2008 F1 Season

[ctjet]

if i hear one more half wit pronounce it "koobika"... punches are going to be thrown

[Beer Baron]

And that is Robbie's appeal, how can't you like the guy, fast, fair, to the point, no bullshit, unpretentious...

and he's polish! I agree, what's not to like.?

[Beer Baron]

if i hear one more half wit pronounce it "koobika"... punches are going to be thrown

yes well, being a pole myself with the whacky polish surnames we all love I can say to the best of my knowledge his name correctly pronouned would be kubicha. though the poms seem to alternate between kubitsa and kubika. meh.

[ctjet]

and he's polish! I agree, what's not to like.?

other than the bulb noses... who knows

[m3gtr]

if i hear one more half wit pronounce it "koobika"... punches are going to be thrown

ahahah, its bloody annoying, isnt it? If only F1 telecasts were "interactive"

[Roy]

Re your claim that Alonso is a low mongrel etc etc for his role in the Stepney issue last year, consider this.

Other then Coughlan, De La Rosa was the main culprit according to the FIA press release. He was the driver in contact with Coughlan the most and was the one talking to Alonso about it all. Lowe claims that they stopped the tide of information flowing through the team, yet things were discussed amongst the test driver and engineers who run the simualtor. Would this stuff be happening without the permission of bosses/superiors? Its not a summer camp where people run around and do stuff at a whim without authority. Every bit of testing is discussed, planned and scheduled to ensure that it maximises data and information for the team.

It is not his job, nor would he be able to handle and process the sensitive Ferrari info, so there is no way Coughlan came to only him and Alonso with this stuff.

So to claim it was isolated to De La Rosa is silly, he doesnt tell the engineers/team what they will be testing today, next week. No doubt he is heavily involved in discussions etc, but to say that it was only Coughlan, Alonso and De La Rosa is laughable. McLaren stuck to their guns, the FIA didnt buy it and the rest is historty.

But here is the thing, Coughlan got marched, what about Lowe, where does he work today and what role does he hold? What is De La Rosa up to these days? McLaren protected their guys to the best of their ability. Why did the story get the light of day in Sept? Because Alonso fired up and held a gun to RD, to which his response was to hand it over to the FIA. It is laughable that Coughlan knew of the info, Lowe knew of it, De La Rosa and Alonso knew of it, but Dennis didnt. So Alonso's game of bluff with Dennis is what made all this stuff surface.

Why? Because he felt the team didnt appreciate his standing as WDC within his new team. I have no problem believing that Hamilton knew of this stuff as well. He is a team driver, he was leading the WDC, he tests the cars along with Alonso and De La Rosa and Alonso. He runs in the simulator as well. Alonso is not the good guy here, his action within his own team were damaging, but it was the teams actions to begin with that were damaging.

But this is all in the past. I bring it up because while there are Hamo bashes on this forum, Adam loves to bash Alonso these days. I point out that you dont have to look too hard to see that last year Lewis played a big part in causing friction between drivers and by no means squeeky clean in the whole Stepneygate. It was in McLaren's best interest to protect him and any exposure to him. Just like there was only a murmur re his delaying Alonso in Hungary, it was the McLaren team's decision to keep him out in China. It was a mechanical glitch in Brazil. McLaren work full time at protecting him and his reputation, even when at the time, or later it is revealed that the error was Hamiltons doing. So what would they have to gain from exposing him last September. They didnt expose De La Rosa and Alonso in July, only doing so in Spetember when Alonso exposed himself.

[Roy]

The other reason i dont get Hamilton, he gets to party with whoever he like and he invites P Diddy He was on the right track with Vivian Burkhardt , but why would you leave her side or Danni Minogues to be with the fella that changes his name every album

Oh and i love James Allen, best commentator around

[m3gtr]

The other reason i dont get Hamilton, he gets to party with whoever he like and he invites P Diddy He was on the right track with Vivian Burkhardt , but why would you leave her side or Danni Minogues to be with the fella that changes his name every album

Oh and i love James Allen, best commentator around

LOL, Roy thats a golden post. Whoever dun writ this there picture should be wif wot their expectations are.

