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Formula 1 2012: General Discussion Thread

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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,606 ✭✭✭Carroller16


    i0WLt.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,779 ✭✭✭✭Seve OB


    So is it just me or even though I have Sky sports on UPC, do I not get F1 chanel? do you have to be on the Sky platform?


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,495 ✭✭✭recyclebin


    Sky F1 is not available on UPC. You'll have to watch it on Setanta.


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,568 ✭✭✭✭Jordan 199


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    That makes sense I was thinking of the original track which I play when playing GP legends.

    GPL is amazing. Worth buying for the engine sounds alone.

    1957 - 1978 Spa Francorchamps circuit is my favourite on GPL.

    Spa-Francorchamps%201957.gif

    All the circuits on GPL:

    Kyalami Mexico City Monaco Monza Mosport Nurburgring Rouen

    Silverstone Watkins Glen Zandvoort


  • Registered Users Posts: 66 ✭✭WoundedRhino


    What is this Grand Prix Legends you speak of? I want to be on this.

    ron-burgundy-3717.jpg?1173107595


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  • Registered Users Posts: 11,568 ✭✭✭✭Jordan 199




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 464 ✭✭PJTierney


    Jordan 191 wrote: »
    Present (4.2606km):

    Kyalami.gif

    Very slight change between 1992 to present.

    Buddh-Circuit-track.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,568 ✭✭✭✭Jordan 199


    ^ Indian GP track. There sure are similarities between that track and the one at Kyalami.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,113 ✭✭✭SilverScreen


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    That makes sense I was thinking of the original track which I play when playing GP legends.
    Great game, although I could never quite master it! You really have to put in plenty of practise to be good at it, just like the real thing I guess.

    Anyone ever play Grand Prix 2? A great game in its original state, but when you start modding it with different circuits, car sets and various other patches it becomes a wet dream.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭frostie500


    Zero1986 wrote: »
    Great game, although I could never quite master it! You really have to put in plenty of practise to be good at it, just like the real thing I guess.

    Anyone ever play Grand Prix 2? A great game in its original state, but when you start modding it with different circuits, car sets and various other patches it becomes a wet dream.

    I loved GPL when I was younger but havent played it in ages. I really think it was one of the first simulators that I played that you really needed a wheel to get the most out of it. It was really tricky and dead easy to spin if you lost concentration for even a second. Add having the old Spa, the 'ring, Watkins Glen and a host of classic tracks and you have to wonder why no other game like that has been around in so long.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,969 ✭✭✭antomorro-sei


    Loved F1 1997 on the PS1 back in the day.

    Although looking on YouTube now, it looks terrible...



    Even the sound is awful. Still, loved it!


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,565 ✭✭✭losthorizon


    What is this Grand Prix Legends you speak of? I want to be on this.

    ron-burgundy-3717.jpg?1173107595

    Dont get it - it will ruin your life. It did mine but I managed to quit.

    I downloaded an East German track from the good old GDR which was incredible.


    Rouen was a great track pity its gone.

    Dijon is still around where Arnoux and Villeneuve. Great Track if a bit too short but it had loads of twists and turns and was hilly. For some reason IMO hills and great racing go together.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dijon-Prenois


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭frostie500


    Right we're into Aussie GP week so here's my preview for each of the teams and Ill get the race thread started in the next while too!
    This time last year Formula 1 was gripped by a prospect of a new season beginning that would offer exciting racing following a tight championship battle that was accompanied with little on track racing. This year Formula 1 is hoping that the exciting racing from the previous season will be reflected by a close title fight following Sebastian Vettel’s domination last year.

    The contrast between the last two years was huge. In 2010 the world was captivated by a title fight that saw four drivers enter the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi with a chance of claiming the title. By and large the season was devoid of wheel to wheel battles between the leading contenders but in the eyes of fans the title fight was far more important.

    Last year Formula 1 finally found a balance that made on track battles common place and even though Sebastian Vettel would run out a very comfortable world champion the spectacle of racing was returned the elite level of motorsport.

    Can we get the best of both worlds in 2012?


    Can 2012 provide a combination of close racing and a close championship? All signs point to that being the case with the qualifying advantage of Red Bull will be curtailed and in race trim McLaren will once again be hot on the heels of the reigning world champions.

