2011 F1 Season Preview: Top Drivers to Tighten it Up!

Will Vettel be Streaking Away in '11?

Hello F1 Fan, 

Well, here we are in the fallow season prior to beloved racing - only 62 DAYS, 17 HOURS, 33 MINUTES AND 3 SECONDS BEFORE THE BAHRAIN GP... But who says I'm counting?

As often predicted, the upcoming season proves to be the most "exiting ever," which is based partly upon fans yearning for the season and the powers that be urging fans into spending their hard-earned recession cash.

Onto the business of 2011 season:
With five (Vettel, Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Schumi) World Champions on the grid, the difference between winning and otherwise will be more closely managed by the top drivers. I think that's what caught out most everyone; the lull each front-runner had during the season. In retrospect for the front runners, their own debacles could've been avoided along the way. Therefore, this season's excitement will be based upon the top drivers not letting up anywhere during the season. Added to that are the second tier drivers inspired by this level of performance (insert Kubica, Rosberg, Webber, & Schumi here - am I missing someone?) This phenomenon could prove to be the key ingredients in making this season a truly exciting one.
This type of pressure will also bring out more personality strengths and weaknesses as well - so be ready for some ego-driven headlines.

Vettel will push on his momentum - acting as if 2010 hasn't ended. Hamilton won't be able to forgive himself for letting the championship slip from his fingers for the second time. As the tragedy of potential goes, I think Hamilton will be the poster-child. He simply has not embraced personal transformation enough to make his dreams reality.
Alonso, will potentially bring more leadership to team Ferrari, and further push Massa into less inspired driving thus leading him to deeper confusion.  I don't see Jenson willing to push his own limits. Webber will want to be venerated from last season and for him throwing his bicycle into the ocean should be at the top of his to-do list.

As for Michael  Everyone-Loves-a-Comeback Schumacher, well, that's to be seen. Does he have the will to put himself 110% into Mercedes? Me don't think so. Methinks there are other priorities that have begun to seep into his life and he's less willing to admit they are informing his choices. As much as I love MSC, and would love him to reign again, I don't see that happening. However, as my predictions go, I can be waay off so I certainly hope I'm wrong here.  Everyone loves a comeback story.

Preliminary Championship Prediction: Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Webber, Button, and Schumi in about the 8th position.

2011 F1 Season Preview: Top Drivers to Tighten it Up!

Will Vettel be Streaking Away in '11?

Hello F1 Fan, 

Well, here we are in the fallow season prior to beloved racing - only 62 DAYS, 17 HOURS, 33 MINUTES AND 3 SECONDS BEFORE THE BAHRAIN GP... But who says I'm counting?

As often predicted, the upcoming season proves to be the most "exiting ever," which is based partly upon fans yearning for the season and the powers that be urging fans to anticipate spending their hard-earned recession cash.

Onto the business of 2011 season:
With five (Vettel, Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Schumi) World Champions on the grid, the difference between winning and otherwise will be more closely managed by the top drivers. I think that's what caught out most everyone; the lull each front-runner had during the season. In retrospect for the front runners, their own debacles could've been avoided along the way. Therefore, this season's excitement will be based upon the top drivers not letting up anywhere during the season. Added to that are the second tier drivers inspired by this level of performance (insert Kubica, Rosberg, Webber, & Schumi here - am I missing someone?) This phenomenon could prove to be the key ingredients in making this season a truly exciting one.
This type of pressure will also bring out more personality strengths and weaknesses as well - so be ready for some ego-driven headlines.

Vettel will push on his momentum - acting as if 2010 hasn't ended. Hamilton won't be able to forgive himself for letting the championship slip from his fingers for the second time. As the tragedy of potential goes, I think Hamilton will be the poster-child. He simply has not embraced personal transformation enough to make his dreams reality.
Alonso, will potentially bring more leadership to team Ferrari, and further push Massa into less inspired driving thus leading him to deeper confusion.  I don't see Jenson willing to push his own limits. Webber will want to be venerated from last season and for him throwing his bicycle into the ocean should be at the top of his to-do list.

As for Michael  Everyone-Loves-a-Comeback Schumacher, well, that's to be seen. Does he have the will to put himself 110% into Mercedes? Me don't think so. Methinks there are other priorities that have begun to seep into his life and he's less willing to admit they are informing his choices. As much as I love MSC, and would love him to reign again, I don't see that happening. However, as my predictions go, I can be waay off so I certainly hope I'm wrong here.  Everyone loves a comeback story.

Preliminary Championship Prediction: Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Webber, Button, and Schumi in about the 8th position.

