The F1 Thread (6 Viewers)

[Cape]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Kovalainen is the perfect team player. Ron loves his Finn's too. He has also had more bad luck than anyone else in the field this year:
- Aus ... screwed over by the safety car (ironic cause Lewis was brought in early incase of safety car)
- Malaysia ... 5 place grid penalty ... but beat Lewis
- Spain ... that huge crash that saw him be knocked out resulting from the wheel fairing.
- Turkey ... Kimi's front wing punctured one of his tyres
- Monaco ... electronics problem stalled on the grid
- Canada ... team told him to drive slow because of tyre problems?

None of his bad luck as been a result of driver error.

Its not Kovalainen's fault that the team give Lewis the lighter fuel strategies. And we know what Kovalainen can do in a shit car too. Like Alonso said, at Mclaren they get equal equipment, but whether they get equal support is another thing. Which is ashame really, because in France, the team needs to be behind Kovalainen and not Lewis (we saw last year what a Mclaren can do, coming through the field at Mangy-cours, but then, Alonso is better than Lewis)...

 

[Muz4PM]

re: The Official F1 Thread

In other news, it looks like Melbourne will be hosting the Australian Grand Prix until 2015. However, looks like a 5 pm start.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/motorSportsNews/idUKSP15211720080614

MELBOURNE, June 15 (Reuters) - An agreement for Australia to continue to host a Formula One race until 2015 is expected to be signed within days, local media reported on Sunday.

The future of the Australian Grand Prix was placed in jeopardy in March with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone saying that it might be dumped after 2010 unless it switched to a night race to accommodate European television audiences.

Organisers of the race and the Victoria state government, which helps underwrite the Melbourne event, have refused to stage it at night but suggested a compromise to move the start time to 1700 (0600 GMT).

This year's Australian Grand Prix started at 1530, 90 minutes later than in previous years.

While local media had suggested the race could be moved to Asia or to oil-rich Gulf states after 2010, it now appeared likely to remain in Melbourne until 2015 after both parties reached a verbal agreement for a five-year extension.

The contract is expected to be signed within days, according to Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper on Sunday.

The race, however, would not be held at night.

"We have ruled out a night Grand Prix and that is not negotiable," Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding told the newspaper.

"This is a good event for the state. It's one we want to keep and we'll be working hard to ensure that it does remain here in Melbourne in the years ahead." (Writing by Greg Stutchbury in Auckland; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

 

[F2001]

re: The Official F1 Thread

ffs... i know albert park has history and in general is quite a good circuit, but EC would be such a better track for the drivers.

 

[Muz4PM]

re: The Official F1 Thread

The grid should look like

1. Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2. Massa (Ferrari)
3. Alonso (Renault)
4. Trulli (Toyota)
5. Kovalainen (McLaren)
6. Kubica (BMW)
7. Webber (Red Bull)
8. Coulthard (Red Bull)
9. Glock (Toyota)
10. Piquet (Renault)
11. Heidfeld (BMW)
12. Vettel (Torro Rosso)
13. Hamilton (McLaren)
14. Bourdais (Torro Rosso)
15. Nakajima (Williams)
16. Button (Honda)
17. Barrichello (Honda)
18. Fisichella (Force India)
19. Sutil (Force India)
20. Rosberg (Williams)


So, Hamilton qualified in third, but a grid penalty will see him slip down to thirteenth. Some great results from the Ferraris, we all know what they can do, especially considering Raikkonen ‘s affinity for the track it is no real surprise to see them both on the front row.

Honourable mentions to the Renaults of Alonso and Piquet, with a great qualifying run by Alonso to get him on the second row. Also, Piquet topped the timesheet in the third practise session. Will it all come together for Piquet this weekend? Time will tell. Trulli the one lap specialist did well to make it into fourth, although one does question how much fuel does he have on? Both of the Red Bulls qualified in the top eight, a great result by them. Also Sebastian Vettel did well to make it to twelfth in his Torro Rosso, consistently doing well in the practise sessions.

