Posts by Charles Martin78

Walter Peterson5 said:Whatever you do, don't wish her a happy birthday.

It’s one of those milestones where birthdays feel less like a celebration and more like an invitation to offer condolences instead. 😁 🙂

And please, let's not bring this up in front of wearymarlin4... goodness knows...

Raymond Palmer8 said:🙄 if you were aiming this at me, I really have to wonder whether you’ve actually bothered to read any of my posts from last year? Because, by now, you should have developed at least a vague sense of who I am...😕

No, I wasn't talking to you specifically; I was primarily addressing the newcomer to the thread—that sort of person who, after asking a question, immediately follows up with a comment about "old waters," without actually having any intention of discussing anything related to freshwater, saltwater, or even H2O in general.

By leaning into that metaphor, he falls right into the trap set by the simpletons, who can peer through those very narrow lines and convince themselves they’ve uncovered his sexual orientation or some deep-seated psychological reason for it. It's funny, really—these people are always so eager to demand that everyone else back up their opinions with hard facts, yet when it comes to their own views, they just offer a vague "I think he's good" and then try to pass off "he's a class act" as if it were a scientific certainty.🙄

So, there you have it—a rather brief summary of what you were quoting...🙂

Let’s look at it this way...
If you’re essentially asking whether we value the drivers or the machines more, then the answer is obviously the drivers.

People talk about Ayrton Senna being "elevated to the heavens," and it isn't because of some tally of championship trophies, but because he was just a damn good driver. Honestly, I'm certain he'd still be out there tearing up tracks today. But would he be winning titles? Well, I couldn't tell you. You can't use championship counts as the sole metric for greatness, especially if those wins come behind a car that's leagues ahead of the rest of the field. I can already hear the Schumacher devotees shouting, but sometimes the truth is just a bit hard to swallow...🙂
Now, I really don't want to drag us back into those old, dusty debates, but I did want to touch on your comment about someone being "in a league of their own." There aren't actually that many people in that category, and let's hope for the sake of Formula 1 that this season—and the ones following it—proves that point.

If Ferrari decides to revert to their old ways—becoming untouchable again simply by fielding an overwhelmingly dominant car, regardless of whether Michael is there to pilot it or not—then frankly, nobody is rooting for them to go back to that style of dominance...

I just don't quite grasp why it never seems to cross that particular faction's mind that it would be much better for the sport if we had three or four teams fighting at the top instead of just one.🙄 😛

Anđeo said:😁 👍
Honestly, that fan is just exhausting!😁
Some people simply haven't mastered the art of losing gracefully; last season, we all handled our setbacks with such quiet dignity that we didn't even bother cluttering up this forum with complaints!😁 😳 🙏

I really think it would be an absolute embarrassment if they didn't walk away with a win given how incredible that car looks.
I mean, seriously, with a machine like that, even Ralph could have snatched the championship...😁

Ford's Montezemolo said:it's an absolutely crystal clear decision... if anyone actually understands aerodynamics, then it’s definitely the women... 😁 😛

Well, I suppose that's perfectly fine...

Leave the aerodynamics to the ladies, while the men handle the power delivery.😁

Look, McCoy isn't actually hovering over my shoulder constantly. He just reached out because of all the noise the fans are making, basically asking me to just let things be...😁

Oh, come on, Q, you’re going to make me lose all faith in the McLaren-Mercedes... You're really overthinking this one, man...🙄

Arthur Taylor5 said:Have you all seen what Renoir is pulling? They’ve been dragging themselves through Formula 1 for three years now, but if you look closely, they aren't even racing; they're just running endless engine tests in a desperate attempt to find a cure for the plague known as Ferrari and the Schumacher fever!
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?👍

Now, I fully acknowledge that I’m arriving at this particular conversation having had a few too many drinks, and quite frankly, I suspect you might be more interested in experimental chemistry than actual racing...

wearymarlin4 said:Yet another comparison popped up yesterday in the American papers, this time pitting Michael Schumacher against Janica Kostelić. I can't help but wonder—why on earth don't they ever draw those parallels with Montoya, DC, Ralph, or maybe even Jacques Villeneuve? What’s your take on this?

