2008 Montreal Grand Prix

[Metar]

If he didn't see Lewis braking desperately, he would've have seen Lewis stopping coming to a complete stop.

 

[Z]

With the McLarens' pit box being right at the end...

I know FOM has been inconsistent with this issue, but as you can see in the video below, McLaren is neither at the far or near end of the lane. IMO, Lewis had time to recognize all that was going on around him, but failed to do so.

 

[NapoleonMikey]

With the McLarens' pit box being right at the end

the McLarens Pit box was in the middle on pit lane at this track. ferrari was actually at the end of pit lane.

 

[Brett]

If the safety car comes out during a pitstop window, the drivers will pit anyway if they're running on fumes; a 10 second stop-and-go is better than retiring from the race having run out of fuel. That rule is under review though, as too many drivers keep getting punished for pitting when the pitlane is closed because they have no fuel left; the top teams want it changed because they lose a bundle of places through no fault of their own, the lower teams want it kept because they have a better opportunity to score points.

It is good that they are reviewing this rule. When I first heard of it earlier in the year, it seemed a bit, especially considering it could easily catch someone running on fumes and force them to take a penalty to avoid dropping out of the race.

Though, I do like how some have taken advantage of being able to pit in, take a set of tires (but no fuel), pit out and receive no penalty, and then pit in again for fuel once pit lane opens up; thus, potentially being able to use the two different sets of tires that are required in the race.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Do you race?-
I don't know how this evolved from a 'fall' to winning the 2008 WDC? At no point have I or any other sane person predicted Alonso to win this seasons WDC, although I have done the math! It is a year of rebuilding at Renault and nothing more. However, if someone could bridge such a gap Alonso could be the one to do it, given the inconsistencies of the front runners. But unlikely. Hence the 'stupid' pass at Monaco, Alonso had nothing to lose, I venture we'll see alot of that. And when it works it'll be declared 'genius'. Had Massa's double-pass failed he'd suffer similar derision. Yet, he gambled and pulled it off... such is Grand Prix! At this point, I just hope to see Alonso on podium, something I thought was possible until his spin at Montreal.

And when it doesn't work, he'll be called an 'idiot' because he's trying to pass where there's no opportunities. You want to know how this evolved into his winning the championship? You said he has to beat Hamilton, if not in as many words, but to do that he has to be fighting for the title because Hamilton is so strong right now. The only way he can beat the Englishman is to beat everyone, or at least most of them.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

It is good that they are reviewing this rule. When I first heard of it earlier in the year, it seemed a bit, especially considering it could easily catch someone running on fumes and force them to take a penalty to avoid dropping out of the race.

Hopefully they change this and the spare car rule

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Hamilton doesn't much like the penalty, either:

Hamilton: Grid penalty is a bit harsh
10 June 2008

Lewis Hamilton has said he believes his 10-place grid penalty is a bit harsh for crashing into the back of Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton will be set back ten places at the French Grand Prix grid.

"The rule is a bit silly," Hamilton said about not being able to leave the pitlane when the safety car and the rest of the field is passing by. "We are in the race - how can you red light at the end of the pitlane? But that's the rule and I accept it. I start 10 places back in the next race. It's a bit harsh. I didn't aim to ruin anyone's race.

"Going forward, the mood is strong. The fact is we destroyed everyone at the weekend. With the car we have right now there is no stopping us."

Well, you should have bloody well have thought of that before you hit him!

 

[Z]

Hamilton doesn't much like the penalty, either:Well, you should have bloody well have thought of that before you hit him!

Indeed. I rather enjoy Jackie's comment: "When he looks back in four or five years he will question himself about what sort of person and driver he was in 2007 and 2008," the Scot said.

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080610140621.shtml

 

[Metar]

Though, I do like how some have taken advantage of being able to pit in, take a set of tires (but no fuel), pit out and receive no penalty, and then pit in again for fuel once pit lane opens up; thus, potentially being able to use the two different sets of tires that are required in the race.

A certain Takuma Sato pulled off that same stunt last year, and finished 6th, having overtaken the reigning world champion's McLaren in the process.

Hamilton tried to repeat that feat at Interlagos, hoping for a safety-car period to allow him to close the gap, but, though some remarkable misfortune, Charlie Whiting deemed none of the many crashes and retirements serious enough to warrant a safety-car - including Kovalainen's head-on collision with the barriers.

