This weekend should be a blast with the predicably unpredictable English weather. Cold temps for tyres + rain = a lot of spectator fun and a mixed up grid. Let's hope for some real entertainment.
In the mean time, let's hope Marussia's female F1 driver Maria de Villota (http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/driver/72430.html) is not too badly hurt after her accident (http://en.espnf1.com/marussia/motorsport/story/83059.html) in testing at Duxford this morning. I'd love to know how an F1 car and a Support truck managed to tangle, but the results are usually bad for the F1 driver when it happens.
Quote from: Daily MailAccording to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred after De Villota had pulled up in front of her mechanics after completing her first lap of the day.
As the mechanics approached to wheel the car back for service, it accelerated forwards and crashed into the stationary vehicle parked nearby.
The front of the Marussia car was destroyed in the crash and De Villota's helmet was seen to impact with the side of the truck.
De Villota was reportedly motionless for around 15 minutes as paramedics attended to her but was seen to move her hands before being transported to hospital.
Unfortunately it doesn't sound promising at this stage, so keeping my fingers crossed for her - she so nearly got a drive at the last Grand Prix, but for the lack of having applied for a Super Licence from the FIA.
(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/03/article-2168116-13E75608000005DC-607_634x548.jpg)
Quote from: TeaLeaf;354089I'd love to know how an F1 car and a Support truck managed to tangle
err...
Quotefemale F1 driver
Doesn't sound too good for her
F1 crash driver Maria de Villota seriously injured (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-18689440)
Doesn't look good for women drivers in F1 and I hope she gets well soon. The only female test driver suffering serious injuries before having a test. Williams has the only other female driver but she's very careful not to refer to herself as a test driver.
On a more positive note. I'm thoroughly looking forward to Silverstone. The championship is still to close to call and I love Silverstone as a race, I won't be there this year but I'm sure it'll be a heck of a show.
Just saw this on twitter -
QuoteAndrew Benson â€@andrewbensonf1
Marussia say Maria de Villota had overnight operation and is in a "critical but stable" condition. She has lost her right eye
Retweeted by BBC Sport
not good.
That is a real shame :( I wish her the best for a speedy recovery
Bugger, that's bad news :sad:
Is there still no news as to what happened?
Quote from: Snokio;354198Is there still no news as to what happened?
Full story (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2168784/Marussia-driver-Maria-De-Villota-loses-right-eye-crash.html)
Want to read but can't click the link damn my sensibilities
Quote from: BrotherTobious;354209Want to read but can't click the link damn my sensibilities
+1 (lengthened post length to mean minimum length requirements which prevents replies below a certain length)
Try the link now, I embedded it in the text, does that help or are you limited in some other way? (/incoming jokes)
I am limited cause I refuse to use that source of news:)
"I like people better than principles and I like people with no principles better than anything else in the world"
Oscar Wilde.
Toby I share your sensibilities. Another link confirming she is still in a critical condition and has lost an eye.
http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/83169.html
T (http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/83169.html)horoughly gutting news. I may actually have seen her ambulance trailed by a police car and half a dozen other cars rushing to the hospital as I was working just near there on Tuesday. :sad:
I doubt she'll be able to do much more competative driving with no depth perception (requires two eyes). I love professional racing but it does make me wonder why there are so few women in a sport that I'm sure is/should be based on no more or less that the skill of the driver. Yes F1 is a very physically demanding sport but the drivers aren't super athletes in the same league as Olympic swimmers or track athletics etc. So I'm sure many women could attain the physical strength and endurance to race at the highest level. It makes me wonder how much misogyny plays a part? Therefore loosing a great driver like Villota is a real blow.
On a brighter note it looks like showers for most of Sunday which is going to make for a fun race. Looking forward to it.
Very sad news for a great prospect in F1 and racing. Wishing her all the best but as Smilo says lack of depth perception is a bit of a killer for racing.
I am hoping the teams at Silverstone do something publicly on Sunday and Saturday for the family and her. Would be nice if the winner dedicated the race to her or something of the sorts.
DZ.
Quote from: smilodon;354240I love professional racing but it does make me wonder why there are so few women in a sport that I'm sure is/should be based on no more or less that the skill of the driver. Yes F1 is a very physically demanding sport but the drivers aren't super athletes in the same league as Olympic swimmers or track athletics etc. So I'm sure many women could attain the physical strength and endurance to race at the highest level. It makes me wonder how much misogyny plays a part?
If there were money in having a female F1 driver there would be one tomorrow. Just look a Maldonado, Venezuela is pumping huge money into every level of motorsport and conveniently a Venezuelan driver has a place. Despite giving the team their worst season since formation he goes on to drive this year. It's all about the money.
F1 viewers are predominantly male, a typical male doesn't really care if it's a woman or not, they care about performance. A woman going around in 24th place is not going to earn them any sponsors. I'm not sure female viewers are any different. I imagine they'll be faster to embrace her if she's any good, but ashamed if she's not. Again not good for sponsorship on it's own. Basically a team either needs a big financial push, or a damn good female driver. Neither appear to have arrived yet, but I suspect it won't be too long.
The flip side of that coin is that the money comes from sponsorship and the first (full-season) female driver in F1 would gather a lot of TV time, which in turn will make the money invested far more productive for any team sponsors. A female driver would gather as many minutes on screen in the build up and pre-race publicity as any of the top drivers, so in that sense there is money in it and good value for potential sponsors.
I think we'll see a female F1 driver within the next couple of years. It can only be good for the sport.
In other news, it will most likely be wet and raining for FP1 this morning, certainly if the weather outside my window is anything to go by and I'm not that far from Silverstone. FP2 might get away without rain, but it will still most likely be overcast. Looking forward to some fun tbh, Hamilton has had some awesome wet drives here :thumbsup:
A bit of an update for you all -
QuoteDe Villota improving after further surgery 06 Jul 2012
Surgeons have successfully completed the next phase of surgery required to address the facial injuries of Marussia test driver Maria De Villota, following her crash earlier this week. Her condition is now described as ‘serious but stable’.
De Villota underwent a lengthy initial operation after Tuesday’s accident, but Friday’s secondary surgery took significantly less time. The planned procedure went ahead at the UK’s Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
Since this second operation, De Villota’s condition in relation to the head trauma she received has further improved and though she remains acutely ill, it confirms she has been responding well to the treatment she has received since her crash.
“On a more personal note, we have taken a great deal of encouragement from today’s developments and the rather more positive signs for Maria’s family,†concluded a statement from the Marussia team.
Hope we get some rain to mix it up today!
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Brilliant and quietly work-like drive from Webber & a deserving win. Kept the interest right up until the end!
I think Hamilton was let down with an poor tyre strategy, the other teams ate him up and got the gap neeed to pass in the pitstops and that was all she wrote.
What happened to Button?
Maldanado..............seriously he should have known better, involved in yet another 'punt' off the circuit.
Enjoyable race though, lots of overtakes and action :thumbsup: