Thursday Thoughts - Pre-race glimpses
Summing up a favourite part of the entire Formula One weekend
The question for Thursday Thoughts this week is quite broad: What is your favourite part of an F1 weekend? There is so much that goes into a weekend - from the big moments like a race start and the first corner, to the more personal moments like the swell of emotion if your favourite driver makes his way onto the podium. However, I've chosen something that happens before the weekend proper gets underway.
Thursday Thoughts - Your favourite part of an F1 weekend
A broad off-season question, looking back at the best of 2010
As we are midway through the festive break, and F1 news is at a minimum, thoughts are beginning to turn back towards the race weekends, if you are missing them and whether you can wait until they start up again. This isn't going to be a question of whether you like the off-season or not, though. Today's Thursday Thoughts question is nice and open.
Thursday Thoughts - How would you change the public perception of F1?
What I would do if I got to replace Bernie Ecclestone
This week the Thursday Thoughts question comes from the ever-fabulous Lukeh, who wants us to step into Bernie's shoes for a moment. That's not the best pair of shoes to wear, but we'll give it a go anyway. Here's the original question: If you succeeded Bernie Ecclestone with controlling and owning Formula 1, how would you change the public perception of F1?
Thursday Thoughts - The real star(s) of 2010
Picking the best driver, team member and a bonus paddock member
This week's Thursday Thoughts question comes courtesy of Maverick over at Viva F1, and it's about taking a look up and down the paddock and picking out a VIP. Here's the question: Who was the real star of the 2010 Formula One season?
Thursday Thoughts - So far so good
The new teams help F1, but are they just making up the numbers?
I think the simple answer is that F1 is better with the new teams than it would have been without them. Without them there would only have been 18 cars on the grid which is unacceptable to most people. We needed more teams to guarantee the future of the sport.
Thursday Thoughts - It's not all about speed, but it helps
A closer look at the three epic underdog teams and their 2010 performance
This week's question is throwing the focus to the back of the grid, as this year we opened up two new garages, and welcomed in three teams - HRT, Virgin Racing and Lotus Racing. The three new teams made quite an impression on F1 this year. What do you think they brought to the sport? How would the year have been without them? Better or worse?
Thursday Thoughts - Are the new teams welcome?
What do you think the backmarker teams have brought to F1?
We have reached Thursday yet again, and it's time to get your thinking caps on. So far this off-season, we have had two questions in a row about tweaking F1 to be more to your liking. This time, we're taking the topic elsewhere, pondering over some of the things we have seen in the sport this year. The question today: The three new teams made quite an impression on F1 this year. What do you think they brought to the sport? How would have the year been without them? Better or worse?
Thursday Thoughts - Cheeky changes
Focusing on some of the support races in an F1 weekend
This week, the Thursday Thoughts question comes courtesy of Karun Chandhok's mother, who suggested this via Twitter. It continues on from the tweaks to our least favourite tracks last Thursday, but this time we are looking at F1 as a whole. I have a few ideas to brighten up a race weekend, starting with the support series'.
Thursday Thoughts - Appropriate logos and helmet lottery
An irreverant look at things that could improve Formula One
Team logos will have to properly reflect the team rather than be something drawn up by a marketing department which in their world reflects the team’s image and values. Since Ferrari has now decided it is a one driver team the prancing horse will need to have one of its back legs chopped off. Over at Red Bull the logo will be changed to show several bulls charging at each other with bulls representing the two drivers, Helmut Marko, Dietrich Mateschitz and Renault. Standing in the middle will be will be a matador with a chequered cape representing Christian Horner trying to get them all charging in the same direction. I am sure others can come up with similar logos for other teams.
Thursday Thoughts - Irreverent changes
A question from everyone's favourite F1 mother, Chitra Chandhok
After the success of last week's Thursday Thoughts, we were instantly hit with another suggestion upon a similar theme. Seven days ago we were tweaking the tracks to make them a bit more palatable, and your question this week is also about making changes. It comes from none other, than the fabulous Ms Chitra Chandhok.