 

[Roo]

The fact is we destroyed everyone at the weekend.

Not everyone, just Kimi.

 

[Greycap]

Not even Kimi. The fastest lap of the race was driven by Räikkönen, on harder tyres compared to the softer compound Hamilton was running on at the time. By the time of the first pit stops the gap was already closing.

 

[Metar]

Not even Kimi. The fastest lap of the race was driven by Räikkönen, on harder tyres compared to the softer compound Hamilton was running on at the time. By the time of the first pit stops the gap was already closing.

The point. ............................................................................ You.



It was a joke. Plus, the Soft compound (Prime in this case) isn't necessarily faster than the Super-soft (Option) compound, especially over a longer stint, and when you factor fuel-loads - a lap on harder, good-condition tyres with low fuel is faster than one on softer, but worn tyres on the same load, or good-condition softer tyres with high fuel.

 

[darkfinal]

On an unrelated note...

Alonso wants Renault to turn focus to 2009

Fernando Alonso has asked Renault to seriously consider abandoning development of the current car so as to focus on readying for 2009.

Pat Symonds, the French team's engineering chief, admitted recently that the sweeping rule changes for 2009 poses a dilemma for those teams that cannot juggle continuing to develop the 2008 car and also focus on designing the entirely new machine.

"We are a big team but we are not big enough to handle two major projects and I think some of the people who are maybe struggling a little bit this year, for example Honda, I think have pushed a lot more effort into next year than we have been able to," Symonds said.

Renault has improvements for the R28 due both at Magny Cours next weekend and also Silverstone in July.

Former world champion Alonso, whose current contract would allow him to leave Renault at the end of the season, advises the team to contemplate switching its attention to 2009.


"It's a difficult decision, and I have a strong opinion about it," he is quoted as saying by the BBC.

Alonso says the performance of the improvements for France and Britain should influence Renault's final decision about what to do.

"Maybe at those tracks it will be good, so we can carry on developing this car.

"If it's not good, maybe the season will already be over so it's time to think about next year," he added.

Goodbye, podium chances for 2008. Hello humiliation.

 

[Metar]

Goodbye, podium chances for 2008. Hello humiliation.

I kinda expected them to have shifted their focus earlier on when they realized it's no race-winner.

It's amazing how many parts are developed this year with the expressed purpose of being useless next year: The sidepod shields, the most complicated wings and winglets we have ever seen - and all this won't be there next year.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Goodbye, podium chances for 2008. Hello humiliation.

Humiliation?

I would call this a wise decision. Renault is nowhere this season, and they won't get anywhere either. No matter how much improvements the car will recieve, better than a 4th constructors place is out of reach for Renault. This is even more the case when your 2nd driver is not scoring any points, making it even more difficult for the team to get good results, and thus the pressure on the 1st driver gets even bigger. It would be wise for Renault to already start thinking what changes must be made within he team, if they want to fight at the front in 2009.

Also, if Piquet Jr. doesn't come up with a good result after France and England, he should be sacked. A mechanical failure, OK, but if he spins out one more time, destroying his chances of a good result, Flavio really needs to look for a new driver...

 

[mipuumal]

Humiliation?

I would call this a wise decision. Renault is nowhere this season, and they won't get anywhere either.

Didn't they start focus all effort to this year's car around the same time last year?

💡 Maybe Renault should shift next year's efforts to 2010 already.

 

[darkfinal]

Humiliation?

I would call this a wise decision. Renault is nowhere this season, and they won't get anywhere either. No matter how much improvements the car will recieve, better than a 4th constructors place is out of reach for Renault. This is even more the case when your 2nd driver is not scoring any points, making it even more difficult for the team to get good results, and thus the pressure on the 1st driver gets even bigger. It would be wise for Renault to already start thinking what changes must be made within he team, if they want to fight at the front in 2009.

Also, if Piquet Jr. doesn't come up with a good result after France and England, he should be sacked. A mechanical failure, OK, but if he spins out one more time, destroying his chances of a good result, Flavio really needs to look for a new driver...

Don't get me wrong: I'd do the same if I was in his shoes. But that pretty much banishes any real chances to achieve a podium position again, like this week's. And that's what makes me sad.

But well... There's Kubica. What's more, my 2nd favorite driver is leading the championship right now, so...

