# Formula One - 2011 Season Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 15, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424 "2011-02-15T05:44:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/101 "2011-08-01T06:28:10Z")
Yeah, a rather spectacular exit from the race for old Nick Heidfeld today. And a gentlemanly exit for Schumacher, apparently, spinning his car to prevent a crash with Sutil (or was it DiResta?) when his gearbox went out. Fairly exciting race. I was rather surprised when Hamilton came in for intermediates and Jenson stayed out on his softs. If McLaren were going to roll the dice on having one car out on each type of tire, you’d think they’d have read the weather radar and given the likeliest option to Hamilton, who leads in the Driver’s points. I know the team’s focus is mainly on the Constructor’s, but if you’ve got both your drivers leading the race, why not try to help the one with more points (and, let’s face it, barring more “interesting” weather at races, the one more likely to win more races)? Still, I was pleased that Button got to take a win for his 200th grand prix. And the little retrospective of his career was nice too. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/102 "2011-08-01T13:54:48Z")
> [@History\_Geek](#): > > Yeah, a rather spectacular exit from the race for old Nick Heidfeld today. And a gentlemanly exit for Schumacher, apparently, spinning his car to prevent a crash with Sutil (or was it DiResta?) when his gearbox went out. > > **Fairly exciting race. I was rather surprised when Hamilton came in for intermediates and Jenson stayed out on his softs.** If McLaren were going to roll the dice on having one car out on each type of tire, you’d think they’d have read the weather radar and given the likeliest option to Hamilton, who leads in the Driver’s points. I know the team’s focus is mainly on the Constructor’s, but if you’ve got both your drivers leading the race, why not try to help the one with more points (and, let’s face it, barring more “interesting” weather at races, the one more likely to win more races)? > > Still, I was pleased that Button got to take a win for his 200th grand prix. And the little retrospective of his career was nice too. If I’m not mistaken, Mark Webber did precisely the same thing on the precisely the same laps, and it cost him just as much too. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/103 "2011-08-01T17:28:25Z")
This was a race for Alonso to win but when he came out of boxes behind Webber he lost too much time. ---
**Author:** ![Ambihelical\_Hexnut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4491bb/32.png) [@Ambihelical\_Hexnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambihelical_Hexnut)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/104 "2011-09-22T21:24:16Z")
This weekend the F1 circus heads out to Singapore - I wonder if they have made any changes to that god-awful triple apex chicane? Sebastian Vettel will clinch the Drivers’ Championship if: - He wins the race, Fernando Alonso does not finish 2nd or 3rd, and neither Jenson Button nor Mark Webber finishes 2nd. - He finishes 2nd, Alonso finishes outside the top 7, both Button and Webber finish outside the top 4, and Lewis Hamilton is not the winner. - He finishes 3rd, Alonso finishes outside the top 8, both Button and Webber finish outside the top 6, and Hamilton does not finish 1st or 2nd. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/105 "2011-09-25T17:33:46Z")
Another insane win by Vettel. Another stupid decision by Hamilton; he could’ve been a real challenge to Vettel (or at least postpone his championship) if he hadn’t consistenly shot himslef in the foot. His in-race comment “what are we racing for?” is one of the saddest I’ve heard. The answer is a combination of a)you’re a frikking sportsman and racing is what you do and b) you get paid millions for this, so keep driving until we tell you to stop. ---
**Author:** ![MJinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@MJinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJinks)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/106 "2011-09-25T21:59:42Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Another insane win by Vettel. > Another stupid decision by Hamilton; he could’ve been a real challenge to Vettel (or at least postpone his championship) if he hadn’t consistenly shot himslef in the foot. His in-race comment “what are we racing for?” is one of the saddest I’ve heard. The answer is a combination of a)you’re a frikking sportsman and racing is what you do and b) you get paid millions for this, so keep driving until we tell you to stop. I think it was a fair question. If he’s racing for points he can keep pushing, If he’s not then he can conserve his engine for the next race or get in some impromptu testing. I didn’t interpret it as a ‘what’s the point!’ type outburst. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/107 "2011-09-26T04:19:39Z")
> [@MJinks](#): > > I think it was a fair question. If he’s racing for points he can keep pushing, If he’s not then he can conserve his engine for the next race or get in some impromptu testing. I didn’t interpret it as a ‘what’s the point!’ type outburst. Yours is a possible explanation, but it sounded more like “what’s the point” to me. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/108 "2011-09-26T09:12:48Z")
