2008 Brazilian Grand Prix

  • Thread starter Thread starter PeterJB
  • 518 comments
  • 27,487 views
Congratulations Hamilton. It was sick to watch that. Really, better than a script would be. Congrats again, 'glad you're the world champ, altough it's a shame Massa isn't. But of course, only one can win. Congrats to Massa for winning his hometown race. Really 'glad because of it.
Again, it was sick sick sick.
 
a984babe3db3feffe4e295c5e18197cfo.gif


lol
 
Here's some info on the last 3 laps of some drivers:
Trulli: 1min22s428, 1min33s539, 1min44s800
Timo: 1min18s688, 1min28s041, 1min44s731
Vettel: 1min23s318, 1min25s221, 1min25s984
Hamilton: 1min24s612, 1min25s567, 1min26s126

Both Toyotas with dry race tyres. Vettel and Hamilton with Intermediate.

My point of view: there's no conspiracy thing at all! The cars were just barely driveable (?) in those last two wet laps!

Congrats LH, deserved the title. And I'm very proud of Massa! Awesome race!


edit: source: this guy covered the race on site, respected fellow here in Brazil.
http://colunistas.ig.com.br/flaviogomes/2008/11/02/interlagos-em-pingos-58/
 
Last edited:
I'm sad, because something makes me think this was Massa's only chance. Good job to Hamilton, though. That ending was quite intense. Hamilton was very lucky it started raining when it did.
 
Last edited:
Awesome race, really exciting especially at the end.

Massa had a perfect race, he did all he could flawlessly. Vettel was awesome too. Hamilton was very lucky as he had a average race, but still it was a deserved title for what he's done throughout the season.

Can't wait for the 2009 season to begin! :)
 
Somehow I knew that .gif was going to happen. :p
 
Toronado
I'm sad, because something makes me think this was Massa's only chance.
Click to expand...

Sadly, it looks like it very much was his last shot. Apart from Ferrari's already admitted troubles with KERS, Raikkonen already announced he'll complete 3000km of Ferrari's 2008 testing-mileage leftovers - that's almost all of it - and to take up a bigger role in the F2009's development.
 
Anothers point.... Alonso is back on the podium! Another great drive by Vettel...

Say we have Massa, Kimi, Lewis, Alonso and Vettel (and maybe Kubica) fighting for the win next year... Can't wait for the next season!
 
Metar
Don't forget, however, that a slick has a bigger contact patch, so less work per square cm - and a result? Less heat.
Click to expand...
So they can use softer rubber which gives more grip.

The grooved "slicks" just seem to give up at the slighest drop of moisture. A proper slick would have worked better for the last few laps today.
 
dkstz
Anothers point.... Alonso is back on the podium! Another great drive by Vettel...
Click to expand...

And he pipped not only Kovalainen, but also Heidfeld for 5th in the Driver's championship. :cheers:

daan
So they can use softer rubber which gives more grip.

The grooved "slicks" just seem to give up at the slighest drop of moisture. A proper slick would have worked better for the last few laps today.
Click to expand...

Softer rubber is one option the FIA won't like.. They're already unhappy with cars about to go faster with the slicks and '09 aero.

Why would the slick be faster? (Not as a doubt - I just don't know. Perhaps it would cool down less, owing to the smaller surface exposed to air and moisture?)
 
Seb Vettel 8th in the drivers championship, cant say I expected that at the start of the season.
 
Larger surface area, the grooves won't be gripping as they have no contact with the ground. I presume you'd be getting rivers of water going under the tyre, whereas a true slick would force the water around the tyre, until it got too much and started to aqua planing.

Exciting race, tense as heck, but worth it. Shame to see DC bow out at the first turn. Lewis is fully deserving of champion, I think Massa needs to prove that he can win after a poor qualifying performance.

Next years tyres are a lot bigger too, about 40mm wider, iirc.
 
Last edited:
Metar
Softer rubber is one option the FIA won't like.. They're already unhappy with cars about to go faster with the slicks and '09 aero.

Why would the slick be faster? (Not as a doubt - I just don't know. Perhaps it would cool down less, owing to the smaller surface exposed to air and moisture?)
Click to expand...
I'm not talking aobut next years slicks. I'm referring to the ones they used before the grooved slicks came in. As far as I know they were softer allowing them to keep their heat, and grip, for longer.
 
