Formula 1 - 2008 Season

[dizietsma]

There were over 500 posts on the Hamilton v Alonso incident on autosport forum so I am glad there was not as many here. Seems to be a combination of factors but no blame for Alonso.

More button problems for the McLarens though with Hamilton not getting the right launch map, that's probably 3 races now where one or other of the McLarens have had driver confabulations with the steering wheel buttons ..they need to sort out the ergonomics of that thing, or better training.

The Ferrari's look very fast, McLaren will need to live up to their comments that they will make a big leap forward in the next couple of weeks to stop Ferrari pulling away. I think it was a bit rash of Ron to say BMW will not keep up the pace, now they can smell blood you would think they would go out even more so to win.

It would be nice to think of a 3 team battle come the end of the year, and perhaps 4 drivers. As a "neutral" that would be great.

 

[Deepak]

Link

BARCELONA, April 15: Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella recorded the best time during private practice on Tuesday morning at the Montmelo circuit, which will host the fourth Grand Prix of the season on April 27.

The Italian managed 1min 19.721 seconds on this track near Barcelona, about half a second faster than second-placed Felipe Massa of Ferrari, who won the last Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain on April 6.

Third was the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton, ahead of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso in a Renault, a good result for the French team which has been trying to improve its R28 following a disappointing start of the season.

Tuesday's times: 1. Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA/Force India) 1.19.721 (45 laps), 2. Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) 1.20.326 (60), 3. Lewis Hamilton (ENG/McLaren) 1.20.452 (53), 4. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Renault) 1.20.632 (72), 5. Nico Rosberg (GER/Williams-Toyota) 1.20.800 (48), 6. Nick Heidfeld (GER/BMW-Sauber) 1.21.391 (55), 7. David Coulthard (GBR/Red Bull-Renault) 1.21.474 (24), 8. Rubens Barrichello (BRA/Honda) 1.21.711 (42), 9. Timo Glock (GER/Toyota) 1.21.731 (49).

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How can Fisichella be the fastest on that car. Or maybe others were just relaxed, taking it easy?

 

[Kaotik]

Link

BARCELONA, April 15: Force India's Giancarlo Fisichella recorded the best time during private practice on Tuesday morning at the Montmelo circuit, which will host the fourth Grand Prix of the season on April 27.

The Italian managed 1min 19.721 seconds on this track near Barcelona, about half a second faster than second-placed Felipe Massa of Ferrari, who won the last Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain on April 6.

Third was the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton, ahead of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso in a Renault, a good result for the French team which has been trying to improve its R28 following a disappointing start of the season.

Tuesday's times: 1. Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA/Force India) 1.19.721 (45 laps), 2. Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) 1.20.326 (60), 3. Lewis Hamilton (ENG/McLaren) 1.20.452 (53), 4. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Renault) 1.20.632 (72), 5. Nico Rosberg (GER/Williams-Toyota) 1.20.800 (48), 6. Nick Heidfeld (GER/BMW-Sauber) 1.21.391 (55), 7. David Coulthard (GBR/Red Bull-Renault) 1.21.474 (24), 8. Rubens Barrichello (BRA/Honda) 1.21.711 (42), 9. Timo Glock (GER/Toyota) 1.21.731 (49).

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How can Fisichella be the fastest on that car. Or maybe others were just relaxed, taking it easy?

Because he was driving on slicks, while the others weren't
Though, Barrichello drove on slicks too, and faster than Fisichella, I wonder why that time ain't there, his time on slicks was 1.18.928, and Massa drove 1.18.339 on slicks yesterday.

 

[Bludd]

Looks like the acquisition of Super Aguri isn't going to happen after all. Well, at least not by the Magma Group at this moment.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/4/7644.html

 

[Sazar]

Yeah, because giving someone the finger in a slower car that has held you up is totally new to the sport

Here's a stick, why not beat Hamilton with it.

Anyone would think Kimi, Massa, Schumacher or Alonso have never had bad races before in their lives reading this utter tripe.

When was the last time the blame went on intentional braking by the guy in front when HE was hit by the guy from behind?

Hamilton is a good racer but much like Lebron in the NBA, the hype and the adulation is almost nauseating.

