The end of an era in F1

[Studley 2436]

I read in the paper yesterday about what various others including Stirling Moss were saying. Wasn't sure and I really don't know myself where I stand on it all. Schumacher did make a rough choppy block on Hill but Hill tried to pass when he should have been thinking I can't have caught up 20 seconds in two corners unless he hit the wall.

When Schumacher drove into Villeneuve he deserved and got severe punishment.

The thing on the plus side is that he has been the one and only for how many years. Prost had Senna, before that there were various such as Piquet, Rossberg and Jones who won championships. There were several on that top tier of F1 until Senna arrived and then only Prost could be regarded on the same level. When one driver can be that much better for that much longer he has to be on that top level. I notice too that Schumacher has been able to win in a car that is not the best one out there. Senna could never do that, Prost could, Stewart could, Clark could. So Schumacher has to be on the short list of greats.

Moss did say Senna was a fair and sporting driver which made me laugh after all the cars Senna ran off. He used to in fact if you slipstreamed past him veer over when you were half way past. He had no qualms about it and the FIA let him get away with it. It is completely natural then that Schumacher drove as he did. He learnt it from Senna and the FIA sanctioned it. If you want to blame someone blame the FIA


Very likely Aerodynamics are the big thing that has to be done over to improve the racing. Like get rid of front end splitters turned up undertrays. Barge Boards should go and so should fuel stops. and if they go back to the old 220 litre fuel tanks then the cars will lose a lot of Aero efficiency. What about all those winglets should ditch them too.

Studley

[Christopha]

I watched about 20 minutes of the GP at the weekend, can't remember where, oh yeah Monza, I kept thinking that the only thing left to do for the final safety reason..... and it wouldn't detract from the current spectacle at all..... would be to put the drivers in the pits with a telly and a joystick..... boring as batschit.
Good riddance to Schumacher and all of his ilk. we want no helmets, skinny wheels, rear wheel drum brakes only, no seat belts, 15 litre pushrod engines and no armco!

[Studley 2436]

Actually if they make them go back to cast iron discs that will really do some good for the racing.

Studley

[Auld Bassoon]

Talking abour cars rather than drivers for a moment, imagine the fun if something akin to the pre-WWII 650Kg formula was (re) introduced? 650Kg min weight, 4 wheels - and anything else is totally open. Whoo Hoo!

Anybody remember that fantastic wheel-banging give-no-quarter battle between Renee Arnoux and Gille Villeneuve in 1979 and the French GP at Dijon? see this Crappy video quality - but spectacular all the same...

[sliver]

Talking abour cars rather than drivers for a moment, imagine the fun if something akin to the pre-WWII 650Kg formula was (re) introduced? 650Kg min weight, 4 wheels - and anything else is totally open. Whoo Hoo!

Anybody remember that fantastic wheel-banging give-no-quarter battle between Renee Arnoux and Gille Villeneuve in 1979 and the French GP at Dijon? see this Crappy video quality - but spectacular all the same...

Remember it well. Rene & Gilles were good friends & they watched the video back afterwards. They were falling about laughing at each others antics. 'You maniac! you nearly killed me with that move.' 'Yes, but look at what you just did there, you're crazy!!' These days there would be enquiries from the stewards, public character bashing in the press & all the other stuff.
Not saying it wasn't dangerous....Quite the opposite, but the drivers concerned trusted each other without question. God bless you both for the race of the century. Rene arnoux is still with us & racing in Grand Prix masters, Gilles is now long gone (May 1982) but never EVER forgotten.
I advise a search: Grand Prix Masters. 70's spec F1 cars & drivers. Enjoy.

Cheers, Sliver.