Michael Schumacher pushed Mercedes to the head of the timesheets during Practice Two here in China on Friday afternoon.
F1
All posts tagged F1
And lady bingbing couldn’t be happier. Nothing but F1 until the end of November.
Actually, LBB isn’t lamenting too much this weekend as she gets to see her beloved Melbourne again.
I tells ya, the track looks absolutely picturesque. The organisers in Korea could learn a thing or two, and here’s a start. Maybe this, too.
The only decent looking car out there, the McLaren, is in pole and second.
The fugliest car out there, the Ferrari, ended up in the kitty litter yesterday.
Do the math. Those duck bill stepped noses may be safer, but the Mona Lisa of car design they ain’t.
Anyway, off to the couch. Feel free to use this an an open forum.
Just from a personal perspective, but it’s a bit hard blogging* about a lame duck PM and the most idiotic, lamest protests ever devised in the history of mankind…
So here’s a pic.
It’s a side-on shot taken of Massa’s Ferrari going at 320km/h on the back straight at the 2011 Korean Formula One Grand Prix.
click
*Even being bothered to blog about such FAIL.
I dunno, but when you come back from a weekend like that, and read so much FAIL in the papers on Monday, you kinda stop giving a crap.
Go Stoner!
RIP Wheldon
Having received no reply after writing to the email address they plug on their show (f1@espnstar.com), maybe the following will achieve some sort of resolution.
I emailed vaskos@espnstar.com and simc@espnstar.com following a google search that turned up this little ditty of a press release.
I’m writing to enquire as to why, after the resumption of F1 after the summer break, the commentary of your broadcast in Korea has reverted back to Chinese?
The last time I recall that being done was in 2002, and it basically ruined the season for most F1 fans who work in Korea.
What is particularly puzzling are three things:
- Why change the language of the commentary mid-season?
- Why is the pre-race show in English, the race in Chinese, and then the post-race show reverts to English again?
- From your press release http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/espn-star-sports-races-to-victory-with-formula-onetm-agreement-54740032.html
“SINGAPORE, July 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ — ESPN STAR Sports, Asia’s number one sports broadcaster has once again captured pole position winning a five-year deal to broadcast the FIA Formula One(TM)(F1) World Championships across all its major territories in Asia excluding China, in addition to full and exclusive TV rights for India.“
Of particular note is that the deal excludes China.
I live and work in Korea. I can tell you most foreigners, in particular F1 fans, are English as a Second Language teachers and foreign engineers – including many Indians – who either speak English as a first or second language.
The largest demographic of Chinese in Korea is arguably the bought Chinese wives of Korean farmers – hardly Korea’s largest group of F1 fans one would think.
Please put the commentary of the races back into English.
As a fan also of rugby and cricket, I am already starved of decent sports content to watch on your channel.
The saving grace was the F1, and now you’ve taken that away again, too.
Angry and disappointed,
James Board
JFTR, F1 driver and Aussie Mark Webber, who qualified in 3rd, stuffed up his start as per usual, dropping back to 8th before Aussie-grittinging it back to 2nd, behind that Vettel guy.
And well done, Jenson (13th to 3rd!) And Schumi (last…24th…to 5th… on the 43 year old’s 20th anniversary of F1 racing).
And a happy birthday to Aussie Mark Webber who turned 35 on Saturday.
But what’s a post without a beef?
Here’s what Star Sports (ESPN) was emailed minutes ago…
Hi,
Who’s the idiot who decided to put the Star Sports Korea commentary into Chinese???? I am so absolutely LIVID! at you guys. It’s so hard to be polite, but what kind of broadcast is one that has a pre-race show in English, the bloody race in Chinese, and then the post race show in English?
What the hell were you guys thinking?!?!?!?
You did this (even worse) back in 2002. Essentially, you ruined the season!
Most of your letters are from fans in India. What do you think their main second language is?????? Hint: IT”S NOT CHINESE!
How about where you broadcast from? Hong Kong, too!
And as for foreign workers in Korea???
They are English teachers.
They are also engineers etc. from all over the world who use ENGLISH as a first or second language!!!!!!!
What’s even more of an utterly stupid decision, the races before the summer break had English commentary (volume not sufficient to get above the engine noise, by the way).