I watched the race at Brands Hatch, having spent the weekend watching the truck racing. Sitting in the Kentagon (one of the cafeteria) with about 100 race fans and marshals, I've never felt an atmosphere like it.

The race reminded me of Spa - exciting and wet in the beginning, dull and dry in the middle, back to exciting and wet for the end. Brilliant race from Massa, and I've got a lot more respect for him now; in the spring I felt he was battling for the championship by luck rather than skill. His performance over the second half of the season, combined with the most sporting podium and press conference I've seen all year. Shame about the crowd, really.

Glad to have a British champion once again, it's a feeling I've missed for the last 12 years.
 
Indeed Massa acted like a true gentleman, the nation should take note. So, has anyone put a bounty on Nico's head yet? I'm rather willing. :grumpy:
 
I have to say: I'm really sorry about the behaviour of the crowd in the race mocking Hamilton like that... It's a real shame...

And some other interesting info:
16th constructors title by Ferrari:
Ferrari - 16 (1961/1964/1975/1976/1977/1979/1982/1983/1999/2000/2001/2002/2003/2004/2007/2008)
McLaren got 8:
McLaren - 8 (1974/1984/1985/1988/1989/1990/1991/1998)

After 19 years, the champion got less race wins than someone else on the grid. Last time this happened was in 1989, when Prost got 4 wins and was the champion, while Senna (another brazilian btw) had 6 wins.

And just out of curiosity, if the points awarded worked like it was before 2002 (10-6-4-3-2-1), Massa would be the champion with 83 points, while Hamilton would be second with 80.

source: http://www.blogdocapelli.com.br/

ps. I'm not a Ferrari fan, nor I'm whining about anything... just curious numbers I've found, ok?
 
Massa was very dignified at the end of that race, I can only imagine how gutted he must have felt and in a race this close it's a shame someone has to lose but I'd very happy Hamilton has won it. I was screaming at the TV on thoes last couple of laps and when he overtook Glock right at the end I couldn't believe it at first that he'd made it. I don't tihnk a season can get any closer. I do firmly believe that Hamiolton deseved the title, as good as Massa was particulalry in the latter half of the season Hamilton would have won the championship a lot easier if certain decisions hadn't so oddly gone against him and in one or two cases, oddly for Massa. At least thoes decisions didn't decide the title and instead we can appreciate what was a brilliant season in F1.
 
It's great to finally have a British F1 World Champion again, as Roo said, it's a feeling we've missed for the last 12 years. I do feel sorry for Massa, he's worked bloody hard for it, but I guess then so has Hamilton and he's had to cope with some very dubious FIA decisions. I had resigned Hamilton to defeat when he dropped back from Glock but I couldn't believe it when Glock messed up and Hamilton slipped back ahead - I have to say that the look on the faces of Massa's family and team was priceless when they looked up at the screen as they were celebrating.

Next year I can't wait to see an all-season-long, clean battle between Hamilton and Massa (and maybe even Alonso, seeing as a year in Renault seems to have calmed him down a bit) with no awful FIA meddling. It's a long shot, but it's worth hoping for.
 
Mission accomplished. I avoided watching ANY sort of sports news reports because I didn't want to know the results to spoil things. I didn't use Opera (and all the RSS feeds I have including my GTPlanet RSS subscription). I didn't dial up ESPNEWS on my Dish. I wanted to watch the Speed Report to know what happened. I just have to say... good for Lewis Hamilton. I like watching this guy race. I like following him. I wished he'd win the championship last year, but this year's result is a GREAT bit of retribution. Really made me happy to see him win.

Okay... so my "neither Hamilton or Maasa will win" prediction didn't work. You still have to hand it to Lewis Hamilton to be a clutch performer knowing all he had to do to win the championship. Lewis Hamilton is my man in this series. I think he's the first McLaren driver I've been a fan of in my F1 history (I went with Michael Schumacher to take down Mika Hakkinen back in the late 1990s). I hope he can have continued success in F1 for next season and subsequent seasons. First British driver to win the F1 crown since Damon Hill (who I'd really want to learn more about since my knowledge of Damon Hill isn't as good as I'd like to know) in 1996.

