US Grand Prix**Spoilers**

Great race, although the wrong guys won. Can't Ferrari use Schumacher as a test driver? I think he's the best driver on the whole world when it comes to developing a car, and even if he doesn't race any more, his skills are worth their weight not only in gold but in diamonds if Ferrari used him back home in Fiorano for developing the car...

 

I just watched a few laps as I was channel surfin and I thought I would fall asleep. I had to turn on golf to get my blood pressure up. I can see why this is not a big sell in the US market. So I'll stick with switching between golf and NASCAR. Enjoy the ride

 

I am not sure the last three races are indicative of the whole season - I hope not, at least.

Monaco is a different animal - super high downforce because there are not high speeds, and mechanical grip is king. Going INTO Monaco, the Ferraris were definitely on top - they were the faster cars. At Monaco, Ferrari did not fare so well, but I wouldn't expect the team to scramble to re-engineer the car, because it's such a different race than any other. So everything was probably mostly left alone. At Canada, the Ferraris are behind again... you can be sure all the telemetry was making it's way back to Maranello in real time and major efforts were being undertaken to make sense of it all. But what can be done in time for Indy? The cars are probably packed and on their way from Montreal on Monday, arrive Tuesday and unpacked Tuesday/Wednesday. On Thursday they settle in and the GP weekend starts. So there is not much opportunity to do much to the car. Similarly, in Maranello they only have a day or maybe two at MOST to get something done and its simply not enough time. Combine that with the fact that they don't even have their hands on the cars, and the result is it was a foregone conclusion that Indy wasn't gonna be much different than Montreal.

Back in Europe for the euro stint, is where Ferrari can (and must) catch up. With having 2 weeks or more between most races, this is where Ferrari can get the cars back to Maranello between races and really dissect the race results and implement changes.

So while I know it seems like a desperate situation given it's been three races behind McLaren without visible improvement, the reality is that it may not be quite as bad as it seems. Sure we needed the points, but, I don't know we can chalk it up to a major problem that the team cannot fix. They just haven't really had the opportunity yet.

Ferrari must not only match McLaren in speed, they have to exceed them in R&D to make up for lost ground. But if anyone can do it, Ferrari can.

It ain't over yet!

 

It was over after Montreal.

The true value of Schumacher is becoming more apparent with each race.

Hopefully the Scuderia can eventually hire Alonso and regroup.

 

The wheels fell off the wagon @ Monaco; the lack of development is apparent and I bet Montezemula is going to be cracking heads at the fabbrica this week, especially after Luca guaranteed victories here in NA. Trust me this won't go over well in Maranello. That said, the solution will not be easily found.

On another note, I like this kid Vettel.

 

Haha! You had to watch NASCAR to get your blood pressure up??? Surely you meant that your blood pressure was rising in anticipation of a redneck fight!...because it's hard to believe your blood pressure rose from the racing? If you want the same "exhilarating blood pressure rise" as a NASCAR race, just pour some Cheerios in a toilet bowl and give it a flush....it's basically the same thing. Woooo hooo...now that is exciting!!
(btw, make sure your toilet swirls counter clockwise...it makes it more realistic

LOL...sorry, couldn't resist

 

Congrats to Hamilton and Alonzo for a 1,2 finish. Though, It looks like Alonzo might take them bth out near the end. Congrats to Massa and Kimi for their finishes. But, to me, it was liking watching two different races.... the MB/Mclarens and then the Ferraris. The battles were inter-team.

I hope Ferrari makes a better show of it next race.

I'm not sure I like the new color either........

 

haha lol at you.

 

Unfortunatly Ferrari looks like it has been riding on the work that MS and co. did and now it has gotten passed by MC who has been moving ahead the whole time and Ferrari might slip back to the doldrums of pre MS, DB days.
F-1 is fun becouse it is so dynamic and hard to guess how the rules afect each team.

 

so true-look at the 19K rev limit-it has helped Mc-MB immensely...

 

Next year will have no more traction control so the men will be separated from the boys. Well, almost. They need to go back to three pedals for that to happen.

 

It's been said before, but *What lousy coverage*!! Sato went out during a commercial -- no surprise there, as that was half the coverage time. But it took, what, about five laps after the yellow went off for them to get around to mentioning it?

And how did Heidfeld get down to 7th before his hydraulics quit on him?
Yes, Lewis is amazing. Now let's look at the 21 other cars once in a while, hmm?

Kimi looked pretty bad losing two spots off the grid .... until I noticed the hard tires. When he switched to softs, he took back those two spots pretty handily against the cars on hard tires on the second stint.

