- Formula 1 - Season 2008 -

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UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-06 22:04:00 +0600 #1221

I feel they have already thrown it away. Too much to expect  Hamilton to repeat his last year`s performance. Ferrari and Massa need a DNF from Hamilton and one would think it`s about time they had one.

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-06 22:06:00 +0600 #1222

Ecclestone hits back at Di Montezemolo.

Thanks for the Clowns, Luca

Bernie Ecclestone has hit back at Luca di Montezemolo after the Ferrari president likened the Singapore street circuit to a "circus".

Ferrari's hopes of winning the World Championship with Felipe Massa took a massive blow in Singapore after yet another botched pit stop saw Massa finish in 13th place while his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen once again failed to complete the race.

Di Montezemolo was highly critical of the Singapore track and claims Formula One only becomes interesting once a Safety Car is deployed.

http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_4247691,00.html

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-06 22:12:00 +0600 #1223

BMW confirm Heidfeld, Kubica for 2009

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71185

Heidfeld delighted to stay at BMW

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71200

genius83 (Mohammad Saad Umar) 2008-10-07 01:41:00 +0600 #1224

@UK
Does this means the rumours of Alonso going to join BMW is all gone now what choices Alonso have for the next season?
As for Ferrari's chance of getting any title depends on their own performance rather then depending on other's DNF.

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-07 04:38:00 +0600 #1225

@genius83

 BMW`s decision to retain both drivers must have been reached after a clear signal from Alonso that he was not joining them. BMW had stated clearly they would wait for a decision from Alonso.

I think he is going to stay at Renault for at least one more year. The big rule changes for next yer mean there is no guarantee that a team that is a front runner this year will be the same next season. He doesn`t want to sign a long term contract with a team and then find that team to be struggling next year.
At Renault he can stay for one more season and see how they are progressing, see how other teams adopt to new regulations next year and make a decision after that. Having said that i for one would be very tempted to join hands with Ross Brawn.

As far as the Championship situation is concerned, I do not think that Ferrari have anything in their hand.  Nothing short of a DNF or divine intervention  would do. It could come in the form of someone taking Hamilton out of a race or Hamilton repeating his last years performance and Massa winning all the remaining races. A pretty tall order i`d say.

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-07 23:52:00 +0600 #1226

Canadian GP dropped from 2009 calendar

The Canadian Grand Prix has been dropped from the 2009 Formula One calendar, leaving North America with no grands prix next season.

The FIA issued on Tuesday the World Motor Sport Council's decision, with the Montreal race absent for the first time since 1987.

The governing body confirmed an 18-race calendar, including a summer break thanks to having moved the Turkish Grand Prix from August to June.

The WMSC also agreed to give FIA president Max Mosley the authority to deal with the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) for the introduction of "radical measures to achieve a substantial reduction of costs in the championship from 2010."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71205

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-07 23:56:00 +0600 #1227

Ferrari revert to 'lollipop' system

Ferrari will go back to using the traditional "lollipop" system in the Japanese Grand Prix following the problems they had in Singapore.

Brazilian Felipe Massa lost all his chances of scoring a good result in the night race after the mechanic controlling the innovative lights system made a mistake and turned the green lights on before the fuel hose had been detached from the car.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71203

genius83 (Mohammad Saad Umar) 2008-10-08 01:40:00 +0600 #1228

Now it's look like the time to start bashing Ferrari myself after seeing the news in the previous post by @UK. Ferrari is now becoming a "Laut kay Budhoo Ghar ko aaye".
Just curious why they use such a system where such kind of mishaps are predictable.

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-09 04:07:00 +0600 #1229

Mosley: Costs threaten F1's future

FIA president Max Mosley has warned that Formula One will be "in serious difficulty" if it does not take drastic cost-cutting measures by 2010.

Yesterday the FIA reiterated that if the newly-formed Formula One Teams' Association did not come up with proposals to significantly reduce the sport's costs, the governing body would enforce its own measures, and Mosley believes as many as three present teams could be in jeopardy unless steps are rapidly taken.

"It has become apparent, long before the present economic difficulties, that Formula One was unsustainable," Mosley told the BBC.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71213

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-09 04:12:00 +0600 #1230

Bridgestone to run 'green' tyre at Fuji

Formula One will use special green-branded tyres in the Japanese Grand Prix to show the sport's support for the FIA's 'Make Cars Green' environmental campaign.

