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1 May 2007, 18:22 (Ref:1904416) | #1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Round 4: Spanish GP preview/weekend thread!
Well the four week gap is zooming in and we are in Spain already for, err, the Spanish GP a week on Sunday. The teams are testing there right now, notably McLaren who are trying to make their car look as silly as possible. As if those ridiculous sidepod wings and clutter weren't enough, they have bent a javelin around the top of the cars nosecone. Will it race? Will it be banned? Who knows. And frankly, who cares. I don't know why I mentioned it.
The Circuit de Catalunya is unfortunately yet another rubbish track that we have to sleep through early season before we get to mens tracks. The bad news is the track has got even worse. You know that balls out, super quick double right hander before the pit-straight? Well, forget it. It now has a chicane plonked in the middle of it for no good reason. Actually, there is a reason, the drivers were getting scared of it (oh dear, there goes that macho image then). Quite what they will do when we get to circuits like Silverstone I don't know, a boycott perhaps? Anyways, enough of the wimpishness prevalent in F1 lately, let's talk about the race. What can we expect? Sadly, I rather think we can expect a procession for a kick-off led by red and chrome cars. Spain is notoriously dull, so let us hope there is some rain (for the first time since 1996)! All eyes, I suspect, will be on the usual suspects. Looking for Kimi to respond to Felipe's recent form? Well, where better place for him to start than Barcelona, a circuit he seemingly likes very much having won at a canter in 2005 and where he put in his greatest drive (according to some McLaren folk) in last years race. The Finn is my tip for the win this time out. It will be a three way scrap for the second spot between the McLaren chaps and Felipe I guess. Or will it? Will the wheels fall off the record breaking rookie bandwagon that is Lewis Hamilton's season? Will Fernando lose the plot (ha!)? Has Felipe found his Malaysia race brain again? All fascinating stuff, but the race will be dull. Let's laugh at Honda's continuing form instead then, should the rain not transpire. Drivers championship standings (after three rounds)
Constructors championship standings (after three rounds)
Spanish GP: recent history 2006 top eight finishers
Other previous winners
Circuit and race weekend information Homepage Map Timetable Live timing And don't forget... Why not chat about the race in our chat room? And take a look at the predictions competition also. New entrants are always welcome! Last edited by Knowlesy; 1 May 2007 at 18:25. |
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1 May 2007, 19:27 (Ref:1904456) | #2 | ||
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I think we are overdue for a nice wet race, please let it be so...
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2 May 2007, 01:49 (Ref:1904666) | #3 | ||
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i hope for a wet race as then maybe Webber might get a podium if the testing times in the wet were to translate to the race.
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2 May 2007, 08:29 (Ref:1904797) | #4 | ||
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Webber was only 2nd in the wet testing as nobody was taking to the track seriously. If you look at the times, he was still ~1.5s behind Raikkonen.
Barca is usually the first track that sets the good cars from the bad. So far we know the McLaren and Ferrari are really good, with the BMW not too far back. Then theres Renault, Williams, RBR and Toyota all scrapping about a tenth off each other. Whilst one might hope this mid grid battle will lead to some action, it will likely give us a set order to how each team is performing. |
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2 May 2007, 08:59 (Ref:1904820) | #5 | ||
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At last, we get back to some F1!
And I MUST remember to actually enter the predictions comp this time around! Raikkonen has been rather bullish about Ferrari's testing form so far, so I fear a red-wash of the race. But then again, McLaren were previously very bullish about their chances once they reach Europe. Who am I kidding? It's just too ruddy hard to predict this year! |
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3 May 2007, 10:02 (Ref:1905677) | #6 | ||
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Quote:
Now what was it I originally wanted to say? |
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3 May 2007, 16:58 (Ref:1905925) | #7 | ||
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I hadn't noticed just how close the 2006 result was to the final championship order. Swap Massa and Fisichella, and insert JPM, and you have it.
As for 2007, rain might be the only hope for a thriller, but it should be fascinating to see which teams have made the best use of the testing time. Good cars always do better than good drivers here - expect a Noah's Ark grid, with little disadvantage for the rookies due to the amount of testing. Williams might be up against it after their 2 testing crashes, but otherwise we should get a representative outcome. |
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3 May 2007, 18:18 (Ref:1905977) | #8 | ||
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Quote:
It's really quite barmy that teams are allowed to test at circuits shortly before they race on them (What the Hell are Friday's for!).In MotoGP for example,you can only test at the circuit you've raced on after the race as taken place.Unless it is your nominated test circuit. Last edited by Marbot; 3 May 2007 at 18:22. |
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3 May 2007, 19:16 (Ref:1906022) | #9 | ||
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Quote:
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6 May 2007, 21:33 (Ref:1907986) | #10 | ||
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Knowlesy nice work as always, no, it's getting better !
