2008 Chinese Grand Prix

[boci]

Does anyone have a link to the live stream for FP1?

 

[Roo]

Why is everyone thinking Kubica will suddenly come out of nowhere and clinch the title?

Firstly, because of the three title contenders he's the only one that's consistantly driven like a champion; secondly, it would save a lot of "Felipe/Lewis shouldn't have won the championship because I'm biased against him" rubbish that's going to be the main product of this subforum over the winter.

 

[Sureboss]

Everyone loves an underdog, too. There isn't much pressure on Kubica either, whereas there is tonnes on Massa and Hamilton.

 

[Tobias123]

Everyone loves an underdog, too. There isn't much pressure on Kubica either, whereas there is tonnes on Massa and Hamilton.

There's no pressure on Kubica because very few people really expect him to win the championship. Most people with a brain will see that he deserves it more than any other driver, but he doesn't have the car under him to make it look likely.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

but he doesn't have the car under him to make it look likely.

But what he does have a pair of rivals who have displayed some very amateruish driving this season - multiple spins at Silverstone, crashing into Raikkonen in the Montreal pit lane, problems with refuelling, multiple penalties - and who have caved under pressure before (see China last year ...), so he does have some good cards in his had at the moment. It's just a question of what Hamilton and Massa are holding.

 

[nissan tuner]

💡 Toyota is going to spoil Massa or Kubica's championship run, I can just feel it.

 

[Tobias123]

But what he does have a pair of rivals who have displayed some very amateruish driving this season - multiple spins at Silverstone, crashing into Raikkonen in the Montreal pit lane, problems with refuelling, multiple penalties - and who have caved under pressure before (see China last year ...), so he does have some good cards in his had at the moment. It's just a question of what Hamilton and Massa are holding.

I still somehow think that it's too much to ask. Besides, Brazil is Massa territory, he's never ever put a foot wrong there in front of his crowd, I don't think he'll make any this year.

The way I see it, Hamilton needs to be at least 3 points in front of Massa going into Brazil to have any chance. And Kubica needs a win in china with Hamilton not scoring any points to have his own shot at it.

 

[NapoleonMikey]

But what he does have a pair of rivals who have displayed some very amateruish driving this season - multiple spins at Silverstone, crashing into Raikkonen in the Montreal pit lane, problems with refuelling, multiple penalties - and who have caved under pressure before (see China last year ...), so he does have some good cards in his had at the moment. It's just a question of what Hamilton and Massa are holding.

i wouldnt put refueling problems on the driver hes just following the lolipop man or in ferraris case the light. i would put refueling problems on the chief mechanic.

 

[Studentdriver]

And so it begins...from F1.com:

It was a relatively uneventful session as the track rubbered in. Glock, Webber, Barrichello, Bourdais and Kubica all slid off the road at one stage, Piquet did ‘a Hamilton’ and went into the gravel on the entry to the pit road (but was able to extract himself) and both Raikkonen and Trulli spun.

 

[RACECAR]

And so the Hamilton/Massa BS debate continues. BTW, happy birthday to Kimi Raikkonen as he turns 29 this weekend. Also, its kinda of cool to hear Leigh Diffey doing the F1 broadcast for this weekend.

 

[mustang245]

I am not half as excited about the points battle as I am about the first proper battle between Hamilton & Fernando Alonso since last year. Alonso's flying lap at the end of FP2 puts even more pressue on Lewis... the Spaniard is coming.
Oh, by the way, Fernando Alonso is now 4th on the list of all time WDC points leaders behind Senna, Prost and Schumacher. Go Renault! Go Nando!

 

[superwally]

I see that Bourdais has outpaced Vettel in the first two practices. Very interesting.

 

[livemusic]

Hamilton was faster on both free practices but I hope Massa can win this race, with Kimi in second and Hamilton in third. That would make for a great race in Brazil.

 

[Muzaffar]

Just being a spoiler here.....

