*****Official Formula 1 Thread*******

[KC native]

Everyone else gets an official thread, so I want one too.

I've seen several people make mentions of F1 on here. So, I'm giving us a thread. No more Speed bs coverage. NBC looks like they are taking it serious and will have some good coverage.

With DVRs now, it's no longer a pain in the ass to watch the races. So watch them and discuss

And if you don't watch F1. You suck. Best racing on the planet.

5799DB !important;">Breaking sports news video. 5799DB !important;">MLB, 5799DB !important;">NFL, 5799DB !important;">NBA, 5799DB !important;">NHL highlights and 5799DB !important;">more.

Following is this week’s coverage schedule for the Rolex Australian Grand Prix on NBC Sports Network:

Date Program Time Network
Friday, March 15 Practice #1 12:00 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Friday, March 15 Practice #2 1:30 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sat., March 16 Qualifying 2 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sat., March 16 Qualifying Re-Air 1:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sunday, March 17 Australian Grand Prix 1:30 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sunday, March 17 F1 Extra 4 a.m. NBC Sports Network
Sunday, March 17 Race Re-Air 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
-

More practice times for the entire season can be found here.

2013 FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (Subject to change, all times ET):

Date Grand Prix Time Re-Air (NBCSN) Network
Sun., March 17 Australia 1:30 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., March 24 Malaysia 3:30 a.m. 3 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., April 14 China 2:30 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., April 21 Bahrain 7:30 a.m. Noon NBC Sports Network
Sun., May 12 Spain 7:30 a.m. 2 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., May 26 Monaco 7:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. NBC
Sun., June 9 Canada 2 p.m. 7 p.m. NBC
Sun., June 30 United Kingdom 7:30 a.m. Noon CNBC
Sun., July 7 Germany 7:30 a.m. Noon CNBC
Sun., July 28 Hungary 7:30 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Aug. 25 Belgium 7:30 a.m. Midnight NBC Sports Network
Sun., Sept. 8 Italy 7:30 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Sept. 22 Singapore 7:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Oct. 6 Korea 1:30 a.m. 4 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Oct. 13 Japan 1:30 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Oct. 27 India 5:00 a.m. 1 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Nov. 3 Abu Dhabi 7:30 a.m. 6 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Sun., Nov. 17 USA (Austin) 1 p.m. 6 p.m. NBC
Sun., Nov. 24 Brazil 11 a.m. 4:30 p.m. NBC

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Dylan

You can be hooked fast on Formula 1. The technology behind an F1 car is so interesting and complex. In this sport, the technical director is more important than the driver is. They employ the best research and development scientists, who make the car.

The only downside, you will have to watch Formula 1 races live - in the middle of the night. Otherwise, you would miss NASCAR races when FOXsports replays F1 in the US.

DVR and self discipline is key. If I haven't watched the race yet, I stay off of twitter and instagram.

[KC native]

There were a ton of pit stop errors by a lot of teams this race. I have never seen anything like yesterday's race and I have been watching F1 religiously for 10-12 years.

[Demonpenz]

Alonso was full of fail. Weird deal by Vettle. I am not totally sure he just wanted to win at all costs. I think he is confused as what has happened. Sucked for Mark Weber. F1 team orders sucks. F1 is for itself though not for the fans.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

Alonso was full of fail. Weird deal by Vettle. I am not totally sure he just wanted to win at all costs. I think he is confused as what has happened. Sucked for Mark Weber. F1 team orders sucks. F1 is for itself though not for the fans.

Alonso staying out wasn't his call. His team told him to stay out.

Vettel definitely wanted to win at all costs. Immediately after the race in interviews he admitted he ****ed up. Red Bull won't do anything about it though. He should be suspended for at least a race.

[Demonpenz]

I don't know. He just sounded confused. I wish he would either just say YOU GOD DAMN RIGHT I WANTED TO WIN instead of sounding like a dumbass. Although sometimes the drivers can sound like dumbasses simply because English is not their first language.

[chefsos]

Random bump time. Just saw this and was inspired, no, compelled to post it.



I don't see that crazy six wheel Tyrrell anywhere though.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by chefsos

Random bump time. Just saw this and was inspired, no, compelled to post it.



I don't see that crazy six wheel Tyrrell anywhere though.

I ****ing love this gif. Yea, it's not in there. They did have like 4-5 of them when they did the Historic Grand Prix at the F1 race in Austin last November. Shit was cash.

[KC native]

1:30 AM Tonight.

With the soft tires falling off so quickly, it will be interesting from a tire strategy perspective.

Chinese GP: Lewis Hamilton earns maiden Mercedes pole position

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton beat Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Hamilton was nearly 0.3 seconds quicker than Raikkonen as he took his first pole position for his new Mercedes team.

Team-mate Nico Rosberg was fourth ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.
Sebastian Vettel was ninth as team-mate Mark Webber was disqualified for stopping on track with too little fuel.

