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adrianaagarzon

Listed below are comments made by adrianaagarzon between Tuesday, 30th June 2009 and Monday, 3rd August 2009.

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Relishing Schumacher's return 6:40pm on 03 Aug 2009 I applaud Williams' position about this: the rules are the rules, and if in-season testing is banned, so should be for everybody. STR and now Renault have decided to change drivers while Ferrari didn't, but it doesn't mean the rules should be bend. Schumacher might be a bit rusty after almost two years of absense, but he's very experienced and knows how F1 cars behave, with or without rule changes. In fact, it would have been a lot more just to let Alguersuari test, because he didn't have ANY experience in F1 at all. And that didn't happen, so why should Schumacher be allowed now?. Whatever happens with Renault's second driver it will be the same case as STR, so let's be fair to all. Michael Schumacher is good enough to come out ok right from the very first practice session, something that debuting drivers cannot do as easily. I only hope the FIA pays attention to this, for in the past there have been too many "exceptions" for Ferrari.....(i.e. 1999 Malaysian GP for instance)....
Relishing Schumacher's return 10:06pm on 30 Jul 2009 Mr.Benson mentioned Lauda's return as an example of a succesfull return but, I have to point that Niki was just 32 when he made his comeback, that it was an era where most teams run Cosworth engines and Hewland gearboxes and, above all, there were no mandatory pit-stops. He won two races in his return year, none the following year, five and the World Championship in the third and one race in the fourth and last season. By the time he made his second and definitive retirement, he was just 36 yrs. old. Mansell made a return in '94 and '95, aged 41, with mixed results: one win in '94 (with the Williams, arguably the best car in the grid then) and disastrous demonstrations in '95, with an uncompetitive McLaren. Schumacher is a different animal altogether than both: he's extremely fit, very very commited and his will to win is comparable to no-one. However, he had a bad accident in feb.'09 that affected his neck and back, incidentally what suffers the most in F1 cars. He doesn't know this year's car, he's not tested it and, besides, the car is not that competitive, at least not as competitive as he was used to. There's no Ross Brawn to help him with strategies and, as someone mentioned earlier, the FIA won't be supporting the red cars as much as in the past (though I'm not so sure about that, what with Raikkonen not receiving any sanctions after his Hungary moves....). Will this mean that Schuey won't win or get onto the podium?. I think not, I'm sure he will have the chance to win, especially in Valencia and Singapur, tracks that suit better the '09 Ferrari than the faster Spa, Monza, Suzuka and Sao Paulo. If it rains (Spa and Suzuka...) the story could be different but, still, I think it won't be easy. His reputation won't suffer that much either way but I think it's a risk for his health. I wish him the best of lucks, but I don't like the idea of watching old drivers getting the places new drivers should.. Anyway, roll on Valencia, we're all extremely anxious!
My Hungarian Grand Prix predictions 9:44pm on 25 Jul 2009 I agree with Melesmagnus comment: F1 used to be an all-or-nothing battle from start to end. The pit-stops have changed the way drivers race, usually staying behind another car awaiting for it to stop and THEN pushing hard. In the past, the driver just had to try and pass...
I think Michael Schumacher would have won like 20 less GPs that way, which still would had make him the most successful driver of all time (note I said "most successful" and NOT the best...) anyway, but to a lesser degree. Of course, we also had to watch races with limited fuel loads, as in 1984-1986, where several drivers simply run out of fuel and lost all their chances with one or two laps to go.... Awful as well!.
Besides, if the tyres were made to last a whole GP, the speed of the cars wouldn't increase so much so soon and the FIA wouldn't need to be changing the rules every few years. That's how the golden age of F1 (1966-1985)was so enduring. Ah, those where the times...I'm getting old! Ha!
