Don't know whether you've watched any GP live, but forget the race. I never have much of a clue what's going on and I really don't care (ok I know who is leading, but that's about it). I'm too busy soaking in the atmosphere, taking pictures, shouting at the competition and loosing my voice supporting my driver. A GP to me is like a rock concert. You don't go there to listen to music, but to have a blast and memories for a lifetime. The Canadian GP is a good one to choose for many reasons: The whole town is in GP mode and there are spectacles all over town. The anticipation to the GP is overwhelming and wonderful. Every newspaper and TV station reports about the race, shops have F1 memorabilia for sale, restaurants and cafe F1 burgers you get the picture. And fans everywhere. That is very different from many GPs that have no big town nearby (e.g. Hockenheim, Magny Cours, Silverstone, Spa) or where the town nearby doesn't give a damn or is simply too big (e.g. Barcelona). Access to the track in Canada is a blast with the subway and a brief walk through the park. Compare that to lousy Silverstone where you end up in a traffic jam for half a day unless you do the only reasonable thing which is fly in by helicopter. Montreal also has some great tribunes in the Senna S and in the hairpin you see a lot more and more action than eg. boring Monza. In short: Use the jumbotron for the non visible part of the action, but most of the time you will be too busy.
Great description. I could almost imagine being there from it. You and few others should get together and write a book: Grand Prix Memories... I was born at the wrong time.
Heikki's gone because FA couldnt take the heat of another top driver on the team. Instead they got "Dont call me Junior". Junior is the perfect team-mate for FA ; no threat AND he gets to show the world he can whup a Piquet.
Ferrari is in the drivers seat concerning FA's future. That is unless BMW has a killer year and doesnt suffer from the loyalty problem FA wants it BAD ! (Kimi's only fault I see). Ferrari will have the only available WDC ride available. I bet they could get him cheap. Perhaps he can pay-per-drive ? The long term contract with Massa is going to cost them dearly unless it was written with an escape clause for Ferrari. Yet again ; What were they thinking ?
Thanks. I've been to Montreal many times and love it there. Been out to the track as well (I may hold the lap record for a Rav 4).
Thanks, here just for fun a few pics from that era: - My first GP, 1979 in Hockenheim. Look at all the folks milling around at the start of the race. - A year later in Brands Hatch, where I brought a picture from Hockenheim along that Alan Jones signed. A Williams mechanic just took me right through their pit garage to Alan, who rested in a regular RV. - My greatest "coup": Full press credentials the German GP, here a pic of the press office. Notice all the typewriters - Piquet Senior, the late de Angelis at the German GP where I had full access to the pits during all sessions. - The rained out Monaco GP - Villeneuve Senior in Hockenheim - Pironi in Hockenheim The book idea ain't bad. Together with Tifosiron and Gilles27 and a few others we could probably pull something off. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
You make it sound like McLaren was gassing Jews, for chrissake. I was merely pointing out that Ferrari also has a history of espionage against the other teams. What Mclaren did is not isolated by any means. Your memory appears to be very selective. Everyone here seems to have his own opinion what a true Tifoso is. I find it difficult to believe that a true Tifoso would claim his support for the team is conditional on which driver the team employs...
While I agree with your sentiments you could have picked a better analogy given Max's recent exposure (?) in the tabloids.
Newest report from German Bild: http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/motorsport/2008/03/30/ferrari-geruecht/alsono-oder-vettel-loesen-massa-ab,geo=4134018.html In short: - Either Alonso or Vettel will get Massa's seat next year. - Ferrari wants to have a test session with Vettel this year. - LDM is not a Massa fan at all.
I bet we see Vettel there before Alonso. I know Alonso can drive but I still don't think Ferrari is very pleased with the comments and overall attitude Alonso has proven to keep with the last 2 teams he has been with. Just my opinion though...
The article points out how fast that shady deal with the inconceivable contract extension was done. It also mentions how desperate Massa has become: If questioned about his mistakes in the first two races he responds that his contract runs through 2010...
it all depends on what ferrari wants... a jungen to drive alongside a WC, giving him time to 'get up to speed', or having two WC's at the same time...either way, good news. prob Vettel gets the seat i think. of course, Massa is adamant that he is contracted through 2010....
According to our Nazi-Orgy-Loving friend, the budget cap will not include drivers salaries. So if anything, they'll probably increase.
+1 What I don't get is that when Michael Schumacher was announced as the Ferrari Driver for 1996, many of the tifosi held up banners at Monza in 95 that read, "One Alesi for today than a hundred Schumachers for tomorrow." Ferrari in the past always wanted to have the two best drivers available to them. Only in the Schumacher ERA was it ever different as it was setup by MS, LDM, Todt, Brawn, Byrne, ETC. But in the past it had been different. Now with the success that Ferrari finally achieved after not winning the WDC for 21 years, it should be as it was before as the team has progressed. Hence why the uproar over Alonso, after he wins his first race with the Scuderia he will be a Ferrari Driver in the hearts and minds of the tifosi. Just my 2 cents from a guy that started following it from the beginning of the GV Era.
