Art of the opportunist overtake down the years

[John S]

In close season a vid reminding us just how good F1 really is. 
 
See what your favourite is from this great selection, mine is probably either Jacques stuffing Schumi in Portugal 96, or Prost shafting Senna in France in 88.  - Enjoy.     

[Jericoke]

Odd how the video discusses the blue flag enforcement lessening the skill of the sport, yet the #1 pass was made when the blue flags were in force.

And I agree with the #1 pass.  One of the most epic moves I've ever seen in F1.

On balance, I think the enforced blue flags are good for the sport.  I don't want the back markers deciding who wins.  The fastest drivers/fastest cars should be allowed to be.  But, I wouldn't mind watching the top cars have to fight through lapped traffic.

[Dare]

I like the blue flags too and as a thought or comment,I think Petrov should
have let Alonso pass him when Alonso was going for the WDC!Petrov had
nothing to gain and likely cost Ferd his 3rd title.Maybe David willagree with me

[lkjohnson1950]

NO! If Alonso can't pass Petrov on his own, he doesn't deserve to be Champion. Sorry, absolutely not.

[romephius]

I almost jumped out of my seat cheering with that #1 pass.... seeing the 2 cars split around the backmarker was just a fantastic sight to see....

And I agree, Alonso just didn't deserve it that year.... and from that trouble, he has gotten better.... But, that's just my opinion.

[Ian]

My old favourite topic. Get rid of the blue flag, if you're good enough to be a WDC you should be able to see off a backmarker.

[John S]

I like the blue flags too and as a thought or comment,I think Petrov should
have let Alonso pass him when Alonso was going for the WDC!Petrov had
nothing to gain and likely cost Ferd his 3rd title.Maybe David willagree with me

If we put this another way and suppose it was Alonso's teamate in front of him in the same situation, would it be correct for a penalty to be imposed if a team orders ban is in force and the teamate appears to let him through?   
 
I'm in the make the pass yourself camp, if your good enough - earn it. 


 

[Jericoke]

I like the blue flags too and as a thought or comment,I think Petrov should
have let Alonso pass him when Alonso was going for the WDC!Petrov had
nothing to gain and likely cost Ferd his 3rd title.Maybe David willagree with me

Nothing to gain?

How about adding 'beat two time world champion' on your resume?

It might not mean much as a spectator, but I'm sure it means something to professional pride.

(On the other hand, who do you think would show more gratitude for Petrov?  Alonso or Vettel?  Or which team would be happier, the one with a Renault engine, or the one with the Ferrari engine?  I doubt Petrov was thinking any of that, but surely his team would have suggested 'saving the car' if they felt that Alonso was the man to back.)

[Scott]

My vote - lose the blue flags.  If the other rules are stuck to - like only one defensive move - then the backmarkers can't have that much effect on wins or championships and the faster cars/drivers should be able to overtake if not right away, then a few corners later. 

As it's been said before, if you want all the backmarkers to move aside whenever someone's coming up behind them, why not just have them all park the cars as soon as they're lapped?   

Awesome compilation video.  Can't disagree with the #1 pick either.   

[David]

Great video John. 

Best watched with the sound off. 

[Scott]

Yeah, I could do without the rave music as well.   

[Canada Darrell™]

Total agreement on the #1 pass but a stinging indictment on the overall state of passing when nothing from the last 10 years made his top 10.

forgotten in this compilation was Japan 2005. probably the last great GP for passing.

[John S]

Total agreement on the #1 pass but a stinging indictment on the overall state of passing when nothing from the last 10 years made his top 10.

forgotten in this compilation was Japan 2005. probably the last great GP for passing.

Maybe the compiler of the video, which by the way is the best I've seen on youtube or elsewhere, couldn't get any clips of later races, you know how protective of the rights Bernie and his minions are.

[Scott]

That, and the fact that blue flag rule enforcement is a lot more strict now - meaning backmarkers are no longer a factor of overtaking...which is a shame.

[Dare]

 :'(