# 2012 Formula One **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 16, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925 "2012-03-16T03:00:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/81 "2012-10-09T07:34:00Z")
Grosjean should have been black-flagged. I wonder if he’ll have a drive next season? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/82 "2012-10-11T22:46:36Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Grosjean should have been black-flagged. I wonder if he’ll have a drive next season? The stewards should make him start from the pit-lane, thus avoiding a first-turn pile up. If you just move him down the grid, he’ll just be going faster when he plows into everybody ahead of him! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/83 "2012-10-12T00:10:34Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > The stewards should make him start from the pit-lane, thus avoiding a first-turn pile up. If you just move him down the grid, he’ll just be going faster when he plows into everybody ahead of him! 😃 You know, that’s not a bad idea! Can’t crash into anyone from there. I wonder if Massa’s podium finish has saved his job. My boyfriend said he read somewhere that Ferrari has given him an extension but I can’t find the story online. ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/84 "2012-10-12T20:47:05Z")
The BBC F1 site has been running a “20 greatest drivers” series throughout the year. They’ve just revealed Alain Prost is 5th on this list. Here’s 6 to 20. 06 - Sir Stirling Moss 07 - Sir Jackie Stewart 08 - Sebastian Vettel 09 - Niki Lauda 10 - Fernando Alonso 11 - Alberto Ascari 12 - Gilles Villeneuve 13 - Nigel Mansell 14 - Mika Hakkinen 15 - Lewis Hamilton 16 - Nelson Piquet 17 - Emerson Fittipaldi 18 - Jack Brabham 19 - Graham Hill 20 - Jochen Rindt So who are the top 4? My feelings are :Jim Clark Michael Schumacher Ayrton Senna Juan Manuel FangioI can’t see any alternates to any of those spots, mostly because they are, each and severally, better than those in the lower half of the list. The order is debatable, though I am more confident in my first pick than the others. [Here](http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19874880) is the page for Alain Prost; there are links to the others at the bottom. So - thoughts? What have they got wrong? And Murray Walker can still hold an intelligent discussion. Not bad for someone who was 89 two days ago. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/85 "2012-10-13T15:53:36Z")
Sounds like terrible news for US F1 fans with NBC taking on F1 broadcast duties starting in 2013. I don’t see NBC broadcasting the races live, much less practice or qualifying. Even if, by some miracle, NBC does carry the races live, it’d probably fall to the local affiliate to show the race or infomercials. There’s evidently no stipulation in the broadcast rights to carry the race live, or carry qualifying, as Fox did neither when they hacked the middle of the season up. Welcome back to the US, F1. Fuck you F1 fans. ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/86 "2012-10-13T17:58:40Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_Rat](#): > > Sounds like terrible news for US F1 fans with NBC taking on F1 broadcast duties starting in 2013. > > I don’t see NBC broadcasting the races live, much less practice or qualifying. Even if, by some miracle, NBC does carry the races live, it’d probably fall to the local affiliate to show the race or infomercials. Commercials and live F1 races don’t mix, as we learned when the commercial channel had F1 coverage for some years. With qualifying you can get away with it, as there are two natural breaks. I think I’d be disappointed if I were a US resident as well. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/87 "2012-10-13T19:48:27Z")
> [@Duke\_of\_Rat](#): > > Sounds like terrible news for US F1 fans with NBC taking on F1 broadcast duties starting in 2013. Yes, that was a cold slap in the face this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/88 "2012-10-13T21:01:09Z")
Well, I guess its time to put my plan of being a “F1-head” into action, and follow the circus around the globe all season, returning home just in time for ski season. Now, if only I can find a way to _pay_ for it… ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/89 "2012-10-13T21:52:43Z")
> [@MHaye](#): > > Commercials and live F1 races don’t mix, as we learned when the commercial channel had F1 coverage for some years. With qualifying you can get away with it, as there are two natural breaks. > > I think I’d be disappointed if I were a US resident as well. Commercials aren’t the issue, Speed had both F1 and commercials. The issue is that NBC will almost certainly opt to broadcast the races delayed into the afternoon in the US. That is unless there’s golf or football or NASCAR or something they feel will bring in more viewers. I doubt qualifying will ever be shown. The timing of most of the races is for them to be shown early afternoon in Europe, that’s not prime viewing hours in the US. The amount of commercials might be an issue, as Speed kept commercial breaks to 2 minutes per break during a race, where the normal network commercial break is 4 minutes. Now factor in the dismal prospects for race announcers and you have a sure fire recipe to change the channel. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/90 "2012-10-13T22:03:09Z")
