The Malaysian GP was a chaotic race and very hard to explain to the Formula 1 viewers around the world. How did a Ferrari win when the cars have been uncompetitive so far? How did a Sauber miss a win simply because of a young driver’s over-excitement? What happened to McLaren and Red Bull? Why was Mercedes so poor again? The only answer to all these questions is the same answer: tyres. The trick in Formula 1 in 2012 is to have a car and a driving style that suits the tyres at the temperatures in which they operate. The good news is that we will probably continue to get interesting races because teams are struggling to figure out how to manage the tyres. This is good news for the fans. F1 is meant to be about entertainment and no-one will argue about Sunday being great TV viewing. F1 loves a new winner and a Mexican would have been terrific for the sport. A Ferrari win never hurts the sport (unless there have been 20 consecutive such results). It would be goo too to see wins from Williams or Lotus. Both teams seem to have cars that might be able to win and perhaps one might even imagine the bizarre scenario that we saw a few years back with Sebastian Vettel, with a Toro Rosso winning. Those cars look good too.
So, after two races we really don’t have much more of an idea about who is where in the F1 pecking order… Great!
Today is also a momentous one for me. And a sad one too, in my respects. For years there was still one place I could go to escape from the Internet and not have the ability to file stories. It was on a plane. I could still work on the computer, if the seat area was big enough, but I could do not file stories or surf the Web. Right now, I’m sitting on an Airbus A380 (I need not mention the airline because you already know my preferences and, inevitably, some people think that expressing a preference must indicate that I have been slipped a wedge of cash. As usual with these things the conspiracy theorists are wrong. I am paying the airline… Anyway, whatever the case, I am at 32,000 ft somewhere over Iran and I am writing the blog. My sanctuary is gone.
Hi Joe,
I have been a long time follower but am commenting for the first time. Just to add, it surely was an interesting race and would love such unpredictable races every now and then.
As regards to your problems with expressing your preferences, I would say, you are free to have your own preferences like anyone else and also free to express them.
If someone has to blame you for something, they will blame you even for mentioning the name Airbus…..
Keep up the good reporting and do not worry about troublemakers…. just ignore them…..
So you got bumped up, then? No WiFi back in cattle class! Sometimes it pays to be one of the great unwashed…
Hope the trip home is uneventful.
Yes, I got bumped up. Economy full and so Gold Card holders go up. Yippee!!
Can we start a petition to make Emirates always bump you up Joe? GP+ could start.. flying out to publication
He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or all he sees.
Turn it off, Joe. Turn it off.
On-line @32000…..can’t knock progress Joe.
Not if you leave your laptop battery in your checked-in luggage. Just a thought…
was flying on A380 by Singapore Airlines and they had power sockets in the cattle class
in the handles of the seats
As someone from the airline industry, I can tell you that you are flying probably the best airline in the world right now. Happy flying!!
I guess no more sanctuary for you Joe means that we will all get to enjoy more posts on the blogg?! :-p
What was the deal with the crazy off on off calls from Red Bull to Vettel at the end of the race, I’m yet to read something today explains what they were on.
Hypothesis : The tyre blow out damaged some sensors either detecting engine temperature or radiator airflow/radiator outlet air temperature.
Rationale : The only reason to panic and retire a car two laps from the end of the race is for an impending engine or gearbox problem. If it’s already ruined it doesn’t matter. If it’ll last to the end it doesn’t matter. But if you can rescue an engine or a gearbox you must try to.
This sort of sensor failure could give the team inconsistent telemetry falsely indicating serious overheating and an impending critical engine failure. Hence a) calls to retire the car and b) confusion over the actual situation due to inconsistent information from other, fully operational, sensors.
Hi Joe,
I’m struggling to work out why the McLarens were so bad (Button more than Hamilton) after the restart when earlier in the race, before the red flag, they were pulling away from the field! Obviously Button’s tangle with the HRT didn’t help, but I expected him to come through the field and finish in the lower points.
Was it just strategy? Pit stops? Or do they simply have a car that doesn’t work well in changeable conditions?
HE FLIES BRITISH AIRWAYS, WHAT U GONNA DO!!!
Highly unlikely that the words……………’best airline in the world’ and ‘British Airways’ would appear in the same sentence.
Unless it was ………….’yet again British Airways came 15th in the list, way behind the best airline in the world’.
Joe,
I’ve been searching for some sympathy for you. However………
It’s entirely your fault for being half-good at this journalism lark…..
