2020 Season Review

[Peter Mallett]

Well, since the entire year has been challenging I thought I'd start a thread about what we've witnessed this year. Also hats off to Liberty and the teams for actually achieving something that personally I thought would be impossible. A season of 17 races. Also I do like the idea of running into Christmas with a gap of a couple of weeks.

But what have we seen this year? A return to Turkey on a very unpredictable track, the Sakhir GP on a very short track which demonstrated George Russell's potential and gave Checko his first win. Pirelli getting it wrong at Silverstone which produced a nail biting finish. Two tracks which deserve more use, Mugello and Portimao. Lance Stroll, who suffered bad luck in Turkey but also demonstrated that he is entitled to be on the grid. The fight between Renault, Racing Point and McLaren for 3rd in the championship. The maturing of Max Verstappen and the sad decline of Sebastian Vettel.

Many other things but what do you think?

[chillibowl]

what havent we seen this year!

for me best season since 2008. since that 2007 to 2009 period at least.

and yes, thank you Liberty! its been wonderful to have this season and this community for this messed up year. appreciated.

[gert]

Isn't it a bit early to be reviewing next year's season ?

[Peter Mallett]

Busted! I'll change it later.

[steve_r]

Great year considering that it looked at one point that it would not even happen.

The new tracks and revisiting some not seen for years were a genuine breath of fresh air.

The scary Grosjean accident reminded us of the dangers that the drivers put themselves through for the purpose of entertainment.

There have been some great races despite the lack of any serious competition to Hamilton for the WDC. Unfortunately this lack of competition will have put off many people.

[GT6]

Well a good year for some teams but a really bad one for others, certainly if you had a Ferrari engine.

[Peter Mallett]

Yes indeed, if only Williams had a Mercedes,...... oh wait.

[Tourer]

Firstly, as others have said, massive kudos to Liberty, the FIA and the teams for giving us a 17 race season - really didn't think that many would be delivered.

Great shame that the competition right at the pointy end was so one-sided overall but that isn't the fault of Mercedes, just shows the gap that the other teams need to bridge to get on terms.

I ended up ignoring the regular first three from MB and RB (other than Sakhir, where George was a breath of fresh air) and focussing on the mid field and really, this year has been scintillating when viewed that way - unpredictable much of the time, close racing, overtakes, undercuts, near-misses etc - action aplenty. Been a good season.

Then there are the circuits and to me, it has been the selection of some of the circuits that has made this season a STANDOUT and massive improvement over recent years. Whoever it was who took the massive sow's ear of racing with Covid & turned it into the exceptional silk purse we were delivered deserves huge accolades and some kind of medal IMHO. Mugello should be on the bill every year, just an absolutely sublime circuit and an achingly beautiful setting, Portimao very close to it, Imola is hauntingly special and the Sakhir layout really worked - so really, really good to go there and even though Turkey didn't really work due to the recent resurfacing, it would be good to see it back on the regular calendar as well. Abu Dhabi showed that the bland circuits we've been used to in recent years don't often deliver - I know commercial forces come into play and running multiple Grands Prix in one country has been avoided for some time but it would be so good if we could see F1 back at the tracks introduced (or brought back) this year more often.

Pretty good year I reckon!

[GT6]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Yes indeed, if only Williams had a Mercedes,...... oh wait.

i think they got the engines mercedes rejected, worse year ever for williams i think

[wnut]

Originally Posted by GT6

i think they got the engines mercedes rejected, worse year ever for williams i think

Despite having one of the best drivers in the field apparently.

[E.B]

Originally Posted by steve_r

Great year considering that it looked at one point that it would not even happen.

The new tracks and revisiting some not seen for years were a genuine breath of fresh air.

The scary Grosjean accident reminded us of the dangers that the drivers put themselves through for the purpose of entertainment.

There have been some great races despite the lack of any serious competition to Hamilton for the WDC. Unfortunately this lack of competition will have put off many people.

Sadly it will be a season mostly remembered for a crash and a virus than for a down to the wire title fight like say 2007/8.
Admitted it was a better season than at one time we were looking at. We learnt new motor racing terms like F1 bubble and biospheres.