Schumacher raced at a time when Prost and Senna were out there with Mansel and others and EARNED his stripes.

Hamilton has already been given the trophy if you listen to the media outlets. No wonder the veterans feel slighted. They have contributed to F1's existence and continued popularity.

Alonso wasn't given anything, he BEAT Schumacher to get to the top, much like Kimi.

 

[Davros]

Alonso wasn't given anything

Well apart from the top secret ferrari data

 

[Bludd]

Well apart from the top secret ferrari data

Ugh, I hate the "" emoticon. I want to punch it.

Anyway, are you referring to Stepney-gate?

Because if you are, you are obviously forgetting a few things:

1) Schumi retired the year before
2) Alonso didn't win the championship at McLaren
3) He did at Renault, twice and thus beat Schumi twice there

 

[Mendel]

Apparently Hamilton is now aiming for 15 podiums in a row.

 

[DJ12]

When was the last time the blame went on intentional braking by the guy in front when HE was hit by the guy from behind?

Who blamed that?

No one, people suggested that might have happened, and they have suggested it numerous times. It's nothing new.

It's like Tiger Woods, people are given proof someone is good, then the first opportunity they get they speak loud and proud about how it was all hype and then quietly shut up when they find their form again.

Where were all the people saying Hamilton wasn't good last season when he was comfortably beating the current World Champion in EXACTLY the same car?

 

[Mendel]

If I may return to the topic of Mosley briefly, I find it interesting how that particular topic was first pretty much totally bypassed on formula1.com. If I'm not mistaken, the first and only brief information about the matter came when Mosley called the FIA meeting.

It is also my opinion that what little the site has published about it, feels like quite an interesting spin on the matter http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/4/7587.html

 

[Bludd]

I noticed that too. Since formula1.com is a site owned by FOA and Bernie Ecclestone, I think they value PR more than journalistic scoops.

 

[dizietsma]

Schumacher raced at a time when Prost and Senna were out there with Mansel and others and EARNED his stripes.

And won no championships.....

 

[Davros]

true, but you cant judge talent based on championships

 

[dizietsma]

true, but you cant judge talent based on championships

and so Hamilton is better than Schumacher so negating Sazar's post!

QED

 

[Bludd]

Man, this upcoming Spanish GP is getting me hyped up again. It kinda feels like the beginning of the season again since the teams have been away testing and because the way the championships look at the moment.

I am really hoping to see Renault getting a step up in performance. I don't expect them to go to the front row, but instead be consistent into Q3 and in the points.

 

[Bludd]

Informative article on the 2009 regulations:
http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?Type=Mark_Hughes&id=42353

 

[Mendel]

I guess the big question is, how much more overtaking will there be? Doesn't the KERS also work as a push to prevent passing device?

Shouldn't there be a new thread for 2009 season, btw?

 

[Bludd]

Not when we've just started the 2009 season!

This isn't a wiki, you know.

I presume you can use the KERS in response to someone using theirs, but it will add another level of tactics to the sport.

Also, I think that the removal of the winglets is a good idea and that strengthening the diffuser under the car is also a good idea. I assume that this diffuser is kind of an inverted wing under the car?

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Yes, F1 cars are basically airplanes up side down.

I think KERS is stupid btw. Besides that I dont like the fact that you can overtake by pressing a button (talk about lame, its like shooting a red shell with mariokart and than overtake, push to pass...) I dont understand why they want to introduce it. Well, except from the green hippy bunch of people that want these sorts of things (forgetting that the co2 the cars release is probably nothing compared to what getting the cars at a race and the whole circus around it releases in terms of co2) but not for the rest. All they have been doing is trying to cut down cost by doing things like a engine freeze and now they come up with a totally new system that is totally new to tradition engine engineers and while require hiring more very experienced personal and maybe also require buying tech and there will be a ton of testing to be done etc. That isnt exactly the way to make things cheaper. Just set a limitations to engine design than and let people design whatever they want inside those limitations atleast they can improve reliability and maybe things like fuel usage.

 

[thehulk]

Yay pole for Kimi and P3 for Massa