The indicators from practice had pointed to an advantage for Red Bull in race conditions, but all the same the manner of Sebastian Vettel's victory will appear ominous and even demoralizing to the competition. It may be an exaggeration to describe this win as the one which "broke the back" of the championship, but not much of an exaggeration.
The challenge being offered by the other supposed contenders is looking a touch brittle and fragile. Fernando Alonso salvaged something from what had been a mediocre weekend, in his patented style, and Ferrari are somehow still not totally convincing in 2013, despite the air of confidence still emanating from the team..
The consistent and even performance now coming from the Mercedes is encouraging, tempered by an honest acknowledgement that the car is not quite fully "there" yet. Lewis Hamilton's comments afterwards were relatively upbeat, but the racer in him must be a little frustrated at the team's inability to traverse that gap.
The one front-running team who will be truly disappointed by events in Canada will be Lotus. They were never really "at the races" all weekend. It is to be hoped that his constitutes just a blip, a bad day at the office if you will, and that it does not presage a tailing off in fortunes. There is still enough flair and determination in their ranks to make a mark in the remaining races.
The less said about McLaren's weekend the better! Even Jenson Button struggled to conceal his pessimism in his post-race assessment, although expressing hopes that Silverstone may be better.
Other drives are worthy of mention. Paul di Resta's spirited drive was very timely, particularly vis-a-vis his team-mate. Another unobtrusive but impressive display too from Jean-Eric Vergne. Perhaps unsurprisingly Valtteri Bottas did not translate his praiseworthy qualifying slot into a tangible race result, but there is something to build on there.
So what of hopes for a competitive second half to the season? It is hard to predict with any degree of certainty which team, if any, will make inroads into the lead of Vettel and Red Bull, with their numbing consistency and efficiency. Silverstone should offer additional clues and evidence.
Showing posts with label montreal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label montreal. Show all posts
Sunday, 9 June 2013
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
1976 Olympics
The looming prospect of the London 2012 Games has caused me to reminisce about some of my own Olympic memories.
I was not yet three years old when the Munich Olympics occurred in '72, so have no real memories. However, I have definite recollections of watching the 1976 Montreal Olympics on television. Possibly because of this, those Games have always held a fascination for me.
The 1976 Games were bedevilled by financial woes and a boycott by some African countries, and seem to have been neglected by many pundits and historians. However, looking back objectively three and a half decades later, those Olympics stack up very well in terms of ambience and quality of competitions.
The athletics events were full of surprises and variety, with some new stars emerging, in the form of Alberto Juantorena, Edwin Moses and others, whilst the likes of Lasse Viren and Irena Szewinska cemented their claims to be regarded as Olympic legends. There were some genuinely thrilling races, the men's 5000 metres and steeplechase events instantly springing to mind.
The swimming events were also noteworthy, with the USA entering possibly the most powerful men's team in the history of the Games. The pool also supplied one of my most vivid memories of the '76 Games, in the form of David Wilkie's gold-medal performance, in world-record time, in the 200 metres breaststroke. The race was made even more memorable by Alan Weeks' iconic BBC TV commentary.
Another arena of pure excellence during those Olympics was that of gymnastics, and particularly the mesmeric performances of the young Nadia Comaneci. She took gymnastics to a new level of proficiency and perfection.
In some ways, the 1976 Games were a hinge between the carefree amateur era, and the more cynical, commercialized future. Of course, politics and doping were very much live issues even then, but there was still a vestige of innocence remaining.
I was not yet three years old when the Munich Olympics occurred in '72, so have no real memories. However, I have definite recollections of watching the 1976 Montreal Olympics on television. Possibly because of this, those Games have always held a fascination for me.
The 1976 Games were bedevilled by financial woes and a boycott by some African countries, and seem to have been neglected by many pundits and historians. However, looking back objectively three and a half decades later, those Olympics stack up very well in terms of ambience and quality of competitions.
The athletics events were full of surprises and variety, with some new stars emerging, in the form of Alberto Juantorena, Edwin Moses and others, whilst the likes of Lasse Viren and Irena Szewinska cemented their claims to be regarded as Olympic legends. There were some genuinely thrilling races, the men's 5000 metres and steeplechase events instantly springing to mind.
The swimming events were also noteworthy, with the USA entering possibly the most powerful men's team in the history of the Games. The pool also supplied one of my most vivid memories of the '76 Games, in the form of David Wilkie's gold-medal performance, in world-record time, in the 200 metres breaststroke. The race was made even more memorable by Alan Weeks' iconic BBC TV commentary.
