[slik]

Hey there!

Just saw this;

f1racing.net

Also check;

itv-f1.com

Will he? Won't he? What do you think?

Cheers,

Julian.

 

[derekaluk]

I don't think he will retire...he will see out his Ferrari contract to the end of next year and the retire. He is probaly announcing a press conference to talk about winning his 7th championship and thanking the team for all they have doen this year.

Alan

 

[CoolScientist]

QUOTE (derekaluk @ 31 Aug 2004, 21:50)I don't think he will retire...he will see out his Ferrari contract to the end of next year and the retire. He is probaly announcing a press conference to talk about winning his 7th championship and thanking the team for all they have doen this year.

Alan
I agree - I dont think he will retire.....However - He has so much cash... a beautifull wife.... and every thing to live for, with all that said... he dosent need to race... and risk his life every weekend. Hes just seen how easy with his brother almost buying it at Indy.... Possibly - is he bored??? gettin lonely out there in front almost every race... I cant see anyone or any team, stopping him getting his 8th crown - 9th or 10th...

Bernie Ecclestone said something a few weeks ago - just before the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix... not a direct quote but to the effect of...
"F1 is gettin boring to the public as everyone follows Micheal around the track... Yes - I do think its time for Micheal to retire, or move on... and give F1 a fresh appeal."

My personal thoughts are...

1) Micheal should go on (if he dosent retire) and claim his 8th, 9th, and 10th crown... Hes a outstanding driver, awesome in the wet, and not far of awesome in the dry. No other driver will in my life time will equal his performance.... although I dont agree that some of his tactics in the past have been sportsman like and in the best spirit of fair play.... taking out Daiman Hill back in Adalaide on almost the last lap to claim his 2nd or third tiltle.... Many commentators saw it as a racing incident... that wasnt my take on it...
2) I dont support Micheal - for patriotic reasons - I want to see a Brit on the podium every race and Im bored with Shumi winning 9/10 races... but I want to see the best driver win each race... theres to much behind the scenes work at the mo - to say a driver actually wins the race...
3) Bernie Ecclestone should retire...
4) Formula 1 should possibly have weight penalties like the BTCC every race based on finishing positions in the last race.. (taking cover for a wild statement)
5) Full slicks should be re-introduced..... and possibly turbos.... (now building an anderson shelter)
6) Every car should be made to have a manual transmission with no "electronic" help aids - traction controlls - back to roots type of format...
7) Teams should have a limited budget - capped to a set limit....
8) Tabacco sponsoring should be banned accross the whole sport - not just at some races....

My views are quite extensive, but for me its the way F1 is managed thats at fault... It seems to me that F1 is organised to pull in money to make a few people rich, not a decent spectator sport full of over taking and exciting events to keep the spectator watching....

Cheers

CoolS

 

[derekaluk]

I agree with a lot of your saying there apart from th weight penalties...I don't want the best driver in the best car penalised just because they are the best and winning...it is up to the other teams and drivers to beat the best...for me it is what F1 is about...the pinnacle of motor racing...and weights in the cars would takeaway from this.

I have enjoyed this season as we have seen some great racing and Schumacher and Ferrari have shiowed just how good they are...now all i want is for him to have a team mate that can push him hard!! I have never and will never think Barichello is a great driver...although he is very consistent.

Alan

 

[Tintop]

Spreading more of F1's income around the teams, instead of various Ecclestone corporations, would improve the level of competition. It's up to the teams to catch Schumi.

 

[NZSlotty]

QUOTE now all i want is for him to have a team mate that can push him hard
Didn't he have one, but the driver was told to hold back in one race to 'allow' Micheal to win... or am I mistaken.. was it last season..?

Bill.

 

[daleg]

I agree with everything coolscientist says except point 5....................if they introduce those sorts of things then i think they should also introduce a BHP/money limit.

 

[Jamie]

CoolS,

I agree entirely with your post with the exception of the weight handicap.

Bill,

I assume you are referring to Barrichello and the Austrian Grand Prix of 2002?

Sadly my respect for Rubens went out the window when he chose to remain with Ferrari for 2005; especially as Rubens appears to always be under the illusion of having equal number 1 status, at least Eddie Irvine openly admitted to being a number 2 driver.

I am relieved that Michael is staying, the thought of watching post race interviews when Kimi wins...

Kimi shortly after clinching the F1 World Championship.

Jamie

 

[jhardy33]

Jamie,

Great picture and caption of Kimi. You nailed it! Could you imagine you and your buds going out drinking with Kimi?

Why not do this. It seems every sport has a senior tour, just bring back all the retired racers, introduce a spec car similar to a 1967 F1 car, no wings, put full slicks on and let them have at it. I'd pay to see it.

 

[McLaren]

Kimi would be fine for a few beers in the bar, just doesn't like talking to the press.

I know I get pissed off when people stop me in the street...

Anyway, who would you rather go out for a drink with?

McLaren

PS. Just inspired a new topic...

 

[jhardy33]

How about Diana Rigg! Just kidding, I'll bet Eddie Jordan and Eddie Irvine would be a hoot.

 

[Larsson]

Hello lads

Hope you forgive me here...but I cant help myself...hmmm..here we go.

The present F1 racing is slowly killing itself, why? cause the races are almost "directed" from start to finish, the drivers lack personality, driving a car has ben reduced to "going" ( hope you know what I mean despite my english), in a car because of all the electronic help aids and so on, the stable orders are even harder today then they were in past time, which makes the races kind of static. The list goes on and on....

Anyway....

I think that CoolScientist summs it up . And most of his suggestions how to solve the problem, to me seems really good.

cheers
Eric

 

[McLaren]

This'll put a smile on Kimi's face...

Next year's McLaren:

Claims that Vanquish were behind translating measurements from design board to factory floor are completely unfounded...

McLaren

 

[jonny s]

I wish you hadn`t done that cos some clown at our club will turn up with the slot version of that claiming it`s based on a real car!