[Oldtony]

Very interesting season in terms of the mid-field racing, and that is nearly always better and closer than the race up front.
The 2021 Silly season was decided before the 2020 season really got underway.
The actual racing, Mr Hamilton & Merc aside was some of the best we have had in years, partly due to the shake up in circuits and partly due to the battle for 3rd place in the WCC.
I gave at least 3 9s in rate the race and only 2 or 3 4 or less.
Some old hands disappointed, some of them got into the groove to save careers and others surprised with talent we hadn't seen before.
The new boys didn't disappoint and those that are bowing out are doing so with honour.
I give the season an 8, which seeing as I nearly cancelled my Foxtel in March is a pleasant surprise.
Just hoping we get an Albert Park!!!

[chillibowl]

lol. i cancelled my cable/sport package in march but signed back up in time for the first race weekend. very happy i did!

there were so many standout moments this year...torn between LH's 3 wheel win at Silverstone and Gasly's sitting alone on the podium.



so 2020!

[Pandamasque]

Has anyone seen anything official on Season 3 of Drive to Survive? I've found lots of publications about it definitely being made and so on, but nothing outside sites and blogs that I don't know if I can trust.

There's no mention of S3 on IMDb

I presume COVID19 protocols would make filming such a thing very challenging.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Has anyone seen anything official on Season 3 of Drive to Survive? I've found lots of publications about it definitely being made and so on, but nothing outside sites and blogs that I don't know if I can trust.

There's no mention of S3 on IMDb

I presume COVID19 protocols would make filming such a thing very challenging.

F1 reality TV, best they don't make another season.

[S griffin]

I don’t think they need to make another one either. Have no problem with a behind the scenes series, but after last season there is no need for another. Maybe they should stick to a specific team this year

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by wnut

F1 reality TV, best they don't make another season.

It's not. By definition in reality TV participants are put through scenarios for the purpose of entertaining a TV audience. Drive to Survive (I hate the title, by the way) is no more reality TV than any racing documentary or just ongoing reporting that we consume every day.

[chillibowl]

Not sure about anything official or release date but for sure the film crews were in Austria.

Been watching some of the NBA life in the bubble docs/behind the scenes stuff and it was fascinating.

As someone who still enjoys F1, i cant imagine their behind the scenes would be any less fascinating. Very much looking forward to it!

[chillibowl]

Netflix' Drive to Survive series set for Mar 19 release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIFhAtbV0D0

[chillibowl]

Anyone watched it yet?

I've watched a few episodes now...overall very good despite the fact they couldnt cover every race, Vettel is hillarious, and the more narrative driven episode format was really quite good I thought.

So on that note, here is Gasly's article from the players tribune...a site where athletes tell their story in their own words.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/po...ula-one-racing

A good read.

[Richard C]

I didn't watch previous seasons. My son is interested so we have watched two episodes so far. I like seeing some additional video that is beyond what we see during regular race broadcasts, etc. But it is clearly edited after the fact to run specific narratives. My son tells me that some storylines are apparently totally missing or glossed over (such as George's drive for Mercedes... not sure as we haven't finished watching them all). So clearly there is something going on that is odd. Such as... team level veto on content? So it comes a across less genuine and more manufactured, which leaves me feeling it could have been much better.

Richard

[Greem]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

So on that note, here is Gasly's article from the players tribune...a site where athletes tell their story in their own words.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/po...ula-one-racing

A good read.

That's one of the best "in their own words" pieces I've read from any sports participant in a long, long time. Very emotive, very instructive, and very open. Bravo, M. Gasly, Bravo.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

My son tells me that some storylines are apparently totally missing or glossed over (such as George's drive for Mercedes... not sure as we haven't finished watching them all). So clearly there is something going on that is odd. Such as... team level veto on content? So it comes a across less genuine and more manufactured, which leaves me feeling it could have been much better.

for this season the netflix crew was only allowed to film at a few races (covid related) so much was not covered so not a proper 2020 recap.

probably why they had to create these these narrative based story lines....which despite a bit of creative editing provided solid insight i thought. the Ferrari episode felt true to the mark imo.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Greem

That's one of the best "in their own words" pieces I've read from any sports participant in a long, long time. Very emotive, very instructive, and very open. Bravo, M. Gasly, Bravo.

totally!

amazing how something like this, something very personal, can change how others view him. definitely will be cheering for him a bit more because of this.

[steve_r]

I always enjoy watching it, but when the new current season starts, my desire to see any more of what happened in the previous year drops off a cliff. I have watched and enjoyed 2 episodes so far, and will probably only get through 1 or 2 more before this we get going with this season.

It would be nice if Drive to Survive was launched around Christmas - then I would definitely watch it all during the dark winter months.