Oops Schummi did it again...

[yudansha]

Well, well, well - the longest Formula1 season has begun with new and exciting circuits awaiting the teams of the most prestigious auto sport in the world; including the newly built, 1-billion dollar Chinese Grand Prix circuit.

Australian Grand Prix has just concluded the beginning of another promising season for Ferrari, as Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari partner Rubens Barrichello ran away with the 1-2 victory. It was rather a boring race, seeing as there was absolutely no competition to the oh so dominating Ferrari. Yesterdays race brought a lot of memories of Ferraris most spectacular domination of the 2002 season in the history of racing. The Renault team has proven themselves worthy competitors to Williams BMW (with highest horsepower output engine) and the revolutionary, redesigned West MB McLaren team. Fernando Alonso of Renault ended up third after a daring 'agricultural' pass (via grass) around BMW's Montoya on the green at the start of the race (who was third due to a disappointing qualifying round to the Pole master).

Although practically the only excitement was seen at the start of this Grand Prix, I as a Schumacher fanatic, was ecstatic for him. Michael Schumacher has broken more records in his career than any other F1 pilot in the history of Formula1 (i.e. most wins, most championships, most leading laps ...). Schumacher probably holds a record for the number of records achieved, but he never takes his winnings for granted. Schumacher is always overjoyed and thrilled with every win, and all his fans can see that as he just cannot stay still on the podium. I wish him the best in the coming season, and have total faith in his mastering every circuit and putting all of the viewers in awe after each and every Grand Prix. Michael Schumacher is a legend, and a hero to many (just like Mario Andretti and various others), and he deserves every cent he earns.

 

[Rodrigo]

Schumacher is an arrogant mother ******, he plays dirty, I'll never forget that "accident" with Damon Hill and he tryied again with Villeneuve, what a son of a *****. Hope Montoya can win this year's championship and the next ones to come, I'd like to see Montoya play the dirty game Shummy has been playing, boy, I'll never forget the battles between the two, of course the ones Montoya has won, what a pleasant thing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[yudansha]

typical Montoya fan

LOL ... envy
keep dreaming boy ... Montoya ... now that's a joke by itself, haven't you seen that absolutely aerodynamically wrong Williams 'new' design. They already have the most horesepower, so why do they need a larger air intake. Here's a hint: power isn't what it's all about; talent is what's more important. If Schumacher got into one of those Renault cars, he still would have won the race.

This is so typical, people today still live in the past. For one thing, Canadians still keep bragging about that '72 Summit (and what's that - 32 years ago!); now you come with this Damon Hill - forget him! Schumacher always was the greatest and still is, it just took him a while to figure that out. As far as Mantoya, he is better at doing his commercials, pretending to be so efficient.

As far as championship goes: Montoya will be leaving to McLaren, and that will not help him a bit, so don't look for his name in the title as long as Michael still races his red 900hp horse.

 

[ORANGATUANG]

Well i dont like "smuck-face" (schumacher)..I would like to see some one like David Coultard win come on the Scots?..And of course our Aussie guy Mark Webber...My other half is a real REV-HEAD...Heather.

 

[yudansha]

Webber - future star (distant future, but patience is a virtue)

Heather here are some unfortunate news for you:
Coulthard seems to have lost his touch, but he is a good person, and is always nice to the fans and the press. However, last season showed Coulthard a tough time. The new comer, and the new Coulthard's partner for McLaren - Reikonnen, out-competed probably the most experienced F1 pilot racing in today's Formula1. The team does not go by emotions or feelings: business is business - it's not personal. Coulthard's contract expires after the end of this season, and he has not been offered any new ones from any other teams (yet). It is my opinion, and probably best in his own interest to retire rather than go to a team like the under-funded and poorly engineered Minardi team. Montoya right now has the contract to race for West McLaren next season alongside Kimmi Reikonnen. There will be some good team-mate competition there, but all comes with a loss. It is sad, but very likely that this is the last season for the accomplished David Coulthard.

I've always liked Coulthard, even back in the days of Mikka Hakkinnen (who I dispised).