Another arena of pure excellence during those Olympics was that of gymnastics, and particularly the mesmeric performances of the young Nadia Comaneci. She took gymnastics to a new level of proficiency and perfection.
In some ways, the 1976 Games were a hinge between the carefree amateur era, and the more cynical, commercialized future. Of course, politics and doping were very much live issues even then, but there was still a vestige of innocence remaining.
Monday, 11 June 2012
2012 Canadian Grand Prix Review
Not unexpectedly, we now have our seventh different winner in seven F1 races in 2012, following Lewis Hamilton's fine victory in Montreal. Some observers have asserted that the race was slow to "get going", but I found it very interesting, as there was a constant sense that things would liven up once the tyre strategies unravelled. Sure enough, we had a dramatic closing phase to proceedings, with some drivers charging on new tyres, others benefitting from efficient tyre conservation, and some going backwards on worn rubber.
One of the things which struck me watching the race was how Hamilton's positive outlook, patience and perserverance paid handsome dividends. His racing instincts are as sharp as ever, but this has been tempered with good sense, and he seems to be coping with the much-documented tyre situation as well as anybody on the grid. He was even diplomatic and magnanimous after the race, not wishing to apportion blame for a mildly botched tyre change. He must feel that momentum is on his side, and this was no time to rock the boat. The bigger picture is the priority, and at present it looks distinctly rosy.
There is a temptation to over-analyse these things, and draw facile conclusions, but the "body language" of Hamilton's car was very exuberant yesterday, indicative of a man truly enjoying his work, and relishing the task. He was even mature enough to let the car do the work at times in the closing laps, rather than force the issue unnecessarily; the race was coming to him, and he did not need to take risks.
Apart from Hamilton's victory, much of the attention will have been commanded by Romain Grosjean and Sergio Perez, two of Formula 1's "comingmen". They both made a one-stop strategy work effectively, and neither man will have done his reputation any harm.
Elsewhere, there were no massive surprises in the results, save for the continuing tribulations of Jenson Button, who was anonymous again,and afterwards made more comments to the effect that he remains confused by his lack of performance. His predicament will be made all the more acute as his team-mate's ascendancy gathers pace.
Although in the end Ferrari did not score as many points as expected in Canada, they will be in good heart, as the car continues to improve. Even allowing for the car's progression, Fernando Alonso drove another classy race. Felipe Massa is looking more comfortable and assertive, although his race was marred slightly by a spin.
There were others in yesterday's race, notably Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg, who appeared to do little wrong, and raced capably and tenaciously, but who did not feature at the very sharp end. As we are becoming used to saying, the margins are very slender in F1 this year!
So who will be the eight different winner of 2012? Well, the Lotus team continue to knock on the door, and Valencia promises to be wide-open and unpredictable, surely giving them an opportunity. Sauber's straightline speed is a real asset, although this may make its presence felt at the faster circuits later in the season.
Whatever happens, it looks like being enjoyable viewing!
One of the things which struck me watching the race was how Hamilton's positive outlook, patience and perserverance paid handsome dividends. His racing instincts are as sharp as ever, but this has been tempered with good sense, and he seems to be coping with the much-documented tyre situation as well as anybody on the grid. He was even diplomatic and magnanimous after the race, not wishing to apportion blame for a mildly botched tyre change. He must feel that momentum is on his side, and this was no time to rock the boat. The bigger picture is the priority, and at present it looks distinctly rosy.
There is a temptation to over-analyse these things, and draw facile conclusions, but the "body language" of Hamilton's car was very exuberant yesterday, indicative of a man truly enjoying his work, and relishing the task. He was even mature enough to let the car do the work at times in the closing laps, rather than force the issue unnecessarily; the race was coming to him, and he did not need to take risks.
Apart from Hamilton's victory, much of the attention will have been commanded by Romain Grosjean and Sergio Perez, two of Formula 1's "comingmen". They both made a one-stop strategy work effectively, and neither man will have done his reputation any harm.
Elsewhere, there were no massive surprises in the results, save for the continuing tribulations of Jenson Button, who was anonymous again,and afterwards made more comments to the effect that he remains confused by his lack of performance. His predicament will be made all the more acute as his team-mate's ascendancy gathers pace.
Although in the end Ferrari did not score as many points as expected in Canada, they will be in good heart, as the car continues to improve. Even allowing for the car's progression, Fernando Alonso drove another classy race. Felipe Massa is looking more comfortable and assertive, although his race was marred slightly by a spin.
