Announcement: F1 choc bar challenge
A couple of weeks ago we visited Duffy Sheardown’s new chocolate factory in Cleethorpes, in the north of England.
As well as chocolate, Duffy and I share another interest – Formula 1. Though when I say ‘share an interest’, I mean in my case watching F1 on the telly from the sofa, and in Duffy’s case, spending most of his career working in the motor racing industry.
Given that rather unfair advantage for Duffy, it probably wasn’t the best idea of mine to take up Duffy’s F1 choc bar challenge.
From an email from Duffy:
“I have been reading all the so-called motor-racing experts trying to predict the season and realised that they have absolutely no idea what will happen. The best they can come up with is that Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull and possibly Mercedes will be near the top and that Virgin, Lotus and HRT won’t.
So I figured we might enjoy a little bet. On a race-by-race basis we each pick a driver and if my pick beats your pick you owe me a bar of chocolate. Yours beats mine and I owe you a bar. We can settle up at season end. We alternate first picks so you can go first…
You have until Sunday morning to accept this challenge but be warned – with the regulation changes good qualifying pace is unlikely to completely translate to good race pace…”
So, I’ve foolishly agreed to the bet, and am now stocking up 19 chocolate bars to hand over at the end of the season, but hoping I might get lucky and end up with a few Red Star Chocolate bars as well.
We’ll be recording our picks in comments to this post, and you’re all welcome to join in, though I’m not taking on any more chocolate bar bets though – not sure I can afford to take on any more losses.
(* indicates who chose first)
Results so far
Bahrain, 14 March 2010:
Race winner: Fernando Alonso
Duffy’s call: Alonso
Martin’s call: Vettel *
Result: Reliability issues hamper Vettel and Alonso wins it.
Score: 1-0 to Duffy
Australia, 28 March 2010:
Race winner: Jenson Button
Duffy’s call: Vettel *
Martin’s call: Mark Webber
Result: Vettel slides off and is beaten by Webber’s disappointing 9th.
Score: 1-1
Malaysia, 4 April 2010:
Race winner: Sebastian Vettel
Duffy’s call: Nico Rosberg
Martin’s call: Vettel (after a stewards enquiry!) *
Result: Vettel finally gets a win, in ultra-cool style.
Score: 2-1 to Martin
China, 18 April 2010:
Race winner: Jenson Button
Duffy’s call: Fernando Alonso *
Martin’s call: Lewis Hamilton
Result: Alonso’s jump start and Lewis’s skill through the pack give it to Hamilton
Score: 3-1 to Martin
Spain, 9 May 2010:
Race winner: Mark Webber
Duffy’s call: Mark Webber
Martin’s call: Vettel *
Result: Webber untouchable after Vettel fails to overtake at the start.
Score: 3-2 to Martin
Monaco, 16 May 2010:
Race winner: Mark Webber
Duffy’s call: Robert Kubica *
Martin’s call: Mark Webber
Result: Webber does it again.
Score: 4-2 to Martin
Turkey, 30 May 2010:
Race winner: Lewis Hamilton
Duffy’s call: Sebastian Vettel
Martin’s call: Lewis Hamilton *
Result: Hamilton’s first win of the season.
Score: 5-2 to Martin
Canada, 13 June 2010:
Race winner: Lewis Hamilton
Duffy’s call: Lewis Hamilton *
Martin’s call: Jenson Button
Result: Two in a row for Hamilton and Duffy’s catching up.
Score: 5-3 to Martin
European (Valencia), 27 June 2010:
Race winner: Sebastian Vettel
Duffy’s call: Sebastian Vettel
Martin’s call: Fernando Alonso *
Result: Vettel comes in strong and it’s almost neck and neck here.