Mark Webber is someone to look out for though. Not this season, nor next, but I can see him make something of himself in Formula1. Right now, it's Barrichello, Montoya, and Reikonnen (of which Barrichello is the most experienced, and I would say the better of the three in all ways) who will continue Formula1's legacy after Schumacher decides to retire. Furthermore, I do not see Michael's little brother Ralph making it in Formula1. This sort of thing is not inhereted. That is what I've been saying all that time. It is a gift, a God given talent that one may possess and at some point in life discover it. Michael Schumacher is the greatest. Don't believe me? Ask me. And I'll tell ya :=)

 

[Storm]

Like the old saying,if you haven't got anything good to say say nothing.I used to work with a F1 fanatic and he was a boring git!
That said,i respect everyone's right to watch cars going around,and around,and around....(heh)

 

[tora]

But none of these freaks would even be any close to scoring as many goals as Ronaldo can...Hahahahahaha!!!!!

 

[yudansha]

F1 - the Extreme

Storm - I can say that about any sport. Basketball: some who can't play hockey with uncontrollable growth hormones throw ball around back and forth, and then every 24 seconds or so they attempt to throw it ... very exciting; now should I go into golf (where by sport, they are not allowed to ride in those carts, but poor them, they are made to walk instead) ... I can keep going, but I hope you catch my drift.

You talk about it like it's nothing. Try watching F1 first, and understand what goes behind the sport, and then I can guarantee you that there will be no doubts about the level of difficulty that this sport has (then watch Nascar, and compare that to F1 ... lol stock car versions of street cars walking around in circles). Try doing a hair pin in 1.5 seconds after approaching it at speeds of well over 250km/h. OR try to do a hard turn after you are on a straightaway doing 310. You need nerves of a neurosurgeon to handle the G-forces (if you want to joke about this most extreme sport, try that in that joking thread). Other than it being a sport, there is more brains that go into F1 than into any other activity you see displayed on your Sports Network (perhaps you are more into curling, and if that's the case, I'm not the man to talk to). Engineers working for F1 are some of the most successful and brilliant people you will find anywhere. The research, finances, and stress that goes into F1 is just over the top. The research for Formula1 is no different than that of NASA. And think of this: a major hockey tragedy is for someone to attack a competitor from behind sending them face first into the ice; for F1 you don't have the opportunity to survive after someone nails you into the wall going 300km/h. There is as much risk in F1 driving as in F-16 flying (F-22 is too advanced and complicated for it to be considered a risk to operate).

 

[tora]

I'm not into curling either...

 

[yudansha]

no recommendation from me:

:=) that's perfectly O.K. (I'm not either, and do not intend to be)

 

[Storm]

Neither am i.Keep your hair on Yudansha! I know F1 requires skill,but don't get knickers in a twist if we don't all find it riveting.Don't forget we had Nigel Mansell as world champ,a man who could bore a trainspotter.
That said,i respect your admiration of the sport.

 

[yudansha]

analagous supermen

Thanks Storm for understanding, and if you look at any champ (with the exception of Mario Andretti perhaps) none were as entertaining, nor as exciting as Michael Schumacher. You don't find experienced drivers excited about their winnings. Even the younger ones like Reikonnen are always emotionless and boring at interviews. Maybe some are shy, but I don't think you can last long in the entertainment business by being shy. That's just unsportsman like. Both Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were just boring to watch at press conferences, and they were the 'dogs' of F1 in their time.

You don't have to be riveted by F1, but you cannot deny the need for exceptional talent and skill that the sport requires. Let me put it this way: Schumacher (like Mario Andretti) for F1 is like Gretzky for hockey, Michael Jordan for basketball, Babe Ruth for baseball, Ali for boxing, Schwarzenegger for bodybuilding. I'll keep it short.

 

[Storm]

Scares me to death watching that camera in the cockpit as they go around.Need for speed.
I reckon they should do something though,maybe naked cheerleaders dancing on the circuits eh? In fact if they need any help with their costumes,i'm available!Ps.Remember who stuck their neck out when a certain someone needed a friend eh?

 

[yudansha]

appreciated greatly

Storm you gotta watch the pre-race preparation. The grid-girls. It ain't a long 'show' but it's better than nothing, eventhough the best view is from the point of the pilot.

... thanks Storm.

 

[Storm]

All the best young man...
E mail me,i'm still your friend.

 

[yudansha]

guess what?