My Hungarian Grand Prix predictions 4:04pm on 25 Jul 2009 I admit to have the benefit of knowing the qualifying results (I'm not logged-in all the time for a I have to deal with a mother's duties, you see...) and I also admit to be biased to Mark Webber, but my predictions are these:
1- Webber
2- Vettel
3- Hamilton
4- Alonso
5- Button
6- Kovalainen
7- Rosberg
8- Barrichello

I still don't know the fuel carried by each car but I believe the Renault is lighter than both Red Bulls, and I think Hamilton will jump from the start to, at least, third. However, Webber has been looking very strong and his car is, undoubtly, the best. Vettel will, in my opinion, have a few issues with the tyres, as the Hungaroring puts serious strain on them and Seb is less experienced and doesn't know to keep his tyres so well. Button will stick to it and try to minimize the loss of points, but his car's not looking too good. Kovalainen has made a friendship with this track and Rosberg is the usual long runner who can make it home safely. Finally, Rubens Barrichello will push a lot and, if he doesn't get overexcited, might gain the final point. However, Riakkonen might take advantage of his KERS to keep a good position, and my wild card goes to Buemi, who's been doing a great job in a much better Toro Rosso.... I don't mention Massa for I don't know if he will even race and Nakajima, even if he does look strong, always has a problem that sends him backwards. All in all, I predict another Red Bull one-two. Let's see....
8-
Alguersuari in at F1's deep end 7:02pm on 24 Jul 2009 I think F1 shouldn't allow very young drivers to race; say, under 23, in order to let other drivers with more experience prove their value. There are several drivers starting a lot later than others and they find themselves as "too old" by the time they're 25 or so. It used to be young the driver who made his debut in F1 aged 25.... Now, having said that, I agree that age in itself is not the most important thing, but rather the level of experience they have in powerful cars and big tracks. If Jaime won the British F3 championship last season, he obviously has enough talent to develop into a great driver. Then again, many past F3 champions (or F2, F3000, GP2, IndyCars, etc) have come and go without fullfilling their promises so.... I just wish Alguersuari the best and I hope the media doesn't start its accustomed circus regarding him as they did in the past with other drivers. In any case, I believe it is better for someone making his debut in a midfield team than in one of the top ones, for the pressure is much much higher when you have a competitive car to drive. The problem, of course, is to SHOW just how good you are when you're driving a lowly car.....Chicken or egg, what came first, right?.
Going for a bike ride with Mark Webber 10:54pm on 23 Jul 2009 I agree with Nigelcraft: If you can make a video of Kimi at a Karaoke bar, you'll be the first in line for a Pulitzer Prize!. Does Mr. Raikkonen have any blood?. The motto "IceMan" is well deserved!!
Popular Webber the toast of F1 4:21pm on 23 Jul 2009 I don't know: Mansell was impressive AFTER 1985. Before, he was just a fast driver, very irregular at that, and with a tendency to crash quite often. When he got to drive a very very good car, he started delivering the goods. The "old" drivers weren't better than the actual ones: they had different cars, in different tracks and their situations where different. At the 1999 San Marino GP, a Mr. Schumacher (Michael) drove for a few laps the ex-Patrick Tambay 1983 Ferrari 126C2B which the frenchman took to victory in that year's GP. He climbed-off all excited, tired and in awe of how those guys could stand a Grand Prix distance with cars with so little downforce, poor brakes, manual gearboxes and "all-or-nothing" Turbo engines. But he posted a very good time..... The human being is the same as before, and so is for F1 drivers: they drive what they have at their disposal and learn to deal with it. Oh, and I KNOW that Alonso debuted at Minardi, Kimi at Sauber and Massa at Sauber too. That's why I said "..or thereabouts", because Alonso only had ONE season in the Minardi and then went to RENAULT; and Kimi stayed ONE season at Sauber (a good car in '01, by the way) and then went to MCLAREN. Massa did stay far longer at Sauber, and he only won once he got a FERRARI. So stop that nonesense about Webber (or any other) not being as good as.....(fill for yourselves). I've been watching F1 for 32 years now and have seen my share of drivers come and go. And I KNOW when one of them is good enough to win given a fast and reliable car.....I'm a woman, yes, but I know my racing........
