Sunday, May 14, 2006
The home (dis)advantage
Is racing/playing at home an advantage?
I predicted Schumacher would win today's race, not necessarily because he had the faster car, but because I thought Alonso wouldn't be able to take the pressure. For Alonso, like I would say Barrichello, racing at home is normally a disadvantage. Nonetheless, Alonso, showing his class, managed it.
But, there's another point to be made: Montoya spins on lap 17 and stops in an extremely dangerous position. They should put out the safety car. They don't. I remember a few years ago the marshals pushing Michael back onto the track when he spun into a gravel trap in Germany. A couple of years later he did the same thing (somewhere like Australia), but no one came to push him. The home advantage isn't just the fans cheering you on, it is the marshals and the race organisers as well. If the safety car had been deployed, Alonso would have been in trouble...
I predicted Schumacher would win today's race, not necessarily because he had the faster car, but because I thought Alonso wouldn't be able to take the pressure. For Alonso, like I would say Barrichello, racing at home is normally a disadvantage. Nonetheless, Alonso, showing his class, managed it.
But, there's another point to be made: Montoya spins on lap 17 and stops in an extremely dangerous position. They should put out the safety car. They don't. I remember a few years ago the marshals pushing Michael back onto the track when he spun into a gravel trap in Germany. A couple of years later he did the same thing (somewhere like Australia), but no one came to push him. The home advantage isn't just the fans cheering you on, it is the marshals and the race organisers as well. If the safety car had been deployed, Alonso would have been in trouble...
Comments:
<< Home
I agree. The whole thing would have been much closer if there had been a safety car. James kept on alluding to the situation but didn't come out and say that the marshals were biased. Although it really did seem that they were. I also thought of that Michael spin of a few years ago.
I had brewing (as I like to think of my posts) a post about the idea of home advantage. And although I hadn't really remembered the marshal's advantage I did agree that usually the home advantage is a disadvantage. The driver gets a lot of pressure on them and also has to deal with so many press events. It really doesn't help with their composure and and generally it hurts their performance. Alonso, Michael and Kimi are supremely cool individuals (although I did notice Alonso waving hands at two back markers in a row at one point this race) and they are usually less concerned by these things.
Generally I feel that the one real home advantage that there is, is the home race for the team. On that occasion there might be some extra crowd attention and some extra press but not to the same extent. But in the end there's a chance that you might have tested at that circuit much more than the competition. And that can count for a lot.
I had brewing (as I like to think of my posts) a post about the idea of home advantage. And although I hadn't really remembered the marshal's advantage I did agree that usually the home advantage is a disadvantage. The driver gets a lot of pressure on them and also has to deal with so many press events. It really doesn't help with their composure and and generally it hurts their performance. Alonso, Michael and Kimi are supremely cool individuals (although I did notice Alonso waving hands at two back markers in a row at one point this race) and they are usually less concerned by these things.
Generally I feel that the one real home advantage that there is, is the home race for the team. On that occasion there might be some extra crowd attention and some extra press but not to the same extent. But in the end there's a chance that you might have tested at that circuit much more than the competition. And that can count for a lot.
I just remembered Webber and Button also underperform when it comes to their home country's race. Jacques does too. Perhaps most drivers do?
One thing I forgot to mention was how the King was much more friendly with Michael than Alonso. Perhaps he really hates Spain? He left it at the age of 13, avoided going back there after winning the championship, and now lives in England...
Post a Comment
One thing I forgot to mention was how the King was much more friendly with Michael than Alonso. Perhaps he really hates Spain? He left it at the age of 13, avoided going back there after winning the championship, and now lives in England...
<< Home