Score: 5-4 to Martin
Silverstone, UK, 11 July 2010:
Race winner: Mark Webber
Duffy’s call: Sebastian Vettel *
Martin’s call: Lewis Hamilton
Result: Big win for Webber, neither of us made the right call. Hamilton came in a good second though and Vettel way behind, so a win for Martin
Score: 6-4 to Martin
Germany, 25 July 2010:
Race winner: Fernando Alonso
Duffy’s call: Sebastian Vettel
Martin’s call: Fernando Alonso *
Result: Rare success for Alonso, Martin gets lucky again.
Score: 7-4 to Martin
Hungary, 1 August 2010:
Race winner: Mark Webber
Duffy’s call: Sebastian Vettel *
Martin’s call: Mark Webber
Result: Webber yet again in a thrilling race and Vettel third. Amateurs are trouncing professionals in the choc bar challenge
Score: 8-4 to Martin
My pick for Bahrain, the first race of the new season, is Sebastian Vettel. It’s a tricky one to call, but I reckon Vettel is pretty good at holding onto a lead. If it wasn’t his first race with the team, I would have gone for Alonso and he might well cause me to lose my first bar.
I think Lewis Hamilton will make it to the podium, Schumacher will finish a couple of places up and Barrichello will sneak up from the back.
So, race about to start, let’s see what happens!
You underrated Alonso. Race result:
1. Alonso
2. Masa
3. Hammilton
4. Vettel
5. Rosberg
6. Schumacher
Well I picked Alonso – and it proved to be a good call. He was catching Vettel before the Red Bull exhaust cracked. So, one bar up and I get first pick for the next race in Oz. SHould I wait until after qualifying or make a call now? I think it might be an interesting season bu McLaren and Mercedes need to sort their games out pdq.
Duffy
For Melbourne I am going to have to make an early call on whom I think will win. My temperer is nearly refurbished (a cheap auction buy) but not quite and I have nearly 80kg of chocolate stacked up waiting to go through it. Rather than dig out the granite slab and ACMC again I’m heading for a salmon river in Scotland for a few days.
Which means I have to make my pick before first practice even begins! Vettel or Alonso? Tough call. I doubt the Mercedes and McLaren teams will be in a hugely different condition although track conditions might me look very silly on that one. I think Webber and Massa are going to struggle to consistently match their team mates. The Ferrari had overheating issues at Bahrain; the Red Bull lost a plug whislt clearly in the lead.
I shall plump for Vettel. Could be Champ this year – he’s good enough and he’ll have learnt that silly mistakes are, as the name suggests, silly.
Martin can wait and see what qualifying tells us. Anyway let’s hope the race is a better show than last time out.
Duffy
With a few hours to go before the race, I have to say that Vettel would most likely have won the last race if it wasn’t for mechanical issues, so looks a good call for Melbourne, especially after qualifying today and pole position.
Seeing as you’ve taken Vettel, the right thing to do would be to go for Alonso – if something goes wrong he could be handed it again. I’m going to be sentimental though and choose Mark Webber to win on home territory. Maybe he’ll get the better run for once. I reckon Button could make the podium if he’s lucky, Schumacher won’t finish above 6th. But then luckily my bet doesn’t count this race.
Well, mechanical gremlins robbed the fastest-driven fastest car (Vettel, Red Bull) and the slowest-driven fastest car (Webber, Red Bull) had too many errors to win. Interesting race, if only to hear Lewis lose the plot and wish he had his Daddy with him again.
Right, decisions time. Webber fastest and he’s in the fastest car but…do I trust him not to bin it under pressure? No, don’t be silly. Lewis has been fast all weekend but starts near the back. Can he come through and win it? Probably; safety cars and treacherous weather will help him. BUT Alonso is in front of him – no mean driver in the wet.
Who makes the best strategy calls? Ross Brawn – but is Nico ready for a win? He is. I’m going against my gut feeling and picking Vettel. He’s in the fastest car but has had some car problems. In the rain everything is wayyy less stressed (everything except the drivers who like the rain: Lewis, Jenson, Fernando et al. Even Michael!) so my call is Vettel.
