2008 Chinese Grand Prix

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sureboss
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I'm not doubting the reason for it. Just I've never heard of a 3 place drop before either.
 
Well I knew the penalty was gonna happen after DC complained about it on TV. But like everyone said, a 3 place grid penalty? :odd:
With Webber having to change his engine and Heidfeld's penalty, I guess its more yay for Vettel then. :D
*waits for Alex. to comment on this*
 
And more yay for Bourdais too! I hope he can do something with it, though Trulli is a difficult person to pass.

Sureshot
Why have McLaren kept Kovalainen for 2009? He's not good enough! Constantly fails when needed to perform.
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Do you race?
Then who would you recommend as a replacement?
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Agreed, and I would suggest Bourdais or Rosberg as a replacement.
 
Muzaffar Musa
Well I knew the penalty was gonna happen after DC complained about it on TV. But like everyone said, a 3 place grid penalty? :odd:
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I too am stuck on this situation.


Muzaffar Musa
With Webber having to change his engine and Heidfeld's penalty, I guess its more yay for Vettel then. :D
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Definately, More power to him.
 
I think Hamilton can afford to drop a spot at first to avoid a costly DNF, so long as he keeps Massa behind him, and then once the field has settled, go for the jugular.
 
JohnBM01
The field's set. Care to change any picks for the win (if you made any picks to win, that is)? I'm still going with either Hamilton or Alonso. I'm not counting on a Scuderia Ferrari to crash Hamilton's party.
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I'm with you, John. Realistically Alonso or Hamilton. I suspect Alonso has McLaren's pace and hasn't shown it all...
 
Kimi has nothing to lose ,Lewis, Phillipe have got to keep their noses (pun intended)clean.Kimi and Fernando have the opportunity to squeeze the two front runners of the chamionship in the first corner.
 
mustang245
I'm with you, John. Realistically Alonso or Hamilton. I suspect Alonso has McLaren's pace and hasn't shown it all...
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Alonso's car is nowhere near the speed of either the Ferraris or the Mclarens. His two victories were thanks to the stupidity of these two teams. I will agree that the Renault has become a seriously fast car though, the third fastest car, but it still doesn't come close to the biggest two...
 
Ardius
Agreed, and I would suggest Bourdais or Rosberg as a replacement.
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I meant a realistic one; Rosberg will be remaining at Team Willy. And Bourdais? I'd be surprised if he can land something in the midfield, much less McLaren ...
 
Alonso is the fly in the ointment. No matter how much he has vowed to help Massa, i cant see him throwing away a podium if he was in that position. He has said he wont try to overtake Massa but we'll see when push comes to shove.

I want Hamilton to clinch it this weekend or Massa to clinch it in Brazil. I'm not in a particular camp for who I want to win. To see Massa win it in Brazil would be something though.
 
Well, I think Kubica can kiss hise cances of the title goodbye. Shae, he was easily the most deserving if only because he was the most consistent.
 
Lewis Hamilton is leading from pole at the Sinopec Chinese GP!

He's had the pace all qualifying... too bad Hekki faltered in Q3... anyway, looks like the Ferraris have no answers for Lewis' charge at the moment...

Great racing between Hekki and Alonso...

This is going to be a good race.
 
Massa sure isn't showing signs of matching either KR or LH here. LH is fastest through the technical sections at the start of the lap, but the Ferraris have absolutely amazing speed (as always) down the back straight.

And as I say that, Lewis loses it in turn two... still in the lead, though... loses just 0.2 seconds in that? Wow.

WTH is up with Kovalainen? Is it a brake issue? He's way off pace in the slower corners, so it seems likely...

Alonso, on the other hand... brilliant pace... one of only four drivers under 1:37. Someone give the guy a cookie... paging Ferrari... :lol:

EDIT: here's a shocker... Ferrari pits first. LH light fuel load conspiracy theory? Rubbish. Shame on you all. :lol:
 
Massa pitting already? :confused:

Edit: And now Hamilton. I guess I don't know this track well enough to get the strategy.
 
There was speculation that Lewis was running light to get pole. Apparently not... they were all running similar fuel levels. Strategy is usually one of two ways, load light, build big lead, pit... or load heavy, come out to first when everyone else pits, build a lead, then pit and hopefully stay in the lead.

It's a roll of the dice, and dependent on the strategies of everyone around you.

EDIT: the heavy load strategy works if you're on a track that has limited passing opportunites and the possibility of multiple yellow flags. But it's all in the specifics of the track, the conditions and the pace of your car compared to others.
 
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Kubica and Piquet outpacing Massa (sandwiched between them) one a one-stopper? Unbelievable.

KR looks like he has the pace to challenge LH. It'll just take a bit of luck and some more hard pushing. If this is going to be a long stint for both (as pits suggest), KR will be much faster than LH at the end of the stint, as the Ferrari's tires finally catch up and the McLaren's tires start to falter.

RE: Massa's stop... who knows? But his pace isn't very good for having had an extra lap to warm his tires before KR and LH.
 
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Everyone who matters has finally pitted...

Hamilton falters, then Kimi falters, and it seems like Massa is now finally consistently outpacing them... can he catch Kimi? Hmmm... too soon to tell. EDIT: Okay, it was traffic... LH and KR back on the ball... back to the regularly scheduled processional.

Lewis really needs to keep on the ball... he MUST come out of the next pits ahead of Alonso!
 
Race over (effectively) for Hekki. To add injury to insult... not only is he well off the pace... he's got a flat. Rats. So... Alonso for McLaren in 09? :lol:

That's probably put paid to McLaren's chances at a constructor's trophy this year. Oh well...
 
As far as I'm concerned the race is over (barring problems for Hamilton on the softs) because Raikkonen looks to be hitting traffic at all the wrong times according to timing and Massa just hasn't got it.
 
That's all the pits out of the way... so no stupid fuel rig problem is going to affect the end of this race.

It's imperative for both Lewis and Felipe Massa to finish as they are now, to keep their title hopes and championship positions. At least Kimi is now showing, with authority, who the faster Ferrari driver is... but I wonder how he's going to feel when looking back over the rest of the season.

No stupid mistakes in the last few laps, Kimi... please.
 
Oh dear... Kimi is losing pace to Massa... will Massa pass him? The drama... NOT!

As long as he doesn't pull aside on the main straight with a wave, I won't complain... team orders or not... it's in Ferrari's best interests to give Massa as many points as possible.

And as I say it... Kimi makes it so... Massa past Kimi into second place through the hairpin. Good old teamwork. With no upsets... this leaves LH's lead over FM at just 7 points. Anything can happen next race, though...

And to add even more injury to injury to insult, Hekki is out with a DNF. Poor kid... things looked so much brighter in qualifying... sigh.
 
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Ahhhm - Ferrari = Team Orders?

Now it was very predictable and of course they are not daft enough to talk about it over the radio, but strictly speaking what just happened is a bit naughty.


Scaff
 

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