Good post DGS, The rules really have gotten ridiculous the last few years. It is BS that Massa got black flagged.
FA's meltdown started yesterday when LH got pole. Meltdown cemented at turn 1 today. This is a 2 time WDC driving like a hack. A WDC who held off MS. This is what a WDC see's in LH? Like some here I think he drives like Senna. It's not supposed to rain at Indy, but I wish it would. Kimi? I'm too busy this week getting ready to go to Indy, to get drunk enough to eat the black bird. Hobbs and Varsha are on Wind Tunnel tonight with thier opinion.
They did the same to Montoya in Montreal in '05. I don't remember seeing this at any other GP in recent history. Anyone else? Why just Canada? Gary
(a) The pit exit has the red light on the right instead of the left. (b) Where else have you seen so many SC sessions? (c) Where else do you see such a bizzare out line? (Remember all the drive-thrus for crossing it, a couple of years back?) (d) Where else does the pit exit go red during a race? Yes, the BF is the rules. But Montreal is bordering on "entrapment" on some of those rules.
I agree with the myraid of posts on here about the worth of Kimi. Which at this point isn't much. Even David Hobbs commented today about the person who was brought in and "filled Michael Schumacher's shoes" was a disappointment. Way, way over paid for his services. I have been thinking about this - perhaps we are seeing the best Kimi has to offer. He's definitely over-shadowed by Lewis and rightfully so. In the past he (Kimi) was faster and a bit bolder than others so of course he stood out, but now there's better drivers on the scene and he's on a slide going the wrong direction. What Ferrari needs now more than ever are team players sharing learned information to utilize in a manner to get the team back in the winning way. It seems that Kimi is somewhat lacking in this department. Perhaps Kimi should consider the soon to be vacant seat at Renault if Heikki goes to Williams and Rosberg could come to Ferrari. I don't think establishing a Hamilton To Ferrari Fund collection jar would be fruitful. Carol
Lewis will not be at Ferrari anytime in the next 5 years, Ron Dennis will not let that happen. Alonso would never be hired at Ferrari as both Todt and Montezemelo absolutely dislike him. He insulted Schumacher and Todt will not fogive that. At least not so far. Michael Schumacher will not return to drive any F1 car ever. Maybe for fun a DTM, but no more open wheel. His wife would castrate him. He will likely return to Ferrari in 2008 if Ross Brawn returns. Raikkonen is not going anywhere at least until 2009. The buyout in his contract is immense. More importantly, Todt and Montezemelo believe that Kimi will figure out the car yet this season. Sorry if you do not buy the acclimation theory, but it is believed by many. I personally am not ready to blow off Kimi. If you understood the workings of the Ferrari team, you would understand the situation. Ferrari suffered a major setback just before Spain when their windtunnel had catostophic damage when a belt broke. The car was not ready for Spain, and is still behind in aero development. Their wind tunnel program runs three shifts, virtually 24/7. Constant tweeking, and if you get behind, it shows at the track. Some believe they will not catch up this season. Massa has been trained well by Michael Schumacher, it shows in his driving. Massa did not see the pit light, nevertheless, there is someone assigned on the pit crew to inform Todt and Chris whatshisname of these things, and that apparently did not happen. I do not put 100% of the blame on Massa. For all we know he is one of the 25% of men that is colorblind. The current theory about Massa that will certainly cause flaming on this wonderful website is that the Ferrari really sucks, lags well behind the McLaren, and that Massa's performance is all due to Schumacher's advise. In other words, Massa has now far surpassed his teammate's driving skill and is driving a mediocre car in the same exact manner as would have Michael. Not my words, so before you assault me, think about this. Sure sounds plausible. Massa has become a dedicated sponge to Schumacher and listens to and practices everything Michael tells him. The one error that everyone has blasted Massa for was multipled by 4 today by a two time WDC, so other than that, fact is Massa has been driving very reliably.