If I was a betting man I would have Lewis and Alonso down for podium finishes. They will be on a charge and it should be extremely entertaining and maybe a little scary. In-car footage on the red button would be ideal….except I’m still on terrestrial with no box.
It’s going to be an interesting race for sure. Actually it was my first pick this week and I would have gone for Vettel, honest! I agree about Webber – he could win from pole in dry conditions and if it was a straightforward race, which it won’t be. Seeing as you’ve already bagged Vettel and agreeing that Alonso and Lewis could drive through it all, I’m going to make a sentimental fan based choice and choose Hamilton. Odds are against it, but it could be wide open tomorrow.
You can do the in car thing online with the BBC iPlayer (UK only), so laptop and telly will do the job nicely – I usually get the official F1 timing screen up as well, as the only way to keep track, especially if things get mixed up a lot like they will tomorrow.
Oops. I will change from Vettel to Rosberg as you haven’t mentioned him. You can either change or stay the same. I’d like to see a Lewis win though – that would mean we are watching a great race.
2-1 to the editor then. Red Bull were faultless and strategy could be kept simple as there was no rain. Even the Virgin car managed a finish (I worked for Nick Wirth in a previous life..). Can’t remember what the China circuit is like before I make my choice there.
Well, it IS my first pick this time and I’m bored by the speedy Red Bulls so I shall plump for Alonso to win the race. They have engine worries – overheating – but that might not be an issue on a fast circuit. Thought I’d be taking Lewis for tomorrow but not when he starts that far behind.
No, time to go and see if I can get my very second-hand FBM temperer working for the first time since I bought it and repaired it. It all seems to work but I haven’t tempered any chocolate yet.
All things being even, Vettel should win it, but I think rain could well intervene tomorrow, so I will go for Lewis. He could be on the march and the rain could mix things up. Should be an interesting race anyway.
Been a distracting few weeks, what with the British election and events like the Real Food Festival, where Duffy is exhibiting right now.
Barcelona should really be an easy Red Bull win, but you never quite know about their reliability and whether Mark Webber can deliver. So my pick for this race is Sebastian Vettel, I reckon he’ll leapfrog Webber early on and stay at the front assuming there’s no rain or mechanical failures. I might be rooting for Hamilton though.
Over to Duffy, if he can take a minute away from the exhibition crowds.
I think Martin has made the right choice but I can’t decide who might bottle it – Lewis trying too hard or Mark doing his usual? I have to go for Webber to nail one. He can’t always make a silly mistake, can he?
The Real Food Fair has been good – nice to offer taste samples and everyone has been most kind and helpful
Duffy
56 laps and Vettel having some trouble, while Webber cruises
Not looking god for me – Webber 1st, Vettel 4th at the moment. Hamilton looks like he’ll finish 2nd, but not within sight of Webber.
The big one this week – Monaco. What a fabulous circuit to visit and to work at. One of THE scareiest moments of my life was walking up between the fence and the barrier on the hill after the start and the first left-hander. The cars were inches away and nearly brushing the armco. I stayed a few minutes, feeling the noise and vibration before hurrying up to Casino. If you only ever go to one race macke it this one.
Anyway, who to choose? Webber on pole again, Vettel close in 3rd so it should be between those 2 for the win. I am going to go for Kubica, the mightily impressive Pole in the Renault. His tyres must be shagged so I will need an early safety-car for this to work out in my favour. It’s more of a vote than a bet – I used to work for that team in 2 of its’ previous guises back in the day.
Ok, well that leaves me free to choose Webber. Pole, the confidence of last week and Red Bull perhaps having now found some reliability means he should do it, especially with Alonso out of the picture. Early tyre changes could swap things around though – and will Massa get a penalty and Hamilton get a chance?