‘How did a Sauber miss a win simply because of a young driver’s over-excitement?’
Really? Seemed pretty clever to me.
Cynic
It’s hard not to see it as the best attempt to lose a race since the tail end of the 2007 season, but I’m prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt. Norberto Fontana may have a point of view though.
He may indeed…
I have to say that when I saw the sudden gap increase the first thing that crossed my mind – sadly – was, blimey Ferrari cut that deal quick.
However, re-looking at it I do believe SP touched the shiny and lost the back. If he didn’t, he has the most phenomenal car control that I’ve ever seen. More than I believe he has.
So, I’m pleased to say that I do believe that if he had got within spitting distance he would have had a go.
Watching the replay, you can clearly see that Alonso remains on the black (dry!) asphalt as I’m sure most of the cars did at that corner. Perez however puts the left-hand side onto the wide white outside kerb – which was probably still damp – and finds himself without grip.
After Melbourne I was convinced McLaren have such a dominant car like Red Bull had last year and they will walk the Championship. Sepang qualifying only confirmed that belief. However after the race I’m not so sure anymore. Could be anyone from the Mac/RB drivers or even Alonso. The Merc are eating their tyres and by the point they may find a cure to this disease (if ever) it will be too late for them. Lotus/Williams I believe are lacking the development funds over a full seaon to keep the battle open. However I still fancy the McLaren’s chances over the rest since the Red Bulls are slow and Ferrari are an enigma.
As for the drivers I believe Alonso is the best followed closely by Vettel who is slightly ahead of the McLaren drivers. Kimi is very fast as well. And Schumacher might return to his old magic if the car starts winning despite his age too.
Red Bulls slow? They were the fastest cars on average in race trim in Malaysia and very fast in the Melbourne race too. Their problem is qualifying. If they can get over it, Mclaren may regret the waste of points in Sepang.
Thanks, as ever Joe, for your informative and entertaining blogs over a great weekend. I must say I’m quite a fan of the various conspiracy theories that circulate, especially from our friends at Pitpoor – hours of amusement for all the family! Here’s one to make a little mischief : With a Ferrari Driver Academy graduate, powered by a Ferrari customer engine, chasing down the works team No 1 driver, was the only thing missing from the message from the Sauber pitwall “Fernando is faster than you, do you understand.”
Safe journey home & roll on China.
Bad news for you Joe but great news for your avid readers.. keep up the great work.
Hopefully the tire situation wil continue to keep the season close and exciting.
But what is it about the tires? How can Alonso get them to work so well and Massa not? Why can Mercedes qualify so well, and be so poor in the races?
Is it an issue that is explainable or is it still not understood fully?
I’d assume mercedes have built a car, with it’s new fangled front blown wing which was designed to allow it’s drivers to qualify much better as they felt they ruined their chances with such poor start places last two years – but unfortunately once the DRS is only available at a few straights in the races mercedes lose the benefit and they remain hard on their tyres…
As for alonso versus massa – it may be a truism but alonso is not the fastest driver ever but he can totally alter his driving style. There is no single alonso ‘approach’. He changes it car by car and even race by race. Massa has simply never been that adaptable. If massa had a car built totally for him and his approach hed probably be a lot closer but alonso has ferraris heart and soul now while massa has only their loyalty and sympathy.
Biggus Jimmus is right, Joe. Turn it off. No one would be any the wiser, you could relax, and we would read your stories anyway within a few hours. I remember an occasion when a new iPhone had a similar distracting effect ! The words “his own worst enemy” come to mind (I jest, of course).
I’m glad I’m retired and don’t long-haul any more …and also that I don’t have to take the Underground much in London, as mobile phones are going to work there soon. “I’m at Green Park and I’ll be getting off at Bond Street. See ya soon !!” It just won’t be like Paris, where people seem to understand how to use their phones inoffensively on the Metro ….
Mimicking Biggus, he who knows peace will know where to find it, and merely must choose.
Your Sanctuary is you, Joe, not worrying over us lot, speak for myself! (But in trying to give us solace, do not ever think we can repay in the same kind, even should we want, no matter our tries.)
Joe, while I join with you to mourn the loss of sanctuary, it seems only right as that’s the altitude I read it at….
Sorry to have missed you in Melbourne….roll on further unpredictability!
BTW is the circus really going to Bahrain?
