2007 Australian GP

[zoxxy]

Hahahaha well thats what you get for losing Vodafone's sponsorship, a crappy signal!

 

[KSaiyu]

Damn....Ferrari is quick. Glad they haven't changed back the point system just yet.

 

[Sureboss]

Just watched the race after having taped it...

Interesting race, not the greatest of all time but we learnt some things and some drivers had good races. Hamilton was very good but the Ferrari was tuned up so well McLaren didn't stand much chance of beating Kimi. Kovalainen had a shocker, let's hope it was nerves because if he drives like that too much he'll be gone within 6 races. Buttons Honda was in an utterly shocking state, I really think he should find a new team (not based on just one race). Also, Wurz was very lucky yesterday, if he had been going a little faster or DC a little slower he could well have had a car on his head.

Interesting race though.

 

[m7ammed]

I hope BMW devlops the car more , and maybe have and really start to mix it up mid season . it will be wither ferrari or Mclearn to win the championship , but BMW and Reanualt (if they imporve) have a say in that outcome

 

[Blake]

Jean Todt handed a mobile phone to Kimi before he went on the podium. According to Kimi, it was Michael, but it was a bad connection and he couldn't really hear what he said.

It’s funny how everyone expects Kimi to be like Michael, and even funnier how hard Kimi is trying not to be. Massa and other members of the team have said how helpful Michael has been, but Kimi is playing it all down, saying they haven’t really talked. I guess he just wants to prove himself and be his own driver.

Everyone somehow expects him to be Michael and leap when he gets on the podium, and conduct the orchestra during the Italian anthem. No, he’s just going to take a swig of champagne then give it a spray.

 

[Roo]

Everyone somehow expects him to be Michael and leap when he gets on the podium, and conduct the orchestra during the Italian anthem.

I know he's a completely different character, but for some reason... I expected him to do exactly that Must just be something etched into my brain now after having seen MS win for so long: man on top of podium in red race suit = Michael Schumacher.

 

[<_Spike_>]

Thankfully, I'm glad, the last thing we'd want is Kimi turning into Schumi's clone. I know he's gotten slack for showing little emotion unless he's cracking a rare joke or winning a race but I'm happy with that. Nice to have a change.

 

[Lee]

I poo more Charisma than Kimi but damn, he's a fast guy and I guess that is what counts.

 

[Appie]

I poo more Charisma than Kimi but damn, he's a fast guy and I guess that is what counts.

Kimi lover

 

[Omnis]

I think Kimi was as good or better a driver than Michael all along. His car was always his handicap...

Perhaps that's why he's so emotionless on the stand. "This is where I belong, thank you."

 

[MustangSVT]

I think Kimi was as good or better a driver than Michael all along. His car was always his handicap...

Perhaps that's why he's so emotionless on the stand. "This is where I belong, thank you."

I agree but I also must admit I'm quite a Kimi (and previously Hakkinen) fanboy and never liked Michael all along. Still haven't forgiven that 1997 move to this day. He's done quite a few things other than that too. I can't think of all of them at the moment, but stuff like Monaco last year or how Barichello let him pass back at A1 Ring 2002 or wherever that was, that kinda stuff, I never liked him because of that stuff he pulled.

He may very very good, but I still think that in an equal car, Kimi would at least equal him in skill.

 

[Gabkicks]

i have no problem with the drivers being reserved in front of the camera. if i want drama like that, i'll go watch the real world. I do agree that they should loosen up a bit though... Its like they are afraid to show any emotion. its totally understandable though...

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I've read that a lot of fighter pilots are actually quite socially awkward. Not through any fault of their own, but because they're so good at what they do, so dedicated to their job, that they often have trouble expressing themselves. F1 drivers are also highly dedicated and while some - like Schumacher, Button and a few others - can show all that emotion, there are some who can't.

 

[JohnBM01]

This year, I'll make an attempt to get into F1 discussions. So let me try to offer comments on this race.


* First off, I'd like to talk about "WindTunnel" on Sunday when [my personal favorite announcer on Speed Channel] Bob Varsha and Steve Matchett were on the set. A guy from Montreal was talking about not hyping up Lewis Hamilton like Hamilton was Danica Patrick. After B. Varsha basically punked him out , it got me thinking that Hamilton may indeed be on his way to fame and success. He had a good showing in Australia all the way to a podium finish. I respect this kid. First black racer in F1's 58-something years. This Brit is going to do pretty well if he keeps up the good work. Next on the menu is for him to do the toughest thing- win a race. And ultimately, a much tougher goal- win a championship.