 

[SUPER NUMBBER]

Not even Kimi. The fastest lap of the race was driven by Räikkönen, on harder tyres compared to the softer compound Hamilton was running on at the time. By the time of the first pit stops the gap was already closing.

LOL!

Let down those anti-Hamilton shields dude! I can't believe you didn't get that reference!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I must admit, having just seen the video review over at F1.com, that double-pass by Massa in the hairpin has to qualify as one of the best ovrtaking moves ever. I couldn't tell who he was taking, much less if he was racing them or merely lapping them, but if he was racing for position - and judging by the reactions of the pit crew, he was - then it's one of the best passes I've ever seen, even if he was a fraction on the inside.

 

[Greycap]

Let down those anti-Hamilton shields dude! I can't believe you didn't get that reference!

It was aimed at the Hamilton's own "we destroyed everyone", not at the actual quote but I had to quote something to indicate what I was replying for. His destroying lasted for the qualifying and the first half of the first stint, ie. the time it took for the harder compound to heat up properly. It would certainly have been interesting to see the race progressing, to find out if the incredible qualifying performance was as much of a sign of a superior all round pace as he likes to say or just the softer tyres.

 

[Metar]

I must admit, having just seen the video review over at F1.com, that double-pass by Massa in the hairpin has to qualify as one of the best ovrtaking moves ever. I couldn't tell who he was taking, much less if he was racing them or merely lapping them, but if he was racing for position - and judging by the reactions of the pit crew, he was - then it's one of the best passes I've ever seen, even if he was a fraction on the inside.

He was racing them - Kovalainen and Barrichello, I think? - and he was on the same lap.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

He was racing them - Kovalainen and Barrichello, I think? - and he was on the same lap.

Well, it was a stellar pass.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Well, it was a stellar pass.

in a stellar race ...

 

[homeforsummer]

I know FOM has been inconsistent with this issue, but as you can see in the video below, McLaren is neither at the far or near end of the lane. IMO, Lewis had time to recognize all that was going on around him, but failed to do so.

I stand corrected. Still, there were lots of other factors I mentioned. At the end of the day, he cocked up and should have been looking, but I'd say it was an accident more than stupidity on his part.

 

[Z]

I stand corrected. Still, there were lots of other factors I mentioned. At the end of the day, he cocked up and should have been looking, but I'd say it was an accident more than stupidity on his part.

Whatever it was, it happened and we are where we are. We can only see where this takes us a week from now with the penalties in place and whatnot. All I can say is that I think this will easily be one of the races where, at the end of the season, we'll reflect upon and say 'Well, if it wasn't for that little pit-lane fiasco.."

It affected so many people, including those not involved directly.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

All I can say is that I think this will easily be one of the races where, at the end of the season, we'll reflect upon and say 'Well, if it wasn't for that little pit-lane fiasco.."

Only if Hamilton or Raikonnen doesn't win

 

[Z]

Only if Hamilton or Raikonnen doesn't win

I suppose, but IMO that's a pretty narrow-minded view of things, considering there are 20 cars on the circuit.

If you're only paying attention to the top few contenders, then sure, those are the only few it will affect in your eyes. There are other people, of course, who root for drivers who aren't and will most likely never again be in contention (i.e., Coulthard).

 

[MustangSVT]

Hamilton is correct in his interview. He literally destroyed Raikkonen in the race.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

If you're only paying attention to the top few contenders, then sure, those are the only few it will affect in your eyes. There are other people, of course, who root for drivers who aren't and will most likely never again be in contention (i.e., Coulthard).

No because at the end of the season, it won't have as large of an effect on those drivers. Where as let's say Massa wins the championship you can say that Lewis ruined it for Kimi or Lewis blew his chance again. At the end of the season I don't think about how Rosberg could've had scored more points and ended up 6th in the championship.

 

[Z]

No because at the end of the season, it won't have as large of an effect on those drivers. Where as let's say Massa wins the championship you can say that Lewis ruined it for Kimi or Lewis blew his chance again. At the end of the season I don't think about how Rosberg could've had scored more points and ended up 6th in the championship.

Meh.. it's not really a yes or no issue. You have your opinion and I mine. I'm merely offering the perspective that at least a few people out there will be wondering about Rosberg or others. If you won't, then that's your choice. It's quite obvious that most of us follow the battles up front more closely; I'm just saying "Don't forget about the other drivers out there." Rather simple.