Muz
I used to travel continuously. But I had clients and an office that always wanted ’10 minutes off the top of your head before you go’, or left messages at hotels for when I arrived requiring ‘immediate replies !’
A good 12 hour flight was just what the doctor ordered – and plane phones that you could use to call the family, re-book your hotel to escape detection or reserve a restaurant, but couldn’t be used to get back at you. (Not ‘to’ you, ‘at’ you – thats how I always looked at it).
I well remember the day – some years ago it has to be said – when my heart sank through my boots, out the bottom of the plane and hit the ground – splat.
Those magic words from the ‘hostie’ (sorry attendant) – ‘We have a call for you ‘Interested’ I’m just routing it to your seat’.
Arse.
I used to get excited because FM radio would still work even though you were stuck in a traffic jam in the Dartford Tunnel deep underground!
I’m with the others Joe – turn it off! Enjoy the food and drink like you paid for that seat!
Not naming the airline… I assume that you are traveling Kingfisher Airlines then?
haha Jokes!
With the Caterham gig you could try for some free/discount AirAsia flights!
And also, since you mentioned 2008, I have to say that The Toro Rosso winning wasn’ that weird. He was on pole… and the pole was achieved with his dropkick team mate quialified in 4th. The Adrain Newey designed, Ferrari powered car up against not much force with one of the best young drivers in it running form pole didn’t look too far fetched.
I’d say the Sauber designed by guy who has never won a championship to his name in F1, and not starting near the front is much more amazing coming 2nd and nearly first than the former…. In my opinion
Emirates.
Hah! Never flown with them before. Being an Aussie if I go international and aren’t looking for cheap then I tend to go Q.A.N.T.A.S.
I was more just referencing the few who think anything you say could big a dig against Mallya!
Joe,
Interesting question, for you as journalist!
Just out of interest, do you find yourself deliberately buying any of the products/brands that support F1 races and/or team and/or F1? Long term sponsors more than short? Or just no interest and go for what is cheapest when fancing options?
Not trying to read much into it, but I as a fan rarely buy certain products unless they are of equal price and quality. But as someone who has made a name for himself and makes his living around F1 do you find yourself thinking about this?
It could be worse: there could be mobile phone coverage on-board. Imagine all those people calling their friends and family: “I’m on a plane!”. It’s bad enough on trains.
It’s coming…………..I’m told.
The forced artificial gimmicks like screwy tires and DRS just really turn me off of the “sport”. I suppose entertainment trumps pure racing. Grumble.
What a very excellent race! Now I am one who bleats about not being able to afford sky, so I did not have to look at paper boats floating down the pit lane this year, but listened to JA’s commentary which never palled and watched the live timing.
I had expected MSC to shove past the McLarens but the rainmeister held back. It seemed to me that Button’s costly mistake was his own fault as he was just going to fast.
Whilst Alonso proved he has an MCS like ability to drag the best out of a car,
Massa did himself no favours after having a new car built for him, he continued his career as a magnet, though now fortunately down the back of the field. While whispers of him being replaced by the speedy, if impetuous, Mexican are possibly unfounded, the fact that Ferrari have given Massa their full support is a almost the same as being given the black spo t by Long John Silver. (or a four leaf clover if you are a fan of Rubicon)
When I last flew, Emirates were just a DC3, two cans, a disdash and a goat.
Cathay was the oriental standard of excellence, now declined and yes BA was the best.
JA was very good, but we kept fluffing the synch! Put me in charge, wink wink, i’d have all kinds of commentary teams silmulcast. Looking back JA grated with me for his unabashed Schumi adoration, just as i got bored with the eventual SiebenteKoingige, and so i missed a lot he had to say. I guess upshot of not having one relay is at least we pick and mix, gives more chances for the boys in the box. Felt so positive this weekend in so many ways.
Cathay used to be the nuts, but when Swire upped sticks to Bermuda, they lost necessary clout. Was never on a DC3 programmed flight but Cathay took my youthful heart there as a little boy on a 707. Too many people i think took the push to leave, never wanted to. I felt that barely knowing how to wipe myself. Thing i love most about aviation is just how long a life a good model gets, generational, a connexion to your precursors. Is that the antithesis of F1?
I managed to find the sky coverage streamed live and for free and pretty much stutter free. Usually finding this kind of stuff involves sorting through a mass of bogus “free” steams to find the real ones, but this one was easy. Can’t give out the link, I think, but all I did was google and it was the second or third option.
