The Official 2013 F1 Thread. Spoilers possible!

a snip from an interview with Eric Broullier at Lotus

I am worried about what this high rate of wear is going to do to passing. We saw last year that it was impossible to pass in some areas of a track just because of the rolled up rubber that was off the racing line. If there's even more (and possibly TWICE as much!!!) it could make passing completely impossible after the halfway point of the race because you'll be driving on a 3 inch deep bed of marbles if you try to pass someone.

All tyres shed rubber, there is always a clean and a dirty line. It makes no difference is there's more 'marbles' off-line (or even none at all), it will always offer less grip (off-line) because it is off-line.

Pirelli said that they'd make tyres that would have a certain lifespan in race conditions. They've said the same in the past and have done exactly that. We've yet to see how they perform in race conditions. So far we've only seen winter testing. They say that they've produced a tyre that is more easily "understood". I see no reason to disbelieve them but like last season, the variation in chassis performance will mean that some teams will find it easier than others.

It's fun to speculate, it's interesting trying to work out which teams are struggling and which are sandbagging but we won't know the truth until the first few races are done and dusted (last year, the first race performance of McLaren flattered to deceive, it looked as though they were going to dominate - Ha! How wrong that turned out).

Poppa Bear comes out of hibernation.

So who has the F1 races on tv in the US? Nothing on the Speed calendar for March 17th.

I believe they are going to be on NBCSports (formerly Vs) which is now Directv 220.

Thanks. I even have DirectTV.

You'll recognize the speakers, too. Sadly, the best of the trio didn't make the jump. Instead we get Mr. Excitement, the man with no volume knob, Leigh Diffey.

I don't know one could like Varsha, Diffey, or Hobbs. They all drive me crazy; I would have endured the stupid speed commercials if they weren't there.

I liked the Varsha, Hobbes, and Matchett trio. It was like I was sitting around with friends watching races.

Yes, yes. Who will we get our obituaries from now?

Not hibernation Sid, just partaking in "winter sports" between F1 seasons (the banter and repartee that is CS&M).

not that it is really news, but it is now official

Mclaren says Paddy Lowe will perform a 'different' role with the team in 2013 - and Lowe will NOT travel to Australia

Thanks. Good article in The Guardian explain the issues at McLaren and Mercedes. Not stable for either team.

good article.. but Hamilton: "the sport's top box office attraction"? :huh

I'd imagine Alonso & Vettel would have something to say about that.
(speaking, of course, as a non-Hamilton fan... but you guys knew that)

The Guardian is a British paper so they are going to shove Hamilton to the fore.

the shoved Button somewhere else "oh look.. he comes a bus..."

Poor Button, never gets any respect.

I really don't get the Lewis love fest.

I guess this makes it a LOWE BLOW

Makes you wonder why Lowe left. One assumes it was for money. Which means Mercedes is throwing money around. Which means the board will demand success. And if success isn't immediate? Will they do a BMW, a Ford, a Renault, a Toyota?