2014 Grosser Preis Von Österreich (Austrian GP)

[prisonermonkeys]

Offer no constructive input? Fans over the years have offered plenty of constructive input, maybe not on this thread and forum but certainly elsewhere. The real problem with the sport is definitely not with the fans. As Keith at F1Fanatic says...

That's not constructive input. That's just a criticism. It amounts to "not good enough, think of something else" with no indication of what that something else might be - but somehow, he expects The Powers That Be to know what that something else is.

 

[Marqus]

You know what that skid plate idea reminds me of?

About sums it up.

 

[ScottPuss20]

Austria is my most anticipated event of the year

 

[mustafur]

Im just going to say, F1 went in a downward spiral that it will never escape from starting in Canada 2010.

 

[Samus]

That's not constructive input. That's just a criticism. It amounts to "not good enough, think of something else" with no indication of what that something else might be - but somehow, he expects The Powers That Be to know what that something else is.

Well why wouldn't they, they are the ones running the show, not us. We can only tell them what we don't like, it's up to them to find the solution, fans can only put forward their thoughts. It's not like they pay any attention anyway, the response to double points was near unanimous against, but they went ahead anyway.

Besides he may not have mentioned them in that short paragraph but potential solutions to most of those problems have been put forward by fans.

Plummeting viewing figures = Don't sell exclusive TV rights to PPV broadcasters for a start.
Driver weights = Minimum drive+seat weight.
Financial issues = Various money saving techniques/budget caps.

The other 'major' issues like overtaking/car design again, plenty of fan input over the years that has been ignored.

 

[TenEightyOne]

The other 'major' issues like overtaking/car design again, plenty of fan input over the years that has been ignored.

Which Luca De Montezomolo seems to want to fix, in a strangely modern move.

@mustafur this horse is long past flogging, and this isn't the place. Unfortunately you're wrong, there's no conspiracy, the engineering and "criminal" evidence stands.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Well why wouldn't they, they are the ones running the show, not us.

Because they can't read minds.

 

[niky]

Changing the skid plate to metal won't encourage people to run too low. A modern metal skidplate would most likely be a laminate. Wear through the thin metal layer(s) to whatever colorful composite/plastic/ceramic layer is underneath, you get disqualified.

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The drop in viewership is the continuation of a multi-year trend... aggravated by a number of outlets moving to paid telecast (and blamed in some cases almost exclusively on paid telecast) and the predictable nature of the championship. It's worth noting that some sources suggest the Canadian Grand Prix showed an uptick versus last year. Probably a lot of excited text messages helped...

-

Something does need to be done. Paid telecast is important as that's direct revenue. But licensing deals for free-to-air telecasts can still be done besides, as basketball does. (Then again, out here, there are hardly any motorsports on free-to-air TV... you guys with BBC in the UK are extremely lucky)

I love the new rules. They're finally using the hybrids to their full capacity. I hope they pump it up to a whole 200 hp in the future, with unlimited use per lap. The reintroduction of turbos, tres cool.

The fuel limit... it actually helps by putting drivers on different fuel strategies, but I heartily disagree with the flow limit.

Not on behalf of Redbull, mind... I just want to see people really turn the wick up at the end of the race.

 

[mustafur]

I wonder if the FIA considered the drop in viewer-ship may be because of all the gimmicks they have added in the last few years, the increase in WEC viewership which is much closer in an engineering and sport standpoint to what F1 used to be has been getting an increase in viewership suggesting maybe a viewer switch.

Similar to the CART/NASCAR switch which happened in the Late 90s early 2000s.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The WEC has considerably less coverage worldwide than Formula 1. There are dozens of countries that get Formula 1, but don't get the WEC.

 

[niky]

Kyvat currently in P2. Even though that's on Supersoft tires, it's worth a chuckle or two.

Coming fresh to this track, Lewis seems much faster than Rosberg. For now. Let's see if Nico can pick it up in Q2 and Q3. Didn't seem like that first timed lap was entirely unimpeded.