Youve GOT to love Blundellism.

By the way, im not an FA basher. You should know my anger stemmed from the very thing your defending him on - and that is - "holding a gun to RD's head", to use your phrasing.

What a shithead. Who does the little twerp think he is? Yes he won a WDC or 2...but or him to treat RD that way - blackmail ffs - is inexcusable and the whole paddock lost a lot of respect for him over that.

RD on the other hand has LH and now HK... so i doubt very much it was a difficult decision to boot FA out the door and onto his ass. whereby landing him in a Renault heap.

FA should consider himself lucky.

Edited May 26, 2008 by m3gtr

[brent32]

looks like webbers luck may have finally changed, its so good to see him making the most of his qaulifying skill on raceday. Monaco also again showed why it is one of / if not the best round of F1 to watch.

[Roy]

Yeh, Lewis only initiated an enquiry into McLaren at Monaco by claimign he shoudl have won the race. Dont mind that he had been clipping armco barriers all race and was lucky to have not damaged the car. Secondly, he claims to be a friend and respectful of his boss, the same guy that made the call to change his strategy. Yet felt it was his place to take his grievances to the press, subsquently an FIA investigation. All because Hamilton was on a one stop strategy, but by going to a 2 stop strategy the increased pace and track position would mean he would not be exposed by a pace car should there be an accident. This only gave him another podium position, the team a 1-2, and ensured that he was not caught back 3rd or 4th with a safety car.

So , people complain about Alonso and what he did to McLaren, but look back earlier in the season and it was Lewis who to a lesser extent put the team in an awkward position. His displeasure at havng a co driver that had not won a few GPs to his zero. So Lewis is no saint, putting pressure on Dennis and trying to influence his decisions, look what happened several GPs later, as a rookie he was demanding that the team get behind him by disobeying pit orders , and Alonso was the one that wore the penalty. I wonder what internal punishment was administered to Lewis? LOL, obviously it wasnt enough to make Alonso feel as though he would not be put at a disadvantage by following pit orders/calls team orders.

All in all, its no crime, just the actions of a hungry young guy that wont let anyone stop him from achieving his goals. My problem is when he is painted as a sweetheart who is innocent and shares no blame for the teams situation last year, any of his driving mistakes etc etc. All whilst being the 'victim' everytime he was intervied. FFS his dad even started on the same tune in interviews referring to Alonso and even Alonso's Dad

[sh@un]

Was too tired to be bothered firing up the laptop last night after the race to comment- so please forgive the lateness of my reply

Anyway, he raced well tonight. Though he did keep up his tradition of hitting walls around Monaco, which is why its laughable that he feels he should have won last year. Several wall strikes last year, only one this year

i notice there how you rib LH for his single discrepancy, yet conveniently omit the numerous unforced errors by both Ferrari drivers...hmmm.....

Never in my life have I heard so much verbal cock sucking of a driver...'Senna-esque' is iTV's new buzz word and is making me and no doubt countless others physically ill.

I feel sorry for Sutil, as he was on for at least 5th if KR made it stick but I guess thats racing.

i thought of all you hami-haters and LOL'd heartily as soon as they'd said that.

i think i heard you dry-reaching from here, Michael. lol

and yes, Sutil got robbed blind. on that- as much as i dislike KR and Ferrari, the fact he managed to not end up in the wall after the mother of all tank-slappers coming down into the chicane was amazing. the slo-mo replay had me spell-bound. still, he was only solving a problem he'd created for himself

Good race, the dori action was freakin awesome.

MOAR!

Then, rather the screamign and kicking up a fuss about letting him past the pace car with a few laps to go to try and jump all the chumps in slower cars, they stall the restart by stuffing around with him behind the pace car. He shoudl have got points today, and should not be languishing on equal points with Webber.

that was odd. why the hell did it take him so long to go past the pace car after the okay was given??

'He walks in shadow of Senna'

he casts one hell of a long shadow. F1 racing magazine just ranked him greatest driver of all time (as is my opinion). could only imagine what the record books would look like these days if his career wasn't cut so tragically short.