There are 19 races. You'll need to be on top of your game for all 19 rounds and fight as hard as you can. The guy who got it done was Mr. Lewis Hamilton. Maasa won the race, but Hamilton wouldn't be denied. Now I can't wait to see the tape-delay of this race. Another F1 season comes to a close. Congrats to Lewis Hamilton.
 
dkstz
Bee
Indeed Massa acted like a true gentleman, the nation should take note.
Click to expand...
I have to say: I'm really sorry about the behaviour of the crowd in the race mocking Hamilton like that... It's a real shame...
Click to expand...
Yeah, I heard the boos as well when Hamilton was going up to get hugged by his family at Parc Ferme after the race was over. It's a shame what those fans did.👎:guilty: And the podium ceremony afterward had the crowd pretty much quiet as though Brazil lost the World Cup finals on their home pitch.

Was there a ceremony on the podium stage after the Top 3 Q&A where Hamilton got the F1 Drivers Championship? If so, was Massa on hand as well to congratulate him?
 
Roo
Glad to have a British champion once again, it's a feeling I've missed for the last 12 years.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't get too cozy, if I were you. If I'm right, McLaren's number is up: every year there's a team that forgets to develop a new car. Sure, they bring out a new chassis, but it's terrible, and McLaren have managed to go a few years without doing it. Once you start dominating, the only way to go is down. If Ferrari can do it, so can McLaren.
Bee
Indeed Massa acted like a true gentleman, the nation should take note.
Click to expand...
It should have been Massa's chmpionship; Hamilton got lucky in passing Glock, and I do hope he realises it. After all, he was passed by Sebastian Vettel in a car that isn't supposed to be be able to pass a McLaren. I think Vettel vs. Hamilton is going to be the new Schumacher vs. Hakkinen, and it'll certainly be something to watch in the future. Just so long as Adrian Newey can get his head around th new technical regulations for hext year ...
 
Great race, but I'm really disappointed for Massa. Although in the end Hamilton probably deserved it. I'm also feeling a bit sad for ITV, there was a definite feel that they were annoyed about it and sad to see it leave them. Even in the build up the tribute they had had a joke in it about there commercial breaks and a few other things. Although that stunt with the British flag in front of the crowd was a bit stupid.

Next year is looking good, Ferrari and McLaren again for sure, but we could also see BMW, Renault, Red Bull and possibly even Honda, dare I say it, all fighting for wins. Although I'd say 2 teams will probably pull away in front.
 
well dome hamilton, it was a good race, like others have said if certain decisions hadn't went against him he would have wrapped the title up well b4 the end, next season should be a belter! lets see if hamilton can make it 2 in a row
 
Keep your eye on Sebastian Vettel , he's good and upcoming. He definately proved today that he is not afraid to mix it up with the big boys.
 
Congratulations to Hamilton, what an outstanding drive to do what you needed to clinch! Congrats to Ferrari on the constructors title.

Felipe Massa did an incredible job handling his emotions in the interview room after coming so close to winning it all, but he'll surely win it in the near future, he's too good a driver to not win.
 
I was due in work at 7pm UK time tonight, so it was watch the race and rush out and get in work around 5 minutes late :p

Wow!!! that was one tense last lap and I don't think we will ever witness this kind of event be chopped around like that so near to the end of a race / season / championship again :eek:

Very happy to see Lewis take the crown as he worked hard all season just like everyone else and sometimes lady luck is smiling on you and today she decided to smile at Lewis and pay him a visit on the last few laps of the race riding a cloud like monkey from the old tv show :lol: Last year she was not smiling at Lewis and instead threw rotten eggs at him in the very same race, Well done Lewis Hamilton Formula 1 World Champion 2008 :cheers:

Massa is a gent and a true sportsman and his day will come .. he has simply too much talent and drive to not be in a similar situation again in the next few years, I felt for him as he had won the race outright and done everything he could possibly have done ... he was devastated as anyone would be! but he put on a brave face and stood tall after such a cruel blow in the dying seconds .. that's some composure for sure and he has my respect always 👍

Glad to see the back of ITV F1 as the adverts are the biggest annoyance during a GP and I would pay to watch F1 on sky PPV if I had no other option rather than put up with missing 4 minutes of the race every 20 minutes :banghead: hope to be hearing the old BBC2 F1 theme by Fleetwood Mac again for next years races as it was perfect for F1 imo ;)

anyway ... great season and unbelievable conclusion! can they get better than that? will always remember the 2008 season for as long as I live due to those last few turns :cool: funny pic of massa's family btw, even though I can only imagine the pain of that .. the faces are bloody priceless ;) Roll on 2009 :cheers:
 
Back