Arrived to Shanghai this morning, took the subway straight to the race track, enjoyed the Chinese Formula 1 GP, took the subway back to the airport, and am now sitting on the airplane ready to travel back to Shenzhen.
Not a bad day. Not bad at all.
A beautiful donkey?
A beautiful donkey?
From the fastest car at the end of last season to seemingly 1-2 seconds off the pace at the first race this season.
*sigh*
From F1 Fanatic:
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh says practice today was “one of the hardest days I can recall”.
The MP4-28 was 2.3 seconds off the quickest car in the second practice session, and only the seventh-quickest team.
“We were lacking overall grip, consistency, we had understeer, poor ride,” said Whitmarsh. “So a very difficult day. One where we didn’t go forward either during the course of the day so that’s a bit of a concern. ”
“But a lot of data, the team will be, I’m sure, working hard and long tonight. We’ve given ourselves what should be a base that we can improve upon. Hopefully we can do so tomorrow. But a disappointing and tough day for the team.”
I'm a huge McLaren supporter and they, more than any other team in any other sport on the planet, are the sports team I am truly most passionate for. That doesn't mean I can't be disheartened, dispirited, disillusioned, disenchanted, discouraged, dismayed, displeased, dissatisfied, disgruntled, and discontented when they show up for a new season (especially one with minimal rule changes) and are two seconds off the pace.
And now to express my grief/frustration/confoundment in a more illustrated fashion:
The race is Sunday in Australia. Get it together McLaren. Get it together.
I attended the first Indianapolis F1 GP back in 2000. It was an amazing experience. Unfortunately, Indy and F1 weren't meant for each other. Since then I have attended the Shanghai GP the past 5 out of 6 years. Formula 1 is now returning to the US full time and will be held this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, a purpose-built facility located in Austin, Texas. It's a beautifully constructed track and looks to be well designed from a driving point of view. Fingers crossed. The first practice of the weekend will be held on Friday and the race is on Sunday afternoon.
Seoul International Fireworks Festival
Seoul International Fireworks Festival
After a very late start, we headed to the Red Bull Formula 1 demonstration. The entire length of the bridge was already packed when we got there. They ran the Red Bull F1 car three times. The area is normally a huge bicycling haven and you could tell the many bicyclists did not appreciate their normal route being interrupted by noisy fans watching noisy race cars.
After the demonstration, we walked to the riverside to watch the Seoul International Fireworks Festival. Now in it's 10th year, this festival brings together international teams to put on Seoul's largest fireworks display. This year's participating teams were from Italy, China, America, and Korea. We were too far away to hear the music accompanying each team's display but we found great seats on the banks of the river. Last year's show had more than one million in attendance and I'm sure this year's was even more. Every bridge and river bank was packed with people, cars on the highway stopped to watch, and even the subway trains crossing the bridge in front of us slowed to allow passengers a glimpse of the fireworks.
After all was said and done, I unfortunately have to agree with all those around me that the Chinese team's display was by far the most boring. Italy's and America's were very good, and Korea went last so of couse they had the huge finale. Click here to see a distant but spectacular video of the fireworks (just fast forward to 6:30 in the video and enjoy). To get an idea of the syntonization between the fireworks and music (which you would have only heard if you were very close), click here.
After the fireworks show, which lasted more than an two hours, we took beauty shots in a Japanese/Korean arcade photo parlor. Unfortunately for you, those photos have now been classified.
Body, wings, steering wheel, and engine size and location. Truly art. By way of NZLion in The Verge forums.
Ma Qing Hua, Chinese Formula 1 driver
Ma Qing Hua, Chinese Formula 1 driver
Ma Qing Hua, racing driver from Shanghai, will drive an HRT Formula 1 car in a practice session at this weekend's Italian GP. In doing so, he will be the first Chinese man to drive a Formula 1 car on track during a race weekend.
“It will be the first time that a Chinese driver takes part in a Grand Prix and that, for Chinese motorsport, is another huge stride and a fantastic opportunity. I want to thank all the people who have supported and helped me to get here.
“From my parents and China Sport Management to the Chinese Motorsport Federation, the companies that have supported and support me, and of course HRT Formula 1 Team for giving me this opportunity. I won’t let them down.”
Congratulations to Ma Qing Hua, the first Chinese-born man to drive an F1 car.
Meanwhile a little piece of history was made by the first Chinese driver to drive an F1 car in an official F1 test session.
Ma Qing Hua, 24, did 54 laps, a total of 318 kilometres and more than a race distance at Silverstone, at the wheel of the HRT.