---

anyway- apart from that one error, it was a great drive by Lewis. who could have thought that it could have worked out so well 'stategically' for him in the end. haha. brilliant pace at the end of the race on the dries, to all those that still somehow doubt his skill, only to have all that excellent buffering work snatched away by the pace car. oh wells. would have been nice to see Kova add to McLarens constructor championship points too....meh, i guess.

[Roy]

i notice there how you rib LH for his single discrepancy, yet conveniently omit the numerous unforced errors by both Ferrari drivers...hmmm.....

.

Omit? Kimi made the mother of all stuff ups. But did a great job keeping it off the wall which woudl have meant the GP finishing under yellows. As for Massa's no better no worse. LOL if only he was lucky enough to have hti something and got apuncture then it maye have been a real race up front with Massa on the same strategy as Lewis

Also, i recall the current WDC binning it in 2007 and chasing his tail the whole GP. Massa raced pretty well last year, likewise this year. If Monaco really carrys the weight of ones ability as much as ppl make out, what does that mean for Kimi and Massa?

[sh@un]

As for Massa's no better no worse. LOL if only he was lucky enough to have hti something and got apuncture then it maye have been a real race up front with Massa on the same strategy as Lewis

it was a strategy that wasn't. lol. all the various teams computing couldn't have seen that one. pace car outings, ppl n00bing their cars into walls (Piquet on dries on a partially wet track- seriously guys; w.t.f?) and dubious weather forecasts all played merry hell with any conventional strategy. made for interesting viewing though

If Monaco really carrys the weight of ones ability as much as ppl make out, what does that mean for Kimi and Massa?

either the '08 Ferrari chassis doesn't cope well with Monaco and wet weather... or they're both a bit rubbish in the wet with no t.c

would have thought Kimi would be used to racing on low-grip surfaces, being Finnish n'all....

[m3gtr]

it was a strategy that wasn't. lol. all the various teams computing couldn't have seen that one. pace car outings, ppl n00bing their cars into walls (Piquet on dries on a partially wet track- seriously guys; w.t.f?) and dubious weather forecasts all played merry hell with any conventional strategy. made for interesting viewing though

either the '08 Ferrari chassis doesn't cope well with Monaco and wet weather... or they're both a bit rubbish in the wet with no t.c

would have thought Kimi would be used to racing on low-grip surfaces, being Finnish n'all....

lol, im feeling left out Shaun...in the thick of it all day and you didnt even quote me once!

Bastard!

Yes Kimi is Finnish as in failed to Finnish in the points//

What was amazing was the HK actually did finish in the points!

Edited May 26, 2008 by m3gtr

[sh@un]

lol, im feeling left out Shaun...in the thick of it all day and you didnt even quote me once!

Bastard!

i only read page 26 (40ppp) before i started with those replies

make it up to you next time babe. x

Yes Kimi is Finnish as in failed to Finnish in the points//

oh i lolled

What was amazing was the HK actually did finish in the points!

what was he doing when it was time to un-lap himself???

[m3gtr]

Yeh, Lewis only initiated an enquiry into McLaren at Monaco by claimign he shoudl have won the race. Dont mind that he had been clipping armco barriers all race and was lucky to have not damaged the car. Secondly, he claims to be a friend and respectful of his boss, the same guy that made the call to change his strategy. Yet felt it was his place to take his grievances to the press, subsquently an FIA investigation. All because Hamilton was on a one stop strategy, but by going to a 2 stop strategy the increased pace and track position would mean he would not be exposed by a pace car should there be an accident. This only gave him another podium position, the team a 1-2, and ensured that he was not caught back 3rd or 4th with a safety car.

So , people complain about Alonso and what he did to McLaren, but look back earlier in the season and it was Lewis who to a lesser extent put the team in an awkward position. His displeasure at havng a co driver that had not won a few GPs to his zero. So Lewis is no saint, putting pressure on Dennis and trying to influence his decisions, look what happened several GPs later, as a rookie he was demanding that the team get behind him by disobeying pit orders , and Alonso was the one that wore the penalty. I wonder what internal punishment was administered to Lewis? LOL, obviously it wasnt enough to make Alonso feel as though he would not be put at a disadvantage by following pit orders/calls team orders.