Thursday Thoughts - Nothing that an overdose of testosterone can not solve
Circuits that have already been adapted need looking at again
Suppose if everyone in the Superman Universe knew that Superman and Clark Kent are the same person. Would there be a need for Clark Kent? I mean Lois and Jimmy exists as damsels in distress, to be saved on the page of the comic book by Superman. But Clark is just a cover that has been blown. I forget their bosses’ name at the Daily Planet, but how many times would he have to say “Lois must be in trouble – there goes Superman dressed up as Clark to the telephone booth or closet again… “ Before it starts to become a bit pathetic?
Thursday Thoughts - Rip it all up and start again
Changes that should be made to Abu Dhabi, Valencia and more
I got chastised by Christine for not writing a blog post about Thursday Thoughts when I wrote something down double-quick that was in my head, so Sidepodcast becomes my blog (and notepad) until I get mine sorted again.
Thursday Thoughts - Sending Tilke to the moon
Looking at what works and what doesn't on the F1 calendar
Great subject for the first Thursday Thoughts of the off season. I still think the best way to improve the tracks on the calendar is to remove Hermann Tilke from the scene. Maybe Branson can sacrifice one of his spaceships to take him to the moon and let him plan a track there. He would have a lot of work to do surveying and allowing for the lower gravity and lack of atmosphere that by the time he was finished everyone would have forgotten about him and he could be abandoned there torturing himself rather than us with his inadequate imagination.
Thursday Thoughts - Tweaking existing tracks
A closer look at Bahrain, Silverstone and Valencia
The return of Thursday Thoughts brings with it a tricky question to start with. This week, we have posed a bit of a conundrum regarding keeping the calendar as it is, but tweaking those tracks that you find distasteful. Which are your worst three circuits, and what would you do to fix them?
Thursday Thoughts - Fixing what's already broken
Evaluating the circuits that don't light up the Formula One calendar
This week sees the return of Thursday Thoughts, a blog-centric way to brighten up the worst day of the week, and help us banish those off-season blues. If you were not around last winter, the concept will be new to you, but it's quite simple. Each Thursday, a lead blogger poses a question on their blog, and then others type up some posts with their answers. The idea is aimed at blogs rather than comments, but even if you don't have your own little corner of the web, any one of the participating bloggers will be more than happy to host your thoughts.
Thursday Thoughts - Why do you blog?
Where writing isn't the key motivation to keeping a blog
This week as the off-season comes to a close, it's the final Thursday Thoughts for awhile. Unusually we have a question in front of us that both Christine and I can answer, but in different ways. So this is my take.
Thursday Thoughts - I am a blogaholic
Writing far too many blogs but enjoying every minute of it
For the final Thursday Thoughts, Maverick has posed a question not directly related to F1, but an interesting one. Mr C and I are both answering, so make sure you also read his answer. The question itself: why do you blog?
Thursday Thoughts - Your blog
Celebrating the best parts of writing about Formula One on the internet
Welcome to the last Thursday Thoughts for the time being. We've been answering and posing questions for the off-season, and it's been an amazing ride, covering vast subjects from best team principals, to the economics of local governments. The best thing about Thursday Thoughts, though, has been the excellent participation amongst bloggers - from the volunteers to host the question each week - to everyone putting fingers to keyboard to come up with some answers.
Thursday Thoughts - A Branson pickle
Does Richard Branson regret abandoning Brawn GP?
This week, Jackie has posed the question over on Viva F1, and it's a great one. “Do you think that Richard Branson regrets his decision to buy Manor instead of sticking with Brawn GP?”
Thursday Thoughts - F1 and government funding
Investigating how involved a country should be in motorsport
This week, Dan Brunell has taken the lead for Thursday Thoughts, posing a rather tricky question over on his Racing Eagles blog. Is government finance of Formula One events, teams, and personal a good thing for the common good of that area? What is the line between regional economic investment and the wholesale fleecing of the public?
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