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8 May 2007, 01:41 (Ref:1908722) | #11 | ||
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Fascinating it will be! Will Alonso fall behind Lewis on his home turf? Will the Ferrari's still outperfom the Macs? I read so much about the improvements to the Macs. I read little about the improvements on the Ferrari's other than the drivers are happy with the car. 5 lights, 4 lights, 3 lights.....I can't wait!
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8 May 2007, 18:56 (Ref:1909256) | #12 | ||
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Ferrari seem bullish from their pre-race statements; hopefully Alonso can perform as he did last year, which was dull but impressive and put up a fight. Be interesting to see if the mid-field pack has been shuffled since Bahrain. Red Bull seemed quick in testing.
Wasn't there going to be a team running in a football team's colours this weekend? Real Madrid if I remember correctly. |
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8 May 2007, 19:11 (Ref:1909268) | #13 | ||
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Incidentally, I don't think the track is rubbish, its the cars that are rubbish. The cars from 1991 could pass fine on it.
Change the cars, not the tracks. |
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8 May 2007, 19:13 (Ref:1909271) | #14 | |
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GP2 cars struggle on it.
1991 was damp, which helped a lot. |
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9 May 2007, 12:42 (Ref:1909850) | #15 | |
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The weather doesn't give us any hope of a less processional than usual race.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0042 Our only hope is that the two top teams can battle it out for a bit.At least until they pit that is. |
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10 May 2007, 20:06 (Ref:1910588) | #16 | ||
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http://www.motorsport-total.com//bil...1178733657.jpg
looks like someone got a new hospitality unit |
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11 May 2007, 07:23 (Ref:1910829) | #17 | ||
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That's not a motorhome, that's a skyskraper
and Red Bull has got a new front wing: http://images.gpupdate.net/large/73469.jpg |
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11 May 2007, 11:14 (Ref:1910978) | #18 | ||
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Oh man, Barcelona. I like F1 but getting ready to watch the race in Spain is like getting ready to contract rabies - you just know it probably wont be much fun...
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First practice.
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11 May 2007, 12:23 (Ref:1911025) | #20 | ||
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Davidson 6th.... Nice one! Lets hope he continues this form into qualifying
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11 May 2007, 12:33 (Ref:1911038) | #21 | |
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Second practice should be more telling.
Faster times were on the softer tyres,which were not used by all the drivers. |
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11 May 2007, 13:42 (Ref:1911087) | #22 | ||
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Free Sesion 2
1. Alonso McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:21.397 33 2. Fisichella Renault (B) 1:21.684 + 0.287 39 3. Kovalainen Renault (B) 1:21.966 + 0.569 38 4. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:22.048 + 0.651 31 5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:22.188 + 0.791 37 6. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:22.251 + 0.854 33 7. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:22.415 + 1.018 29 8. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:22.543 + 1.146 40 9. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:22.589 + 1.192 39 10. Speed Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:22.617 + 1.220 35 11. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:22.710 + 1.313 43 12. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:22.719 + 1.322 30 13. Button Honda (B) 1:22.808 + 1.411 39 14. Barrichello Honda (B) 1:22.926 + 1.529 40 15. Wurz Williams-Toyota (B) 1:22.950 + 1.553 30 16. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:23.143 + 1.746 29 17. R.Schumacher Toyota (B) 1:23.219 + 1.822 28 18. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:23.307 + 1.910 42 19. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:23.493 + 2.096 40 20. Davidson Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:23.497 + 2.100 49 21. Sutil Spyker-Ferrari (B) 1:23.609 + 2.212 33 22. Albers Spyker-Ferrari (B) 1:23.736 + 2.339 30 |
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11 May 2007, 13:51 (Ref:1911092) | #23 | ||
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Apart from Macs dominance, it's hard to read something into the comaprison between the two session.
Apparently they Dennis' boys have made their homework, surely better than at Ferrari. |
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11 May 2007, 13:59 (Ref:1911095) | #24 | ||
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missed practice, but just looking at the times, was their any mention of what tire each driver achieved their best runs on?
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11 May 2007, 14:14 (Ref:1911112) | #25 | |||
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Quote:
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#68 - 2009 SMRC Scottish Legends Championship. |
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