Can I give out the link? Will giving it out bring the internet police banging on doors at early hours of the morn?
Well obviously your phone will be hacked
I have flown on “Joe’s” airline, and a funny story to tell. I took my laptop with me onboard, and then realised that I could use it. So started sending out, replies to emails. Doing a spot of work on report’s ect…only from one smart person in the office to figure that I must have missed my flight or there was a delay, and therefore started to cancel my meetings. Telling everyone the flight was delayed. They also tried to contact me by mobile, but didn’t work. (I had turned it off)
There brain power or total lack of, didn’t figure out to send me an email and ask where I was. So had a nice free day. For once I had to thank this new tec stuff. Of course a real pain to explain at the meetings why they were cancelled, and no one knew that we had WiFi on a plane, felt like I was the new marketing – advertiser for Joe’s airline.
That’s the way Jo give ‘em another plug and advertise their in-flight Internet. No wonder you get bumped up, keep up the advertising it’s class.
Bil (to follow your naming strategy of dropping the last letter of a name)
As you have suggested that I am corrupt, allow me explain a few things so that you can grasp the concept of a frequent flyer scheme. A Gold Card member on any airline has to work pretty hard to get a card, particularly if you always fly in Economy Class, which is the only option for most people who are paying their own bills. Thus one must stick with one airline and not spread one’s business around, otherwise one does not get the miles one needs, even if you travel as much as we do. Thus we shop around for the best frequent flyer schemes. A lot of F1 people use Emirates for this reason. Secondly, upgrades are based on two things: one can use the mileage one has collected to “buy” a place in a better class; or one gets automatically upgraded if Economy is full and there is space in Business (and ditto Business to First). Thus I did not get upgraded on the KL-Dubai leg because it was filled with F1 people paying Business Class fares. I stayed in Economy, which was fine. There was no possibility to buy an upgrade and, in any case, I do not waste my miles upgrading on 777s because the miles are better spent for upgrades on A380s, which are much nicer. On the second leg I asked to buy an upgrade with miles and was told that I did not need to do so because on that leg Economy was full. If there are other upgrades for other reasons I am not a party to them. I simply tell things as I see them.
This is how the system works. Yes, there are some F1 reporters who parlay advertising space in their publications for upgrades, but that is simply sensible business. If I was smart enough to do that I would have done it and you would see Emirates advertising on the blog. As you do not see that, it is intelligent to assume that they are not giving anything more than I have earned.
Joe, you shouldn’t rise to the bait from these wind-up merchants. I have followed your blog for a while but up to now not posted. However, I feel the need to respond to those who knock you.
This is a resource that you make available to us for FREE !!!! It provides us with both a fascinating inside track to the F1 world, and provokes interesting debate. Presumably we are here because we enjoy it, i.e. your work makes our lives a little bit richer. AND IT COSTS US NOTHING.
From what I see, you bend over backwards to be independant and your own man. Yet some people continue to abuse you. If people don’t like this blog, then they don’t have to come here. I’m sure the rest of us, and we appear to be the vast majority, will continue to be greatful for your work, and wish you every success with it. And I’m sure like me, many resent those who abuse you firstly because you deserve better and secondly because we all lose out if ever make you think it is not worth it. So personally, I say many thanks for the pleasure this blog brings me and wish you all the best!!
Joe,
I second your comment about frequent flyer miles.
15 years ago we emigrated to NZ from the UK. We were told that by doing so, we had earned enough air miles to fly for free to the east coast of Australia or the south pacific islands. We duly used them and also earned enough for wine and other goodies by flying within NZ.
Fast forward to 2007 and I fly from NZ to Denmark (basically the same flight and earning the same amount of air miles). Imagine my horror to be told that they were only worth enough to buy a DVD!
So good on you for getting an upgrade, I say. By the amount of nice things you have said about the airline, they should be giving you an upgrade everytime!
Joe, I am of the camp that is teling you, “TURN IT OFF”. You need to give yourself a break. Like an athlete, you need a rest period to recover and come in fresh.
Don’t fall for the “oh I can work on the plane routine”, then you are putting yourself on the conveyor belt to mediocrity.
Same with mobiles, who wrote the rule that you MUST answer your phone if it rings.
Freedom is sooooo underrated.
Sebastian Vettel with a Toro Rosso winning was really great. If this year race is expected to be the same it will attract a majority of fans! Let’s hope it will be!
