Formula 1 - Vroom Vroom! 2008 Season Discussion

[BRG]

I'm looking forward to this GP. Japan has a habit of giving you a classic, and although it aint Suzuka, Fuji is far from the worst circut on the calander, and should give a chance of decent racing!

I ecxpect Hamilton & Massa to rise to the challenge as the go for the WDC, both should be strong. For me Kimi Raikkonen is the key, I still believe in pure speed, this guy is faster than any driver alive today, if he steps up to the plate as Massa's rear-gunner in the next three rounds, Ferrari may yet steal the title.

I hope Alonso can continue his form from Singapore, I would also like to see a strong result for Bourdais as he fights for his seat, I think the guy deserve a shot in 2009.
And as always, we have the Honda V Toyota battle on home soil! I always support Honda, but Toyota look strong, with Glock having an excellent second half of the season after a very shakey start.
BRG

[Koinek]

Sigh.....Hamilton on pole. Massa fifth. At least with Schumacher, he went down fighting.

Once again, something is just a tiny bit off with Ferrari.

Didn't watch it myself though. Interesting?

[Saul]

Shall be a good race day. Actually got a ticket and i'm going there!

[Koinek]

It's lap 4 now. Lewis is a little twat. A ridiculously unsafe driver. He almost took 3 cars out at the start with his idiotic turn 1 move. I'm so glad he got what was coming to him in the spin. Go Felippe!

Lap 16 - Kovaleinen out! Hamilton and Massa have drive-throughs. I think that's a fair call. Wow.

[Koinek]

What a race! Massa gets a point! Mclaren and Lewis get ZERO!

I really want to see Alonso in Maranello red now. I only fear that he wouldn't get along with Felippe who seems to be firmly establishing himself at Ferrari.

Surprisingly Kimi has a decent race, but I'm a little dissapointed that he didn't take Kubica. Robert drove a brilliant race though. He is BMW's future. Next year will be insane.

Lewis was a schmuck till the end. Couldn't stand to let Alonso win ahead him.

[BRG]

Amazing race! As an Alonso fan, to say I'm delighted is an understatement!!!

Fantastic drive from Fernando. Back-to-back wins in a Renault which is 20-30bhp down on the Merc, BMW, & Ferrari is stunning! Indeed last time in Singapore he lucked into it, but today he simply blew everyone away.
How can Ferrari ingnore this guy? Get him as team leader in the mold of the Schumacher years, with a solid number 2 backing him up, and the Prancing Horse would sweep all before them again.

Also, hats off to Kubica. That was on of the finest defencive drives I have ever seen. On a circut with one of the easiest overtaking spots in the sport, he held Raikkonen off in a faster Ferrari for lap after lap until the Finn's tyres went away. Given that he is only 12 point behind Hamilton in the WDC, one wonders what would happen had BMW not halted development on this years car after Canada?
I just hope their plan of throwing everthing into the 2009 car payes off, becaus with Kubica's consistency, he could easily take the Title with a decent car.

Hamilton. What are you doing lad?
He made a bad start, but istead of tucking into 5-6 place, protecting his title lead, and giving himself a shot at a good result, he pulls an insane move into turn one, locks up everything, and almost takes half the field out!
The boy has to get it into his thick head that he is ONLY racing Massa at this stage. Kimi, Fernando, Kubica, & Kova are no danger, so just let them go and cover Massa. He blew a 17 point lead last season fighting a pointless fight in China, if they don't calm him down, he could do the same.
And I agree, the way he fought Alonso in the last lap was low. Weaving and lunging at a guy who is a lap ahead and cruising to victory was pointless and personal. Glad to see Alonso never took the bait and just pulled off the racing line and got the obnoxious little shit out of his hair.

But Massa. Calm down!
There is still a chance, but he can't keep letting Hamilton off the hook. Like at Monza, the opportunity has there to take big points out of his lead, but he let it slip through his fingers again. The move on Hamilton on the first lap was never on, with all four wheels off the track then hitting Lewis, he was lucky only to get a drive through. And I believe he was at fault when he squeezed Bourdais near the end. A good fighting drive for a point, but he really should have been on the podium.

So overall a great race, with honerable mentions to Piquet, Trulli, Bourdais, & Vettel. And only 1 week until China, with BMW, Renault, Toyota, & Toro Rosso all closing the gap to Ferrari & McLaren, it should be great!
BRG

[BRG]

Bourdais given 25sec Penalty. Massa promoted to 7th!

I'm sorry, but this is complete bullshit.
From what I saw, Bourdais exited the pits, and simply held his line into turn one. He is racing for position, not a lap down, so what is he supposed to do? Just park his car in the main straight and say "After you, sir." to Massa in his mighty Ferarri?
And why was the incedent delt with post-race, there was quarter of the race left, surly if an infringement took place, Bourdais should have been given a drive through. This whole mess stinks.