And suddenly you switch to Chinese???
English is the language of international business!
Most foreign workers in Korea AND Koreans use English as either their first or second language!
I understand your coverage pales in comparison to the BBC, but I blame that more on resources ($$$) provided… that is: YOU HAVE GOOD COMMENTATORS but who’d know since you have decided again to hush them up?
So utterly angry, disappointed, and wondering why you pulled such a ridiculous stunt!
I want to use every swear word I know against you – and you deserve all of them plus more – but I won’t.
FIX THIS!
If you vomit Monza on us in Chinese, I will officially hate you forever!!!
You fucked up so bad!
Sincerely,
James Board
Just over seven hours and Aussie Mark Webber’s best chance at a win this season.
Like this:
Something more positive to consider this weekend is that Aussie F1 driver Mark Webber is on pole position for tonight’s (10pm Aussie time) German Grand Prix.
It was brilliant watching him clinch it from Vettel last night, and also well done McClaren’s Lewis Hamilton making 2nd.
Vettel’s lead in the championship is pretty much unassailable, but who doesn’t want to see Mark win a race this year regardless? It would certainly help him to at least better secure his tenure of 2nd place in the championship (and no, 2nd ain’t first but it’s better than 3rd which Mark got last year).
Just get that start right this time, Mark!
The FIA seems to think F1 fans will love already puny 2.4L engines being replaced by 1.6L engines; V8 engines being replaced by V6 engines; 18.000RPM reduced to 15,000RPM.
The only possible way this 2014 engine swap could be considered a “step forwards” is when considering the FIA originally pushed for 1.6L, straight four, 12,000RPM engines… to have been introduced in 2013.
It’s a step forward from that dud asshat proposal.
In real terms, it’s still a step backwards.
This is Formula One. If I wanted efficiency, I’d watch the Prius Grand Prix.
What? There isn’t one?
The former Ferrari – FERRARI! – team manager Jean Todt, now head of the FIA, for pushing what is essentially the antithesis to F1, is beyond disappointing.
F1 supremo, Bernie Eccleston, is at least making inroads.
Hang in there, Bernie.The AGW debate from the warmist side is becoming ever more base.*
*Check those comments.
Via Tim Blair, the F1 “baby formula” 1.6L 4 cylinder engines – set to have been introduced in 2013 – have been scrapped with a proposal for 1.6L V6s to be introduced in 2014.
Getting there…
Related. The F1 boss hates what the FIA – the sport’s governing body – is trying to do.
First to not (riots), then to, and now on their own decision, to not.
Looks like the Yellowstone of International Politics, the Middle East, is continuing to experience elevated seismic activity.
And as with Yellowstone, is there anything much more that we can do but watch?
They’ve done with WWII victor, Winston Churchill, and now they’ve done it with Alain Prost.
Back in 1985, the four-time world champion drove a Marlboro sponsored Honda McLaren.
Here it is.
And here’s the current picture on Wikipedia, and in many a google image search pic.
OK. So cigarette advertising has been banned on F1 cars since about 2007/2008.
But one just has to wonder, if history is re-written on something so frivolous as a F1 car – and unannounced, mind you – just what else are the powers, the Leftist powers that be, re-writing history on?
UPDATE
Just for the record…
UPDATE II
Are you shitting me a 1985 race in Germany disallowed Marlboro?
My Bad.
And then this: consider the BS engine’s being introduced in 2013…
A 1.6 litre four cylinder… on an F1 car…?
Arguments over the commercial structure and regulations in the sport re-started in the mid-2000s with McLaren and their part owner Mercedes again amongst teams threatening to start a rival series until 2009 when another Concorde Agreement that is effective until the end of 2012 was settled upon.
And that’s a good considering that engine crap.
A four cylinder on an F1 car????
That Concord agreement breaks in 2013, the same year FIA wants F1 cars to have four cylinder engines. Mclaren ain’t happy. You can bet your bottom dollar Ferrari is pissed. None of the drivers or fans want it.
Yet the FIA has pushed ahead its agenda for its beloved baby formula.
Make sense?
Of course not.
And give us a break. I was too young in 1985 to actually REMEMBER Prost’s car.
Any corrections in comments are most welcome.