2011 F1 Season Preview: Keeping it Tight!

Will Vettel be Streaking Away in '11?

Hello F1 Fan, 

Well, here we are in the fallow season prior to beloved racing - only 62 DAYS, 17 HOURS, 33 MINUTES AND 3 SECONDS BEFORE THE BAHRAIN GP... But who says I'm counting?

As often predicted, the upcoming season proves to be the most "exiting ever," which is based partly upon fans yearning for the season and the powers that be urging fans to anticipate spending their hard-earned recession cash.

Onto the business of 2011 season:
With five (Vettel, Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Schumi) world champions on the grid, the difference between winning and not will be more closely managed by the top drivers. I think that's what caught out most everyone; the lull each had during the season. In retrospect, for the front runners, their own debacles could've been avoided along the way. Therefore, this season's excitement will be based upon the top drivers not letting up anywhere during the season. Added to that are the second tier drivers inspired by this level of performance (insert Kubica, Rosberg, Webber, & Schumi here - am I missing someone?) This phenomenon could prove to be key ingredients in making this season a truly exciting one. This type of pressure will also bring out more personality strengths and defects than ever as well.

Vettel will push on his momentum - acting as if 2010 hasn't ended. Hamilton won't be able to forgive himself for letting the championship slip from his fingers for the second time. As the tragedy of potential goes, I think Hamilton will be the poster-child. He simply has not embraced personal transformation enough to make his dreams reality.
Alonso, will potentially bring more leadership to team Ferrari, and further push Massa into less inspired performance, leading him to deeper confusion.  I don't see Jenson willing to push his own limits. Webber will want to be venerated from last season and for him - throwing his bicycle into the ocean should be at the top of his to-do list.

As for Michael - Everyone Loves a Comeback - Schumacher, well, that's to be seen. Does he have the will to put himself 110% into Mercedes? Me don't think so. Methinks there are other priorities that have begun to seep into his life and he's less willing to admit they are informing his choices. As much as I love MSC, and would love him to reign again, I don't see that happening. However, as my predictions go, I can be waay off so I certainly hope I'm wrong here.  Everyone loves a comeback story.

Preliminary prediction - Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Webber, Button, and Schumi in about the 8th position.

2011 F1 Season Preview: Keeping it Tight!

Will Vettel be Streaking Away? 

Hello F1 Fans, 

Well, here we are in the fallow season prior to beloved racing - only 62 DAYS, 17 HOURS, 33 MINUTES AND 3 SECONDS BEFORE THE BAHRAIN GP... But who says I'm counting?

As often predicted, the upcoming season proves to be the most "exiting ever," which is based partly upon fans yearning for the season and the powers that be urging fans to anticipate spending their hard-earned recession cash.

Onto the business of 2011 season:
With five (Vettel, Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Schumi) world champions on the grid, the difference between winning and not will be more closely managed by the top drivers. I think that's what caught out most everyone; the lull each had during the season. In retrospect, for the front runners, their own debacles could've been avoided along the way. Therefore, this season's excitement will be based upon the top drivers not letting up anywhere during the season. Added to that are the second tier drivers inspired by this level of performance (insert Kubica, Rosberg, Webber, & Schumi here - am I missing someone?) This phenomenon could prove to be key ingredients in making this season a truly exciting one. This type of pressure will also bring out more personality strengths and defects than ever as well.

Vettel will push on his momentum - acting as if 2010 hasn't ended. Hamilton won't be able to forgive himself for letting the championship slip from his fingers for the second time. As the tragedy of potential goes, I think Hamilton will be the poster-child. He simply has not embraced personal transformation enough to make his dreams reality.
Alonso, will potentially bring more leadership to team Ferrari, and further push Massa into less inspired performance, leading him to deeper confusion.  I don't see Jenson willing to push his own limits. Webber will want to be venerated from last season and for him - throwing his bicycle into the ocean should be at the top of his to-do list.

As for Michael - Everyone Loves a Comeback - Schumacher, well, that's to be seen. Does he have the will to put himself 110% into Mercedes? Me don't think so. Methinks there are other priorities that have begun to seep into his life and he's less willing to admit they are informing his choices. As much as I love MSC, and would love him to reign again, I don't see that happening. However, as my predictions go, I can be waay off so I certainly hope I'm wrong here.  Everyone loves a comeback story.

Preliminary prediction - Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Webber, Button, and Schumi in about the 8th position.

The End Is Near...