I completely agree that it’s not surprising that rain sometimes turns the form book upside down. A car that is a problem in the dry because it over-heats its tyres can easily become the fastest car when it rains. If it happens to have Alonso in it, so much the better. If it has Massa in it, so much the worse, as FM has never been very good in the wet.
I don’t believe the conspiracy theories about Perez make any sense. He very nearly got onto the gravel when he went off, in which case he could have been out of the race. If he wanted to settle for second, all he needed to do was slow down. Free of risk and nobody would have been any the wiser. There’s no guarantee he could have passed Alonso anyway. Even with DRS, there was a lot of processional driving, and passing Alonso to take a win away from him is by no means a cinch.
Surely if the race was 100% dry we probably would have seen a McLaren victory? You can’t be certain but I think that McLaren was on for a win, with maybe the Red Bull’s close behind. The Merc looks horrible in race trim.
I think the inters changed the game massively on Sunday. It was obvious the tyres suited some cars (Ferrari and Sauber) and not others (McLaren and Mercedes). As I said, if it wasnt for the rain (and wet weather tyres) I think we may have seen McLaren win and a pretty dull race.
Anyone else notice that Hamilton was a lot happier this week compared to last week? Another pole position and 3rd place yet he was nowhere near as visibly upset as he was after the Melbourne race. I’m guessing this is because he was infront of Button this time and not behind. If Button finished ahead I doubt we’d be hearing him say “I’m pretty happy” after the race. I was a little disapointed that the McLaren didnt have the pace to fight Ferrari, it wouldve been good to see a scrap between Hamilton, Perez and Alonso. That wouldve made it a classic race.
RBR and McLaren showing why it’s important to have 2 strong drivers at the moment as well. You rarely see both drivers having an off weekend and when one does have a poor weekend, the other is there to pick up a result.
Joe – Emirates is great airline. Thats a fact. You are a reporter and are therefore entitled to report the facts!
I have been avoiding work giving me a Blackberry for the reasons you mention. Being contactable 24/7 is the beginning of losing all work/life balance.
Joe
Does that mean I don’t have an excuse not to work on my next flight to Europe and that Business Class will mean all business and no class? Bugger…. Hope your A380 is crack free……
News:
Well done to Perez, first Mexican on the podium since 1971!
Compare and contrast:
One good driver who hits a backmarker
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/25/jenson-button-malaysian-grand-prix
Another good driver who hits a backmarker
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/26/sebastian-vettel-idiot-sepang-f1
and in conspiracy corner…
How did the Ferrari engined Sauber driven by Perez manage to throw away a possible win by making a silly mistake to not overtake Teflonso’s Ferrari?
Orbituaries:
RIP Joe’s sanctuary, you will be sadly missed.
Adverts:
Fly Emirates! As used by star F1 journalist and author Joe!
Wow, didnt think my conspiracy corner idea would ever have any grounds for anyone else to mention it!
Joe reports on the stories:
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/stories/
I guess my compare and contrast idea was picked up though:
crappy article here http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2012/03/vettel_collision_a_champion_un.html
Do people really pay AB to write that stuff?
Joe, you are a media pro, and a top one at that. If Emirates was supporting your blog it would be bonus points for them. After all that is how you make your living. It would not affect your credibility at all and would make me less guilty for not subscribing to GP+
BTW one of my other favorite F1 (and beyond) journalists, who also attends every race, Ico Ramos, from Brazil, just inked a deal with Swiss to support a feature of his blog. Check it out: http://www.totalrace.com.br/tvblogo/
I would be very happy if such a deal existed, but t does not.
You ighta icked up a ad abbit here Oe.
Admit it Joe, you’re as addicted to reading our comments as we are to reading your posts
Although at altitude, in a pressurized environment, may not be where you want to be reading some of the drivel that oft times gets left here.
Work on the lap top, take in some wine, and avoid going to the site until back on Terra Firma!
No, I’m not.
This may sound a bit weird, but the only reason I comment on Joe’s blog and nowhere else is because the level of comment is much higher and abuse is rare.
no, i totally love this accusation game. Yup, Joe loves an airline. Funny enough i never heard but praise for them. Joe hates a rather different airline about whom i never heard any good. Brilliant conspiracy if only anyone could prove Joe’s views are wrong! I want to hear more, because this is comic book genius from where i sit. What was that statutory defence to libel, whilst we’re at it?? Or how do accusers quote truth same time as they argue it’s no good? Cracked up over here . !