He sounded pissed off, but it was also a fair question. “What is my target and what should I be doing.” ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/109 "2011-09-26T13:49:58Z")
While I tend to agree that Hamilton’s cumulative errors have wrecked his chances, there is an argument that he’s trying too hard, and taking too many chances, to make up for the basic fact that Red Bull’s car is faster than McLaren’s. These chances eventually catch up with him. As for the in-race question, I interpreted it at the time as “what’s my target?” rather than “What’s the point?” an I think that the race results show that is correct. Hamilton fought his way back from 20th after the drive-through penalty to 5th at the end of the race, and this despite having only two usable sets of super-soft tyres while the others had three. I don’t think Hamilton would have fought so hard if he was about to give up. (Unlike some other drivers, who are selected for their ability to play second fiddle to the team number 1.) ---
**Author:** ![MJinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@MJinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJinks)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/110 "2011-09-27T12:40:19Z")
I did laugh when, after the collision and drive-through penalty, Hamilton was coming up to Massa again and Massa pitted. I’m sure it was a scheduled pit but I bet both were relieved to avoid Round 2. ---
**Author:** ![History\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@History\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/History_Geek)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/111 "2011-09-28T04:42:45Z")
> [@MHaye](#): > > While I tend to agree that Hamilton’s cumulative errors have wrecked his chances, there is an argument that he’s trying too hard, and taking too many chances, to make up for the basic fact that Red Bull’s car is faster than McLaren’s. These chances eventually catch up with him. … Hamilton does try to recklessly catch the Red Bull, but I don’t think the McLaren is too much slower than the RB-7. Just enough slower, in general, obviously, but look at the way Button can steadily wind Vettel in towards the end of a race. He drives more consistently, makes fewer mistakes, and closes the distance. If he’d gotten a better break after the safety car, he might have been able to really put heat on Vettel. It seems to me that Vettel’s wins all follow the same pattern: use the RB-7’s slight speed edge to build a gap, then slow down and cruise to the end… and I think this cruising is necessary because of the amount of fuel burned to build the gap. If the McLaren is slightly slower, but more efficient, Button or Hamilton should be able to pour on the juice when the Red Bulls really haven’t got it left in the tank. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/112 "2011-10-28T10:08:09Z")
For those who have not already heard (and I hadn’t until just tonight), mark your calendars for the inaugural… [Grand Prix of New Jersey](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053146/F1-New-Jersey-race-2013-Monaco-course-views-Manhattan.html?ITO=1490) Okay, technically it’s the Grand Prix of America. I’m not being wooshed, am I? Am I? ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2011, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/113 "2011-10-28T10:31:23Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > For those who have not already heard (and I hadn’t until just tonight), mark your calendars for the inaugural… > > [Grand Prix of New Jersey](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053146/F1-New-Jersey-race-2013-Monaco-course-views-Manhattan.html?ITO=1490) > > Okay, technically it’s the Grand Prix of America. I’m not being wooshed, am I? > > Am I? The [BBC](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/15440153.stm) thinks it’s genuine. My immediate reaction is “which race goes?” There’s a 20-race limit in place. 2012 has a full 20-race season listed (schedule [here](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/calendar/9577132.stm)), so to add a New Jersey race, one must be dropped. The BBC also has an article where [“Ecclestone casts doubt on Korea”](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/15488808.stm). So, right now, that would be my guess. ---
**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 31, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424/114 "2011-10-31T02:01:24Z")
I woulda sworn he had done this before, but I guess he lost that fast lap at the last minute at those other races. Well done! I might go to Austin, but ain’t no way in hell I’m going to _New Jersey!_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-one-2011-season-thread/571424.md?page=5)