For all you Formula One bashers out there....

[wilf leek]

There is something about F1 which gets you "hooked". I am constantly amazed at the effect that race strategy planning can have. Those that are good at it consistently get their drivers an advantage - ever wondered just how Schumaker (M) seems to always make up places whilst in the pits??

The one thing that amazes me is how anyone can believe that the drivers have some kind of easy time because of electronic aids. It is just not so.

Just watch some in-car footage some time, and look at the in-corner corrections being made - all the time - these cars are pushed to the absolute limit. Aerodynamic downforce means awesome cornering speeds, and the last time I watched F1 cars run, my eyes could not actually react fast enough to track them as they braked - I always "overshot" them. The braking is just so late and so hard.
Also - think on this: Downforce drops as speed bleeds off, so the drivers have to modulate the brake pedal accordingly or they will lock up. Rather a skill to do that every corner, every lap, and get it right.

Nope - these guys are immensely skilled and talented drivers, I take my hat off to them. (not my Gashole hat though, just a metaphorical hat).