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F1 2021

loniscup
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Not for me, I don't want to see F1 cars at safety-car speeds. I've done a couple of open-wheel races in the rain and believe me you cannot see a thing. Loss of grip? Pfffft! But you need to see where you're going.

Sometimes a wet race can be great though. I was at Donington in 1993 for all three days -- fully equipped with motorcycle waterproofs (and a motorcycle to get out past the queues). I was standing on the slope above the Old Hairpin with a superb view of Senna scything through the field through the Craner Curves.


This must have been mega!!!
 
MRC
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loniscup loniscup
This must have been mega!!!
It was. Although I'd spectated and raced at Donington before I spent the two practice days walking right round the circuit to pick out my place to watch the race from.

Two or three weeks later I was there as an instructor for a Lotus Seven & Caterham Club track day. I like Donington 😀

A bit more Donington... While the current track was still a building site in 1976 there was an exhibition in the already existing collection halls and I got Ronnie Peterson's autograph in a book about Lotus that I'd just bought. He wasn't too happy but signed anyway -- he'd just just left Lotus to drive for March again. Top bloke that "Mad Ronald" and a thrill to watch on the track.
 
simonsays
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Very disappointing. It was shaping up to be a classic. Perhaps they could get FIA approved clip on mudguards?
 
rob#1
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What a shame for the loyal, paying customers. Just looked like a procession for the sake of not having to declare a race abandoned for the first time ever. No amount of lager and soggy chips with mayo could make up for that shower (I’m referring to the FIA 😉). As Hamilton says, refund the fans.

On a side note, I watched the GP from the bus stop chicane back in the 80s and it rained all day - not much overtaking then, but at least we got to hear and see the spectacle
 
spe777
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Can someone with more insight/knowledge explain why F1 couldn't just run this race on Monday? I get that the time to the Dutch GP is only a week away, but logistically it still seems very doable. NASCAR will race on a Monday if rain forces stoppage of a sunday race, so why can't F1 do it too?
 
Foo2rama
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spe777 spe777
Can someone with more insight/knowledge explain why F1 couldn't just run this race on Monday? I get that the time to the Dutch GP is only a week away, but logistically it still seems very doable. NASCAR will race on a Monday if rain forces stoppage of a sunday race, so why can't F1 do it too?
Transportation of F1 assets timelines, volunteer track workers, film and coverage crews already allocated somewhere else. Rescheduling of all FIA staff, all team members travel itineraries…. Not to mention another nights accommodations. Staff at the home base of each teams schedules. Is the track booked for Monday for another event?
 
Lurk41
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Teams, filming/coverage crews, etc... they could have adapted. The race weekend usually starts on Wednesday morning, when the cars arrive. With back-to-back races, there is no point for them to go home on Monday and leave home on Tuesday to be on-site Wednesday morning: it is better to go straight to the next race.
Zolder is this weekend and only 200km away: they could have all left on Tuesday and still arrive on Tuesday

The biggest issue would have been the volunteers. No track marshall, no race
 
texasmade
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Also a lot of the fans probably had to go back to work on Monday.
 
MRC
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Lurk41 Lurk41
Zolder is this weekend and only 200km away: they could have all left on Tuesday and still arrive on Tuesday
Zolder? Nooooooooo. Zandvoort is ~250km in a straight line.

Another issue with Monday could have been the helicopters for medical evacuation. They're damned expensive to hire and the owners may have them booked for Monday to maximise use.
 
P
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Really felt for everyone at Spa yesterday.so easy to criticise the race organisers.but I think deep down everyone knew the risks far outweighed the rewards in such dangerous conditions.it’s rare for races to be cancelled but I think on this occasion it was the right decision.still hard on the spectators though.
 
redpcar
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Imagine if they went ahead with the race and had a catastrophic incident.

Spa is by far my favorite to watch.
They should have cancelled it, refund something to the spectators (free beer?) and put it twice on the calendar in 2022.
 
Lurk41
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Zolder? Nooooooooo. Zandvoort is ~250km in a straight line.
Zandvoort yes 😀
So it is 300km by road at most? I think I heard 200 miles but as I am in a country using SI, my mind consider the distance in km 😗

Zolder is even closer but not in the Netherlands 😁
 
8100_RPM
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Lando to Max: "Great race, mate. Unbelievable drive." 😁

Edited:
 
vbrad26
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I just saw something earlier about Bottas possibly going to Alfa.
So that made me wonder who would be leaving...and I figured as much.
But the reality hurts. I hope he gets his drink and steering wheel....
 
texasmade
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I'm happy that Bottas still has a seat somewhere if he goes to Alfa. He was never really WDC material but was usually good enough.
 
vbrad26
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Agreed, he'd be a solid driver for a mid-backfield team.

-Says the guy who probably can't even drive an F1 car fast enough to make it work right.
 
Foo2rama
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Bottas is staying at MB as long as Hamilton is there.

Id put money on it.
Edited:
 
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