Bernie's 78, and he's aged a lot in the past year. He looks terrible! I've never been a fan, but it's sad to see the changes in mental and physical status:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/060720...nger-jews.html

Truly bizarre that he would make such comments in Germany, which has strict laws against expressions of pro-**** sentiments.

 

I remember my grandpa was kind of like that when he got older and goofier, except he was more of the "Dirty old man" type. You know, he'd be hitting on the waitresses, goosing them on the butt after they took our order. And he only did it because he was old and knew he could get away with it.

 

The egos in this sport are amazing.
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...07092449.shtml

"I'm sorry....blah blah blah, I cried for them. Wait, you cant tell me to quit. Well, you didn't sort the banks out....so there."



Now for a change, some racing news.
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...07094109.shtml
I think that car could benefit from some better power. Renault used to have a good motor, but I think it's just so-so now. The Ilmor lump seems to be the class of the field.

 

Wow--thanks for posting the whole interview! He's weirder than I thought--a shrink would have a field day.

Interesting that he says "successful companies will survive." I wonder how much longer F1 (as it is under his rule) WILL be successful. Think of it--unhappy teams. An absolute dictatorship when it comes to technological development. Decisions that keep tracks hopping to remodel or reschedule, or lose their franchise. Closing the traditional courses that people love. Courting country leaders into constructing massive new tracks that they can neither afford to build nor afford to support. Constant yammering about reducing costs, yet ordering constant redesign (just imagine what no-pit-stop races will require!).

And I'm not going to even bother with his remarks about women!

Who are the "scroungers"? And it's funny that he's stating the British version of the Repub vs. Dem election campaign--taxes, health care, "running the country like a business." (I wish I had a crystal ball for these issues!)

All in all, an interesting man. He's still someone I'd love to kick in the you-know-whats for his one man campaign to kill F1.

 

I'm starting to like this idea more and more. There aren't many possible scenarios that would take both Max and FOM (and Bernie) out of the picture, and none of those few options are very likely at all. I think I'd rather see the money and talent spent elsewhere than a continuation of the current F1 elitist, greed-centric, politico-business as usual.

Oh well, qualifying at the Nurburgring starts in about 18 hours.....maybe a race weekend will turn me around.....

Hamilton set the best time in the second practice session. Anyone believe that's real performance and not a contrived stunt to impress the German auto buying public?

 

I doubt it. After all, that would suggest a conspiracy of sorts--something that would prevent the others from giving it their "all." IF there is something new in the aft end, perhaps he can salvage something from the season (although not nearly enough). Heiki didn't get it, and Heiki didn't get anywhere.

 

Well, Haug says Hamilton got a bunch of new parts Heiki doesn't have yet plus they're getting .3 sec per lap from their KERS, but we'll find out soon enough.....quali starts in less than nine hours!

 

Fun quali session with some rain in Q2 to mix the results up a bit and threat of rain in all 3 sessions causing changes to strategies.

Pre-Race Weights & Provisional Grid

The Brawns are the lightest on the grid yet Webber took P1. Hamilton in P5 but he's lighter than all but the Brawns -- still impressive given McLaren's form so far this season, and Heiki is right behind him in P6. I thought Sutil making it to Q3 was a fluke of the Q2 rain yet he ended up P7 ahead of both Ferraris, and he's heavier!

Tough season so far for Ferrari but I think this might be the first race where both drivers are in the top 10 yet stuck on the grid behind Mercedes engines in five of the seven cars ahead of them!

 

Amazing.

 

Wow!

Seriously disappointing that the new & improved Hamilton mount didn't get past lap 1. Could have been interesting.

 

Love the slo-mo. Good stuff.

 

I though I was going to blow soda out my nose when Hamilton got verbally smacked by his engineer over the radio:

LuHam (back in last place): "I think we should save this engine and gearbox."
Engineer: "You let us worry about strategy. You worry about the driving.'

Nice polite way of saying shut the hell up, stop whining, and drive.

 

WFT does he think he can just drop out of a race when he feels like it. That won't go far with sponsors and fans if drivers retire because they don't want to put wear and tear on their equipment. Maybe Lewis should switch to a career in pillow fighting.

 

I do think Lewis had a point to save the equipment. He finally had something he could work with and did not want to waste it. That being said, Schuey would have set fastest lap just to show off.

 

Oh sure, and it's OK too for half the teams to quit after the reconnaissance lap if they don't like the tires. We don't attend races to watch anyone compete anyway, right? God forbid an actual race might ensue.

 

That how the rules are set up. Your equipment has to last. If you could have all new stuff for the next race, then go all out and use it as test session. But that is not the case anymore. The rules can cause this stupid situation to occur. The top teams can afford to do this. The poor teams need the best finish they can get.

 

No, even his race engineers knew it was an idiotic call and to keep him out in the race. I wouldn't be surprised if there is something in the Concorde Agreement, the FIA rules, or sponsorship contracts that requires one to finish a race if there is no good reason they can't.

 

There's something I don't understand about the engine rule. I keep hearing they get eight engines (per driver, I suppose) but what happens if someone uses all eight and needs another? A grid penalty or something else? Whatever the penalty, is it one for each time they start another engine after the eighth?

I'd like to see the stats on who has used how many engines so far.

 

I am curious about the rules too. If I remember correctly, I saw teams drive the car into the garages some laps before the end of the race a few years ago just so they could get a new engine for the next race. Why not just make up something to send the car back to the garage. I think Lewis' mistake was talking about it on the radio for all to hear again.

 

I'm sure the Merc boys didn't like hearing a single peep broadcast about anyone thinking one of their engines might not last forever. Everyone knows F1 engines are different and they have to conserve them, but Mercedes can't want the auto-buying German public to hear it spoken of out loud....esp. by someone like Lewis Hamilton....esp. in the middle of a race....esp. when they're racing in Germany!

Someone is definitely keeping track of engine use though. I even heard the Speed announcers talking about how Hamilton has used about half of his allotment so far while Kubica (I think that's who it was) has already used six of eight. Given the effect it could have on things late in the season I would think all these F1 sites would start tracking engine use along with standings.

 

Found the answer to my engine use question here:

 

Kurv, you beat me to it. It's interesting that the teams won't receive a penalty until they've run through their allotment of engines.

I do see what Ham is getting at though. I don't like him, but I understand where he's going. If you've got another engine in your pocket, you can afford to turn the wick up a little more.

That was what Renault seemed to be doing at the beginning of last year. Their car was slow, so they tried to offset that somewhat by getting more out of the frozen spec motors. Well, consequently they had a few ka-blamos.

I didn't read anything about using an engine for a 5th race, if say you didn't get a lot of mileage out of it. So theoretically, it could have been a strategic advantage.

 

In about 5 more races, I'll bet we'll start seeing those 8-engine-used penalties.

I can't help wondering if the teams couldn't use some sort of code while speaking on the radio. Not for those stupid "you need to go faster" messages, but for strategy or technical issues. Or are they required to use plain English?

 

Don't quote me but.....

I don't think the teams are actually required to release any of their radio transmissions for broadcast, so no need for a code. They can withold some and release others and (if Speed's announcers know what they're talking about) sounds like they can also choose when to release, i.e., with a delay so you can hear what they're saying but never be sure whether it's current.

I think.....

 

I remember this issue came up in connection with the "should I let him by" controversy a few races ago. At the time someone said they were required to broadcast.