I said I would let you know my position regards Formula 1.

So for me F1 is unlike any other sport I follow, with F1 I don't just like one driver or team. First and foremost I want the British drivers to do well and that has been the case since I started following F1. I also like and recognise the abilities of other non British drivers, at the moment I am loving Raikkonen.

As far as teams go I unsurprisingly want the British or mainly British teams to do well. I am definitely NOT a fan of Ferrari in fact I would go as far as to say I am delighted when things don't work out for them and that goes for their drivers too, especially Alonso (I do like Massa as I think it must be rubbish being in a team and playing second fiddle). I do recognise Alonso has ability and a good driver, but don't like him.

So that's me and F1...

Why not EC?

Why not what Saint ?

You don;t like Alonso?

Ah, with you now.

Well it's not entirely rational as some of it is that thing about "for some reason I just don't like that guy", but it has not helped the falling out at McLaren and then the times when he is on the radio complaining about other drivers. Also the combination of driving for Ferrari oh and that incident where Massa got the radio message "Fernando is faster than you". Team orders and I also think Alonso likes that Ferrari are like that and I bet he uses it to his advantage.

But I recognise it's not entirely rational on my part and there is a dollop of bias in there and you could level some similar points against other drivers.

It's funny because I did not like the dominance of Schumacher, but when he returned I started to like the guy more, maybe the same will happen with Alonso - but I doubt it.

Forgot to say above. I have always liked Webber as a drive. I doubt he will be champion in the coming years and feel he is close the the downward spiral - a shame because I do like him.

I see - thanx ... it certainly aint rational why we choose to like someone as opposed to another.

There is soooo much we don't know and don't see.

The only person i would truly like to have back is EDDIE IRVINE

For now my true prefernces (though you may not believe it given the previous chat) are:

1. Raikkonan (a maverick)

2. Webber     (a good guy)

3. Button      (a Brit)

4. Grosjean   (more crashes please)

Really don't like Hanilton - he's disrespected the support from McClaren - even publishing his car spec on-line!!!

 Grosjean - we will have to wait and see, but that won't b e good for Xochi.

Agreed 1 -3.

Hamilton really divides people, I like him as he's a British driver, but can be frustrated with him sometimes, a good example is publishing the telemetry (stupid in the exteme). Also he used to be a bit daft on track and has caused quite a few problems for himself that way.

My hope is that he matures at Mercedes and becomes a better, stronger and more intelligent driver than he already is.

I think Hamilton has had to grow up in the spot light - never easy i know.

He was perhaps overly supported within McClaren and then bit the hand that feeds.

He's older and less mollycoddled now at mercedes (especially as he has more to prove and a team he needs to help rather than the other way around). Plus Rosberg is much improved and a match for Hamilton, i think.

So here's hoping he settles.

Having said that - Jenson has behaved in a much more dignified manner under similar circumstances.

Hamilton certainly has his work cut out when competing with Rosberg.

Not mentioned him, but always liked JB. I did think at one point he just did not have what it takes to be a top driver and a champion, but he proved me wrong I'm pleased to say. Wish they could get a competitive car under him. JB comes across as a nice bloke too, a bit like Webber in  that sense.

Vettel and Webber row 'settled'

OK let me have a show of hands if you believe the story, that they have shook hands and made up and everything is super rosey in the Red Bull garden?

I think we all know from experience that it's not quite as easy as that. Although the team have to say and do the right things to get the team back on track especially as it has happened so early in the season.

Guess we will have to wait for the respective biographies to get the real low down...

Oh i think we'll just have to wait until next season

Rosberg's 12/1 from P4.

Gotta be worth a punt 

For what though? To win, to get a podium finish, to finish in the points.... ....there are lots of possibilities.

Win pedant  

I think it would be a waste of money, Lewis has the edge on him. Barring issues I think Lewis will finish higher than Rozzy, but I would like to see a Lewis, Rozzy 1-2.

Personally I follow the Mclarens ( and yes I'd rather have seen Paul Di Resta in Perez's seat) Having said that their speed is the issue again   and I'm kinda hoping Kimi can stem the flow  

So do I, but it's not quite that simple.

All will become clear if you read this : https://www.gagajoyjoy.com/disp...5#317672147475106755

Anyone else up at this ungodly hour watching F1?

Nope  

Just me then 

I'll be surprised if Fluffs isn't along shortly   

Go - Go - Go

Mornin'.

And then the wheels came off! 

Good morning Xochi.

Back atcha Confusiblilities. 

Most exciting part of that race was final 6 laps.

Oh and Webber and his tyre.

Ferrari win - boo

Alonso win - boo

Is it just me or have I missed something?

All the BBC commentators have talked up the race. E. Jordan calling it a classic !!! Surely he was watching something else.

Yes. I was up and watching the race live. But as I record it (on paper) in as fine detail as possible. I'm not in a position to contribute as well - this might change in the future - but don't hold your breath. If I ever catch up with documenting all the races in the thread in the SPORTS forum things might be different, but then I would probably go back to typing the commentary in there 'live'.

Eddie's ALWAYS watching a different race.

Poor Webber, doesn't have much luck, does he?

No he doesn't, he is on a really poor run of luck at the moment. Remind me - did David C say that he had 3 DNF's in last 6 or 8 races?

What did you think of the race EFFT?

Something like that, I'll have to check that out. Sometimes so much is happening at once that it's hard to retain it all.

I enjoyed the race. It was nice to see how quickly Webber was making up places. If it hadn't been for Webber's wheel incident RB would have had two cars in the points.

It is strange though that so many drivers seem to have made passing manoeuvers under a yellow flag. The commentators were wondering if something had gone wrong with the system....and maybe that's why the stewards changed from 'under investigation' to 'will be investigated after the race'.

It was.

Firstly, when will Vettel pit, then will he/won't he catch Hamilton before the end. And a lower key with Di Resta - will he manage to get some points for Force India after his final stop?

I'm sure the commentators suggested at one point that Button had transgressed as well, but when the caption came up naming the offending drivers I did not see Button's number.

I suppose on reflection there was the coming together of Raikkonen and Perez and I think Gutierrez having an incident and coasting off track. Maybe I'm doing it a disservice (the race that is).

I'm now waiting for Xochi to update us on her standing in the fantasy F1 league - which to be fair is much more important than the real thing 

Button and Grosjean were mentioned in the first announcement about infringements under a Yellow flag, and the second announcement was just adding more to the list. Or that's how I saw it. 

Haha, yes! there were a few times during the race when I thought about how it would affect Xochi's standing.

Just seen the end of the race again and I'm pretty sure that if it hadn't been for that tail ender, Vettel would have pipped Hamilton for third place.

Just checked this and if you count today then thats 3 DNFs in last 6 races.

USA and Abu Dhabi from last year and China this year.

3rd last and 2nd last of last year and 3rd of this year.

I was sound asleep by ten.

Yawnfest.