There were others in yesterday's race, notably Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg, who appeared to do little wrong, and raced capably and tenaciously, but who did not feature at the very sharp end. As we are becoming used to saying, the margins are very slender in F1 this year!
So who will be the eight different winner of 2012? Well, the Lotus team continue to knock on the door, and Valencia promises to be wide-open and unpredictable, surely giving them an opportunity. Sauber's straightline speed is a real asset, although this may make its presence felt at the faster circuits later in the season.
Whatever happens, it looks like being enjoyable viewing!
Friday, 11 November 2011
Steve Prefontaine
Every so often, in every walk of life, a person comes along who stands apart from the rest, not necessarily by virtue of their ability, but because of their approach, their attitude and their affect on those around them. Such a person was Steve Prefontaine, the American distance runner of the 1970s.
When I first began following track and field closely, in the 1980s, I remember hearing the name Steve Prefontaine, and seeing him mentioned in books, but at the time did not fully grasp his importance and influence, particularly to people in the US. I was aware that he had narrowly missed out on a medal in the 1972 Olympics, but little beyond that.
My interest in Prefontaine was truly awakened a couple of years ago, when I saw the excellent movie, Without Limits, which is a biopic about the man himself. Whether the film is a fully accurate portrayal I will leave to those with more detailed knowledge to judge.
The most memorable feature of Without Limits is arguably the performance of Donald Sutherland as Bill Bowerman, Prefontaine's coach. However, aspects of the runner's personality and spirit are also examined, including how these traits impacted on others.
One of the striking things about Prefontaine seems to have been his idealism, and this was particularly evident in his front-running style. The manner of victory appeared to matter as much as victory itself, and "Pre", as he was known, may have seen running as much as an exploration of his own boundaries as a competition against other athletes.
This philosophy, and his scepticism towards authority and officialdom, are the things which fascinated me about Prefontaine. Sometimes we need to look beyond arbitrary goals, and embark on our journey of discovery, finding things out for ourselves. This often brings us into conflict with those who cling to convention. This all strikes a chord with me, following recent events in my own life.
Coaches and others may have attempted to persuade the man from Oregon to follow a more pragmatic course, but they were only partially successful. This non-comformist and rebellious streak, and his early death, appear to be the principal reasons for the Prefontaine legend.
Prefontaine's ethos was perfectly illustrated in the 1972 Olympic 5,000 metres final, when he transformed an initially pedestrian race into a no holds barred run for home, extending and testing a field of the utmost quality. Even though he lost the race, he made the race a genuine contest, and did not simply "run with the crowd".
We can only speculate on what he could have achieved in Montreal '76, had he lived. As it happens, the 5000 metres final in those Olympics was an epic affair, but we can reasonably assume that it would have been a different kind of race had the American been present.
Steve Prefontaine may not have won any Olympic medals, but what he stood for, and left behind, are arguably much more precious....
When I first began following track and field closely, in the 1980s, I remember hearing the name Steve Prefontaine, and seeing him mentioned in books, but at the time did not fully grasp his importance and influence, particularly to people in the US. I was aware that he had narrowly missed out on a medal in the 1972 Olympics, but little beyond that.
My interest in Prefontaine was truly awakened a couple of years ago, when I saw the excellent movie, Without Limits, which is a biopic about the man himself. Whether the film is a fully accurate portrayal I will leave to those with more detailed knowledge to judge.
The most memorable feature of Without Limits is arguably the performance of Donald Sutherland as Bill Bowerman, Prefontaine's coach. However, aspects of the runner's personality and spirit are also examined, including how these traits impacted on others.
One of the striking things about Prefontaine seems to have been his idealism, and this was particularly evident in his front-running style. The manner of victory appeared to matter as much as victory itself, and "Pre", as he was known, may have seen running as much as an exploration of his own boundaries as a competition against other athletes.
This philosophy, and his scepticism towards authority and officialdom, are the things which fascinated me about Prefontaine. Sometimes we need to look beyond arbitrary goals, and embark on our journey of discovery, finding things out for ourselves. This often brings us into conflict with those who cling to convention. This all strikes a chord with me, following recent events in my own life.
Coaches and others may have attempted to persuade the man from Oregon to follow a more pragmatic course, but they were only partially successful. This non-comformist and rebellious streak, and his early death, appear to be the principal reasons for the Prefontaine legend.
