- Formula 1 - Season 2008 -

[nightsurfer]

A fantastic race. I wanted to see Vettel win, as you guys know, there is nothing like a first win. I am disappointed in Raikkonen and Massa and I am pained to learn that Alonso is now looking away from Ferrari.

[UncleKracker]

Interesting race. Toro Rossas gamble paid off while those running heavy in the top ten and just outside had to settle for 3rd and 4th. Vettel drove exceptionally well and deserved his first of many wins.
Massa didn't exploit the situation as much as he should have , then again hed be happy he came away from a wet race ahead of his main championship rival. Raikkonen was his usual self, mediocre.
Who ever it is that drives the second Mclaren must think how he finished second to a Toro Rossa, having started from the front row. Mediocre ain't the word, have to coin a new term for that performance.
All to play for in the remaining races. Behind the drivers and constructors title a nice fight is brewing up for fourth in the constructors championship between Alonso and Toyota.

[UncleKracker]

BMW willing to wait for Alonso decision

BMW Sauber say they are ready to wait for former world champion Fernando Alonso to make his mind up about where he wants to drive next year - after reminding the Spaniard that they are the fastest team in Formula One with a seat still available.

Ferrari's decision to extend Kimi Raikkonen's contract until the end of 2010 has ended Alonso's hopes of racing for the Italian team in the next two years, and makes him more amenable to making a long-term commitment elsewhere.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70606

[beglar_begi]

I guess alonso will definitely be moving now that the return of flavio briatore is in question as well... i can see him accepting the bmw offer... they are the only team which have made massive inroads... i mean their driver is third in standings... i know alonso would probably never accept the honda offer but man would that have been interesting. If he had been able to turn things around there completely it would have been tantamount to schumi's arrival at ferrari. Yeah i think bmw have the best chance of signing alonso... i just feel sorry for the other drivers whose seats are up in limbo up until alonso makes his decision

[rebel]

alonso joinin bmw wud mean good action for the sport...with kimmi sticking arnd and the shiny clan being ganged up on, 09 season could b interesting..

[UncleKracker]

He should accept the Honda offer or should i say he would have accepted the Honda offer if this year and last year were not so lean. It will take a couple of seasons at Honda even with Brawn and Alonso together to make it turn around. Having said that, next year could very well be a lottery with all the rule changes and BMW might not be where they are this year.
Flavio Britore has made it clear he won`t stick around should Alonso leave the team.

[beglar_begi]

Well then that will definitely be an end of an era... flavio was a staple in F1 just like ron dennis or williams... i remember seeing him first next to a semi-mullet sporting schumi... I hate change

[UncleKracker]

Britore would have no choice and i suppose nothing left to achieve in F1 after Alonso leaves the team. He will find it very hard to get a driver who can propel Renault to the top. There isn't anyone out there right now. GP2 winner this year is a former F1 driver and runner up, Bruno Senna is likely to get either the driving seat at Toro Rossa or testing role with them.
The problem is Renault itself. They have had to lay off about 6000 people in Europe and in time they will find it hard to justify spending money in F1 especially without success when people are being laid off.
Its pretty much the same situation that forced them out of F1 back in the late 90`s.

[UncleKracker]

Teams seek to equal engine performance

Behind-the-scenes efforts by teams to make Formula One engine performance more equal are set to be ramped up in the wake of Scuderia Toro Rosso's shock victory in the Italian Grand Prix, autosport.com has learned.

Sebastian Vettel caused a major surprise when he became F1's youngest ever winner at Monza, with a performance that highlighted the differences between his Ferrari-powered STR3 and the Renault-powered car of sister team Red Bull Racing.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70682

[UncleKracker]

Ferrari signals Kimi support role

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has indicated that Kimi Raikkonen will be used to support team-mate Felipe Massa's title bid in the final four races.

Having crashed in Belgium and failed to score in Italy, reigning champion Raikkonen is now down to fourth in the standings and is 21 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton.

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=43993

[genius83]

well let's wait and see what kind of support Kimi provide to Massa in last four races because I don't think Kimi could go for a support role so easily. As he is the current world champion and before that when he is in silver he is contending for the title for two consecutive years.

[beglar_begi]

@genius

I see what you're saying about kimi not being used to the support role but I really think the guy is a team player... i'm not sure if he knows what a supporting role entails having never really played the second fiddle in a world championship race... also it must be on his mind as to how this would set up the 2k9 season... veeeeeery interesting... anyway kimi is going to be winning the next grand prix so it will make things very awkward at ferrari i think (yes i just said kimi will win the first night time grand prix... got a problem?)

[saad02]

i'm so glad...kimi's re-signed 4 ferrari til 2010...n alonso aint comin...

[beglar_begi]

@saad

not a big alonso fan eh? The ferrari fan in me agrees with you but the F1 fan in me wants to see what alonso could do in a ferrari... he is a seriously talented guy who is probably the second most motivated driver after schumi... hamilton is motivated but I really don't believe its on the same level... at least not yet.

[UncleKracker]

@beglar_begi
I got a problem with it:p Kimi winning another race this season.....Hmmm perhaps if Massa is not in the picture i.e having retired from the GP. I dont see how Raikkonen will qualify ahead of Massa this season.
The night race would automatically play into the hands of Mclaren with low temperature and already a 60% chance of rain. So if Massa retires from the race and so does Hamilton and everything goes Raikkonens way he just might get lucky and win a GP(H)

@genius83
He( Raikkonen) is no great shakes. Better men than him have played second fiddle to their team mates when the situation required. Hell do the same, dont worry.
The team will make sure from now on that Massa has the optimum fuel strategy for each race, even at he cost of Raikkonen. That`ll be a start.

[genius83]

@beglar and UK
I am not worrying but more likely wondering what kind of support role Kimi provides because as I have seen Rubens providing support to MS with driving a bit slow so the distance increase between MS and the rest of the pack of cars but at that time Ferrari was at its best and MS and Rubens are almost taking every single pole in that era but Nowadays Ferrari are struggling with their cars and also somewhat their pit strategies. So it is interesting to know what kind of support Kimi could provide to Massa.
@beglar
And after your prediction that Kimi winning the next GP I will most comfortable to say that Kimi will defend his title without a doubt.

[allie_reyaz]

Mclaren Hamilton rox ferrari su***

[beglar_begi]

^^^

I guess it takes someone from out of this world to say that eh? Well you're absolutely right man... hamilton rocks............. he is gonna be rocking with rage when he screws his chances for the championship (let the BS chucking begin!)

[saad02]

well tere r 65% chances of rain @ both da chinese n japanese venues...ferrari i tink has enuf experience 4m both da last 2 wet races n i tink wud b competitive...wat ferrari needs now is a gud pole in both da races n ending on da podium...but wat i'm afraid is abt da ferrari's reliability issues...it's been 2 races n no engine blow out 4 ferrari...n i wud hate 2 c 1 @ dis crucial tyme...where as mclaren r reali on top of tere game...i hope tere engine blows...jst like schumi had 2 yrs ago in japan..

[saad02]

singapore 2008

new tyres esp 4 singapore n da track pics..