Insider 0 Report post Posted March 5, 2012 On Schumi I agree with Patrese. His level is not the same. Whether it is his reaction time, his fitness, mental state, the way he prepares, or some combination of those, there is a deficit from his previous F1 career somewhere. That is to say, the problem is internal, not the car, or that a 2004 Schumi in a 2011 Merc would have beaten Rosberg, even if the car suited Nico a little better. Any other conclusion seems to me to say Schumi at his finest was never as good as a Rosberg (who is a fine talent but not a world beater), and I don't believe that. None of the above means that Schumi won't continue to get his mojo back - he improved greatly from 2010 to 2011 - or that he isn't good enough to win a race again. Could it be that he may just be keeping the seat warm for Lewis now: http://www.totalf1.com/full_story/view/409009/Mercedes_target_Hamilton_as_Schumacher_successor/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradSpeedMan 6 Report post Posted March 5, 2012 I started this thread so I'll pitch in now we have seen KR at the wheel awhile. I have to admit that he as out-performed my expectations thus far. It's good to see. Let's hope my former team, [what is left of it] can give him and Romain a decent car every weekend. The Renault lump seems to have done wonders for Williams and long may that continue. Still a long way to go Sean... Sean or Shaun? excuse me for asking this... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AleHop 0 Report post Posted March 5, 2012 Could it be that he may just be keeping the seat warm for Lewis now: http://www.totalf1.c...cher_successor/ I think they hope for a couple of good seasons with a very competitive car to then offer Vettel Schumi's seat. Would be great to see Hamilton and Vettel in the same team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quiet One 15 Report post Posted March 5, 2012 I think they hope for a couple of good seasons with a very competitive car to then offer Vettel Schumi's seat. Would be great to see Hamilton and Vettel in the same team. Haug has rubbished Hamilton's move to Merc. That should not be much of a surprise, as I recall Haug not being particularly fond of Lewis at McLaren in 2007, either, being the most "pro Alonso" of the big bosses at the time. Anyways, it doesn't mean much because he might have changed his mind since then, and/or he might not have enough power to cancel such opportunity if it arises, and because it would be simply idiotic not to want Lewis in your team just because you don't like the guy, unless you have someone of similar caliber. Closing the door to Lewis and bringing in the Hulk (for example) would be a heresy that should be punished by a night clubbing with Sutil wearing no scarf Still, I think Hamilton leaving McLaren is nothing but a gedanken experiment so far. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Autumnpuma 0 Report post Posted March 5, 2012 I thought about this, and I think it's a definition thing. Here's what I came up with: Speed is defined by the limits of all sorts of factors outside of the driver that I'll call physics for the sake of ease. Then the car comes in, and the car adapts to physics to reach a top speed below the absolute limit. And then the driver comes in, and drives the car somewhere below the speed of the car which is below the speed of science. So the driver actually makes things even slower, not faster, and therefore I have a hard time saying a driver has "speed," even if he/she has a relatively higher pace compared to a driver in the same car. To me, speed would imply that a driver can be faster than a car, when a driver can set quicker times in a car than another driver can in his/her car, same or different one. But that's all definition stuff. A driver, to me, is made up of a lot of factors. Natural ability, mental commitment, fitness, depth perception, strategic ability, instinct, etc. Natural ability may be what you call speed, others call it talent, some just call it "it." And it's definitely there. We all have some natural ability in something, or somethings, and I think we'd all agree that even though we can't really determine how/why/how much. So can a driver lose natural ability, which may be speed or talent to others if I am thinking about this correctly? I would think not, but then I look at Felipe Massa, after his head injury. He is not the same driver he was before then, and I say this with confidence because I see concussions all the time in ice hockey, and I've seen head injuries in NASCAR and other racing series, and I know how it works. You don't come back the same, you never do, all the teams know this, and plenty of drivers found it hard to find work after head injuries (Steve Park and Ricky Craven, in NASCAR, have talked about this, and both were promising talents that never really accomplished a whole lot because of head injuries, though they did return; and in the case of Craven, who won both his races after his injury, it was because the timing of his injury came before he was fully developed as a driver, and therefore, without it, I find it conceivable that he would have won more than just two races). Why do head injuries set drivers back, if they set Massa back? Physically, yes, they do, but doctors don't approve you to return until you are past the headaches and the dizziness and all that. So it's safe to assume that physically, Massa is about the same. Mentally, perhaps there is an impact, some subconscious fear that slows him down a hair. But something else seems missing in Massa, or in Park, or in Marc Savard or Nathan Horton or any of these other hockey players... And what is missing is as mysterious as the most mysterious driver trait of all: natural ability/speed/talent. We can't really define either what is missing, or what was there to begin with, so can we say that they are the same? And if we can say that, and maybe we can't, then Massa "lost speed," assuming that your definition of speed is my definition of natural ability, that attribute that's all evaluated on some feeling of something that things all just come together and work and there's no reason and whether you prepare or train or study or learn it makes no difference they would still all be coming together just like someone can get an A on a calculus test without studying and someone else can spend hours before the exam practicing problems and get a C. And that being assumed, Massa's speed/talent/ability was something in his head. Something in the brain. Perhaps psychological. Which brings me to Schumacher...as one ages, the brain changes. There's a difference between turning 40 and being hit in the head with a