F1 2011 Leaderboard

[Wing_Z]

So after 3 rounds, is it too early to say who's Hot and Who Not?
Is Vettel in a class of his own?
Is Hamilton the only one who can catch him?
Who's Down There, but should really be Up There?

The full-colour World-Famous-only-at-SOH Board of Hot:

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SIlliness/F1Bracket3.jpg

[Wing_Z]

After Turkey, still very much a 4-tiered affair.
Massa's mediocre performance could see him demoted 3 places after the next race

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/F1LB4.jpg

[Panther_99FS]

The only thing that can beat Vettel is Vettel or a mechanical gremlin....

[Wing_Z]

...or a mechanical gremlin....
Well, Vettel thoroughly broke his car in practice, and they rebuilt it to the PREVIOUS spec, as they only had one set of new bits.
The others must be a bit discouraged.

Interesting to see what a torrid time Schumacher is having back there, banging wheels and making poor calls in traffic.
He used to be out there in front, with no traffic to worry about.
It's almost easier, really...

[Wing_Z]

After Turkey, still very much a 4-tiered affair.
Massa's mediocre performance could see him demoted 3 places after the next raceAnd so it was...he's lost all motivation, somehow.
Alonso is signed until 2016 so is pumped up, and showed it at Catalunya, Round 5
Rosberg's looking pretty handy...

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1LB5.jpg

[demorier]

I'm a bit surprised Ferrari and Alonso are not right near the top...still early days yet I guess.

[wombat666]

About time Massa departed the scene.
But what decent driver would want to drive the current FIAT 'Truck'.
Looked good for a while in Spain but it went down the order too fast in the end.
:kilroy:

[Cazzie]

About time Massa departed the scene.
But what decent driver would want to drive the current FIAT 'Truck'.
Looked good for a while in Spain but it went down the order too fast in the end.
:kilroy:


He'll be in IRL probably within two years Or NASCAR. :icon_lol:

[Panther_99FS]

It will be interesting if more F1 drivers go into the NASCAR Truck series.....Look at what happened to IndyCar when Mansell started driving in it....

[Ferry_vO]

But what decent driver would want to drive the current FIAT 'Truck'.

The only realistic option right now would be Nico Rosberg.. :mixedsmi:

[Panther_99FS]

The only realistic option right now would be Nico Rosberg.. :mixedsmi:

Yep & I stated that previously in another thread :mixedsmi:

[wombat666]

I doubt Nico would care to get out of a semi-competitive car into an uncompetitive one.
:kilroy:

[wombat666]

It will be interesting if more F1 drivers go into the NASCAR Truck series.....Look at what happened to IndyCar when Mansell started driving in it....

Strange it was indeed, Mansell won the title without any wins on ovals and lost interest the following year.
What a complete Muppet!!
He should have taken lessons in being a true professional from Mario.
Of course, with his IQ of around room temperature that would never happen.
:173go1:

[Wing_Z]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1LB6.jpg

We didn't see much coverage of Kobayashi, but he had a good Monaco GP and is now promoted back into the 3rd-string bunch.
It's quite shocking to see Vettel's advantage - in there are 3 World Champions, fighting for 2nd place.

[Wing_Z]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/F1Bracket7.jpg

Big winners were Massa, Petrov, and Schumacher.
And, of course, Button.
Big loser: Hamilton

[Panther_99FS]

If Alonso got Webber's seat next year, that would really make things interesting....

How many more rounds left in this year :ques:

[Wing_Z]

12...Alonso will still take Ferrari to a championship victory, just a question of time.
If I were Lewis, I would be casting nervous glances at my team boss, however

[Panther_99FS]

IMHO,
Lewis has changed since Ron Dennis is no longer in the picture....The raw speed and talent are there, just needs some stabilization in coaching...

[Wing_Z]

Yes Lewis is very much Ron's protégée.
And his Dad was dropped from the management team (in fact he's back acting for one of the other drivers!).
Lots of stuff happening in his personal life no doubt...
It certainly is interfering with his performance - F1 demands more than a casual focus.

[Ferry_vO]

If Alonso got Webber's seat next year, that would really make things interesting....


Alonso recently signed a new deal with Ferrari until the end of 2016..

[wombat666]

And Christian Horner is very keen on retaining Webber at RBR.
:kilroy:
Paul di Resta is the most probable FIAT signing.

[Ferry_vO]

Di Resta is part of the Mercedes programme; Perez looks like a good candidate to take over Massa's seat. Maybe not next season, but in the future if he keeps up his good work.

[Wing_Z]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket8.jpg

Vettel could go on holiday until the end of August, and still lead the championship!

The second-string have bunched up nicely, only 22 points (one win) covers 2 - 5.
Massa still leads the 3rd-string, but the big mover there is Rosberg, up 3 places.

[Wing_Z]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket9.jpg

Vettel maintains the gap; big winner was Alonso, up 2 places.
Big loser was Button.
Very little movement elsewhere: Petrov/Heidfeld swap spots

[Panther_99FS]

How about young Nico to take Webber's seat :ques: It's obvious RBR management doesn't favor Webber...

[wombat666]

How about young Nico to take Webber's seat :ques: It's obvious RBR management doesn't favor Webber...

Not sure that would go down too well with Herr Vettel Ed.
Mark is close to Christian Horner and it appears at this point he will be retained at RBR.
I doubt Mercedes would be giving Rosberg away without a fight, more likely to 'retire' Micky the Schu' than lose their future 'star'.
:kilroy:

[Wing_Z]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket10.jpg

Amazing how little movement there is in the leaderboard.
Hamilton leapfrogs Alonso...the only other winner, strangely, is Schumacher!

[Wing_Z]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket11.jpg

The order unchanged, and Vettel actually increasing his lead despite "only" second.
But the four drivers fighting for second spot have nicely bunched up.
Still a very interesting championship.

[Wing_Z]

In a few hours, the second half of the season kicks off, after the midyear break.
At this stage, there are 3 battles, in both Drivers' and Constructors' Championships:

Drivers, for Second Place:
Mark Webber
Lewis Hamilton
Fernando Alonso
Jenson Button

Felipe Massa and Nico Rosberg are sort of marooned in 6th and 7th

Drivers, for Eighth Place:
Nick Heidfeld
Vitaly Petrov
Michael Schumacher
Kamui Kobayashi

Drivers, for Twelfth Place:
Adrian Sutil
Sebastien Buemi
Jaime Alguersuari
Sergio Perez
Paul di Resta



Constructors, for Second Place
McLaren-Mercedes
Ferrari

Constructors, for Fourth Place
Mercedes
Renault

Constructors, for Sixth Place
Sauber-Ferrari
Force India-Mercedes
STR-Ferrari


So, a whole lot of close-fought scraps ahead.

[Ferry_vO]

Heidfeld is dumped by Renault and replaced by Bruno Senna (For now; pending legal actions by Heidfeld.)

[Wing_Z]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1LB12.jpg

Hamilton demoted himself two places...
Schumacher up two places.
Maldonado up three, with his single point.

[Panther_99FS]

Lewis is starting to look like Jacques when Jacques was trying too hard with BAR...

That being said, good day for Mercedes, Rosberg, and Schumacher...

[Panther_99FS]

Lewis is starting to look like Jacques when Jacques was trying too hard with BAR...


Well,
At least he admits fault here.....(Never heard Schumacher admit any fault)
http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-lewis-hamilton-accepts-blame-for-kamui-kobayashi-crash/

[Wing_Z]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket.jpg

Mark Webber DNF promoted Alonso and Button.
Bruno Senna did well, up four places.

Vettel could clinch the championship after Singapore.

[Wing_Z]

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket14.jpg

Vettel needs one more point after this, and the championship is in the bag.
Be interesting to see what the next four do, for the remainder of the season, perhaps it could up the ante.

Big winner was Paul di Resta, up two, and about to come in out of the cold.

[Panther_99FS]

Fat Lady is singing that song now...

[wombat666]

Skin and fur will be flying for the number two spot!!!!
:applause:

[Wing_Z]

With 4 races still to go, the fat lady has sung.
Congratulations to 2011 F1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket-1.jpg

Jenson Button is looking ever more like the Best of the Rest, and certainly #1 at McLaren.
Hamilton has had a terrible season, and getting worse race by race.
Alonso has made the Ferrari dance, just look at his points score compared with Massa.
Even allowing for Ferrari favouritism, that is a massive difference.

[Panther_99FS]

Did we really think it could be anyone else?
:guinness:

[Wing_Z]

...and Red Bull take the Constructor's championship, too.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket-2.jpg

[Wing_Z]

Sebastian Vettel has now led most laps in a Formula One season, taking over from Nigel Mansell

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket-3.jpg

Lewis Hamilton sliding ever further down, as he tries ever harder.
He is effectively out of contention for #2, this is a Button/Alonso/Webber battle if Webber can shake his lethargy
Massa is nailed to the #6 spot, as he is clear of the Mercedes drivers, with only 2 races to go.
Amazingly, Heidfeld is still in 10th place, despite not having driven since Hungary, 6 races ago!

[wombat666]

Interesting to note the three drivers in contention for #2 are 'Senior Citizens' ....... :ernae:
Massa is confirming his rating as a dud, one more Barrichello clone.
Louise needs to take a deep breath and learn from Jenson, use his head and understand that the only race lap that counts is the last one, as well as realising that on his current performance he is NOT the team #1.
:kilroy:

[Wing_Z]

Well, Lewis took his deep breath, and found his mojo.
Copybook race, and he's looking pretty composed.
Too late to alter his ranking, although he might, just, squeeze out Webber.
Mark is looking like another Massa at the moment.
Rosberg will be pleased to have pipped Schumacher.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket-4.jpg

[Wing_Z]

Just to complete the thread:

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h200/CHARL_photos/SOH/F1Bracket-5.jpg

Not really a "comfortable" conclusion...

Webber had no reason not to finish 2nd, really quite a lacklustre season. Nice to end on a high with the win - although Vettel's "gearbox problem" after a year of 100% reliability was an amazing co-incidence!
Alonso drove an heroic season in a very average Ferrari, and really deserved Webber's third place.
The McLaren boys... don't really know how Button managed to weasel into second, Hamilton will no doubt hope 2012 can get it all together.
Rosberg must be delighted at pipping MSC
And then there's the rest of the field... still amazed that Heidfeld managed 11th despite not having a drive, for half the season!

I think F1 remains an iconic pastime, and look forward to Australia, March 2012

[wombat666]

Thought crossed my mind that Vettel's gearbox problems might have been contrived until Hamilton coasted into retirement with a box full of neutrals.
And let's face it, I seriously doubt the numbers obsessed Vettel would willingly give up a victory to anyone.
No doubt about who is the McLaren #1 now, Button demonstrated superior race-craft all year.
I gather that Hamilton had a 'personal problem' which effected him mid season, he certainly needs to learn that women are not worth getting into a hassle over.
Then we have Alonso........imagine how he would do in an RBR!!!!
I guess the 'entertainment' factor was well represented for the masses but I really feel it was mostly contrived and hardly a stellar season for the hard core enthusiasts.
For sure Webber should have done better, but he ended up 25 positions better than the rest.
Be interesting to see if RBR can stay one step ahead of the rest next season, I'll lay even money that if Renault and the 'Iceman' click then RBR will find themselves with 'Customer' engines.
:kilroy: