It's not that I doubt Kimi's commitment, or Massa's speed in the wet. But I have no faith in Ferrari's ability to adapt pit strategy to changeable weather: Pole: Massa Race: 1. Hamilton 2. <wildcard> 3. Raikkonen Like as not, reactive strategy and luck with a safety car period will elevate a wildcard driver to the podium ... possibly one of the Hondas. (Which we've seen before, with both Rubens (strategy) and Piquet (luck).) Once the Ferrari pits completely deranges Massa's car, he could well over-drive it and drop a few spots from off-track excursions. Kimi would likely putt along, and accept what points he can get with wrong tires. ... Unless his history at the track gets the better of him, and he spins it into a barrier trying to win again.
Steve, could you get your hands on some prime real estate in Moss Side, Manchester to sell on to him?
I tihink I will revise my earlier predictions. Pole: 1) Massa 2) Hamilton 3) Raikkonen 4) Alonso Race: 1) Massa 2) Raikkonen 3) Hamilton 4) Alonso 5) Kovalainen 6) Kubica Even with empty gas tanks, Spa is not a place where the Renault should be so fast. So what's up with Alonso?
I predict the Renault chassis will let the team down once again. Oh snap I just realized it's friday and I forgot to watch practice dang it!!
It was a wet/damp track for the second session. Kimi'd spun off on a wet patch while on dry tires. Alonso set the pace and the track never really dried out.
Kimi span at Rivage on cold tyres. Am more inclined to attribute it to him trying a more aggressive approach to warming his rubber than anything else, because he drove off within moments having slopped a volume of water from the tyre wall. This water was clearly visible contrasting with the virtually dry track as it spread down across the track catching out Fischi further round Rivage than the point Kimi lost it. From Kimi losing it to Fischi spinning on the wet point was within one to two minutes. Not time for a wet track to dry enough for the spilled water to be so clearly a different traction level.
I'm glad to see Kimi pushing, actually. He's obviously laboring with the current Ferrari chassis, trying to make it work for him. I feel like Ferrari made changes through out the season that somehow contrasted with Kimi's driving style.
+1 I don't think there's anyway he can get on the podium, unless a couple of the Ferrari's and Mclaren's retire.
Alright guys I've had a bit to drink tonight and so I'm going to go ahead and declare that I'm a closet Alonso fan and really hope that he will get on the podium tomorrow (granted I didn't tip that he would just thought he'd have a great quali) and as for Massa, I think he is going to win the WDC this year, hopefully if it rains he can keep it on the track tomorrow.
You know he has another. There's a guy who's his 'official fan' that follows him around to all meetings, photographing Alonso and writing a blog on him in Spanish. Such is the lack of anything really interesting to print on F1, that the official fan himself got written up in Toro Rosso's Bulletin this race. ROFL
Race: Massa Lewis Hikke Hope I am right but Lewis had great pace at Q.. Ferrari has its work cut out for it !!
Lewis Massa Kimi Hekki We all know that Kimi is good for improving during the race, and Hekki gives up positions. This is an older track, so there are greater opportunities to pass (versus Valencia, while beautiful, was incredibly technical and took the 'race' out of 'racing') I think Lewis backs up his words (barring a failure of some type)...
Massa Lewis Kimi Its my birthday tomorrow and massa's my boy, so he had better take the win! Massa WDC!
90% chance of drizzles all day Sunday, 57 degrees...........................................just make it through the first turn.
Early happy b-day David and I'm with you regarding Massa. I hope he run's the slightly lighter fuel load, has an amazing start and beat's Lewis to the first turn and then drive's away from the field.
Rain, drizzle, cool temps all need to be part of the game . . . . I too hope them come out of LaSource without incident and would really love to see a Ferrari/McLaren side-by-side up thru Eau Rouge and full throttle side-by-side into Pouhon. Carol
Weather.com has updated the forecast and now its only 20% chance of showers, cloudy with some sun...17C for the high. Much better than the forecast I saw just after qualy.