spring, I will give you that. But what if speed/talent/ability is in the head, and as Schumacher aged, he began to lose some of that, simply because as people age certain things do become harder to do mentally (remembering things, for example, keeping track of names, etc). If speed/talent/ability is mental, and I suspect it is (I am not talking about the "whole" of one's driving ability with fitness, intelligence, dedication, experience, etc), it can be lost. So what if Schumacher did lose something that we couldn't quantify when he had it and can't quantify what he lost, same as Massa? And what if that came from him aging? Another way of saying it is, it's entirely possible, I think, that Schumacher would be no better or no worse had he raced 2007-2009, not because of his car (but partially), but more because he may have lost something we can't explain, something that isn't fitness or commitment or whatever else we determine makes a driver successful as a whole. I think that's what you call speed. And if it is, I think it can be lost. But Räikkönen hasn't taken a shot to the head and he's still young. So it's irrelevant to him. Yes, you were doing a lot of thinking. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Insider 0 Report post Posted March 5, 2012 Still a long way to go Sean... Sean or Shaun? excuse me for asking this... Sean, it is. 75% Irish and proud of it. And, yes. there is a very long way to go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brambilla 0 Report post Posted March 6, 2012 Kimi's First Sponsor Dog-and-pony Show ? : http://totalf1.com/full_story/view/409171/Raikkonen_unveils_special_edition_Lotus_Evora_at_Geneva_Motor_Show/ How long before he Quits again ? Not that I would want him to, I'd like to see him pass the Ferrari multiple times this season, Hopefully win Monza too , then Luca Di Loco can eat some crow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Massa 0 Report post Posted March 6, 2012 Something tells me Räikkönen was trying to be anything but "matter-of-fact" with his Switzerland quote. But journalists are in it for the free buffets, not for discriminating serious Kimi from the sarcastic one. I'd love to know what he says to the drivers in the truck before the race starts. I can only imagine he really messes with guys; I know I would if I had his delivery. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Massa 0 Report post Posted March 9, 2012 Wearing a hat indoors? Oh my, what nerve Räikkönen has. You know, if the U.S. anthem had played, he'd have to put his hand over his heart with his hat on his shoulder, unlike many who put their hats over their hearts which is very much wrong, and... Thanks for sharing, Caesar. I enjoyed it. F1 is better with him around, and I don't even like the guy all that much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradSpeedMan 6 Report post Posted March 9, 2012 CLASSIC!!!!! Kimi is one helluva funny guy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradSpeedMan 6 Report post Posted March 9, 2012 I watched it like...7 times already... can't wait to see the full screening... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HandyNZL 1 Report post Posted March 9, 2012 Brad Brad Brad.....you're such a stalker... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hector Troyano 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2012 Brad Brad Brad.....you're such a stalker... I just want Kimi to win so I can listen to him talking on the after race interview. I kind of miss him in a weird way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Insider 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2012 That's about the most articulation and joy I have ever seen from the guy. Long may that continue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rainmaster 7 Report post Posted March 10, 2012 I must say, after watching the video, I'm looking forward to his sense of humour again this year. I can see why Vettel and him get on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradSpeedMan 6 Report post Posted March 10, 2012 I must say, after watching the video, I'm looking forward to his sense of humour again this year. I can see why Vettel and him get on. I have to say, Jeremy Clarkson seem to have a ball out there with Kimi, never seen him enjoy and laugh like that... I watched the video now 9 times... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JHS18 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2012 I have to say, Jeremy Clarkson seem to have a ball out there with Kimi, never seen him enjoy and laugh like that... I watched the video now 9 times... Heard from a guy who was actually there at filming (from a Top Gear forum) and said it was very clear that Jeremy was having to work hard and was struggling a bit. To be honest, I think that's Jeremy's normal appearance with whatever guest they have on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradSpeedMan 6 Report post Posted March 10, 2012 Heard from a guy who was actually there at filming (from a Top Gear forum) and said it was very clear that Jeremy was having to work hard and was struggling a bit. To be honest, I think that's Jeremy's normal appearance with whatever guest they have on. Well, if he starts with a q like... Kimi, you are driving for Lotus Renault?, yeah he must have been struggling... I see a few geniune laughs though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brambilla 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2012 3 Hours 27 Mts for Top Gear to show the Episode ! It's wet, so I doubt he'll beat Vettel , hoping he beats Hamilton. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Caesar 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35f4rd5qWA0&feature=player_detailpage#t=456s Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Massa 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2012 It's so hard to picture him playing badminton. Or doing much of anything. Odd guy. Amusing, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Autumnpuma 0 Report post Posted March 12, 2012 His lap was just as wet as Lewis'....and Kimi c@cked it up. Take that, Brad! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HandyNZL 1 Report post Posted March 12, 2012 Was Lewis' that wet? I don't recall he had standing water....I remember it being a wet track though. But yeah...take THAT Brad Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HandyNZL 1 Report post Posted March 12, 2012 Looois' lap...looks a little drier...And Mark's lap was waaaay wetter... So what conclusion do we come to?Kimi sucks Lol lol lol lol lolKimi for pole this weekend then? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