The Bridgestone tyres used by all F1 teams will carry green stripes in the rubber's grooves throughout the Fuji weekend. One stripe will be left white on the softer compound to differentiate it from the harder tyres.

The green tyres were unveiled at a press event in Tokyo today, and were displayed on Ferrari and McLaren's cars.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71216

genius83 (Mohammad Saad Umar) 2008-10-10 02:08:00 +0600 #1231

@UK
What are the weather predictions for the japanese grandprix, any chance of (st) or dry weather expected.

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-10 03:21:00 +0600 #1232

@genius83

The forecast was for rain on qualifying day, but seems that things have changed and it`s expected to remain dry.
The place is a lot like Spa in terms of weather. First free practice was held in dry and sunny conditions.

Today---------- -----------Hi 20°C / 68°F
Showers------- -----------Lo 11°C / 52°F

Tomorrow---------------- Hi 19°C / 66°F
Partly Cloudy------------ Lo 7°C / 45°F

Sunday------------------- Hi 21°C / 69°F
Partly Cloudy------------ Lo 8°C / 46°F

saad02 (saad02) 2008-10-10 04:19:00 +0600 #1233

i'm hopin 4 a dry race...

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-10 06:26:00 +0600 #1234

The forecast has been updated again. Showers expected on race-day:|

Tomorrow------------------------ Hi 18°C / 65°F
Partly Cloudy --------------------Lo 7°C / 45°F

Sunday--------------------------- Hi 20°C / 68°F
Showers--------------------------Lo 8°C / 47°F

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-11 06:30:00 +0600 #1235

The much talked about rain forecast for today came and went before practice 3 which was damp. The forecast for race day is better than it was for today.
Ron Dennis has called this, Hamiltons most impressive pole position of his career without having to compromise on strategy. Ominous words! Seems its pretty much down to Raikkonen now. If he can chase down Hamilton in the first half of the race and maybe force him into making a mistake, if he can go wheel to wheel with him and make Hamilton push his engine harder than he`d want. We have seen in the past that Hamilton can get carried away unneccessarily, like he did in Brazil at the start of the race last year with Alonso.
Massa did not give a straight answer obviously and said he couldn't find grip in Q3 or maybe it was because of fuel.
All to play for tomorrow.

saad02 (saad02) 2008-10-11 20:13:00 +0600 #1236

i hope 4 a scarlet 1-2...

beglar_begi (beglar_begi) 2008-10-12 05:15:00 +0600 #1237

Nice race... this is F1 at its best. Who would have thought alonso couldwin two races back to back this year with the car he has (inspite of the safety car in singapore)
Kimi finally woke up a bit... tough luck for massa but frankly i think he was luky he didnt get taken out in that bourdais incident for which he may end up paying after the incident is reviewed post race... i am sure mclaren are going to be ready to pounce on the decision...
Good show over all!

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-12 06:12:00 +0600 #1238

If they give Massa a penalty for the Bourdais incident then they might as well tell them not to race anyone in F1 and just hold station after the first lap. Seemed like a racing incident to me.
As long as Hamilton is driving a Mclaren and fighting forthe WC there is hope:p What an idiot!!
Good racing all around. Alonsos ability to beat Raikkonen, to jump Kubica as the first stop, his middle stint, Kubicas clever drive to hold off a hard charging Raikkonen towards the end, Massa fighting till the end, Piquets mature drive to come through the field, some points for Raikkonen and best of all total madness from Hamilton, the race had everything except, Ferrari asking Raikkonen to make an extra stop to allow Massa to get an extra point. Im still waiting for a DNF from Hamilton:-)

UncleKracker (UncleKracker) 2008-10-12 06:17:00 +0600 #1239

Hamilton regrets first corner move

Lewis Hamilton admitted that his first corner dive at Fuji was a "mistake", but vowed to recover by winning the final two races of the 2008 season.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71343

saad02 (saad02) 2008-10-12 06:17:00 +0600 #1240

not a bad finish 4 ferrari...i don know wats wid da stewards..tet hav sumtin against Massa..but he mustered 2 get a point but da gap's still tere..n finally smoke 4m da mclaren engine...