In the not so honourable mentions, BMW didn’t seem to qualify as well as usual (well, at least Kubica, I think he had problems with the balance of the car). Heidfled seems to have the qualifying yips still, which I find unfortunate. The Williams’ didn’t do too well either, down in 15th and 16th with Rosberg moving down to 20th due to his grid peanalty. Those qualifying in the last half of the field look as if they have an up hill battle on their hands given that overtaking is not easy in France. None the less, racing can be fickle, and we don’t know what will transpire, especially with talk of rain.

The race should be televised on Ten at 11.15

EDIT- Kovalainen will start from 10th after getting a 5 place grid penalty for impeding one of Webber's laps. The McLarens might have an even bigger struggle trying to keep up with Ferrari and BMW on the points table now.

 

[ObjectsInSpace]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Hopefully we'll see just how underwhelming Hamilton will be. On three occasions - Nurburgring and Interlagos last year and Bahrain this year - he's gotten himself stuck in the midfield for various reasons (off in qualifying, blowout and crashing into Alonso respectively), and he's struggled severly, finishing 9th, 7th and 13th in the events. Once Hamilton is not in a position to control the race, he simply cannot produce the goods.

Suck on that, James Allen.

 

[ledzeppelin]

re: The Official F1 Thread

I need Kubica to come top 3 to net me some cash








*spoiler*



he's currently 4th halfway through

 

[Muz4PM]

re: The Official F1 Thread

he's currently 4th halfway through

I am sure he can do it. I can only assume that it'd be the two Ferraris and Alonso infront of him.

 

[Cape]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Hopefully we'll see just how underwhelming Hamilton will be. On three occasions - Nurburgring and Interlagos last year and Bahrain this year - he's gotten himself stuck in the midfield for various reasons (off in qualifying, blowout and crashing into Alonso respectively), and he's struggled severly, finishing 9th, 7th and 13th in the events. Once Hamilton is not in a position to control the race, he simply cannot produce the goods.

Suck on that, James Allen.

+ France 2008

 

[Muz4PM]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Lol, poor Lewis, I feel for him...not. I thought that Kovalainen drove very well to push for a position on the podium but finish in fourth. Trulli also drove a good race I thought, pushing his Toyota to the limit, a great result for them. For a moment ledzeppellin I thought Kubica was going to take third place after Trulli and Kovalainen had that contact, but neither spun out. BMW's were underwhelming this week I must say. Massa was probably lucky to take first away from Kimi, but I think Massa acknowledged that he was lucky. However, the Ferraris just seemed very much in a league of their own and is refelcted on the driver's table with Massa in first on 48 and Kimi third with 43.

Interesting to hear about Piquet, saying that he had until Hockenheim to prove himself worthy of keeping his seat. I thought that he drove well to keep Hamilton behind him, although he was a little scrappy on occasions. I think if he places in the points again in either Britain or Germany he should be safe for next season. However, next season would be make or break if his mediocre form continues.

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

re: The Official F1 Thread

What's up with Bourdais? Why is he going so shitty?

 

[Riet]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Massa ftw. I like him much more than iceman. Props to Trulli for getting third in a Toyota, I was dissappointed with BMW though. Oh well, Stoner dominating made up for that.

 

[ledzeppelin]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Trulli also drove a good race I thought, pushing his Toyota to the limit, a great result for them.

+1

For a moment ledzeppellin I thought Kubica was going to take third place after Trulli and Kovalainen had that contact, but neither spun out.

If only

 

[ObjectsInSpace]

re: The Official F1 Thread

What's up with Bourdais? Why is he going so shitty?

Once again, a ChampCar driver cannot translate his success there into F1 results.

Also, the STR is crap.

 

[F2001]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Once again, a ChampCar driver cannot translate his success there into F1 results.

