trigun7469 wrote: Redbull should just build their own engine, tag it Austin Martin, let Toro Rosso be the guinea pig for year one, go to a year to year contract with Renault until Toro Rosso has worked all the kinks out. I don't understand the logic of Toro Rosso going to the Honda engines and on top of that being a #2 team for a Mclaren makes no sense.
I think the Honda deal is off.
In reply to ncjay: IIRC, Porsche did that engine. Tag just has a name on it.
Lewis Hamilton earns his 68th pole, tying Michael Schumacher.
Ok, guys. I need help. I love F1 and all it's cool, unobtainable tech. But I've never been one to follow the "man drama" that exists. I just learned that SWMBO has gotten me and Her tickets and airfare to Austin,TX in October. Learn me: F1, Austin, and man drama. I like Lewis Hamilton. I hate Mercedes though. Did I mention the wife is the best little lady ever?
This is shaping up to be a great finish.
I can't believe those Force Indias!
In reply to Trackmouse:
Just off hand, be prepared to stay at least 40 mins away from the track. You will most likely be travelling on toll roads to go back and forth (80mph limit!). Traffic situation has not been fixed yet, so you may need to park in a lot a ways from the track and be bussed in. If it rains, chances are these parking (fields) lots will be muddy. Weather will probably be in the mid to low 70's, but could possibly go 10 degrees higher or lower for a day or two. The CotA tower requires money to go to the top. $12, I think. Concession stand food is pretty high. Bring cash for parking, tower, and food!
There are usually lots of events in downtown Austin during the week, and lots of great food and music too. Take that in if you can.
In reply to racerfink:
Hey, does über run from Austin to CotA?
In reply to Trackmouse:
No Uber or lyft in Austin. They have their own service called RideAustin. It's not great, but it sort of works.
We rented a car and stayed at an Airbnb pretty close to downtown. Getting in and out had no tolls and was pretty quick and easy on practice and quali days and we had a parking pass for one of the lots right by the track with no shuttle needed. Getting to the track was easy on race day because we got there early but it took a pretty long time to leave after the race.
In reply to Trackmouse:
Smile and wave at the track safety crew at turn 12A. 
That's my corner for F1. It's the inside of the horseshoe just off the backstretch where the scoring pylon is.
Uber is back in Austin now. There is a drop off on the SE side of the track. COTA Uber Pickup Surge pricing is in full effect for the race but it may be worth parking someplace like the airport and ubering to the track. Never had to try it honestly so I couldn't say for sure. Lot of events all around. They put the events on Ramsey street which I hate as it's a major PITA to get in and out of. Lots of shows all over town for the weekend.
If you haven't gotten a place to stay, get it now. Long lines form early for the autograph sessions so if you want one get there early.
Timberlake show will bring an interesting demographics Saturday for qualifying. Last year with T Swift, It was almost funny walking through the crowd with the mix of F1 fans and people just there for the show.
On track parking is sold out last time I heard. Don't know if they are still doing it but Chris Taylor is a GRM guy and offered parking and shuttle to the track. http://christaylorracing.com/cota-services/cota-parking/
We have seats at turn 12! I'll have to meet you for sure! I'll wear my GRM shirt. (Hey any special perks we could sponge?)
Wife got a Marriott room. No transportation though. All rentals are sold out. Thus my need for uber or lyft.
If you can get track parking (got mine on eBay about this time last year) Enterprise says they have cars at some of the neighborhood locations around Austin. $100 for Fri-Mon.
Did anyone else sense a bit of sand bagging on LH's ability to pull away at will today?
Can't somebody, PLEASE, tell the announcers to SHUT THE BERKELEY UP for the first sixty seconds of the race?? I mean really, they're screaming incoherently at a rate to which the viewers couldn't possibly assign any meaning... Jeebus!
stroker wrote: Can't somebody, PLEASE, tell the announcers to SHUT THE BERKELEY UP for the first sixty seconds of the race?? I mean really, they're screaming incoherently at a rate to which the viewers couldn't possibly assign any meaning... Jeebus!
I have a love/hate relationship with those guys. I do tend to appreciate Steve more than the rest, but still.
I have no patience for the NBC buffoons. "Vettel should have caught Hamilton because the Ferrari was faster" and "Bottas should have caught Kimi because the Mercedes was faster" in the same discussion. Sheesh.
Every farm outside COTA offers parking on race weekend. Not a problem. Park and walk in.
I have to agree, I just watched the opening 30 secs of Belgium and was so annoyed I shut it off. Glad I won't hear that crap in the Stands.
I guess because Indycar specifically ABC has some of the worst broadcasting that F1 is always a fresh breath of air.
759NRNG wrote: Did anyone else sense a bit of sand bagging on LH's ability to pull away at will today?
It's called "controlling the pace". :) Given the need for engines to last multiple race weekends, there are good reasons for not stressing them any more than you have to.
Hamilton is good at that. But I'm surprised he didn't respond to Vettel's fastest lap if he had the capability. It's quite possible that both of them were just going as fast as they could, but Lewis had the advantage of nice clean air.
That was a pretty fun race, actually. Bummer that Bottas wasn't able to fight back after losing two spots in one corner, that seemed to take the fight out of him.
If I was Honda, I'd be telling McLaren that they get Honda engines (and money) or Alonso next year, but not both.
Sour grapes here, but I wonder how many poles Schuey would have had if there were 20 races per year when he was in his prime. Senna too.
*Please don't tell me what an viciously brutal shiny happy person you think either of them was, I already know who feels that way, I love them both (and you) anyway and you won't change my opinion.
(Red purses forever
)
etifosi wrote: Sour grapes here, but I wonder how many poles Schuey would have had if there were 20 races per year when he was in his prime. Senna too. *Please don't tell me what an viciously brutal shiny happy person you think either of them was, I already know who feels that way, I love them both (and you) anyway and you won't change my opinion. (Red purses forever
Fair point. It's kind of like driver's who hold the records for most points tend to be exclusively in the more recent era of F1 when points were revamped and increased.
I think Lewis is a very good driver. I think Michael was a better development guy, maybe better at that than driving.
Lewis has a long, long way to go to catch Mike in total wins.
To somewhat correct for that kind of thing, you can look at percentage of races at which he got pole.
Hamilton has 68 poles in 200 starts (34%), whereas Schumacher has 68 in 308 races (22%), or 250 (27%) if you want to exclude his "comeback" races at Mercedes.
Senna has 68 poles in 162 races (40%)
Qualifying wasn't really the area in which Schumacher excelled. I mean, he wasn't bad at it, certainly, but he's got 50% more wins than he does poles, whereas both Hamilton and Senna have more poles than victories.
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