1st Free Practice

Pos.  	Driver  	Team  			Time		Laps
1 	L. Hamilton 	McLaren 		1:35.630	23
2 	F. Massa 	Ferrari 		1:36.020	24
3 	K. Räikkönen 	Ferrari 		1:36.052	23
4 	H. Kovalainen 	McLaren 		1:36.103	21
5 	R. Kubica 	BMW 			1:36.507	25
6 	F. Alonso 	Renault 		1:36.661	24
7 	N. Heidfeld 	BMW 			1:37.040	23
8 	S. Bourdais 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	1:37.070	32
9 	N. Piquet jr. 	Renault 		1:37.180	30
10 	S. Vettel 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	1:37.278	25
11 	M. Webber 	Red Bull 		1:37.491	25
12 	J. Button 	Honda 			1:37.619	25
13 	K. Nakajima 	Williams 		1:37.630	23
14 	D. Coulthard 	Red Bull 		1:37.638	22
15 	N. Rosberg 	Williams 		1:37.638	26
16 	T. Glock 	Toyota 			1:37.664	29
17 	R. Barrichello 	Honda 			1:37.827	28
18 	J. Trulli 	Toyota 			1:38.219	24
19 	A. Sutil 	Force India F1 		1:38.285	25
20 	G. Fisichella 	Force India F1 		1:38.479	26

2nd Free Practice

Pos.  	Driver  	Team  			Time		Laps
1 	L. Hamilton 	McLaren 		1:35.750	33
2 	F. Alonso 	Renault 		1:36.024	36
3 	N. Piquet jr. 	Renault 		1:36.094	38
4 	J. Trulli 	Toyota 			1:36.159	32
5 	M. Webber 	Red Bull 		1:36.375	38
6 	F. Massa 	Ferrari 		1:36.480	31
7 	S. Bourdais 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	1:36.529	32
8 	K. Räikkönen 	Ferrari 		1:36.542	34
9 	N. Heidfeld 	BMW 			1:36.553	38
10 	N. Rosberg 	Williams 		1:36.556	33
11 	T. Glock 	Toyota 			1:36.615	33
12 	R. Kubica 	BMW 			1:36.775	37
13 	H. Kovalainen 	McLaren 		1:36.797	33
14 	D. Coulthard 	Red Bull 		1:36.808	36
15 	S. Vettel 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	1:36.925	38
16 	K. Nakajima 	Williams 		1:36.975	31
17 	G. Fisichella 	Force India F1 		1:37.473	38
18 	A. Sutil 	Force India F1 		1:37.617	33
19 	J. Button 	Honda 			1:37.800	37
20 	R. Barrichello 	Honda 			1:37.904	36

Damn son, Hamilton has been flying in the last 2 sessions. But I hope his overconfidence will be his major downfall come the race........ As for what Briatore commented, "Hamilton will blow it".

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/10/17/hamilton-will-blow-it-briatore/

 

[Ardius]

Yay, I hope Bourdais has some better luck this race.

 

[Sureboss]

Looking at times, P1 is about the best representation of the field for this race.

 

[Studentdriver]

The strange thing is, Hamilton went out early and set that P2 time. I don't understand what they were trying to accomplish there, but whatever it was they probably did what they were going for.

 

[PeterJB]

Maybe Bourdais will do 'a Vettel' and score more points!

 

[mustang245]

For me, this race is between Alonso and Hamilton. Whoever wins the WDC will do so only because Renault didn't develop the R28 quickly enough (better late than never). It was here that Alonso was Shanghai'd with mysteriously over inflated tires in Q3 last season. Lewis has had it far too easy this season without a proper antagonist, but the Renault is no longer an embarrassment. It is now a proper car to give voice to the Spaniard's anger...
Alonso cares not about this year, but the last. And neither do I. Hamilton has some payback coming, and I hope Fernando gives him and McLaren every penny. I look for Alonso to put 'Grand' back in Grand Prix...

 

[Ardius]

For me, this race is between Alonso and Hamilton. Whoever wins the WDC will do so only because Renault didn't develop the R28 quickly enough (better late than never). It was here that Alonso was Shanghai'd with mysteriously over inflated tires in Q3 last season. Lewis has had it far too easy this season without a proper antagonist, but the Renault is no longer an embarrassment. It is now a proper car to give voice to the Spaniard's anger...
Alonso cares not about this year, but the last. And neither do I. Hamilton has some payback coming, and I hope Fernando gives him and McLaren every penny. I look for Alonso to put 'Grand' back in Grand Prix...