I don’t want to be seen as a shill for an evil TV network, but NBC does have 2 sports channels (NBC sports and Universal Sports). It’s just vaguely possible that F1 might find a niche there. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/91 "2012-10-13T22:27:49Z")
Or premium cable or Pay Per View? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/92 "2012-10-19T18:41:18Z")
> [@MHaye](#): > > The BBC F1 site has been running a “20 greatest drivers” series throughout the year. They’ve just revealed Alain Prost is 5th on this list. > > Here’s 6 to 20. > 06 - Sir Stirling Moss > 07 - Sir Jackie Stewart > 08 - Sebastian Vettel > 09 - Niki Lauda > 10 - Fernando Alonso > 11 - Alberto Ascari > 12 - Gilles Villeneuve > 13 - Nigel Mansell > 14 - Mika Hakkinen > 15 - Lewis Hamilton > 16 - Nelson Piquet > 17 - Emerson Fittipaldi > 18 - Jack Brabham > 19 - Graham Hill > 20 - Jochen Rindt > > So who are the top 4? > > My feelings are :Jim Clark > Michael Schumacher > Ayrton Senna > Juan Manuel FangioI can’t see any alternates to any of those spots, mostly because they are, each and severally, better than those in the lower half of the list. The order is debatable, though I am more confident in my first pick than the others. > > [Here](http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/19874880) is the page for Alain Prost; there are links to the others at the bottom. So - thoughts? What have they got wrong? > > And Murray Walker can still hold an intelligent discussion. Not bad for someone who was 89 two days ago. I agree with both your top four and the order you put them in, and that the former is easier to determine than the latter. Fangio was definitely number 1 until Clark came along, and it’s generally agreed that both Clark and Senna were almost certain to have won more world titles were it not for their untimely exits. The closest decision is between the top 2, IMHO - but Clark edges it thanks to a greater mastery of all kinds of racing. Schumacher could yet win a couple of Le Mans 24 hours if he put his mind to it - don’t know if this should be relevant in what is really an F1 list, though. If it were a list for all racing drivers, surely the likes of Sebastian Loeb should get a look-in. Don’t think he will try but you can’t rule it out. Of course, some would like to exclude him from the reckoning altogether thanks to his shenanigans in 1994 and 1997, but you can’t ignore his talent even though it came with a flawed character. Regarding the rest of the list, I don’t really know enough about the subject to comment fully, but I’m slightly surprised to see Alonso so high up. Likewise Vettel - no doubt both drivers are among the best of their generation, but both won the world title (so far) with patently superior machinery. Having said that, Alonso is looking like disproving that this season, and Webber didn’t take the Red Bull to the same level as Vettel. Also, Moss is a bit flattered by 6th place and I find it hard to see Hamilton as being well above Graham Hill, even as a Hamilton fan. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/93 "2012-11-02T23:44:17Z")
Any Dopers going to the Austin F1 race? I have tickets in the turn 15 stands, I hope to be able to use them. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/94 "2012-11-03T02:06:58Z")
I have General Admission tickets. I hope to find a good spot somewhere between Turn 1 and Turn 11 on the east side of the circuit, but there are a lot more grandstands now than there were on the renderings when I bought the GA tickets. I also have a parking pass for the only remote lot east of the track, so I’m hoping to avoid the gridlock getting to the race. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/95 "2012-11-06T02:37:15Z")
I’ll be there! I’ve got grandstand seats for Turn 5, and a Lot L parking pass. I have no idea how the traffic/parking will be so I’ll be there early on race day. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/96 "2012-11-06T03:18:07Z")
Traffic has us worried, too. We just plan on arriving early and hoping for the best, parking lot F so we’ll be just across the track from you. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/97 "2012-11-06T04:09:55Z")
No Texas race for us, we were holding out for the New Jersey race if it ever happens. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/98 "2012-11-06T12:57:18Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > No Texas race for us, we were holding out for the New Jersey race if it ever happens. Same here. I’m optimistic for 2014, 2013 never looked solid. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/99 "2012-11-16T20:17:57Z")
I was really hoping they would have had a race at Miller Motorsports in Utah. That would have been a (realitivly) short drive and great camping, but alas, I don’t think it was ever considered. I’ll probably have to do the Texas race sooner or later. But I ain’t goin’ to New Jersey! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2012, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925/100 "2012-11-16T23:34:49Z")
Watched Free Practice 1 & 2 (on TV) today. Beautiful track! Start should be very exciting with that run uphill to turn 1. Button said P2 might actually be better than Pole. Vettel looks very good again, but there may be an issue with the Red Bulls. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-formula-one/615925.md?page=6)