Prefontaine's ethos was perfectly illustrated in the 1972 Olympic 5,000 metres final, when he transformed an initially pedestrian race into a no holds barred run for home, extending and testing a field of the utmost quality. Even though he lost the race, he made the race a genuine contest, and did not simply "run with the crowd".
We can only speculate on what he could have achieved in Montreal '76, had he lived. As it happens, the 5000 metres final in those Olympics was an epic affair, but we can reasonably assume that it would have been a different kind of race had the American been present.
Steve Prefontaine may not have won any Olympic medals, but what he stood for, and left behind, are arguably much more precious....
Monday, 13 June 2011
2011 Canadian Grand Prix
Yesterday's thrilling and compelling Canadian Grand Prix has restored my enthusiasm for the sport, and helped Formula 1 grab the worldwide headlines for the right reasons, following the recent unseemly saga concerning the Bahrain race. The ebb and flow of competition and the skill and daring of the drivers were once again allowed to flourish, and reminded us anew why we find this sport so intoxicating.
Prior to the weekend, the weather forecasts appeared to promise an element of unpredictability, and the nature of the Montreal circuit invariably makes for thrills and spills. Add in the vagaries of KERS, DRS and tyre strategies, and we were promised drama aplenty, even if Vettel and Red Bull still looked like top dogs.
Much attention has been focussed on Lewis Hamilton's adventurous approach in the early portion of the race, and his exit from it. My own view is that this is merely a case of a racer wanting to race,but feeling slightly frustrated, and I think that the stewards on balance made the correct judgement concerning his collision with Jenson Button in particular. Hopefully in the races to come Lewis will be able to make up places without such drama. He may just need one win to restore his equilibrium. Reports that he heaped fulsome praise on Button after the race would seem to give the lie to some of the wilder rumours circulating about his McLaren future.
This will probably go down as Jenson Button's finest victory to date. Granted, some of the cards fell for him in respect of the weather, pit stops and so on, but he drove like a man possessed in the closing stages, retaining that characteristic calm and focus, capitalising just as others came to grief or encountered problems. His driving has on occasion been likened to that of Alain Prost, and there were echoes here of Estoril in 1987, when Prost forced Gerhard Berger into an error late in the race.
Honourable mentions should also go to Michael Schumacher, Di Resta and Kobayashi for their efforts at various stages of the weekend.
Let us hope that the rest of the F1 season is as entertaining and intriguing as the race in Montreal.
A word also about this weekends superb Le Mans 24 hours , which featured a monumental tussle between Audi and Peugeot, and had one of the closest finishes seen in the classic race for many years. Audi clinched a deserved victory, but my abiding memory will be of the escapes of two of their drivers from huge crashes. Massive credit must go to the designers and engineers, and also to the rule-makers, for helping to ensure that drivers can emerge from such accidents relatively unscathed.
Prior to the weekend, the weather forecasts appeared to promise an element of unpredictability, and the nature of the Montreal circuit invariably makes for thrills and spills. Add in the vagaries of KERS, DRS and tyre strategies, and we were promised drama aplenty, even if Vettel and Red Bull still looked like top dogs.
Much attention has been focussed on Lewis Hamilton's adventurous approach in the early portion of the race, and his exit from it. My own view is that this is merely a case of a racer wanting to race,but feeling slightly frustrated, and I think that the stewards on balance made the correct judgement concerning his collision with Jenson Button in particular. Hopefully in the races to come Lewis will be able to make up places without such drama. He may just need one win to restore his equilibrium. Reports that he heaped fulsome praise on Button after the race would seem to give the lie to some of the wilder rumours circulating about his McLaren future.
This will probably go down as Jenson Button's finest victory to date. Granted, some of the cards fell for him in respect of the weather, pit stops and so on, but he drove like a man possessed in the closing stages, retaining that characteristic calm and focus, capitalising just as others came to grief or encountered problems. His driving has on occasion been likened to that of Alain Prost, and there were echoes here of Estoril in 1987, when Prost forced Gerhard Berger into an error late in the race.
Honourable mentions should also go to Michael Schumacher, Di Resta and Kobayashi for their efforts at various stages of the weekend.
Let us hope that the rest of the F1 season is as entertaining and intriguing as the race in Montreal.
A word also about this weekends superb Le Mans 24 hours , which featured a monumental tussle between Audi and Peugeot, and had one of the closest finishes seen in the classic race for many years. Audi clinched a deserved victory, but my abiding memory will be of the escapes of two of their drivers from huge crashes. Massive credit must go to the designers and engineers, and also to the rule-makers, for helping to ensure that drivers can emerge from such accidents relatively unscathed.
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