Question About RAIKKONEN'S Driving At Spa *SPOILER*

Not sure whether he could have held LH off if the latter did not cut the chicane, but he stamped his authority on that race from the start. Maybe he saw the writing on the wall and felt like he had no choice, but you're right, eight points is still better than nothing, and would have kept him closer to the chase.

 

Desperation; and he wants to show everyone who is # 1 at Ferrari.
I think he did just that, at least for this year.

I still like him but he needs to take his position more seriously. Its not the 70's and he is not James Hunt.

Also no-one talks about his attempt to cut LH's rear tire with his front wing following the chicane pass.
Like Fissi did to MS in Brazil (?)
MS recovered with a new tire and hunted down Fisi who "accidentally" went off track just before it was payback time.

 

I think I would have done the same as Kimi. He'd been performing sub-par for the past few races, and he was finally going like we all know he can. And when you're racing, you don't settle for second. Fight as hard as you can for first, and maybe go down in flames trying. So I think he made the right choice, even if it wasn't the rational one. Just my 0.02.

 

i think we need to give him a break.

 

I suppose its because he is a racer, pure and simple. Its the heat of the racer's focus that makes him not just settle for second place.
Maybe if he was to have looked at it logically from an armchair then maybe he would have thought better of his decision. How ever when one is in the eye of the racing storm, only winning matters no matter what. It all may have paid of for him on another day. I mean other great drivers in the history of F1 have pushed there selves in infer ea cars to achieve results that logic dictates could never happen.

 

HE WAS HUNGRY AND WAS THE BEST DRIVER ON SUNDAY.

 

up until he crashed out

 

I don't think the WCC is more important, even to the company. All the publicity comes from having the WDC, the constructor's title is more of an insider's thing.

 

After the Hamilton pass in the wet?
I'd say adrenaline had a fair bit to do with it.

Before the last few laps, I believe we're getting a distorted view of his performance due to Massa's engine. For S2 where its little more than a flat blast now Massa lost half a sec a lap while matching the other two by consistently out driving them in S1 and to a slightly lesser degree S3 with fastest sector time followed by fastest sector time all but the last laps. Two laps more fuel load in qualls and the first stint too.

I doubt anyone has spelled it out to him. There's no need. He's not stupid.

In an aggressive driving mind-set definitely but lucky to be helped by Kovalainen's poor start, Massa's weak engine and Hamilton's mistake to a situation that flattered his performance.
Had Massa's engine been strong and he'd been handed the same gift from Hamilton with two more laps after Hamilton pitted there's a very good chance Massa may have done much better overall. The extra two fast first stint laps would've opened a bigger traffic filled gap initially at the very least all other factors being equal.
Luck was a promiscuous lady that race is about all we can say.

 

He thought he could block and psych out Lewis by doing a goofy "bob and weave" (Lewis' description) before he was passed. Lewis wasn't phased and took advantage of by diving down the inside for the pass. Once passed, Kimi overdrove trying to catch back up and went off. Regardless of how Hamilton managed to stay close through the chicane, Kimi should have stayed in front. IMO, this showed weakness in Kimi's ability and strength in Lewis'.

Also, I don't get the theories posted here that there was something wrong with Kimi's chassis. Up until the final few laps it seemed clear to me that the Ferrari was essentially equivalent to McLaren. Even the Speed guys commented on this. Lewis caught up through superior desire and skill. Sorry Kimi, I wish it were different.

 

HAM/RAI/MAS would have been a disaster for the WDC. Kimi would have remained third, and Phil would have lost four points to Lewis.

This goes back to my earlier question: With Lewis out front, would Ferrari have called Kimi into the pits "for wets", to reduce Lewis' gain over Phil?

For Kimi, it might have been, "win or get out of the way".

 

you guys seem to forget that hambone spun it too. he got lucky and didn't hit a wall. kimi was right with him until he lost it. either one of them could have gone off-and did. did anyone notice that kimi's car stalled before he hit the wall? if it hadn't, i would imagine he could have gotten back into it without the wing. not like he needed the wing at that point.

 

+1
I've been following F1 for 20 years and I have yet to see a luckier mofo than Hamilton

 

I'm not saying there will be a repeat of 2007, but remember 07. This is far from over with 5 races to go and there are 3 players left. Everyone please stay seated. Time will tell the tale.

 

well, there's still 5 races left. and in this 5 races, either Lewis or Massa could have engine blow, electrical failure, brain fade, retirements, accidents, etc. so, in some way, Kimi still has a chance, provided something like all those i mentioned happened to the other 2.

but u know, i'm proud of the way Kimi drove. right from the lights, he overtook cars at the start, when was the last we saw Kimi gaining places at the start? most of the time, he loses 2-3 places, get stuck behind a slowe car for 85% of the race, then does the fastest lap in 4-5th place with 2 laps to go.

Kimi went for the kill. and there were consequences. but overall, i think we all should stop complaining. if he bowed and let Hami thru, backed down and just cruised, i bet everyone here and the media will start slamming him, and questioning his motivation.

now, he fights back, goes for the kill, and bad luck happens and there's still complains? give the guy a break. he tried his best.

 

The only Advantage Lewis had the other day is that his car not him has more grip in the rain. Even HK drove up like mad when it rained. If Kimi and Lewis echanged cars Lewis wouldnt have a chance in the rain. Lewis spun a couple of times or maybe 3 in spa. The first one near the end of the first lap was unforced. He has much to learn and each race lately he is showing that he is not as good as many have made him out to be. If its true that he laughed at Kimi on his radio to the team when Kimi hit the wall then he is also imature as an adult.

 

I dont think Kimi can be included in that. He hasnt won a race in amost 5 months. Yes Spa was bad luck but much of it was his own doing. He is backing Massa now wether he likes it or not. Massa backed him last year at this stage of the game. If had not then Kimi would not have won the championship. Kimi is now 4th in the standings and many say that BMW will do good at Monza.

 

Franco , that is total BS and you know it. To account purely for Lewis's skill in the wet because of the car is BS.

You won't be happy till you have this site to yourself, then you can argue with yourself.

You have noticed no doubt, that a few posters that strongly disagreed with you are absent.

Kimi was on a do or die mission , Lewis should have looked at the bigger picture that I will admit.