Also, the STR is crap.

get off it, JPM was GREAT!

massive balls in every quali:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05vLC_zjPpY

Who the hells gains almost 3 tenths on S3 montreal with 5km/h less trap...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqtUO8B4-Iw

James Allen jockying about how good hamilton does that chicane is nothing compared to JPM.

Also in Press conf he has good humor. Compare it to Hamilton who takes every opportunity to make an ass of himself... he really needs PR help. Eg read the last Thursday (?) France press conf. He had a rant that custom numberplates are dumb and basically said ppl with them are idiots. Wow, attitude!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOW-jngVoT4


And basically a video summing up what was promised: Fearless, someone ready to take it on and make passing where impossible... possible:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6xwLC9Vlkk

Bourdais simply isn't that type, he is more calm, collected, calculated and probably relies more on strategy than doing the impossible.

5 poles in a row in only his second year? Let's put that in perspective. The Mclarens of 2007 were great on their tyres on the 1 lap, they could get far more than Ferrari out of them = great quali car. The gap between the FW24, and F2002 was not that much, and ... 5 consecutive poles... wow, Lewis didn't/can't do it, and we didn't have this gay fuel load = start load crap, just pure speed.

How many times he was about to win or outright beating his 5 year experienced team mate Ralf in his rookie year? back then, Ralf was certainly not slow (his decline mostly in 06/07).

Off the top of my head, he should've won 4 races in his rookie year all due to mechanical failures and every single time he was AGES infront of Ralf...


Silverstone next, Kimi kills that track, more than France!

 

[ObjectsInSpace]

re: The Official F1 Thread

get off it, JPM was GREAT!

Exception, not the rule, as was Jacques Villeneuve. Both were also assholes of the highest degree.

 

[F2001]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Both hated eachother and both were GREAT!!!!

Both added flare inside the paddock. It's just boring now.


Who the hell has balls like JV to take 98,99 cars with narrow tracks and grooves flat in Rouge...


Too many puss puss today! tip toe tip toe.

 

[Muz4PM]

re: The Official F1 Thread

In other news, David Coulthard is retiring.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/7/8033.html

I guess at 37 he thought age was finally catching up to him, and he thought it was time to leave, which is fair enough. It is good to see him stay in and around Red Bull, someone with as much experience and skill as he has would be invaluble for the team to have him assisting their development. I remember David Coulthard driving for McLaren, and was one of the first drivers I can remember watch race.

His current team mate Mark Webber has signed on again with Red Bull until the end of 2009.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/7/8035.html

It seems like he enjoys racing the Red Bull and enjoys the atmosphere, so if he is happy, why not stay? To be honest, I would love to see Webber drive in one of the big three teams, but one wonders where would the seat open up? Also, who else would be vying for that seat? None the less, hopefully Red Bull continue their good form this season and next, maybe with Webber scoring a podium?

 

[F2001]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Hey Muz, seeing how enthused and involved you are. If you get 90+ UAI, man thats good for not being as focused lol!
I have no regrets.


Massa slid on Alonso oil and it seems like big damage to the Ferrari.

Btw, Kimi track, he will be bored I reckon haha.

 

[Muz4PM]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Hey Muz, seeing how enthused and involved you are. If you get 90+ UAI, man thats good for not being as focused lol!
I have no regrets.

Lol, well I need an outlet or two, I can't study all day and all night. Following sports like F1 allow me to take a break from study and provide some pretty good entertainment.

Is it just me, or has Piquet or his Renault improved out of sight? He clocked a reasonable eighth in the first practice.

 

[F2001]

re: The Official F1 Thread

Lol, well I need an outlet or two, I can't study all day and all night. Following sports like F1 allow me to take a break from study and provide some pretty good entertainment.

Is it just me, or has Piquet or his Renault improved out of sight? He clocked a reasonable eighth in the first practice.

I remember the part 2 English at 9am. After studying/cramming all night, I refused to go to bed, had to watch 5am brazil hehe.

I think Piquet is a guy that can do the times, but not at the right time and when most needed.