say perm one from 1983, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1999, 2003 or 2007.

Vettel: as good as Senna?

Some hair-brained big-wig from Red Bull has claimed that Vettel is as good a driver as Senna. What a prat. ;D I don't want to take anything away from Vettel's achievement of winning this year's championship, but he sneaked it despite having easily the best car on the grid.

To me, the greatest drivers are those who manage to win in something other than the best car. It's very subjective, but my list of drivers since 1983 who have achieved this:

1986 Prost (McLaren) beat Mansell & Piquet (Williams)
1990 Senna (McLaren) beat Prost (Ferrari)
1991 Senna (McLaren) beat Mansell & Patrese (Williams)
1995 Schumacher (Benetton) beat Hill & Coulthard (Williams)
2006 Alonso (Renault) beat Schumacher (Ferrari)
2007 Raikkonen (Ferrari) beat Hamilton & Alonso (McLaren)

The above drivers won the championship despite NOT having the best car on the grid. Once Vettel achieves that, he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the above drivers.

Let's go back to the classic tracks.

Because the likes of Singapore, Bahrain, Valencia and Adu Dhabi are fucking shite.

[Deleted]

Yep, I'll agree on a few points...... Vettel is not the new Senna, neither is Hammy, Alfonso or indeed the Schumster! He's very good, I don't doubt it but he is no racing hero.

The best championship since '83 would probably be 86 in my book, mind you 1990 also had it's moments (beyond the first corner shunt at Suzuka) and even 88 (the two horse race) was a constant battle of tactical nous (Prost) vs absolute faith (Senna).

Prior to 83 I'd go Rosberg in 82, Jones in 80, Hunt in 76, Fittipaldi in 74 and the posthumous Rindt in 1970..... anyway, I could go on BUT all those championships had something in common, the gladiatorial nature of them. There is nothing gladiatorial about a 50ft wide airstrip in Abu Dhabi or a set of fishmongers warehouses in Valencia.

[Deleted]

Good riddance to bad rubbish!

www.planetf1.com/news/3213/6524472/-Valencia-wants-out-of-F1-deal-

[Genghis]

Nov 24, 2010 9:55:08 GMT @rosepip said:

Good riddance to bad rubbish!

www.planetf1.com/news/3213/6524472/-Valencia-wants-out-of-F1-deal-

Rosepip, I see Bernie is trying to force them to honour the contract, so we might be stuck with Valencia still.

Still, the contract only lasts for another 2 years, then we may get a decent race somewhere, although we'll problably end up with another dodgy designed new track like Abu Crappy.

[Deleted]

I suspect that it'll be Austin Texas replacing Valencia if it's anywhere...... unless that is also a red herring!

A friend of mine suggested Magnitogorsk yesterday which could also not be so far from the truth...... shudder ;D

Pip

[Deleted]

Nov 25, 2010 12:59:14 GMT Genghis said:

Still, the contract only lasts for another 2 years, then we may get a decent race somewhere, although we'll problably end up with another dodgy designed new track like Abu Crappy.

The City of Valencia has been paying out absurd amounts of money to attract all sorts of sporting events (F1, MotoGP, America's Cup) in an attempt to aggrandise itself, but with Spain now experiencing a severe financial crisis, the burghers are questioning whether it's money well spent.

My cousins live in Valencia so I know the area where the GP is held quite well. It should be quite a good setting for a GP (a flatter Monaco), but the track is duller than dull for some reason and it would be no loss if it dropped off the calendar.

It comes back to the fact that traditional circuits are still the best for GP racing, no doubt because their layout has evolved over many years in response to driver preferences. In fairness, I don't think Abu Dhabi is as bad as some of the new circuits, and Korea probably has some potential as well. However, the likes of Bahrain, China, Malaysia are just yawn inducing.

As for the best season ever, well for me the F1 golden era was in the late-70s and early-80s when cars were still mobile cigarette packets rather than the bland corporate billboards they are now. And they never persuaded me to start smoking either, despite the modern day nanny state claiming none of us can think for ourselves.