Going for a bike ride with Mark Webber 3:44pm on 23 Jul 2009 Nice blog Jake! The fact that Mark Webber is a nice bloke doesn't surprise at all. Through all the years I've been an avid F1 fan (32 and counting...), I had a "sixth-sense" to pick the good guy as my favourite driver. First it was Gilles Villeneuve, a shy but thoroughly great guy; then it was Patrick Tambay, the only racer to win four years in a row the "orange trophy" for being the most approachable person in the grid (Nelson Piquet won three "lemon trophies", for being the opposite, by the way...). Next in line was, you might have guessed by now: Johnny Herbert; not a bit shy, but a completely fun and simple fella, someone who always had time (and a joke or ten to tell) for anyone, and a guy a got to meet in my native Argentina in 1996. Following these good guys came Mark Webber, another regular guy who happened to be an F1 driver. As you can see, my favourite drivers haven't exactly become the most successful of all time, far from it in fact. But they all are remembered now as being good persons and that, for me, is much more important than if they won a zillion GPs or many championships. Webber is in with a chance of become the firt truly successful of my "protegees", so I'm delighted and eager to find out if the "good-huy curse" has disappeared for good........ Send my love to Mark next weekend, will ya?.
Popular Webber the toast of F1 4:07pm on 13 Jul 2009 Congratulations to Mark Webber for a brilliant win!. And, as Mr. Benson wonders in his other script, I completely agree about the "could be the next Mansell" title. As the briton, he has had his good share of bad luck in the past, besides having to deal with mediocre or unrealiable (or both!) machinery for far too long. Whilst other very talented drivers such as Hamilton, Alonso, Raikkonen and now Vettel had the chance to have very good cars right from their debuts or thereabouts, Webber had to sit down and watch how the kids won over and over again. It must have been very frustrating, as it was also for Button. But they both kept their heads up and toughed up their act to get were they're now. If Webber will ultimately progress into a Mansell-like driver remains to be seen, but I'd really like to see him winning on a regular basis and having the chance to fight for the title. Mansell was considered a fast but unreliable driver in his first six seasons of F1 and, all of a sudden, he raised his game (of course, aided by a great car and team) to become one of the true greats. Webber has what it takes, I think, so maybe this comment will prove to be correct. Go Mark!!!
When Webber met Ponting (in middle England) 3:05pm on 30 Jun 2009 I agree with Lord_Lancashire's comment. Mark Webber (and Trulli) is as capable as winning a championship as anyone, given the car and the circumstances but he seems to be more than a bit unlucky when all things look good. He had several of these mishaps in the past, beginning with the 2003 Brazilian GP when he had a car capable of a podium finish only to end up crashing badly when the rain fell suddenly. He had other similar situations in 2004 (Malaysia, starting second with the Jag); Monaco and Nurburging in 2005; Monaco again in 2006; Japan and Canada in 2007; the Silverstone race in 2008 and the same at Singapore, when he had second place in his pocket.....In sum, many many opportunities lost, and most of them due to reliability problems or other driver's errors. He made mistakes of his own, of course, though most of the times where in response to trying to go faster than the car could deliver. Through all these years Webber has been extremely quick in qualifying, beating all his team-mates, something that this year has been not possible so far. Perhaps he's taking a different approach, concentrating more on race-days instead of going flat-out on saturdays. Vettel is the most difficult partner he has had and it is pushing Webber to his limits, something that can be seen at every Grand Prix. However, he will have to beat the german in qualis as well if he wants to not only mount a championship challenge of his own but even to keep getting equal treatment at Red Bull. His young team-mate is regarded as "the wonder-kid" and everyone is so focused on his performances that no-one is paying real attention to what Mark is doing. And that, I think, can work in his benefit insofar as he delivers the speed for which he's known for. I'm sure he will do his best to beat Vettel in Germany and I'm positive he will win this year. I just hope it is soon enough.....

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adrianaagarzon