Not sure if anybody reads these, but ehh... might as well 'lick the stamp and send it!'
G'day everyone! The name is Matthew, long time lurker on this forum for years... but have finally decided to sign up and join in the discussions and debates!
About me, pretty much anything to do with transport I enjoy; Cars and Planes especially. Bit of a music lover (and singer)... then again who isn't! I'd say I enjoy pretty much all forms motorsport, though only really follow Formula 1 closely (ok, religiously!). My love affair with F1 actually begun around the middle of the 2000's and considering my age I guess that is more recent than a lot of forum members here. I had watch bits in pieces from the early 2000's, mainly the Australian Grand Prix as they were on at reasonable times on weekends in my younger years, but started becoming more regular as I grew older and started staying up later. I can recall the first race I properly watched 'live' was the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, where Button triumphed in changing conditions and the likes of Schumacher and Alonso faltered or ran into problems... was pretty much hooked from there onwards after that race!
Strangely though, whilst the racing naturally appeals to me, it's the technical innovation that made me grow more and more interested in the sport; It's pretty much unlike anything else. The amount of resources and funding that goes into these machines, the research that is involved all over the car, just for them to add a flap here or a slightly different angled winglet there, all in the name of a few tenths (or even hundreds of a second) boggles the mind... and I thoroughly enjoy seeing what each of the teams come up with next in terms of ideas and pushing the regulations to the limit (or over it *cough* Ferrari *cough*). But I guess that is why we're all here, regardless of those who just take an interest or the engineers who read these forums, all sharing that same passion for racing, the development of these cars, the future of the sport and regulations and discussing what every team should've done different in the race, because hindsight is a wonderful thing!
Finally, when it comes to who I support... I'm a Tifosi. Yes, sorry to disappoint you! I wouldn't call myself a fanboy, though that might be up for debate in the forums! Especially as of recent, it is a trying time being a fan of the Prancing Horse, but through thick and thin I believe a true supporter sticks by their team whilst being able to balance critique and praise for them as well. As for drivers, naturally there is some biased for Daniel Ricciardo (being as Aussie like me) and those currently driving for Ferrari, but I rate (and critique) all the drivers in their own way, whilst keeping respect for those that have raced in the past, not having watched them during their time in the sport... so I cannot say I have a favourite currently or all time.
For those that read this, thank you for your time in doing so and look forwarding to discussing with you in the forums; I reckon I'll most likely be active in anything Ferrari related or the latest race forums but I might be brave and expand my horizons every now and then.
Wishing you all the best during these eventful times of pandemics and worldly movements. Cheers,
Matt.