* I have to say, I'm surprised (and I'm not knocking the guy) Kimi Raikkonen didn't blow up his Ferrari or anything. My usual look at Raikkonen is that he's doing well... and blows a motor or gets taken out of the race. Put a good driver in a crappy car, and he/she may not perform as well. Put a good driver in a good car, and he/she may perform better than if in a crappy car. I don't know if I'd go onto a level of saying that Raikkonen has high expectations racing for Scuderia Ferrari. He did good. So he has to keep doing good if he wants to be the next biggest star in all of F1 racing.

* I'm surprised Alexander Wurz's hands were able to avoid that flying car of David Coulthard. He was coming by so fast. I don't think the impact was more like Paul Tracy tagging Alex Tagliani at San Jos&#233; some time back. He's won races... but no championships. Is Coulthard more like a tragic hero in F1?


Next race will be at the wonderful Sepang track in Malaysia. What stands out about this track is its level of challenge. You can go fast here, but you'll have to be wary of the tricky corners. I think this is a wonderful race track in hot-as-hell Malaysia. But again... I'll try to make an effort to get into F1 discussions if I have anything to offer.

 

[Famine]

First black racer in F1's 58-something years.

This annoys me every time I hear it - not least for the fact that everyone's concentration on this kid's skin pigmentation.

It seems that everyone has forgotten this guy:

19 races, 5 points, one of the 6 finishers at the comical 2005 USGP...

 

[<_Spike_>]

* I'm surprised Alexander Wurz's hands were able to avoid that flying car of David Coulthard. He was coming by so fast. I don't think the impact was more like Paul Tracy tagging Alex Tagliani at San José some time back. He's won races... but no championships. Is Coulthard more like a tragic hero in F1?

It was quite a hairy moment, not far from his head too. As for DC...I think that's about right, he has tried, but just has never had the wheels under him to get him a championship but he often does bring something to races whether it's a crash, entertaining driving or opinions.

 

[Sureboss]

Did any of the UK viewers also notice much shorter breaks on ITV? Or do they always do it on 'night' races?

According to when I was watching it on video the breaks were only a minute long (that's a minute too long but that's another thread).

 

[mipuumal]

First black racer in F1's 58-something years.

I don't think that any longterm F1 fan would have even noticed this. F1 has had so many drivers from so many different countries and cultures that the first thing that comes to my mind about Lewis Hamilton is that he is British, not that he is "black".

* I have to say, I'm surprised (and I'm not knocking the guy) Kimi Raikkonen didn't blow up his Ferrari or anything. My usual look at Raikkonen is that he's doing well... and blows a motor or gets taken out of the race.

Again, it seems like you haven't been watching F1 races regularly. Granted, my point of view might be biased being a Fin myself. However, I remember many more race finishes than retirements for Kimi.

In 2006 he had 6 retirements of which 0 were from blown engines, 1 was because of him crashing in to Vitantonio Liuzzi in Hungary, 3 were because of people colliding in to him on the opening lap and 2 were from other mechanical difficulties..

In 2005 he had 4 (2 if you don't count Nurburgring in which he completed over 95% of the race distance and The United States GP where all the Michelin teams withdrew). In San Marino his driveshaft failed, in Nurburgring his suspension failed because of a flatspot he caused in a tyre earlier in the race, in The US GP the Michelin teams withdrew and in Germany his hydraulics failed. However, he had 4 blown engines in the Friday/Saturday Practice sessions through out the season.

Put a good driver in a good car, and he/she may perform better than if in a crappy car. I don't know if I'd go onto a level of saying that Raikkonen has high expectations racing for Scuderia Ferrari. He did good. So he has to keep doing good if he wants to be the next biggest star in all of F1 racing.

I have no idea what you are talking about here. How come every F1 expert have been calling him the fastest driver on the grid or on par with Fernando Alonso/Michael Schumacher for the past 3-4 years?

</rant>

Thank God F1 is back, now I can take my head out of the oven.

 

[MustangSVT]

=
I have no idea what you are talking about here. How come every F1 expert have been calling him the fastest driver on the grid or on par with Fernando Alonso/Michael Schumacher for the past 3-4 years?

</rant>

Ya I'm not sure what he's talking about either.