** SPOILER ** Spanish GP Race Thread

That sound's like a nightmare .... the race was ok ish, Just glad HK was alright, his wheel blew up and he went straight across the gravel into the tyre's @ 140MPH ish, looked awfull, but yet again the car's are brillant and safe.

Kimi shot off no catching him.. Lewis tried hard to catch Massa but not quite enough speed in the Mc, but it's still close enough to keep it exciting. Renault has stepped it up, and by the look of it FA is soon going to fighting for a podium spot, JB impressed me as well, Honda have made improvement's.

Sorry no help with reruns...I'am on the wrong side of the water..

 

Good points.

 

I realize that F1 is a team effort. You've got to have a great team as well as a great driver, and that's why Ferrari is on top. I never was a fan of Alonso, but that's probably because he was Shumi's rival when I got into F1, but when Shumi retired I had to find someone else to root for and Enter Hamilton and I latched onto him like everyone else did. I still root for Hamilton, but now I'm beginning to think that he's still a little young and needs a little more experience from a Veteran. I'm not too dissapointed in him, because we're only a few races into the season. We'll just see what he can pull out for the rest of the season, because it's far from over.

Onto the Spanish GP. It was just another circuit track. Fast, but very little overtaking possibilities. I really prefer the Street tracks like Austrailla, there's always alot more eye candy to look at as they go around rather than a bunch of gravel pits. Congrats to Ferrari

 

As everyone is beginning to find out and has now become common knowledge...You can think what you want about Alonso, but Hamilton's shortcomings are apparent now that he doesn't have the benefit of Alonso's superior setup skills to mimick.

 

Thanks Steve, It was a nightmare. Pretty much had me in a foul mood for the first half of the the day. It's funny how beer makes everything feel better...

P.S. Where was Alonso running when he blew up?

 

Pleasure Luis, I would just hate satan getting a grip of my TV,when the only thing I turn it on for is F1 and top gear...

FA was running 5th, I think or if his engine hadn't blew approx half way through the race, he would have ended up finishing around 5th I reckon.

 

Yes no doubt FA was a help last year, but lets look at it this year in real term's

He was unlucky in qualifying to find himself in fifth place despite being only four-hundredths of a second slower than Massa in third.
When you adjust for the fuel loads they were carrying, Hamilton had two laps more fuel than Massa, equivalent to 0.15s, so he did a better job than Massa.

If anything, this race proved to me Lewis has got his mind set back, think what you like about his short-coming's but it would take a fool to rule him out on that alone.

 

I must be a fool...It is my opinion that the jury is still out on Hami's mind set.

 

LOL...! He did seem cool as a cucumber on the track yesterday, setting quicker and quicker laps and never faltering, not even once.

Thank you - makes sense. I was baffled by it hitherto.

 

Hitherto! Me too.

 

Good point, but ...

Being cool and modern ala Kimi and LH are not prerequisites for being a good driver and a genuinely nice guy.
There are plenty of 'very very nice guys' around here and not many developed the 'nice guy' allergy.

In some parts of the world (Fchat is unfortunately highly occidental)
outwardly emotive behaviour, tantrums, and self lamentation are attributes. (berlusconi was reelected)

While you and Massa don't mix, at least you're not a 'nice guy' like the majority of the Massa hate brigade.

 

His mindset was apparent in 07.
I suppose you could call it genial - either simply brilliant or simply bizarre.

Unless MCL gifts him a superior car, Kubica may well outscore him this season.

 

A better job? You are kidding, fuel loads aside, he didnt qualify better or finish higher than Felipe. He was never going to pass him as Felipe would have simply put a bit more throttle in plus the circuit is a passing no mans land. You are reaching on the fuel loads until you prove to me he stopped for fuel and wasn't called in early to adjust strategy. I might be reaching there,(but in good fun of course ) but no further than you are. He was simply beaten by a better car plain and simple. Give Felipe credit for getting the job done.

His lap times were not great until Ferrari slowed down. RD said the true pace of the car would be known at Barcelona. They are at least 4 tenths or more depending on Kimi's throttle boot, down on Ferrari pace. BMW is at their heels and if they get a better start someday(BMW), Mclaren is probably the 3rd team when compared to Ferrari or BMW in my opinion.

Mind set wise he didnt make a mistake or forget to select the right ECU map on the grid. All drivers make mistakes of course. He did the best he could with the package he had. They are not improving in relative terms to Ferrari. Mclaren's biggest problem is the car. Their drivers are competent, more than competent!

 

He was beaten with a faster car yes..why are you telling me something I already know.

He started 5th, and ended up 3rd best of the rest behind Ferrari that's job well done IMO.

The race I watched, he was closing in on Massa and Kubica wasn't on his heel's..I hasten to add Massa was probably taking it easy on his engine.

You appear to have contradicted yourself, as my original post said his mindset was right and you agree...

Yet you say I have got to be kidding that he did a better job

And have a look at the WDC standing's..and tell me who's done a better job this year in a slower car

 

for the 1st time, Fred didn't say anything negative. he said that he's happy, and Renault did indeed move a step forward. i think he also explained that he's fighting for 5th places at the moment, and by the time Monaco, the team can go for podiums.

 

The gap in the end wasn't that big, but the safety car was out twice, and as you say, the Ferraris were surely taking it easy.

 

Kimi : we could have gone faster, but we didn't need to. there's no point in pushing.

 

I love it when he says that!

 

I think it's still to early to count Hamilton out this year. Last year he hadn't won a race yet and this year he won the opening race. He had a nasty crash a few weeks ago, and I'm sure that effected him for the GP. I think we need to wait to see what he can show us for the rest of the season.

 

Racing-underground.com rocks, i downloaded the race and put it on my iphone. I'm watching it at work now. Gotta love modern technology. Best of all i'm getting paid to watch F1 right now....

 

Glad you got to see it ...