EOM. To get a recap of last year... binge watch Drive To Survive on Netflix. https://www.theringer.com/tv/2021/3...1-drive-to-survive-netflix-sports-documentary
Amateur. Was never going to try and make money that way. According to a friend that was a top level amateur (as in multiple national races and podiums) I can wheel a car pretty good - but I am a shit mechanic - which means that if by mistake my car setup was close to what is needed - i was a podium contender at the regional level. Most other races I was a mid pack driver since my setup was suboptimal at best. Try watching drive to survive on Netflix, it does a good job of showing the human and team interest behind the races. Fwiw - I can't follow NASCAR either, but F1 is special
3 cracking races so far. Another coming up in Barcelona this weekend. This is shaping up to be a classic season with a real fight at the front. In the meantime - imagine dealing with this much input while strapped in going at 200+ MPH.
Monaco this weekend. Usually a track with little overtaking - modern F1 cars are just too big for it, really. Yet, it is still always must see TV - seeing the cars and drivers doing what they do on this track in narrow European roads, tight corners and the dreaded going out of the dark tunnel into the light and having to thread the needle at the chicane that follows is amazing. We had wheel to wheel battles between Hamilton and Verstappen (1, 2 in the championship) in all 4 races this year - not sure it will happen in this track - since it's special layout might introduce some other drivers to the sharp end of the grid - specifically, the Ferrari seem to be good in slow corners and Leclerc is great at qualifying which could put him in contention, Also Mclaren have been quick this year and Riccardo is a bit of a Monaco specialist - so again, he could be a spoiler. Another video about what the drivers need to do during a lap. Notice that in about 70 seconds lap they do 50 up or down-shifts. These boys are very busy for the 2 hours the race usually takes.
I guess I love that track because it is the only one I drove on, every time I get to Monte Carlo - I try to get on it early in the morning before there is traffic to pretend I am in the race. I actually made my mom sick on it last time I was there - since we had her and my dad in the car (and it was not even in the middle of the night so I could not really push). What a great place (other than the beach, which is overrated).
Used to do sales support in Europe and Monte Carlo used to be a popular conference destination, so 5-6 times. Drove rentals, nothing special, but it feels special running the roads that are the race track several weekends a year (gp + historic races). I believe last time was more than a decade ago and it was a small Peugeot, maybe a 106 or 207. The driving is actually better near it in the mountains (where the rally happens every January), but the city itself is very cool. A lot of crazy money over there. But, as I said, the beaches in Monte Carlo and frankly most of the cote d'azur are disappointing. Too much rocks, not enough sand. There are better beaches all over the world. Monte Carlo tho is a special place, somehow.
I've never seen a lesser sport sport than auto racing. I'm not saying you can't enjoy it (I do not, but to each their own), but as a sport....?
F1 drivers are some of the greatest athletes in the world. They spend hours in extreme heat, with up to 7G in the corners with a continuous heart rate of 140-170 BPM and peaks of over 200 bpm. In some races they can lose up to 15 lbs in 2 hours to sweat. https://www.cosinuss.com/en/portfolio-items/koerperliche-belastung-in-der-formel-eins/ The oxford dictionary describes sport as "an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment." It's as much a sport as basketball. It just involves a lot more technology.
#triggered I'm mostly poking shit. I mean, I don't think I could handle the skill that goes into it. There's a huge level of skill and athleticism; I get that. I mean, I'm not big into it and I watch folks talk ish about it. But even golf seems more like a "sport" to me that auto racing. (Craig Stadler, you listening, FAMS?) But that being said.... anyone who thinks baseball is boring.... watch auto racing and take boredom to a whole new level.
Because everything is strange in Monaco, practice day is Thursday and not Friday - and the weekend resumes as normal on Saturday with FP3 followed by qualifying. At the end of FP2 Ferrari are a surprise 1, 2 on top of the time sheets - which I predicted could happen because the car seems quick in slow corners and Leclerc is a 1 lap magician. As expected the Red Bulls looks super strong as well. Saturday is going to be super exciting...
Well, that was a bonkers qualifying session. Leclerc - Ferrari P1, but he had a big shunt at the end - which could require a gearbox change, if this happens, he gets 5 points grid penalty and will start 6th, if the gearbox - he starts on pole and is a win candidate, if the gearbox is toast, 6th position is very unlikely to win in Monaco. Verstappen - Red Bull P2, will inherit P1 if Leclerc gets a grid penalty Bottas - Mercedes P3, A lot faster than Hamilton Sainz - Ferrari P4 These 4 are the most likely to win tomorrow - as it is so hard to pass there. Interesting times ahead.
Charles paid heavily for that shunt at qualifying. Ferrari believed his gearbox was fine, so he was going to start, but since the cars are at "parc ferme" they could only work on stuff that looked like it was damaged and the gearbox did not look like it was. Instead, it was the right side driveshaft that was damaged - but since they did not see it, they could not inspect it - and when he tried to run an installation lap before the grand prix - the car could not move - and he could not even start the race... Shame. Great driver, seem like a great kid as well. Well done to Verstappen for winning that race, but we got robbed of a brilliant duel with Charles. Next one, Baku in Azerbaijan - another street race, but much different from Monte Carlo. The middle sector is even slower than Monte Carlo, but the other sectors are very long, long and fast. I suspect Mercedes return to form on this track, followed by Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari 4th at best.
