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Formula 1 - Vroom Vroom! 2008 Season Discussion

Koinek

Koinek

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Seeing as how we have a good number of Europeans and Aussies on the board, I was hoping we could start an F1 Discussion thread. :)

Personally, I'm a proud tifosi and have become horrified at Ferrari's form this year. Just about everything that we prided ourselves in (reliability, pit stops, strategy, dedicated drivers) has gone down the toilet. I really hope Massa can pull it through in the last three races but all Hamilton has to do is come second each time to clinch the title. Hopefully Kimi stops taking his Ambien and helps Felippe out. :mad::(
 
I'm still having trouble getting over the fact that one of the best F1 races I've seen in 22 years of viewing was upturned on a technicality. Lewis' brilliant win at Spa after wheel banging with Kimi will stand for a long time with me as a spectacular race, forever clouded with the doubt of the decision. When Charlie Whiting says "it's OK", then it's OK. Except when Ferrari needs a win. Oh, well. It still looks like Lewis can pull it out. The first wins by Kubica and Vettel were pretty spectacular, too. I can't remember the last time we had 2 first time winners in one year. The Vettel win reminded me of Olivier Panis' win at Monaco for Ligier many years ago. Always fun to see an occasional upset in F1. I wonder why Schumi isn't doing more testing for Ferrari this year? I think he's only participated in one test. I would think they would want all the help they could get. His advise could put them over the top.
 
^Frankly, I was on the other side of the penalty debate. I'll post what I said on another forum:
Kimi made a racing move. Lewis was not side by side with him on the corner. At most, he had his front wing by Kimi's rear. In that situation, Kimi was correct to close the door on him.

The fact is, when Kimi closed the door, the only legitimate thing Lewis could do was to brake and resume racing behind him w/o cutting the chicane.

Instead of braking, Lewis chose to turn left and cut the Chicane gaining an unfair racing advantage.

When you do that, you need to allow the other car to repass completely and resume in a position equal to or worse than if you had made the legitimate move (braking instead of cutting the chicane).

Lewis did not do that and he was penalized.

Watch the video on youtube and you can see it for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCEYjNoBYo0
Click to expand...
Lewis gained a ton of momentum by not having to brake for the chicane as much and momentum plays such a huge role in F1 cornering these days. At the next race, the FIA position was clarified to be, when you cut a chicane, you need to let the other guy by and hold for at least one more corner.

But that is in the past now. Did you see Jean Todt at the singapore? He was there only as a guest most likely. I think more than schumi, they needed Todt or Brawn back. While Domenicali might be effective, his backup team seems to be doing a terrible job at the moment. The whole reason Schumi-Todt-Brawn-Byrne was so successful was that it was the total package. Driver-Management-Strategy-Car Design. Aldo Costa seems to be doing an adequate job with design but I can't really say much more about anyone else on the team. That horrendous new traffic signal shit needs to go.

Totally proud of Vettel and Torro *cough* Minardi *cough* Rosso. Great stuff. I've been waiting to see them win for a long long time. Also loved the fact that they kicked the snot out of Red Bull. Torro Rosso was my second pick for favorite team up until the whole Speed-Berger-Tost fiasco. I couldn't stand the way that situation was handled. Destroyed Speed's reputation and probably his international career when in fact it was Tost's fault. They way he and Berger left Speed out to dry was absolutely shameful.

BTW have you heard of Mosley's comments about standardizing the engine in F1? Here is a link:
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080918111100.shtml
Pure insanity. I'm still split on whether it is good idea to get more teams to be competitive by lowering costs but standardizing the formula right down to the engine is ridiculous. That is what GP2 and A1GP are for.
 
I honestly can't see Hamilton throw away the title two years on the trot, I fear he will have it in the bag before Brazil.:(

I would love to see Massa win it. I know some still question his ability- his poor showing at Silverstone, getting his arse handed to him by Hamilton TWICE at Hockenheim, and the way he fell apart in Singapore.
Apart from these blips, I feel he is a worthy WDC contender. Last season he was as consistant as Kimi, Lewis, & Fernando, but was let down with reliabilty. And this season it looks like that bloody "traffic lights" pit system Ferarri use has cost him his best shot.:rolleyes:

Hamilton will be a worthy champ if he closes it out, he is an arrogant bastard who I really cannot stand, but he is brilliant.
Massa has a slim chance, but really needs Kimi to get his finger out. I don't know whats up with him lately, he will drive a poor race, and either throw it in a wall, or set the fastest lap while finishing 6th!:eek:
And, IMHO, Kovalainen is a waste of a McLaren seat. Get Vettel, Rosberg, Button, or Webber in that team.
BRG

PS- I was a delighted Alonso fan last week, a brilliant win.:techman: How can Ferarri not make him their number 1 driver next season?:wtf:
 
^Yea I was ready to dump Kimi after he got stuck behind Piquet Jr. at Hockenheim. Loved him to bits last year but he's lost his zeal after getting his back end smacked by Hamilton in Canada.

