Mclaren Ungracious and classless?? :)

Interesting link and story!!! FIRE AWAY!!

http://planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3265_2609409,00.html
From PlanetF1

It's commonly called 'rain'. In F1, it's stardust...





Rain Is Good...
But monsoons are even better.


The chaos and confusion induced by the type of weather that once persuaded every animal available to climb aboard a boat in pairs was a meager price to pay for Sunday's bonkers brilliance. And the 85 pit-stops which took place during the race is thought to be a F1 record.


In his race report, The Times' motoring correspondent Edward Gorman reminded readers that 'You often hear it said that, to make Formula One more interesting, Bernie Ecclestone, the sport's ringmaster, should have sprinkler systems installed at every track so that water can be brought into play.'


Alas, Bernie's determination to pilot F1 out of Europe towards Asia and the Middle East suggests that he hasn't been listening - neither Bahrain nor Dubai have seen water falling from the sky since Noah last went sailing.




Alonso Is Mega In The Rain
Fernando has more to rue than most about the reduced possibility of liquid stardust being sprinkled on race circuits in the near future because the Spaniard is an awesome competitor in the wet.


"I like rain, no doubt, I am always quite happy to go and have some fun in it," he explained.


Which also explains why he lives in England rather than his native Spain.




Kimi Raikkonen Is (Honestly) An Eloquent Speaker
Pity the compiler of the post-race Ferrari press releases, always published with the requisite observations of the famously verbose Kimi Raikkonen. Admire his or her imagination, too, which was surpassed this weekend with the claim that a philosophical Raikkonen departed the Nurburgring musing, "This knock back does not mean I feel like giving up the fight...The gap to the head of the classification remains the same."


People just don't speak like that - particularly not Kimi Raikkonen. He doesn't even speak.




Ferrari Are Still Faster Than McLaren
The credibility of the McLaren press releases after both the French and British grands prix were besmirched by the impassioned claim of Ron Dennis that in neither race had Ferrari operated with a significant pace advantage. If he repeats that type of nonsense in the witness stand on Thursday morning then McLaren will be laughed out of court.


The pretence wasn't maintained in this week's communiqué, with the team quoting Fernando Alonso's observation in the press conference that "In the dry conditions the Ferraris were a little faster."


In F1, even a little counts for a lot. While McLaren possessed greater competitiveness at Nurburgring than they had at either Magny-Cours or Silverstone, they remain second best to Ferrari. The gain in last week's test at Spa was marginal.


The team dodged another bullet this weekend - and will have to do so again in Paris - but only because of a freak of nature that, by its very definition, cannot be regularly repeated in the final seven races. Currently boasting a 27-point lead over their faster opponents, the season is beautifully poised.




Driver Competition Can Be Self-Destructive
Staying on the subject of press releases, the BMW missive was a joy this Sunday night as Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld blamed each other for their first-lap crash and Dr Mario coldly concluded, "Sixth and seventh was not because of the weather conditions, the collision in the first lap was responsible for that."


By refusing to confirm his driver line-up for next season, Theissen must accept a portion of the blame, however. Along with Heidfeld's calamitous response, Kubica's refusal to give Heidfeld space at the second corner revealed much about the existing tension within the BMW garage.




Lewis Can Talk The Talk, But...
Strange to say of his first point-less weekend in F1, but Lewis Hamilton was particularly impressive this weekend - if only for what he said.


On Saturday night, the rookie reacted with relaxed bravado to his qualifying smash, and within minutes of enduring an even more troublesome race on Sunday afternoon he began briefing reporters with the same cheerful, poised demeanour with which he fronted previous triumphs. Only when repeatedly asked if he minded being denied a tenth-successive podium did his good humour threaten to dissolve. "I told you from day one that was going to happen eventually," he reminded his interrogators. Podiums have long since ceased to matter to Lewis as a measure of achievement; his interest is now purely focused on winning races and championships.


Hamilton continues to say all the right things, describing his perceived 'nightmare' as a "really a great weekend in terms of learning." Perhaps Lewis has also been learning from Tiger Woods because the art of turning a negative into a positive is an attribute that the golfer has perfected.


Nonetheless, the impression that Hamilton's World Championship charge is stuttering cannot be dissuaded by worthy sentiments. The rookie still leads what Raikkonen apparently calls "the classification", but with the two Ferrari drivers piloting faster machinery, Alonso rediscovering his 2005 form, and McLaren facing a points deduction (or worse) at Thursday's FIA hearing, there is a strong argument to be made for reducing Lewis' status to fourth-favourite.




Inexperience Cost Lewis, Not The FIA
The FIA have, in some quarters, been called upon to clarify the rule that enabled Hamilton to continue racing even after being given a lift out of the gravel trap. The governing body probably didn't foresee a driver having the presence of mind to keep his engine running and the sheer bloody-mindedness to sit in his car patiently awaiting tractor-related assistance while six of his competitors crashed out at the same corner.


On an incidental note, just why was Tonio Liuzzi still travelling so quickly into turn one almost 30 seconds after the mass exodus had begun? Were his Toro Rosso engineers so stunned by the sight of car after car aquaplaning off the circuit that they forgot to mention to their driver that turn one had become a tad treacherous?


Hamilton's good fortune then extended to being permitted to unlap himself behind the safety car. Unfortunately, inexperience and over-confidence then betrayed the rookie, with Hamilton darting into the pits to dump his intermediate tyres. It was a silly decision, unforgivable considering that he alone in the field had just been allowed to lap the circuit at a speed of his own choosing. The exchange over the McLaren pit-to-car radio would have been especially interesting to eavesdrop.


Lewis, though, thought himself unfortunate, remarking: "The FIA made me back off and let Felipe pass when he was four seconds behind, yet I was faster than him. The same with Fernando. Overall I must have lost something like 10 seconds between them. Without that I would have scored some points."


But Hamilton should have been able to manipulate the blue-flag rule that offers a driver three corners in which to let the lead cars past without losing so much time. One suggestion is that Hamilton, a novice at the indignity of being lapped, practically came to a halt as he was lapped by Alonso and Massa.




McLaren Are Bad Winners
While Hamilton graciously congratulated Alonso on his "outstanding" drive, the Spaniard and his boss seemed intent on reducing their already limited popularity.


As in Spain, where he pathetically accused Felipe Massa of driving dangerously, Alonso revealed himself as an utter arse with his post-race tirade at the Brazilian. Even Alonso's over-the-top celebrations as he stormed on the podium seemed designed for the purpose of further antagonising Massa.


Only Felipe emerged from the episode in credit, partly for accepting Alonso's belated apology but mainly for apparently advising the World Champion to "f**k off."


Meanwhile, Ron Dennis' conduct ranged between the embarrassing and downright unseemly as he ridiculed Michael Schumacher on the podium. Whatever your view on his behaviour, it was especially foolish considering that the McLaren boss has pleaded the "highest standard of integrity" ahead of Thursday's Stepneygate hearing in Paris.




Massa Was A Good Loser
Presumably still seething after his row with Alonso, Massa described his second place as "leaving a bitter taste in my mouth." Sober reflection should provide a better taste. He drove a fine race, and collected eight more points than both Raikkonen and Hamilton. The Brazilian remains an excellent bet for the World Championship.


Pete Gill