    It was very interesting for much of last season that even though Red Bull possessed the fastest car throughout the season’s qualifying sessions on race day there was little to choose between McLaren and Red Bull.

    The differences between the relative paces of both cars in qualifying pointed to Red Bull better utilising their Drag Reduction System. In qualifying the DRS could be used as often as the driver wished as opposed to during races when it could only be used during certain sections of the track.

    Red Bull understood the importance of setting the pace on Sunday and optimised their package to utilise the performance gain of the DRS whereas McLaren’s approach centred on providing the best race day package.

    On Sundays there was precious little to choose between the two teams for much of the year but during qualifying the advantage of Red Bull placed McLaren firmly on the back foot once the red lights went out.

    For the coming year it looks as if both teams are searching for the middle ground of qualifying and race performance. In testing the Red Bull once again has looked faster but the difference between the two cars seems quite slender.

    In recent years McLaren have traditionally struggled in testing and the early races before finding their feet once the development race got fully underway when the teams arrived inEurope.

    Given their performances in testing and the positive comments emanating from the squad it will be very interesting to see if they can once again “out-develop” their rivals throughout the season given that they are starting the year with a much more competitive.

    McLaren focussed on finding downforce in medium and high speed corners throughout the winter. It was in these corners last year that Red Bull was vastly superior. A good example of this superiority was shown inBarcelona, when Sebastian Vettel held off Lewis Hamilton’s much faster car due to the ability of the Red Bull to exit the final corner much faster than the McLaren.

    McLaren are right to focus on this area but it remains to be seen as to whether the team has maintained their low speed corner traction that was so impressive for much of last year.

    Ferrari, Mercedes and Lotus vie to be best of the rest


    The battle at the front once again looks set to be waged by McLaren and Red Bull but behind the title favourites is an intriguing trio of teams.

    Ferrari has been all at sea throughout testing with the Italian squad still searching for performance within the F2012. The new car has consistently appeared nervous for the drivers, especially on corner entry, and with Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso both banned from talking to the media at the final test little was done to give confidence to the tifosi that the team had found a solution to their problems.

    Having focussed development work on the new car early last year it is very surprising to see the team struggling in testing. It is likely that they team will find the solution to their balance issues but the question now being asked of Ferraris is simply whether they can do it in time to salvage their season.

    The Scuderia finds itself in a very similar position to McLaren last year. In winter testing the team struggled with a complicated exhaust configuration that ultimately would be changed for a conventional layout for the opening race of the year. Instantly the car was transformed and competitive. Ferrari has to be hoping to find a similar silver bullet that will transform the F2012 but there is little hope within the squad that they will.

    Mercedes on the other hand were buoyed by a competitive performance at the final tests of the preseason.

    The team has struggled to live up to their championship winning standards of 2009, when named Brawn GP, in the last two years but the coming season gives the squad plenty of reason to be exciting.

    With Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher at the wheel the team will once again be expected to compete at the sharp end but whereas the last two years have seen them struggle the coming year looks much more positive.

    The new car has looked stable and confidence inspiring in testing and with their driver line-up there can be no excuses if the team once again fails to challenge for podiums on a consistent basis.

    Winning races is still probably too much to ask for of Mercedes but it seems that, finally, the Brackley based team has pulled away from the midfield mire and is ready to compete at the sharp end of the grid.

    Last year Schumacher had a much more promising campaign and while he still out qualified by his teammate for much of the year his race pace was much improved in year two of his comeback.

    The race craft which was clumsy in 2010 was much sharper last year with Schumacher proving particularly impressive on the opening laps of races when he consistently fought his way through the field.

    He will be expected to maintain this improvement this year and also to challenge Rosberg in qualifying. The seven times world champion has finally started to show what he is capable of achieving once again and if the Mercedes is more competitive this year he is likely to wind back the clock with some impressive race performances.

    Rosberg once again will race this year with the majority of the paddock still ultimately unsure of his ability. In his seventh season the German has never been judged against a truly known commodity; even with Schumacher no one really knows how competitive he is compared to in his pomp.