Well, the Malaysian GP just wrapped up today (that is at 4A.M. Eastern time today due to time zone difference with Malaysia). It is said to be one of the toughest races of the season by design and due to the variable weather conditions, where the temperatures go into the 60s and 70s (140F) in the cockpits. What can I say other than that it was an encore of 'oops he did it again!' Michael Schumacher has earned himself his 72nd career victory.

Remember how I told you to watch out for Mark Webber? Well, the qualifying round surprised everybody (including Mark hismelf) by having him sit second on pole and start the race from second place. It looked so promising for Jaguar and Webber, but Lady Luck was not on their side. Luck is a major ingredient of F1 racing, and Mark Webber lost out on that portion of his hungry appetite for a potential podium position. The blast-off from the grid turned out to stall Webber's car, having him begin in 15th as cars flew by him. Webber is a very talented amateur and it showed, when he was able to catch 7th place, but then his luck got him a TKO forcing him out of the race, as the heat caught Jaguar's mechanics.

It could have been just the BAR Honda's Lucky Strike providing a bit of fortune for the team, but Renault is the one to look out for as they have proven themselves to be very worthy competitors again (scoring 5th and 7th points paying positions placing Renault into 3rd for constructors behind William's BMW and Ferarri).
Michael's partner, Rubens Barrichello had problems at the beginning, and finished the race in fourth; whereas the Britain's favourite David Coulthard just couldn't get his magic of the past to return to him, having him finish in 6th.

The race was nerve racking as Malaysia was experiencing one of its rain days, where the rain drizzled in breaks and always looked like a storm was on its way - messing with the team engineers, having them recalculating their strategies every so often, while Juan Pablo Montoya set on Michael's tail until the end of the race. Montoya seemed to lose his cockiness, and was very satisfied with his second place, as he knew that BMW was not up to the level of Ferarri at this point of the season (having watched Montoya's partner with a blown engine at a mid-point). Montoya finally understands that the lone times he has been able to outrun Michael were not going to last and it was never in his cards for him to deal or play.

This race has made a few more records: Michael set a new track record for the fastest lap, beating his old record by more than 3 seconds, and also earned a record for having led the most laps (over 4000 by the end of this GP) out of any man's career in F1 (no other pilot has even come close to have 3000 leading laps). It seems that the only record that Michael hasn't set yet is that for the most poles (first race starting positions by finishing the qualifying round that runs before the race in the first place) which belongs currently to a past legend Ayrton Senna (Michael needs 8 more to catch up, and with 16 more races this season, there is a lot of opportunity).

This race was however one for the Brits, as Jenson Button of BAR Honda placed 3rd earning him his first podium in his career (Button has the most points earned out of any pilot who has not been on the podium before this race). Everybody was excited for Jenson, and the press conference turned out to be great, as BAR Honda had their support from Lucky Strike. It looks like David Coulthard just got some competition as the British fans turn to Jenson this time.

This is the longest season ever in F1 history with 18 seasonal races (16 more to go), meaning anything goes, especially for the aweful season start for West McLaren Mercedes (currently sitting in 5th place for constructors championship).

 

[yudansha]

the holy sport of high octane racing

And a few more things about Malaysian GP: the speeds reached over 315km/h, and when Kimmi Reikonnen's engine of his McLaren MB blew up, he took his anger out on the staff that was working to help get his car out of the way (Reikonnen jumped out of the car, pushed a man out his way, and rushed out of spotlight: unsportsman like and very unprofessional!). Kimmi is rather a boring person every time he gives an interview, and I don't think he respects his position by taking it all for granted.

To give you more idea of how advanced these cars are:
- take a look at the tachometer on your car, most of the cars red-line at 5k-6000 rpm;
- F1 cars have their tachometers beginning with 6000 rpm and run on average at 16k-19000 rpm with a ceiling of just over 20,000 rpm and the term red-line does not exist for these flying machines (with a shift from 10k-12,000 rpm faster than you can shift the gears);

All of the F1 cars (they shouldn't even be called cars) are very impressive, and anyone who sits behind the wheel of one is an accomplished driver (to give you an idea of how difficult it is to get into F1 racing, follow that Red Bull challenge and see for yourself).