UPDATE III
Tim Blair emails:
Easy mistake for young players. Germany was ahead of everyone when it came
to banning cig ads.Some teams found better ways to get around it than McLaren’s simple
block-out technique. The
Zakspeed team of the mid-80s was sponsored by cigarette maker West, so in
Germany they just
changed the signage to East. Problem solved.Cheers,
Tim
So there you go
Formula 1 moves one step closer towards any diehard fan’s nightmare.
Following a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in the Spanish city of Barcelona on Friday, the FIA has released details of regulation changes which could come into force for the 2013 season. The sport’s governing body, however, also revealed that a vote could be taken to change the timing of their introduction.
One of the major revisions approved by the WMSC is the establishment of a new engine formula, which will see the current 2.4 litre V8s replaced with 1.6 litre four-cylinder units, with high pressure gasoline injection up to 500 bar and extensive energy management and energy recovery systems. Rev limits on the new engines will be reduced from the current 18,000rpm to a maximum of 12,000.
Why would Formula One, of all sports, continue to pander to the Green Brigade? Just how many hippies does one see at an F1 event?
Memo to Jean Todt: the aging hippies and their useful idiot acolytes want F1 DEAD, and you’re doing their job for them.
And not only will the engines be smaller and most likely sound horrible compared to what we have now, but the cars will be 20kg heavier. Double Fail.
The only silver lining is that the 2013 date for the new engines (the car I’ll be driving to see the race in 2013* has a bigger engine) could be postponed. One can only hope by “postponed” they mean shoot the bloody engines out into space with Al Gore attached.
Bernie, who is known to be “anti, anti, anti, anti moving into this small turbo four formula”, had better think of something fast.
In other F1 news, the previously cancelled Bahrain F1 is back on again, with India’s race being pushed back a couple of weeks. Also, the US Grand Prix is on again for 2012.
*That’s a big maybe.
PS In case you missed it, although us Aussies love to hate Vettel, at least he has the right idea when it comes to engines.
Indeed. Bring back the V12s!
Seriously, why is the FIA doing this???
Why would they make such a drastic change that the boss doesn’t want, the drivers don’t want, and the fans don’t want?
Up next: The FIA requires drivers to do a silly walk to their cars.
…and totally depressed about Mark’s qualifying (18th!).*
Wat do?
http://www.youtube.com/user/ElectroBootlegMusic#p/u/11/KrQ-z7JxMEQ
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-trump-florida-20110416,0,409413.story?track=rss
*Fix the damn KERS, Red Bull!!!!!
UPDATE
UPDATE II
The 34:04 min mark is for House lovers.
The 1:16.25 mark is for the love of my life, Lady Bingbing. xoxoxoxoxoxox
So JM emails with a link to what will be the 2012 Dakar rally’s first electric car, the OSCar eO, which will be driven by Team Latvia (coz, you know, when I think “Green”, I think “Latvia”).
Anyway, electric cars are all the buzz these days, but will they really gain traction in Australia (the average household pays about four times the amount per kWh that I pay in Korea, JFTR) when we already have electricity prices rallying, and before Gillard’s carbon (dioxide!) tax will drive them higher yet?
And besides, electric cars aren’t perhaps as “green” as their proponents may like you to think.
UPDATE
An electric F1 championship??? You.have.got.to.be.kidding. GTFO. F1 without the noise is like beer without the alcohol… or CO2.
No matter. By then F1 will imbibe through a straw anyway with its four cylinder engines (where’s the NOISE?!?!). That said, F1 supremo Bernie Eccleston hates the fours, too.
And if Bernie is “anti, anti, anti, anti moving into this small turbo four formula”, one doesn’t need to ponder too much what his views on electric F1 cars might be.
It certainly looks like it’s the FIA that’s imbibing through a straw, not the F1 per se.
It’s been a tough break, what with UK Top Gear only doing six episodes again, and the Bahrain GP being cancelled.
But finally, this Sunday, my apartment will again be filled with that sweet sweet sound of 20-odd Formula One cars screaming out 18,000 beautiful RPM.
UPDATE
HINT: turn the volume up on the Ferrari clip just a tad more and play both together, but hit the play button on the Red Bull clip first.