The Australian will be thrown to the back of the grid, but has the choice of changing his set-up to enhance his chances of overtaking and starting from the pit lane, as his Red Bull team-mate Vettel did in the same circumstances in Abu Dhabi last November.

The rules dictate that any car that does not make it to the pits has to have enough fuel in it to provide a one-litre sample as well as the amount of fuel required to get it back to the pits from where it stopped.
Webber's had only 150ml left in it when it stopped with what Red Bull initially said was a fuel-pressure problem.

Red Bull said a problem with the fuel bowser, the machine that is used to pump fuel into the car, "caused an incorrect fuel measurement to be delivered to Mark's car".

Webber described the situation as "very disappointing".

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean was sixth ahead of the impressive Daniel Ricciardo's Toro Rosso and McLaren's Jenson Button, who like Vettel used 'medium' tyres in final qualifying in an attempt to gain an advantage in the race.

The drivers ahead of Button and Vettel will all have to pit relatively early to change the fragile 'soft' tyres while the 'mediums' will last around 20 laps.
But Vettel and Button will have to use the 'softs' later in the race.

"Obviously we are on a different strategy," Vettel said. "We will see whether it works tomorrow. But I am confident we did the right thing."

Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn said: "Those on the option will have to stop relatively early. It will be a fascinating race."

Hamilton's performance underlined the pace Mercedes had shown throughout the weekend and he was an impressive 0.377secs quicker than Rosberg, who made a mistake at the final corner.

Hamilton said: "[It's an] incredible feeling, so happy to have our first pole for some time. Ecstatic, the lap was great. I really hope we can carry that into tomorrow.

"[The gap is] really surprising because in [final practice] the Ferraris were really quick and we didn't know if we'd have enough pace."

Raikkonen said: "The gap is quite big still. We don't have that speed right now, we were second. Not too bad. The best I think I have been with the team. We are missing the downforce in the middle sector a bit. [We'll] see what we can do."

Alonso added: "Very happy. The weekend has been very good for us. The car felt competitive from Friday.

"The car is responding well and I think we have a good set-up for the race and if everything goes well we should be able to fight for the podium with both cars which is good for the team."

Qualifying result:

1. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes - 1:34.484
2. Kimi Raikkonen - Lotus - 1:34.761
3. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari - 1:34.788
4. Nico Rosberg - Mercedes - 1:34.861
5. Felipe Massa - Ferrari - 1:34.933
6. Romain Grosjean - Lotus - 1:35.364
7. Daniel Ricciardo - Toro Rosso - 1:35.998
8. Jenson Button - McLaren - 2:05.673
9. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull
10. Nico Hulkenberg - Sauber

[Dylan]

Race is on!

Hamilton, Alonso and Kimi so far have been fun to watch.

Hamilton is dropping back.

Wow...Ferrari is hard to beat in the DRS zones

Edit: Webber had a collision Vergne as they were fighting for position.

Webber has a broken front wing.

Edit: No... Kimi gets into the back of Perez (I think it was Perez) - and now has a hole in the nose of his Lotus - damn

Edit: Webber's loses his right rear as it rolls across the road...

[Dylan]

KC Native:

The Chinese Grand Prix:

They are leaving Kimi out - (damage is not serious) Kimi is right on Hamilton's tail - Looks like Ferrari needs fresh tires if they want to keep up with Hamilton and Kimi.

These cars are moving...Button and Grosjean had a DRS incident - not sure what happened.

Alonso up to second - Alonso passes Hulkenberg on the turn -

Alonso leads again, Vettel running second -

Hard to keep up - there are battles all over the place...they are flying.

Edit: Vettel came in for tires - think they are using a two-stop strategy

Edit: Vettel is fast - He just blew past Massi on the overlap - He's up to sixth (?)

It's now Alonso, Hamilton, Kimi and Button

hahahaha... Button is complaining about the traffic - as Vettel runs him down. Vettel's tires are fresher than Button's tires.

They are running over 200 mph. Hamilton is 4 sec. behind Kimi

Alonso leads by 19 sec. over Vettel and Button - all three still need a final stop. Hamilton is closing in on Kimi - 1.5 sec. behind

Alonso pulled an incredible DRS move in turn 1 (?). This is Alonso's race to lose. He just set the fastest lap. He is running a flawless race. Boy is flying.

Kim has now caught Button (running third), who is now struggling to keep up on old tires.

Edit: Vettel, running second, is trying to stay ahead of Button.

Great battle going on between Kimi and Hamilton - Kimi is running 1.5 sec. ahead of Hamilton and holding his own.

5 laps to go - Alonso is 11 sec. ahead of Kimi and Hamilton - Ferrari has the best car - and Alonso - well, is AWESOME...

Edit: Kimi is 2 sec. behind Alonso! WOW Vettel is closing in on Hamilton - fast.

OMG... What a finish... Alonso wins! Kimi second. Hamilton comes in third. Team Kimi beat him at the final pit stop!

That was very close for Hamilton and Vettel - If Vettel pitted earlier I think he would beat out Hamilton - so close.

Spanish national anthem plays in honor of the winner, Fernando Alonso.

Thrilling finish. Thrilling race!

Enjoy it, Sunday.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Dylan

KC Native:



Enjoy it, Sunday.

Yes, it was fantastic. I watched it live but held off for anybody who planned on watching it on their DVRs.

Great race from Fernando (he's my favorite driver, Kimi is #2, Perez #3). Ferrari looks strong. They had incredible pace and they should be the favorites to take Bahrain. Felipe's fall off kind of surprised me. He was real racy for the first half and then just disappeared.

Kimi is Kimi. That guy is one hell of a driver. If you give him a competent car, he will be a factor.

I think Vettel is a little rattled. It will be interesting to see how he performs in Bahrain. Vettel over his whole stretch at Red Bull has had the superior car over the entire field. This year he doesn't have that advantage at the start of the season. He is still a fantastic driver. His run from 10 to 4 was brilliant and if he wouldn't have pushed too hard on that first lap on the soft tires, he might have been able to catch Hamilton.

Bahrain will be fun to watch too.

[Dylan]

Business as usual in that part of the world - No?

Bahrain F1 race to go ahead amid tensions, protests

Bahrain F1 race to go ahead amid tensions, protests

(Reuters) - Bahrain's controversial Formula One race will go ahead on Sunday despite opposition protests and street violence plaguing the island kingdom more than two years after pro-democracy protests began.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...93J07V20130420



Anonymous set to shutdown Formula One cars electric systems

HACKERS have allegedly taken control of three websites in Bahrain.
International hacking group Anonymous claimed it disrupted services of two websites of the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, www.bahrainexhibitions.com, and the third belonging to Formula One.

"We'll hack #Formula1 cars electronic systems and crash them into one another," it said.

"We are not targeting websites only, we are trying to hack databases, e-mails, so bringing down websites is not all what we do."
The GDN reported earlier an official at the Interior Ministry's Cyber Crime Unit as saying that he was aware of threats against at least three websites by the group.

He said there were similar attempts last year, but added that experts were monitoring the situation and were ready to respond.

The official had said it was difficult to track down hackers targeting websites in Bahrain, but said the majority of attempts appeared to originate in the US.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsD...storyid=351745


Anonymous @YourAnonNews
Anonymous Op Bahrain | We've Begun The Countdown To Wreckage: Action Begins Friday - April 19, 2013 6:00 AM Manama Standard Time | #ExpectUs

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Business as usual in that part of the world - No?

Bahrain F1 race to go ahead amid tensions, protests

Bahrain F1 race to go ahead amid tensions, protests

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...93J07V20130420



Anonymous set to shutdown Formula One cars electric systems


http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsD...storyid=351745


Anonymous @YourAnonNews
Anonymous Op Bahrain | We've Begun The Countdown To Wreckage: Action Begins Friday - April 19, 2013 6:00 AM Manama Standard Time | #ExpectUs

LOL @ anonymous taking credit for F1's telemetry problems this year. They switched something related to it (vendor or system) and have had multiple problems with telemetry in every race this year.

And of course Bahrain goes on. Ecclestone is a greedy little troll that would never pass by a $30M+ race fee.

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by KC native

LOL @ anonymous taking credit for F1's telemetry problems this year. They switched something related to it (vendor or system) and have had multiple problems with telemetry in every race this year.

And of course Bahrain goes on. Ecclestone is a greedy little troll that would never pass by a $30M+ race fee.

Wow. I had no idea a country pays that much money to host a race.

NASCAR's race fees must be $100 per car on Sunday and $50 special on Saturdays.

According the Washington Post, Bahrain pays an estimated $40 million a year to host the Formula One race...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...f71_story.html


Rating Formula One Races by How Fans Might Fare:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/sp...anted=all&_r=0

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Dylan

Wow. I had no idea a country pays that much money to host a race.

NASCAR's race fees must be $100 per car on Sunday and $50 special on Saturdays.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...f71_story.html


Rating Formula One Races by How Fans Might Fare:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/sp...anted=all&_r=0

Yes, Ecclestone's greed is a big threat to F1's sustainability. The sanctioning fees are excessive. The way the money is distributed is ****ed off and heavily favors the top teams. He lines his pockets with the TV revenue. Less needs to be going in his and CVC's pockets and more needs to be going to ALL constructors. We lost HRT this year because they're broke. Marussia and Caterham are teetering of the brink. Sauber lucked out with giving Perez a shot and having Slim give the team a **** load of money (which is why Gutierrez is there now).