I've really got a love-hate relationship with Massa. Sometimes I love his stuff but then there are other time like Silverstone. He is definately improving though and he seems to be working out his wet-weather gremlins.

I'm excited for Suzuka this week though! So glad it's not at Fuji anymore. What a race last year BTW! Vettel smacking the back of Webber (who called him a "fuckhead" I believe) and crying in the pits. The Massa-Kubica battle at the end was simply incredible! Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mE_K3AewNE

Speaking of BMW, I really hope they become title contenders next year. We really need another 3 team season. Can't believe they've decided to stick it out with Heidfeld but I guess you don't want someone too dominant to distract Kubica. Hopefully they don't throw it all away in post-season like Honda or Renault in 06-07 (what was it with that year!?).
 
Sorry if this is a little off-topic - but the bastards are dropping the Montréal Grand Prix from next year's series...

2009 calendar
29 March - Australia (Melbourne)
5 April - Malaysia (Sepang)
19 April - Bahrain
10 May - Spain (Barcelona)
24 May - Monaco
7 June - Turkey (Istanbul)
21 June - Britain (Silverstone)
28 June - France (Magny-Cours)
12 July - Germany
26 July - Hungary (Budapest)
23 August - Europe (Valencia)
30 August - Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
13 September - Italy (Monza)
27 September - Singapore
11 October - Japan
18 October - China
1 November - Brazil
15 November - Abu Dhabi
Click to expand...
Sigh.
 
^You know, I think it must be some mistake, they can't just remove a race without even consulting the organizers. That's just plain rude and terrible business.
 
I knew I shoulda gone to the Canadian GP this year. Well, I guess I really need to shuffle off to Monaco ;)
 
Just fantastic.:rolleyes:

The Canadian GP is always a great race. Loved by the teams, drivers, sponsers, media, and fans. And the circut is always packed by the loyal, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable Canadian public.

So what does F1 do? They ditch this race, and give us another Arabian "event", no doubt this will be a dull looking track with no overtaking attended by a few foriegn workers, and a few bemused locals wondering what all the fuss is about.:mad:
I wonder how many millions Bernie Ecclestone recieved for this latest travesty.:shifty:

The first time since 1958 we have no North American F1 Grand Prix. A sad day, but I hope sense will prevail and they expand the calendar to 19 races and reinstate Canada.
BRG

PS- Killer Koinek, I'm afraid that this year the Japanese GP will again be held at Fuji.:( It will return to the great Suzuka in 2009, where it will rotate yearly with Fuji, like they do in Germany with Hockenheim & Nurbugring.
Lets just hope for another Fuji downpour!;)
 
No more Montreal? Bastards. :(

They're slowly phasing out the older, better circuits in favour of the useless newer ones. Overtaking? Ooh, they don't want that! Let's have circuits that make it all but impossible and have races that only generate interest because of yellow flag upsets and bad weather!
 
Bernie and Mosley really need to GO! Their time in the sport is done. While it is a good idea to diversify the grand prix locations and have a few in the middle east and asia, I really think they're going overboard. Removing Indy was dumb fucking move to start with. Now Montreal? No grand prixs in North America at all? The only continent without one now (save Africa). I like the idea of races in India and Russia but is Korea really necessary? Abu Dhabi? Really?

I think in general it's time the gestapo like reign of the FIA comes to an end. It has been far too overbearing ever since '98 when they brought in grooved tires. Soon it was time to change the qualifying format, remove tire changes (2005 was an awful awful season to watch), and get rid of tire warmers (rumored it was going to happen this year). The huge downforce changes for next year are even more ridiculous. Artificially dumbing down the sport is getting really annoying.
 
Not formula 1 racing but it saves costs which is what they might need to do in these times if the sport is to sustain.

I was hoping to go to the Fuji race this weekend but couldn't get tickets. F**K.
 
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!:techman: I always support Honda, but Toyota look strong, with Glock having an excellent second half of the season after a very shakey start.:cool:
BRG
 
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?
 
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.
 
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What a race! Massa gets a point! Mclaren and Lewis get ZERO!:techman:

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.
 
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