F1 - your thoughts AND the latest race

[N0DDY]

I was thinking that, but I wasnt sure if there was a time I'd forgotten about when ferrari had been overpenalized for something trivial. Still cant think of any such incident

To be honest I think spygate is just the tip the iceberg when it comes to whatever problem the fia have with maclaren. I was suprised that Ferrari didnt recieve any backlash bearing in mind that info usually travels both ways in incidents like that.

[Paula]

FIA = Ferrari in Awe !!!!!!

[Davaro]

Been off-line for a few days...

So, in a race, hamilton takes out Ferrari, his main title challenger. 10 place penalty.
In Monaco, MS crashes (albeit dubiously sp?) on the last lap of quali and gets shunted to last? Fair?

Spygate: McLaren got off lightly as the drivers should also have lost the points. They personally gained from the extra info as emails between Alonso and co proved. Just because of a plea-bargain they were let off the hook. Common! if that had been Ferrari, the book would have been thrown. $100m fine. As Ron said at the time with a grin, "McLaren is a strong company..." as if to say it was puny.

The only Karma to come out of that was (Yes, your boy Lewis) McLaren throwing the title away and practically handing it on a plate to Kimi.

I am not saying, nor ever will, that Ferarri are angels, but just that they never got the long end of the straw... Yes they were (and still are, in most respects) good but as a famous golfer once said "the more I practice, the luckier I get"

[Hot Cheese]

Can't say I agree with you there Davaro. Hamilton made a stupid mistake that resulted in another driver being taken out so I think a 10 place drop was fair. In Monaco Kimi made a stupid mistake that resulted in another driver being taken out and he got nothing.
As for Michael in 2006, that stupid crash was a proffesional foul in my book, a deliberate atempt to cheat. I think he was lucky to be allowed to start the race at all.

McLaren were lucky not to be excluded completely from 2007 and maybe even 2008. I think it's another example of how far the FIA will bend their own rules when there's a championship fight on. In 1994 most people thought Beneton were going to be thrown out for modifying the refuling rigs. In the end they got away with it because Schuey was the most valuable person in the championship, and they couldn't afford for him to be sitting at home. Same goes for Lewis now. 1999 and Ferrari's bargeboards suddenly becoming legal is another example.
About the only thing the FIA does consistently is break their own rules when there is a championship fight at stake.

[Davaro]

Figured I would be the first to be on and say:

WELL DONE LEWIS! Splendid drive today. Showed a lot of maturity and great handling in seriously tricky conditions.

As for my team... WTF?

The championship is very tight now (3 on same points) and will IMHO be one of the closest finishes yet.

What do you Brits thinks about Silverstone handing the F1 batton over to Donnington?

---

Getting back to the post ^ by Hot Cheese - I think you have that whole argument settled. Great post.

Kimi's mistake in Monaco was a racing accident. He lost in in the approach to a corner. With your logic, every "accident" should result in a sanction against the so-called guilty party? This was far different to Lewis's issue in the pits where some have said he could/should have driven into Nick but actually changed his line and drove into Kimi. Proffesional foul some may say... How different is that to Shumi in Monaco? Matter of opinion innit?

I actually think that may even show that he and Shumi may, in some instances, be made of the same material. Ruthlessness comes to mind.

[Einstein]

Originally Posted by Davaro

What do you Brits thinks about Silverstone handing the F1 batton over to Donnington?

In my opinion, Donington circuit just isn't wide enough in it's current state, and before you ask, I know they are to be spending a lot of money improving it..

I know it's down to the old argument between Bernie Eckerslyke and Jonathan Palmer...
Bernie wanted an extortionate amount of money a few years ago to hold it at Silverstone, and threatened to pull the plug if he didn't have his own way.. luckily there must have been some compromise..
It's probably the same thing again, and Jonathan decided enough is enough..

Having seen the Renault F1 car twice at donington, and then this year at silverstone, there is just no comparison between the two circuits.. they might as well be driving Moandeo's as you can't use all that power on that track..

I am very happy for Lewis, a well deserved win.


John

[N0DDY]

I think that a GP at donington makes no sense at all from what I've already heard, it's going to take a small miracle to get the circuit and facilities ready in time, on the other hand I'm glad that there will at least still be a British GP.

I really enjoyed the race on sunday, I love wet races as they have a knack of evening out the field and giving the more naturally tallented drivers a chance even though they might not be in the fastest car. Nick Heidfeld did extremely well, and made a couple of very daring overtaking moves which you wouldn't normally see from him.

I was surprised we didnt see more drivers risking the wet tyres, judging by Barichello's performance it almost certainly would have been worth the risk (except for mclaren apparently who have a habit of burning tyres out).

I was glad that Lewis manage to maintain some focus this race and managed to show the world what a tallented driver he really is, the more hot-headed drivers like alonso (who burnt his tyres out within a few laps) and Massa (who may as well have been driving a shopping trolley) really got caught out this race.

I would have liked to have seen Sutil do better, especially after his performance in Monaco before raikonnen took him out.