Those harder tires must not have been working very well. Kimi strolled past Kovi and Nick pretty easily, just as they blew him off when the tire situation was reversed.

So Phil did a heck of a job to finish third, when Kimi was on softs and Massa was stuck with hards.

And even the formula1 web site doesn't keep track of who's on which tire -- much less the TV coverage.
Yet another "randomization" rule: like the course hazards in BattleBots. WWF1 (gak)

It's a long season. We'll see what Ferrari can accomplish when their wind tunnel gets back on line.

But at least we're getting some intra-team racing.

And if BMW can get their reliability up, Ferrari better get something on the stove.

Kimi's strategy might have worked if he could have maintained contact in the opening stint, but at least he's trying. No complaints about his efforts today.

I can't say much about the rest of the race, as I barely saw any of it on Fox coverage.

 

Fox's coverage blew, that's for sure.

I am looking forward to the new traction control rule next year. Take away more of the electronic babysitters and see how these guys really drive.

I like Hamilton....he is classy, always thanks and gives credit to his crew, and seems genuinely happy to be there. Alonso seems like he is brooding and pissed off. I guess getting beat by your #2 guy blows, but man, just take a look at your checkbook and relax a little! He is making himself look like a baby.

If Ferrari can't win, I was happy it was Hamilton. But now it's time for the Scuderia to get the job done. Forza Ferrari! We take France!

 

It's clear that McLaren has superior grip to Ferrari. Kimi and Felipe are obviously fighting the car to max out it's potential, while the McLarens seem like they have magnets on the bottom of the cars. Hopefully the two week break before France will yield some improvements in the aero package so that they can improve the cars' handling around curves.

It still seems to me like the long wheelbase may be a gamble that doesn't pay off. I'm not certain how they would not have known it would a potential aversion to their championship challenge.

 

Nah, people always think that. Remember last year when nearer the beginning of the season everyone though it was over. Ferrari re-grouped mid-season and Alonso got a run for his money from Schumi. The year before, McLaren regrouped mid-season and Kimi gave Aloso a run for his money. The temptation is always to think that the season is done from a few bad races, and that such-and-such driver is the next MS from a few races, or that such-and-such driver sucks now because of a few races. There are plenty of races to go. It does not need a bunch of DNF's from McLaren and a bunch of wins from Ferrari to turn things around. If the luck of Ferrari and McLaren were reversed, then in 6 more races it would be equal.

Ferrari does need to turn things around and they need to do it quickly, but I am sure they know that and the season is far faaaar from over.

 

Last year Renault won at Canada, but Ferrari won at the USGP. That was the turning point when Ferrari started to pull away and win 7 of the 9 races after Canada.

 

Hope this makes everyone smile and breaks the bad mood and karma for Ferrari and fans. From my 8 yr old daughter, it sure made me happy . She really liked the colors of last years Renault cars.
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I told my buddy the exact same. I mean, it was a joke. But the kid looks very similar. Anyone have true clarification?

 

Yes that was him.

Good race, congrats to Lewis! I'm also happy for Mark finally scoring some points, and a good result for Heiki and Jarno. Too bad for Quick Nick, but overall it was a good race. Also, looks like Ralf isn't doing himself any favors. Montoya was fired for less, Ralf better pull a great performance out of his ass soon.

 

I was at the race.

Great race.

Met up with one f-chatter yesterday to watch the IMSA GT3, and Indy Pro Races.

 

Agree, for Ferrari anyway. The fight is still on at McLaren.

Hopefully now everybody can finally see how Ferrari and Michael Schumacher made F1 the MOST boring sport by playing team orders to the max AND not hiring a decent number 2 driver. Yes MS was bloody good but watching him lap everybody was hardly interesting.

Watching Alonso and LH truly race is fantastic, both drove very well today.

Yes that would be a good move. I wonder how much LH is benefiting from this, ie Alonso is very good at developing cars. I have no knowledge on how good LH is, but surely McLaren must be turning to Alonso for this?

Pete

 

Are you sure? He was acting a lot like family in that short video footage of the two. If it really was him, it seems a bit odd...

Edit: Yeah, it was him. "Much to the delight of American hip-hop star Pharrell Williams, who watched the race alongside Hamilton’s father Anthony, Hamilton opened up a 2.2sec lead from Alonso after ten laps with Massa 4.5sec behind."

 

Tony,

That is quite simply AWESOME!

 

I was rather pleased with F's results. Those guy's really gave it everything they had IMO. It appears the car just isn't fast enough. Get that car tweaked and we can hopefully be back in the race.

 

that is the BEST!!!