Formula 1 2008

^ that's why i didn't finish the race... i know who'll win...

very gutted when kimi overshot after overtaking heikki and claiming second spot. i screamed all might!

then lo and behold, kimi's picking up lots of gravel. it's a miracle the car survived following his mistakes.

i thought he'll be one of the stronger ones after the TC ban, and the younger ones will have a bit of a difficulty...but it seemed it went the other way in the Aus gp.

nonetheless, i think everyone is in their learning curve right now. some are just advanced and faster learner than the others. so all is not lost i say.

Ferrari all the way!

Amazing opener with only 7 cars finishing, lots of drama. Well done to LH and Rosberg...Kimi certainly provided the entertainment but we knew it was going to end in tears. Amazing what happens when TC is removed.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dazza @ Mar 16 2008, 06:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Amazing opener with only 7 cars finishing, lots of drama. Well done to LH and Rosberg...Kimi certainly provided the entertainment but we knew it was going to end in tears. Amazing what happens when TC is removed.

yeah...i was like "...., everybody's in the points no matter what position you finish!"

here's to more amazing races ahead!

That was quite an eventful race. I don't think the removal of TC had much to do with it. Nobody made big mess ups under acceleration even in a dirty track like Albert park. But the removal of electronic engine braking did have a big effect (tell Kimi hehe). Maybe in a wet race the removal of TC will be more significant.
The result of the race was not too bad, but the real pecking order of team performance is now clear and I don´t like it at all!!
Seems McLaren is as good Ferrari (probably better in quali) though it´s hard to judge because LH is a better driver than Massa and the diff could be up to driver skill. We´ll see when Kimi makes it to Q3.

After these 2 (Ferrari and McLaren) there´s a gap (not too big) to BMW and just after them it´s gotta be Williams (though Rosberg might also make the car look better than it really is).

Biggest surprise to me was Honda, Barrichello was not only keeping Kimi at bay easily but also he was pulling away from the cars behind. Toyota seems to be pretty close to them.

After these, then it´s not too clear but Red Bull, Renault and Toro Rosso are all bunched up there in the midfield/back of the grid. Even though Vettel, Bourdais and Alonso drove the car far higher than the place it deserves.

The team that changes name every year doesn´t change position, they still suck. But at least they´re not about to dissappear like Super Aguri. These two teams form the back pack of the grid.


In terms of drivers, not much has changed, Among the rookies I think Bourdais is the most talented one, Toro Rosso might have one of the crappiest cars, but has one of the best driver pairings. Nakajima though quick seems a bit Satoish to me, could just be inexperience but I think it´s just the way he drives. Piquet was disapointing, this year´s Renault seems to be quite crap, but come on you HAVE to beat Super Aguris and Force India!!

The others performed more or less as they were expected to. LH was very quick, Kovalainen was average, he was unlucky with the SC, but still he was much slower than LH and he gave away a point to a .... Renault. Rosberg was quality, kid is very good, first podium for him, first podium for Williams in 3 years I think.
Heidfeld was not bad, but Kubica did better with the same car. Unlucky Kubica, he did really well but Nakajima hit him.
Massa screwed up as usual, I really struggle to understand why Ferrari keeps this guy. Kimi did a Massa today, a bit more consistency is expected from the champion.
Alonso did as best as he could I think given the car´s limitations. He might be regreting joining Renault. Though he signed a performance clause in his contract so I think he can walk away to Ferrari next year if the cars keeps sucking by mid season.
Rubens was really good, Honda are not as crap as they looked last season! He was pretty cool and calm keeping Kimikaze at bay. And Trulli was good too, will be interesting to see what Button and Glock can do with these cars.

Ok I got tired of writing


GO ALONSO!!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Mar 16 2008, 11:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Rosberg was quality, kid is very good, first podium for him, first podium for Williams in 3 years I think.

Forgotten Wurz at Canada so easily?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Mar 16 2008, 07:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Alonso did as best as he could I think given the car´s limitations. He might be regreting joining Renault. Though he signed a performance clause in his contract so I think he can walk away to Ferrari next year if the cars keeps sucking by mid season.

kimi and alo in one team next year?! that'd be really really interesting...

though, it's still the first race of the season, so we need to shelf it for now.

can't wait for sepang

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Mar 16 2008, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1. Seems McLaren is as good Ferrari (probably better in quali) though it´s hard to judge because LH is a better driver than Massa and the diff could be up to driver skill. We´ll see when Kimi makes it to Q3.

2. After these 2 (Ferrari and McLaren) there´s a gap (not too big) to BMW and just after them it´s gotta be Williams (though Rosberg might also make the car look better than it really is).

3. Biggest surprise to me was Honda, Barrichello was not only keeping Kimi at bay easily but also he was pulling away from the cars behind. Toyota seems to be pretty close to them.

