Friday 23 November 2012

getting a brazilian

Well, it's that time to make puns again as it's the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend.

It's usually a cracker Brazil as the circuit is quite short, quite quick and has opportunities for overtaking.  Of course this year we have the added interest in the resolution of the Driver's championship.

I have to say I would prefer Alonso to win, but you can't say Vettel (and Red Bull in particular) would be undeserving winners.

It has been one of the best seasons in a while and it's just a shame that Lewis was the victim of so much finger-trouble during the year and some unsuccessful development by the team.  I think the honest truth is that McLaren has let Lewis down this year (and arguably the last few years).  Obviously I'm biased as I'm a fan, but I think he's probably the best pure race driver out there.

Sure others have the edge in some areas but Lewis is the sort of driver I like - one who takes the car by the scuff of the next and gets the best out of and that never settles for position / points if he can chase down and pass someone.  In a way he's actually somewhat disadvantaged by the non-standardised nature of F1.

Some formulas the cars are basically all identical (either by rule design or that they are all literally manufactured by the same company) but in F1 the idea is each team designs their own car - some parts are standardised and some there are only a few choices of very similar components (engines, for example) but in F1 it's all very much down to what the team designs and builds.

It's an underappreciated part of the sport for the general public: F1 is very much a team sport.

Next year also looks like it's going to be a good one as the rules are basically the same, meaning the teams should be even closer - particularly in terms of the teams at the back, as it will give them a chance to incorporate some of the cleverer ideas they've seen on the big team's cars.

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