F1 2014 season kicks off.

[Danny@APT]

I've thought long and hard before posting the clip of the crash that's been doing the rounds on Social media, but as he appears to be doing relatively well- http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/29521187 , I thought I'd add it here.

If you don't want to see the impact his car had with the JCB, don't watch it.




Close-up photo's taken shortly after show his helmet was clearly intact and undamaged, despite the rest of the car being ripped apart, so his injury appears to be down to the huge deceleration forces on his brain. Hopefully he'll make a full recovery.

[maff]

This is always worth reading: http://formerf1doc.wordpress.com/

It explains the injuries and makes for grim reading.

[Danny@APT]

Indeed Matt.

There's also been a lot of false speculation that green flags were shown in the area of Sutil's crash and the JCB. In reality, that Marshal's post is further away than it appears in the footage- beyond the recovery vehicle- and therefore, being the first post after the yellow flag zone, was correctly showing green. Bianchi crashed in the preceding double-waved yellow zone, as many sources have said.

The position of Marshal Post 12 can be seen here-



http://somersf1.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/ ... jules.html

and

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2014/10/ ... -incident/

[maff]

Quite impressed by Sochi so far, politics about Russia/Ukraine aside looks like a good track.

GP2 was an brilliant race, looking forward to tomorrows.

[Danny@APT]

Bottas is certainly out-shining Massa in the Williams. Just seems to get on with it and no drama if things aren't quite right, and if they can make the tyres last well he should be on the Merc's heels- they've already had to take downforce off to gain some top-end.

Everyone must be struggling to get the front to bite, as they've all chosen to make the rear unstable on corner entry instead to counteract it. Should play into Hamilton's hands as Rosberg's not as adept with a loose car.

[maff]

I dont think tyres will be an issue, in the GP2 race Soufle Van Dong made 20 odd laps on the softer compound.

But yup agree about the loose car, Hamilton territory, although that said, Button who moans like hell about a loose car seems to be pulling his finger out since his job was on the line.

[Danny@APT]

I dont think tyres will be an issue, in the GP2 race Soufle Van Dong made 20 odd laps on the softer compound.

But yup agree about the loose car, Hamilton territory, although that said, Button who moans like hell about a loose car seems to be pulling his finger out since his job was on the line.

Oh definitely, the tyres are going to last well as even the softs take 3 laps to get the best from them time-wise- it's just that the Merc's have been able to maintain them at that level for longer.

And yes, curious that as soon as Alonso is rumoured to be going to McLaren, Button plays a blinder in Japan to leap to 3rd early-on and looks like he'll do well in Sochi after his Free Practice and Qualifying performance.

[maff]

Well that was dull.

[jap.slapper]

Well that was dull.

So true, in fact I was more interested in seeing what was in the gift wrapped box that Putin gave to Bernie....

[john B]

Hamilton too cool to remove his baseball cap during national anthem. ....totally disrespectful