Formula 1 - 2008 Season

[Bludd]

His visor was oiled up (presumably after being caught up in the smoke from Bourdais's ruined engine) so he couldn't see anything.

I think it was an honest mistake, but I am happy Alonso got fourth.

 

[Kaotik]

All of the buttons are just directly in front of you on the steering wheel. This isn't a case of accidently pressing the wrong button, this is a case of removing your hand off the steering wheel and crossing to the other side of your body as you go up to reach the tear-off on your helmet; if you accidently brush the steering wheel, or hit a bump that causes you hand to move just at the moment you take it off the wheel it would be very easy to hit any one of them.

Ferrari's test driver Marc Gene said it's unbelieveable that this could happen, especially when many believe that this exact thing happened to Hamilton in last years last race.
According to Gene, that button does nothing on ferrari unless you're already driving at low speed, so accidents like these don't happen

 

[Bludd]

That sounds like a smart set-up.

 

[dizietsma]

Maybe they should make it a two position switch that you have to turn, a bit like the Ferrari road cars such as the F430 have. If you have to turn something you cannot do it by mistake like a flickable switch or a depressable button.

All that's in the past now. Malaysia is coming upon us rapidly and after the disaster I had at predicting last time, please do not look back - spare my blushes, I'm going to have another stab at it.

Hamilton
Kovaleinen
Kubica/Heidfield ( can't make my mind up)

It's going to be hot again and I don't think the Ferrari's will last as 1 week is probably not enough time to sort out their current problems. No doubt they will be fast again though.

I thinkt he BMW will be a fair bit quicker than the Williams this time so hence Kubica/Heidfield rather than Rosberg.

 

[V3]

Bear in mind that the driver behind gets a very good signal as to exactly whats happened in that situation - the rear light flashes when the limiter is hit. Alonso probably knew what happened before Kovy did!

You still need to have quick reaction, because that's just unexpected. Its like braking suddenly on a straight.

If it was Sato, I am sure he would already crash.

Great drive by Alonso even though Renault was not on pace with the top runners. I hope things improve for him, it'll be great to see Mclaren, Ferrari, BMW and Renault contest for the championship.

On other note Massa should really step down let Schumacher get back on the wheel after that GP performance.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Dont blame massa to much, his race was gone after the first corner because he either needed to avoid (and spin) or crash into somebody. Than he had to do a pitstop twice setting him back to the back of the field. Other than that I dont think massa has what it takes, he's good, but he hasnt got that special thing the top drivers do have. If massa doesnt do well this season I wouldnt be suprised to see him leave and have vettel in the Ferrari. Certainly now Ferrari said that if one of their drivers cant race they will have vettel race for them instead of one of their test drivers.

 

[Bludd]

I've never been a Massa fan. It's always seemed to me that he is content with being a supporting act. Is he too meek or too easily cowed? I think he lacks the hunger many other racers have.

Many of the pundits think that Alonso is bound for Ferrari when Massa's contract is over, but I don't know if I want to see Alonso drive for Ferrari.. Meh..

 

[DJ12]

He'll only go to Ferrari if Kimi leaves. We've all seen just how well Alonso likes playing second fiddle.

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

I've never been a Massa fan. It's always seemed to me that he is content with being a supporting act. Is he too meek or too easily cowed? I think he lacks the hunger many other racers have.

Many of the pundits think that Alonso is bound for Ferrari when Massa's contract is over, but I don't know if I want to see Alonso drive for Ferrari.. Meh..

The Ferrari boss is a big fan of alonso, but he probably wont join Ferrari unless Kimi leaves (unless he gets fed up with not being able to win with renault that he'll take his chances with Kimi and hope he'll leave in 2010 when is contract expires). Alonso might fit Ferrari though I rather not see him go there. But Ferrari needs someone that can really work on a car and a team around him, I think Alonso is good at that. Dont know much about Vettel, but he might be a very good long term investment.

 

[Bludd]

Yeah, Vettel is very young and already very fast. I think you are right about that, t_o_c.

 

[pocketmoon66]

On the cards for a while, but first official statement ?

Todt steps down as Ferrari boss

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7303936.stm

 

[dizietsma]

First practice times .... Ferrari 1 and 2 but some sort of mechanical problem for Kimi. Rosberg splits the McLarens.

ITV have now lost the contract to the BBC for next year but they are now doing live feeds streamed to peiople in the uk, hence

http://www.zen141854.zen.co.uk/f1.jpg

very smooth and hats off to them. You can get live timings from Bernie, pictures from ITV and comments from pundits at autosport.com ... it's really excellent!

 

[Bludd]

ITV pulled out voluntarily for commercial reasons.

 

[Bludd]

F1 in HDTV? (among other things)

 

[DJ12]

The only reason to really care about it is on the BBC there will be no annoying breaks at the most inopportune moments of the race.

The ITV coverage had become far better than it ever was on the BBC

 

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

The only reason to really care about it is on the BBC there will be no annoying breaks at the most inopportune moments of the race.

The ITV coverage had become far better than it ever was on the BBC

But you notice the BBC stole a lot of the ideas that ITV implemented for F1 and used them on their MotoGP coverage? I wouldn't be surprised if they just copied what ITV are doing and add some new stuff of their own.

Anyway, it's all a bit of a backroom deal. It's just that ITV are more interested in football (the dregs left behind by Sky anyway) than they are about motorsport.

 

[Bludd]

Being a huge Top Gear fan, it would be interesting if the BBC will have some synergies between their F1 coverage and Top Gear. After all, a bit more humour in F1 is a good thing, right?

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Dont think so. Clarkson doesnt care much about f1 either if you watch his topgear comments on it.

 

[Mariner]

Top Gear is all about having fun with roadcars.

On the other hand, there is no fun to be had in Formula 1 which is deadly serious at all times because of the amount of money involved and also the safety issues. This is why most of the drivers are egocentric arseholes who have no sense of humour whatsoever.

 

[Bludd]

F1 in HDTV? (among other things)

To Mariner and t_o_c, and I quote

Coles has also said that the success of BBC's revamped Top Gear programme will be a major influence on the tone of their F1 coverage in 2009.
"When Lewis Hamilton did a test lap on Top Gear it got more viewers than the Brazilian Grand Prix," he explained. "Bernie (Ecclestone) was very impressed with the Top Gear proposition and there will be cross-fertilisation between the show and the races."