Monza Qualifying **spoiler**

Didn't really expect much from Kimi after that shunt and in a backup. Fifth would normally hurt, but it was relatively expected imo. The McLarris looked quick with plenty in reserve through all three sessions and Massa's comments afterwards seemed totally acquiescent to the opposition's superiority at Monza. Tifosi, this is going to be a tough race to watch if qualifying was any portent. Just want to mention I thought it was very base of LH to initiate a conversation with Alonso while Massa was speaking. No class.

 

I agree this will be a long race. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the Ferrari's gets lapped. I also don't think Hamilton will try to pass Alonso on track, because the WDC is close and I think he'll just be happy to stay 3 points up after this race. They will both play it safe, and Massa won't be close. I think KR is heading for a DNF. Pray for rain...

Peter

 

The Ferrari were not very reliable during the last two years with Ross Brawn, so I don´t think that´s the solution.

 

dissapointment, IMO. the Mclarens are in their class of their own, pretty similiar 2 weeks ago when Ferrari were in a diff league. sad, but i'm starting to think if just a 3rd placing is a realistic target now.

but i just hope they're running heavy, and can do something for all of us tomoro.

 

Al, I don't see him coming back based on Todt's comments.

 

+1

 

worst part, i rushed back from a hotel dinner just to see Fred on pole?

 

Ferrari's don't have much of a chance tomorrow unless the two Maccas crash into each other in Turn 1. Alonso is in a class of his own here with significant speed over the rest. I think he qualifed with more fuel than Hamilton and Massa. Kimi was quite slow today and must have taken a lot more fuel. Hopefully his strategy will yield a podium for him. I think his crashes and hydraulic failure have robbed him of valuable track time. I hope his car set up is OK.

Good job by Jenson and Jarno to make it to the Top 10

 

damn..i forgot about them. whatever happened to Ralfie?

 

Ralf proved once again that he doesn't belong in F1. Dropped in Q1.

 

for some reason, i just pity him. u don't come a bad driver overnight, or suddenly. i think he's motivation and confidence is in the drain now.

 

If it's not to Ferrari I doubt it will be to any team. With the police showing up to McLaren's paddock yesterday to serve notices of criminal investigation, I also think it's Ferrari's way of letting Ross know that once he's in the family, he never gets out of the family since he may. one day, be accused of taking secrets to another team.

 

I agree a bit. Ralf was much the coming man in 1999 and 2000. He had got over his initial years of crashing and mistake making. He matured intoa fast and reliable driver. he worked well with the team back them. Between 2001 and 2003 he seemed to slipa bit when it came to speed but was okay winning a couple races. However the driver team chemistry began falling apart. What did him in from a speed standpoint was a couple major crashes in testing - I think he had a real bad one in Monza a couple years back. Also there were the two hard crashes in Indy which put him out for a couple races. Basically the Ralf that got back in the car was not the same as the one before these crashes.

So from a speed standpoint he was screwed. And from a team standpoint he never seemed to take the job of team leader seriously enough. Hence the dramatic decline. The media gave a lot of pounding for a long time for not being more like his big bro. I think basically he started retiring into a mental cocoon afterwards.

This will most probably be his last season unless Toyota can't find a replacement.

 

Kimi or die! I'm a huge Kimi fan. I'm also a Massa fan. Gotta love a guy that wears a race suit made from his country's flag at his home GP lol.

 

thats true. i think those accidents really destroyed him mentally. it's just like being a footballer. break a leg, and it shatters his confidence, but there are great footballers that make great comebacks, Henrik Larsson is one of them

 

I've always liked Massa more than Kimi. Kimi just doesn't seem to care enough.

 

Is it just me, or is Townsend Bell an excellent commentator?

 

I think that the tifosi will be surprised tomorrow. Both Lewis and Alonshole have not been getting off the line that great lately. I think Ferrari will be running 2nd and 3rd after lap 1. Massa for sure will move past Lewis. Kimi should move up 1 spot and maybe 2.

 

"From your mouth to Gods ears" - an old Bulgarian saying.

 

I remain convinced that Kimi's engine will croak. This race might be as boring as putting wallpaper up in the bathroom. My take ...Al/Ticat/Massa/Nick/Cube/Hikey....and Fisi will get a point or two. I believe the loss of Pavarotti should be shown at the race somehow, lowered flag maybe. And yes, Townsend was surprisingly knowledgable. I wouldn't mind seeing him and Wurz doing some color for Speed next season. Ralf and DC did not look good here and 2008 is a bad number for both of them. Fisi is excused.

 

Geez, didn't *anybody* notice the absence of Alonso in the Q3 start parade?

McLaren started Fred a half a lap away from Hamilton -- internal politics, or giving FA a clear track for a clear run early?

I suspect that, with the re-sharpened sword hanging over them, McLaren was determined to snag pole at Monza.

But given the limited amount of burn-down that Fernando did, I'm guessing that he'll be in for fuel around lap 8-10. Hamilton is likely running a bit light, too.

Kimi had to combine qualifying with practice, setup, and shake-down -- while the front 3 did 17 laps in qualifying, the beemers did 18 each, ... and Kimi did 21 laps. The finn is likely going to be running heavy at the start, so he'll have to do a Schumi and lay down some quick circuits after the beemers pit.

Now's when we get to see if Massa has learned to weave through back markers to make a heavier fuel load pay off with some fast laps. (If he can't do it with italian marshals on the blue flags, then he just can't do it at all.) All of Massa's wins have been from pole -- traffic has been his achilles' heel.

Anyone think that's why Schumi is in the pits again, when he wasn't going to be at any more races? To give Massa a few tips on lapping traffic?

Or maybe to make sure the crew remembers to put fuel in Massa car?

It might be interesting to see how many sets of brakes manage to last 53 laps.

 

It is the anniversary of MS's retirement announcement, and always the anniversary of the death of the greatest, Senna.

 

???
Senna died in Imola, not Monza.

 

He'd better. If Alonso pits early, Hamilton may be under orders to hold up the pack to reduce the damage from a light start. (RonCo really wanted pole at Monza.)

Kimi has gotten some good starts on the clean side, but I'd guess that he'll be heavy at the start, so he might have his hands full just keeping up with the lighter beemers.

 

I doubt RD will tell Hamilton to hold up the Ferraris. Every second he holds them up gives Alonso the chance to get back out in front of him. With the driver's championship almost his Hamilton won't be slowing down for the team.