4. Massa screwed up as usual, I really struggle to understand why Ferrari keeps this guy. Kimi did a Massa today, a bit more consistency is expected from the champion.
Alonso did as best as he could I think given the car´s limitations. He might be regreting joining Renault. Though he signed a performance clause in his contract so I think he can walk away to Ferrari next year if the cars keeps sucking by mid season.

Ok I got tired of writing
I bet you got tired!!!!

1. McLaren is definitely faster in quali. I read somewhere that Ferrari said they weren't that fast on a single lap, but that their race pace was good.

2. I kinda know what you mean, but a driver can't make a car look better than it is, he can only show what the maximum is. So if he does well, it also means his car is able to do so.

3. Honda looks better than last year. I do think that Rubinho could stay in front of Kimi so long, because Kimi was way heavier, and that costed some time too. Of course Barrichello did a very good job as well!!

4. OMG, we think the same. I told that to my brother when we were watching. No disrespect to Massa, please dont get me wrong, but when I watched it, I thought it was more something Massa would do (and also Montoya!! ). Kimi needs to do better next week!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Mar 16 2008, 11:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Alonso did as best as he could I think given the car´s limitations. He might be regreting joining Renault. Though he signed a performance clause in his contract so I think he can walk away to Ferrari next year if the cars keeps sucking by mid season.
Rubens was really good, Honda are not as crap as they looked last season! He was pretty cool and calm keeping Kimikaze at bay. And Trulli was good too, will be interesting to see what Button and Glock can do with these cars.

You think so? Ferrari would be making a BIG mistake signing Alonso after his ridiculous antics last season.

Barrichello should get the award of being the luckiest driver today, considering he had a stop go and run through a red light, if more cars had finished he would have been well out of the points. Good drive anyway.

Anyone else think the Honda's look like the BMW's head on?

7 days to go....

Congrates to Sebastien Bourdais. If not for the engine failure you'd been in fourth instead of 7th in you Grand Prix debut.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dazza @ Mar 16 2008, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Anyone else think the Honda's look like the BMW's head on?

not me...could spot a tinge of green...bmw and williams, now that's another thing

Don't look for Ron Dennis

may be the annulment hearing? if he's out for sepang, who takes over then?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pacman @ Mar 16 2008, 03:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You think so? Ferrari would be making a BIG mistake signing Alonso after his ridiculous antics last season.

In my opinion what you call ridiculous antics were just the normal reaction of the treatment Alonso received from Ron Dennis. A team manager cannot has to be able to control his drivers and stablish equality. So no, I don't think Ferrari would make a mistake at all signing Alonso.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dazza @ Mar 16 2008, 03:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Barrichello should get the award of being the luckiest driver today, considering he had a stop go and run through a red light, if more cars had finished he would have been well out of the points. Good drive anyway.

Anyone else think the Honda's look like the BMW's head on?

7 days to go....


Seems Rubens luck ran out, he's been disqualified.

4 different cars in the first 4 places!!! That is a kind of unpredictability that the sport needs. Unfortunately having so few cars finish the race is exactly what the sport doesn't need, but i think this was just one of those one off evetnful races. Alonso looked very ragged throughout, it was spectacular but he's obviously fighting the car hard. The BMW's are looking good and the Honda's pace is an very pleasent surprise. Kimi??????

Oh yeah. Does anyone know about or understand the justification for the rules regarding the safetey car? Why can't they re-fuel and why wasn't rubens allowed out onto the circuit when he went?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Mar 16 2008, 03:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>In my opinion what you call ridiculous antics were just the normal reaction of the treatment Alonso received from Ron Dennis. A team manager cannot has to be able to control his drivers and stablish equality. So no, I don't think Ferrari would make a mistake at all signing Alonso.

I for one definitely call kicking a door down ridiculous antics.

As if Alonso wasn't at fault. Last season just proves that he can't handle competition from a competitive team mate.

I think it was pretty entertaining!!! ...and messy!

I'm so sorry for Bourdais.
Killing people in pit stops has to stop!!!
Kimi?? well, it was super fun. I'm not mad at him.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Mar 17 2008, 01:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Oh yeah. Does anyone know about or understand the justification for the rules regarding the safetey car? Why can't they re-fuel and why wasn't rubens allowed out onto the circuit when he went?

if i remember it right, there are instances wherein once the safety car is out on track, the pit lanes are closed. no one get into the pitlane, and if by chance you are in the pitlane during the incident, you cannot go out until the green lights say so...



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (memento @ Mar 17 2008, 04:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1. Killing people in pit stops has to stop!!!
2. Kimi?? well, it was super fun. I'm not mad at him.

1. - yeah, i would never thought rubens would do a nakajima... though, it's not his fault...the lollipop man indicated all is clear and he could go...

kudos to all the pit crew for a very very dangerous job

2.

That was a crazy race, everyone and thing was destroyed on my fantasy team haha