Well, it’s simply because the bar for what qualifies as "news" in these columns is set incredibly low. It's all about easy tropes. Honestly, even I've managed to snag a column myself once upon a time...🙂

Raymond Palmer8 said:Between Montoya and Ralf, they’ve actually got plenty of talent to work with—though I suppose if you’re looking for anything truly exceptional, you might find yourselves searching in all the wrong places...drivers!!! 😁

Honestly, it would be a much smarter move if Ferrari started scouting for some actual talent, because unless they manage to build something significantly faster than the McLaren or the Williams, we're all just going to be stuck listening to Michael sing battle hymns while settling for fourth place (which, let's face it, probably feels better than his brother's best effort...).😛

Elizabeth Hughes mentions Luca Montezemolo:
Mika Hakkinen managed to beat Michael Schumacher once simply because he was genuinely the superior driver, and a second time only because Schumacher was sidelined with a broken leg halfway through the season.
Regardless, one has to tip their hat to Hakkinen for both those titles...

Michael was crowned champion twice following the passing of sennin—one of those times being after that rather nasty collision with Damon Hill, lest we forget—and on three other occasions, the car itself essentially snatched the championship away from him.
Still, I suppose we should give Michael credit for all five of his titles.🙄 😛

Terry Carter2 said:Honestly, there’s just no debating with you, Elizabeth Hughes; you always have an answer ready, and it’s invariably one that shuts everything else down! To be perfectly candid, I’ve actually started feeling a bit intimidated to even attempt a discussion with you. 🙏

I must admit, I've been feeling a similar sense of trepidation lately... whenever I sit down to type, my hand starts to tremble ever so slightly...😁
But I suppose I shall give it a go nonetheless...😛

Q-master said:Ferrari apparently decided to offer Michael Schumacher a new contract, though it’s significantly lighter on the wallet than his current one! I can't help but wonder why they'd pull such a move. Do you all honestly think Ferrari will stick by Michael if he isn't sitting at the top of the standings this season?

Q, I ended up voting for "Because there are cheaper drivers who are just as good," but frankly, I only did so because you neglected to include the most vital part of the equation: Because there are much, MUCH better drivers available for less money!😁

Drew Anderson3 said:McLaren Mercedes MP4-18 - 930 hp
BMW Williams FW25 - 920 hp
Ferrari 2003-GA - 900 hp

Like I mentioned before—this season is shaping up to be quite the spectacle, primarily because we’re likely looking at a head-to-head showdown between McLaren (and by extension, Kimi Räikkönen) and Ferrari for the championship title. Now, Williams has already taken their new car out for a spin, and frankly, they were immediately slower than those top two heavyweights, so there isn't much point in expecting them to challenge for the lead this year. Though, if I'm being honest, they might still have something to aim for: securing third place in the standings.

Then again, Williams has Juan Pablo Montoya behind the wheel, so perhaps they actually have a bit more teeth to sink into the competition than I first thought...🙂

Elizabeth Hughes said:I get the feeling Cleveland might be having some issues with its air quality... or perhaps the "potability" of its water... 😁

Now, I’d say the air there is perfectly fine, and as for the water, well, I don't really drink it, so I couldn't tell you...😁
The only thing that truly gives me pause is that sickly, deep red haze hanging over the skyline in Ivanić...😛

Q-master said:No, she’s just itching for some actual champions to root for, especially since they haven't managed to clinch a title in any sport lately!

And what about Biserka Perman?😁

Hey there,🙂 I have to admit, I’m a bit of a shy soul when it comes to meeting new people.😳

Nikola Tesla said:Did you guys catch Michael Schumacher?

I certainly did...😛

redheron12 said:Well, here goes nothing—my very first poll. If I’ve managed to botch any of the settings or messed up the formatting, please do forgive my amateur efforts.

The first one always leaves an impression, doesn't it? 🙂

I can just see the officials at NASCAR tomorrow morning, scratching their heads and trying to figure out which one of us two actually cast which vote... hehe🙄 😛

mistybear87 said:...so they're actually going to start the races with whatever fuel happens to be left over in the car after qualifying???

Well, we'll just have to wait and see how that plays out... I suppose time will tell what kind of chaos ensues...