All in all, its no crime, just the actions of a hungry young guy that wont let anyone stop him from achieving his goals. My problem is when he is painted as a sweetheart who is innocent and shares no blame for the teams situation last year, any of his driving mistakes etc etc. All whilst being the 'victim' everytime he was intervied. FFS his dad even started on the same tune in interviews referring to Alonso and even Alonso's Dad

Youre on a Mosley style witch hunt Roy...the "where are the bodies buried" witchhunt, lol.

Youve got to be joking when you say Hamilton was involved in this sordid affair. 'Sif he was even aware of what was going on. Hed only been at the team for half a season when all this shit broke cover. Youre being overly judgmental of him.

Yes he defied orders because he wasnt going to play second bloody fiddle to some 2 bit dirty sanchez and i would have done the exact same thing. LH was lightyears faster than FA around Monaco last year - just think about that for a second. LIGHTYEARS faster in his first season of F1, his first weekend around the track in an F1 and hes mopping the floor with the WDC.

THATS why i like Hammo. Coz he came in and Pwned a WDC amongst a host of other things... He was stunning last year. Yes he lost the WDC - but it was HIS to lose. How many rookies can ever EVER say that to themselves? Oh it was because of the car? Bullshit to anyone who uses that argument. Id bin the bloody thing every time i stepped in it. You lot do not even begin to understand how hard this business is. Were armchair spectators.

Thankfully, i do understand a little having competed in superkarts and i know the machine is only half the bloody equation. One little mistake and its all over... and i was quick behind the wheel.

Neways...Sif you werent picking your jaw up off the ground last season when you were watching this all unfold. Bloody hell Roy, the kid has just won Monaco with no traction control - only the second time hes been there in the car!

Give the kid a break man.

Edited May 26, 2008 by m3gtr

[m3gtr]

i only read page 26 (40ppp) before i started with those replies

make it up to you next time babe. x

oh i lolled

what was he doing when it was time to un-lap himself???

Napping no doubt.. yeah HK and NH both didnt receive the wave thru until 20 + seconds later...

Just imagine that for a second. Not for NH but definitely for HK...

20 + seconds would have been mighty handy...

[m3gtr]

Look.

Just for the record and think about this...

Hamstrings has raced in 23 GP's...

He's finished on teh podium 16 bloody times! Thats already an incredible strike rate.

6 of those were wins and hes already got 147 career points! Thats nearly one win to every 3.5 races hes been in and hes only in his second season.

Anyone who doesnt think this is a prodigious talent needs to get their head read.

Nuf said. Teh number speak for themselves.

Edited May 26, 2008 by m3gtr

[m3gtr]

And heres something "spoon fed" drivers often get... a dad that runs 3 jobs to get his son to the top...

( courtesy of teh Wiki )

"When supporting his son became problematic Anthony Hamilton took redundancy as an IT Manager and became a contractor - sometimes doing up to three jobs at a time to support his son's career - and still found enough time to attend all his races. He would later set up his own computer company, as well as working as a manager for Hamilton on a full time basis."

Also, you should never forget this. Ive never even considered anyone on the face of this earth doing this and ending up having it all work out for them in the end...

"At age ten, he approached McLaren F1 team boss Ron Dennis for an autograph, and told him, "Hi. I'm Lewis Hamilton. I won the British Championship and one day I want to be racing your cars." Dennis wrote in his autograph book, "Phone me in nine years, we'll sort something out then." Ron Dennis actually called him a few years later, after Lewis started winning championships.

And this from a 7 time champ... LH was 16 at the time. Quite the endorsement...

"He's a quality driver, very strong and only 16. If he keeps this up I'm sure he will reach F1. It's something special to see a kid of his age out on the circuit. He's clearly got the right racing mentality."

Michael Schumacher, speaking about Hamilton in 2001"

Edited May 26, 2008 by m3gtr

[Kaido_RR]

all i hear is waaa waaa waaa waaa!

let the racing do the talking

everyone knows Ferrari didnt have a real chance of winning the Monaco.

and if you really think LH had nothing to do with all that spy bs then keep living in fairy land.