    To banish doubts about him Rosberg will finally have to win win a race this year erase any doubts that have developed over his ultimate potential. Obviously to do so will be dependant on the car. Last year one of Rosberg’s great strengths was his ability to maximise the Pirelli tyres, particularly in qualifying. For the coming season he will need to once again maintain his ability if he is to finally challenge consistently.

    This is a crucial year for Mercedes. Two years ago the team could decry a lack of development budget during the cars design period, at the time Brawn GP was focusing on winning the title and had a small development budget.

    Last year the team used their compliance with the Resource Restriction Agreement and a smaller head count as their reason for an underperforming year. This season there can be no excuses. TheStuttgartboard needs to start seeing results for the money being pumped into the squad and a failure to show significant progress could lead to an overhaul of the team.

    With the new car looking more competitive the coming year is filled with more promise than has traditionally been the case at the team in its various guises ranging from BAR to Honda and to its present incarnation as Mercedes.

    Lotus also looks to have made marked progress in the last year. In winter testing last year the squad looked hugely impressive before their star driver, Robert Kubica, was badly injured in a rally crash. The Polish driver’s absence proved to be more than just a setback for the team it led to them being incredibly uncompetitive for much of the year.

    The foundation of last year’s car was strong, as shown by podiums in the opening two races, but ultimately the year was a disaster and the team has been overhauled since the final race of the season to try and recapture the championship winning days of Fernando Alonso.

    The least of the changes made for the squad involved being renamed from Renault to Lotus but the most significant change saw the team hire Kimi Raikkonen as their lead driver.

    Clearly the lessons learned from their championships success with Schumacher and Alonso thought the team that they needed to have one world class driver with which to focus their attention upon. Kubica was that focal point before his injury but now the team will look to gravitate towards their former world champion.

    Raikkonen’s return from a two year rallying exile is not without risks. Questions are sure to be raised as to whether the 2007 world champion still has the speed or desire to compete at the highest level.

    Testing showed that the Finnish star has not lost a step since moving to rallying but it will only be over the course of the year that the questions about his motivation are answered. For what its worth Raikkonen has said all the right things throughout the winter but Lotus need to understand their driver before they can exploit his speed.

    In the past Raikkonen was always a driver that would turn up for racing and testing and drive at the limit before leaving the circuit and returning to his life without thinking about racing.

    Ferrari expected Raikkonen to be a Schumacher clone when they replaced the German with Kimi. They were to be disappointed as Raikkonen was never the type of driver to call his engineer in the middle of the night with questions about setup. Ferrari needed a driver to grab the team by the scruff of its neck and mould them towards his ideals.

    Raikkonen on the other hand needs a team to understand that for him to be great he has to be given the freedom that he enjoyed at McLaren. There he was, by and large, left to his own devices as the team developed the car. If Lotus can understand this they will have an incredibly productive driver on their books and a very promising season.

    Who will assert themselves in the midfield?


    The likes of Force India, Williams, Sauber and Toro Rosso look set once again to be fighting for the crumbs from the leading teams table.

    Force India, with Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg behind the wheel, look to be the most competitive of these teams. The Silverstone based team has a strong driver line-up and seems to have developed a good car.

    In testing the team has looked very competitive, especially on low fuel running, and seems to have a decent base with which to proceed throughout the year. By all accounts the new car is well balanced and should have decent development potential.

    The main strength of ForceIndiarests with their drivers. Both di Resta and Hulkenberg will embark on their second seasons in Formula 1 and it seems that both are poised for strong seasons.

    Last year di Resta impressed everyone with a strong campaign that saw him outpace Adrian Sutil for much of the year before the German found his form and provided much more competition for the second half of 2011.

    Di Resta will look to recapture his stunning Silverstone form, when he qualified seventh, on a more consistent basis throughout the coming year but it is telling that already he is being linked with Mercedes should Schumacher retire after this year.

    Hulkenberg spent last year on the sidelines as the team’s test driver and the German is clearly eager to get back racing. Having spent his rookie campaign with Williams it will be interesting to see how he has developed since 2010 when he took a stunning pole position in changeable conditions at Interlagos.

    Williams looks to have taken a step towards competitiveness over the winter. The former world champions have struggled in recent years with last year the worst in the team’s history. A major overhaul was needed and with high profile departures such as Sam Michael and Rubens Barrichello leaving the squad it was clear that revolution was needed and not evolution.