It is nonsense like this which is ruining the sport. And gives feul to the claims that the FIA are pro-Ferarri.
Oh well, Massa is now only 5pts behind, so that is something I suppose.
BRG

[Koinek]

I don't think any more evidence is needed to say that Lewis Hamilton is not championship material at this point. He will be more a champion of circumstance than actual ability. All he had to do was finish 2-3 places higher than Massa. Not hard to do when he had pole position and 4 places on him. Still he makes ridiculous amounts of risky moves. The boy can drive but he has no strategy or calm. He's more of a blunt instrument.

You know I wouldn't be half-mad if Kubica lifted the trophy this year. Massa has had it coming after partnering both Michael and Kimi though.

Can't wait for China. BTW, I'm surprised there aren't any Lewis fans here. Hope I didn't scare you away.

[ITL]

I'm a Lewis/McClaren fan - but I'm not one of the rabid fanboy variety. I recognize his flaws (An ever growing ego, impetuousness at the wrong moments, and at times a seeming lack of brain...) but I do think he has talent - a talent that needs refining, of course - and as an Englishman I'm on his side.

I'm not the sort of fan that enjoys partisan slanging matches like some do (The Yahoo F1 forums are atrocious...) - and I'm glad to see that there's none of that here.

[Koinek]

Not quite sure if that was tongue in cheek or not.

Ah, I am unfortunately quite a rabid tifosi. Still, one must be civilized and I promise to calm myself in future.

[ITL]

Believe me, the tone of this thread is wonderfully mellow compared to some of the sub-TNZ name-calling childish catfights that I've seen on the internets regarding F1!

[BRG]

Qualifying for the Chinese GP, and Hamilton sticks his McLaren on Pole again! Massa a wee bit off in 3rd, and Kubica had a disaster, not getting out of Q2 and ending up 11th.
Kimi looking on-it again this week, 2nd for him, and he pushed Lewis hard. Alonso a great 4th, and Kovalainen a dissapointing 5th. Also poor displays by the other two Brits, both Botton & Couthard never made it out of Q1.

Lewis is stunning in Qualifying. He reminds me of the great Mika Hakkinen, Mika could alway pull a perfect lap out of the bag right at the death, giving Schumacher, Coulthard, Irvine, and Barrichello no chance to respond back in the late 90s/early 00s. Lewis has the same thing going, he seems to dial the car in all session, then right on cue with his last run, BOOM! He sticks it on Pole with Kimi, Massa, & Kova left reeling!

Well, its advantage Hamilton for tomorrow, with Massa on the back foot and Kubica needing divine intervention! Once again, I belive the teamates could swing it in the race, Kimi is well placed to help Massa, while Kova still looks out of his depth. This could swing it back Massa's way. And look out For Alonso, he has been mouthing off in the Spanish press about helping Massa, he could be the Joker in the pack.
BRG

[Koinek]

I was really looking forward to watching the quali especially since I was in a hotel room with a 40" TV. :P But alas, I silenced my alarm and slept through it.

The start is going to be intense! Our best hope is that Kimi gets the jump on Lewis and slows him to allow Felippe past. Thankfully Heikki iss behind Alonso who has pledged to help Massa!

[BRG]

Unfortunatly China served up a pretty dull & unspectacular Grand Prix. However, it was an oustanding victory for Lewis Hamilton, who simply blew the opposition away.
Really, Lewis was in a class of one all weekend. Pole Position, a lights-to-flag victory, and the fastest lap! A brilliant display, outpacing the Ferarri pair and putting himself within reach of his first WDC.

The Ferarri was just no mach for the McLaren in Hamilton's hands. Raikkonen gave his all, and for the second race in a row he put his teammate in the shade. Has Kimi finally ound his mojo? While not at his blistering best, I still think he has laid down a marker for Massa next season, 2009 Kimi will lead Ferrari and fight for the title.
Massa looked off-the-pace all weekend. Kimi handed him 2nd place at the end, but he now needs a miricle to take the crown. With Hamilton opening up a 7pt lead, Massa will have to hope for him to crash out or suffer technical failiure in the last round. It's possible, but very unlikely.

Of the rest, once again Alonso stood out. He beat Kovalainen in a early fight, and eased to a solid 4th. I just hope Fernando has the car he deserves next year, and has a shot at the title.
Glock continued his excellent form of late with a strong drive to 7th. Barrichello also impressed, although his Honda was nowhere near good enough for a points finish. And both BMW drivers put in their usual solid drives to bring home good points, but alas, Kubica is now out of the title hunt.
And the not so good, Kovalainen once again had a poor race. In a car good enough for hamilton to win by a country mile, Kova could not live with Alonso's Renault! This boy needs to pull his socks up. And Fisichella seemed to spend all race getting in the way of everybody & anybody!

Oh well, after a series of excellent & incedent packed races from Belgium right through to Japan last week, we were due a poor one.
But up next is Brazil! Interlagos is a real old school circut, it is fast, bumpy, and dangerous! And with unpredictable weather, a vast hardcore crowd, and a local boy going for the title, this should be a classic!
Miss this one at your peril!
BRG

[Koinek]

Well at least we can go to interlagos knowing that Massa is blisteringly quick there every year. I can only hope that Hamilton's engine goes or he "presses the wrong button" again.

I knew that the start would be key in China and sure enough. Once the first lap was over, so was the action for the most part.