Season highlights

It's that time of year again.  The time when I have to be content with F1 magazines and season reviews to give me my fix.  March is a long way away...
2011 was a great season, despite Vettel's runaway success.  Here are my personal top 5 highlights.

5. Vettel's puncture in Abu Dhabi.  Was good to see a different winner for a change.

4.  Webber's overtake on Alonso at Eau Rouge.

3. Jenson's win in Canada.

2. Schumacher running 2nd in Canada.  Just missed out on a podium.

1. 20 years since his debut, Schumi fights his way from 24th to 5th at Spa, overtaking Rosberg on the way.  Fantastic!

Money versus talent

I know money is extremely important in F1, the amount it takes to run a successful team is outrageous. But is it not ludicrous when talent like Nico Hulkenberg ,who got pole position in Brazil 2010, is overlooked for a seat in favour of chinny chin chin Maldonado just because he can offer the reddies?

First pole position for Williams in 5 years and he gets dropped!?

What is with Williams?  Now they are keeping the chin meister over Barrichello, even though he has underperformed in comparison, because he brings the bolivar.  It seems that it is money versus talent and money is winning.
Williams are not the only team.  50 % of the teams on the grid had not announced driver line up for next year at the close of season.  What are they waiting for?  Are they working out who brings the biggest bucks?
Teams hire drivers who bring money but do they bring talent?  If you have talent in a team and you are gaining points finishes, the team will be rewarded financially.  Which approach do you take?  I know which is morally better and I know which provides higher quality racing.

Webber wins in Brazil!

Yay! Am really happy for Mark Webber, hopefully this is the win that will spur him on for next season.  Let's see some of his 2010 confidence resurface to topple Vettel from his perch.

Has time tocked for Barrichello?

Having no contract for 2012 what will become of Rubens?  There is talk of him trying to find money to pay for a drive next year.  This just seems desperate and a man of his character and experience should bow out with more dignity.  Isn't Interlagos the perfect place?

Barrichello gets pole in Brazil in 2003.

Pole position in the rain.  Brazil 2009

First race win 

This is how Rubinho should be remembered.

Gold 2 at the Hungaroring

Race day.
Oh the rain!  Out of 26 races in Budapest it has only rained twice before, so it seemed weird turning up with waterproofs. Would you call it karma that we got wet in Budapest so we get the first dry race in twenty years in Spa? 
Lots of good places to watch the race from at the Hungaroring but we choose Gold 2 grandstand for these reasons...





Driver track parade.

Wheeling Lewis to the grid.

Alonso feeling relieved after having a wee.

Farting around with Ferraris.

And of course Schumi baby. 
And all that before the race even starts!

Was a great race, perhaps made more interesting by the rain.   Obviously gutted that Schumi suffered a broken gearbox on lap 26, but very much enjoyed Button's win, especially as it was his 200th race and a fitting anniversary of his first F1 victory in Hungary 2006.

                Another great reason to sit in Gold 2.  No need to run to see podium action.




These people did run.  What a fantastic atmosphere.  Love it! 

                                                   Can't wait for next year...

It's MY team now

So Lewis seems to have clawed back some form with his win in Abu Dhabi.  All the talk will be about him now and the 'cirque de louie' will be back in town.  Although not against Lewis, I have enjoyed Button being number 1 at Mclaren.  He is a better all round driver, but also more likeable, and more genuine.  Would Lewis grow a moustache for charity even if it looked ridiculous?!

Movember moustache

Simoncelli tributes

The scene from Valencia today at 10.10 when riders from Moto GP, Moto2 and 125GP gathered on the grid before completing a parade lap in honour of the charismatic Marco Simoncelli.  This was followed by a noisy tribute involving 2 minutes of fireworks.    




Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow wore tribute helmets.

The doctor actually finished the season on the same points as Marco.  Perhaps this is the most fitting tribute to his good friend.

I was excited about Simoncelli, both for his character and his courageous 'go for it' racing style.  It was him we were watching when we went to rainy Silverstone this year and I thought the events before the race in Valencia today were a great mark of respect.

Now we have to find a space in the house for the picture we have of Sic from Silverstone, so we have our own personal tribute.