Thanks Chase, but I do not wish for anyone else to get flamed like I do for my posts, so best that if you agree, shhhhhhh. :}
Al, at Renault, Fisichella did all of the development. That is why Flavio kept him for 2007. Alonso does no development at McLaren, the car was basically ready before Flavio released Alonso from his contract. McLaren does not depend on their drivers for development. They have a program for that since the last few years neither Raikkonen nor Montoya did crap to develop the car. At Ferrari, Badoer and Massa have done all of the development. Massa has done as many test laps as Badoer. Massa is quite valuable to the team at this point. Kimi does no development. Alonso would be useless at Ferrari, not to mention not liked by Todt and Luca.
By the way, notice Trulli's multiple stops under the SC? Did anyone else think Toyota was playing the SC rules against the tire rules? You only need one lap on the "alternate" tire to count. Maybe it's time to toss out the one-at-a-time micromangement aggregation rule book, and let the teams and stewards get together and write a new set of rules from scratch.
He seemed to be the only driver on the track that had control of his destiny. What a crazy race. With all the concern for driver safety these day I'm surprised that the circuit is still on the roster. Its a disaster waiting to happen.No soft barriers per Nascar/Indy I thought Kubica was dead. Kimi ? Perhaps its time for Ferrari to start looking for the Hooker/Drugs/Photographer combo pack
does anyone understands the safety car rule? IMO, it's really confusing, then comes that silly tire rule. the cars come in, change into the softer tyre, go for outlap, then come back in and change them back again. what stupid rules we have in F1 these days. also, why didn't Ferrari call in Kimi and remove that debris in his front wing during the SC period? it could have let him go all faster, if thats what making him go slower. overall, it's a really nice mix of exciting and disappointing race. lots of guesses, whose gonna go in the wall next, but i must say, well done to Lewis. nothing like winning ur 1st race under this kinda conditions. fairytale win, IMO. i guess, FA can start thinking about joining the rally championship when he retires from F1. also, glad to see Nick and Alex up there. the next race is at Fred's least liked circuit. will be interesting what he'll do at the 1st corner.
Haha! So did I! I just discovered this section. Fun! I loved the race today. Super-entertaining and fun except for Kubica. That was super scary and upsetting. I'm so glad he'll pull through.
Interesting to note that, Martin Brundle was saying that it was wrong to penalise both Phil and Fisi. it seems, according to Martin, who claimed to have had the rulebook in his hand, he was saying that the pitlane light should be red if the safety car was near the pit straight, or was near the pit straight, or near the pitlane for that matter. but it wasn't the case yesterday. the SC was quite far away when both Massa and Fisi exited the pits under red lights. but, to black flag them is really really silly. a 10 sec stop go penalty would have been more appropriate. another fact, FIA should consider warning Fred each time he goes off track, and the way he chops back into the track. very very dangerous.
Canada doesn't have much runoff room. Liuzzi parked his car in the grass, but the grass was only as wide as his car from the wall to race track (a high speed section at that). It's too much of a danger compared to other tracks with a lot more runoff space. Plus, the other SC incidents came about because of lots of debris on the track. Not just from the Kubica crash, but also from one of the Spikers (sp?). I think the entire wing came off on that one and was in the racing line.
noticed the cheers he got from fans on the circuit when he overtook FA? looks like lots of people doesn't like him
no Al, it's not about the safety car coming out, it's about that silly rule where u can't pit then suddenly u can pit and then at the end of the pit the red lights are on...that sorta rule. i have notthing against the safety car coming out and making things safer...
I'd have to see video again to see if there were other cars on the track nearby (not just the SC) when Massa was coming out. They don't want cars coming out of the pits racing for position with the cars already out on the track. So they just wait with the red light until there are no cars around.
In the video it shows that there was no danger to any car on the track when Massa pulled out. Massa admitted he was too busy protecting his position in pit lane and did not notice the red light. But there is someone in the Ferrari pit assigned to observe these signals, so where were they and their radio warning to Massa?
