$20 million of Bull!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 10:24AM
In a time when teams are complaining of tight sponsorship and money to run the team is it not absurd for Red Bull to spend a reported $20m on a new paddock home? Apparently it will not fit in the paddock in Monaco so will float in the harbor! Renault have the right idea, use Toyota's old one. What can you possibly need for a three day weekend that costs $20m? I do not agree with everything Flavio says, but he is right when he says the spending is still out of control. He said the other day that we now have three teams spending about $60m a year to go 2 seconds a lap quicker than a GP2 car at $5m a year!
The moaning continues about having 24 cars on track at Monaco for qualifying. It was not that long ago that we always had 24 cars, it was only when Arrows and Prost etc ran out of money that the grids went down to 18. Were the drivers spoiled by one lap qualifying? There have been more than 24 cars at times, and not all fast either. Cars are no wider and the drivers less able than before, so get over it. The strategy of when to go for a fast lap is as much a part of racing as driving fast. I have been known to comment many times that there is a world of difference between driving fast and racing. The best drivers are thinking of strategy more than the driving, and although I am not a fan, I have to say Michael is one of the best at that.
In a similar vein, there are tracks that I am sure are really great fun to drive on your own, but are terrible to race on. Think about it.
News from Monaco is that the FIA has mandated that the curbs at the "new chicane" and the corner after the swimming pool be the type seen at Monza with the high back section to try and stop curb jumping. That is going to result in some problems and a lot of complaints. Do not get me wrong, I think it is way to easy to just go over curbs like we saw at Barcelona last weekend, so something has to be done, just not sure that design is it.
Alexandre Rossi is impressing someone. He has been brought in to drive for the ISR Team in the World Series 3.5 race at Monaco this weekend. Traditionally the F3 race at Monaco was the opportunity for young drivers to impress the F1 Team Owners, so good luck Alexander!
Lastly a plug for two other sites you might find interesting, particularly if you are into sports car racing. www.lastturnclub.com has news and photos from ALMS and some Grand-Am, and if you need a laugh try www.murphythebear.com/blog. The last one is great gossip and scurrilous views. It takes some deciphering sometimes, but you get the point.
The moaning continues about having 24 cars on track at Monaco for qualifying. It was not that long ago that we always had 24 cars, it was only when Arrows and Prost etc ran out of money that the grids went down to 18. Were the drivers spoiled by one lap qualifying? There have been more than 24 cars at times, and not all fast either. Cars are no wider and the drivers less able than before, so get over it. The strategy of when to go for a fast lap is as much a part of racing as driving fast. I have been known to comment many times that there is a world of difference between driving fast and racing. The best drivers are thinking of strategy more than the driving, and although I am not a fan, I have to say Michael is one of the best at that.
In a similar vein, there are tracks that I am sure are really great fun to drive on your own, but are terrible to race on. Think about it.
News from Monaco is that the FIA has mandated that the curbs at the "new chicane" and the corner after the swimming pool be the type seen at Monza with the high back section to try and stop curb jumping. That is going to result in some problems and a lot of complaints. Do not get me wrong, I think it is way to easy to just go over curbs like we saw at Barcelona last weekend, so something has to be done, just not sure that design is it.
Alexandre Rossi is impressing someone. He has been brought in to drive for the ISR Team in the World Series 3.5 race at Monaco this weekend. Traditionally the F3 race at Monaco was the opportunity for young drivers to impress the F1 Team Owners, so good luck Alexander!
Lastly a plug for two other sites you might find interesting, particularly if you are into sports car racing. www.lastturnclub.com has news and photos from ALMS and some Grand-Am, and if you need a laugh try www.murphythebear.com/blog. The last one is great gossip and scurrilous views. It takes some deciphering sometimes, but you get the point.
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