The R28 was developed a bit too much I think. They should have spent a bit less time on this years car and focused on next year, especially because by the time they had made visible improvements (around the French GP time) it was much too late to challenge for the championship. From the start of the season they knew they wouldn't, all they're doing now is securing 4th.

 

[Tobias123]

I really hope Bourdais gets a result this weekend. He deserves it, after how much work he's put in to this.

 

[Famine]

DNF Hamilton (retired from mechanical failure in mid race)
DNF Massa (retired from the race from an accident)

DNF Hamilton (retired from the race from an accident)
DNF Massa (retired from mechanical failure in mid race)

👍

While I appreciate the first post here is a prediction of probabilities, the second is far more ambiguous. Need I remind people that earlier this week, we banned a user for contravening this stickied rule?

Each of the Motorsport Forums will have a copy of this thread.

There have been a number of instances where members have written "I hope driver xxx crashes" or worse. I have seen many posts wishing physical harm and even death to be inflicted upon drivers or others involved in motorsport.

This is completely unacceptable​

I have already stated this before, in another thread, but clearly the warning fell upon deaf ears, therefore it is being replicated in these threads.

The moderating staff understand that people have their favourites in motorsport, and that they might therefore wish the rivals of their favourites to undergo misfortune. Fair enough, but if we see any crash or physical harm being wished upon any participant in any form of motorsport, then we shall immediately issue an AUP violation infraction.

Please keep your predictions of who will crash to yourselves.

 

[NapoleonMikey]

The R28 was developed a bit too much I think. They should have spent a bit less time on this years car and focused on next year, especially because by the time they had made visible improvements (around the French GP time) it was much too late to challenge for the championship. From the start of the season they knew they wouldn't, all they're doing now is securing 4th.

thats exaclty what they where trying to do this season i belive. that way they could keep alonso for another year according to his contract. if they would have stoped development on the car they might of had a fight on there hands for 4th. also it builds confidence in alonso that renault hasnt gone completly to hell since he was gone and they could still build a car that can compete for the WDC.

 

[Muzaffar]

While I appreciate the first post here is a prediction of probabilities, the second is far more ambiguous. Need I remind people that earlier this week, we banned a user for contravening this stickied rule?

Okay, maybe the post was a bit too ambiguous. I'll edit it out for you. But then it would be just boring if I didn't mentioned why they weren't in the top 8 now would I? Seriously, I really didn't wish for them to get hurt or anything nor did I even think of that happening this weekend. Again, thanks for the warning Famine, it could have been worse if you didn't point that out.......

 

[JohnBM01]

Qualifying is tomorrow (Eastern Daylight Time). Even before Q1 begins... pick a dark horse to win this race.

 

[RACECAR]

Okay, maybe the post was a bit too ambiguous. I'll edit it out for you. But then it would be just boring if I didn't mentioned why they weren't in the top 8 now would I? Seriously, I really didn't wish for them to get hurt or anything nor did I even think of that happening this weekend. Again, thanks for the warning Famine, it could have been worse if you didn't point that out.......

I think he was reffering to Soundtrack's post where he amended it and gave a rather Suspect smile accompanied by a thumbs up.

 

[Cultlife]

Qualifying is tomorrow (Eastern Daylight Time). Even before Q1 begins... pick a dark horse to win this race.

That's a hint isn't it. I agree, though.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Bah, the pace of the Ferrari in practice has been dreadful and looks diagnostic. No way Felipe can beat the Mclarens with this car. The championships are Mclaren's. So anticlimactic. Oh well, there is always next year.

 

[Muzaffar]

I think he was reffering to Soundtrack's post where he amended it and gave a rather Suspect smile accompanied by a thumbs up.

Well it was entirely my fault that started it all.

Bah, the pace of the Ferrari in practice has been dreadful and looks diagnostic. No way Felipe can beat the Mclarens with this car. The championships are Mclaren's. So anticlimactic. Oh well, there is always next year.

It ain't over till the fat lady sings.

The qualifying will start in under an hour now, oh I can't bare the excitement!!!!

 

[RACECAR]

Bah, the pace of the Ferrari in practice has been dreadful and looks diagnostic. No way Felipe can beat the Mclarens with this car. The championships are Mclaren's. So anticlimactic. Oh well, there is always next year.

I wouldn't be so sure just yet. This is F1, anything can happen and possibly will happen.