F1 Personality Fans:

Alonso Hydrates Webber 

I have returned! More importantly, I have returned with having put some intense track-time under my belt - provided by iRacing. As a result, I have a newfound respect for your hero's behind the wheel of an F1 car. I also understand more of how racing ( and F1) reveals character, not necessarily builds it. I have found myself acting on impulses like Schumacher and making overzealous maneuvers due to lack of skill and too much testosterone. All of a sudden, I have seen myself as the iRacing version of Paul Tracy! Not a pretty site.

Canadian GP - Check.
Excitedly, this season I had the chance to see the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, joined by some friends and had an awesome time. Awesome noise. I found myself pulling out my earplugs just to make it more visceral. The unprotected sound of an F1 car screaming is my version of what going to a Metallica concert without ocular prophylaxis is for a metal-head.

Mark Webber: Underexciting World Champion 
Who will be World Champion? Mark Weber. However, I don't want it to be Mark Webber and I don't think most F1 fans want it to be either. At this point, I'm wanting Alonso to win but not sure if he'll pull it off. If  he does, I would be convinced of conspiracy. Funny how confident Alonso was during the Japan post-race press interview; saying all too easily that if he's on the podium for the last 3 races he'll win the title. That casual announcement made my head tilt and say to myself: "He's too confident - there's got to be something else at play behind the scenes."

Why do I want Webber to lose? Because he's un-interesting. I like champions to be eccentric, special, outlandish, express some non wet blanket opinions. When the champion is an "everyman" like Mark Weber (more than Button) it takes the glamor out of my fantasies and I don't like such things. As a culture, we want our winners to be bold, heroic, swashbuckling.  Even Kimi, with his over-expressed droll and a no-nonsense, from the gut honesty, he's still more interesting than Mark. Kimi can even be imitated in type: "...wellthecarwasnotsogoodasweexpected and sothat'sracing."

F

 F1 Prince,  Lewis Hamilton

Prediction Comes True:
Well, as per my post from March, Hamilton has taken himself out of contention and I know exactly why. Lewis, I can help you with this, but you must decide you want to be champion and become self-determined with your destiny - without excuses and giving full permission to yourself for it. Or perhaps you don't feel you deserve it..or you have to give up who you are. All are untrue. F1 can't tell you who you are, it can only express a part of who you are.
 Getting there will be a journey of it's own.
Lewis Hamilton is still the F1 Prince. He needs more self-reliance skills. But since this is the first full season without his dad Anthony by his side - THAT is a reason he's not going for title number 2. I admire Anthony Hamilton. I think he decided that his son needs to be on his own, to make his own choices and mistakes. In my view, that is paternal love as Anthony sees the overall development of his Lewis more important than hand-holding him along the way. It will build a self-reliant life for our Louie. Perhaps multi-world titles and limitless possibilities beyond.

EPIC FAIL for Red Bull & I Can't Predict Shite

Vettel and Weber now in full "pretend it didn't happen mode." But what do we expect, honesty? Really now. My guess at the exchange this week:

Webber: (Silent)
Vettel: (Silent)
Horner: Well, you blokes are a bunch of punks. Thanks for that. No free Red Bull for a week for either of you!
Webber: (silent)
Vettel: (silent)
PR Person: I've got statements manufactured from everybody. I'll release them. Don't worry, the fans will just think that it was all a big laugh. HAHA! Y'a know what they say about any press at all! Look on the bright side! Do I get a bonus for this?
Webber: (winning at silence)
Vettel: (obviously better at silence than Webber)

Well, for all my hypothesizing about who and what for this season, I give up. Well, not for sure. I could have never guessed what would come from the RB camp. I was expecting for more from Schumi, Alonso & Hamilton less from Rosberg, Button and Webber. But my prediction about the followers just behind the leaders I got just about right - Massa & Kubica. But who cares?

Long Version of German Anthem Stalls Vettel's Guzzling of Red Bull

Sebastian Vettel, winner of the Malaysian GP nearly passed out during the playing of the little known third verse of the German national anthem. "Ja, I was like, when is this going to end and I can get a drink of Red Bull?...and I didn't know there was a long version - it kind of went on and on like Freebird"
Others were stunned at the length of the compulsory playing. "I mean c'mon already!" one mechanic from the Mercedes garage was overheard complaining. "I appreciate the over-emphasis to please that the Malaysian people have, but this is too much in all this heat. Can't we find a way to shorten it?"  Bernie Ecclestone was not impressed with the complaints however: "We must honor the motherland Germany for putting so many Germans on the grid." Everyone standing within 100 yards of Bernie were seen enthusiastically nodding their heads in agreement after his sage-like proclamation. Michael Schumacher was asked about the incident and said he didn't remember because he was in the garage doing a bong-hit immediately after the race. FOTA is scheduled to vote on shortening the German anthem for all time next week.