 

[ORANGATUANG]

Iam abit of a REV-HEAD myself..I saw one of my hometowns big races this weekend..I was not impressed a bloody FORD won, iam an HOLDEN girl...As for Smuck head he can live it up while he can because he is going to get ass kicked from the next race in.
Heather..Does any one here love SPRINTCARS...talk about FAST AND THE FURIOUS.....
I saw that movie last night and ohhh boy i just love VIN DIESEL...He got my V8 MOTOR
purring....Heather.PS.Iam sure Steven will forgive me for straying just this once.

 

[yudansha]

I think you just had too much of that 40% beer

Lol Heather, you obviously cannot see the talent that sits within Michael Schumacher. Schumacher will not be beaten - not by Montoya or Reikonnen. Those 2 are good but are not great. Schumacher all the way baby just like Toronto Maple Leafs in playoffs! GO LEAFS GO!!!

Heather you gotta watch A Man Apart if you like Vin Diesel. The movie has a good story, but it gets tangled every which way you look (I think the writers confused themselves by the end). It's a good STV, and it was disappointing not to see Vin Diesel in 2 Fast 2 Furious.

 

[yudansha]

now what do you think this will be about? ... lol

Back on track with the site, the thread, and so here's my post on what I find a fascinating and exhilarating topic ...

Guess what? (If you can't then I don't know why you're reading this thread :=) Schummi did it again in Bahrain!

What do you get when you have Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari and Bridgestone? You get a three for three. Ferrari does it again with 1 - 2 win in the new circuit of Bahrain, when F1 visited the middle-East for the first time in its history.

So you might want to know what about the other teams and drivers (if you don't than don't read the rest - it's as simple as that).
The Mercedes team - West McLaren continues its horrible streak of losses as neither of the two drivers even finished the race, having blown engines. Williams BMW was slow all the time when it mattered the most (fast during practice, when nothing mattered as it was just practice - but when the qualifying came around and then the race - BMW seemed on par with the likes of BAR Honda and Renault teams that usually run in the middle of the pack). BAR Honda's Button finished third, impressing the team and making him the favourite Brit.

Anything still goes, as the championship has 15 more races to go. However, at this point, Ferrari is ahead of the second team, Renault (who got ahead of Williams BMW), by 19 points for constructor's championship. The drivers, have a rather different spread in points. Michael has his 30 points, where his teammate Rubens has 21, and after that it drops gradually but quickly away from the first place with Britain's Jenson Button with 15 points, followed by Montoya (12 for BMW) and Fernando Alonso (11 for Renault) making the top 5.

For those who don't know how points are acquired, and would like to know, the new system follows the following point acquisition by placement achieved at the checkered flag:
1st = 10 pts. 2nd = 8 pts. 3rd = 6 pts. 4th = 5 pts. 5th = 4 pts. 6th = 3 pts. 7th = 2 pts. 8th = 1 pt.

The old system awarded points for the top 6 finishers (10, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1) showing that the first place deserved the points more than the second and so on (having the first place deviate from second by 4 points vs. the new system where the deviation is by only 2 points - fair or unfair, that's how it is now). The new system modified and added a few other rules that seemed minor, but all together provided more competition between teams and in turn minimizing the need for financial support in order to compete adequately (as the 2003 season showed, with BMW and MB-McLaren proving a much tougher competition for Ferrari as was in the older days, and having Renault shine then and having them blossom and fluorish this year). This was supposed to attract a wider array of viewers converting them into fans, as the Ferrari took 'advantage' of the old system and dominated every other team by a great margin than imaginable in such a sport (i.e. 2002 season saw Ferrari win all of the races during the season, and achieved more than twice the points than its closest competitor at the end of the season). I guess it worked seeing how new nations invited F1 with open arms and brand new state of the art, billion dollar race tracks (i.e. just commenced Bahrain GP and the upcoming Chinese and the Brazilian GP ending the season 24 October of this year).

Although Ferrari took off and never looked back (and was never challenged yet), it was still exciting driving in the middle of the pack (but as always, Minardi did not do so well, finishing at the end of the pack); AND there is still more to come.

I don't know about you, but I personally can't wait (just as I can't wait ... well I can, but it seems appropriate to mention ... for the next Steven Seagal movie like many of you).