SeaBee

Williams had issues with bodywork falling off in FP1. Must be the fact that they're not allowed to have their normal livery - non-alcoholic livery, even the "stripes" had to change.

Weird thing is... Kahlua (my ridgeback) actually calmed down a bit when Nugget passed awayr a couple of months ago. She's going to have some trouble shortly again, though! My wife was checking her "tanning" in the sun just yesterday and commented "Lê maar terwyl jy nog kan..." (That just doesn't translate nice... but in short - enjoy laying around whilst you still can)

Agreed, the best driver all year was Lewis. That does not make me like him and his petulance... But it will be a gross injustice if he does not win it. Yet as per usual, the thought of an(other!) Englishman getting his butt kicked does have it's appeal...

Beauts! One of the best cars in the history of F1 in the foreground. (And that coming from somebody who'se not a McLaren fan...)

Dale, I am not impressed with records nowadays. The 1-2 finish record can be equaled in the next race, I think. From memory, that was most likely the 1988 McLaren record when Prost and Senna klapped those 1-2's (I think 10?). They completed the season with the MP4/4's having won all but one (Italy) race, where Senna was infamously leading and taken out whilst lapping a backmarker. They did that in a season with 16 races, we are heading to race 18 in a 19-races season now. It's not even comparable in my mind, yet everybody gets excited about it. No, I am not a McLaren fan, but I think it's a travesty that such a record must fall in such a way. Likewise points are just a joke. Now somebody passes some great drivers of the past in points tallies. SFW...? They get 25 points for a single win now! They get points down to 10th place! I mean, a guy ending 5th now gets equal point (10) to what a win was at a stage. For the most part it was 9 points, winning counted for less points than a 5th place now for most of F1 history. In that era, the guy finishing 6th got the last single point, now a 6th place finish gets you more than (as example) finishing second to Senna. I don't even want to get going about the double-points BS in the last race. But here's a kicker, had a quick check and the 1982 championship was won by a total of 44 points (of course by Goldilocks snr, - not justified in my mind, but that was how it worked out - Pironi missed the last 5 races, about a third of the season, after his crash and still almost won it). That is less than is on play to win this last race. Sorry, that's my little rant for the day. Current records means very little to me.

Had a blurry moment thinking back to our recent loss of Nugget. Don't know what it is with cancers and dogs nowadays - both of my last two dogs went that way. Know how you're feeling - it really sucks. Condolences and best of luck.

Also can't imagine a vet not being able to find the chip. Even if it's not standard (agreed with above, usually between shoulder blades in neck area) placed - all it takes is a quick sweep over the entire dog... Awesome pics, tunariaan! Good news on my side, the puppies have been born. So now the wait... and thinking of names! So soon enough, Kahlua will have some company.

Things are sounding ominous over at Caterham. Apparently employees now even locked out of factory. Not good.

That DTM race (and several others during the season!) was awesome... Really good to see some close combat on the track - at very high speed. And, to boot, multiple manufacturers all having a shot. For one, Merc, who was dominant not too long ago, bottom of the constructors, which went to Audi, with a BMW driver winning the driver's title. So it's not as if you need to be in a specific car to be able to win. Ekstrom won the last two, but I think those were his first wins for the season (under correction - from memory!)

Ja, lots of interesting theories about that race. But I loved that era... Good to see Hulk is being retained by Force India. Why those guys can't maintain performance through a season will be a mystery. Year on year they start well and then fade.

Absolute great news! Now get Rocky up to full health and back to normal. Haha, yeah - he does look a bit doped up on that last pic! But as long as it's helping...

Hey Mayhem, just to clarify - nobody "said so"... I just read that sentence and my conspiracy-theory-mind kicked in... and in all probability went into overdrive.

Hmmm... this is interesting from an article by James Allen. My take - maybe Vettel's desire to leave for Ferrari may shed a light on his lack of performance of this season? If Ferrari was his ultimate wish and he wanted to get into a Ferrari seat before his contract runs out (maybe also already knowing Alonso is in fact leaving), this may just have been his way of ensuring he can go without any contractual issues. Alonso was slightly wrong footed by Ferrari’s swoop for Vettel, who used a get out clause in his contract after September 30th, as he was not in the top three in the Drivers’ Standings at that point.

Thanks Dracs - I was about to question this anti-Prost sentiment as well... I did not like him at the time, but could appreciate his qualities. Think Senna learnt a lot from him. But then, what Senna had, could not be learnt. BTW, I seem to remember (but me remembering that far back is dicey...) that in Prost's first season he also did not participate in all the races. I also don't know whether I'd venture as far as putting Vettel (which is where this all started) in that category. Maybe this year's RB just simply does not suit him at all and it suits Ricciardo's style. Anybody that can kick the entire grid's azz in the wet on a low downforce track is not an idiot behind the steering wheel, esp that being in a STR. But time will tell.

Firstly, I do not think Bianchi would or could have seen a green flag, that is in my mind irrelevant. (They are anyways more guided by/reliant on the yellow lights trackside and their onboard lights as well nowadays.) Secondly, apparently the crane was initially on the verge of the marshal post, moved out of that/his area once it started moving Sutil's car, which meant (to the marshal) that his area was clear. Hindsight is a much more exact science - had nothing happened, nobody would have said a word... and this has happened countless times before. I mean, earlier the year the removed Sutil's (ironically, him again!) car from ON TRACK with waved yellows... with marshals having to cross the track and all. For sure things will change after this, for now the only thing that counts is a young man's life.

Saw that spectator video and my first thoughts was that he was extremely lucky to have survived to begin with. It is horrible, cannot believe that impact.

I will, of course giggle till tomorrow if it's not Alonso leaving Ferrari... Interesting about this is how RB just never lets a good press opportunity slip. They made sure they gave the first "real news" about this saga. Whoever announced whichever moves now, it will only be "oh ja, knew that was coming".

...and so the second part of this is confirmed before the first. Vettel out of RBR (to Ferrari - which isn't actually confirmed, but Horner believes that to be the case), numerous sources. And RB already announced Kvyat to move up from STR - very good move, in my opinion. And Lewis off in FP3, leaving Merc in a race to rebuild his front suspension (at least). Darnit, that put my superbru picks under pressure...

I cannot agree with you more! Much as I like Kimi and his style (or lack thereof)... I'd rather keep Alonso and get a youngster in next to him.

Even chat from within the team seems to suggest now that a lot of Yen will be exchanged to lire, most likely to be re-exchanged into pounds, all to complete the two longest-running rumours in F1. Interesting how the are playing this, with neither Alonso wanting to come across as putting himself before the team and the team wanting to come across that they aren't being bullied by Alonso's wish to leave.

Maybe not "the best photo" taken with a phone, but the moment and view was just so nice... had to snap it with the always-there cellphone. Took a couple of attempts to get the timing right between hitting the button and the actual shot being taken. Swing with a view...

Oh, and this is one I took recently at a netball day. Maybe not the best pic technically, but love the contrast in emotions, with my daughter having just scored and the defender... well, picture, 1000 words, here goes: ...and one of her shots, but just wanted/tried something else

Two shots of the moon earlier this week. Here to learn, so comments and any tips welcome! Later shot, rather boring... I prefer this one earlier the evening. Sort-of thought the moon would be out earlier so not set up or anything. Handheld from the driveway after seeing it was only just over the mountain. Will add some more stuff, just haven't gotten around to it! I only now see their size. If it looks really crappy, I'll redo the resizing later...

Will add some stuff this weekend...

Yeah saw that and immediately liked the idea! Ride the car, do the talking over a beer. Maybe Kimi (Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing!) will do better now!