[Davaro]

I would love to see a SA GP again...

Sadly, this will probably never happen (in my lifetime) due to politics, the sad state of our economy, etc. etc.

Kyalami was/is a legend of a racetrack and will be holding the A1GP from now on after it was moved from the crazy street track they create every year in Durban... Any of you see that hairpin in which none of the cars could turn

Unfortunately for me, a GP ticket would literally cost a months wages, besides the cost of getting there, accomodation etc...

Anyone got some spare tickets for next year?

[Davaro]

Once again, WELL DONE LEWIS!

This chap is driving really well under pressure the last two races.

Was helped by some VERY poor driving by Massa and Piquet. They practically said "come through old chap"

Not that he would not have beaten them anyway...

All others will have a hard time catching him now.

PS - Did anyone see the motogp from USA last night? All I can say is WOW!

[N0DDY]

I think it showed maturity on Piquets part to realise that hamilton was driving a lot quicker, and rather than put up a fight and risk an accident he instead took a safe and well earned 2nd place. I do however think that the result is more down to luck and a good strategy than pure driving skills.

But yeah, well done Hamilton for a well earned win, I couldnt fault his driving all weekend long, he's been simply unstoppable for the last two races now, but the season is far from over, his 4 point lead isnt going to carry him until the end of the season. Still, it's good to see that hamiltons finally got some focus and got his head together.

[Davaro]

What a strange/unpredictable race today?

First off - I thought Lewis would walk it. Then after the start, I rekon - Ok Massa is light...

Then they pit on the same lap??? Clearly in race trim the difference was not there?

Bit sad what happened to Lewis (real bad luck) but even more so what happened to Massa

At least it all makes the season very interesting. Cant wait for the next instalment!!!

[Hot Cheese]

I was really surprised by today. Ferrari looked pretty poor in quali and then all of a sudden they're right on McLaren's pace. I though Massa was brilliant today. With him and Lewis going into T1 like that you'd only really bet on Lewis but that was pretty daring from Felipe. Major shame we were robbed of a good fight and Lewis and especially Felipe were robbed of good results. I didn't take it too hard though. I had £10 on Kovalainen, not a bad weekends work.

May be a bit early to start ask what will happen in the next race but what the hell. From what I can tell, Valencia isn't your standard street circuit. It's quite fast and flowing and the roads are smooth. In that respect I guess it's a cross between Melbourne and Montreal.
I'd have to go with Lewis as I think he's on good form and the McLaren is still the best car. Having said that, it will likely be very hot which should suit the Ferrari and Kimi is surely going to come good at some point. Should be interesting.

[N0DDY]

Just finished watching the GP, I only caught the tail end on sunday, but it was a pretty weird race, what with all the fuel rig fires, Massa catching out both McLarens off the line, Hamilton getting a puncture and dropping down to 12th, then massa blowing his engine 3 laps from the end. I have to admit I really don't like Ferarri as a team but I deffinately felt sorry for Massa having lost a very well earned 10 points, mind you maybe the only reason he was so fast was because he wasn't looking after his engine properly on this race.

I do think that McLaren weren't as fast this race rather than Ferarri being faster, but I guess the next race will tell.

I was well chuffed for Glock who put in an awesome performance, I suspect that isn't the last we've seen of him, I think Trulli may have to start watching his back.

What I want to know is what the hell hapenned to Williams and BMW? both BMW's were beaten by both Toyotas and both Renaults and the Williams were beaten by Jenson Button in his next-to-useless Honda!!

Still I guess it was a fairly interesting race considering the distinct lack of any overtaking whatsoever. Can't wait for the next one, Valencia looks very interesting indeed.

[Davaro]

Do you think there will be overtaking in Valencia? Being a new street track and all.

Will be interesting though.

If it is a tight and twisty track, I think we will see the return of the BMW's

[Einstein]

Typical bloody FIA (Ferrari International Assistance)

Any other team (especially McLaren) would have been penalised with a drive through the pits, or a ten place penalty in the next race.. but no, Ferrari just get a measly 10k Euro fine.. about £8000 as if they can't afford that... a day's wage.

For what actually happened in the pit lane, the rules for penalties is clear.

2008 FIA Rules..

16.3 The stewards may impose any one of three penalties on any driver involved in an Incident :
a) A drive-through penalty. The driver must enter the pit lane and re-join the race without stopping ;
b) A ten second time penalty. The driver must enter the pit lane, stop at his pit for at least ten seconds and then re-join the race.
c) a drop of ten grid positions at the driver’s next Event.
However, should either of the penalties under a) and b) above be imposed during the last five laps, or after the end of a race, Article 16.4b) below will not apply and 25 seconds will be added to the elapsed race time of the driver concerned.

and from the rule that was broken..

23.1
i) It is the responsibility of the competitor to release his car after a pit stop only when it is safe to do so.

seems very convenient that the FIA can break their own rules as they (or Ferrari) see fit.


If I said what I really wanted to say, the language filter on this forum would be on hyperdrive..


John