    Team founders Patrick Head and Frank Williams will also move further from the forefront of the squad as they look to transition to a new era. The new car struggled initially in testing but in Barcelona Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado both looked more competitive and much happier with the performance of the car.

    Whether this was done to lower fuel loads is debatable but on longer runs the Williams looked consistent even if it didn’t showcase the speed of a Force India.

    Their driver line-up was the focus of a lot of attention over the winter with Maldonado keeping his drive after a disappointing rookie season where his mistakes overshadowed some impressive qualifying performances.

    His teammate Bruno Senna spent much of last year on the sidelines before making a stunning return to the cockpit at Spa for Renault. In his first outing for the team he outpaced Vitaly Petrov and looked very impressive.

    For the rest of the season the Brazilian once again showed promise but made some mistakes as he adjusted to life in a more competitive car as opposed to the HRT with which he made his debut two years ago.

    The stories of Senna in a Williams have obviously been the focus of media throughout the winter but from now on it will solely be his competitiveness in the car which will be focused upon.

    Toro Rosso has an all new driver line-up with Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne but it seems that while the team made progress last year the coming season may be more of a struggle. The new car lacks rear downforce and does not give their drivers confidence in mid corner.

    In the ultra competitive battle between these teams it is crucial to inspire confidence if a driver is to be competitive. Toro Rosso will have their work cut out to challenge for points as they did in 2011.

    Sauber also look to be struggling. A major technical shake up and a lack of sponsorship is to blame for the Swiss team’s struggles but like Toro Rosso they lack rear downforce. The strength of Sauber however lies in their driver line-up with Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez two of the most promising young drivers on the grid.

    Usual suspects bring up the rear


    The rear of the field once more will be brought up by Caterham, HRT and Virgin. Caterham have made progress but the team still lack the speed to make the jump and compete with the midfield teams.

    Virgin and HRT once again disappointed during the winter with neither car turning a wheel in anger during testing. Both squads were only capable of shaking their cars down following theBarcelonatest by using promotional filming days at reduced speeds as their sole winter running.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,324 ✭✭✭Alter-Ego


    Loved F1 1997 on the PS1 back in the day.

    Although looking on YouTube now, it looks terrible...



    Even the sound is awful. Still, loved it!
    Loved that game! "It's a win for Williams Number one"

    Looks really dated now, especially compared to the newer games.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭frostie500


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    They key was to drive it like you would in a rally, don't be pushing 100% cos if you do you wont finish the race. Dont try any stupid overtaking moves and take your time.

    Taking your time takes all the fun out of a racing game! You need to just fly in no holds barred Takuma Sata style and hope for the best! ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,113 ✭✭✭SilverScreen


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    They key was to drive it like you would in a rally, don't be pushing 100% cos if you do you wont finish the race. Dont try any stupid overtaking moves and take your time.
    Try telling that to a 14-year old me :D I used to use a joystick with it and I could rarely complete a race without going completely sideways at some point. The game engine was very realistic for its time. The game won't run correctly on my current PC which is a pity as it's such a fun game to play.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭frostie500


    Zero1986 wrote: »
    Try telling that to a 14-year old me :D I used to use a joystick with it and I could rarely complete a race without going completely sideways at some point. The game engine was very realistic for its time. The game won't run correctly on my current PC which is a pity as it's such a fun game to play.

    Yeah Id nearly partition my PC just to be able to run GLP and GP500


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,950 ✭✭✭Mike Litoris


    What is this Grand Prix Legends you speak of? I want to be on this.

    ron-burgundy-3717.jpg?1173107595

    Probably the best car sim ever to grace a PC (I haven't played iRacing!)

    Forget it if you dont have a decent wheel and a couple of months spare time and patience to learn how to control the car:p. When you do get the knack though, its like nothing else.

    Jackie Stewart has said Eau Rouge is nothing compered to the Masta Kink at old Spa. Play it and you'll understand.

    Echoing what losthorizon said about Rouen. It's tragic this track no longer exists.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,444 ✭✭✭frostie500


    LIGHTNING wrote: »
    You sure GPL doesnt run in Win 7?