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Meanwhile the Shanghai born driver, who achieved something millions dream about but few achieve said, “It was a fantastic feeling to drive a Formula 1 car for the first time.
“I’m very proud to represent China and be a pioneer for my nation in this sport. I’m confident that these tests and the ones that will come in the future will help motorsport to grow in China in the future and will grant more opportunities for everyone. This is only a first small step.”
Ma Qing Hua has competed in the Italian Formula 3000 series and the British Formula 3 Championship. He also had an outing for for A1 Team China at the China round in 2005. Last year he did a couple of races in the Chinese leg of the Superleague Formula Series.
I guess an HRT is better than nothing (but not by much).
First the exciting news:
Physicists Find Elusive Particle Seen as Key to the Universe
Signaling a likely end to one of the longest, most expensive searches in the history of science, physicists said Wednesday that they had discovered a new subatomic particle that looks for all the world like the Higgs boson, a key to understanding why there is diversity and life in the universe.
Like Omar Sharif materializing out of the shimmering desert as a man on a camel in “Lawrence of Arabia,” the elusive boson has been coming slowly into view since last winter, as the first signals of its existence grew until they practically jumped off the chart.
“I think we have it,” said Rolf-Dieter Heuer, the director general of CERN, the multinational research center headquartered in Geneva.
How can this not be exciting and history-altering? It's literally a whole new world.
Now the depressing news:
[Formula One Test Driver] De Villota Loses Right Eye And Remains 'Critical But Stable'
The Marussia team has confirmed that Maria de Villota has lost her right eye and remains in a “critical but stable condition” following her accident at Duxford Airfield on Tuesday.
The Spanish test driver, carrying out her first day of straightline aerodynamic testing for the team, made contact with a support truck at the end of her first installation run in the MR-01 and following treatment by paramedics was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The 32-year-old regained consciousness at the hospital but was confirmed as having sustained serious head and facial injuries.
A terrible event during a routine test session. Let's all hope this is the last of the bad news and she recovers quickly.
Amazing. Can be played online at heikki.angrybirds.com. Here's hoping they also release it for iPad.
First win since 2004. Maldonado was a champ today.
The Chinese GP was held April 13th-15th. I went to the race with my father and college friend and my team came in 2nd and 3rd. So not a bad deal.
I have been to the race the past 5 out of 6 years, and this might have been the most packed I've seen the stands. The reason? Well I think there are two reasons. The first is the opening of the metro stop at the race track. In post years this stop has been shut down the weekend of the race. It's utilization this year made for better transportation to and from the race. The second reason was the return of Kimi. It seemed that every other Chinese girl I saw was carrying a Finnish flag. Just watch the video below of the drivers' parade. One minute into the video, Kimi's face appears on the television screen just as he passes his legion of fans. The moment was perfect.
But it wasn't only the size of the crowd that was different this year. It was how revved up the crowd was. In past years, the Chinese fans have been quiet and observant. Yet this year, something had changed. An hour before the race, the crowd seemed to explode with excitement. The grandstand opposite us at the hairpin spontaneously did the wave. When their wave didn't entirely reach the end of their grandstand, our entire grandstand started laughing and booing. Next thing I know, our grandstand then did the wave. And then they tried to out-do our wave, then we did it again, and so on. 10 minutes later and we, the 30,000 people at the hairpin, were still heckling each other and having 'wave' competitions. It was one of the most special moments I've ever participated in at a sporting event. We were all one and the air was electric. Is this how Monza feels?
I present below some photos and videos from that weekend. I am happily looking forward to attending this race for many years to come.
Qualifying (Q1)
Drivers' Parade and Kimi Fever (remember to watch the reaction at one minute into the video)
Formation Lap
Celebration Lap for Nico
I was a little preoccupied.
Chinese F1 GP. Shanghai, China
He's back...
Glad to see the Iceman Kimi Raikkonen returning to Formula 1 with Lotus Renault. One of my best memories was in 2005, watching the Japanese GP with two friends at an off campus apartment (hello Pete and Sean) on a big screen. Kimi went from starting (almost) dead last to passing for the win on the last lap. We went so crazy when he passed Fisichella that the neighbors called security to complain about the noise. Have embedded the video below, although it is the BBC feed and not the American Speed Channel feed we watched at the time. Good memories.
This deserves two smiles! : ) : )
I will miss the #15 Perky Jerky Toyota. Didn't even get a chance to know you.
This post has nothing to do with China and everything to do with my next video game obsession. I mean, just watch the first video below... am I right?
