Of course, this is true - not only for HRT but also for Virgin. However, it helps if one can make it to the grid…
Carabante reacons HRT will be beating virgin and Lotus by the Spanish GP. I think we will all be breathing a sigh of relief
Virgin are apparently not upgrading their car before the Istanbul Grand Prix, according to F1 Fanatic. As they say, do you reckon this will leave then closer to missing out on the 107% rule? If Red Bull gain potentially 3 tenths through KERS, and with d'Ambrosio only 4 tenths within the 107% time in Melbourne, do you think it will be close to see if they qualify? Much as I'd like them to, I don' think HRT are going to make the grid this time around also, despite them believing they can. Unless that car is fundamentally pretty quick (nearly midfield pace), then 7 laps is not going to have been enough practice to properly develop the car to qualify for this race. (I'd love to be proved wrong though!) Rounding up the not-so-new teams, Lotus have again said they expect the true pace of the T128 to show in Malaysia. Again, much as I'd like them to be seriously contenders in the midfield, I wonder whether this will be a recurring theme this year, a car they believe is quick but unable to unlock all the pace they think is there.
This might sound a little harsh, but if I was Seb I'd pound round in Q1 to get rid of four backmarkers who are likely to be lapped about three times each. One less hassle in the race.
Hmm, but would that risk ruining a set of tyres? Is it more beneficial to have rid of 4 backmarkers (which benefits everyone) or conserve your tyres for Q2, benefitting only you? I must admit though, I bet its crossed the leading drivers minds before when they get end up stuck behind a Virgin.
Hi guys, just wondering your thoughts on the predicament that Hispania are in at the moment. They believe that they will make the race in Malaysia however it is thought that it will be even harder to achieve the 107% for them at Sepang. Do you guys think if they miss the next 2 races they should not enter the rest of the races this year and focus on next years car? or perhaps disband all together? Personally I want them to make the grid for the next race as I like Luizzi (Wish he didn't go to HRT) Your thoughts? Cheers
I hope they don't, they're a disgrace to the Formula, as are Virgin. I can't envisage either team ever scoring a point, so there's no real point them being here.
Fair enough, I agree to an extent. It would be great if they took a year out and they got sponsers, developed properly etc and then showed an improvement and them being here a benefit to F1 in some way. At the moment now they are a shambles however. Its also a shame the back runners now aren't like Minardi who would creep a point or 2 now and again.
I'd like them to stay in F1, but they must improve. I think the grid is a good size and if we could get the gap from the front to the back down to less than 3 seconds then it would make for some interesting action throughout the race.
i agree with that. Im a big fan of Luizzi and didnt think he did a bad job at Force India apart from the mistakes.
Liuzzi is talented, as all F1 drivers are - but I don't think he was good enough to stay at Force India. He had 2 chances in F1 - both times he blew it. By choosing Liuzzi instead of a pay driver shows HRT's commitment to being a serious team. If they can pass 107% rule, I would love to see them on the grid.
Fancy hoping that two whole teams do not make it to the grid! Astonishing! Have you ever considered that the employees are trying as hard as they can to achieve something? There is a rule by which very slow cars risk exclusion. It is known as the '107% rule' and is designed to weed out unreasonably slow cars. It's a great rule because it is unemotional. But I am certain that everyone who made the rule is hoping that Hispania and Virgin can meet its requirements, as are their generous sponsors and all others associated with the teams. Hoping for someone to fail is not very nice. Hoping for a whole team and is support structure to fail is even less nice. And hoping for F1 to drop two teams is quite hard to believe from a responsible F1 fan! I certainly hope that everyone makes it. However, I fear that Hispania will once again find it very difficult. They need to get some proper mileage in during Free Practice, otherwise those who hope for failure will have good reason to pop the Champagneââ¬Â¦
Yes, what is the problem with some folk, actually wishing teams to fail, the work effort that goes into some of these team at the back of the grid is amazing and its sad that some negative individuals don't appreciate their work ethic.
Fair conclusion guys. I think the way that HRT have come about their preparation wasn't very good. I still think sit this year out and focus on gaining sponsors and a decent car for the following year is a good option. Perhaps this couldn't happen though with no money made for the team without racing. Lets see what happens in Sepang and hopefully Liuzzi can get the car into the race.
