F1

[geoff_gti]

Vettel just out too, at least Webber will still be ahead of him on points!

I'm surprised, I didn't think they were going to make it to the end in time either, got dark pretty quickly

[MattyT]

I think the BBC commentators summed it up pretty well for me, what a slow burn of a race! I'm glad I stuck it out because now the title picture looks verrrrry interesting. Shame for mark binning it like that. ROFLZ at seb going boom. Alonso looks keen for it doesn't he? Interesting times ahead

[geoff_gti]

Let's hope Webber has a car for next month @ Barbagallo!!!! :O

[GOLFBALLS]

Man, so gutted after that race, although it was pretty exciting! Jeez that engine of Vettel's just disintegrated!
Alonso is such a strong racer and formiddable competitor. Always in there.

Looking at the points now and doing the sums, it looks like if no-one has anymore DNF's, it's basically down to Webber and Alonso with just two races left. Maybe Hamilton still but he'll need some major luck. Obviously Vettel is still in with a shot mathematically - but its a real longshot.

I've actually been enjoying Hamilton's keen racer style of late too

GO WEBBER!!

[gareth_oau]

hehe, Mark finally got a decent start!! LOL

[velly_16v_cab]

i thought it was odd when webber crashed and the car ran backwards over the track.?!


Either he had lost all brakes due to the crash or he was hoping to collect another car.

[GOLFBALLS]

i thought it was odd when webber crashed and the car ran backwards over the track.?!


Either he had lost all brakes due to the crash or he was hoping to collect another car.

Check out the replay. The LR suspension broke when it kissed the wall and it kind of toppled back across the track backwards with the RF wheel in the air.
But yea, he still didnt brake though..

[GOLFBALLS]

Red Bull emotionally backing Sebastian Vettel - Mark Webber | Red Bull | Formula 1 news, live F1 | ESPN F1

Wow, things must be tense in that red bull energy centre!!
Obviously Mark is using the media to put pressure on the team to get behind him now, which they should i reckon.
Not sure if doing that is gonna help though. It'll just take his mind off the job...

[gerhard]

Well, Mark is mid thirties, and should be very mature by now. Seb is 22ish, and therefore can be forgiven for the odd impetuous action.

However, their public persona is the reverse - Mark is a petulant child, Seb is a mature spokesman.

[GOLFBALLS]

Obviously you're emotionally behind Vettel!
Obviously Marks just trying to tip the support his way now we're at the end of the season and the title's on the line, and it's not like he's gone on a verbal tirade at his team!
I totally get his position. He is stating the obvious and his comments are clearly not aimed at the team itself, but at the upper echelons of the company (cue Helmut Marko and Dietrich Mateschitz).

They have a more favourable position towards Seb for the simple reason that thru F1, Seb can sell more soft drink. I've been to Europe and seen how the F1 fans are there. The Red bull merch tent has twice as much Vettel stuff than Webber stuff because there are more Germans in Europe than Aussies, and than Aussies anywhere. Any store or supermarket you go to and it's Vettel's face all over the brand. Also, RBR have invested LOADS of money and support over the years to nuture his talent, and they don't want to see him leave for another team and have their competition reap the fruits of their labour with him. They want a 'Red Bull-made Champ'!

Webber may be having a bit of a whinge, but Seb is a sulky little bitch too, and Horner needs to keep him happy so he'll stay. That's why he wont publicly favour either driver. It's a tough situation and even Mark has stated he doesnt envy Horner's position.
I dont reckon Horner favours Vettel personally and I dont think Webber feels that either, but Horner is under pressure from his bosses...

The collision in Turkey is a perfect example of the situation; You have two drivers who are being publicly told they have to race each other on track, but one driver who is being given the impression he is the more special one. The special one goes to pass the other one, the other one defends just like a normal racer would, and the special one seems to expect him to move aside. He steers towards his braking zone only to realize he actually needs to complete the overtake first, and takes himself out in the process. Then blames the other guy! Why? Becuase PSYCHOLOGICALLY he feels he has more right of way.
Anyone want to guess where he got that idea from???? *cough* Helmut Marko *cough*.


Obviously you're a Vettel fan and I'm a Webber fan so we're never going to agree dude, but I like Mark because he's an Aussie and proud of it, he's down to earth, tells it like it is, and doesnt swan around the paddock thinking he's some big superstar, and foremost because he's the underdog.
You cant say his "public persona is that of a petulant child"!! I've seen many other 'mature' drivers behave far worse. And Seb is not always a mature spokesman either dude. He likes to point out that his team (yes his actual TEAM not the CEO's!!) are the one's who screw up his success in public too. Not the best way to get them to want to help.

Mark's fought long and hard to get into F1 and to stay there, and he's shown this year that he's worthy to be Champ.
Also it's basically his last chance this year, and Seb has a huge career in from of him. There's no doubt he'll be a champion, but so he should be! He is a raw natural gift, but dont forget he's had his arse wiped for him all the way through too!
I just really dont want Ferrari to win...

Vettel has not led the championship at any stage this year. Not once. Webber has been at the top of the points for the majority of it. Webber has won more races, been more consistent, made fewer mistakes, only DNF'd twice and has scored more points. End of story. Why, with just two races left, aren't his team getting behind him???????? It's crazy.

End rant

[gareth_oau]

sounds like they've all been drinking a bit too much red bull

[GOLFBALLS]

Incredible, Hulk on pole! boom boom

[Kiel_GTI]

Pretty boring race up front. Enjoyed some of the mid-field battles, lots of overtaking.

I interesting in the post race conference, Vettel alluded to that if he cant win the drivers championship next sunday then he will allow Webber to win it.

[VR28LT]

Webber will take pole, take the race win and the championship next week

[sir_camel]

Pretty boring race up front. Enjoyed some of the mid-field battles, lots of overtaking.

I interesting in the post race conference, Vettel alluded to that if he cant win the drivers championship next sunday then he will allow Webber to win it.

He absolutely must. Would be one of the worst team plays in history if they had a chance to claim it through team orders next week and they didn't.