 

[Ninners]

Sutil lost his Q2 chance with a small bit of oversteer which disallowed the lap which put him inside the top 10 at the time. Once the tyres lost their edge he was 0.004 off Q2.

 

[GTPorsche]

F1® Racing on NBC@F1onNBCSports1m
Max Chilton has a five place penalty. After qualifying P21, he will start the race from Germany #F1onNBC

 

[Ninners]

Thought it was 3 place penalty? For hitting Bianchi last time round.

 

[Akmuq]

Hamilton only 0.004 ahead of Williams, Rosberg only a tenth faster.

 

[Ninners]

I'm pretty sure Merc have some time in their pocket.

Vettel out.

 

[niky]

F1® Racing on NBC@F1onNBCSports1m
Max Chilton has a five place penalty. After qualifying P21, he will start the race from Germany #F1onNBC

I should be ashamed of laughing so hard... but I'm not.

Vettel out. Shocking. This track really likes fast cars. Could Williams claim their first pole of the season? Maybe? Maybe not... but still, they'll be in a very good place tomorrow. Nobody else is even close.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Vettel out.

 

[Akmuq]

I'm pretty sure Merc have some time in their pocket.

Vettel out.

Probably, but Williams have a couple of tenths on the rest as well, they should have 3rd and 4th easy if they don't mess up.

I would laugh if Red Bull are out qualified by Toro Rosso at their home track.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Vettel's at the limit, but he looks like he's almost coasting through Turn 6. You can tell because he's got all the time in the world to set himself up for Turn 7, whereas everyone else has to fight it.

 

[niky]

Seven different teams in Q3. Nice change of pace. Team rookies really impressive. Ricciardo, Kyvat, Magnusson and Bottas outdoing their team-mates on this (relatively) unfamiliar track. (I know, some of these guys have raced it in lower formulas, but still...)

If Bottas gets pole, I think the internet will explode.

EDIT

Cue sound of internet exploding. Interesting... Mercedes can't get any heat in those tires for the super softs? Looking at Hamilton's onboard... he's still super smooth... and then... *bang*... those fast corners, he's literally throwing the car into the turn very, very early... trying to hook up those front tires and overcome the understeer...

Rosberg just off of Bottas' time. Lewis ran wide.

If Lewis doesn't set a clean lap, he'll be relegated tenth. Not the right time for a choke. Should have put in a very early banker and done a two lap run.

 

[MHPALA]

WTF just happened?!

 

[niky]

FELIPEEEEE!!!!

In qualifying, the last guy to set a clean lap has the advantage... guess who held it together?

Hamilton mucked up both laps. Starts tenth. New low for the former champion.

Bottas in second locked the rears on his last lap.

Rosberg in third couldn't make a clean lap.

Alonso finally finishes someplace besides fifth.

Ricciardo does an Alonso. An actual Alonso... hauling that arse-slow Red Bull all the way up the ladder.

Magnusson, Kyvat, both fantastic.

Kimi... well, at least he showed up.

 

[MagpieRacer]

YES!!!!!! Go Williams!

 

[GTPorsche]

A Williams front row?

Mercedes is falling apart...

 

[Akmuq]

Wow! Massa has returned.

Hamilton must have rear biased brake balance. Will be brilliant to see him charge through the first few laps tomorrow.

 

[Peasantslayer]

Lewis was miles under aswell on his first lap...

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Wow good job Mercedes, cause let's just throw it away two weeks in a row. Don't want to make it too hard for everyone.

Good job Williams.

 

[Vinylshark]

Massa and Bottas on 1 and 2, that's just awesome
I hope this time they will be lucky enough to finally bring a good qualification result home in the race

 

[Ninners]

If Lewis had finished his 1st lap properly he would have had pole as he was 0.2 up on Bottas before. Great stuff Williams!