Duffy’s off enjoying drag racing this weekend, but I’ve gone for Hamilton for Istanbul – if he gets a good start he’s in with a chance. Duffy has emailed in his choice as Vettel, though he thinks he should have gone for Button. Race starts in 1 hour.
Well I did manage to see some of the race. There was a problem at the drag strip so we saw the start. When they kept repeating that it was going to rain “in 8 minutes” we went back to watch more drag racing – and then some guy lost control of his car within 2 metres and wiped out the Christmas Tree starting light so I saw the end. Missed the crucial Webber/Vettel moment but eventually caught a replay. And didn’t Lewis look unhappy on the podium? Lighten up – you just won your first race of the season and the fact that your team-mate isn’t prepared to just sit behind and applaud your undoubted greatness and makes a pass then attack back and see where you end up.
End of the day Martin is thrashing me at this! I can’t ever vote for Webber for reasons I don’t understand so tend to vote rather than bet. Ho hum.
Canada next. I drove there once from Indianapolis – it doesn’t look far on a very small map – and saw Aryton in blinding form win the race. My money might be on a furous Alonso but we shall see.
Well, so much for my secret hopes for Alonso, Kubica and Button. If Button is on the prime tyres he might still do it. Head says one of the Red Bulls but as usual I am going to vote and that means plumping for Lewis. Extraordinary in qualifying. I shall miss the race as I’m in London meeting someone who might have interesting cocoa beans up his sleeve.
Well ok, the race has already started, but having been in a meeting I’m not watching – been recording it though and about to start. As Duffy went for Hamilton (would have been my first choice too), I’m going for Button, I don’t think the Red Bull’s will do it on this circuit.
Saw Duffy early this morning, and he can testify that this was my choice! (Hoping that Button’s not already spun off or something.)
Not really done enough research for this race, but I think the McLarens can’t cut it this because they’re behind with updates. On paper a Red Bull should do it, but I think Alonso will be dangerous from fourth. Ok, he doesn’t always come through on home ground, but I’m taking a chance he will steal a win, with luck, tactics and pure driving. So Alonso is my choice. Duffy?
Well I hope you are right about Alonso but I think Lewis will be strong. But I must be right about Seb one day Vettel is my pick. I shall miss the race and a certain football match as I am in a field on a hot day not selling much chocolate to Lincolnshire folk.
Quick update for Silverstone. Duffy’s called Vettel and I’m rather blindly going for Hamilton – I’m away in Peru and haven’t seen a thing, but Lewis will be dangerous on home ground, updates or not.
For Germany Martin has chosen Alonso and so I have to go with Vettel. This one could go either way and the 2 McLarens will be trying to charge through with a fast-in-speed-traps cars. Weather might be variable and the next batch of chocolate will either get started in the morning or have to wait until Monday because I don’t want to miss this one. If I had a proper telly I’d be checking out the Tour de France too. Big iff though.
My first choice for Hungary and its the easiest of the season – Vettel. Clear on pole, just needs a decent start and the race is his.
Probably I should go for Alonso, but not really in the mood after last week. I know team orders are unavoidable, but the way they were carried out was rather unpleasant and left a bad taste in the mouth.
So I’m picking Mark Webber – it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if something went wrong for Vettel, leaving the door open for Webber.
We are back after a short break at the fantastic Spa circuit in Belgium. Once again I am going vote rather than bet. Maybe McLaren have found some performance even though they say they haven’t been working. Yeah, right. Anyway a not-convinced Lewis for me and a general fingers crossed for rain and 2 Mercedes trying to fight through the pack for extra entertainment.
Controversy reigns with more pit lane shenanigans from Duffy – actually it was my call this week! (I’ve made it clearer in the listings now who’s call it is!)
I definitely reckon this could be a Lewis race. It looks like rain and he’ll either win it or blow it. So Hamilton for me.
Care to pick again Duffy?
After my groaning complaints, Duffy has texted in Vettel as his choice. Race about to start, probably rain towards the end!