    I vaguely remember playing on my Win 7 PC a while ago.

    Im using Vista, Ive tried installing it but havent been able to run it. Although saying that I havent tried in ages so manybe spending a bit of time getting the settings configured would be worthwhile. I saw someone posting about iRacing and I prefered GPL. I liked iRacing at first but havent played it in ages and cant help but think there must be a reason for that. Wouldnt mind giving it another shot though and decide once and for all whether to stick with it!


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,108 ✭✭✭johnnysmack


    Loved F1 1997 on the PS1 back in the day.

    Although looking on YouTube now, it looks terrible...

    Loved F1 '97 and the original F1 game. I dont think they look too bad still. Bit dated sure but they look and play better than the ones made in the early 2000's. They were shockingly bad.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,047 ✭✭✭freestyla


    Heikki has new helmet aawww one of the best designs i ever saaaawww

    1357735-max555x555.jpg

    Got to edit post sry.. just realized it would fit perfectly in Ferrari seat ;)


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,047 ✭✭✭freestyla


    That's why I think Merc could take one of the titles this season.
    I mean it's big advance to start a season with the biggest innovation - just need to continue development -they have good tech team with Brawn and superb drivers.

    Merc was playing with passive Front Wing duct last year but it doesn't work ideally in every situation -i.e. when starting to brake, understeering in some speeds.

    Now it's fixed by linking it to rear wing and DRS activation..

    Mercedes F1 team's rear wing concept deemed legal by FIA

    Mercedes: F-Duct Front Wing operated by the Rear Wing DRS

    tfl_rearwing_f_duct.jpg?w=300&h=225


    Oh i love innovations :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,733 ✭✭✭SnowDrifts


    Clever system by Mercedes if its true. Should help them have a better qualifying car which they have struggled with over the last few seasons.

    Obviously will only be of assistance when overtaking during the race though so it shouldn't improve their race lap times by much unfortunately. (If it is a DRS operated front wing f-duct)

    *Edit* - Christian Horner said the other teams will need to copy Mercedes wing innovation but that would suggest it's only a rear wing system. Surely the above DRS activated front wing would have to be designed into the chassis and could not be retrospectively fitted?


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    That's fantastic stuff.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,047 ✭✭✭freestyla


    SnowDrifts wrote: »
    Clever system by Mercedes if its true. Should help them have a better qualifying car which they have struggled with over the last few seasons.

    Obviously will only be of assistance when overtaking during the race though so it shouldn't improve their race lap times by much unfortunately. (If it is a DRS operated front wing f-duct)

    Qualifying benefit is obvious I guess because could use DRS where ever on a track.
    Yes it has less effect on lap time during the race but in racing situations? as i understood, FW-duct is stalling the Front wing and this effect helps in drag reduction.. which should help them keep closer distance to a car infront.. then open DRS on a straight to pass by.
    SnowDrifts wrote: »
    *Edit* - Christian Horner said the other teams will need to copy Mercedes wing innovation but that would suggest it's only a rear wing system. Surely the above DRS activated front wing would have to be designed into the chassis and could not be retrospectively fitted?

    IMO copying could take good few races! we are talking about making a funnel thru a whole car length :eek:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,733 ✭✭✭SnowDrifts


    freestyla wrote: »
    Yes it has less effect on lap time during the race but in racing situations? as i understood, FW-duct is stalling the Front wing and this effect helps in drag reduction.. which should help them keep closer distance to a car infront.. then open DRS on a straight to pass by.

    It will definitely help to keep close to the car in front and overtake but unfortunately, it wont help them catch a car a few seconds up the road.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,207 ✭✭✭decisions


    Innovations are cool but unless they have fixed the tyre deg. problem I can't see the Merc being a title contender this year unfortunately.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,855 ✭✭✭Grim.


    pissing rain in Melbourne apparently could be two wet sessions


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,198 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    Wet race - Schumacher for his 92nd 1st win.
    :D


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  • Registered Users Posts: 4,565 ✭✭✭losthorizon


    Was looking at the BBC weather forecast for race day- no rain expected

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2158177

    BTW Argentina is close to signing a deal for a new GP in 2013. A new circuit will be built.

    http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98025


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