Tuesday, October 26, 2010

F1 2010 : I hope Webber wins and gets the hell out of Red Bull


First, a disclaimer.  I am NOT a die-hard Webber fan.  I actually wouldn't mind if Alonso wins it all for Ferrari.  In fact, I would get a lot of satisfaction if Alonso wins.  Again, not because I'm a die-hard Alonso fan, but more because I'd like to see Alonso shove it to Lewis Hamilton.

Anyway, going back to Webber, the only thing missing is a huge sign on the Red Bull pit that says, "We prefer Seb!".

When Red Bull transferred the one functional new-at-the-time nose cone from Webber's car to Vettel's, they said if they found themselves in a situation wherein they had to choose, they'd support whomever was leading the championship.  

Prior to the 2010 Korean GP, Webber WAS leading the championship with three races to go.  Consider:

If the finishing order were Vettel-Webber-Alonso in the last three races of the season, Alonso would STILL win the driver's championship despite Vettel winning the last three races.  However, if the finishing order were reversed for Red Bull (i.e., Webber-Vettel-Alonso), Webber would win the championship.  Wouldn't it have made more sense to favor Webber?

Granted, Vettel would still have a chance of winning the championship especially if Alonso would have problems finishing on the podium in the last three races.  (Unfortunately for Red Bull, Alonso went on to win the Korean GP.)

Were Red Bull really hoping that Alonso would screw up at the new Korean track, and again in Interlagos and/or in Abu Dhabi?  Or were they not-so-secretly still harboring a desire that Vettel would be the one to emerge victorious at the end of the season?

Vettel fans would argue that Vettel is the future of Red Bull while Webber is close to retirement.  That might be true.  But what is Red Bull afraid of?  That Vettel would leave for a different team?  Is it because Red Bull is running out of cash?  Unlikely, judging from the fact that there are effectively TWO Red Bull teams on the grid.  Are they scared that Vettel would prefer an all-German team and go to Mercedes?  That's not so bad if they can get Nico Rosberg in exchange.

Or maybe, at the end of the day, they just flat out want Seb to be the Red Bull poster boy.  Just like Lewis is McLaren's.

Which is why if Webber can't win it, I wouldn't mind if Alonso gets it.  I can hear Fernando now saying in his Spanish-accented voice..."Ferrari is the BEST team!"
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TARA 4 and the philippine teams

I like watching The Amazing Race.  Something about travelling and "seeing" other cultures really tickles my fancy.  Many of my friends and I would talk about how it would be fun to be part of the race, and how lucky those Americans were that their passports enabled them to participate in a race that could take them practically anywhere in the world.

Enter: The Amazing Race Asia.  The first time we heard of it, we were wondering if they would be confined to the Asian region.  And, even if they were, would there actually be any Philippine teams given the penchant of Filipinos to "extend their vacation" (in a manner of speaking).

Well, if TARA 4 is any indication, it doesn't seem like ordinary Filipinos would get a chance to participate.  There are two teams in the fourth installment--one, two Fil-Am guys; and the other is composed of two girls, one of which is not even Filipina, while the other, despite having a Filipino-sounding name, sounds nothing like a Filipino.

I have nothing against either of these teams.  I wouldn't mind if they win.  It's just strange.  Since I don't know them personally, one would think that Filipinos would want either of the two to win just because they were Filipinos.  But the thought of cheering for them is about as easy as cheering for any other team...

It's a good thing that Lani is cute.... =)

If only for that, Go Jess and Lani!
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